Logan's Concert

Logan had the opportunity to to participate in her first concert following the advanced band on Thursday, 23 October 2008. She has chosen to play the clarinet. After only eight weeks of lessons and practice, Logan and the Lawton Christan School's beginners band is off to a really good start!

Isn't she lovely

Isn't she lovely.... isn't she beautiful.....she's my girl. I knew the day would come that Logan would go from the girl look into the "girly" look..... I thought I would be prepared for it. But how do you prepare for this moment????? I don't think you can. I am glad that I could be a part of this little adventure in my girl's life. I'll allow the pictures show you...........

This was taken last night before Logan's band concert.

Here's my girl with her new "girly" look..... I love it!!!!

A couple more shot of the new "do".

Curry wasn't home before Logan headed off to church; I showed him the pics on the camera and he said, "We're in trouble."

The Princess and the Duke

Last Thrusday, Duke came to join our family. He is a one year old Boston and I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. We weren't looking for another dog, but we sure got one. He was on craigs list. His name was Doogie... but we really weren't loving that one.

The Princess The Duke

One of Logan's friends came up with the name... Duke. Very close to Doogie so we wouldn't have to work too hard on getting him to answer to it.

So, now we have the Princess and the Duke(they love each other).

cake deco course 1 completed

This is one of those posts that I wrote with the intention of putting pics on the next day. Then, the next day turned into another day and so on and so on.... this was a post from two weeks ago.

On Monday, Logan completed her first cake decorating course. She made a beautiful cake with roses on it. See for yourself.

She is going to be making a cake for our friends, The Lutz family, for their family birthdays. (Her first order)

Logan has decided that she would like to continue taking the courses... this time she will be learning how to make flowers and borders. She will make these items over the first three lessons... and for her final cake she will place all of the flowers on the oval cake. Check back for more pics. in the weeks to come.

This one's for Poppa

I was making cookies tonight and talking to Poppa on the phone. He mentioned that there is overnight mail.... I think he wanted some cookies. I told him that I would post some pictures of my cookies on my blog and he could see them. He told me if I send him some cookies then he would read my blog.

Here's your cookies, Poppa.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Spy quilt finished

I love this little quilt. I don't know why... maybe because it's the first quilt that I have completed.... maybe it's because it went together so easily.... or maybe it's because I know that it will bring a smile to many faces( I am making about 20 of these)... but I simply love it. Hope you do, too.

The pics didn't turn out as good as I thought they would. It's cuter in person.

$30.00 worth of coupons from Right at Home

Just click the link below.... select the coupons that you want. Complete the info at the bottom of page... name, address and so on. Then, you can print your coupons. I printed mine and will be taking the savings with me to the commissary next week. Most of the items I will get for $0.39-$.079 each. Can't wait for that shopping trip.

http://www.rightathome.com/offers/OctCoupons/Default.aspx?sid=coupon&cid=pfe200810b&rid=112699079&om_rid=B8A7gZ&om_mid=_BI9fZPB7Wkq5mM&

So little to some means so much to others

As some of you know we are sponsoring a child through Compassion International. This is some thing that is very important to Curry; he talked about it for several weeks. I decided to join him in this adventure. Instead of adding some thing else to our budget; we are using some of our own personal money. For those of you that don't know this about us... we have a family budget and we both receive money that we can do whatever we want with.

I will tell you that in the beginning I thought that I would maybe miss the money....but I didn't. But it's really not about the money..... it's about a little 6 year old boy that lives in Colombia. In a world that is so different than mine that I can not begin to imagine what his life is like.

This is Dylber's story.....
He lives with his stepfather and his mother. His stepfather is employed and his mom maintains the home. Dylber works at home making beds and cleaning. There are 6 children in this family.

Because of Compassion International ministry, Dylber participates in church activities. He attends kindergarten where his performance is average. Soccer, running and playing group games are his favorite activities.

This is the information that we received in Dylber's packet. Included in the packet was a form to write a letter to Dylber. Writing the letter to introduce ourselves was on my "to do" list, but some how.... the form was thrown in a stack with some other mail on top of my desk.... and so on and so on.

Several weeks later, I open the mailbox to find not one but two letters from Dylber. I can not tell you the love that is in the letters.....not wanting anything other than to know us. The letters have to be translated and they are written by a teacher since Dylber is too young and is still learning to write.

Here is what Dylber had to say:
Hi sponsors, I thank you for choosing me as your sponsored child. May God bless you so much. Sponsors, I am in preschool; my school is so beautiful and I have many friends there. I have a younger sister named Daniela. I live with my mom, my step dad and three more siblings. My dad lives very far away. Sponsors, I would like to get to know you; send me pictures of you and the place where you live. I like to ride my bicycle but it broke down and I am now playing soccer and I like it very much. Sponsors, pray alot for me and my family; we need it. Sponsors, may God bless you and keep you. Dylber says goodbye.

The second letter says:
Hello sponsors. I hope you and your family are doing well. Sponsors, thank God I'm doing well, but my little siblings have been a little ill. I ask God to heal them. Sponsor, I'm not doing well because I do not like to attend; but promised my tutor to go everyday. Sponsors, I like to go to CDI(Compassion project) because they teach me many beautiful things about God. Also, they give me a nice snack. Well sponsors, I love you so much. God bless you. I look forward to your letters and photos to know you well. I say goodbye.

I am sure he has help writing these letters. I think back to when Logan was 6 and had to write something like a thank you note.... that could take some time.

I will tell you that I couldn't wait to write back to Dylber. We sent a picture of our family and some Diego stickers. We can only send "flat" things and the envelope can only be 1/8" thick. Logan and I bought a Bible coloring book, band aids with animals, and more stickers. In each letter we will send a little some thing for Dylber. My goal is to write at least twice a month. I don't think I will loose a letter on my desk again. (Logan wanted to send him a new bike). I thought that was very sweet. She also wanted to bring Dylber and his family to the USA to live with us. I had to explain to her that wouldn't be possible. Of course, that wasn't the end of that conversation.

I ask you all to think about sponsoring a child. For $32.00 a month you can change the life of a child. I won't tell you to give up a cup of coffee or eating out... I will simply ask you to pray about it. Visit the Compassion website and just take a look around. http://www.compassion.com/default_a.htm

So little to some means so much to others.... can you make a difference?????

Free this week

Can I tell you how much I love free stuff??? Here's what I have gotten for free this week.....

1 box of Corn Pops
1 box of Fruit Loops
1 box of Puff's kleenex
2 pkgs. of eye shadow
4 tubes of tooth paste
7 Flameless candles(these will be gifts at some time or another)

Not too bad for a little work. Didn't take pics this time..... I got everything on Sun. except the candles and I finally got the rest of them( I had a total of 11 coupons) today. In addition to these things, I was able to get 30 bars of toddlers soap for $2.00(some of these have been made into gifts and the rest will be Christmas gifts.

Ebay is a great way to order specific coupons. I have just started getting into purchasing coupons on Ebay. It has paid off so far... no pun intended.

What do I do all day?????

It has been some time since I have sat down to write on my blog... not that I haven't wanted to, just haven't made the time. I think about it many times during the day, but never seem to get to it. It is funny how things take up time in our lives. People ask me what do I do all day? Well, I sure don't eat bon bons by the boxful.... I don't know that I have ever had a bon bon. I fill my day with taking care of my family and my house. In addition to that... I do the things that I love. I thrift store shop(just finished that a little bit ago)..... I am somewhat addicted to couponing and refuse to pay over $1.00 for toothpaste, deoderant and most time shampoo and conditioner. In fact, I prefer to get it for F R E E ..... that spells free(sorry, that commerical popped into my head). I also fill my day with sewing, quiliting(I am teaching myself.... not always the wisest thing to do), learning how to use my embroidery machine(that is being self taught with the help of hubby), scrapbooking and freezer cooking. I sometimes volunteer or I take care of my friends' babies.. so that they can have a break. So, that's what I do all day.

I love my job. I have to say that I am blessed to be able to stay at home and do the things that I love so very much. God has blessed our family and we in turn want to bless others.

Currently, I am working on a mini I spy quilt. I saw it on this blog http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/ (it's under make and takes).... I fell in love with the quilt.... and had to make one. I ran out to Walmart Sunday evening and bought some material. I started with one for a boy..... usually I would start with a girl's, but not this time. I have some little boys in mind that will hopefully like it. I spent Mon. cutting the squares and piecing the top of it together. It went together fairly easy. Last night I bought ABC backing and the batting. I am hoping to complete one tonight. I think they are adorable. The quilt is small and is able to go in the car. I bought the fabric for girl ones this morning. I can't wait to start on those... maybe tomorrow. I am going to make big ones(with 60 sqaures.... both boy and girl squares) and perhaps give them as teacher gifts. I have one that will be donated to a friend who works as a counselor with children. I will be working on that one next week. I will be sure to post pic when I get them all completed.
Not an exciting life, but a blessed one for sure.

Rebate Website

Here's a website that gives you money back for entering stores through their site. It's that simple.

http://www.ebates.com/refer-a-friend/0809promo.htm?referrerid=P6FX1o6hpvGecp400jyQEQ%3D%3D
(Click on this link and off you go)

If you shop online; why not get money back???? Just for joining; Ebates gives you $5.00 for signing up and if you mention who referred you(that would be ME) then you and that person (ME) will receive an additional $5.00. You do have to purchase some thing by a certain date in order to receive the money(this one time only). After that, you can receive your rebates either by a check or in your paypal account.

Happy Shopping

Lost Glasses... a good read

This was sent to me in an email... just wanted to share.

My mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China.
On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. 'It's not fair,' he told God as he drove home in frustration. 'I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this.'
Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago.
The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. 'But most of all,' he said, 'I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this.
Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top. The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: 'Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that.'
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way. There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him!
I have to remember this in these times of trials of my own. May GOD bless your week. Look for the perfect mistakes. 'People are like tea bags—you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.' Now isn't that just like God to do something like that??? Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is the presence of God.