Making Christmas Cards for Shut Ins

The children's Missions Group at church is making Christmas cards -- in October.

Wow.

An annual event held at church for elderly and "shut ins" -- is expecting hundreds MORE this year.

That's awesome.

So...folks are prepping now to be ready.

It's a phenomenal gathering, and all guests are treated like royalty.

I'm thrilled children can impact lives in such a meaningful way.

A Dot in the Sky

That, my friend, is The Space Station traveling across our night sky - 270 miles above earth...

In one of its 15 daily orbits our planet.

When we caught our first glimpse of it (we were outside waiting for it to appear)...it was approximately 10 states away.

It traveled in our line of vision for about 6-9 minutes.

As it disappeared, it was actually several states away.

Amazing, huh.

Totally blurry - in the dark

But "you get the picture"!

Celebrating Shiyan'a 13th Birthday

Anna Katherine and my girls

Laura and my three

Drum roll - The Birthday Girl

Robin and Forrest's daughter 

1 of 8 kiddos (5 adopted from China)

Dear, dear family friends 

Happy Birthday Miss Shiyan! You're a blessing to our lives!!!

We were at a skating party (dark-ish inside....lots of glow in the dark stuff going on - thus the flash photography.)

Mary's Buddies

Bear-n-Bunny

Horse-n-Monkey

Dixie Cup Bouquet - Mary's Gathering of Flowers

Went to a Wedding in this Barn - Very Stylish and Pinterest-y

This setting spoke to my soul!

Old, salvaged wood

Church pews from a variety of places 

Seats from school auditoriums

Candles in the Windows...in all sorts of glassware - mixed and matched

Random lighting

Old ceiling fans

Some folks were dressed up

Others were in jeans

My teacher friend, Jennifer-The-Kind-One, well....her daughter got married.

A black lab puppy walked down the open air aisle 

Acoustic guitar playing Canon in D major

Wooden cross outside behind bride, groom, and preacher

I left weekend job to attend this event out in the country.

Mom came to hold the fort down for me for a few hours.

So nice of her!!!

 

Sunset at the reception

Trees

Rolling hills with green grass 

Ahhhhh.....

Lovely occasion 

Simply lovely!

Celebrating Autumn Moon - A Tradition

See the moon rising?

Photo of kids (and one dad holding a newbie....only home 2.5 months)

Folks eat moon cakes during this celebration (....not us....don't care for them - some stuffed with black beans and others with egg yolks)

They're pretty, tho!

Kids who could get together that evening

Beautiful scenery 

-- parents (mostly moms ) and kiddos

It was worth the effort to meet up with these friends -- on a rushed school night.

Stir fried noodles - our dinner before we headed to the gathering.

We cooked them at home.

Still sentimental to observe Chinese traditions

Happy Autumn Moon Festival

We were joking around at the dinner table last night.

Mary said, "Mom...if you get married you can go on a humming-moon."

As I say -- joking around!

Marlene's table at a "celebration" event for women

This is the night before...my girls peeked in to see her decorated table and the other ones. They did not attend the actual banquet.

Not sure HOW many tables were set up....maybe 75?

Missions oriented for many of the table themes

I like this 'saying'. It was part of a table's decor.

I took this photo the next night at big event.

Mom and I went together.

Hundreds of women -- sweet gathering

Time to just be together in commonality of loving the Lord

The Girls Have Been Trying New Recipes

Healthy organic muffins 

Organic cauliflower soup

I'd never bought a leek before....til now, and it's in that soup.

Yum.

"I know what that is. It's a fly swapper!"

You don't say?!

A lady at church gave us this flip flop fly swatter. Cute, huh?

Mary prayed last night and said, "I RE-Preciate Jesus crucifying Himself for our sins."

She's actually not incorrect in her thoughts. 

The Bible tells us He willingly gave Himself...as a Lamb to the slaughter...

AND

If Satan had realized the profound impact of it all, 

he'd never have "crucified The Lord of Glory."

I RE-Preciate Jesus for His sacrifice, too!

Rescued Frog -- or Toad

I scooped up our little amphibious friend from the backyard and took him to the front.

I didn't want Peanut to pester it.

Mary had a bit of "petting time".

See her fingernails?

Molly had just painted them.

Emily Preparing to Write/Type World Geography Essay

Molly's Sweet Handmade Card for Emily

Gotta Love It

Morning Hair

Keeping Our Hummingbird Birdies Well Fueled

Two Medical Appointments at One Time

Molly's Eye Exam

Ain't she sweet?

Emily WITH CONTACTS in her eyes

Can you believe it?

She got them in and out VERY quickly.

The eye doc said, "IF they're motivated to wear them, folks get it happening fast."

Em is motivated.

Molly is next for her contact fitting.

Amazing!

We Are Petsitting/Housesitting for 10 Days

Up at 5:00 a.m. - to feed and love on these babies

Before

Heading home to get dressed

So we can all get to school/work

By 7:25

These are family friends who live close by.

That's WHY this is even do-able.

All good.

Friday Night - This is Our Agenda

The girls' school books, notebooks, DVD's and player.

I check their work on Friday evenings when I'm not at work.

It takes me a while. I go over all their subject area writings, answers, essays, calculations -- 

The girls know I appreciate their meticulous efforts and accuracy.

Their work is so neat!

They take tests and quizzes all during the week, and I check them right away.

They need the immediate feedback and/or correction so they can continue to build their understanding.

The girls are diligent and very responsible in their studies.

I'm so thrilled they're engaged in good solid, academic learning with the foundation being based on Christian principles.

This is not all of Molly's books and supplies. She'd already started packing up.

Keep up the super work!