2 Raven-haired Beauties

OOOOOOOOOH! ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

This time on the Love Without Boundaries blog! Check it out! http://www.blogger.com/www.lwbchinablog.blogspot.com The post about the giveaway is on July 28th, but I can't seem to link just that post... ANYHOO... GREAT giveaway and even GREATER organization!!! In case you don't know, our sweet pea princess #1's cleft surgeries in China were sponsored by Love without Boundaries, and sweet pea princess #2's foster care in China was sponsored by LWB in conjunction with Grace and Hope for Children, so as you can imagine, LWB has a very special place in our hearts! AMAZING organization, they do AMAZING work! Go check 'em out! Sponsor a child... for education, foster care, nutrition or medical needs!

Quilt Giveaway!

2008-07-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

Go check out the GORGEOUS quilt they are giving away at Old Red Barn Co. One of the fabric designer is SANDI Henderson, so you just KNOW it's gorgeous! (Because she spells her name right! :D )http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/2008/07/win-this-quilt.html If I win, I will donate the quilt to Love Without Boundaries ( www.lovewithoutboundaries.com ) for their spring art auction. So, go check out the quilt and go check out LWB!!!

2008-07-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I haven't posted in FOREVER!!!! Well, I plan to get better about that, really I do! :D I promise to update pictures VERY soon!

New homeschool ebook!

I just finished reading a new homeschool ebook that I wanted to share with you. It is by a wonderful Christian homeschool Mom whose blog I have enjoyed reading for many months now. Her name is Kelly Crawford, and I have found her blog to be so inspiring, encouraging, and challenging (in a good way!) that I knew I would enjoy her homeschool ebook! Guess what? I was CORRECT! =) We are going into our 11th year of homeschooling, but also starting "over"! It's been a long time since I have a Kindergartener, so I was looking for some inspiration and a fresh perspective. That is just what I found in Kelly's homeschool ebook. Kelly is a "relaxed" homeschooler, just as we are, so it was great to read about the same philosophy from a fresh perspective! Not only did it affirm my own philosophy, but it refreshed my outlook! I find myself more excited to start a new school year and with a new student! Can't ask for more than that, now, can you? Not only did she explain her philosophy in her spiritually mature, heart warming way, but she also was sure to include practical ideas and plenty of "how tos", making the book a complete package. Encouraging and Inspiring for new and veteran homeschoolers alike!
I think you will find her first educational objective not only refreshing, but right on the mark!
"To teach them (her children) the fear of the Lord as the foundation of knowledge."

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that Kelly referenced:

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening
the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of
satisfying it afterwards."

Anatole France

"Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to
give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly
wherever or whatever abysses nature leads, or you
will learn nothing."

Thomas H. Huxley

... and here is one from Kelly herself!

"With life-learning there is no start or finish, no taking off,
no being behind... just a constant readiness to learn
something else."

Be sure and get in on her new launch sale on this ebook! Now through Monday... at http://www.generationcedar.com/

Her blog is www.generationcedar.blogspot.com (also in my favs)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but one thing I like to do... and want to do even BETTER in the new year is SAVE MONEY!!!!!!! Why spend more than you have to on things you need, right? I have several ideas for you, but will start with this one... a FABULOUS ebook course I found by Crystal Paine, called Supermarket Savings 101. Go check it out Click Here!

I am having a blast impressing my sweet husband with all I've been able to save! Gotta love that!

I know it's short notice, but if you order TODAY, you can get the whole set of ebooks for ONLY $5.97!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures... REALLY!!!!!!!

2007-11-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

I have got to tell you... I have some great pictures to post! BUT, I need music man to resize them first! I know there are some of my HISC pals reading, so GO BUG HIM about it for me! :D Then I need to learn to resize myself! HA!

EEK, where does the time go?

2007-10-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, YES! (Mimi ;) ) I do need to update my blog! I have been waiting for some great new pictures to post, and I have just been bad about taking them! Tomorrow we are planning to take pumpkin patch pictures, so hopefully I will have some to post! :D

What a difference a MONTH makes!!!

2007-10-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Today is exactly 4 weeks after Gotcha! ... and what a difference that 4 weeks has made in our newest little sweetheart! It makes my heart SING to see how far our sweet angel has come in these 4 weeks. I know that as adults, we can't imagine such a transformation for ourselves in such a short time! Amazing resiliency for sure, and absolutely the GRACE OF GOD! I find such JOY in each day watching sweetpea #2 adapt. She is SO HAPPY almost all of the time. I can just see in her face that she is LOVING every minute of being in our happy family! Just as her big sister, she is ADORING her big brothers and all of the attention they lavish upon her! :-) They are the absolutely BEST big brothers in the world, ya know!

I will try to get some new pictures tomorrow and post them.

Gotcha Day Sept.10, 2007

2007-10-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

As expected, sweetpea #2 was none too happy to have her world turned upside down! She was Daddy's girl from the start, and I couldn't hold her for the first 4-5 days. I was expecting this though, so no biggie. These days she is doing SO WELL! The resiliancy of these little ones is simply INCREDIBLE! Well, I guess it just goes to show what love can do! (Above picture is from Gotcha day, and shows her pursed lips of disapproval that we saw often the first few days, but she's beautiful anyway, isn't she? :-) )

Here is the first layout I have done of sweetpea #2 since we got home... but then, still hindered by jetlag, I haven't been very motivated to scrap! This one was a Design Team assignment Treasures to Scrap. Our sponsor this month is Reminisce.

2007-09-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN!!!

2007-09-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

So sorry nothing has been posted! I absolutely could NOT post in China! UGH. We had a wonderful trip, but are SO happy to be HOME!!! "There's no place like home" couldn't be more true! We are SO VERY thankful for the precious gift we received from China. We are truly blessed! Our sweetpea #2 is absolutely amazing and wonderful!

Lots to post, but too jet lagged just now! lol

... and THEY'RE OFF!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a QUICK minute on my way out the door to THANK EVERYONE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all of the prayers, love and support! I'm telling you, the China adoption community is a force to be reconned with! We love you all!!! Prayers for travel GREATLY appreciated! and also for sweetpea #2's transition into her FOREVER FAMILY!!!

Adios amigos!

Countdown to Sweetpea #2

2007-09-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

YIKES!!! I can't believe it's Tuesday and we leave FRIDAY!!! I think I felt like the 3 day weekend would go on forever! Not in a bad way, just that we had plenty of time to get ready! Hmmm... guess I should think about packing, huh? Less than ONE WEEK until Sweetpea #2 is officially OUR DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!! God is GOOD!!!

Here is a picture for you from June. Oh, I cannot WAIT to let that hair grown!!! lol

Family and Travel

2007-09-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

2007-08-31T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here's another little sneak for today! More goodies from the http://www.serendipityscrapbooks.com/ kit! Our little princess will soon be a BIG SISTER!

2007-08-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

SHHHHHHHHHH... a little SNEAK PEEK for ya!

Here is a recent LO I did of sweetpea #2 with a kit from http://www.serendipityscrapbooks.com/ I officially start my "tour of duty" on their Design Team on Saturday! Thanks for visiting! Of course, I have a big case a "SWEETPEA #2 ON THE BRAIN" and it's coming out through my artwork!

2007-08-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

So, here it is, a BLOG. YIKES! Not that I will have important things to say, other than to post about our China trip... and then I can post my scrapbook work here... but, I went ahead and DID IT! Scary, huh?

We got our "Notice of Coming to China" (Travel approval or "TA") last week and have spent the time since then working out the details of a travel timeline... NOW, most of our travel arrangements are made, and we leave in ONE WEEK!!! I'm excited to go, just feel like there is so much to be done first!!! That's always the way though, isn't it?

2007-08-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

We have worked hard to bring our new sweetpea home, but are still a wee little bit short on funds, so we decided that there might be people that would like to help her orphanage with the children left behind. This is a required "donation", but IS to help those who come after her, which we know there will be many...Therefore, I have set up a chip in account to help with that donation. THANK YOU in advance, from the bottom of our hearts!