If You're Not, You Should!

If you have not started earning Swagbucks, you should.

Swagbucks is a search engine. With every 5th or so search, you earn Swagbucks. Accumulate Swagbucks and trade them in on free stuff.

Seriously, its ALL free!

Click here and start getting free stuff!




Comment if you have questions.

Our Day with Christine

I told you last week that the kids and I were off to help Christine and family.

Well, my intentions were good!

The kids and I did trek down, wore our paint clothes, rolled our sleeves up...but Christine had other ideas!

You see, at this point, she had been working her tail off for the last 2 weeks. She wanted to sit and visit. So, we had a great time catching up in real life (as opposed to blog life). We talked about our families (we both have biological/adopted, multi-racial children), our husbands and their jobs, the move that her family recently made, and much more. It was a great chat.

The kids enjoyed running thru the RV park with her children, riding bikes up and down the big hill, playing with make-up and nail polish and playing DS...although, I think they liked the Krispy Kremes I brought the best! All the kids had a great time.

I even had the privilege of meeting her in-laws (who were so kind as to bring lunch for everyone!)!

Now, don't get me wrong, I so enjoyed chatting with Christine all day (after all, don't think we had seen each other in about 15 years), but I truly enjoyed the quietness of the park. I just kept sitting there commenting on how quiet it was. I could actually hear nature sounds and not cars honking and sirens blaring! I kept looking at the nature...the field across the street, the HUGE grasshoppers on the tree and the beautiful birds that were flitting about! What a peaceful existence!

I came home and asked my husband if we could purchase an RV...just so we could go chill out at Hill Shade!

For more about our day, hop on over and read Christine's take...

Away For the Day

My kids and I have stepped away from the computer for the day.

We have gone here to help her. I expect it to be a day of laughing, learning and helping!

We will update you when we get back!

Fed the Homeless

I finally got to give one of these away the other day!

WARNING! Not for the Faint of Heart!

Here is an update on my cousins daughter, Shaylee.

I know the economy is tight, but I also know that our Lord provides! This family would be truly blessed if you could make any dontation. NOTHING is too small!

Be warned...the images are graffic!

Come To My E-Party!

UPDATE: My E-party ends Wednesday, May 6th in the evening. I would love to max out the Adoption Love Meter on my E-Party page. Please, consider purchasing some great clothes for your little one and support adoption!

Remember not so long ago when I introduced you to a great company?

Well, I love them so much that I decided I would help them on a new venture...an E-Party!

What is an E-Party, you ask? Well, it is much like any party that an at-home business throws...you know the ones...send out invitations, make some food, clean your house, have the business person come over and talk about her product and get product credit based on what your guests purchase...EXCEPT, I didn't have to cook or clean and people didn't have to take time out of their busy schedules to come over and spend a few hours! How great is that? All I had to do was provide the company some email addresses, write a few blog posts, let my friends get on their computers and purchase some great products and...VIOLA! It's a party!

So, if you enjoy their products and would like to be a part of my E-Party (or better yet, host your own!) just come! You can crash my party!

Let's Party!

Care Packages for the Homeless

Do you have one of those things that you're always 'gonna do' but it seems to never get done?

Well, I finally checked one of those things off of my list.

You see, I live in San Antonio. We have homeless on almost every major intersection. I pass someone holding a sign at least 3 times a week...usually more. I am so glad that God has chosen to bless me and that I do not have to live like that. I do not know their stories. Some probably have legit stories, some do not. It is not my place to judge that.

I was taught as a young child not to give them money. My parents felt that giving them money would only keep them from looking for work...or would encourage them to buy alcohol...or keep them dependent on others. Now, we never discussed what we should do for them, just that we should not give them money.

Then, one day, my step-mom (I hate that term...Mom) told me about when she was young. Her daddy owned a machine shop near the railroad tracks in Odessa, Texas (you know, when West Texans actually made money from oil...back in the day...). Homeless would get off the train on which they hitched a ride and often come into the shop and ask for money. My Papaw would never give them money, but he always had care packages on hand. Bags that contained bread, lunchmeat and soda. He would hand those out to people that came in asking for help...or better yet, have his children hand them out. Ever since my mom first told this story, I thought that is exactly what we should do to help people who find themselves holding signs, trying to make their way.

So, fast forward about 25 years...I have a son who thinks we should give money to everyone holding a sign. He has a HUGE heart and just wants to help everyone that we come in contact with. When I drive past or tell him that we are not going to give them money, he just doesnt understand why.

So, I finally did what I always have said I was going to do. I went to the store and bought 5 pouches of tuna. I brought them home, got five bags and divided them up. I then sorted thru my kids snack box...you know the one...the one with perfectly good snacks that they will never eat all of...and pulled out a bunch of great things to add to the bags. I added raisins, crackers, cookies and a capri-sun into the bags with the tuna. I tied them all up and put them in the back of my van. THEN, today, I had another brain-storm...they needed to have some God in them. So, I ran to the store and bought some tracts. They are titled, 'You Are Not Alone'. Slid those into the bags this morning.

Now, I am actually looking forward to seeing my next homeless person. Can't wait for my son to open the side door on the van and hand a care package to some unsuspecting person on the street!

Amazing!

I got to do something on my 'Bucket List' today!

I got to witness childbirth!

Now, don't get me wrong...I have GIVEN birth, but never had the privilege of witnessing birth...until today.

I went to visit my friend, Deborah in the hospital. I knew they were inducing her today. I thought I would stop by, visit, laugh a bit and then be on my way. We knew she was only allowed 2 people in the labor and delivery room...her mom and her husband...(yeah, don't know why she didn't pick me...)

Well, I got there and she had the COOLEST nurse.

I kept asking the nurse if I should leave and she kept saying no.

I asked Deborah if she wanted me to leave and she said no.

So, I stayed. And before I knew it, little Nathan was entering the world!

Amazing!

Here is Nathan's first picture in his mommy's arms.

These are the siblings that are waiting at home for their little brother to join them!

(Yup, you see it right...the youngest is only 18 months! Whew!)

Deborah and Family...Thank you for letting me be a part of an amazing experience! God has blessed me and my family with your friendship!

Thank you, Lord, for the miracle of birth!

Panda Family Fundraiser

UPDATE: I have to say, I am a bit disappointed in my readers. The Panda Family's 'Chip In' meter has not changed since I posted this request! I know some of my readers are experiencing financial difficulties of their own. It is understandable that you would not be able to chip in. I also know that the majority of my readers are doing just fine! Can't you give just a few dollars to this family? Please, help bring a boy home!

I would like to introduce you to the Panda Family.

This family holds a special place in my heart!

You see, Panda Pop, aka Wayne, and I went to college together. We knew of each other, because let's face it, it's a small school. We didn't keep up with each other after college, didn't really know each other that well.

Fast forward 13 years...My family decides to adopt from China. Kaylee comes home and I become interested in reading blogs about others who have adopted from China. I am surfin' the net and, thru another friend's blog, I end up on Pandapalooza.

Well, look at that, it's Wayne up there and he has a daughter from China! Amazing!

I now read about Jana, Wayne and Zoe on a daily basis. They are a precious family!

Now, Jana and Wayne feel called to adopt another child. This time, God is leading them to a boy in Haiti.

I don't know if you have any idea, but adoption is expensive. When we were saving to bring Kaylee home, we had plate lunch sales, collected aluminum cans, took on part-time jobs and much more! We tried many ways to earn and save money.

That brings me to this post...I would like to hold a Fundraiser for the Panda Family.

For the month of August, I am challenging whomever stumbles upon my blog to head on over to Pandapalooza, click the 'Chip In' button and donate.

For those of you who decide to help a family who are striving to give a boy in Haiti a better future, I ask that you come back to this post and leave a comment.

At the end of August, I will choose a random winner from those comments to win this:

Just a little token of my appreciation for you helping a friend.

Remember, anything will help this family bring their son home (If every one who has ever visited my blog would hop on over and donate a just dollar, this family would have $3000+ to save for bringing home their son).

Now please...

Go...

Give...

Help bring a boy home!