Beauty Queen!! Again!!

Several weeks ago G competed in a local beauty pageant that she competed in last year. Last year it was her first time and we were so surprised and delighted when she won. She knew right away that she wanted to participate in the pageant again the next year. So this year she signed up and we got to go dress shopping again. She definitely had opinions on what she wanted this year and we were both happy with the dress she picked out.

Here she is backstage before the pageant started. She looked absolutely beautiful.



And guess what?!?! She won!!!!





We are so proud of you gorgeous G girl!!!

Fashion Show

Several weeks ago G got to walk in some fashion shows modeling clothes from Sears. She had four shows over the course of a weekend. She is a natural and she loves getting to do stuff like this. I think she was born for the stage.

Here she is in the car one day between shows.



There was hair and makeup before each show to get ready. Here are some pictures I took of her getting ready.










Gorgeous girl ready to go on :-)


She took this picture of me as we were waiting for a show one afternoon. I sure do look tired in this picture… I guess I was :-) that sure was a long weekend, but we had a great time together and it was a great time of making memories. I am just so thankful for the opportunity to get to support my kids and be involved in all the things they do.

Random catch up

Sissy got to drive Papa's truck at his lake house one day :-)



Big B recently competed in an archery competition representing his school. He got fourth place that day! He had a lot of fun! So proud of him :-)


Daddy got sissy some pretty flowers for Valentine's Day :-) she was so excited!


Here is B and I heading to his soccer team garage sale fundraiser to set up. It was freezing freezing freezing cold those days… I told him that I was earning major mom points for this :-) even though it was pretty miserable and it was hard work, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am a very proud soccer mom!


I have the best husband in the entire world. I was away on a retreat a couple weekends ago and I came home to this. A mudroom locker system was on my list for a long time but I thought we would have to wait until after the baby came home. He decided to surprise me and whipped out this built-in from scratch :-) it still needs to be painted and we need to add some hooks and bands but at least it is functional just like it is. We will add the finishing touches when we return from our trip and get settled in with our baby girl :) but I love this sooooo much!

Care package

I was so excited after we got our LOA so that I could send our sweet girl a care package.

I had a soft photo hello made for her and also sent a photo album and a little musical toy.




I prayed and prayed that the package would make it there so that she could see pictures of her family. Exactly 2 weeks later we received 19 pictures of her with her things that we had sent. Wow! I can't even describe what a blessing this was to us. She looked like she was really happy with the things we sent!!!

Crafty

I've had the opportunity to be a little crafty lately.

Here is one little project. Sis needed a little half apron for her school play. We went to goodwill to look for something we could use for a vintage looking fabric. After we thought we struck out... As we were leaving we walked through the aisle of ladies shirts and found this shirt. She loved the fabric so we bought it!


Then we came home and I got to work cutting and pinning....



And made her this precious little apron!!!

I was in love with how it turned out! I even used the long strips of the shirt with the button holes and buttons as the ties. And instead if tying, you fasten a button to keep it on!

I will post a picture soon of her wearing it. She looked darling :)

R needed a Patriot general Costume for a school project. He designed it out and told me exactly what he wanted. So we headed off to Goodwill to see if we could find a navy blue suit jacket that we could use. The only suits available were men's extra large size! So I got one of them anyway and came home to start cutting and pinning to see what I could come up with. I ended up shortening the sleeves and also making it a little bit narrower with a little cutting and sewing some gold brocade closures a little closer together. I added the red detail as he requested and also made the white sashes to go on top. He was so proud of his costume! What a cute boy :-)

Help bring these children home!!!!

The adoption community of friends that we have is one of life's biggest blessings to us!! Let's all help these families bring their children home! If we all do a little, it can accomplish a LOT! Trust me-- I've seen this with my own eyes!!! :)

Click the link below to help the Smith's bring home their sweet boy from China!! Your chance to win an ipad mini bundle!! Hurry! They are drawing for the winner this Saturday!!!

http://countingdownagain.blogspot.com/2013/02/adoption-raffle.html?m=1

AND!!! Click the link below to help the Ward family bring home their son and daughter from Haiti!! Your chance to win a Keurig Brewing System!! They are drawing for the winner on Saturday, March 23rd!!

http://www.wardfamilycircus.blogspot.com/2013/02/amazing-raffle.html

Thank you all!!

The big winner!!

Hello friends and family!! I have had technical difficulties in trying to get this fun video to post here! I posted it on Facebook the night we did the drawing.

In case the video doesn't work (again) the winner of the bundle was # 603 Lane Crosno!!
We had an incredible amount of support from so many family and friends! God used each of you who participated to bless us in a huge way!!!! And we are SO thankful!!! Thank you all SO very much!!!
We set a goal of $2,000. It was a big goal big goal but we knew it wasn't too big for our God!
So, guess how much money we raised for the orphanage donation??????
Drum roll please!!!!!
$3,020!!!!!!
No, that's not a typo! We really did raise $1,020 more than our goal on this fundraiser alone!!!
We are SO grateful to God!!! And we are humbled by the support we received and the amount of love and encouragement poured out on us as we near the time to bring our darling baby girl home to her forever family.
We could never thank each of you enough and can't wait to share the rest of our journey to Khloe with you all!
Also, Thank you again for your prayers. They truly are what has held us up as we have endured life's storms that have raged around us in recent weeks.
Following God in faith isn't always the easy way--- but it is most definitely worth it. We keep pressing on toward that which He has called us to despite the difficulty, trials and tribulations that this world throws our way.
Why? Because He is worthy. Our loving and merciful God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are worth our obedience, service and any sacrifices made in His name. It is an honor to serve Him and live for Him!!
Because she is worth it. Khloe is a precious daughter of God and He has called us to be her parents. For us to be her family. WE are SO blessed to have received this call!!
Like I always say: Anytime the fire continues to get hotter..... God is getting ready to do something BIG!!!
And I can attest to the fact that it's been pretty warm in our neck of the woods....
So you know what that means????? Baby girl is coming home soon!!! :)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!
Thank you all again for giving so generously and blessing us so richly with your gifts!!!
May God richly bless each one of you!!!!