little miss sunshine turns 9!

Wednesday was my Little Miss Sunshine's 9th birthday!  I'm not sure how she is 9 already!  Just yesterday she turned 3!  :}

Somehow she went from this (kindergarten)... 

...to this!  (third grade)

I always miss my kids every single day, but somedays it hits me harder than others.  My heart was aching to be with my sweet girl on her special day on Wednesday and today all three kiddos were on my mind a lot for some reason.  As I was telling God how I was missing them, I saw 12:34 on the clock in my car :) and was reminded that He knew already.  

A couple hours later I got home and was about to start on this post when my cell phone rang...and it was my LMS, just wanting to say hi!!  :)  She was sitting waiting while Mr. Happy got a haircut and decided she wanted to chat while she waited.  :)  I talked to Mr. Happy too and he told me all about the mystery flavored lollipop he got for being good while getting his hair done.  (The mystery flavor was orange he said.)  :)  LM Giggles is home sick and has been for a couple days, poor girlie.  

I still miss them, but I'm so thankful He let me hear their voices today!! :)

LM Sunshine, you are as sweet and cheerful as ever.  You are learning so much in school and having a great time.  But I'm glad you still miss me and just want to talk sometimes.  ;)  I pray for you on my way to work in the mornings - that God would whisper how much He loves you to your heart and that He would call you by name to Himself.  That He will bless your school day, and help you to be a friend to someone who needs one, because you are so good at being kind.  :)

I hope you had a perfect day on Wednesday and I can't wait to check out the metal detector you got!  :}  ("Kiki, so far I've found $1.53...in my own front yard!")

I love you, beautiful girl!!

will you help lauren show hope? :)

Most of you by now know my little sister Lauren.  She is my mini me is so many ways!  :)  For example, God has already put a fire in her heart for adoption and orphans.  After watching Rebekah bring home sweet Isaac, she feels the Lord leading her to join a mission trip to Maria's Big House of Hope, where Isaac had been.  It is a student trip that Show Hope leads every year.  Both Maria's and Show Hope are ministries that Steven Curtis Chapman and family started.  Here, I will let her officially introduce herself and tell you a little more about it. :)

Hi!  I'm Lauren. :) I'm 16 years old and a sophomore in high school.  When I graduate high school I want to attend Johnson University and study to be a teacher.  I love to dance and my heart/passion is in helping orphans/ adoption.

As long as I can remember, God's given me a heart for orphans. I really learned to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful gift of adoption from the process of adopting my two sweet brothers.

I first learned about MBHOH

from my sweet sister in Christ, Rebekah!  Since I learned they were adopting their sweet son Isaac I've absolutely loved MBHOH and wanted to get involved in the amazing things they do there.  My heart is already taken by the children at mbhoh and I would love to go give them hope and love on those precious kiddos!  On this student mission trip, I will be
taking care of, loving, and showing hope to the precious children at MBHOH- as well as doing small repairs around Maria's.
Since my ultimate goal in life is to do something-anything- with orphans and adoptions, this trip would just put me a step further into that goal!

So obviously, Lauren could use your help in several ways as she follows the Lord's call on her heart to go serve at Maria's.  Here is how you can help!


Prayer is always needed and helpful!  Even if you don't choose to pray for me pray for the precious babies at Maria's!  Donations would be greatly appreciated as this is an expensive trip. 

Lauren will be doing several different fund raisers to help with the cost of the trip.  Here is the one she is starting with: 

I am also selling wristbands that say "I love orphans John 14:18" in blue, hot pink, black, and purple!! They are $6 each.

***This is just an example to give you an idea of what it will look like...the actual bracelet will have a different font.  Lol.***

Ok, here's the scoop on bracelets and donations.  If you look on the top right of my blog you will see a "chip in" box labeled "lauren's mission trip".  To either make a donation or buy a bracelet, simply click on the "chip in" button.  That will take you to Pay Pal where you can either pay through a Pay Pal account or simply a credit card.  After you fill out the details of the amount and credit card info, you will click on the "review and continue" button.  On the next page you will see your shipping address and immediately underneath that you will see "note to seller: add".  Please click here and take just a second to specify whether you are simply donating or if you are buying a bracelet. If you are buying a bracelet, just let us know how many and what color(s).  Does that make sense?  :)  If you have any questions, just leave them below as a comment on this post.

Thank you for taking time to read this, and please pray for me as I continue on the journey as well as praying for the children!! 
Your support means the world to me. 
I believe that if this is something the Lord wants it will happen! 

Lauren 

If you have any questions about this trip for Lauren, leave a comment and I will have her be a "guest blogger" from time to time to keep you updated on how things are going and to answer any questions you might have.  You can check back to see her progress in the little "chip in" box!  :)


Who will be the first to get that mark off of zero??  I will have a special gift for the very first person to donate or buy a bracelet!  :)

polar bear club

The other day I got a picture in an email from my kids' mom (for those of you who may have just found my blog, I used to be a nanny for three kiddos...thus I call them "my" kids.  Now I'm a nanny for a new family.)  that said...

{Mr. Happy} decided back in February that he had waited long enough for summer!!

And had this picture attached...

Now, yes, my kids do have a pool in their back yard and I cracked up at this picture because ohmyheavens I have felt that water just with my hand in the winter before and it is FREEEEEZING!!  lol!  Wendy had a yearly habit of offering me $5 if I'd jump in.  I never did.  I think I told her one time to add a couple zeros and I'd think about it...!  :)

Well, I emailed her back that day and asked if she had offered Mr. Happy the same money and how long had he stayed in the water??

This is the story I got back:

 "Didn't pay anything. He and {Little Miss Giggles} walk in and announced that they were going swimming. I'm sure they thought I would say no way but instead I said, "Hold on, let me get the camera". {LMG} wised up at ankle depth while {Mr. H} insisted on jumping in. Lasted about 1/2 second before he catapulted himself out, crying and blaming ME. I am confident that he and {LMG} will NEVER try to go swimming in the winter again!" 

Hahahaha!!!!!  Sorry, buddy, I love you a lot but this story and this picture just completely cracks me up!  

I have heard these goofy kiddos ask before if they could go swimming before it was really warm enough and I LOVE the fact that Wendy's response this year was "Let me grab my camera!" Lol!  

I dare say she's right - lesson learned!

And don't worry buddy...just a couple more months and it will again be warm enough to be out in your pool every day!  See you this weekend!!  :)

this is what happens when you say yes

I've known about this video for a while but am just now able to share it!  It makes me tear up every time I watch it!  This is the story of my friend, Rebekah, and her family and her sweet Isaac.  Steven Chapman is sharing Isaac's story at his concerts this tour - so everyone who doesn't know the story yet will know it soon and be able to praise our Father with us for what He has done in Isaac's life so far!  :)  

Enjoy!

yes

Just a couple quick pics from last week.  Check out this totally stylin' little guy!  :)  I might love sunglasses.  Especially from The Children's Place.  They are the cheapest ones I've found aside from the dollar store...and usually a little bit cooler and don't brake as easily.  ;)

I first saw this short video on Linny's blog and absolutely had to share!  Just say yes!

                                              

creative glory photography

While I am NOT a professional photographer, I do love photography.  :)  I have started my own photography blog so that all my photo sessions are in one spot instead of spread throughout this blog.  I will still post one picture here and let you know that a new session is up for your viewing pleasure if you wish to see it.  :)  

So, to check out the new blog and eli's 5 month session, look to the right  --------------->
and click on the link to my new photography blog!  :) Most of the sessions you have seen before, but I will hopefully be adding more soon.  And if you ever want a session yourself, just ask!   :)

Guess who! :)

**So have you seen my cute little fishies over here?  --------------->

That is a fun new little gadget you can add to your page on blogger so I decided to try it out just for fun.  If you hover your mouse over it, the fish will come to you!  Click anywhere on the water and you can feed them!  :}  Just thought I'd explain!  What should I name them??**