Chinese Brush Painting

The girls are so enjoying their Chinese Brush Painting classes. Anli took the first level last semester and is moving onto the second level this Spring. Virginia loved the paintings Anli made so much that she decided that she wanted to take the first level. We love this class and especially love their teacher Mrs. Tso! She is amazing!!!

Virginia's first painting... Anli's Chinese writing...awesome!!!!
Anli's class is taking their pictures to another level. They are working on layering their flowers and adding bugs!

I have got some talented girlies! Great job sweet girls!!!

Leather Crafting

Virginia wanted to take a leather crafting class this semester and has already brought home some beautiful projects! The first week she learned about sewing leather and she made a gorgeous bracelet! Great job sweetie!!
Last week she learned how to stamp leather with a stamp and a mallet. She said it was hard work and at first she as scared she would hit her fingers. But, she stuck with it and made some beautiful bookmarks and a tag for her backpack.

Virginia...you have done some amazing work! I'm so very proud of you!

Prepare to Thrive!

Recently I was asked to write a short article (I know what you are thinking...and YES it was hard for me to keep it to 400 words...I'm one wordy girl!!!) for a ladies' mission magazine called Conversations. I was thrilled when I heard that the theme for this issue would be "Honoring God in Your Preparation." I have been down that road recently with our upcoming adoption.

I won't share any more since the article says everything on my heart. I hope you enjoy it...and sign up to get Conversations through email. This is the e-copy and the print copy will be out sometime soon. Enjoy...and thanks again for all the prayers and support!!


http://www.gabaptist.org/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/fileCabinet/ministries/237e6518-ae1d-4db3-844a-2959aa6966fc/wmu_conv-winter0910-heartpreparation.pdf

Cute Cupcakes!

Homeschool co-op has begun for the spring session and new classes are awesome! Anli is taking a cupcake decorating class and she LOVES it! This girl is bound for the culinary world and has had a desire to be a chef or baker, or cake decorator since she could talk. She was the child crying outside the bookstore at the age of 4 when we were turned away from seeing Rachel Ray. Then...when "her" people heard about the little girl crying outside they promptly took us by the hand and gave us a free book and showed us to Rachel Ray! That girl loves her some Food Network and cooking!
So, here is her first creation...a penguin! She did an amazing job and they get to make two...so we got to enjoy the fruits (or cupcakes) of her labor:) I mean those things were YUMMMMMY! Thanks Anli for sharing!

Anli is also taking Chinese Brush Painting 2, Beautiful Girlhood (a girl's Bible study group on how to study the Bible, use a commentary, dress modestly, be a good friend, serve others, etc.), and a Servant's Heart (where they do 14 different service projects for others).

Virginia is taking Chinese Brush Painting 1, Ballet, Leathercrafting (so cool!!), and a Servant's Heart. They love all their classes and I love all that they are learning and being exposed to each week! We are so thankful for FBC Woodstock and their desire to offer an amazing program for homeschoolers. There are around 1,000 or more children involved in this ministry!!!

Look for more samples of art projects the girls are doing on Tuesdays...LOVE IT!

Pray!

I am at a retreat and my baby girl is in the hospital!!! She had a
stomach bug and she went to the ER last night and then was admitted.
She will be there until tomorrow. As you see she has gotten lots of
"hugs" from her momma and her grandmomma!!

By the time Jay and were able to talk this morning she was doing so
much better and Jay said I should stay here. It's hard, but when I got
this photo and saw that smile...I knew God had sent ministering angels
(including my husband most of all!!!!!!!) to tend to my baby.

They will stay the night and get home as I get home tomorrow. God put
them in such a wonderful place who can do more than I could
imagine...there were even clowns who came to do a show fo her this
morning!!!

I HEART Scotish Rite!!!!! If you think about it...pray for my family
and this momma's heart. Pray a hedge of protection around Jay and
Anli!!! But, at least if there are any more tummy troubles tonight for
anyone...they are in the best place:)

Look at that smile...

Family Focused Friday!

One day I walked by Anli's door and she had made a really small piece of paper for a mail box outside her door. Well, that got my creative juices flowing...what a great idea! Since we homeschool, I can no longer put cute notes in their lunches. So, instead I made them some more stable and larger mailboxes to put on their doors. This way...each day (or couple of days) they can get mail from us or their sister or friends. It's really fun!!!
They have enjoyed getting cards, candy, privilege passes for extra computer time, and other fun treats! I try to make sure they get mail several times a week and we try to vary who does it and what they get. Sometimes it's just a quick note to tell them one thing they did really well that day. Other days it has been something special like a cool piece of candy, a bookmark, or a small gift that lets them know we thought about them.

It's really a fun way to make sure that they feel special that thought about. We try to encourage them on what they did well, something kind they did that day, or a great attitude. Sometimes it will have verse too.

First I just took a lunch bag and then took some scrapbook paper that matched their room colors and printed out their name for the mailbox to be personal. Then, I reinforced the back of the bag with lots of tape so if I put a gift inside of it there wouldn't be rip. Then, I punched two holes in the back of the bag and hung it on two clear Command strips so it would not leave a mark on our doors if we need to remove them. I used two so that it would hang straight and more secure for larger gifts.

If you are looking for a cheap, yet special way to give your kids encouragement and the fun we all like of getting mail...then, this might be a craft you want to try! We sure have loved it:) And it reminds us to encourage each other every day!

GBC Retreat

Today I am leaving for the Georgia Baptist Ministers' Wives Retreat! I am the president this year...so we have been SUPER crazy busy planning this whole retreat for about 120 women!! Also, on top of planning the whole retreat I am the speaker this year.

So, please pray for me and all the other women that will be there this weekend. Pray for us all to focus on God and grow closer to Him. Pray for Paula, Amy, and I as officers to not get bogged down in ALL the MANY details that are involved in this retreat!

I will share lots of memories as we get back and can't wait for the fun to begin and the ladies to arrive!

We "lava" homeschool projects!

Last week we enjoyed doing a project in Astronomy to help up get an idea of what Venus might be like. Since Venus is really HOT...like 850 degrees all the time...it also has lots of volcanoes and lots of lava. So, we took some time to make lava and then let it dry to see how rocks are formed from lava. It was really fun! First we melted some butter on the stove. Anli had a WONDERFUL idea to add food coloring to it so that it would be red! Great idea!
Then, we made a volcano with some flour and then put an upside down small custard cup to make the volcano shape. We weren't really studying the volcanoes themselves...but the way rocks would form from the lava on Venus.

Then, they took turns pouring our lava into the top of the volcano so that it would run down the sides.

Pretty cool...

After a few days we had hard "volcanic rock" that we could kind of break apart into rocks. It was pretty neat! We love our science curriculum called Apologia!! It has such a strong creation background that we really get some good information.

On thing I have learned that I didn't know is that Venus spins in the opposite direction of all the other planets. The book reminded us that if all the planets were formed from a cosmic "big band" in the universe then all the rocks from that blast would spin the same way. It doesn't make sense that only ONE planet would spin in the opposite direction. Never thought about it!

We are loving this curriculum and we are ALL learning so much!

Happy Birthday Virginia!!!!

Today our little girl turns NINE years old...last year in single digits!! I can hardly believe that my baby girl is turning 9! We do parties for the girls every other year and so this year was not her party year. When they don't have a party...they get to do something really special instead with family or a really nice present.

So, this year Virginia wanted to go on a trail ride with horses!!! We thought that sounded like an awesome idea so we called to book it...but then the ice hit and since the ride is an hour and a half in the north Georgia mountains...it wasn't possible to go when we planned. So, we had to postpone her trail ride for another week.

So, since that fell through for her birthday weekend, we invited some of her friends to come over after church today and play, eat cake, and celebrate her day! So...I guess she is kind of getting BOTH this year:)

Every year we make the girls' cakes and try to always do something really fun and creative! Jay and I like a challenge and really...they are pretty easy. So, of course, Virginia wanted a horse cake. So, we found a cute one online that we both liked and got to work last night when I got home from a quick trip to Birmingham.

Family Fun online magazine always has the BEST cakes and I think that almost every one we have ever done has come from them. They are easy and so cute! We sent Virginia to her room to play while we all worked on the cake. It was a huge surprise for her!! But...she couldn't wait until her party so she got a preview last night!

He is just too cute!


A few years ago we made her this birthday shirt with her name on it and "I'm the Birthday Girl" written across it. She wore it this morning to church and looked SO cute with her blue jean skirt and groovy tights...and bow so big she looked like the cutest present in the world!!!!

After church we loaded BOTH of our cars full of little squealing girls and headed to our house for a party! Anli had a friend over too just to make sure we had fun for both girls! Jay and I just laughed several times at all the squealing, laughing, dancing, and fun those 6 girls had! We LOVE girls around here:)

Happy Birthday to you sweet girl!

Then...it was time for PRESENTS!

One of her friends have her Blendy Pens and they all got to work making some creative art pictures. Did I say how much I LOVE girls???? Just look at these cutie pies...

Virginia,

You are our precious baby girl! You have the most tender heart of anyone I know. You are quick to help even when we never even ask. You are a wonderfully sweet friend and love people. You have become quite the comedian and make us laugh...a lot:) You think of others and how they are feeling first.

I love how you always ask if you can "snuggle" with us. I look forward to you snuggling with me as I finish my quiet time every single morning. I love how you want to know what I was reading and listen as I read to you. We cherish your hugs and your sweet smile. You touch our hearts in a very tender way and we can't even imagine a moment without you in our lives.

You are SO smart!!! You are a whiz at math and just about everything else too! You still love video games and reading. You are ahead in your school work for your grade and can do so many things well. You are creative, you dance beautifully (wanting to make it to pointe class!), you love to draw and paint and almost anything else in the arts and crafts.

You are a treasure. You are a blessing. You are amazing and generous. You are quick to give every single penny you have to those in need. You donated your hair to Locks of Love and knew exactly why you wanted to do that. You are a hard worker and a JOY to every minute of our lives.

We are honored to be your parents. We can't wait to see where God will take you this year and how He will mold you!

Happy Birthday precious girl! You are a gift!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Odette Update!!!!!

I just got this update!!! After 3 days of searching they have found her!!!!! Here is the email...praise God for a wonderful answered prayer!!!!!


"I can't thank you enough for praying...Odette has been found! She was with her mother...the phone call was brief from my understanding, so they don't know anything about the rest of her family, but Rico, the man that runs the orphanage, has Odette and is going to keep her with him in his courtyard...his home has been destroyed. Whitestone is working with the US Embassy today to be able to bring all 4 of the adopted girls home to US immediately...I don't know that we can ever understand how all these prayers have moved the heart of God and kept her safe...thank you for your faithfulness and thank you LORD for keeping our girl safe!!!"

Please Pray!!!!!!!

I got this email today from a friend who knows this family well. I actually got an email from his wife earlier in the week but didn't know if I was at liberty to share it on my blog. Today I have permission to ask you to pray for this family. As a prospective adoptive mother...I am so heavy hearted over this in empathy. Join us in prayer for this adoptive family and their little girl Odette in Haiti!!!

Here is ema as U received it this morning:

Hi Friends,

I am not usually one to send out mass requests like this but in this time I am asking you...I am pleading with you, to intercede in prayer...

My cousin Allyson and her husband Andy are in the process of adopting Odette, a sweet little girl from Coq Chante Orphange on a mountain about 10 minutes outside of Port au Prince, Haiti. Their church, Whitestone, has been actively involved with this orphanage for the past several years and there are a handful of families currently in the adoption process waiting to bring home their girls in the next few months. Allyson just returned from a trip to see Odette on Monday night...we are already seeing God's hand and His faithfulness by bringing her home safely.

The reports we've heard from Coq Chante: the orphanage is partially collapsed, but all the girls that live there made it out safely except one...as she was walking down the front steps the building collapsed on her and she did not survive. Odette had gone to Port au Prince with her biological parents for the day (they are so impoverished they cannot afford to pay for her living expenses) to have DNA
testing done as part of the adoption process. We don't know where she is...the contact between the Whitestone families and Coq Chante orphanage has been able to get Odette's biological father's cell phone number- phone calls from the US to Haiti are supposed to be taking precedence right now over inter-country calls- and they will continue calling throughout the day until they hear something. This adoption process has already taken over a year and the most recent news was that they were within a couple of months of bringing Odette home.

PLEASE pray for Odette today...for her safety, for her health, for her biological parents who are with her right now...please also pray for Andy and Allyson Coleman, for their other three daughters, Taylor, Molly, and Abby (the girls do not yet know that Odette is unaccounted for)...and for all the girls of Coq Chante orphanage. Please ask your families, your churches, your prayer warriors to seek God today. In the midst of tragedy it is easy to watch the news and feel stirred to pray for those hurting...my request is that you will pray specifically for this family, for the little girl that God has hand-picked to be part of our family, and that He would continue to be faithful in covering her and holding her close. I love you all and will keep you updated as news comes in.

Thank you,
Lisa

Every Child Deserves a Home

Please take a moment to view this music video put together by Holt
International to a song by Newsong. Grab some tissues...or a lot...and
hit your knees to pray how you can be a part of bringing homes to the
143 million orphans and those in foster care!! We are called to care
and to love and to act...be blessed by this as I was (thanks Rhonda!).

*I can't embed this one since it is copyrighted by Holt so please
follow the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQjObgmNbmE&feature=youtube_gdata

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Polar Bear Swimming!

What do we do when it is below freezing outside?

We go swimming INSIDE of course:) After 2 days in the house we needed
some exercise, so we headed to Lifetime for some swimming!

The girls are having a blast and when Jay finishes his meeting I'm
headed to workout a little myself! Fun times...

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

More Snow Memories...

***Another snow post below****