Time for Helping

Rebecca Sower has a new blog, Haiti by Hand. She's looking for artists to make and donate items for the Haiti by Hand etsy shop. I'm working on making license plate signs with words in Creole.

I've been watching Anderson Cooper on CNN. (I love that guy.) Anderson is not reporting this story but this is a wonderful story of rescue. It's about a man and his dedication and love for his wife. A woman with courage and gratefulness, a woman who is thankful and rejoices. A woman who sings with so much life in her. Click here to see.

Day 12

January 12...how are things going with your new things for the new year?

I'm still painting in the kitchen and I have the sweatshirt to prove it!

Esther started this morning, wonderful. No yoga or bootcamp but I am sitting up straighter, shoulders back.

I made a few coffee cuffs and swarfs to take down to a store here in town but didn't get photos all of them. The little coffee cuffs are so fun and easy to make. Great gifts to give with coffee gift cards.

Volleyball started. I have to tell you all how nice my sister Lynn is. She stepped in as our much needed 5th player on Sunday. I know I owe her big time but it was worth it.

Stew is in the crockpot for supper, laundry calls. Oh the romantic life I live!

Beautiful Bride, Sweet Sylvia!

Almost ten years ago I started working at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as a Coordinator of University Activities. I can't believe it has been 10 years! While I was there, I met a sweet, freshman girl named Sylvia from Slovakia. She was working at Taco Bell and had the cutest accent. Her english was outstanding and she became one of the hardest working students I had ever met. She volunteered for everything, studied hard and became a worker at the student union front desk. She also was selected as one of the Chancellor's Ambassadors that hosted numerous dignitaries on campus. She's just the kind of girl that you want as a friend. Kind, funny, and you just want happy things for her. And, happy things have happened. I really wished I could have been there but the good news is she married a guy from Hazard, Nebraska so I will be seeing her in the summer!

The dress was made in Slovakia and is just about the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen.

A jacket was made to go with the dress. Stunning, don't ya think?

New Ideas in 2010

Here are the kiddos on Chirstmas Eve. Lynn and her family was able to come during the snowstorm. It is such a blessing to have them 2 and a half blocks away!

Happy New Year. I love thinking about new things. I've thought about a few. Here they are:

I'm preparing gluten free scalloped potatoes for dinner, so far, not going as well as hoped. Need to experiment more with gluten free cooking in 2010.

Paint more...like having the kitchen done by January 31, dining room done by Febuary 28, bathroom and foyer done by March 31, hallway done by May 31, and the kids rooms finished by August 1. I better get busy. I can see how it all will look when it is done, so now I just need to get it done!

Thinking about yoga. I had lunch with a great friend who is actually taller than she was in high school. She said that yoga has stretched her spine. This is a great new thing for me to think about. My shoulders could use some good stretching.

Thinking about bootcamp. Need to find out more but the thought of getting in shape is drawing me to it.

Thinking I may need to be disciplined to blog once a week. Everyday is too much for this girl. The 3 and 4 year olds in the house are much too important. So, if I can at least blog once a week, I'll feel good if I blog more than that.

Beth Moore's Esther study starts soon with all the girls. I can't wait. You can find out more about this here. Watch the trailer...it only takes 48 seconds. She has to be my favorite teacher of all time.

How about you? What are your new ideas in 2010?

Christmas Cuties

Bennett had his first preschool Christmas program last week.

Here they are before the program:

I was hoping to have pictures of Bennett in his little lamb outfit but my camera wouldn't cooperate with the lighting.

Bennett's listening to his teacher read a story. Notice his tie with trains on it. He was so thrilled to wear it.

Here are Kitt and Beatrice in their matching dresses from Grandma.

I told the kids to snuggle in, so cute!

Hat Class

Last week I held a free class to show my friends from my Bible study how to make a hat and scarf from a sweater.

Here' what Ashley made for here little girl, Kenzie. Isn't it cute? I can't wait to see the embellishments.

Mandy came up with this darling idea of a big flower.

Karen came up with this in a matter of minutes!

This was so exciting for me. I love having friends over and showing them how to create new things. I hope to do it again soon!

MERRY and Bright!

Oh my goodness...let it snow, let it snow! We are keeping warm around here. The snow is coming down at record speed. I'm baking gluten free brownies for Trent, decorating the house with MERRY and bright, and preparing gifts for Christmas. I think we'll have another snow day tomorrow but I sense the cabin fever may be setting in....