When my parents divorced and my dad moved away, we saw a lot less of my dad’s side of the family.  Well, now that I am an adult (yes, I am) I have realized how much family means to me, even if they weren’t really there during all of my childhood.  I have a new love and respect for my dad now that I am married and have my own child.  My dad’s side of the family is nowhere near perfect, but what family is?  I had a lot of fun at my grandma’s 80th birthday party, reuniting with family I hadn’t seen since I was a young girl!  Here are some of my favorite pics from the party: Happy Birthday Grandma!  Who ever knew she had siblings?!?  I met them for the first time at her party. Everybody’s got to have an Uncle Fred!  Oh yeah!!!!  He is hilarious! …

Justin commented to me today on how I haven’t written on my blog for a while. Well, the truth is, I am having a blog fart. Get it!?!? Like brain fart, but only it is a blog fart?!? Man, I think I am so funny sometimes. I honestly couldn’t wait to type the letters to the name of this title. So, speaking of fart, I had a little family reunion yesterday with my dad’s side of the family. It was actually my grandma’s 80th birthday. It is always an interesting time with that gang! I am going to post pictures of the party as soon as I have time to upload them. Probably tomorrow in between cleaning and packing. Just wanted to let you all know that I am still here. VERY busy these days! Justin is going to Spain for a week and I am going to California. At…

My friend Melea (Eli’s mommy) thinks I should show you all the video of Maisie reading to Eli, so here it is!

  Ok, not really. I know most parents think this about their children, but it is only because we saw them when they were just little blobs of human, not even able to control their little arm movements. Suddenly, they begin to resemble a real person who can do real person type things. The latest Maisie is a real person things are: 1. Sharing her sippy cup with her baby, rocking and patting her baby to sleep. 2. “Reading” other babies (real live babies) books and patting them on the back as to comfort them in a motherly way (see picture above of Maisie and her boyfriend Eli…she likes the young ones). 3. She now points to different pictures in books that she recognizes and is starting to make animal noises when she spots one she recognizes. Elephants are her favorite. 4. When she sees a circle, she says, “ball!”…

If you are struggling with what to do with all that tax return money, I have a really great solution! Give it away! Or at least some of it!!! Why not help someone in need? Why not give some running water to a school who has no water? Why not help a child (or adult) get an education? Why not help one of our African brothers or sisters? Why not donate money to buy a mosquito net that could SAVE A LIFE? WHY NOT? Justin and I have had the privilege to have a few conversations with Byron and Lisa Borden. They used to work with our organization, but have recently moved back to Africa, where they lived for several years before moving to Europe. Byron and Lisa are the type of people that you meet and you just want to be around them. They are the type of people…