My Shoebox went to India

I just received an email from Samaritan's Purse. It shared with me the box I paid online for in their "Follow My Box" program was shipped to India. How cool is that? I happen to know a friend living and working in India.

I will use "Follow My Box" program on all boxes next year. It was really simple- you go and pay your $7 per box online and it allows you to print a label to put on the box (it allows you to choose age and boy or girl). Then they send you an email to let you know where your box went! I can't wait to hear from people in our church to hear where all their boxes went.

Merry Christmas! I pray you have a wonderful time celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with family and friends!

Lottie Moon

Some of you are wondering what or who is Lottie Moon. Lottie was a missionary to China for 39 years. The Southern Baptist offering for foreign missions is named after her. She would write back to her friends, church and family for financial support to help further the cause of Christ where she served. You can read more about her at www.imb.org .

Each December as Southern Baptists we give to this special offering. 100% of this offering goes to help missionaries on the field and to projects current missionaries have going on.
Do you know that the International Mission Board has stopped sending missionaries this year? Yes, you heard me correctly. We have over 200 missionaries ready to go but there are not enough funds. I even know a couple who applied but were told they could apply in two more years - due to funding shortage. That is so sad to me.

I read an article two weeks ago that said other organizations are watching what we as Southern Baptists do to reach our goal for this year's offering. It even said that if members of SBC churches would give $7 more than they normally give (meaning over and above what you normally would give) that we would be able to put those 200+ people on the field. So what are we going to do? Many of us may have $7 laying around in change. I would like to challenge everyone who is a member of a Southern Baptist Church to give, give cheerfully and joyfully to this offering. You can give through your local church by marking your gift Lottie Moon (which the IMB and I encourage) or if that is not possible at this point in the year..... you can go online www.imbresources.org/index.cfm/fa/store.prod/ProdID/256.cfm (sorry I can't remember how to do coding)

Here is a picture of Lottie Moon.
Mike and I have many friends who serve our Lord on foreign soil. Some who are sent through the IMB and many who must raise their own support. I know many of them have had a difficult year financially. When the US goes through financial hardship that impacts giving to them as well. Mike and I have a rule........... whatever is the most we spend on one person for Christmas we spend that much (and more if possible) giving to Lottie Moon. I encourage you to give to Lottie Moon and other missionaries this Season. Giving to help advance God's kingdom is eternally rewarding!

For those missionary friends who read this- THANK you for what you do and the sacrifices you make each and every day to follow God's calling on your life. We love you and pray for you!

Nativity Sets

I am now the proud owner of a Nativity set I have wanted for a while. I have pieces of it but did not have this complete set. A co-worker found them at Wal-mart for $40. If you ever visit the Fisher Price website you would know this would cost over $80 on their website. So thanks to LA!

For those who have heard me speak about Christmas traditions you know I encourage you to have a Nativity set that is okay for children to touch. Often times we have special Nativity sets and children are told "Don't touch!". I believe this communicates the wrong message. I love hearing stories from parents about how their children play with their Nativity and tell the Christmas story. It is actually precious- you are laying a foundation at an early age.

I have several Nativity sets that children can touch and play with in my collection. Yes, I said collection. One of the things I collect is Nativities. I will attempt to take pictures of them and share them with you throughout December.

I also love Fisher Price's Little People toys. Many of my close friends know that among all the sad things about me not being able to have children and our adoption failing was Fisher Price Little People toys. Yes, my list is long of the things that are sad about not having children but I am striving to move on with life. One way I have done this is by proclaiming- Who says you have to have children to purchase Little People toys! So last year I began to add to my collection. I enjoy playing with those with children who visit my home. I loved these toys as a child too. Seen any good deals on them lately?

Marriage Enrichment

Mike and I spent the past week on vacation and attending a Marriage Conference. We attended a Weekend to Remember conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. We had a great time visiting this wonderful city and spending some time focusing specifically on our marriage. My favorite is always the date night Saturday night. Mike and I went out to eat in Merchant's Square and then did a Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk. It was a lot of fun.

We had great speakers at the conference. I always love it ends with renewing your vows. I got really tickled this year- remembering the minister who married us messed up a little. I got tickled remembering Mike whispering over and over to me it was okay.
We also picked up a new devotional book for couples. We celebrated 15 years of marriage this past May. For at least half of our married life we have been to conferences and seminars to enrich our marriage. Some have been one day seminars, some weekend conferences and even a marriage classes. I encourage you to actively do something to enrich your marriage. Most people think that these type of classes, conferences, or seminars are just for marriages in trouble or struggling. Although these things are great to help in those situations, we should ALL be taking steps to focus on our marriage.

I encourage you to check out www.familylife.com and click on conferences to check out dates and locations. You can also find a lot of resources for marriage and family on this site.

We also loved our visit to Williamsburg. I learned so much about the history of our country and colonial life. We ate at some great places! I did some fun shopping. And YES! we visited Yankee Candles Flagship store (one of two). We watched some fun movies. We even road a ferry over to Smithfield, Virginia. We got back late last night- it is about a 8 1/2 hour drive. I took today off and enjoyed watching Christmas movies. I also made my lists and pulled my coupons to shop tomorrow. Tomorrow the office closes at noon.

All in all - a great time! I will post some pictures and info on the vacation part of our trip later. I will tell you this is definitely a place everyone should visit. If you homeschool, you should put this in your school year at some point. If you visit two days- you should purchase the season pass $58 (versus $36 for one day). It is an awesome place. We were actually there during the opening of the first reconstructed building in 50 years- Charlton Coffeehouse.

Am I crazy?

I ask you if I am crazy because tonight I will be at our church's Survivor Lock In for 3rd - 5th graders. A fellow Childhood Ministries Staff Member has planned this night for us and here is what I have to look forward to.........................

9 a.m. pizza at the YMCA
10 - 12 (midnight) swimming at the YMCA
12 - 12:30 head to the church
12:30 - 4:00 Wii games, nerf gun wars, make overs, etc.
4:00 - grab your sleeping bag and we will put in Swiss Family Robinson
8:00 parents will pick up their kiddos

Pray I can stay awake. I tried to sleep in this morning but a neighbor is adding on to their house and I woke at 7:14 a.m. to hammering. Nope couldn't go back to sleep........... so I will try and take a nap later.

Please pray for Mattie today- she doesn't get to go home. Her fever is back and white count low.

I will update you on the evening later- and hopefully will have some pictures.

Please pray for Mattie

This is my friend Mattie. She is 6 years old. She was diagnosed with leukemia on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. She begins chemo tomorrow. Please pray for her as she begins this journey.

You can keep up with her journey at www.caringbridge.org/visit/mattieballentine .

Please pray for her specifically tomorrow- Monday, November 2nd. She will have surgery and her first chemo treatment. Pray for her parents- Jeff & Luanne and her big sister Emily.

What an exciting night!

We had a great evening last night at the Coupon Town Hall! Thanks so much to Jenny Martin from www.southernsavers.com - our special guest for the evening. She taught us many things and was very flexible as we had an interesting night

all to learn more about using ...............
COUPONS!!! She taught us new things, reminded us of good coupon ethics and how to honor the Lord through it all.

Our evening was exciting ................ a visit from emergency personnel. Thankfully our person needing assistance was okay.
AND thanks for the patience as we evacuated to the basement at the advisement of our fire department due to the tornado warning our area. Although brief it made for one interesting evening. Hope you enjoyed the night and learned a lot!!!!