Need Some Inspiration?

I can't wait to read Stephanie's book.  It will be available on April 3rd.

You can follow her blog HERE.

She is truly an inspiration!

Tooth Fairy Visit...

 I can't believe it!  My LITTLE girl lost a tooth!  Ugh!  I hate that...I love Grace's sweet smile and don't want it to change.  The missing tooth also symbolizes something to me...she's growing up.  

I was in Atlanta (Created for Care retreat) when the tooth came out.  It is probably best that I wasn't home. I would have told her NOT to take it out and it would still be hanging in her mouth by a thread.

Grace was excited.  She looks pretty adorable.  But, it's still a little sad for me.

 The Tooth Fairy came.  Grace told me all about it when I returned from my trip.  She was excited to find "lots of coins" under her pillow.  She was also VERY excited about all of the "fairy dust" that was on her pillow and bed (and face!).  Fairy dust is pretty neat...it looks very similar to the ultra fine iridescent glitter that the sell at Hobby Lobby.  My kids have always been lucky enough to find fairy dust after the Tooth Fairy visits.  It is pretty cool.

(Super cute Africa shirt is from Naartjie...every time they have clothes with Africa on them, I scoop them up for Grace.  I wonder if she'll ever get sick of wearing them???)

Well, I better get used to Grace's new smile.  It might be changing again soon...her other bottom tooth is super loose.  Ugh.

$4 for Four

Take a look at this adorable family...this is my friend Kim and her beautiful family.  

I am so very impressed with Kim's ability to step out of her comfort zone and adopt from Ethiopia.  Kim has NOT been on a typical adoption journey...the road has been filled with challenges and disappointment.

She began her adoption journey on a mission trip to Ethiopia last summer.  Since returning home from Ethiopia, she has been following God's lead and has been on an incredible ride.  

 Little did she know that her family would DOUBLE after her amazing experience in Ethiopia.

 You see, after meeting the beautiful children she served while on her mission trip, her heart for the orphans of the world was magnified in ways she could never dream of.  She and her husband have decided to pursue adoption and were matched with this beautiful baby girl.

 Funny thing...God was not done transforming this adorable family yet...

Soon after accepting the referral for their baby girl, Kim and her husband accepted the referral of THREE more kids!!!!  They said "YES!" to a sibling set of three!  

I have met a lot of adoptive families, but I have met very few who have stepped out in faith in such a huge manner.  FOUR NEW KIDS AT ONE TIME!

Now it is time to bless this family with a little support.  If everyone just gave a little, it would make a HUGE difference to them.  You see, Kim will be flying to Ethiopia NEXT MONTH to meet her FOUR new kiddos.  She has less than a month to raise A LOT of money.  She is doing a really cool give away on her blog, you please check it out!!!!!

JUST $4 to help bring FOUR orphans home to their forever family.  We can do this!!!!!  Let's bless this sweet family with a little financial help!

Please consider heading over HERE to make a $4 donation.

You just might win a fabulous prize in the process!!!!

St. Patrick's Day Ideas...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  OK...I realize I am a day early (which never happens around here), but I wanted to post a few really cute St. Pat's ideas that I found on Pinterest.

Today Grace got this super cute leprechaun hat at school. What? You can't see it?  Well, it is barely visible     on top of her sweet little fro.

Here are a few ideas to make tomorrow extra fun...

(source)

I just know my little Bryce (who is a lego builder extraordinaire) will love this idea.  He loves to make leprechaun traps.

(source)

(source)

(source)

Since it is the day before St. Patrick's Day and we still haven't made this little trap, I am not sure it is going to happen.  I still thought I should share it with you because it is just so darn cute!

The blogger who crafted this beauty also taught me a few things about leprechauns...did you know that:

•     You can find a Leprechaun if you hear the sound of a hammer.
•     If you take your eyes off a captured Leprechaun, they vanish.
•     If captured, a Leprechaun has to lead you to his treasure, he cannot lie.
•     If a Leprechaun looses his gold, he also looses his magic and becomes more and more human.
•     Leprechauns spend their time making shoes.
•     A Leprechaun is and Irish Fairy
•     Leprechauns live in the hallows of trees.
•     Leprechauns carry a hammer in their belts.
•     Leprechauns keep their gold at the end of a rainbow.

Hope you enjoy these ideas.  Just click on "source" to learn more about each project.  I can not take any credit for these amazing ideas...I just choose to share the work of those who are way craftier than me! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Normal Hair

And the winner is....

ASHLEY!

Congratulations Ashley!  Thank you to everyone who made a donation to The Hendersons' Both Hands fundraiser.  Today is their project "work day" and I know they will do amazing things to live out James 1:27!

Guess Who Got Her Ears Pierced?

Grace has been waiting a long time to get her ears pierced...after all, she LOVES sparkly, fancy and shiny everything!  She was so excited when her dad and I surprised her the day before her birthday and took her to the kid beauty salon in town.  We went right after dance class (which is why she is wearing a tutu...although, knowing Grace, she could be wearing a tutu at any time I guess).

I'm not 100% sure she knew what to expect when they did the actual piercing.  The video captures her personality so well...she just rolled with it and acted like it was no big deal.

Grace is so happy to have "real" earrings.  

The hard part will be waiting for two months to change her earrings!

REMEMBER...

today is the LAST day to enter the giveaway for all of this cool Africa themed stuff.  Please help our friends The Hendersons bring their little boy home from Ethiopia by making a donation to their adoption fundraiser.

If you make (any size) donation, leave me a comment and you will be entered to win.  Drawing will take place tonight!  Thanks for your support!