whatever

wish book.

when you were a kid did you get the sears or jcpenney christmas wish book and look at them OVER and OVER?
i did.
i circled things on almost every page.

just like my girls do now with the American Girl catalog or Justice.

i thought i would be silly and share my grown up wish list that is some parts completely impractical/pure dreaming and some parts regular stuff.

you never get too old for that.

 

tissue garland....that i didn't have to make myself.
isn't it lovely??

 

 
these Nike Free shoes that i can't find anywhere in an 8.5 online anywhere!!!
but if i find them IN store again i WILL snatch them up.

 

i would love to learn to make doughnuts.
i would need...

a Doughnut Pan or two

and a Doughnut Cookbook to guide me into being a wonderful baker.

 Bossypants  i never read it and i want to.

 

this is my favorite scent at Bath & Body Works.... STRESS RELIEF.  
i am not a smelly kind of girl but if i ever DO want to smell something this is it.
i don't wear perfume and lotions but when i take a bath... this makes me happy!  

 

 

Treadmill .... a good sturdy one that doesn't rattle or shake and is not deafingly loud
for all the running i will have to do all winter to train for this half marathon i agreed to do.

because i am crazy.

 

 

Mad Men Season One, Two, Three, Four and Five so i can watch Don Draper for hours on end.

 

i want this dress.
i would put it on and twirl all around.... my husband would take my hand and tell me how beautiful i looked... we would go to a fancy party and dance like they do in romantic movies... 

ohhhh... wait.... maybe this one instead.

it sparkles.  it's glittery.  i can just close my eyes and imagine what it would feel like to wear this dress.
{{{ S I G H }}}
it's a very nice thought.

 

this hot pink velvet chair from World Market..... is this the most perfect chair ever created?!!
yes it is.
can't you just imagine wearing the glitter dress and sitting in this pink chair?!



and this beautiful gray painted dresser also from world market that would look so perfect in a room that only exists in my head at this time... but trust me... it's a gorgeous room.  :)

 

 

i love yellow and i LOVE a big bold stripe...this is from west elm.

 

 

i have wanted a hot tub since... forever.
i still do.
i think it would be so relaxing.
the farm house could ROCK a hot tub so easily.  :)

 

i always love new colorful fun running gear.
athleta is beautiful but pricey so that is why it's on my dreamy wish list.
i feel like i am supposed to want a garmin... since i run.
but i run my miles and then i don't think about it again until the next time i go again.
so i don't know if i would even use it.  
what is the exciting part of garmins? 

 

this book Decorate Workshop looks like a fun book!

 

******************************************

 

so i made this whole list of things i love and "want"
but all day while i was working on it i just felt.... funny.
it's just a fun list.
i don't NEED any of it and do i even really "want" these things??
"it's just fun inspiring stuff....why am i feeling like this?" i said to myself all day.

 

 

what do i REALLY WANT?

 

 

i want Yana to have a mom & dad to take care of her forever.
to love her forever.

 
i saw her on Jeannett's blog yesterday and i can't get her out of my mind!!!
she is precious.
she is an orphan.
she needs a family.
it could be you!

don't you want to kiss her face?!  and hug her tight and never let her go....

i was not planning on writing about this.... i was just making a silly wish list.

but God would not let me leave it at that.
he took a hold of my heart and my blog today and made sure i refocused on the REAL want...
the desire of my heart. 

because all i really WANT today is for Yana to get a family this christmas.
i want to help her get that!!
that is the good stuff.

THAT is the sparkly glittery dress of real life. 

jeannett has helped two other sweet babies through Reese's Rainbow find families the past two years and it is so joyous to know i was a part of that.

so let's ALL help YANA this year!!

go over to Life Rearranged, read all about Yana and you can even enter jeannett's giveaway.

AND DONATE. 

it will be the best christmas gift you will give. 

 

friday.

aren't you loving my incredibly unique and thought provoking post titles this week?!

:)

my mind seems a bit blank to come up with anything more.

with craft weekend ending for the year...
and most of my big projects winding down...
i had one more big thing to check off the list.

talby's birthday party.
 
 
she invited a bunch of girls to the little hotel here in town that has a pool and a party room.
it worked out perfectly.
annie brought a friend along to keep her busy (didn't work) and sean was not supposed ot be there
but he was and when i asked talby if she wanted me to send him home with Dad
she said "he can stay. i don't mind"  
so he did.

 
he loved all the attention.
he was the KING of chicken.
:)


 

 




they ate pizza, opened presents, ate cake and LOTS of very LOUD time in the pool.
12 girls and 1 boy is VERY loud.

thankful for all of it.

 
happy birthday sweet girl.

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i know there were a lot of ads here this week.
it's just how it goes sometimes. 

but the good news....next week i have several giveaways!!!
i am excited for you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

after a 10 day laziness break....
i went running this morning.
it was hard!
i am so glad i went though.
i have been so cranky and not sleeping well...

i think i am suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome (you have to say that dolly parton in steel magnolias)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

i need a new bible study or great book that is biblically grounded.
i was going to Bible Study Fellowship but going to wichita every week just doesn't work with my schedule this year.
so i am studying on my own.
what books or studies do YOU suggest?

spill it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

happy friday to you.

ps...i am currently rocking out to Home by Edward Sharp.
(and singing loudly because i am alone)

 

awesome.

                           

chrissie grace is selling these handmade trees to help raise money for the Jupin family adoption.

chrissie says:

"This piece is 24" high and 14 " across and reads from Isaiah 9:6.
Each one is hand-painted and will be uniquely made due to the variety of wood panel pieces.

This CHRISTmas tree is a very special product to me.
25% of all the proceeds will go directly to the Jupin family to help offset the financial burdens of a lovely adoption.

It is my prayer and intention that this piece will remain in your family as a special Christmas decoration for many years to come.

I really feel like God gave it to me to help Amy and her family bring Davis home.

Amy, I cannot wait to see the gifts it brings.  I pray Davis feels all the love and positive energy out there, just for him :)"

you can order this piece from Chrissie's shop for the next TEN DAYS ONLY.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the world of adoption processing is nuts.
it can be wonderful and amazing or it can be LONG and painful and completely frustrating.
i think it's safe to say that the Jupin's have experienced the latter for now
but they are HOPEFUL deep down that the wonderful and amazing is still yet to come.

we have been praying for Davis to come home to his forever family for a long time now.
it's heart breaking.

He needs a mama to hold him.
He needs a daddy to tuck him in at night.

God knows this.

He knows what He is doing.
His timing is perfect... He is good.  He loves Davis.  He KNOWS.

You can donate directly to their adoption fund HERE.

You can purchase one of Chrissie's beautiful trees and 25% goes to Davis.

and YOU can pray for Davis to come home soon.

passing this onto you....

this email came today from 1Billion Thirsty....the group i went to africa with (partnered with water4christmas)
i looked at the picture in my home of the children i met in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
i thought about the young men and women i met and spoke with.

and prayed for them.

i had to pass this on to you..... 

 

                                                                    

                                                          DONATE HERE

Mercy Project

today i would love to tell you about Mercy Project.

Heather Hendrick of the Mercy Project wrote these words about the group and their mission:

There’s an estimated 7,000 children who work in the Ghana fishing industry. Some of
these children are as young as 5 and 6 years old.  All of these children are slaves.

Today many in our country will take a day off from our jobs to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers.  
No matter if we’re celebrating at home or at the beach, we’re entering into a tradition that has largely been shaped by Labor Unions - organizations that are dedicated to protecting workers’ interests and improving their wages, hours, and working conditions.  
Today as we lounge around or hang out with friends and family, we’re not only celebrating hard work, we’re honoring fair, ethical working practices and the laws that prevent discrimination, abuse, and child labor in our country.  
Without these laws in place (and enforced), the most vulnerable members of society suffer.  

Who are the most vulnerable? Children. 

Today as we’re celebrating the systems in our own country that strive to prevent injustices like child trafficking and child labor, we’re mindful of the many child slaves around the world who are unprotected and the organizations, like Mercy Project, who are working to free them.

 

As a mother, it’s difficult for me to imagine my children working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week.  
I’m unable to wrap my brain around the thought of my children engaged in long, hard days of physical labor, eating one meal a day, and then falling asleep at night on a dirt floor filled with other slave children.  

Yet this is the daily reality for kids who have been trafficked into the fishing industry in Ghana, Africa.  

As with much of Africa, there is a great deal of poverty in Ghana.

Unfortunately, this leaves many mothers in an unimaginable position: sell their children to someone who can take better care of them or watch them starve to death.

Most of the mothers are told their children will be given food, housing, and an education.
Instead, the kids are often taken to Lake Volta where they become child slaves and their mothers never see them again.  

Thankfully, Mercy Project is working to break the cycles of trafficking around Lake Volta by providing alternate, more efficient, sustainable, fishing methods for villagers – ultimately eliminating the need for child slaves.  

Because of the work Mercy Project is doing in Ghana, the first group of children will be freed this month from Lake Volta.

*******please watch this documentary about the issues in Ghana and the HOPE Mercy Project is bringing! *******

 

Mercy Project is the only NGO working on Lake Volta addressing the injustice of child labor and child trafficking at its root - by strengthening the Ghanaian economy and eliminating the structures that cause the demand for trafficked children.

Whether these ideas of child labor, child trafficking, and modern-day slavery are new to you or you’re aware of these injustices, but need to hear some good news every once in awhile, we invite you to become a part of what Mercy Project is doing in Ghana.  

When Mercy Project frees their first group of children this month, we can all celebrate together.

........................................................

thank you Heather....

i don't know about you, but when i hear about another kind of injustice i get to where i think about those children constantly.  
i worry for them.  
i hurt for them.
but i am so excited when i hear about REAL programs that are trying to fix things one step at a time.
one step at a time is better than no steps!

what would you do if this was happening HERE to our children?
these are children just like ours.
no different.
everyone deserves a chance! 

let's support Mercy Project today.
can you donate today?
i would LOVE, love, looooove if ALL of my readers donated something today.
any amount is worth it.
i would love to say "WE support you Mercy Project" 

$5.00 can buy you a fancy coffee or make a difference to a child in Ghana.
that is pretty amazing when you think about the impact your money can have!
you really do count in making a change!

i can't wait to see what can be done through these awesome willing servants!

Mercy Project Facebook and Twitter can you keep you up to date on what's going on daily.

 

“When the lives and the rights of children are at stake,
there must be no silent witnesses.” - Carol Bellamy

 

thanks for joining me.

 

 

 

god is awesome.

i hunt for sunflowers.
every summer.
i am a sunflower addict.

i mean really....just try to tell me what is happier than that?!!
nothing.
it is the best site to see.


every detail amazes me.
LOOK at that!
it's about 8 inches across and hasn't even opened yet....it is  B E A U T I F U L !!!


sean held annie up to see a bug inside that one.
they had a blast running around this old farm.





this brings me joy.



{{{{ sigh }}}}

three of my favorite people in one of my favorite places....it's enough to make me cry.





GRASSHOPPER!!!

i didn't see that in my lens....or when it uploaded....i noticed it when put it on the blog.
i absolutely LOVE that picture! 

only about half of the flowers were open when we came by.
which made me giddy just thinking about coming back.




my kids asked if we could build a house right here so we could see the flowers and climb that tree.




talby took this picture of the lady bug!
amazing.

i am not prejudiced....i love dead sunflowers too!


one of the things i love about sunflowers is that they are solid and study.
they have big leaves....they have layers and layers of seeds and petals.
God creates each one so intricitly.
His creation is so detailed.

she found her twinsie in size.
:)

thank you Lord for reminding me of how detailed You are in the world.
every seed.
every petal.
Thank you God for caring about every hair on my head....every tear...every hurt....every joy in my life.

and for showing me that in a field of sunflowers.

God is awesome.