Hannah's New Baby

Introducing Hannah's New Cutting Horse-
MIRADA'S MIRAGE( aka M & M).

Ain't he just a Dandy?

PEACE.

Happy In Hicks-Ville

The Sun is shining today.


The animals are happy and moving around.



The kids decided that it was a good day to work at the barn.




Here are a few pictures of the big kids teaching the little kids the "ropes".


The girls "helping " me check the mail.


Rachel learning to use a hay rake.


Ben playing with Sunny.


Riley feeding Pixie.


Rachel working....Riley and Ben watching.




Hannah Banana


The Ranch Foreman.

Have A Great Weekend.


PEACE.

GRATEFUL

This morning I was doing the usual...
Drinking coffee, checking the emails, checking the blogs, checking the groups...
when I opened a home- page and gasped.

This precious young lady had eye surgery not too long ago.
Look how beautiful she is and look how she has blossomed.

I remember her.
I remember praying for her.
But she is not the first thing I saw-

The first thing I noticed was that she was holding my son.

Proudly - Lovingly - holding my son.

I had to look at it a few times- just to be sure.
I kept opening and closing......
but I knew.

I know who sent it.
I love her and what she does for these children.
I am thankful.

I studied the picture.
The background, the pictures on the wall, the shape of the faces.

I sat in my chair, with tears welling up in my eyes, going back and
forth between feeling Grateful and Jealous.
Grateful...Jealous...Grateful...Jealous.

Then I settled on Grateful.

I am not there...I cannot be there..No matter how much I may want to be.....
So...I choose Grateful.

Grateful that he IS held. Grateful that he IS loved. Grateful that this beautiful young girl could be doing all sorts of things with her time, but she chooses to show my son love.

He looks happy, doesn't he?

What a gift this was to us....just an amazing blessing.

God Is Good.

Look at him, Daddy!! That is your new little man!
Ain't he fine?

PEACE.

Love The Life You're In!

For months I have read this blog.

A young man and his wife were involved in a near fatal plane crash.
Both burned.
She more than him.
Both fighting for their lives.
Family tending the children.
People praying.
He leaves the hospital.
She stays, still fighting.
Her body is healing.
Comes home to her children and husband- whom she affectionately refers to as Mr. Nielson.
She is actually doing the blogging herself- now.
It is hard for her to type.
Covered with burn bandages.
Body trying to heal and grow new skin to cover.
She shares her days.
Amazing to hear.
Inspirational to see.
She is the "Love The Life You 're In" poster child.
Do yourself and everyone around you a favor.
Go to her site and visit.

PEACE.

Supply Drive for Ethiopia's Children

Found this Supply Drive on the Blog of My Friend, Rachel.


Please pop over and see what you can do.

Instead of sending actual supplies, we are sending a money order.


Tracey is going to purchase the thing that she thinks are needed most.

If you send her an email- she will be thrilled to send you her snail mail address.

They need things from antibiotics to wipe-e's....
so you can send $5 or you can send $100.

Any amount will be appreciated.

PEACE.

Chinese New Year & # 45

Our Annual Chinese New Year Party fell on the same day



as My Sweet Husband's 45 th Birthday.



So everyone(all 35 of us) gathered together to celebrate both.



We had a house full of friends and family



Goodie Bags full of loot



Pretty Little girls all dressed in red



Photo ops galore



& Dragons and bells.



Rachel and Mary picked these dresses out in November.
LOVE LOVE LOVE China Sprout!



We always have such a wonderful time.
I think I look forward to it just as much as the kids do.



I just had to post a picture of the Stacy's cake and the PRC flag cake.

Today was the first time I had ever seen the flag cake .
I was so excited that I do not think the little ladies had the heart to tell me that they are supposed to get 12 hours notice on decorated cakes.
They let me come back and pick it up at 4pm.
So Sweet.


I hope everyone has enjoyed their Chinese New Year celebration as much as we have.

PEACE.

Luggage

OK.

This is it.

The luggage for "OPERATION Bring Home The Kid! "

2 Adults

1 Toddler

14 Days

4 Carry-Ons

and the Little Grey Eddie Bauer Bag that we used for a diaper
bag when we made the trip in 2006.

Think We Can Do It ???????

*** I totally plan on having 2 HUGE check-ins full of stuff on the way home.
I have 5 kids to "bring stuff back" for...But the plan is to pack these inside them,too.


PEACE.

新年快乐

Wouldn't you just LOVE to actually be there for this ?!?!?

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè !


PEACE.

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! GO AND VOTE!

Cookie Magazine(Conde' Nast) is having its 3rd Annual Smart Cookie Contest. (Click)

The Winner gets..... ready..... $35,000.00 for their foundation.

The young lady holding the beautiful little Asian baby is AMY ELDRIDGE, founder

of LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES.

$35,000.00 will cover ALOT of surgeries , people.

SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

VOTE (Click here to vote)

LINK IT

ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE

ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO LINK IT.

LWB funded my new son's heart surgery in AUGUST of last year.

We literally owe them his life.

Thanks.

Peace.

Oh To Be Like Albert..................

Very few books have moved me to tears from the moment I opened them.

This is one of those books.



It is a picture book.

A young lady from Wales took the pictures and then Albert , himself ,wrote each captions.


I would have loved to have met Albert.
He had a great sense of humor and a love for pigeons.
I just think that's cool.


If you are in the market for a book - Look no further.

It can be found here.

Let me know what you think.

PEACE.

Care Package for the LOVE MONKEY

I have received the info that we needed to send Little Man a care package.

I tried not to pack too much.....I really did.

I even tried to put things into zip-lock bags so that it would look like I had packed less, but I don't think it has worked.

Keep in mind that alot of it is for the other children and the Ayi's AND it is New Year......

So what do ya think?

Too Much???????

Poor Kid.....If he is not ROTTEN, now - he will be when he gets here.


PEACE.

1 week in pics!

We have been so crazy around here!

I am a little behind!

Sorry Dad!

So here is a weeks worth of happenings!

PEACE.

WOOOOHOOOOO!

The CCAA has given us the Official "Thumbs Up"(P.A.)!






Please say 'Hello' to the
newest Little Love Monkey!

Please help us pray for his safety and well-being.

Hang on , Little Man.

We'll be there as fast as we can.


PEACE.

SO COLD YOUR BUTT STICKS TO THE SADDLE.....

And they saddled up , anyway!


Teeth Chatterin'!


Noses Runnin'!



Ears Freezin'!



But no-one wants to be the one to wimp out!



Crazy



Crazy



Crazy Kids.......


and their Ring Leader.

Peace.

BLONDIE'S FIRST RODEO!

One of the coolest things in the world is to hear a little girl say,
"One Day.........." and then see her do it.


2 summers ago, Nicole told me that she wanted to "Rodeo
One Day".



Saturday was THAT day.


First Rodeo-

Rode Out-

Jumped Off-


Tied That Goat Like She Was An Old Pro.

I wasn't there to see, but there were about 20 people (from
this neck of the woods) who were.

I understand it was a pretty awesome day.

This is what it is all about folks...................

Just doesn't get much better than this.

PEACE.