I am so blessed!  I didn't realize how God has been watching over me and my family, espeically during this season.  Let me tell you what happened....

Friday evening we were going downtown Richmond to see the Grand Illumination.  (City Celebration, where all the high rise buildings are lit to start the holiday season.  Before we left, I went to transfer my wallet to my carry with me and discovered I was missing money ($100).  I was panicked.  I went back trough my day and realized only 1 of 2 things could have happened... I put the money in with money that went to school to pay for Breakfast with Santa OR  I dropped it on the way outside.  I only mulled over it for about and hour.  I then realized, I can't do anything about it now, so I enjoyed the time with my family on Friday and the rest of the weekend with out another thought about it.  (yes, it was difficult)

Here it is Monday, and I have had more than $200 given to me in unexpected funds (I have told no one about the missing money)  What a blessing!  I gave up my worry to God and He gave me back twice what I lost.  I am just tinkling all over about it!

Take a minute a day to pray and thank Him for all your blessings what ever they may be!

My weekend was great! The kids birthday party was a huge success (15 kids) Thankfully the weather cooperated and it didn't rain. The best part of the party, with all the fuse I made, I didn't do any of the "planned" activities I set out to do. All the kids ran outside, played soccer, football and on our playset in the back yard. I just proves the best times you have with family and friends are never planned!

Here is a quiz I got from Mystics Blog. I am a Chocolate Mint... my favorite (Thanks Mystic!)


What Kind of Cookie Are You?
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You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

Take the Fairy quiz and see what kind of fairy are you? 

Go to Amanda's web jounal and check it out!  http://amandamagick.bravejournal.com

Tree Fairy thats what you are
Please rate my quiz even if it is a 1 thanks


Which Fairy are you?(for anyone many out comes)
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If you do nothing else today, do not relinquish that right.  Too  many people, your ansectors, parents and friends fought long and hard to give us this privilege.  Don't let their names and causes die in vain.  You can always make the time to let your voice be heard.  If you don't vote, you have no reason to complain when taxes are increased or highways and road are not completed or in disrepair or unemployment increases and you find yourself out of a job.  If you don't vote, your voice can not be heard.

  It's not even November and I am pulling my hair out trying to decide how to handle my children's birthday party.  They are all under age 8 (until November 19th).  The oldest, Elise, wants a Barbie Birthday Party as does my middle one, Lauren.  However, my youngest, Michael will not stand for a Barbie Party and shouldn't have to.  At this point I am trying to come up with a feasable and a reasonably priced solution that will make every one happy.   Since all their birthday's are in November, I have one big party somewhere between their actual birthdays.

As it stands, I have most of the decorations, just general birthday stuff and nothing specific.  Oh except for the drink cups, there are Mary Kate and Ashley (the cartoon charaters).  I have narrowed down the guest list (I won't be able to deal with 20 plus kids at one time) and just need to buy invitations to be sent.

I think I need some outside help.  I would love to get your feedback or ideas on what I can do for my Birthday Party Dilemma.  Just write a note in comments or tag me.  I am in a quandry and stuck on what to.  I need a fresh prospective.  Any ideas you can give me would be most appreciated!!!!!!

I propably won't be able to write in my journal before Sunday.  So to everyone, Have a Happy Halloween!       

The weather in my part of the world has been AWESOME!  Chilly at night and warm and crisp during the day.  I don't think I could have asked for better!

It was so nice this weekend too.  The whole family went out on Saturday and then again on Sunday.  That does not seem unusual to most people, but with our busy schedules, it becomes almost impossible to enjoy a day just being together.

Saturday we went to the Midlothian Village Day parade and festival and then had a nice relaxed, no rushing around to another event, lunch.  My husband and I could actually sat down and sighed at the restaurant.

Sunday we went to a local county park and just walked around with nature and the surrounding history.  The park was build on the original grounds of the First Coal Mines in North America, the Mid-Lothian Coal Mines owned an operated by the Wooldridge Family out of Richmond, VA.   We found learned about some local history and again enjoyed just being together.  aahhh...

If you ever get a chance to just do nothing with your family, no planned event, no scheduled trips, take advatage of that time.  You will remember it longer and stronger than any memory you have!

Have a wonderful day!

It's a bird... it's a plane... it's Superman!   Everyone has memories of the cartoon superhero made famous by so many different people, but the one who made this character real and touched my life is Christopher Reeve. As a little girl going to see Superman in the movie theatre, Christopher Reeve created a living ideal of the perfect man. What little girl didn't want to be Lois Lane? He was my first movie star crush. As I got older I realized he lived like Superman in many ways. He fought for worthy causes and stood up for people who could not defend or help themselves. Even with his own disabilities he was that beacon of hope and spoke out for those who could not be heard.

I think these words from the song Superman by Five for Fighting sum up Christopher Reeves' life.

 "I can't stand to fly, I'm not that naive.     I'm just out to find the better part of me.     I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane.    I'm more than some pretty face beside a train, and it's not easy to be me."    

We will miss you. Your legacy will live on!

Christopher Reeve  September 25, 1952 - October 10, 2004

To learn more about the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation click here

 

Gosh, I don't think I have had 5 minutes to sit down and write in the journal since October started.  If we are not at soccer practice, we are at a game, if we are not at a game, we are at Wednesday Church activities.  It seems to be never ending, but in a good way. 

Autumn to me is so very beautiful and full of life.  Ok so most plants and trees are dying, but they are giving up their harvest for our benefit.  This is my favorite time of the year for several reasons:

•   The weather is much cooler (I don't like the hot weather, actually just the humidity)
•   Halloween.  No matter what your relegion or belief, who doesn't like to get candy by dressing up in a fun costume!
•  Thanksgiving.  Whether your from the United States or Canada taking time to celebrate with your family and friends is always peaceful & fulfilling.
•  Birthdays.  Everyone in my family (Jeff, me and the children) was born in November!  NO kidding.  It wasn't planned that way, but we did figure out that 9 months before November is February.  We quickly stopped celebrating Valentine's Day!
•   Election Day.  This country was founded on the belief that every citizen had a voice and had a right for that voice to be heard.  If you are an United States citizen, don't give up that right.  If you want to make a difference in your life time, VOTE

Besides being busy with family, I have helped support other philanthropic events such as the  Breast Cancer Crudsade through Avon and the  Carolyn Miller Memorial Fund, to stop domestic violence. Stop by my website to find out more about these organizations.

Ok, now I am going to get off my soap box and let you all enjoy the rest of your day!

Overall, this was a busy weekend, very eventful and jammed packed with fun.

Saturday we have the early morning Soccer games.  Up at 7 AM and at the field at 8:30AM.  Games were not over until 1:30PM. But it was another victorious Win for Elise's Team the Shooting Stars.  They won 5-4.  Good GAME!

Then after that we were off for fun and games at Paramount's King Dominion Theme Park.  We couldn't have asked for a better day.  It wasn't hot or sticky.  It was just right.   The kids were really good even though the lines for rides were long.  The day ended at 9PM and we didn't get home until almost 10 PM.  VERY LONG day.

Sunday was just as eventful.  The children were invited to our neighbors 6th birthday party.  They had a bouncing slide, Pinata, and lots of food. Around 5:30PM, Elise and Kelley(the birthday girl) had a Girl Scout Brownie function and Lauren & Michael went with their dad to see Grandma & Grandpa.  

So at 6:30.  I found myself alone in my house....what's a mother to do?  I quickly looked around the house in closets and behind doors to make sure the children didn't sneak back into the house.  Then I sat down with a good book and quickly fell asleep.  AHHH...  I woke up around 7:30 and realized something was missing.  The noise of my children.  And that's not a bad thing. 

Elise came back home about  8 o'clock that night.  I picked her up from the neighbors house and we walked home hand in hand and watched the night sky.  It was full of beauty and warmth, even with the chill in the air.  Elise looked up and me and said  "I see him".  I said " See what honey"  she looked at me and stated "The man on the moon".    That was the moment for me.  She and I spent the next few minutes in her room straighten up and bonding. 

It is very difficult in a large family to have those quality moments, but I am so glad we had even those few minutes together.