Our Valentine's Tree

My kids LOVE to do art in the afternoons when they get home from school. So, now til Valentine's day we are making valentines and thinking of all the people we love as we make them & hang them on our tree. You gotta love Target $$ spot! I stocked up on doilies, v-day paper, stickers & stuff. Stole this idea from Lori Eubanks & her "Thank you Jesus Tree" that they do at Christmas. Thanks Lori for sharing your idea!!! Chris was worried when he saw me in the backyard with the big tree chopper scissors, cutting limbs off of our Crate Mertels. Ha! Although, he admitted the other day....he loves our Valentine's Tree too. He's feeling the LOVE :)

Welcome Home A Hero

I saw some coverage on the news last night about the Welcome a Hero Home Program, and I know my husband, Chris will be anxious to participate soon. He grew up a Colonel's son, so he knows first hand how it feels to watch a loved one leave for war. My father and law was gone for a year during the Gulf War. Chris remembers every detail of the day he welcomed his dad home and talks about it often. Some days, I think we all get so busy from the time we wake up in the a.m. to the moment we lay our heads on our soft pillows at night, and we forget. We forget that there are so many men and women sacrificing so much to serve our country. Chris & I try to point out a "hero" to the kids when we see a solider in uniform, just like we would if we passed an officer or fireman. And now, learning from my husband's example, I try to reach out a hand to a solider and say "Thank You" if I pass one in the airport or in town. Greyson knows that they are special people that do important work for the United States of America. In teaching Greyson to pray, he started mimicking Chris in prayer at such a young age, "God, thank you for our soliders and please watch over them and bring them back home." This will feel great to welcome some soldiers home!  


Visit the website www.welcomehomeahero.com

If you click on "About Us", you'll see very detailed information about how to greet these men and women as they walk off their flight for some much needed and well deserved R&R!
This is one of the soldiers that we love and pray for each time he leaves for Afghanistan.

Our Bookshelf is Exploding!

We love books! Riley's favorite thing to do is sit and read books with...well, anyone. But, the new books that the kids got for Christmas can not possibly be squeezed into place on these exploding bookshelves in our playroom. Time to clean out those picture books / board books that they've outgrown. There are so many places to donate books, but I just took ours to Half Price Books up the street cause I'm ready to get them out of the house ASAP. Only got a sad amount of $10 for the books. But, that's $10 for their penny bank and Half Price Books donates the really used ones for you to local charities in need.

Now....That is much better!!!

Ideas as I make my NY Resolution List for 2011

I'm so inspired by the people around me lately! Surrounded by some great friends doing great things. So, as I get my head wrapped around my 2011 New Year's Resolutions....I'm going to keep these two things in mind as I make out my list....it's always really long. I'm definitely a list person. LOVE to write down a goal and then cross it off. Kinda the only way I really get things done. So...I'm thinking these two will make the list this year.

#1: The 3 day Susan G. Komen Walk! I tagged along with one of my absolute best girlfriends, Jamie, a while back, in October when our husbands were camping with our boys. She did this walk a couple years ago and this year she had some friends doing the 3 day walk and wanted to go cheer them on. So, I went with her and I was so super inspired by all those women walking in pink, men walking in bras strapped to their chests, all coming together to walk to celebration, in honor and in memory of friends, family and complete strangers who have battled breast cancer. I want to be part of it this year....very cool! So, who's doing it with me??? That's the next thing I have to figure out :) http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer




#2: Help to Make A Wish come true for a little boy or girl! My friend Corrie and her 3 siblings have recently decided to get involved with Make A Wish Foundation. They are currently working on organizing wishes for 2 different children. Everyone knows about Make a Wish Foundation. But, I didn't realize how easy it is to help make those wishes come true for a little boy or girl who is sick in the hospital. She goes to meet them, gets to know them, and with the resources that Make a Wish has and the finances already set in place they help you organize this exciting day for a child. I can't wait to hear how these wishes turn out that she is working on! Those kids soooo deserve it! http://www.wish.org/

Christmas Card Prayer Basket

My sister and law, Sarah, mentioned this idea to me on New Year's Eve and I thought it was so clever. Christmas cards are always an exciting part of the holidays. I love getting them in the mail and getting to see how children and families have grown and changed since the previous year. We tape all our cards on some doors in our kitchen and it's always so hard for me to take them down. I know how much everyone spends on them and I just love seeing all the photos. It's such a reminder of the blessing of family and friends, new and old, that we have in our lives.
Sarah had either heard from a friend or read on a blog of a family that puts all of their cards in a bowl or basket in their kitchen. They let the kids pick one card each night at dinner and they mention that family in their prayers. I think this is a great way to teach our children how to pray for the people we love and care about! And simple.
So, our cards have now moved from our doors to a basket on our breakfast table. If you sent a Christmas card this year....know that the Jones Family is praying for you in 2011.

Thanks Sarah for the wonderful idea!

MOOYAH / Vogel Alcove clothing drive and free burgers!

Someone forwarded this info to me this a.m. from the burger joint MOOYAH. I think we'll be eating burgers for dinner tonight :) See details below to contribute to their clothing drive and enjoy a free dinner for the kids....can't beat that!

We at MOOYAH are excited to announce that beginning this Wednesday, December 1^st, our DFW locations will host a 12-day clothing drive benefiting the Vogel Alcove Center for Homeless Children.

The mission of the Vogel Alcove is to provide the youngest children of homeless families with the foundation for success. It is our vision that every child in our community has a home, a self-sufficient family, and a pathway to success in school. Since 1987 the Vogel Alcove, a non-religious non-profit, has offered homeless parents a safe place to leave their children while they work to rebuild their lives. The Alcove remains the only early childhood program in Dallas whose primary focus is to serve very young homeless children residing with their families in local homeless and domestic violence shelters.

To kick off the event (on December 1^st, from 11am-7pm only), we are offering FREE Junior Burgers and $1 MOOYAH, Veggie, & Turkey Burgers* with your donation of new and gently used articles of clothing for children ages 6 weeks - 6 years old. (*cheese, bacon, & avocado are not included).

We are looking for donations of winter coats, shoes, pajamas, and other basic need items to donate to the families of this center.

MOOYAH has 11 Locations in DFW where the donations will be accepted: Addison, Allen, Colleyville, Coppell, Euless, Flower Mound, Frisco, Little Elm, Plano, Watauga & Wiley.

Attached you will find a poster (PDF format) regarding this event with more details.

If you would please assist us in forwarding this message across your networks, it could make a huge difference in the lives of these outstanding young children.

Thank you in advance for your help and generosity!

Best Wishes,

Bryan Mayberry

Operation Christmas Child / Samaritan's Purse

I got this fun Christmas idea from another one of my fabulous neighbors, Jodi.....also a great friend! Jodi is the kind of friend who will be there. She always answers her phone when you call. She's the friend who picks you up and takes you and your child to the pediatrician when you can't find your keys and you're gonna be late for your appointment. Then she'll come back and dig through your trash with you until you find them. She's honest and tells you exactly how she feels. She'll give you her opinion and I love and admire that about her, cause I'm not always so outspoken like that. I've had moments when I needed to hear a different perspective and she didn't tell me what I wanted to hear ( like most people will do)....she told me what I needed to hear. It was so helpful! She's a woman who is devoted to God, her husband and her family. Just a few things I love about her! Hahaha....but on to the great idea that I'm snagging from her.....


So, Jodi just had her baby #3 and I was visiting the other day, holding her precious little boy. She was going to Target to get some items to fill their "Christmas Boxes." So, I just had to ask...They were filling shoe boxes with little items for a boy and / or girl, wrapping the shoe box and then sending it in to Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child. I think we'll have to try this as Christmas approaches!
She shared the link with me.....
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf

Soupmobile's 6th Annual Celebrate Jesus

I think this might be one of the neatest things I've ever heard of! I was watching Good Morning Texas and a man from the Soupmobile was talking about their annual Celebrate Jesus event coming up on Christmas Eve this year. The Soupmobile feeds the homeless in Dallas every day. And this Christmas Eve they will take 500 homeless men and women in, off the streets in Dallas and put them up in the Hyatt Regency Hotel for a warm night's sleep, new clothes, waiters serving them 3 course meals, They'll have a warm shower, a TV in their room, and a cozy, soft bed and pillow under their head instead of a cold cardboard box on the cement. I can't wait for our family to be part of this and welcome these people on Christmas Eve at their "Inn."

It looks like there are so many ways to get involved in this event and many different times slots to help out. Go to http://www.soupmobile.org/ for details. And a video of the process from previous years.
AMAZING!!!

jones design company | stylish custom designs

This is my favorite blog to follow. I LOVE to see how other people decorate their house and I love creative ideas. This gal inspires me in so many ways. Her home, her style, how her faith is seen and I'm sure felt as soon as you walk into her door, her "mommy moments", her creative flare....and on and on. Love her latest post....how she & her family are changing up Christmas this year. A wonderful way to really celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. It's the beginning of November, but I'm now feeling the spirit of Christmas :) Check out her blog...you'll be hooked!

jones design company | stylish custom designs

There's a Fall Chill in the Air

As it cools down and the fall breeze is blowing outside, we all pull out our jeans, long sleeves and jackets. Many children and adults are going to be in need of a winter coat this season. Burlington Coat Factory is collecting any new and gently used coats. Help keep someone warm this winter!

Neighborhood Clothes Swap for Genesis Shelter

We are so lucky because we have so many great families in our neighborhood that we love to spend time with! Lots of little boys of different ages & sizes. So, lots of the "Boy moms" got together with clothes their kids had grown out of and we all swapped. Everyone pitched in a dollar for items they wanted to buy from each other. Meanwhile our kids played together in the playroom. At the end of the a.m., our kids had fun playing, we were taking home some new clothes for our kiddos for only a $1 each, and then we used the money to do some back to school shopping for children staying at Genesis Women's Shelter. A Win for Everyone! Loved it! Now it's time to do one for all the girls!

Teddy Bear Ride for Abused Children

Collin County Advocacy Center is having their 18th annual Teddy Bear Ride from IKEA in Frisco on Nov.7th. Anyone with a motorcycle can volunteer their time to deliver some teddy bears to some little kids who need some love. So, get your teddy bears together or go buy one at Target and send some love!!!

When: November 7, 2010 (Always the 1st Sunday in November)

Time: 8 am - Registration, 10:30 am - Ride

Where: IKEA to CACCC

Complimentary hot breakfast for riders generously provided by IKEA.

Music provided by "Piece of My Heart" from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

This escorted motorcycle parade will leave at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010 from the IKEA parking lot in Frisco and travel to the CACCC in Plano (2205 Los Rios Blvd.) to deliver an all important passenger, a teddy bear. That teddy bear will then find a home with a child who has visited the Center to tell their story of abuse. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County’s mission is to provide safety, healing and justice to children victimized by neglect or abuse.

Each year people line the roadways and overpasses to watch this unique parade of motorcycles. There are a number of ways to support the annual motorcycle event.

NEW ROUTE

Start from IKEA, Frisco. South on the Dallas North Tollway, East on the George Bush Turnpike. North on Jupiter. East on Plano Parkway. North on Los Rios Blvd. to the Center.
(At this time all tolls will be applied to the rider, please stay posted for changes).

Become a Sponsor

Donate a Raffle/Auction Item

Fundraise Online (Get your friends and family involved and ask them to support your cause)

Ride(Admission is $10 and/or a new Teddy Bear)

Riley and I ended up going to this because Greyson was camping with Dad that weekend. We will go every year! So cool to see big, bad to the bone men dressed in all their leather, bandannas and boots with big teddy bears strapped to the back of their bikes. All on a mission to brighten a child's life that morning. Riley was entertained by ALL the bikes filling IKEA's parking lots. We sat on the hood of our Yukon and cheered them all down the road. I hear next year we need to make it to the parade to help pass out the bears. We won't miss it next year....already looking forward to it!

Lemons To Aid / Positive Placemats

Good Morning Texas & Good Morning America often gives some great ideas for reaching out and doing something for others. They were recently talking about Lemons To Aid....Children were painting and decorating placemats for Meals on Wheels to deliver to the edlerly with meals. Perfect! My kids can paint all day! So after a trip to Walmart for poster board, Riley, Sydney and our friend Hailey painted some beautiful placemats. Some great ideas for kids helping others at http://lemonstoaid.org

Dallas, TX – Positive Placemats

Dallas kids had fun making “Positive Placemats” for Meals on Wheels at the Cooper Fitness Center Pinkberry by the Pool event on September 16, 2010.

Paint with a Purpose for Leukemia / Lymphoma Society

I'm so super proud of my sister, Tori, for a goal she has been training for!!! She'll be joining many others in this year's Nation's Triathalon in Washington D.C., this September. She's racing in honor of a patient that she had a couple years ago when she was working at Children's Medical Center. This sweet little boy will be completing his last round of treatments this September as they race.
In additon to training for the swim in the Potomac River, her run and bike past the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and many other spectacular landmarks.....she's also been raising money for the event that is helping towards the cure for blood cancer. One really fun opportunity is coming up at Painting with a Twist in Dallas. 60% of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia / Lymphoma Society. It's so fun! You go with a group of girlfriends, take a bottle of wine, and they provide your canvas, paints and guidance as they walk you through your own painting. To read more about Painting With A Twist and sign up for a fun night of painting for a great cause go to www.paintingwithatwist.com

Sign up and go with us next Thursday, August 18th :)

The following information is from their website....

August 2010 PAINT WITH A PURPOSE will focus on the family

In our ongoing commitment to give back to the community, Corks N Canvas and Painting with a Twist is proud to sponsor a monthly fund raising class – Paint with a Purpose. Corks N Canvas and participating Painting With A Twist locations will again host a Paint with a Purpose night in Augst. Proceeds from Paint with a Purpose in July will be donated to local non profit organizations in honor of families. Already some of our designated non profit partners are the St. Tammany Professional Women's Scholarship fund and Playworks. We will be painting SUMMER PAISLEYS To sign up to participate visit www.corksncanvas.com or www.paintingwithatwist.com.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
-Matthew 18:20

Give School Supplies to Abused Children

Container Store has a basket as you walk into their store that is collecting any school supplies for Abused and Neglected Children.

"At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need."
-2 Corinthians 8:14

Bryan's House / Adopt-A-Child-Back-to-School Program

School is just around the corner & Greyson is starting Kindergarten this year...I can't believe it! So, we're going to adopt another kiddo staying at Bryan's House that is also going to kindergarten and fill a backpack full of supplies to send on their way. Families with children who have serious health problems find love and warmth at Bryan's House when they need child care. For more info on how to send kids back to school with a backpack full of school supplies....go to www.bryanshouse.org They have a list of needed supplies for each grade level.

Coffee for Soldiers at BORDERS

We were looking at books in BORDERS bookstore yesterday. When you check out, you can purchase a bag of Seattle's Best Coffee & they'll ship it over to the soldiers for you :) We all need our coffee, especially those wonderful people serving our country! Stop by BORDERS

Gotta shout out to our good friend Ryan Kelly in Afghanistan now. We're keeping you in our prayers good man and hoping you can return home to Janice and Pearce very soon!

Happy Summer to Kids at Genesis Women's Shelter

Nothing says simple summer fun like some bubble wands and sidewalk chalk. So, we grabbed a bunch at Walmart today and headed to Genesis Women's Shelter. Hopefully it will bring some sunshine to the little kiddos staying there.

When we delivered the bubbles and chalk they were so happy to have it because they're gathering summery things to do for "Camp G" a summer camp that they're doing for the kids this summer staying at the shelter.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
-Acts 20:35

TOMS SHOES

I love these shoes...they're cute, they're comfortable & the best part is when you buy a pair of TOMS shoes they donate a pair to a child in Argentina, Chile, Africa, and other parts of the world. WE LOVE TOMS!!

Can you imagine not having a pair of shoes to put on each day? Buy a new pair for you and you will also be buying one for a little boy or girl....How awesome is that!!

www.toms.com

"The service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."
-2 Corinthians 9:2

Sharefest 2010

Chase Oaks Church in Plano (just west of 75 on Legacy Dr.) is having Sharefest today. May 1st. They're going out into the community doing service projects all day. Swing by if you want to get involved. Carter Blood Care is also doing a blood drive til 1:00 and you can drop off donations of food, clothes and box fans til noon.

http://www.chaseoaks.org/

A great bday party idea!

So, I'm bragging on one of my friends, Patti. She had such a great idea for her son's birthday party this year. She asked that the guests bring unwrapped presents to donate to The Collin County Children's Adovacy Center rather than birthday gifts. I love this!!! The last birthday party we had for our kids....they got sooo much stuff, it was overwhelming. They receive so much from family alone....they really don't need more toys! What a great way to teach your children to give and to appreciate the things they have. And- invite all your guests to join you in the spirit of giving. Love your idea Patti! Happy Birthday "Little Grayson!"

Morning of making wishes at the Mall

The coin purse of my wallet was so full and we happened to be at Willow Bend mall. We had a hour to stall until picking Grey up from school. Typically those little rides at the mall in front of the play area eat my change up in no time. Definitely a bummer of a way to go through change. Most of the time they eat your change anyways. But, as we came down the elevator I saw the water fountain / pond thing-a-majig that Riley is always admiring. There's a sign at the one at Willow Bend indicating that all the change is donated to Children's Medical Center in Dallas. (I'm sure each mall donates to a different charity) And- I realized I'd never really stopped to let her throw pennies in there before. So- One penny, nickle and dime at a time, she had the best, simple fun.....making wishes.

Stuffing Easter Eggs for Ronald McDonald House

Our good friends and neighbors, Dylan and Jayda helped us stuff Easter eggs the other night. This Saturday we'll be taking the eggs to the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas and hiding them for patients and families staying there over the Easter weekend. Thanks again to smallchangedallas.org for organizing a way for our children to give of themselves to others this Easter. Hopefully these children will be well, healthy and strong enough next year to enjoy an Easter hunt in their own backyard. But, this year we feel grateful to be able to help them in their hunt. Happy Easter to all!!!

Greyson & my niece, Sydney took the eggs to The Ronald McDonald House that Saturday before Easter to hide the eggs for families staying there. They also got to make cute little bunny Easter bags and decorate them for each child. What an awesome facility! The new Ronald McDonald House is gorgeous! What a blessing for so many families who have to stay in Dallas for a while as their children are being treated at the hospital.

It's a great place to donate your time, meals, special goodies,
books.....a great place!!!

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
-Luke 6:31

April Giving Bucket / Collecting Toiletries

Greyson and Riley's Daddy, Chris, travels quite a bit. So, over the next few months he's going to help us fill our Giving Bucket with something different. When Chris goes out of town and stays in a hotel each week, he'll be bringing back the little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap, ect. When we have enough collected we're going to take it to a shelter in our area.

Peppermint Milkshakes with Small Change

My wonderful friend, Kristin Ingram, shared a website with me (www.smallchangedallas.org) that I've fallin in love with. It provides service opportunities to children and families in the city of Dallas and surrounding areas. Last week, the Small Change organization put together an afternoon of making peppermint milkshakes at the North Dallas Gilda's Club for cancer patients. They explained to the kids that the medicine these patients have to take will usually give them an upset stomach and make them feel sick. Peppermint is good for nausea and will help them to feel better. They got to crunch up all the peppermints, scoop ice cream into the blender and fill cups to place in the freezer. Greyson and Riley also had fun decorating lots of GET WELL cards to leave for them. I left the Gilda's Club feeling so thankful.... thankful for the small opportunity to do something for these families that are having to endure so much and so thankful for the health of my children and family!
To hear more about Small Change, click on this link to see some recent news coverage on the difference they are making!

http://cbs11tv.com/local/volunteering.small.change.2.1438401.html

"Live a Life of Love."
-Ephesians 5:2

More than just a playgroup!!

Thank you to all my sweet friends and Moms at Chase Oaks Church! We all get together often for a playgroup with our kids on the Wednesdays that we don't meet at church. A couple Wednesdays ago when we got together for a playdate with the kids they all brought something with them to add to our stash of baby items that we've been collecting. Now we have so many great things to take to the School Age Parenting Program through PISD. Such a fun way to get together and at the same time, invite everyone to participate in giving to others in a simple, small, easy way. Now that February is over...we're going to deliver all the great baby items from the playdate and our family giving bucket. Thanks to all the families who helped us and donated items! You guys are so great!!!

"They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed."
Psalm 37:26