C and E Heading to GUA

"God has been talking a lot to me about Guatemala. I feel like He has laid it on my heart that I should go there so that I can see how other people live."
- Chloe, age 8

This conversation took place a couple weeks ago at the dinner table. Chloe had heard us talking about a mission trip that was happening with our church. She knew that Daddy and Mommy were going...but she did not know that we had already decided to take her and her brother.

Granted, she has grown up around short-term missions...she has sat and listened to stories of all the great things God is doing in different parts of the world. But, for her to share that The Lord had been talking to her about Guatemala and that He was laying it on her heart to go...

Kev and I were blown. away.

It has always been the plan/dream to do missions together as a family. We have always shared our hearts for the nations with our kids. We sing worship songs before bed in the languages of places Kevin and I have been. We support a national missionary in India. We talk about the places some of "our people" are serving. We almost went to Haiti last summer as a family, but God closed the door.

So we are delighted and excited to be going AS A FAMILY on a mission trip to Guatemala April 12-22!! Our church has been partnering with a village there for the past 5 years to help support the people of the village to have a sustainable life free of the bondages of poverty through micro-loans and agricultural development.

We are expectant of what The Lord may have in store for us as a family! In order to make it possible, we need to have people praying for us. We ask for prayer for both Chloe and Eli to be excited and receptive to God's heart for the nations. We need prayer for open eyes to see the ministry opportunities The Lord will have for us as a family. We need wisdom in what areas to have the kids be a part of. We ask for specific prayer for Eli's food issues to be covered in grace and peace while there.

And of course we need to raise the finances required to make such a trip possible.
We need to raise $3,000 to cover Chloe and Eli's expenses for the trip. That number includes their travel, shots and medications and on ground expenses. If you are able and feel lead, all gifts can be sent to Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church and will be tax deductible.

Please mail checks to:
Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
PO Box 829
Gig Harbor, WA 98335-0829
(Please include a note designating the check for Chloe and Eli Williams - Guatemala)

We are trusting the Lord to provide and are making some cuts on our end to try to fund as much of their trip as possible. We know that a step of faith this huge will require both sacrifice and commitment on our part. We desire to be obedient.

Thank you ahead of time for your prayers and support! I hope to document our trip on this little blog here...so stay tuned!

Love Her Heart

Chloe has had some friends donate their hair to Locks of Love in the past. She was inspired and has been waiting a very long time to grow her hair long enough to donate it.

Today was the day! She was so ready she could hardly contain her excitement! She had planned to surprise her classmates tomorrow with her new short hair..which she will still do...but she 'confessed' to telling several of her girlfriends today...but she DID NOT tell any of the boys. :)

Chlo,
You have waited and waited for this day. Daddy and I love to see your heart of compassion lived out...you want to help someone else who needs a wig, and we think that is precious. It blesses us to see you loving others...even people you don't know. That's God's Light shining through you and nothing could make us more proud. You are a gift.

Love you the mostest,
Mommy and Daddy

Around the House This Week...

Guess Who is Diving Into Her Pintentional Archives Already...

Me.  That's who.

So...I have started working part time.
Mostly from home. Only one day in the office.
Only 15 hours.
And my brain has felt like mush for the past two weeks because of it.

Also-working-outside-the-home-mothers...my respect for you has only increased over the past two weeks.

How do you handle the constant feeling of forgetting something...or letting someone down??
Does this go away?? Ever? Not ever?!?

Last week I had a melt down on the eve of Chloe's Valentine Party.
In my pre-working-part-time world, remembering on Sunday night that I have a party to organize would have freaked me out a little, but I would have been comforted by the knowledge of a sprawling Monday the day before the party.  Monday would then be deemed 'party planning/party errand running' day. And all would go my kind of smooth with all kinds of bumps along the way.

So, remembering on Sunday and working in the office all day Monday lead to a tiny melt down.  Both Sunday and Monday night.  Ok. Monday's may not have been so tiny.

You know how you are mentally aware that things are going to be stressful...so you prepare yourself...give yourself a little 'you can do this' pep talk and resolve to 'hold it together.'  And then totally blow it??

Me too.  As I was out with the masses on Valentine's Day Eve (seriously...why are you people out in droves?? Since when did Valentine's Day become Christmas???) I maneuvered the crowds, thought I misplaced my phone across town, drove back across town and returned home to find my phone sitting by my computer (only after I had cursed and judged the people at the previous store who would 'clearly steal my phone if given the opportunity', and finally bought the candy hearts that I had meant to buy at 3+ stores over the past 3 days.  Once home, I assembled C's Valentine bags, did a couple hours of work and then collapsed in bed.

The rest of the week was pretty touch and go.
This week has been better, but my brain is still adjusting to the new level of activity.  I am thankful for the work...so trying to keep my head and heart there even in the adjusting.

All of that to say...lacking in Pintentionality this week. 
But Chloe and I did this back at Christmas time for her gift to her classmates.  :)

 Hope your Winter Break is REFRESHING! Love, Chloe



This Valentine's Day Is Brought To You By Pinterest: Pintentional Post #7

Is it possible to O.D. on Pinterest??

If it is...Valentine's Day has proven me a junky.

We had Love Potion smoothies for breakfast this morning.

(Which I saw on Pinterest, but apparently did not pin...)

Chloe and I made this banner last week out of cereal boxes,

twine, doilies and scrapbook paper from the $1 bin.

Chloe's class Valentines this year:

Cello bags from the $1 bin filled with Goldfish Crackers and a note:

Of all the fish in the sea...

I'm glad we swim in the same SCHOOL!

I made these cute I Love You Valentines with the students in Chloe's class for their parents.

They were all very pleased with their finished products.

Lesson in sign language and symmetry in how to make a perfect heart.

We used party ideas and printables from this site.

I spent the entire day in Chloe's classroom.

The sugar consumption was off the charts.

I may be officially Valentined out.

No big date for us tonight.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner.

Maybe popcorn and a short movie.

Baths then bed for the kiddos. (maaaybe add the glowsticks again...)

Then plopping on the couch with Kevin to watch an inappropriate amount of television.

Happy Love Day.

I found myself praying through out the day...

Thank you, Lord, for loving us first.

We love, because You love.

Pintentional Post #5

Reading Power Towers (click on that to get to the pin and a video)

It is safe to say that sight words are among Chloe's least favorite things to practice.
First semester, we were really struggling to make them a nightly routine...hard for both of us.

So, when I came across this on Pinterest, I was excited!

I had the bathroom paper cups on hand and simply wrote her next 50 or so sight words on the bottom of the cups.

She has to read the word and then she can add it to her tower.
The taller or wider the better! She has even made snowflake shapes with her cups.

We have been doing Power Towers for a little over a week, and I am seeing a marked improvement in her sight word success!

YES!!

The Math Power Towers also look like a great idea.  We are not struggling as much with those at the moment, but it would be great practice.  I think I would write the answer to the math problems on the inside of the cup for self-checking.  (not sure if he suggested that on the video...)

This is an easy way to make memory work waaaay more FUN!

Awards

It was no surprise to us that you

"were caught demonstrating Creativity: Using your imagination to do something unique."

You truly are an artist!

So much creativity swimming inside that heart and head of yours!

We pray the Lord will continue to develop you in this area and are excited to see you use it for His glory!

 At the awards ceremony.

You got a Red Ribbon too!

You are in the Stomp Zone!

Mrs. Law says, "Chloe is a JOY to teach!"

A Magical Weekend

Chloe and I were invited to celebrate a friend's 6th Birthday with her and her mom in Orlando, FL this past weekend.  (confession: I feel a little funny just typing that sentence.)

We were thrilled and overwhelmed by the offer...but of course we were happy to oblige!

We left on Friday morning and returned Monday night.  (the birthday celebration happened to line up perfectly with C's Fall Break at school)

I could go on and on about the weekends awesomeness...but words would not do it justice.

So here are a few nineteen pictures as an attempt:

 The girls' room

 The girls' Princess costumes

 Entering Epcot

 A picture with Daisy Duck

 Breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice In Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Pooh, and Tigger

 Outside the Nemo attraction

(we went here specifically to take pictures for Eli...it was tough, but someone had to do it)

 Jaycey and Chloe as we entered the Magic Kingdom

 All four of us in front of the castle

 Pixie Posing with Tink

 Before the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique

(Chloe and Jaycey)

 After the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique

(Rapunzel and Tiana)

 A Princess ride on a carousel

 Seeing herself for the first time after her Princess transformation

 Jaycey, Dawn, Chloe and Bud at the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parade

 Completely exhausted from all the magic!

 Swimming at the pool

 Climbing and sliding down the Hippo (inflatable water slide)

As icing on the cake, Chloe lost her 5th tooth just before we boarded the plane back home!

Thank you Dawn and Jaycey for inviting us on your Birthday Celebration Trip...

Thank you Bud and Mi-mom for all your generosity through out the entire weekend.

I am sure these 4 girls will not soon forget how magical our time was!

2 years ago today...

Please go here to view what may be the cutest video ever.  Hard to believe only 2 years have past...yet he has changed so much.  We have watched it over and over and over again the past couple days.  But only tonight realized it was 2 years ago exactly that I posted it. FUN!

Chloe and I are off for a weekend getaway to celebrate her friend's birthday...
Palm trees, castles and mice might be involved.
The trip is a gift from the Lord.  An absolute gift.

Many, many, many pictures to come!

Grandparent's Tea

Chloe's class hosted a Grandparent's Tea this week.

We were so grateful to have Granna and Zeke available for the festivities.

(Boppi and GrandBob, you were and always are missed)

I am cherishing that my parents live close enough to make a day trip to see us. 

They are very dedicated to their grandkids. 

Zeke even took a vacation day!

 LOOK AT THEM!!

Hard to believe they are Grandparents!!

Good genes right there, folks!

 Chloe was so proud to have them there.

She had a chance to appropriately introduce them to her class...

which she did almost silently.

(lots of people she didn't know in the room)

Ms. Law had been preparing the kids on how to be good hosts and hostesses.

Chloe got their cookies and juice for them and sat at the table and made conversation.

Bless. My. Heart.

Love you, Mom and Dad!

Thank you for loving all of us so well...

The legacy you are leaving for our family is nothing short of a GIFT.

On Turning Seven...

Baby Girl,

So...7.
It's a big deal.
Mommy remembers turning 7. I got to have my party in the 'party room' at McDonald's. (McDonald's used to be a 5 star restaurant when I was a kid... with pickles stuck on the eyes of the Ronald McDonald that was painted on the walls and twisty-swivel chairs that were brown and yellow.)
I thought it was the coolest thing a girl could do for her birthday. We even got to tour the kitchen and see where they fried the fries...we walked into the freezer to see where they kept all the food. It. Was. Awesome.

I remember wearing a pink t-shirt with a rainbow bursting out of stars and red silky shorts. Granna and Zeke gave me a real watch for my birthday. (and Mimi got you a real watch this year too without even knowing!! Isn't that cool?) It was such a special day.

And now, here you are...seven...and I think we may have just had the best 7 year old party you could have dreamed of. At least I hope that is how you remember it.

I am not quite sure how it happened, but you have fallen in love with horses. You have been planning the party for months as usual. You really wanted to ride a real horse...which is an easy dream to fulfill for a pretty penny. I researched and researched and called around...finally the Lord lead us to the Rocking T Ranch...

the place where your birthday wish was going to come true.

You were all smiles. all morning.

Daddy says, "delight" is the only word that can be used to describe your demeanor.

Bursting with happy.

You filled me up just watching you.

You were kind and thoughtful. Giving your friends a chance to brush Annie, too...

Everyone could hardly wait for their turn.

This is the face. Eyes all squinty...new front teeth showing...

shoulders hunched up...little squeals.

You could hardly contain your excitement.

E was happy to be a cowboy too.

I hope you remember this day always.

I hope you remember Annie and Zippy.

Baby Jasmine and her mama, Daphne.

I hope you remember chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate icing and sprinkles.

I hope you remember how big you felt on those horses.

And how the wind felt in your hair as you sat on my lap on the hay ride.

I hope you remember your new and lifelong friends all there to celebrate YOU.

'cause you are

WORTH CELEBRATING!

Happy 7th Birthday, Chlo Bug.

You are loved.

Yeee Haaw!