Giving.

You know how people suck?  Yeah me too.  I am one of those people...I have battered and bruised others and have been battered and bruised by others.  Did you know that church people are just people and they suck too?!  Yeah...I am one of those too.  That's a hard one...you mean people that go to church are not perfect?  Hummm..weird!

It happened a church a few years back...you get hurt by the church or someone at church and you get totally turned off.  Then you re-coup go back or to a different church and what?!  Same thing again.  Well duh...church people need Jesus- we all do.  So mow over the issue and let new flowers bloom.

I get discouraged, I get worn down, I get battered and bruised but every time I do, I pray harder and guess what ..prayer works!

I was wearing thin on the fundraising...people ALWAYS want something for nothing and I give it to them, personally and in business.  People always have a cause and those causes always get me right in gut.  Then it is my turn to need something and I get a door slammed...or so it felt.  But you know what?!  I will keep giving because that is what I am called to do.  Christ wants us to love and give- shew!  At least I am good at those...(most the time).

Maybe just one day I will give someone the feeling I had one recent morning.  When a door was slammed another opened...
We were at a stand still with our host program...we needed $1,000...omg!  That's a lot of money.  We needed it in 20 days.  One night I got an email from a friend saying that someone wanted to donate.  I gave her the info and the next morning- BOOM!  $500 in our fund!  I see the name of the family who donated, I do not know them at all, I don't know how they knew our story or what we were doing, but they wanted to donate to us- to Mark.  Wow- what a feeling.  This family has no idea what a burden they have taken off my shoulders.  I am over the moon grateful.

In the last week, we have had more donations- monetary and stuff.  Graciously, Corey's parents have included Mark in our Disney plans too.  Many years in planning to FINALLY go to Disney and we get to take Mark too! 

7 days until he gets here and I am already feeling so blessed to have him in my life.  Love seeing God at work and can not see what is in store for the weeks to come! 

 

Fundraising- blah

I hate asking for money...every time you turn around someone is ALWAYS asking for it somewhere.  I get at least one fundraiser in the kid's folder EVERY week and if you have a Facebook account you see it constantly.  Being a business owner I get request after request, it is exhausting!  I get it!  

Like I said once before, I truly felt lead to have Mark here this summer, for him, for us and for the whole experience.  The financial obligation is incredible overwhelming.  But God always provides..always!  

We have set up two events in hopes to give people something back for that money...that feels a tad better. We have a Parent's Night Out coming next Saturday, April 12th 4pm-9pm.  I mean you would pay a babysitter more and we are going to have an Eggcellent time!  If you don't have kids or can't make  that one, we have another event on Monday, April 14th...This one is a Family FUN night at The Lodge where we have Corey, Casey and Michael guest bar tending as well as raffles and FUN BUS for the kids!  

If you can't make one of those and want to give here is a link for you.  and might I say THANK YOU! 

http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/summer-with-mark-/160249

A journey on the horizon.

For 6 weeks this summer the Wheat family is growing.  We have felt lead to host a child from a small village in Belarus.  Belarus is a very poor area where the fallout from Chernobyl still contaminates their food, water and atmosphere.  A family in our neighborhood hosted a child last year and after hearing their journey, we feel it is a great fit for us.  The program is through their church, Frederick Church of the Brethren, in which we have visited several times and who knows maybe after this experience we will be able to bring the program to our own church and spread the opportunity to other children of Belarus.

Spending just 6 weeks in a healthy environment adds years to these children's lives and they return home with healthier immune systems, color in their faces, and hope in their hearts. Not only are excited to help this child and share Christ in his life but we are also excited at the opportunity to expose our children to new experiences and cultures.   

While we have lots of love in our home, the financial obligation is a bit overwhelming but we truly feel that God provides.  

In the months to come we will be hosting fundraisers. The first one we are doing is a Parents Night Out on April 12th so save the date and plan a hot date with your spouse and leave the kids with us! Details coming soon. 

I'll leave you with a picture of Mark our very sweet looking Belarusian boy whom we are very excited to meet! 

She is the FAB Five!

Five..5! I can't believe it my baby girl is 5. What a perfect joy you are to me, Annabelly. Even at 4am when you woke up in the middle of the night, perhaps you were on to me because you rarely wake in the night. On to me because I "birthday boobie trapped" you for a morning surprise and I had to crawl and maneuver like no one should have to that early in the day to get through the surprise with out messing it up. Your welcome.  and yet again just like Santa, the tooth fairy, etc the "Birthday Fairy" got credit for it.

Let me tell you 5 reasons you are FABULOUS to me!
*You are sweet and sassy with a pinch of fiesty.
*You have the cutest accent I could listen to forever...some say it sounds like someone from Boston.. I'm not sure but it is THE cutest thing.
*You and your brother are bestest friends and that melts my heart. You play well with others and you play well independently.
*You love dolls, princesses, Legos...you have quite an imagination. 

*You change your clothes often and you rearrange the house like no ones business..if you can't find something...ask AB because she put it somewhere.

...one to grow on
*Your funny and precious and I just love you to pieces.

Happy 5th Birthday, Annabelle-y!  

The Birthday Boobie Trap.

 Party #1 at Mimi & Papi's

 Party #2- Special ordered happen to be family night a face painter at Chick Fil A, the place of choice for her birthday dinner.

Awww Geez..

Geezz..has it really been that long since I blogged.  Boo!  Truth is I just am not that interesting and when I do get interesting ain't no one got time to blog about it!  Sheesh!  I had this funny thought that after the new year I would have more time but yeah, no that never happen.  

We are having a brutal winter and while I have hardly worked on the bus I have been busy entertaining children because they go to school only like every other day.  Let me say I LOVE SNOW!  I love a snow day and I love to play in the snow and look at it...BUT I think I just might be done with it for this year!  This epiphany came last week when it snowed just short of 2 feet!  Yes, 2 feet.  Until last week I loved to shovel snow.  It is a nice little work out and I genuinely liked doing it.  Last week that changed.  When Corey and I went to shovel I did not know where to even begin...it was A LOT!  You had to shovel the same spot 3 times to even see the ground and that happen for the WHOLE driveway.  While we got entertained by a couple trucks getting stuck on our street, one being a snow truck, a high school aged kid that was trying to ride his bike to our snow hill and the little a**hole driving the bulldozer to clear the street that right as we were completing this task dumped the street snow back on to our driveway.  Really dude?!  So yeah, I am nearing my breaking point for Winter..today it is a glorious 40 degrees and it is AWESOME.

Snow more SNOW!

Some other happenings...This little lady turned one.  Michael and KeeKee share well and let me keep her here and there.  I adore her...she over flows my heart with joy even when she pours cereal all over my floor.  She is like the 3rd child I never had (and never want- no offense), I know exactly what people mean when they say they can give them back...I am just out of that stage and while I can handle it every once in a while I don't care to go back.  So no, no more babies for me...but yes I am happy to love on yours!

In sad news, my Papaw passed away.  I am really at peace with it because the poor man suffered for a while with COPD and now he is with Jesus breathing fresh air!  Plus he was 90 and lived a long, good life and he was a man of God so I know where he is hanging these days! 

and in other news..Corey and I and some dear friends went for our annual ski trip and I actually skied for the first time ever..(usually I tube and hold down the lodge)!  First 5 minutes were a nightmare especially since they parked at the top of the hill and insisted the only way down was to ski it.  Liars!  I did not know the first thing about skiing ...nothing...zilch!  When I was getting fitted for boots the guy told me "lean forward like you are skiing"...uh okay.  even that was news to me.  I only fell 14 times and I have huge bruises on either side of my bootie to prove it!  It really was so much fun and I can not wait to go again. 

 On the trip the boys took us on a Valentines dinner date...we dressed up and had a great time. Women in heels and lots of snow is a perfect combo..eh?!  

and that's all I have for now.  I have some stuff I am working on so stay tuned to my adventure.  I promise to post more.

2013 Highlights.

I got a simple yet cool idea this year. On the back of a photo Christmas card a friend put highlights of their year. You don't see things like this anymore. Don't get me wrong..I love to see your mug but it's nice to know what's up too or just reminded of happenings. (Shout out to the Ligi's, Good job!) Their card gave me an idea and a long over due post for this blog. 

Here are my 2013 highlights:

I got a third niece who totally and utterly owns my heart with the rest of the kiddos in my life.

Jaxson turned 7, he made it through kindergarten with flying colors and half way through first grade. He loves his Momma and hates Monday mornings. He did breakdancing and then He moved on to playing basketball and is a head taller than more than half his team. He's very sensitive and adores being outside. He loves babies.. Hannah has his wrapped around his finger.

Annabelle turned 4, with a big Belle bash! Belle herself showed up and the world stood still. She is in preschool 4 mornings a week where she is very shy but is blossoming lately. She loves gymnastics and has taught herself a cart wheel and does them often. She has quite an imagination.  She has a stubborn side but is sweet as pie.

Corey and I have been hitched for 9 years and together for 13.  The kids sometimes suck the life out of us but at the end of the day we are a great team.  We genuinely still like each other and love each others company.  

I ran half marathon -what, what! Still shocked I actually did that. And still have no desire to do that again.

We got a family gym membership and we love it. Family that works out together stays together.. True?! Who knows.  I do know we are pumping iron and I will take that any day over running!

We went to the beach 2 times..Once with family and once with friends ..freakin' love the beach. Is it summer yet?!

We had lots of visitors! We love visitors! Wheats, Coons, Haines, Luekers, Wackers, Hedgpeths, Sutherlands, Derringers...keep 'em coming. 

We went to Texas in June to see Corey's family..we had the best time. 

I went for an interesting yet very fun trip with my dad and brothers in October for Papaws 90th birthday.

We will go back to Texas in 9 days.

Still running the Fun Bus with Dad...most days it is still FUN.  Business has doubled and we are grateful!  Have to use my "mom voice" at least once a day ...once a day is not bad when you see 400 plus kids a week.  We call it "kid crack"  kids LOVE the bus and we love them.

I learned that people are people, people in Texas are the same as in Maryland, church people are the same as no church goers, no one is perfect, everyone has issues and we all need Jesus!  You can be the nicest person in the world and some is still going to hate you.

We got Direct TV that allows us to watch every Cowboy game...and they stink to high heaven but I'm still a fan.

We have a rotating front door...we entertain a lot and love every minute of it.  The recycle guy is sure we are alcoholics...think what you will, we are having fun...join us sometime.

At the end of the day I call that a SUPER year.  BAM!

Over it.

If I hear another Black Friday commercial I might scream! I love to shop..love and enjoy it. I used to love Black Friday. Since I can remember me and my mom would go.. At 5am every. Single. Year. We couldn't wait to scan the ads thanksgiving morning and map out our plan. We were being crazy y'all. We would park at kohls at...wait for it.. Wait for it...4:45AM! We would run through the door with everyone else and just start grabbing shit...shit we didn't need but everyone was crazy for it so we did it too. We would then get in a line that wrapped around the store and we would take turns shopping while the other waited. We were genius. We would be at IHOP at 9am and home to decorate at noon.

Gone are those days! I remember 4 or so years ago when we went to kohls at 4am..we got there at 3:45. That was nuts. 

Since we moved to Maryland my parents go to Texas for Thanksgiving so my mom and I haven't shopped in a few years. The last 2 years I recruited friends and we shopping in the middle of the night like crazies and both times I felt very let down.. Sales aren't that great and the loss of sleep is not cool! 

This year, I'm pissed. Nearly everywhere opens on thanksgiving night. That's not Black Friday! That's stupid, inconsiderate and greedy.  

Happy Shopping from a bitter Black Friday fan!

Update: Black Friday has come and gone this year. I did not partake. There was one time today I sorta felt the urge but I didn't give in. I slept in ..had breakfast with my family, we decorated the house and we snuggled all day in our pjs and were totally lazy. I think a new tradition came alive today.