Happy Halloween

First of all -
I have to say, "We miss you Gillam Family!"

Last year - Mike was out of town until 6pm Halloween - the boys and I went over to the Gillams'.

You can read about that here.

This year - because Mike was home - there was pumpkin carving.

Mike has serious pumpkin carving skills -

He has produced some award winning pumpkins,
seriously!

But those were before the days of digital photos,
and you will just have to believe me.





Isaac is pretty serious about his pumpkin too.

Meleah's first Halloween......  I know, I know....she's adorable.

The boys are at school and bitter about it.

"Why do we get off of school for LAME holidays like Columbus Day but we have to go to school on Halloween?"

"Columbus didn't even make it to America anyway - he was in the Bahamas."

"And he was MEAN to the Native Americans;  you are Native American right mom?!!"

(*well, I guess at this point I was suppose to join in on the Columbus-bashing ban-wagon-but instead I just said, "sorry, yes, you have to go to school")

So....we are having friends over for dinner and the kiddos will get to hang out a little while and hopefully, I can redeem Halloween being on a school day.  (*or maybe the candy will do that)

More tomorrow on the evenings activities....stay tuned!!

Meow!!!  

Six degrees of separation - preventing orphans

Hey........

Have you heard this term?

Have you played it at some kind of social event?

Try to connect two people in six (or less) steps through the people they know?

(*If you have no idea what I am talking about - check out this wiki link)

If you are with me -

Check this out!

I am going to connect YOU 
with saving lives 
and preventing orphans 
in Haiti.

Ready?


GO!

1)   My bedhead children eat cereal

2)   We save all the boxes

3)  We mail them to Haiti 




4)  The men and women there turn the boxes into jewelry.
(** You can read more about this step here)


5)  They ship the jewelry BACK to me to host a jewelry party. 



6)   You come to my house for some food, fun and fellowship, and shop for some new jewelry for yourself 
OR for Christmas gifts.  (*when is the last time you gave a gift that saved lives?)

The necklaces (and bracelets) are beautiful - I am sorry that my poor photography skills don't showcase the workmanship better!

Don't you WANT to be a part of something so redeeming?
I do -
Join me!  And learn more about the Apparent Project in Haiti.  
This program is allowing men and women to work and provide for their families.

Sunday afternoon
November 6th
anytime - 3pm to 6pm
1 Rota Street, Santa Rita Guam 
(coming from off base?  Let me know so I can add you to the guest list!)

Bring a friend!
There will be prizes!


Are you reading this and you don't live on Guam?
Click here to shop
or HERE to host your own party!

More on Orphan Sunday

Because I usually think what other people say sounds better than what I say....

this is a BLOG of links about Orphan Sunday.

Please take a little time to make yourself aware of the Cry of the Orphan.

Video titled:   Why Love Orphans?

and last but not least -
something very close to my heart.

The children of Haiti.

If you don't know - our son Michael is Haitian.

You can read part of his story by clicking here.

Haiti has many orphans and many orphanages.

But some children in Haiti are not true orphans.

That is:  their parents are not dead.

There is always the question of what is best for these children.

This question brings more questions.

The questions are hard to answer.

There is no black and white answer- it's all gray.


And I don't know the answers.


I can only share with you what I feel personally.

Here are a few posts to think about.

By my friend Heather ......  Preventing Orphans

Also, The Adoption Wall

I know, it's a lot to read and a little overwhelming.

Baby Steps -

On tomorrow's blog -
 I will be inviting you to come learn about a way to prevent orphans.

So - clear this date on your calendar and join me!

Sunday, November 6th.
Orphan Sunday 
Harvest Baptist Church
10:30


Then - 
3pm to 6pm (*also Sunday the 6th)
Learn about the Apparent Project
Where?
MY HOUSE!
Bring a friend!

Friday's Photo Flashback

I am stealing this idea (Friday's Photo Flashback) from my friend Jennifer....

Michael

Port Hueneme, California

October 1998.

15 months old

I know the photo is grainy -

but that's a sweet baby right there!

Meleah - 3 months

The little princess is 3 months old today.

Yes, she sleeps in the bed with us
But the boys don't
So I know it won't last forever
I love every minute

Did I mention that we are all in love?

I think I might have.

She is doing well.

She laughed for the first time this week.

She is almost out of 0-3 months clothes and into 3-6.

I also bought a pack of size "2" diapers this week.

She is a very happy baby
and still trying to suck her thumb / hand / fingers.

Sometimes she will hook her finger on the paci and pull it out to suck on her hand.

Everything she does - we think is adorable.

Here are some photos from the last month.

Mike Thornton has never been so smitten in his life.

Isaac and Meleah

healthy thighs

She still sleeps with her hands up like this....so cute!

at church in her dress from another Melia  ...(Yamodis!)

Big smiles!

Happy Birthday Derrick!

Today (in Guam)
and tomorrow (in Alabama)
my "little" brother turns 40!


Growing up Derrick was my:
"play doll"
(just ask my mom how many times I choked him with his pacifier)

buddy


pal

playmate

best friend


worst enemy
(* then best friend again)

Things we share:
the Lovvorn nose
a stubborn pride
a love of music
a competitive spirit
a sense of humor
and family loyalty

As adults, Derrick is my:

secret keeper
shoulder to cry on
defender / protector
call anytime person
kids' craziest uncle
and still my all-time best friend

Happy Birthday Derrick, 
(Uncle D) 
from Guam!
We love you!

My boys used to think that Derrick was older than me .....
sigh ....I guess they are too old for that myth to hold on!

And last but not least.....Michael - the big talker!

Orphan Sunday is coming!!

If you have been reading my blog for a while,

you know that our family feels called to live out James 1:27a.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this:  
to look after orphans and widows in their distress...

Over the years, the way this looks in our lives has been different.  But we do believe that this is something everyone who calls themselves a Christian should be involved in.

On some level.

The verse doesn't say:
....When you feel like it
....When there is a special offering
....When you see a sad commerical on TV with hungry children
....(the list could go on and on)

Another thing the verse doesn't say is:
Everyone adopt a child with no parents

Like I said:  this verse looks different in different families.
I am NOT trying to convince everyone that reads this post to run out and apply for adoption or foster care

If you live on Guam -
Orphan Sunday will be at Harvest Baptist Church
Sunday, November 6th
10:30am

Please bring a friend and come see the ways that you can plug into this verse on Guam.

If you don't live on Guam-
Go to this link and see if a church near you will be hosting Orphan Sunday.

more info. coming soon!!

Mia on guard

Mia does NOT like to hear the baby cry.

So she sits guard.

By the crib.

By the swing.

By the bouncy seat.

If Meleah starts to grunt,
Mia will come let us know.

It's too cute!

(so I have no worries if "Timmy falls in the well"........if you don't get that,  Google Lassie)

Cross-country / All-Island Meet

Last Friday's meet was canceled due to our very rainy, "Rainy Season" this year.

Of course, almost all activities on Guam are "Rain or Shine"  But for the safety of the children,
they canceled this one because the course was just too swamped,  literally.

I was looking forward to the Friday meet because no one had to rush to finish homework and Zion only has swimming on Tuesday / Thursday.    On Thursdays, the boys run at 5pm and Zion has to be at swimming at 5:30 - so I literally jump in the van as soon as they cross the finish line and zip down the road.

Anyway,  I am chasing rabbits.

SO - the All-Island Meet was at a different location.
And it was raining more for this meet than the one they canceled last week.
But again, I digress.

The photos are not great -
I mostly sat in the van with the baby and took photos through the window.

Seriously and honestly - I am so proud of the girls - I would have told my coach, "I QUIT"
It was REALLY raining!

These three boys were the top 3 Seahawk finishers.

The placed 3rd, 4th and 5th individually with their times for the season.

Michael finished the season around 14th over-all.
(the official times haven't come out yet other than the Top 10)
We are proud of his continued progress in sports.

That tiny speck with blue shorts is Michael on the back of the course.....

While Isaac came in more toward the middle of the pack -
his overall individual time greatly improved over the season.
It's been several years since he played sports of any kind,
so we are very proud of his accomplishments.

It stopped raining for about 10 minutes during the awards
Baby girl was really done by this time......

Michael's friend, (also Michael) -
3rd place over-all
Great job!

The good news in all the wet, cold - muddy, yucky day is that the Seahawks did well as a team too.

The boys team won first place with a perfect record of 8-0.
The girls team came in second with a record of 6-2.

Great job Seahawks!!!!

Priorities

Here are two of mine.

how sweet is that tiny foot?
 (and Mike with a pink paci on his finger?)

cross-Country 10-6

Seahawks ROCKED IT!

And I am so proud of my boys!

Michael took off 42 seconds and Isaac took off another 46 seconds!

They could not have done it though without great coaching.

That is amazing results, (and I wish I had been running with them all this time)

A special thank you to those who volunteer their time to coach the kids!

A big PACK of boys coming out after the starting horn -
Michael is just right of the center (taller than most)

Michael keeping a good pace going into the first turn

Isaac making the turn

Michael coming up a small incline at the end of the first lap
Half-way there!

He is stylin' with those orange laces right?  

Isaac starting the second lap

Isaac in the home stretch

Mike had to work late and didn't make the meet this week.  I was trying to take photos with one hand while holding the baby.  So....some of them are not that great.   I didn't get Michael in the home stretch because he blasted past me trying to pass a few runners sprinting into the finish line cones.

Great job to all the boys (and girls!)

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!