Christmas Shopping

Heard through the grapevine that Christmas packages had to be mailed by November 13th in order to arrive in the states by Christmas.  (*or pay twice as much as the gift cost to mail it priority mail)


So.........I had to kick it in high gear.

I'm not going to lie.

I am not the stereotype female shopper.

Some things will be mailed directly from the states to the states, via ONLINE shopping.

And I'm just saying, it won't be wrapped or have a card attached.

I am so sorry!

ALSO.....
I did NOT get Christmas family photos done in time to order cards,
have them sent to me
and then,
do the turn around to send them to the states.

(I'll be on top of that next year, 'cause I LOVE getting Christmas cards from my family and friends, and I don't want anyone to cross me off THEIR list)

But seriously, I got one box ready with Christmas gifts for all the "GREAT GRANDS" on my mom's side of the family. 

I am super excited about this because we have three,

Yes, THREE!

new babies in the family this year! 

Read about the first one here

and introducing the other two:

Talon

Hannah and Dad Ellis

I really, really LOVE babies! 

I don't know if all three will be at my grandmother's for Christmas this year,
 but I wish I could get my hands on them! 

ADORABLE I tell ya!

So official CONGRATULATIONS from Guam to my cousin Lydia!
And to my cousin Ellis!

AWANA

Look who had the CRAZIEST hair at AWANA???

He did go to church with a shirt on.......

I think his cheeks are full of whatever kind of candy went with his medal.

Now, to convince him to get a haircut..........

Veterans' Day Boonie Stomp

Since my Boonie Stomp about a month ago,  Isaac has been asking to hike to the WWII tank.

Veterans' Day seemed like a good time.

Mike was off work and the boys were out of school.

and, it's Veterans' Day and it's a war tank............right?

It was muddy, cause, it's still the rainy season

I told the boys to tie their shoes tight to avoid having one stuck in the mud

Michael didn't listen

'cause he's 13, and I'm an idiot

So..... he had to pull his shoe out of the mud, cause it was stuck

I wanted to say "I told you so"

but I didn't.......

We all had muddy, wet feet  (*and the soil here is really red)

and Zion had some allergy issues with the grass / trees

But we made it! 

Happy Birthday TREY!

To our sweet,

adorable,

smart,

and funny nephew

and our favorite six year old

in the entire Milky Way

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREY!

We love you!

Uncle Mike

Aunt Melda

Michael

Isaac

and Zion

Braces

I don't remember many kids having braces when I was a kid.

I didn't.

(my brother did)

It seems EVERY kid has braces now.

And sometimes, "pre-braces" (whatever that means)
before the "real" braces

Michael and Isaac both need braces, so we are told.

We waited until we moved to Guam because several people told us that the Navy does braces for you when you are overseas, and you don't have to pay for it.

So, we get to Guam and get ready for our FREE braces.

Uh...........NOPE, for some reason, Guam doesn't qualify for that little perk,

and so, off the base we go for braces.

After 3 months of.......

X-rays

Exams

Cleanings

molds of their teeth

and enough $$ to buy a decent used car

Michael and Isaac have braces

Tarza Water Park

an iPhone malfuction has delayed my post about our MOST EXCELLENT weekend.

So.......to catch you up, 

the boys were out of school on Friday and Mike took the day off.

Since this also happened to be Michael's GOT-CHA DAY , we planned a Day 'O Fun.

And it was, indeed a BLAST!

Here are some videos of the FLOW RIDER and the "Dads" giving it a go!!

Kevin Gillam

Mike tries to do a trick!

For Michael's video on the FLOW RIDER, click on the GOT-CHA DAY link above!

Orphan Sunday

Last thoughts, (for now) regarding orphans.


The most ideal situation would be,


to not have orphans at all


John and Beth from Heartline Ministries are training women
to care for their bodies during pregancy

They are teaching them to drink clean water

and take vitamins


and come in and deliver their baby in a clean environment

and sew at the Heartline Women's Program

So they can have an income


and provide for their families




Remember the Starfish story??


Buy a purse or two from one of these ladies and let her be your STARFISH!




OR host a purse party


or make a donation to the program here