Santa's Been Here

Here is Ryan...reminding us of Christmas of old...when the kids were so excited to see what Santa had brought them on Christmas morning!

Ellen Degeneres' audience singing

This makes me laugh SO MUCH!!!!
The second guy who sings is the funniest!!

Peace

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

Catching up

My computer was mailed in to HP because it had some overheating issues.
I JUST got it back...so now I will need to catch up on stuff.
I have missed blogging.

November 7 Part 3

When we got home, we decided to play some Canasta.
It's been too long now...but something was so funny...that I knda peed a little.
Oops...was that too much information?














We were so sad for our weekend to end...we had SO MUCH FUN!!!

November 7 Part 2

After Caribou, we decided to go see a movie.
We decided to go to Changeling, with Angelina Jolie. It was a very intense, but good movie.
Our next stop was lunch....we were very hungry. However, it was about 4 o-clock, so we had an early dinner...like all the old people do. We went to Southdale and ate at The Cheesecake Factory and stuffed ourselves. We HAD to get some cheesecake. BUT...we did all share just ONE piece.



After that, we went to go sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Angela's mom! It was her 70th Birthday!
When that was done, we headed off to Ikea!

















Chloe wasn't very happy when we first got there...and she wanted to make sure we knew it!

Playing Catch Up--November 7

On Saturday, November 7, we had a Girls Weekend Adventure Day.
We did some totally fun stuff!
Reminder: Seth and Ashley were home that week for hunting...so we had girls weekend!!!
We slept in because we had been out really late the night before at the Rick Springfield concert.
SO, by the time we got going it was almost 11:30 and went to Caribou for some nummy coffee.
Then, we had to decide what to do next!

Justice

I cannot necessarily explain it...but my heart has been broken for the plight of orphans, and other children around the globe who cannot survive without assistance from someone.
God has truly placed this heavily on my heart, and I am uncertain as of yet what this means. I know that I must do something: either big or small...I don't know!
The not knowing is the hard part, but I am trusting that God will put things in front of me to make it more clear.
Here are some images that come across my screen on a daily basis.
It's hard not to be wrecked for these people.

Cambodia - October 2008 - "this little girl asked me to buy her shampoo because her lice is so bad". - photo by Natalie Montgomery

Cambodia - October 2008 - "prayer for healing in the clinic at the slum" in Phnom Penh. - photo by Natalie Montgomery

Philippines - October 2008 - Michael Angelo, a "child who was just sold into sex slavery," in a slum in Manila. - photo by Marisa Banas

Cambodia - October 2008 - putting a smile on the face of a child...and thus the love of Christ. - photo from Marissa Pratt

Cambodia - October 2008 - In the Tuol Che slum in Phnom Penh. - photo by Natalie Montgomery

Myanmar - November 2008 - "Here's an image that will stay with me forever...we spend one day visiting two villages in the Irrawaddy Delta, where Cyclone Nargis hit a mere six months ago...This photo was taken as we [Team V-Fusion] were leaving this village after spending time playing with children and giving out what felt like the smallest gift I've ever given...noodles, soap and candles." - photo by Katie Rowlandlcome to the TOP PHOTOS BLOG fo

Location unknown - November 2008 - photo by Kimberly Daniels

Myanmar - November 2008 - "The people of the villages followed us everywhere. People stared at us like we were aliens, and to them we were. Many of the people had never seen white skin before. We really scared the little ones. Some of the kids would cry and run into their homes.

Thailand or Myanmar - November 2008 - "Learning to be a mom at 7..." - photo by Tara Bruce

Cambodia - November 2008 - "Rubbish Mountain" - photo by Natalie Montgomery

Beware of the Doghouse- Hilarious!

Ellen explains The Origin of 'Kaaa'

Roomba Driver

This totally cracks me UP!!!

Jae Jae

Our friends, Brenda and Tracey, just got a new baby kitty over the weekend.

We were lucky enough to be there on Saturday night, right after they got her.

We even got to be part of the naming process...in a round about way.

Here is little Jae Jae!!

The Way We Were, movie (video) trailer and review

We spent this afternoon watching The Way We Were. Neither of us had ever seen it before.
Robert Redford IS so sexy...and Brad Pitt must have studied all his old films.
Have you seen it?

Mayanmar Flood Orphans

Orphans of the Storm from katie rowland on Vimeo.

Day After Thanksgiving

Angela and I went shopping today.
We had a fun time.
We didn't buy all that much, but we enjoyed our time!
Hoping your Thanksgiving was great!

Christmas Shopping to Save Orphans

This blog post ARE NOT MY WORDS...however...I stand for, believe in, and hope you will consider some of these things for your Christmas Shopping!!! The Lord has really placed the plight of orphans on my heart recently, especially those sold into the sex-trade. I NEED to make a difference. Seth Barnes is the founder of AIM where Seth works in Georgia. These are HIS words:

It's Thanksgiving week in a season of diminished expectations. As long as we're re-configuring our priorities, let me make the following recommendation. As you're Christmas shopping, why not buy something that makes a real difference in the world? Check out these three options that take your buying power up from more than just getting a great product. I know the people behind each business and can vouch for their integrity. With each purchase you bring hope to orphans, widows, and women being rescued from the sex trade. You're also impacting their families and their communities! Who knew a t-shirt, scarf, or purse could have that much power?

The Sound of Hope - click here to buy a T-shirt!

www.thesoundofhope.org

The proceeds from just one t-shirt is enough to feed an orphan in Swaziland one meal a day for over a month! The Sound of Hope is a music-driven campaign that raises money and awareness for orphans in Swaziland, Kenya, and India. Find out more by finding our fan page and group on Facebook, or add us as a friend on myspace!

Corridor of Hope - click here to buy handmade jewelry and beautiful silk scarves from Thailand and India!

www.corridorofhope.org

At Corridor Of Hope we are devoted to connecting orphans, poverty stricken communities and YOU. We are the corridor, a passageway to help people who can't help themselves. We help bring them hope by bringing you quality and affordable products from these countries. In turn, Corridor Of Hope will donate these resources back into their communities by supporting orphans, thereby empowering YOU to help in a multifaceted way. We will bring you updates and newsletters regarding the orphans and how your purchase made a difference in their lives.

Timbali Crafts - click here to buy a handmade African purse from Swaziland!

www.timbalicrafts.org

TIMBALI CRAFTS are created by women who work as volunteer cooks at feeding centers for orphans in Swaziland, Africa, where over 40% of the population is HIV positive.

Many of the women have been widowed or abandoned, are single mothers, or grandmothers (called "gogos") raising grandchildren that have been orphaned. Craft sales help provide an income for these hard working women and their families who would otherwise have little or none.

All the profits go right back to them. Please help us reach our goal of selling 3,000 purses this Christmas! And even better, consider throwing a tea for your friends to share the vision of how they can, in a simple way, make a big difference

This is like the purse that I have been carrying that Seth brought back from his trip!

One last site is under the byline of Fashioned to Save the World. Each t-shirt purchased feed an orphan for a month.
http://www.mojuproject.com

Christmas shopping for a purpose.
BUYING THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
MAKING LISTS FOR OURSELVES TO GIVE TO OTHERS....WHEN WE KNOW WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING!!

Chris Matthews on Ellen Degeneres 20/11/08

I know this is long...but we've waiting for SO LONG for Chris Matthews to return to Ellen!!

If you don't care to hear about his view on Obama, you can stop watching. But the beginning of this clip is quite funny!!

So Behind

I have so many things to write about, and pictures to share.
However, my life is not allowing me time to do so.
I am loving school at Hamline.
I am learning so much...and am able to use what I learn right away in my classroom.
Life is good....just a bit too busy for my liking.
I have ALL OF NEXT WEEK OFF!!
Just hanging on and waiting for Friday.

Rick Springfield

On Friday, November 7 we went to see Rick Springfield in concert.
It was the first event for our girls weekend.
Chloe and I have seen him before...and honestly I have seen him so many times, I can't even tell you.

Ashley and Angela have never seen him before. I don't think they were as impressed... but Chloe and I had really enjoyed him. He is still very cute!

First Snow

Last Friday, November 7, we had our first snow actually stick to the ground.
I was at work...but Ashley was home and took a bunch of pictures because she was so excited!
It does look pretty...and I don't actually MIND the snow...but it is a reminder of what is to come.

LONG, COLD DAY!
ICK!

Wanna Make a Difference

Never Going Back to OK from Kim on Vimeo.

This video is so cool!!
There was an awesome writing that she wrote as well.

BUT...this girl is MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!

SO far behind

I am way behind on my posts.
A week ago Sunday, the 2nd of November
Seth, Ashley, Ryan and Isaiah took off on a Sunday morning.
They drove to the Mall of America and hopped on the light rail.
They got to see a very good game, and a great time was had by all!

OBAMA

We have a new president
What an enormous responsibility
Change is on the way
The Lord has it all in his hands
Rest Assured

Today A New Beginning

No matter how you voted, it's a BIG DAY....even BIGGER NIGHT!!!
I am planted in front of the TV to watch history be made.
The kids voted at my school, and McCain was the winner of the electoral votes, even though Obama won the popular vote. This is a great lesson for kids to understand that the winner is not necessarily the one who gets the most votes.
I am SO READY for this election to be over.
No more annoying ads on TV
No more going back and forth about who to vote for
NOW...it's time to get behind whoever wins....and begin to tackle some HUGE issues that our country and our world face.

Voting

We are SO close to this whole election crap being over.
I am completely sick of it.
On Saturday, Angela and I went and voted by absentee ballot.
We figured the polling places will be a disaster tomorrow.
As a teacher, I ONLY have time to vote after work....
and that's when they will be the worst.
Now all we have to do is sit and wait tomorrow night
to see how the election shakes out.
We are SO CLOSE GUYS!!

Festivus

Last week the word FESTIVUS was written up on the white board in our team area at work.
SO...yesterday I decided to ask Eric what it meant.
Apparently I was the ONLY one who didn't know what this was.
I looked it up this morning at laughed out loud.

Chloe is 17

Yesterday Chloe turned 17!
It seems so strange that she could be that old.
We went to TGIFriday's again for dinner. Luckily there were no spilled drinks this time around.
Ryan had something going on at school....so he couldn't go out with us.
After dinner we came home and Angela and I did foot care for Chloe.
She had a mini-pedicure at home. She seemed to enjoy it. Angela said that all girls should be treated like a queen on their birthday.
Then....her friends Jessica and Rachel came over for birthday cake and to hang out.
The three girls went to the MIDNIGHT show of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
Big day for my girl!!!
It's fun watching her grow up....scary, but exciting.
I love you Chloe!

Dennis Quaid Interview on Ellen + Hidden Camera Prank 10/14/08 Part 2

I saw this on Ellen this morning.
My whole family was watching this, and we were laughing so hard we HAD to look it up on You Tube so we could hear it again. We had missed a bunch of it due to laughing.

Ellen Degeneres and Gladys Hardy

I have laughed at this before, and thought it was on my blog, but I couldn't find it.
I LOVE IT!!!

Good grin for a rainy Monday

My friend, Peggy, sent this out to the staff with a story.
I didn't want to put the story on here...but wanted to share the smile on a rainy day!

If Finally Happened

I am now the proud grandma to a PUPPY!!!
Seth and Ashley bought a dog this past week.
The dog is living with Ashley at her aunt and uncle's house.
Seth has wanted a dog for SO LONG!!
They named the dog Brodie, and obviously VERY, VERY CUTE!!!
I told them that I was glad this was the only
"addition" to the family,
I am anxious for grand kids...but can wait for a few years still.