Packing my box for Operation Christmas Child: The Sign

This time every year since 2003, I have put together a gift box for Operation Christmas Child. I always have such a good time picking out little toys, candy, and other gifts for a child somewhere else on the earth. My boxes have gone to Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe.

This morning in church they announced that we will be collecting boxes again this year! The bulletin directed us to the children's ministry entrance to pick up a brochure. After church I made a beeline to the children's minstry area. The brochures were MIA. Nobody seemed to know where they were.I was a bit disappointed.


When I got home I went to the the Operation Christmas Child website! They have such an amazing website! Very informative and just plain cool! I love the videos! This one especially inspired me!



 I printed out the How to Pack a Shoe Box Gift page and took it to the store with me. The plan was to buy a couple things each week to add to the box. Ha! Was I in for a surprise gift!!

At the grocery store my grocery bill was surprisingly $20 less than normal, even after purchasing some candy and a stuffed animal for the Box Gift. Swiped the debit card and "accidentally" hit the $20 cash back button. It wasn't part of MY plan, but saw it as a sign. 

Headed across the street to the discount store. Had tons of fun picking out things just right for a little girl.I don't know her personally. I hope she likes the pink jump rope and the adorable socks with the hearts on them, picked out especially for her. I hope she knows that she is special! I hope she knows that God loves her and that somebody across the world is thinking and praying for her!

At the check out counter I was surprised with how much I had actually purchased. Would everything fit in the box? Would $20 cover it? The answer to both questions is "yes!" Oh and I got some change too! Guess how much? My change was $7.00, the exact amount they ask you to donate to cover shipping costs. 


After all those accidents and coincidences it is hard to believe that it is anything else but the hand of God. Thank you God for giving me this gift of putting together this box of goodies for that special little girl. 

Life Lessons

A lesson that I needed to hear today!

80 degrees in October?

 Growing up in Vermont I never really appreciated the wonderful autumn weather. The cool crisp mornings. The comfy sweaters! Here in Cincinnati the weather does not seem to understand the concept of cool and crisp! In fact, I am wearing shorts and flip flops today. It's getting a little bit ridiculous!  

Anyway, I decided to enjoy a little autumn fun, even if the weather isn't cooperating!

 A family in our neighborhood set this up on their lawn! I couldn't fit the giant spider in the picture! So fun!

 The apples waiting for the caramel! Finding the caramel candies was practically impossible. When I did find them I let out a triumphant " Ah ha!" right in the middle of the grocery store!

 This treat is brought to you by the letters C and A ( Candy Corn, Caramel and Apples)

 A few pumpkins for my trifle bowl!

Thanks to my ultra tall husband for tacking this up above the kitchen cabinets!

Leaf Banner

 Last week in Storytime, I had the children decorate construction paper leaves with pieces of scrapbooking paper! I was was really inspired to create my own project using the same template that I used for the children's project.

 

Yup, those are cereal boxes! I traced my leaf template onto cereal boxes. I used generic cereal boxes.  They are slightly thinner than name brand cereal boxes, thus being easier to cut more intricate details out of. 

 I cut up about five pieces of scrapbooking paper into squares, triangles, and rectangles. 

 Covered the leaves with the paper. No real rhyme or reason to it.

The squares and letters were cut out on my Cricut!

To bind it all together I started out by punching holes and attaching eyelets . I strung brown ribbon through the holes and tied it all together.

Hopefully Michael will hang it up above the kitchen cabinets tomorrow!

Sneak Peek

 Just a little Sneak Peek into something I have been working on!

  These will be made into something adorable really soon!

Saturday!

Here are a few shots of our Saturday morning!

 This is a mural we passed on our way to Findlay Market. Findlay Market is a great place to visit in Cincinnati! Great food! Great handmade stuff! A people watchers paradise!

 The view above the ATM machine!

 Lovely Lemons!

 In the window of a delightful little bakery!

 A street performer!

 Grapes we bought at Findlay Market and enjoyed at our little picnic at Spring Grove!

 Two ladies painting the foliage at Spring Grove

 Love the reflection on the water!

Have a super Wednesday!

Exploding Washing Machines, Cheeky Kids, and Homesickness

My wonderful husband stayed up late last night to do laundry! Isn't he a doll? While he was watching Stargate waiting for the washing to finish, he heard some rumblings going on in the laundry room. He goes in and the room was filled with smoke. Thankfully he was able to get the thing unplugged. Another thing to be thankful for was that was the last load that needed to be done. Soo...for a few day we shall be without a washing machine. I slept through the whole thing! Hopefully it can be fixed tomorrow or Friday! Praying for a speedy fix to this problem!

Yesterday was an interesting day at work. In the youngest preschool class I almost had my pants pulled down by three adorable children! While trying to leave the classroom, three children were hugging/holding on for dear life. Me, I was trying not to expose my underwear to the world. I looked at the teacher with a look of "Please remove these children from my pants!" I finally escaped left that classroom fully dressed. 

This was a conversation between me and a 9 year old girl in Scrapbooking Club!

Me: Ok guys time to clean up! Hey I see some scrap paper on the floor over there!

9 Year Old Girl: Yeah, I see it too! (Slight smile to see if I was going to let her get away with that comment)

Oooooo...What a sassy girl! Actually I think it was pretty funny, but you can't let the kids know that you are amused with their downright sassy-ness!

I have been pretty homesick lately! Actually that is not really accurate. I've been really missing family.  I really wish we lived closer to our families. I can't help feeling this way. I feel like we are missing out on so much of the family stuff by living here. I know that it hurts Michael when I tell him I wanna see family. I think he feels like I'm not happy with my life here and that he is not enough. I love him so much,more than I tell or show him most of time. I'm just sick of being those people in the the picture on the refrigerator door.I would love to be the Aunt who brings the kiddos for ice cream. The Aunt who takes the kids to the park. The Aunt who goes rollerskating.Thats just how I'm feeling.

Michael loves his job! I love that Michael loves his job! I really want to support him in his career. It is just so hard when your heart really wants to be someplace else.

Here are a couple of little things I made this weekend. I originally made them to print out and frame, but I think I might print them out and send as fall cards!

Have a good night everyone!