What did you GIVE in 2010?

On January 2, I posted on my facebook status that I was going to ask my students "What did you give in 2010?", (as opposed to what did they get) -- via @sanmccarron on Twitter
Here are a few of their responses:

Volunteer a lot of my time
Support to family
Love & Happiness
Friendship
Gift of Music
Respect
Blood
My life to Christ

Also at the beginning of the year I have students fill out a Bucket List of just 10 things they want to do/accomplish in their lives. This idea was adapted from Marcia Ritter at the 2009 MOEFACS Summer Conference. Here are just a few:

Save a life
Be the best teacher ever
Meet my dad
Aplogize for my mistakes & mean it!
Pass Personal Finance w/an A :-)
Give someone $1000 just because...
Learn the banjo
Visit every country in the world
Get over my fear of heights
Take over my father's business
Visit the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Pay for someone to go to college

Hope this improves your day!!!

Operation Christmas Child

It's allover the blogs, allover facebook.  

I've never seen so much discussion as this year.  I'm talking about the Christmastime outreach project by Samaritan's Purse,  Operation Christmas Child.  

Samaritan's Purse was begun by Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son. First time I heard about Samaritan's Purse was from our friend Dennis Agajanian who became involved early on in the ministry, way back before Operation Christmas Child even got started. I know he has been performing for Billy Graham Ministries and Crusades for years:

 (had Dennis' kids in Sunday School and later Youth Group back in the day).

Operation Christmas Child has been hand delivering gift boxes to children around the world since 1993 in over 100 countries.  

Not only providing gifts, but sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with these children.  

Won't you join in & fill a box or two or twelve with your children and your family for other children around the world?  It's a great way to start the Holidays, a great Holiday tradition. 

I've been filling boxes for the last 5 years.  My FCCLA kids started me on it... they'd done so since before I arrived at our school. 

Gift ideas include:

• Cars
  
• Trucks
  
• Small ball
  
• Teddy bear
  
• Finger puppet
  
• Jigsaw
  
• Yo-yo
  
• Balloons
  
• Small musical instrument
  
• Felt pens
  
• Pens
  
• Pencils

• Puzzle book
  
• Pencil case
  
• Stickers
  
• Toothbrush
  
• Toothpaste
  
• Gloves
  
• Scarf
  
• Sunglasses,
  
• Cap Rubber
  
• Colouring book
  
• Notepad
• Pencil sharpener

But don't delay, in order to get the boxes to the children in time for Christmas, we have to do our part way early.  Go to the Operation Christmas Child link at the top of the page to find the drop off location nearest you.  Drop off begins November 16 and ends November 23.

There is a small donation you'll need to include in the box to defray shipping costs.  See the website for information.

Happy April Fool's Day!

I have no idea if this is actually true or not
and honestly don't care.
I have not bothered 
to search through Snope's or Urban Legends.

 It just cracks me up!  Enjoy your day:

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

In  Florida , an atheist created a case against the
upcoming Easter and Passover holy days.  He hired an attorney
to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances
of their holy days.  The argument was that it was unfair that atheists
had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge.  After listening to the
passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel
declaring, "Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your
honor,how can you possibly dismiss this case?  The Christians have
Christmas, Easter and others.  The Jews have Passover, Yom
Kippur and  Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no
such holidays."
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client,
counsel, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance
or holiday for atheists."
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm
14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is
the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God,
then he is a fool.  Therefore, April 1st is his day.  Court is
adjourned."
Thanks Keith for the email!

My baby flew away

This is Spring Break for my baby.
Most college aged kids find some
exotic location to lay in the sun and get wasted
and do things they otherwise would not do at home.

As of today, my baby is in Guatemala for the week for a service trip.

These are a few pics of the beautiful grounds of the Mission.


She is really excited because there is a health clinic on site
and she hopes she can help out. She is in grad school
for occupational therapy and loves it!





The area is exotic and full of local tradition,
some a mix of religious and mystic history.


The Mission promotes the sale of local coffee and
you can even purchase some online.
Aren't the coffee beans beautiful?



My baby will only be gone for a week,
but I'm sure there will stories to be shared for years to come.

If you'd like to "visit" the Mission, go to:

(All photos are from the Mission website.)
Postscript: I received this email this evening: "

Guatemala Service Group just phoned and checked in. They are safe and sound

in the country and at San Lucas Mission. They are doing well. Thanks for your

patience." She made it! (I'm the Momma!)

Prayer req update: We've Got BABIES!

The girls were born on July 11th. Rylee 4 lb 7oz and Sarina 3 lb 13oz. (I think it's cute b/c Mom is Sarah and Dad is Ryan). Sarina is the one with the intestines on the outside and they were both taken to Children's Hospital. Sarina will probably be there a month. They have a no-surgery plan for resolving the intestines. Rylee will probably be there another week, making sure she eats well and gets her weight up. Rylee did not have to be on O2 after birth which is good for a preemie.

Thank you for your prayers and keep it up!

PS these are my BFF's grandgirlees!

Please pray ...babies!

An urgent plea from my friend Stephanie in Arkansas. She is an RN and is one of my BFF from when we lived in El Cajon. Please pray for Sarah and Ryan's babies. Sarah is a tiny thing and the little baby girls are too little. One has part of her intestines on the outside. Here is a note from Stephanie, Ryan's Mom.

"Not a good report from the High Risk Specialist appt for Ryan and Sarah. One baby is 4 lbs 8 ozs but the other one is 3 lbs and 2 ozs! Not good. The little one is the one with the gastroscesis. They said she is not getting enough nutrients, the umbilical cord is getting compressed from being squished. She has to go back on Wed (I am going with them) and if it isn't any better they are taking the babies immediately. She is 34 weeks right now. Wed she will be 35 weeks but the babies are still too little, especially Sarina (Sp?) She will have two strikes against her, her small size and the problem with the abdomen. And Sarah just won't lie down and stay there. She's still up and about, and so swollen. I went to see them last night and I was shocked how swollen she is. Totally different from the last time I saw her. Her feet are really swollen, but her face, shoulders, arms, every part of her is swollen. It's really making me nervous. I think I know too much about what could happen. Please pray for her to realize how serious this is and that the babies would not be born yet. Thanks!!! "

Please take a moment to lift these babies and their family up in prayer to Our Heavenly Father and keep them on your mind and continue to pray.
Thank you