Ring Factory Students Rock!

I just wanted to update the post about my students donating change for the Hopkins Childrens Center. This whole project was intended to bring awareness of the hospital and to raise money for a place that has been a big part of my life and my family's life in the past year. My goal was for $200. These kids have blown that goal out of the water. They have raised $1000 in loose change for the Children's Center. I'm just SO proud of them. They have such HUGE hearts!

To top it all off, the DJ from the radio station has agreed to come to our Assembly on Monday and to let us present the money to him then. I think the "hundreds" (not really... just 3!) of emails I sent to him must have paid off!

Way to go Ring Factory!

Dream BIG Abraham!

My Wish by Rascal Flatts

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.



I think about Abraham each time that I hear this song, so I wanted to include it on this blog. Michael and I have many dreams for Abraham... But two of our biggest prayers for him is that he grows up to be a young man that loves Jesus and that he finds something that makes him happy. We want him to dream BIG and to follow thru on those things that he wants to do. We will support him and love him 110% in anything he chooses - no matter what! We love you bubba!

Bragging Rights for a Proud Teacher!

I just had to put this on our blog simply because I'm so proud! A local radio station has a fund raiser called "The Change Bandits" that raises money for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. This is where both Moses and Chloe were treated. It is in the top 3 pediatric hospitals in the country, treating over 7,500 children this year. I have always wanted to be able to give to this cause but haven't. This year, because of my ties with the hospital, I wanted to do something for them. So I proposed the fundraiser to the 2nd and 3rd graders at my school. I set a goal for each child to bring in $1. If they did this then we'd have around $200, which I thought would be fantastic. The kids were really excited about this, perhaps because they could connect to someone they knew, I don't know.

Anyhow, all this to say... that on the first day of our collection we had close to $300!! And on the second day, we totalled $600! Today, the third day, we have another $200. I wouldn't doubt that by the time we are done (February 9) we will have close to $1000!!I am completely amazed and blown away by the generosity of these kids and their families! I'm in the works to try and get the radio DJ's to come to our school so that we can present the money to them. I sure hope that they can come!

It just goes to show that kids can really surprise you.... and that they can exceed our highest goals if we just encourage them.
I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM!

I just wanted to brag.

Christmas in Maryland... a bit late!

Mimi and Abraham looking at the pretty lights


Abraham and Momma


Mimi and Abraham



Chloe loves Uncle Mike and thinks he is hilarious! Tonight Mike pretended to put his eyeball in his mouth... which grossed Alex out but Chloe wanted to see it and was very intent on him taking it out of his mouth to show her. Poor girl.. blonde roots I guess!

Tonight we went to my mom's for dinner and to have our "Christmas" with my family. We openend gifts and just spent family time together. We really are blessed to live so close to them and to be able to see them just about whenever we want. I think that I take this for granted so often. Lots of people don't have this priviledge. I'm so grateful for my parents and the love and care that they have for us... just because we are 30 + years old doesn't mean you stop being your parents children! And to be able to share time with Joel and Kari and these 2 precious kids... I wouldn't have it any other way!

Merry Christmas from Abraham

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas in Georgia

Do you think my Grandma Kay went a LITTLE overboard on my stocking? Aunt Kathryn's is hanging up too... can you see it??


My very own phone... but how DOES this thing work??

Christmas with Grandpa Tony and Gramie

Grandpa, Gramie, Me and Mommy cutting a tree in the woods




Me and Grandpa Tony










Spending time with Great Aunt Betty and Gramie.. oh yea, and Peppi the dog!

Christmas visit to Georgia

Playing with Aunt Em and Beth

Lounging with Great Aunt Marianne


Great Aunt Susan and Abraham

I love my Grandma Kay!!
Aunt Kathryn and I played LOTS when I visited Georgia!


I had so much fun in Georgia with Daddy's family. I got to take my first ride on an airplane. Mommy picked GREAT seats for us on the flight down. I got to sit RIGHT next to where the ladies were fixin' the drinks so the lights let me see it all! I loved the noise of the engines too... we were sitting right by them! I didn't sleep at all.. there was too much to see!

I spent the first part of our time with Grandpa Tony and Gramie. We got a Christmas tree and decorated it. Then when Grandpa and I were playing I pulled it down, right on his head! I thought it was very funny! I got to see my Great Aunts and cousins in the Ragan side of the family too. We spent part of Christmas Day with them and then went back to Grandma Kay's house. Poor Mommy was sick the WHOLE time we were with Gramie and Grandpa.

We spent the next few days with Grandma Kay and Grandpa John and all my aunts and my uncle. I LOVED playing with Kathryn so much! She was fun. And I got to see Great Aunts Susan and Marianne. Poor Daddy was sick most of the time we were with them. But I just loved being with my grandparents and loving on them... and them loving on me.

Our airplane ride home was better than on the way down. I actually got my own seat.. not that I needed it since I fell asleep in Mommy's arms and slept most of the flight. I think that Mommy and Daddy were happy about that!

All in all it was a really good trip. I hope that I get to fly again soon! Before my 2nd birthday so that I'm free! :)