Torez Ukraine Orphange Hit by Bomb!

Just in shock....

TOREZ ORPHANAGE - HIT WITH BOMB - The Façade and some of the rooms of the main office building of the orphanage were ruined. Social Worker, Svetlana and several other woman were wounded by pieces of glass!! Orphans were at dinner and thankfully not hurt!!    Roads are closed to the city due to war activity. Please pray for the people of Ukraine!!

 

Please pray for Ukraine.... when I read this, my stomach actually began to hurt and I had chill bumps.  This is just unreal.  Every child/adult in the Torez orphanage/mental institution is handicapped in some way.  Things were very hard for them when we were there two years ago.  I can not imagine what it is like now for them.  It was hard to get medicine, diapers, food, even water and coal at time.  Can you imagine what is like now??? 

My mind goes back to those days spent at the orphanage....it's unreal that it has become a place of war.  The area where the orphanage is at, is a small area/village outside of Torez (which is a small town itself)  Right around the orphanage is a very poor area, of several streets, some stores, mostly outside shops.   I was told that the Malaysian jet crashed within 2 miles of the orphanage itself.  Most of the staff live in that small area.  Please pray for them. 

 

So for anyone reading this who thinks Sarah and Selah would be better off in their home country, read this story   http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/07/29/militants-fire-at-minibus-with-children-one-killed/   

 

Such a sad horrible time. 

 

I'm holding my daughters closer to me tonight.  So thankful they are not living through war.  Praying for the many who are experiencing war and lack of resources.  To have been there, to know the ones left behind....it's an awful feeling. 

 

We never dreamed what saying YES to God's leading would bring us....we had no idea of the emotional cost or the tears.  We never dreamed when we started this journey of adoption that in just two years Ukraine would be in the middle of a war.  We had no idea how our hearts would break for this country that we had to look up on the globe to know exactly where it was at back then.  Obviously we had no idea of the personal heartache we'd go through either.....BUT we'd say YES all over again if we had to. 

 

I have learned that when my heart is opened to love, sometimes it hurts.  Again personally I've found this to be true in our own family.  But also on another level.  I KNOW people personally who are affected by this war.   I worry for the orphans, for our Pastor friends who had to escape for their lives, I worry about some of the government officials we worked with who were so very kind to us.  I worry about the orphanage workers that we knew and grew to care about.   

 

When we went to Torez, I was not prepared for the relationships we would forge with people, some who probably didn't do the best they could for our girls, but we grew to love them anyhow.  I had NO idea we'd find a church similar to our church in beliefs and form such a bond with many in the congregation as well as the pastor, despite the language barrier.  We feel such a bond with Ukraine and the people of Torez specifically, as well as our wonderful facilator who was from Kiev.  I think of the various people we got to know in the 6 weeks we were there.....all we can do is pray for God to intervene in this situation....... 

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

Common Sense

So today I'm in line at Wal-mart, ahead of two ladies who seemed to be sisters.  All of a sudden one of  them just starts yelling at another lady in the line next to us.  The first lady had a 3 or 4 year old girl sitting in her buggy and the mom had smacked the little girl on the shoulder for something.  The child did not cry but did stop the behavior.  Evidently the other lady next to us tells the mom that she is abusing her child.  She also identifies herself as a child protection worker and told the mom she was going to get her child taken away from her. That is why the mother started yelling at her!   At this point, you know I had to step in!   First I could not believe I was hearing correctly.  I asked the mom behind me to tell me exactly what was going on.  I then told her to ignore the lady in the other line.  That lady continued to mutter at the mother.  So I turned around and told her that spanking a child, is NOT a crime in the state of Florida and as far as I know not a crime in any other state in the USA.  Even liberal NY state just had a case about a father spanking a teenage girl and the case was dropped.  Basically in Florida a parent is allowed to discipline their child.  Physical abuse is considered marks that last an unusual amount of time.  I'm not wording it exactly but that is the gist of it.  I began quoting what I could remember to the other lady who I doubt very seriously works for the state.  She looked like a rough individual.  I wish I had asked for her name and her supervisor's name because I would have called and reported such unprofessional behavior if she even works for the state!  The mom and her sister were so ticked off that I warned them not to attack the lady but hey people get mad when you get involved with their kids!  The little girl sat there playing with a toy. 

I could not believe the nerve of that woman! 

Now I know there are cases of child abuse in the country.  This whole subject has been on my mind lately because of various stories in the news.

This whole summer we have been inundated with stories of parents who have left their children in cars and forgotten them.  Then there has been a couple of stories about kids playing in parks without their parent's supervision like this story   http://www.worldmag.com/2014/07/is_leaving_a_child_to_play_alone_at_a_park_criminal_neglect

There was a story of a mom in Florida who allowed her 7 year old to walk to the park and play alone and she was also charged.

I'm in my late 40's and based on the above stories, my family, Jon's family, every one of our friends' families would have all been locked up in jail!

Now I never got a spanking but I should have and it would have been better than the punishments I got which consisted of me being shamed for everything and empty threats.  Jon on the other hand had his tail whipped many times.  One time on vacation he and his younger brother got 'switched' they had marks on their legs for a few days.  BTW, his daddy was a school principal at the time!   All of my friends got spankings or whippings from their parents and at school too! 

When I was in 2nd grade, I often went home with a friend on the bus.  Her parents owned the local car dealership and worked so we were free to roam the neighborhood.  We even took a small pontoon boat out by ourselves.  CRAZY!  Jon began walking home from school by himself at some point in elementary school and it was quite a long walk.  I can remember being dropped off at a city park to play while my aunt shopped.  In elementary school I started going to another friends house so we could skate....ON THE ROAD!!!!  LOL  We also went to a lake and swam...with alligators all around.  Can you imagine?  The thing is we didn't think anything about it!

We also rode without seat belts and in backs of trucks.  We licked the bowl clean from cake batter.  We played outside all day long....the list goes on and on.

Now would I allow my kids to go to a park alone or do any of the above stuff?  NO!  Steve is lucky he can get out of the house alone at 18 LOL BUT that does not make me think someone else should be criminalized for doing something that would not have even raised eyebrows 40 years ago OR even today in other countries.

Do I let Shad go off with friends like I did?  No but I am not going to fault a parent who does.

There are many times I worry that I make my kids more fearful because of the rules and limitations we place on them.  Obviously we love our kids and want the best for them in every situation.  I'm a worry wart and that is probably not healthy.  In fact I keep most of it to myself so I don't end up in a mental ward somewhere! 

BUT what bothers me the most is that our country is becoming a "nanny country" basically telling people exactly point by point how to raise their kids.  That should alarm everyone!  Children don't have the childhood we did, playing outside because people are so fearful.

The Christmas right after Steve turned 16 years old, I had the boys with me.  Sam and Shad had both fallen asleep in the van and I was running into a Best Buy to buy something.  I left all three of them in the van, with the music playing.  It was cool outside, maybe sweater weather, really comfortable.  It was about 5 pm, still light out.  I parked in the handicapped parking and told Steve he could come in with the boys if they woke up.  All I did was pick up something and was in line when a female police officer came in the store.  She had me paged, well I was right by the front of the store.  I went up to her and she began yelling at me for leaving my kids in the car.  I told her that Steve was 16 years old and old enough for a driver's license.  He could legally drive the kids somewhere so why couldn't he watch them while I went in the store? Plus Steve is not a small guy, it would be unlikely that someone would try anything on them.  I believe the van was locked and I had the keys.    She became very angry with me and I complained to her supervisor who apologized to me! 

Sure we want our kids to be safe but come on......

Is the world a scarier place now than it was 40 years ago?  I really do not think so.  We HEAR about things more than we did back then but everything happened back then as it happens now.  There were sexual offenders, serial killers, kidnappers, child abusers....it all happened back then. 

There is always a balance to be found.  When I look back at some of the things I did....I wonder how in the world am I still here!  None of the things above would I ever ever ever allow my kids to do!  But I don't think the government should step into a family's situation until there is a real cause to do so. 

Where did common sense go to? 

While I'm on the topic of common sense......I'm in a discussion on FB on WHY in the world this country would bring back the doctor/missionary with Ebola!   Yes the person is a wonderful person but I would think that common sense would tell us that we should not potentially expose the USA to Ebola just to treat one person.  The person knew what he was getting into when he signed up to go.  Yes I sympathize with the family but I think this is wrong.  I KNOW hospitals and I know mistakes happen, people get lazy and germs get spread.  I'm sure they will probably contain it but I doubt that we will get through this without seeing others infected there in the hospital.  Most of my friends disagree with me but hey what's new??

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ok after my rant......something funny....  Steve is feeding our friends animals (barn yard included) while  they are gone.  So yesterday after we finished up at Habitat for Humanity we went by their farm.  As we were leaving we saw about 50 vultures around a herd of cows.  Steve and I looked at each other, then looked at the cows but they were on the other side of the field.  A field that has an electric fence.  I said it looked like there was something coming out of one of them ....HAHAHAHA!  I was so shocked it didn't make sense.  We were afraid one of them had died on our watch.  So we went around to another small farm and went up their drive to get closer to the animals and by that time the "thing" had gotten out and there was a baby calf!

 

the cord was still attached and the mom bit it off.  Little calf was up and walking, how cute.  How surprising, our friends didn't tell us to watch for that LOL!

 

NEVER a dull minute around here:) 

 

Shad went with Steve today to work at HH for a few hours then they are off to a friend's pool/birthday party.  Last night they went to the movies...I think Shad should be really glad he has a teenage brother to take him all over the place!  Steve didn't' get to do things like Shad does!!

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

On a somber note, please keep the Musser family in your prayers.  I've heard that there is a fund being set up for Tommy's funeral expenses.  If you'd like to contribute you can go to their page

http://theblessingofverity.com/ or their address is 

 Joe and Susanna Musser

350 Smithville Road
New Providence, PA 17560

 

No one is ever prepared for their child's funeral.  That is a way you can help. 

Thank you!

 



Broken Hearted for the Musser family....The Blessing of Verity

Today Steve, Shad and I worked at Habitat for Humanity.  Shad had the best time and worked hard.  He got the nickname of  RACH as in ShadRACH.  At lunchtime we went to the nearby Pizza Hut (don't judge) and I checked my messages.  I had several email and FB messages regarding a family that was instrumental  in us finding Sarah.   Their son died in a drowning today. 

Let me tell you the story of how their lives intersected with our lives and changed us.....

One day in 2011 a college friend of mine posted on Facebook a blog about a family who had adopted.  A few years prior the Musser family had a little girl, Verity, who happened to have Down's syndrome.  Their love for her lead them to another little girl with DS who was in a horrible Bulgaria orphanage.  I could relate as our love for Sam had lead us to Shad.  The little girl they adopted was named Katie, who was 12 pounds at 9 years old.  On the blog, she mentioned Reece's Rainbow.  So as the mom of three, I had nothing else to do but look on line so I went over there....and looked at the various children.  My heart was moved with compassion for them as most are special needs children.  THEN I typed BLIND CHILD and what pictured popped up but MY girl Sarah.  Of course my heart just leapt in my chest!  Genesis as she was known on the list looked just like Sam's twin!  Oh I couldn't' sleep that night as the picture of that child stayed in my mind.   I laid in bed praying & crying till the wee hours for that child.  Within a week we had committed to adopting her  and now she has been our dear daughter for over two years.  Of course, in the process of adopting Sarah, we learned of Selah......

So my life was changed by these three steps......

 Then Susanna on her blog, began sharing about the conditions in that orphanage.  She began fund raising to help and also doing what she could legally to change the conditions.  She also became an advocate and has raised thousands of dollars to help other families adopt from there. 

Then in 2012 they committed to an older boy who was in the same orphanage.  They adopted Tommy and brought him home. 

I haven't followed their story closely but would read from time to time.  I think she and I talked once when we were in the process of adopting Sarah who was so tiny and I wanted advice about how to deal with her medically on the plane and should we take her straight to a hospital or not when we landed.  I heard some of the details of Katie's adoption and travel and how they dealt with her medically that helped us make the decisions we did with Sarah. 


Today in an accident their son Tommy drowned.  The family is broken hearted and I'm told the mom is blaming herself.  I do not know the details of what happened but one thing I know is that child was cared for and loved. 

Accidents are just that.....accidents.  We live in a fallen world, we are human and we make mistakes.   Obviously we have learned that ourselves.  In our situation, the police who investigated said it took FOUR seconds for the stroller to get away from my husband.  FOUR seconds.....OMG......FOUR seconds that changed our lives for ever and ever.....FOUR seconds that will break our hearts for the rest of our lives. 

Do you know neither Jon and I can talk in depth about the accident without tears flowing.  Oh we can talk about it on the surface level but we have to be careful.  We have had ONE in depth discussion about it because it hurts so terribly bad.  Talking about it together multiplies our pain.  It is a pain that will never ever go away. 

I am sure there will be people that we call TROLLS who will link the Musser family and the Clanton Family together. (Trolls are called that because they are anonymous ball-less people who haven't the nerve to put their names on their comments, messages or websites)   They will say we had no business adopting these children.  Some will try and insinuate that it was no accident.  Some will say we were too "burdened" with our other children to give the right kind of care to another handicapped child.   Some will say the children would have been better off staying in the horrible orphanages that they were in.  But that is not true. (the reason I know they will say these things, are because they said them about us)   This young boy was given love for the first time in his life.  He had a family, a mom and dad who loved him.  He had siblings who loved him and who included him in their lives. He was given medical care for his many needs. 

Accidents happen and they are terrible, haunting, tragic.....

But in this world that loves to use the term "Judge Not", this is definitely a time to Judge Not.   So many things happen to so many families, you don't know when a few seconds could make a terrible difference in your own life. 

While Selah was in the hospital, I had a doctor approach me.  He told me a story of how his child's stroller had gotten away from him in a parking lot and it was just the grace of God that his child was not hit by a car.  Another on of Selah's doctors told us that his son had had a near drowning in the Erie Canal when he was 4 years old.  I have two friends, one from high school and one from college who had small children drown in their home pools.  Things happen and they happen fast.  For some reason if a child is adopted those trolls that I told you about will for some reason link the child's adoption to the awful tragedy!  I can NOT understand that.  They loved to contrast how Sam (our bio son) survived with no after affects BUT our Selah (adopted) survived BUT with severe brain damage.  They do not take into account the actual rescue, where the rescuers could not themselves get Selah out as quickly as Sam as she was somehow caught in the stroller's straps.  So they somehow make it seem like my husband had some diabolic plan to kill our beautiful newly adopted little girl that we both adored. 

But the people who knew our character and love for our children, never once thought anything like that. 

I do not personally know the Musser family but I see the fruit of their lives.  I'm sure there are many who really know them that will comfort them and walk with them through this time. 

My heart goes out to this family whose lives intersected  with ours and brought a huge change to two little girls lying in a mental institution.   We know the pain they are feeling right now in a very personal way.

I'll never ever forget seeing my husband for the first time after the accident.  He was "distraught" the first words out of my mouth were "I don't blame you"  I didn't even have the full story of what had happened at that point.  But you see, I'd had 23 years of marriage with him and 16 years of seeing him be a wonderful father.  I KNEW his life, I KNEW his commitment and love to his children, I KNEW his character.  I KNEW some horrible accident had happened.  Could it have been avoided? YES it could have.  And my husband will live with that regret the rest of his life. 

My wonderful mother in law was killed in a car accident some years ago.  It was totally her fault.  Do we regret she made a turn in front of a truck, do we wish the accident had never happened?  YES!  Do we blame her for it, do we hate her for it?...no, it was an accident.  I related that story to Jon at some point during that first awful day.  I think it helped him to put things into perspective. 

I looked this up and his drowning has already been ruled an accident.
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/coroner-rules--year-old-s-death-in-bathtub-an/article_d4f3be1e-1979-11e4-8b7a-001a4bcf6878.html
the coroner spoke with compassion and I'm so thankful for that!


So tonight say a prayer for this family who is mourning their son's death and struggling with guilt and heartache.   We parents want to make everything perfect for our children.  And for our adopted children who have gone through so much hell in their lives, we want to make things beyond perfect for them.  I know the term "rescuing and orphan" is frowned upon in the adoption community for some reason but let me tell you, adoption is about rescuing a child that is YOUR child.  When you walk out those orphanage doors with that child in your arms, believe me you are rescuing that child!  It is the most incredible feeling in the world!   For me I was rescuing MY children that somehow ended up in an orphanage halfway around the world from me!  I don't think too much about their birth parents, because to me, the birth parents were just a way part of the steps that it took for them to become our children.  It's hard for me to think that they don't have our DNA because they are as much of a Clanton as Sam and Steve are!!!  We can't imagine our lives without the three of them!
So for us, it's not some noble cause to go and adopt these kids, quite simply, they are our children and they belonged with us. 


Some might wonder WHY I am blogging about this situation.  Is it drawing more attention to the situation?  My heart went out to them immediately because I know their pain.  AND I know what the internet community will do to them.  Susanna has been outspoken about adoption care and is a target to so many weird people who for some unknown reasons are against adoption in any way shape or form!  Especially international adoption, for some reason they feel the child is always better left in their own country to lay in an orphanage bed and be mistreated in many cases. 

Tonight. if you were to watch all the newscasts from all over this nation, there will be stories tonight about children who died in accidents.  Some will be drownings, some will have been hit by a car, some will accidently drink or eat something poisonous, some will be left in a hot car (I know that is quite the topic now), some will have falls or something will fall on them......  The great majority of these children will have accidents in the care of their BIOLOGICAL parents and most people will grieve with the families.  You probably won't hear "well that family shouldn't have had that child" or "it was better off left as an egg".......I have NEVER heard any silly talk like that when there have been accidents involving children.  However let the child be adopted, and then silly things are said.  How sad and twisted!!!

So I ask you to support this family with your prayers, remembering no one is immune to tragedy no matter how careful that person may live their lives!

And one thing I've learned is to show GRACE!  When I hear stories in the news, I remember that we are all mistake prone and let myself feel sympathy for the families.  Even with the hot car deaths that happen every summer.... anyone can make a mistake.  I have two friends  whose husbands left their children in a car accidently.  Thankful on both occasions it was winter time and the fathers remembered within an hour or so.  Neither child had any issue and both are now grown.  BUT what if that had happened in the summer time?  

http://theblessingofverity.com/  this is her blog.  Read and pray for this family.
I have some inkling of what they are going through right now and it hits me in the stomach.  I literally felt sick after reading about this. 

Tommy.....he was first shown love from his family when he was 15 years old.  They loved and took care of him.  Now he is experiencing LOVE like nothing we have ever known.  All I can say is our lives are such a vapor, we don't know when something may happen to cut short our life on this earth or to change it tremendously  BUT we have a HOPE beyond this life, of an eternal life.  Tommy has received that assurance in full today.  His family is grieving as they look back on this morning in agony, wishing they had done things differently......they will have so many "if onlys"  Oh God we have them, the "if onlys" can keep me awake at night sometimes going over the last few hours before the accident.  I know this family will go through that also.

I pray that God will hold them tightly in the palm of His hand.  He will be the only thing that gets them through....I know that too for a fact. 

Throw Back Thursday Again!

There is so much going on in the world, so much in my mind that I almost wouldn't know where to start.  From Ukraine vs. Russia , to Israel vs. Hamas, Syria, Iran, Iraq, North Korea....so many sad stories.  Then within the USA, we have this border problem, the mid term elections, all the attempts to take away our freedoms, so much craziness!  Then when I bring my mind closer to home, all the needs that my friends, church members, and family have.....Life can be overwhelming! 

This morning I woke early and laid awake, my mind thinking over the things I have to do today and thinking about the various problems in the world from the international to the personal problems.  Life is not easy!  I'm so thankful for having God in my life, I know whatever happens, God is still in control. 
=======================================================================


With today's totals I have walked over 18 miles in the past week and a half at our local hospital's cardiac track.  I told my friends I hope that we don't hear in a few years that walking is bad for your health LOL!  It's good to get back in the groove of daily exercise.  It's a killer but it does help me get rid of stress. 

The diet continues, I have not weighed myself.....

When I walk daily, the annoying pain in my right side that I've had now for 6 years, goes away for the most part.  It is ironic but true.  Plus I feel looser all over and that is good. 

So this is throw back Thursday..... this pictures just crack me up.  
But I love this picture with my best childhood friend:)  And that was my favorite dress for years.  I used to dress up all the time ....now not so much so.  A couple of years ago Shad asked me what was on my legs.  I was wearing pantyhose.  He had never seen such a thing LOL  It doesn't happen much anymore that is for sure!

 

 

 

 

 

OH MY GOSH!  We were taking "glamour shots" and the guy told me to think of a boy I liked.  Not sure who I thought of but this picture just cracks me up!

 

 

 

this was my first car.  We called it the "Roach Car"  Why?  Well it did not have an air-conditioner and the windows stayed down most of the time...I found a few roaches in it at times LOL

 

I loved this outfit, can we say 1985 at its worst????  I think  we were going to Homecoming with some guys at our high school.  We'd already graduated but I came home from college to go with my "home town guy" and ended up going with another guy....   Oh the dating tales we have.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My girls...we're all still friends:)

 

 

I love looking at pictures from the past, although we all looked so young and had no idea the curves LIFE would throw us.....  Glad we didn't know the future so we could enjoy the present!  Just as we didn't know what our futures held back then, both good and bad, none of us know what lies ahead for us now.  One thing everyone in the above pictures have in common, they are trust God to bring them through whatever situation comes there way. 

 

 

 

Here's a picture from the present...construction on our road, a road widening project as well as they are adding a "pull over" to our parking lot.  It should make it easier for folks to park. 

 

 

Thanks for the orders for Pampered Chef! 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1456835614569841/1457210007865735/?ref=notif&notif_t=event_mall_reply  You can join the party:)  

Tonight I'm going with Steve to register for his college classes and to look into what kind of scholarships/grants he'll be getting.  We've applied already and have an idea but we'll have it all figured out tonight:)

Little Boy

Recently I was contacted about a little boy in the US who needs a home.  Let me share about him.

He is a 4 years old bi-racial child.  He was a "shaken baby".  He is considered non verbal but is starting to make sounds.  He can't sit on his own but has started rolling over.  He uses a wheelchair.  He has a gtube and gets 4 meds a day. He is delayed but a very happy cuddly little boy.  Currently he is in medical foster care.  The mom is unable to take him home because she is young and having financial problems.  She does not feel she can give him the life he deserves.  His father is in prison.  The mom is willing to give up custody and wants to do a private adoption.  She wants to be in his life to some extent.   If you are interested you may reach lsmith@finallyhomecas.com   or call her at 813 777 0885.   There are costs involved as this will be a private adoption, probably between $10-12,000 if you live in Florida.  I'd love to hear that he gets his forever family!!!!


========================================================================


Today was a great day for me:)  One of my friends and I got to spend the whole day together.  It was a "Mom's Day Out".  Usually when I go out, I only go for a couple of hours so this was a real treat for me!  We went out for breakfast and then shopped (mostly looked around) and then had a late lunch together.  Recently I had seen a suede type brown jacket at a store.  I'd almost bought  it several times so today I laid out a "fleece" before the Lord that if it was there, I was supposed to buy it!  LOL It was there!!!!   So I bought it!!!!  Now I have to wait a few months till it gets cool enough to wear it!    (a fleece is a term for asking for a sign from God like Gideon did in the Old Testament and I was kidding about the fleece....although in MY mind I laid it out LOL) 



I ran into a friend who I hadn't seen in years and she told me that her young husband Melvin, only 40 years old, had suffered a massive heart attack a few weeks ago.   Melvin has had many setbacks on the road to recovery and has had to be put back on a vent.  PLEASE pray for him and for my friend and her two boys.  There are so many things going on for them.  Thank you for your prayers for this sweet family.  What really got me as she was sharing with me, tears came to her eyes and her teenage son just wrapped his arms around her and loved on her!  What a sweet sweet family. 

Thanks for your prayers and hope you are having a great week!

Pampered Chef Party!

So I'm doing on on-line Pampered Chef party.  Pampered Chef is a company that makes kitchen products, it is sold by people having parties in their homes.  I've never been one to buy things at those type of parties (or go to them if I could help it LOL) but I absolutely LOVE Pampered Chef stuff.  I have 4 cooking stones that I use every single day, they are different sizes from small to large, rectangular to round.  They are great, cooks things crispy on them and last forever. Two of the stones are older than Sam:) 

Pampered Chef has products other than stones and all of them are things you will use year after year.  One of my friends, Brook, works for them.  A couple of years ago I was trying to find someone who still sold PC and asked on FB and found that she does.  We did an online party a few years ago and now are doing another one. 

Yvonne is hosting an ONLINE Pampered Chef Show, so you don't have to actually GO to a party! It's all done online. :)

All orders can be placed online and shipped to Yvonne or directly to you! The website is SAFE and SECURE and your card will not be charged until we finalize the show and submit all orders together on A...ugust 8th.

Here is how to order:
1-Visit www.pamperedchef.biz/brookeandjosiah
2-Click Shop Online and enter YVONNE CLANTON as your host
3-Shop away!
Don't forget those upcoming birthdays, bridal showers, anniversaries, housewarming parties, kids off to college, etc! There is something for everyone in every price range and within your budget!

Spend $60 or more and get a Bar Board or Small Flexible Cutting Mats for FREE!

Need help with recipes? Contact Brooke at

brooke.richwine@yahoo.com

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1456835614569841/1456869334566469/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity     this is the FB page which is public.  You can ask questions on here.

So if you like the products and would like to order something please feel free to.  When people order using my code, I get points towards stuff.   I want to get this

 

this will help me eat some of the veggies I don't like as much.  If I can get them cut thin enough, then I can eat them:)   I love cucumber but it has to be thin.  With this, it will be thin! And then maybe I'll be thin LOL!

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This morning I sent in  $400 to Little Flowers Project
http://www.gofundme.com/aahhy4
I was able to write on their wall and give the credit to the readers of my blog and our church folks.  Thank you for giving to this wonderful project that saves children's lives every day!!!!  You can also give directly to them without going through me by clicking on the tab above.  Please consider giving, even a small gift is so helpful!

________________________________________________________________________________


It is SO hot in Florida right now, the heat index is up in the 100's!  Yesterday's walk almost wiped me out so I got there this morning at 6:45 am before the sun came up and was able to easily get my two miles in before the sun hit me.  It's still was in the 80's and humid but I'm used to Florida weather.   My goal is to go early, before the sun in up to walk until it gets a little cooler, like November LOL!

Hope you are having a great week!

I'm her Mmmmmm

Well I am continuing my daily walk/exercise plan and trying to eat in moderation at home.  We don't have a scale at home so I have to weigh myself at our grocery store.  For some reason all Publix grocery stores have scales....in the FRONT of the store so everyone can see how much you weigh LOL!  This morning I thought I would die as I began the walk.  Last night I had to take an anxiety pill.  I have no idea why, nothing was going on which is usually how it works LOL.  The times when things are nutso, I don't need a pill, it's the quiet that scares me I guess!!!   Anyhow the pill doesn't make me sleepy when I take it BUT when I go to sleep, I can hardly wake up and I feel sleepy the next day.  Well I pushed myself to get up this morning and go and I did it. By the time I was finished, all that "hang over" feeling was gone.  Although I actually did take a nap late this afternoon & it was nice!

Tonight I baked bbq chicken legs, green beans, baked beans, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese.  It was good comfort food.  One thing I notice is the kids are happier & satisfied when they have a good meal at home.  Plus then we have nice left overs for lunch!

So today was just a busy day for me.  Drove to Lakeland to meet with the church's accountant.  While there I went grocery shopping, big day LOL

So not much happening around here.  Selah seems to be fine again, don't know what the little episode was, we think it was just a little upset tummy. 

Really thought I had a blog to write but I'm sleepy and Sarah wants mommy to hold her, NOT the laptop:)  I love holding my little girl, wondering what goes through her mind as she reaches to touch my face and smiles.  So thankful she's in my lap not in an orphanage tied to a bed.  How she could be so loving, I can't understand.  But every time I look at her, I marvel that she is my sweet girl.  Now she calls for me, a little Mmmm sound that is trying to be a Mommy sound.  So glad I'm her Mmmmmm  :)