Our New Addition

No, I am not talking about the new addition of a family member, but rather the space that will someday be the place our girls will call their own. After many months of interrupted construction, it is finally done! It is beautiful. It amazes me that all of this space was just sitting up there under our roof. Lucky for me, I have an adventurous, creative husband who had a vision and the skills that could make it happen. I, of course, stood by the sidelines with a doubtful look on my face, trying to catch every bit of dust that floated through the air. Now that the dust has settled, and I've had a chance to put my own touch on this space, it makes me yearn for baby number four that much more. Still, it is comforting to sit upstairs, read a book, and feel a little closer to completing our family. All of the blood, sweat and tears were so worth it. (Okay, so skip the blood and tears part, but definitely the sweat!)

The Hope Chest

Before Thanksgiving break, my caring, compassionate group of 5th grade students created what they called "The Hope Chest". They researched items to sell, compared prices, created posters, wrote creative announcemnts and "applied" for "jobs". They then sold small toys and candy to students throughout the school on four different dates. Amazingly, after the second date, they sold out and we had to re-order. After the third date, we had nothing left. So, we contacted Delivering Hope to plead for some bracelets to be sent to us ASAP. On the next selling date, we nearly sold out of the bracelets, having only 14 left. After Thanksgiving break, they were gone...

All said and done, these wonderful students raised $500 to be used to buy formula (and maybe vitamins) for the sweet babies in Ethiopia. They ALSO made $300 from selling the bracelets, which we in turn, sent back to the non-profit organization Delivering Hope.

I have hope! These beautiful students are our future.