White Christmas

Christmas morning we woke up in Birmingham to rain with a little bit of snow. The kids were SO excited to see white stuff falling from the sky, even if it wasn't much. By around 10 a.m. we were all packed up in the van heading north to my parents house in Florence, AL. By the time we hit Hwy 157 all we saw was white everywhere! Even had to follow behind a salt/sand truck down a few hills. Unfortunately by the time we arrived at my parents house all their snow had melted. The kids were not very happy with us since they had asked at every red light if they could get out and play in the snow. I know what your thinking, not letting our kids play in the snow, what mean parents. Thankfully the day after Christmas we woke up at my parents to this outside.
Snow!!















While packing for the five of us and making sure I didn't forget any Christmas gifts, I didn't even think to pack clothes/shoes for playing in the snow. My mom a.k.a. Gigi did what she used to do to my sister and I - Walmart bags over the shoes. Not one of my fond memories having to wear those bags in the snow, but my kids didn't seem to mind.















Aunt Kay-Kace & Isabel















Caden found that the porch was slippery so he went to "ice skate".















Carter was all about the snow balls.















Kids didn't care to make a snowman, but Caden LOVES penguins and got two little ones for Christmas. He decided they needed an igloo.















Everyone had so much fun playing in the snow!!

Christmas Eve Tradition

One of Ben and I's Christmas traditions is every Christmas Eve we would go to a sit down restaurant (yes with all the kids). One goal during the meal is to really engage in conversation with our waiter/waitress and get as much of their "story" as we could. Then after we pay for the meal we hand them a really nice tip, our Christmas gift to them. Over the years we have met several people and have heard many stories.
This year we decided to do something a little different. Since we seem to be surrounded by people in financial poverty we wanted to give, but not just give them stuff. If that makes any since at all. There is a man that Ben has come in contact with and met with a couple of times. He is in the process of looking for a job. His wife does have a job, but doesn't make enough to support all of their needs. Big thing to notice here is they are MARRIED. The first and only married couple we have met in East Lake so far. She has two children that she brought into the marriage and they are now expecting their first together. They are also a couple that haven't asked for anything. We wanted to help this family out for Christmas, but didn't want to just buy them things and drop it off at their door. I am also always looking for ways to involve the kids in our ministry. So here is what we did.....

Zoo Light Safari
Something they had never done before and couldn't afford to do. Plus it was a wonderful way for our two families to spend time together.

The train ride, even though cold & windy, was a favorite of everyone.













































I took lots and lots of pictures - something they said they don't have a lot of. So my plan is now to print the ones I took of their family - a much better gift than I could buy at any store. Here is one of my favorites of all the kids together.















I think this years tradition may have started the beginning of a wonderful friendship :)

Santa at the DeLoach's

Santa isn't someone we really talk a lot about in our home. The world however talks about the jolly old man enough that we really don't have say a word. The boys asked the big question last year - is Santa real? To which we replied (I with a lump in my throat) no, he's not. Ben and I had already decided when the kids asked we would tell them the truth. Didn't think they would be in 4k & K when they asked. I was in 4th grade before I found out about Santa. Honestly I was kinda nervous of the response we would receive back. Would they be mad that it was us and not really Santa? We explained the fun we could have in pretending that Santa was real. Also explained that Santa was just a symbol of Christmas kinda like the Christmas tree, but he wasn't the focal point of why we celebrate Christmas. We also had to add in how we shouldn't go around telling our friends Santa isn't real. Carter loves to spoil a surprise, and if he thinks he knows something you don't, it's hard for him to keep that mouth shut. The boys took the news rather well and decided they were totally ok with the fact that Santa wasn't real, as long as they could wake up to presents on Christmas morning. Didn't seem to matter to them who brought the gifts. Now don't go getting all upset with us for telling them the truth at such as young age. Like I mentioned before we talked about the fun we can have with Santa, just have to make sure he doesn't become a focal point. Part of our Santa fun is going to visit him at the Bass Pro Shop. This year we even went with friends.















And all three kids made sure we left him cookies & milk the night before.















As a side note *the boys may not believe in Santa, but their little sister does. For now anyway.

This year Santa brought something that the boys have been asking for, for months now. Loft beds.






























We decided that since the boys were getting new beds that it was time for our little girl to move out of the toddler bed into a twin bed. I almost cried when setting this all up. I can't believe she is already 3!

Racin at Dega

My father-in-law got the opportunity to have a driving experience at Talladega Superspeedway. Therefore we got to stand in the pit and cheer Grandaddy on!! The kids were so excited!















Getting ready to go....





























Cheering Grandaddy on!















There he goes!















Best part was when Isabel announced to everyone....yay, Grandaddy won!

House Updates

Many people have asked how the house is coming along. My response is always, we're getting there. Here are a few updated pictures.

Kitchen now has a tile back splash and the hood is hung.















Ben did a WONDERFUL job on my kitchen island - butcher block.















Took forever to figure out what color/kind of curtains for the living room and for a price that I was willing to pay.




















My favorite purchase so far is the living room rug. Found a great deal and it actually matched the couch!















Decorating for Christmas made me quickly realize that I did not have a mantel because we don't have a fireplace. Something I didn't miss until I went to put out my decorations. Had to make do with wall decor for our stockings. I was happy with the results even though I do miss my mantel & fireplace.


































Still have some work to do around the house, especially in the classroom, but we're getting there.

Gingerbread House

Usually the tradition is making all sorts of Christmas goodies with the kids. This year due to time & mommy's all day "morning sickness" with baby we decided to go with a gingerbread house.

Our goal....















Caden decided he wanted to focus on the gingerbread men.















Carter wanted to decorate the rooftop, but had to get a few tips from dad.















Didn't take him long before he took over.















Isabel, we'll she just kept eating the candy!















Working together as a family.





























I think we may have a new tradition! They did a great job ;)

Helping Without Hurting

There is a book I highly recommend when working with people in poverty - When Helping Hurts. I have to admit I have not read this book in its entirety, but I have read some of each chapter. Most of the time people offer help in a way they truly think is helpful to others. They focus on the physical needs & try to meet them not thinking about or focusing on all the underlying problems that need to be met. What happens when a certain kind of help is needed but another kind of help is provided?

A quick example from Ben: When a football player is injured on the field, he needs something to dull the pain, something strong, something to "stop the bleeding". When that same football player begins physical therapy he doesn't need that kind of help. He needs someone to teach him and help - even when it hurts - to use his injured body again. Just imagine if a powerful pain killer were injected just before he started physical therapy. He wouldn't be able to function. This would not be the kind of help he needed.

When working with people in poverty it is not always obvious what kind of help is needed. We have to spend a lot of time with people in order to empower them to help themselves. This is very hard to do and it is something I am continually praying over with the people we meet.

One lady that Ben & I have been working with is a lady named Jean. We have had a friendship with Jean for about a year now. A little about Jean and I will keep this short, there is SO much to her story. She is a 46 yr old single mom to a 17 yr old son. Never been married. Lots of health issues and even more fear issues. Jean tries to make ends meet without the governments help. She has worked at the same job for 28 yrs, but still makes makes less than $10 an hour. Jean is in poverty and she asks for our help almost every day.

We decided to help Jean by walking with her in friendship first and in meeting her material needs second. Recently Jean has not been able to work much because she's been sick. She just had surgery last week and will be in recovery for at least a week and a half. Since she works on an hourly basis she absolutely will not have enough money to survive during the month of December. We could just pay her bills for her - something we've done in the past - but as part of the process of empowering her we want to take something she is good at and help her make enough money to get through December and pay off some of her debts.

Jean's job involves her putting gift baskets together. We thought we would help her make her own baskets for the Christmas season. This will give her the opportunity to use a skill set that she already has while teaching her the basics of making money by selling a product. Now here is where you come in.....

We are purchasing all items for the baskets and Jean will get all proceeds. Now don't think we will give her all the cash - she is under financial management via Ben and I :) Our goal is to make $1000 by selling these baskets.

To keep things cleaner we thought it best to ask for a donation to Jean rather than actually selling a product. In return for your donation Jean will be providing a "Thank You" basket. We will be helping Jean photograph some examples of the baskets this week but until then I'll just include what will be in the baskets:

Coffee Basket - $35

• Bag of Coffee
• Biscotti
• Dansk Dipping Sticks
• French Vanilla & Hazelnut Creamer
• Starbucks Frappucino
  
• Cappucino Single Serving mix
  
• Coffee Mug
• Metal Decorative Basket
  

Sweet & Salty Basket - $40

• Mixed Nuts or Cashews
  
• DeMet's Turtles
• Ferrero Rocher
  
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares
  
• Peanut Brittle
  
• Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Popcorn
  
• Lindt Assorted Truffles
• Woven Grass Decorative Basket
  

Also, one of the young men that Ben is working with loves to bake. We hope that we can get him to use our kitchen and bake some items for these baskets as well. Like Jean, this will be to help him make some money over the holidays.

If you would like to purchase one of these baskets you can use one of the buttons above to pay by credit card or you can simply email me @ k082678@gmail.com and pay by check when we deliver them.

NOTE: The easiest way to pay through PayPal is to click the "Continue" link under the phrase "Don't have a PayPal account?" Don't let them fool you - you don't need a PayPal account to pay through PayPal.

If you pay by PayPal please include any delivery instructions in the Message text box on PayPal. If you want to pay by check just include delivery instructions in your email to me.

We will be putting the baskets together this Sat. Dec. 4th. - but taking orders up until the week before Christmas.

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" - Galatians 6:10