{Wordless Wednesday}

{Fleece Blankets- Gifts of love & a giveaway!}

My mom is returning to Haiti in March with church to serve with House of Bread in March of this year (she went last year too.) Much of my mama's heart is in Haiti as she has traveled there to serve many times over the years, how she loves the Haitian people! The team she will be with will be serving in many ways including medical clinics, construction and outreach. 

(my mom in clinic last year)

Mom is asking for help again this year... would you consider helping by making and sending fleece blankets that they can share? Last year, she ask for fleece blankets that they could give to children in the mountains to keep them warm and to others. 

The team took 105 blankets last year when they traveled

This year, they would like to take at least 100!

Would you make a blanket or two for her to take?

The blankets are easy to make- you need 2 pieces of fleece, minimum of 1 yard each.

You place the 2 pieces on top of each other, then fringe the edge and tie them together.

There are several ways to do it and you can choose the one you like...

here are some tutorials you can look at: #1- braided edge, #2- tied edge & # 3- another tied edge.

After you make the blankets, you can either get them to me if you live close or email me at quiltnmama2 (at) gmail.com and I will send you my mom's mailing address!

We are also having a little giveaway in honor of my mom and her love for Haiti!
My mom put together this beautiful necklaces that she is selling to help raise funds for her trip. 

 I have one to give away! 

Leave me a note if you are willing to make a blanket or two and I will add your name to a drawing for this beautiful. You can also spread the word and let me know and I will add your name. If you live locally and have given me blankets already, I have added your name to the drawing as well!
If you donate blankets, let me know, I have a little gift to send you as well...
One of these magnets my mom also made!

Please spread the word on your blogs as well or at your church if you know someone who would be willing to make blankets. It is a great project for home school groups, friends and Sunday School classes. Mom will need blankets to arrive by March 5th.

We will draw for the necklace on Feb. 1st. 

Most importantly, please take a moment to pray for this team willing to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus!

{What are you reading in 2014?}

Here is the book stack in my bedroom window waiting to be read...

Be Still and Know that I am God, 31 Days to a Deeper Meditative Prayer Life
Compiled by Amy & Judge Reinhold

Be Still, Let Jesus Calm Your Storm by Cherie Hill

How to Raise Selfless Kids in a Self-Centered World by Dave Stone

Free Fall to Fly, A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning by Rebekah Lyons

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine
( I am excited to read this book, I won it on a blog giveaway)

Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford
 
Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most by Brooke McGlothlin

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
(We are reading through all the series in 2014 with the kids.)


Books I hope to add to my list in 2014...

Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God when Sparkly, Safe Faith is Not Enough by Kristen Welch
(Schedule to be released in May 2014)

Restless: Because You Were Made for More by Jennie Allen

Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ by Elsye Fitzpatrick

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I'm sure more will join the stack as the year progresses but here's where I am at right now.
I'd love to hear what you are hoping to read in 2014!

{Freezing...}

Last week, we had a day of freezing temperatures.

Lenna and I decided to try something we had seen...

 Blowing bubbles and watching them freeze!

Success!

Watching them freeze with the feathery crystals forming was amazing!

Instead of popping, the eventually would shatter a little bit...

You could also poke a hole in them and the rest of the bubble would remain...

We set this one out to just watch...

Even as they broke... we were in awe...

They also landed on the grass and left a bubble "grave yard..."

Some of them still visible the next morning...

We can't wait for a really cold day to try again!

 

{Enjoying a sunny afternoon}

{First Meet}

This past weekend was the first meet of the season for our girls.

It was a big meet and they competed both USAG & AAU for it, making it a good but long weekend.

Both were excited to compete but also a little nervous as this is their first year competing USAG.

Both tackle the weekend with determination and a lot of hard work in the weeks before and it paid off over the weekend!

I know I posted a few pictures already, but I am adding a few more for our scrapbook!

Lenna during her USAG Floor Routine on Friday.

Sunday on the bars, she received her best bars score she has ever gotten!

She was all smiles when she finished!

The Level 2's were competing the same time Lenna's group was so I love this picture of Lenna's team watching their younger teammates with the coaches.

Hard work paid off for Lenna's level team, they place 3rd Team USAG on Friday and 1st Team AAU on Sunday! There were a lot of big smiles to say the least!

Abigayl also had a great weekend!
Vaulting...

Beam routine... it was beautiful on Saturday for USAG

 I must admit, I am always happier once she has landed back on the beam:)

 Bars were beautiful too...

 and the hard work of her team paid off with a 3rd place team win for USAG and a 1st place team win for AAU!

 Now... back to the gym to keep working to get ready for the next meet!

catching up... a gymnastics weekend!

I have been meaning to post but life has been busy.

We spent a long weekend at a gymnastics meet- the girls did a great job!

I'll post more about the meet later but here are a few pictures.

 Lenna's group waiting to start the meet Friday afternoon.

Friday night, the boys were coloring with Clara before bed.

 Abigayl's Level team won 3rd place on Saturday.

 Abigayl & our friend, C. both did very well during the meet on Saturday. 

It was fun to see her and her mom, they recently moved back to our State and we look forward to seeing them at future meets.

 Abigayl on the bars...

 Lenna's group waiting for their turn on the beam.

She had a great day yesterday competing.

3 days of gymnastics with the last one being a 10 hour day wiped Clara out...

 more soon...

{Looking forward in 2014}