I'm Most Thankful For...

Noah's creative writing concerning "Thankfulness"


I am most thankful for...
my teacher, my church family. I love my home, school, and me too. God, Jesus, the world and the pool (spelled "Pull") in my backyard. I am thankful for the world. My friends and clothes for one fireman that protects us. Our class.

(I corrected some misspellings and punctuation so you could get the point!)



Noah's thoughts are about as random as mine! But we are so thankful for all the blessings God so freely gives! I feel so blessed to have four beautiful healthy children! A husband that I adore and who daily shows me love - who provides for and protects our family! My parents who I've grown to love as my friends! My sister and brother and their wonderful family! I'm thankful for my grandmother and the time I've been able to spend with her lately! I'm thankful for my aunt/uncle and cousins who make the holiday's OH SO BRIGHT (I really do love y'all)! I'm thankful for Bret and Delilah for being as close as family to me and Jason! I'm thankful for my job - it's truly been a blessing and a privilege to work where I do! I'm also thankful for my church family - they are amazing! I'm thankful for my nannies! They've been so encouraging to me and they adore my babies! Angela and Mindy - you will NEVER know how much y'all mean to me!! I'm thankful for my friends that are near and the ones who are far away. The ones who let me have my way every once and a while...OH...scratch that - I didn't get to do what I wanted to (ha ha ha - just kidding!) I'm thankful for my house and like Noah the pool in our backyard!! I'm not gonna lie...I'm thankful for food the salty and the sweet! I'm thankful for restaurants and dates! I'm thankful for sunny days and rainy ones (when I get to stay home)! I'm thankful for the Lord's salvation, His forgiveness, His death, resurrection, His unconditional love, His grace, His mercy, His promises of eternal life! I'm thankful He's an amazing God! I'm thankful He has overcome the world! I'm thankful He is powerful and strong! The Lord has been good and has showered - no FLOODED - us with grace, mercy, and love and I'm rejoicing! Thank you Lord!

You're forgiving and good oh Lord abounding in love for all who call upon you! Psalm 86:5

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Rockathon

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...EVERYONE who supported our group going to the Rockathon! Our group raised $500 to rock for 30 minutes to raise money for the New Day Orphanage! The total at the end of the night was over $3000! We rejoice - God did just what He wanted to do and we thank Him for letting us take part in it (and it was FUN)!

yea.. We ROCK! Ha...

I absolutely LOVE how much fun Bret is having!!

Girls Rock

Boys rock...with coats on?!?

And Isaac rocked FAST to sleep! Soon babies at New Day will get this JOY!

Thanks Rob and Laine for allowing us the privilege to rock with you for New Day! Thanks for the Krispy Kreme giftcard - though it was tough competition between me and the Clark's - I LOVE our PRIZE! It was the perfect "group" prize and the donuts were "HOT & NOW" - to God be the Glory!

Operation Christmas Child

We've been SO busy lately! I'm going to attempt to tell y'all about it. I'm starting to regret waiting so long to post. Our church took part in Operation Christmas Child. We had a BLAST doing this. Our church set a goal of 150 boxes and we ALMOST made that goal we actually made 139 boxes! We personally did 6 boxes and the kids had a blast putting them together! Anna said, "I wish I was one of those kids!" I had to explain that she didn't wish that but I was so happy that she liked everything in the box because that meant the kids would really love it too!! She also made other comments like "I hope I get a shoebox for Christmas!" Now that I can do! HA!



Isaac prayed over all the boxes...ha ha ha!! I just so happen to get this picture! He's a doll!

Family

We really try and make it a point each year to go to Fayetteville, TN to see my great aunt and cousins! We always have a GREAT time with them. We use the local "craft show" as an excuse to go but it's never as fun as lunch at Cahoots - which is set up in what used to be the county jail! And every time we tend to hear stories about which one of our family members may have spent time in certain cells. So funny! Last year we didn't get to go which was sad -but it made this year all the more sweet! More things to catch up on!

Anyway, my Aunt Faye is the historian of our family and she brought us a family tree book of our great, great, great, great, great, grandfather - William Faulkner who came from Ireland in the 1860s. REALLY NEAT! I'm just baffled by it! It's only 6 generations and only ONE line but it really does tell a story. I read his "will" and it was funny to think he left his wife their land (obviously, and that's not the funny part) but also, a sow and pigs, cows, and horses and saddles, bed and bedclothes, $100 to his daughter IF she didn't marry "spinthrift." Now that cracked me up - a spinthrift! I have to wonder what kind a man she married. Was he a "spinthrift" or was he "economical." It's neat to see how time has changed! Through reading the book you can see their sense of humor too -I can see where my quirkiness may have come through. I just can't wait to get my hands on that book again! The Lord blessed a lot of them with long life and mingled in there was heartache in the loss of children and spouses. They referred to the Lord in some of their writings which just thrills my heart in hopes they trusted in the Lord and we can meet these people again!

It was a GREAT day with my family - my daughters, my sister and her daughter, my mom, my aunt, and her daughter, and her daughters my cousins! A great day of remembering our heritage and I go to bed with a thankful heart! I'm thankful the Lord weaved these people together and here I am - and continuing the line. It really is amazing! And I pray I give glory to God in and through my life - that I'm leaving a legacy and a heritage of serving Christ and glorifying Him - forever!

The Dollar family is helping raise money for a wonderful foster home for special needs orphans. New Day Foster Home is located in Beijing, China. Currently there are over 30 children residing there; all of these precious children have some sort of medical special needs ranging from severe heart conditions to limb deformities. New Day takes these children in and provides life-saving surgeries through their relationship with surgeons at a nearby hospital.

The picture above is of “Kevin”. Kevin has a very serious and complicated heart condition. His orphanage brought him to New Day Foster Home in hopes that he would be able to receive a life-saving surgery. Unfortunately, the surgeons in Beijing are unable to perform the difficult surgical procedures that Kevin desperately needs. Kevin will soon be adopted by a local Alabama family – who we know personally and love dearly. Until then, Kevin is being very well taken care of and loved at New Day Foster Home, and his adoptive parents are very thankful he is in such good hands. The nannies at New Day are doing all they can to make sure Kevin remains healthy until his forever family can bring him home to have his heart surgery.

Our whole family is attending a “Rockathon” fundraiser where we plan to rock in a rocking chair for 15-30 minutes, November 20th. Would you please consider sponsoring me in the New Day Rockathon? The donations you give are tax-deductible and will help fund the purchase of rocking chairs for the nannies to rock the babies and give them individual love and care. Your donations will also go toward the opening of another New Day Foster Home in Guangzhou, China, where there are thousands of special needs orphans in need of surgeries, therapies, and specialized care. I must have all donations by Nov. 19th. If you would like to learn more about New Day, you may check out their website at http://newdaycreations.com/foster/

All checks may be made payable to “New Day Charities”

Thank you so much for your help in spreading the love of Jesus to these children. May God bless you richly!

Isaac 4 Months

Nov. 2nd Isaac turned 4 months old! How fast did my t-tiny baby turn into a BIG chunk of love?!? Isaac and I got on the scales and he is weighing 18 pounds. He is such a happy baby - full of smiles. He loves to be talked to and laughs out loud! I just love his little responses! He oohs and coos!! Adorable!

He is still so busy but I'm working on his "cuddling"- I love when he lays so heavy on my chest in a deep sleep! But if he's not asleep - he wants to be up looking around, kicking his feet, and waving his arms! He's been on the go since the day he was born! I'm sure he'll be crawling and walking before too long!

He loves his bottles and eats a lot of them. He's started eating cereal and this month we will start him on fruits. He doesn't sleep all night but ALMOST! He's so close! Maybe the "real" food will help with that!

When I see him I'm just so thankful for another sweet precious adorable baby. I feel blessed beyond measure! He's growing WAY too fast - he even looks like a big boy! Isaac makes life just a little sweeter!

Halloween 2009

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We had a GREAT Halloween! As tradition has it we were supposed to go to my mom's for Halloween and celebrate with family but this year our church's Fall Festival was actually on Halloween! We missed my family but we did still have a GREAT time! Lots of games, prizes, food, a hay ride AND just all out FUN! Enjoy the pictures!!!

For those of you who don't know...Anna is Mary Poppins, the babies are her Penguins and Noah is a Ninja!