PLEASE COME!

The BENEFIT SALE is this SATURDAY! PLEASE come! PLEASE!!!!!! It is from 7:00am-2:00pm. Even if you don't want to spend a single penny, at least come and see the pictures, learn more about Sixteen Small Stones, and hear the stories of the people and places we help. :) It will be fin and wonderful and I am so excited! Sixteen Small Stones' board members have ALL worked really, really hard puting this together. If you are in the SLC area (or not! hee hee) PLEASE try and make it!

Click over to http://www.sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com/ to read our daily notes about how this sale will help the people we serve.

See you all Saturday! :D

EVENT NEWS!!

HUGE NEWS! "THE POINT" radio station is going to be at our Open Air Benefit for Africa, Haiti and China Event! :D YAY! SO...we are all listening to THE POINT to show our appreciation to them for their support!

I am posting EVERY DAY on the SSS blog (sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com) about our sale, so be sure and check it out! :)

It seems like Sixteen Small Stones and getting ready to leave for China are the two things that consume our minds right now. "How will we get the cameras to Haiti?", "What clothes do I need to pack Taiger for China?", "How are we going to ship all these donations to Africa?", "Does Taiger need new shoes for China, or should I wait and get them there?", "Thank Heaven we are going to be able to help those children in the prison in Uganda!", "How am I going to find a house in China?"...and so on. All day. All night. This is my thought process. And I LOVE it! :D

Luckily, Heavenly Father has a good plan for us and I don't have to worry about it. :)

An Update...FINALLY! :D

TWO NEW POSTS over at http://www.sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com/! Go see MORE ways our sale is going to be helping others! Also posted there is the opportunity to win a COOL Sixteen Small Stones shirt! Go read and find out how! :D :D

SO much has been going on! Our Spring is going just as a springtime should...lots of playing outside without getting TOO hot, mornings home with Mom and afternoons with friends once they are home from school...Just perfect! We even went out and flew kites! So fun!

One thing that has been GREAT about this Spring is that I have started running again. YEAH!!!!!! As some of you may know, I. LOVE. RUNNING. Something about it...I just LOVE it. For years I have not been able to run. It has been hard not being able to do something I love. But there were other things I loved that I could do, too. I loved to ice skate, but as I got older, I had to quit spending so much time at the rink. Now, I rarely go. I LOVE singing, but life has changed and I haven't been able to stay taking lessons. Being able to run again is giving something back that I LOVE to do and it makes me so happy. Taiger rides his little 4-wheeler and I jog along beside. It is perfect because I don't have "Mommy Guilt" from leaving him to go to a gym, and he loves being able to get out and ride his little four wheeler. Everyone is happy!

This post is really random because there is so much to say! So, sorry!

Plans for leaving for China are still going well. Taiger got his passport. What a proud day. I was so excited. :) In my mind, getting your first passport is sort of a rite of passage, or something...a major event in one's life. I LOVE that my little baby has a passport. Can't wait until every single page is filled with Visas to different countries! :D

Okay, so I made a few online purchases lately. One, I may or may not even mention here...ever. I haven't decided. If I do, it will certainly get it's OWN post. The other thing I bought, I am really, really excited about. Ready for this? I bought me...
A PAIR OF VIBRAMS FIVE FINGER SPRINT STYLE SHOES!!!!!!!!

Okay, although I am overwhelmed with excitement, I will calm it down a bit because I realize you may have NO IDEA what Vibrams even are! Here is a visual aid:

Yes, those really ARE shoes. :)

Any I LOOOOVE them! I have been wanting them for almost FIVE years. Yes, I am not even exaggerating AT ALL. Since Taiger was a wee little lad, I have wanted some. I found JUST the ones I want online, and I ordered them! I will let you know what I think of them when I get them. I'll have to do a review. :) (HUGE note: There are TONS of "FAKES" out there, and websites claiming to sell authentic VFF. If you want some, go to birthdayshoes.com and at the bottom of the page is a link to a list of REAL VFF retailers. How did I find this out? I searched ALL over online for the best ones and, in the end, ordered from a FAKE retailer! Now, I know about this page, and I have since ordered me some REAL ones.)

Taiger is doing well. All of his boy cousins are here visiting, so he couldn't be happier. FINALLY, someone to play with who actually knows HOW to play Batman! (Apparently, I am NO good at it...NO good). It has been busy and fun (Taiger has been completely wiped OUT by the time bedtime rolls around) and Taiger has LOVED having so many little buddies around to play.

Notice the HUGE lack of pictures in this post? That is because we are half moved to Idaho, and one of the things that is with the half that is moved is my camera charger. So...no pictures for a while more. Darn, huh? I know. I think I need some kind of rehab to come down off of my camera. I am THAT addicted to taking pictures.

Alright, so that is the low-down with our little family! PLEASE take the time to go read sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com and hear about all of the great projects we are doing! :)

Come One, Come ALL!

COME ONE, COME ALL! To our

OPEN AIR BENEFIT SALE for AFRICA, HAITI & CHINA!
SATURDAY, MAY 29 from 7:00am-2:00pm at
1811 SOUTH 1800 EAST SALT LAKE CITY, UT AH.

REMEMBER: Even if you can't make it, you CAN still make a donation! ALSO, even if you cannot be there, PLEASE tell your friends about this sale! THANK YOU!
SO....At our Open Air Benefit Sale, you can score some REALLY NICE things! We will have children's clothes, adult clothes, and other amazing items!
Each day I am going to tell ONE thing that this sale will do to help the children in our homes. This sale will:
*PROVIDE DIAPERS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE MALNOURISHED AND NEED SPECIAL DIAPERS TO FIT THEIR UNIQUE BODY-SHAPES, CRADLE THEIR FRAGILE BODIES AND BE SOFT ON THEIR SKIN, DELICATE WITH LACK OF NUTRIENCE.

We have a date for our fun, exciting, wonderful Sale!

OPEN AIR BENEFIT SALE

for

AFRICA, CHINA & HAITI
Saturday May 29, 2010 from 7:00am-2:00pm at my house,
1811 South 1800 East Salt Lake City, UT 84108.

This is going to be SUCH a cool event!! Art project for the kids, lots of cool things for sale for YOU to bring home, and items there to buy and donate right then! LOTS of information, pictures, slide show of pictures of the people we help... No set prices...you donate what you think is fair and take the item! It is all about helping the children, and EVERY single penny donated goes right to helping the kids. There is also going to be a place to sign up to participate in Project: 1000 WORDS!! Sponsor a camera while you are there for 10 dollars. We will also have our shirts for sale for 20 dollars. Bring your jars of change, grab your kids, and come have some fun while serving others! :D
We do have a facebook event page set up, so feel free to RSVP there AND to use it to invite friends (even if you won't be able to make it). Please spread the word on your facebook and blogs.
The facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122713431086455&ref=ts

ATTENTION: LAST MINUTE MOTHER'S DAY SHOPPERS!

SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR MOM ON MOTHER'S DAY??????

SEARCH NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, have you come to THE RIGHT PLACE! Here are THREE ideas that will make your Mom's heart sing!

** IDEA 1 (NO! NOT the cute little munchkin in the picture...sorry!) NECKLACE

COST: $18.00

ORDER FROM: http://147millionorphans.com/uganda-necklaces/ugandan-magazine-beads

Something about being a Mom bonds you to other Moms! Mothers in Uganda, Africa were desperate to feed their families! Without hope, they struggled daily to take care of their little ones. Along comes a woman who starts a program where the Moms in the village get together and make traditional necklaces, which this woman sells, and VIOLA! The women have a way to get their children food AND bond with other Moms in the community! Order one of these necklaces for your Mom and know that while she is thanking you for buying a pretty necklace, another Mom out there is, too! :) (Personal Note: I bought one of these necklaces and have worn in almost every day since! It matches everything, the quality is excellent and it looks SO GOOD on! You won't regret it, and Mom will LOVE it!)

**IDEA 2 LITTLE GIRL'S DRESS

COST: $40.00 (I THINK!)

ORDER FROM: http://www.3seams.com/2009/10/20/hello-world/ (I didn't see a way to order from this site, so maybe you will have to email them and ask them...unless you are smarter than I, which is quite possible, and you can see a way to order online!)

Few things make a Mom happier than dressing up her little girl in pretty clothes. Say what you want, but watching your their little daughter dance and twirl in a new dress brings tears to a Mama's eyes :) A Mom has made this GREAT company where she sews these amazing, hand-made dresses for little girls! They are even reversible! The cool thing is, when you buy a dress, one EXACTLY like it is sent to a little girl in Haiti! Awesome! Giving any Mom a dress for her little girl is a gift enough, but knowing that a little girl in need is getting one, too, makes this gift super sweet!

**IDEA 3 (AND THE BEST ONE, actually...saved the best for last, you know;)!!)

SIXTEEN SMALL STONES SHIRT

COST: $20.00 (WHAT A STEAL!)

ORDER FROM: http://www.sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com/ (Use the oh, so convenient paypal button on the top left hand corner of the screen...OR mail a check to me at the address on the left hand corner under the paypal button...so easy, huh?!)

Sixteen Small Stones has in their new shirts! Boy, did they turn out NICE! They are GREAT shirts, and not just "t-shirt" shirts, but actually nice shirts. The logo on the front is colorful and looks so nice! Let your Mom show the world that she CARES by wearing a shirt that announces that she supports the efforts of Sixteen Small Stones! She will look nice and FEEL good in this official Team Sixteen Small Stones shirt! ALL proceeds goes STRAIGHT to our partner homes, so you can rest assured this purchase is changing lives! http://www.sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com/!!

The catch to ALL of these is that they probably would NOT be delivered to your Mom for Mother's Day. :( But don't worry....Mom's are known for their patience ;). To let her know about her gift before it arrives, try this special idea:

Write her a card telling her how much you LOVE her (I promise if you home-make it and trace your hand on the front, your Mom will start crying! Trust me...I am a Mom! I know these things ;)!!).

Tell her how much you appreciate her, and include examples of why, or of times she has helped you. Point out her good qualities, or tell her how she has set an example for you.

Finally, tell her about the gift you have purchased for her and is on the way (you don't have to tell her quite yet that you made this purchase with HER credit card...save that for later. You don't want to ruin the moment :).). Explain how this gift to her is also helping someone else (Moms sometimes have a difficult time accepting gifts...but if they know that by them accepting this gift they are helping someone else, it will make it easier for them...not to mention, for many of us, it is our Moms who set the example of service to others and of helping those in need. Maybe point this out in the card, and explain that this gift is a way for YOU to honor the example she was to you.).

Of course, sign the card with a BIG, "I LOVE YOU!"...we Moms can't hear that enough. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day this Sunday (thought I would add the

"this Sunday" part for those of you who may not know! LOL!).

Quick Update!!

My words find their way to this blog less and less often with each passing day. The reasons for this are two fold: 1.) I really don't know if anyone reads this blog 2.) Sometimes it seems overwhelming to try and write in one post the events of my day, let alone when I get behind and feel I should post for an entire week!

But, I try.

I am getting REALLY excited to move to China! Taiger has been nervous about this move the ENTIRE time, but he is starting to warm up to the idea and has started initiating conversations about China without prompting from me (THIS IS HUGE!). I am anxious to get there and be done with all of the nerve wracking preparations. I have a lot of anxiety about living there, but I think once we arrive and are settled in, the nervousness we both feel will subside (I HOPE!).

The weather here has been nothing short of ridiculous. For several days it was almost HOT! The sun was shining, the temperature was 79 degrees, the flowers were in bloom...And the next day, it was snowing. I kid you not, that is no exaggeration.

So, the garage sale for Sixteen Small Stones has been delayed until Mother Nature figures out what she is doing. Obviously, we aren't going to have a yard sale in the snow. I just have a feeling not many people will come to it. I dunno. Just a hunch.

Despite the delay, things have been progressing with the preparations for it. Just today we had MORE donations of items to sell at it, and for items to be "sponsored"! What a huge blessing! I am so, so excited and so thankful! If I may be so bold to ask, please pray that this garage sale/fundraiser will be a success. I am so worried it will not go over well. Please pray, if you feel so inclined. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, that is all for now. It is too late to think clearly, so I am having a hard time recalling things about which would be interesting enough for a blog. So, I will end here. Good night, everyone!