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!

Begging...and an announcement about a Garage Sale for Sixteen Small Stoens

Hello from the silence! Sorry, again, as usual, for not blogging in so, so long. :( =SIGH= My ONE (and ONLY, if you are wondering) flaw. ;)

Okay, so I am here to BEG some help! Sixteen Small Stones is having this huge, amazing, wonderful Garage Sale to raise money for the children. ALL of the money goes to helping our Friend Homes and Friend Organizations/Ministires. It is going to be a WAY cool Garage Sale, totally out of the ordinary, and I encourage you all to read all about it at www.sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com .

Okay, so now for the begging. Do you have ANYTHING you would like to donate to be sold at this sale? Anything at all? As you are doing your "Spring Cleaning" (who does that anymore?! Well, maybe you do!) and thinking, "My child NEVER plays with this toy anymore. Hmmm, I wonder what, oh, WHAT I should do with it?!" or "Gosh, I used to LOVE this shirt, but I have this new one I love EVEN MORE...what to do with this old shirt?! Hmmmmm...", remember that Sixteen Small Stones would absolutely LOOOOVE that old toy, or that amazing shirt you never wear. Set it aside and then shoot me a comment on here asking where to drop it off! Be sure and leave your email address so I can reply. ;)

I don't have a date yet for this sale...waiting to see how many millions of people are just DYING to donate items and how long they need to bring over their truckloads of wonderful, used goods. :) (Don't you love my possitive thinking?!) I will let you know AS SOON as we have a set date! Also, I will be setting up a facebook page for this event, so be sure and RSVP so I can see how many thousands of people will be showing up. Boy, will the neighbors ever be mad! :D :D

Thank you all!

Adventures in Hair Care!!

We have been having great adventures...in hair care! Taiger's hair is SO different! It is neither straight or very curly...it has patches of both! It is both "coarse" and fine, depending where on his head you look. Sometimes, it has amazing coily curls, and other times it is nothing short of a pure "Afro"!

Taiger's usual 'do, before coconut oil. Rather frizzy, uncombed because it was always so tangled and matted because it was so dry. Even when I picked it twice a day, it always looked matted and tangled.

The biggest issue we have faced is how DRY his hair is! Dry, dry, DRY! His skin has also been very dry. I lotion him all the time, and so I thought his skin was "okay", but I notice sometimes it looks "ashy".

For years (not exaggerating) I have wanted to get SOMETHING that I KNEW would be good for his hair and skin. I have always known not to use hair products (shampoo, conditioner, etc.) made for "white" people, but since I am white, that is what I have at the house! I don't have a lot of extra money, so I never bought anything special for him. My friend, Jeremy, actually spoiled us and bought us some "Mane And Tail" last year, which I have LOOOOVED! It has helped SO much...but I still felt like he needed a leave-in conditioner.

SO...I emailed a friend of mine who recently adopted a little girl from Ghana. This child's hair is always SO cute! She does her little girl's hair in the cutest styles, and she always look SO nice! So, I emailed her with tons of questions, and she was kind enough to offer TONS advice!

I knew Shea butter was good for African skin and hair, but I didn't know where to get it, what kind, etc. This friend of mine suggested I try coconut oil.

So, I bought PURE coconut oil and started rubbing it all over Taiger's hair and skin.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE! His skin is no longer ashy!!!!!! At night, I put it in his hair and then wrap his head in a satin cloth, as my friend does with her daughter, and by morning his hair is so soft, manageable and looks SO NICE!!!!

Taiger getting ready for bed. At night, I slather him in coconut oil from head to toe! Then, put on his pijamas and wrap his head. (Before he turns 7, I am photoshoping the pictures of him with this head wrap and making this headwrap have super heros all over it... and I better make it look more masculine while I am at it...maybe shape it into a Speed Racer helmet! LOL!)

Taiger writing in his journal before bed.

Taiger's hair first thing in morning, even before combing it, after the coconut oil has been on it over night! What a difference, eh?

So, I decided to take things a step further. I decided to try doing twists in his hair! I have tried it before but they never looked good. So, over Sunday and Monday I spent a good 7-8 hours doing twists on his hair. After the first three or four house, I check my email and my friend had written to me advising me NOT to do the twists without gel! By then, I had already started, so I finished them without gel.

Taiger taking a break from having his hair twisted. It is about half done here. Yes, I let him go outside with his hair half twisted and half "Afroed"! LOL! Twists in Taiger's hair

Because I didn't use gel, they turned "frizzy" or "puffy" after only a few days, but I left them in anyway, and I think they looked cute.

Yesterday, I undid the twists, which made his hair go curly and accentuated the coily curls he already had!

Don't you just LOVE the one sticking out in the side?! :D SO CUTE!!

Here is how his hair looked yesterday!




That is the story of our first adventure in changing his hair and skin care! I am sure this will be an on-going theme, and you can all give your opinions and advice as we continue on this adventure! :)

EASTER!!

It seems I always take SO LONG between blogging posts. I am sorry for this. It is a fault of mine. One reason is that I update my other blog more regularly so I have little time for updating this one! If you want to read that blog, it is at sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com. It focuses on the volunteer side of our lives, while this blog focuses on our LIFE lives. Funny thing is, a LOT of our lives right now are mostely based around our volunteer work! (What better way to live, right?! In perpetual service! I LOVE IT!)

Okay, but aside from all that, we have been crazy busy and having fun! We are getting ready for Bryttan's wedding, are in the middle of moving back to Idaho, are moving warehouses for our work, are getting ready to move to China (did you guys all know about that??) AND in the middle of all that, we had EASTER!

I have been TRYING ALL DAY to post pictures, but these are the only ones that would load. :( Maybe I will have more luck loading them to facebook, so if you are my friend, you can check there, and if you are NOT my friend...YOU BETTER ADD ME! :D

Enjoy these FEW pictures (which are rather dissapointing because, for the most part, the ones that would load are the ones without actual people. Sorry. You will have to enjoy the few that have people and wait for more to come later...when the computer isn't being so silly!)

It was a FANTASTIC Easter! The night before, we had a special Family Home Evening that was all about Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. It was so spiritual and I think Taiger could really sense the importance and spirituality of Easter.

The next day, Taiger had a BLAST hunting Easter Eggs! I have NEVER, in all my days, seen a child have SO MUCH FUN hunting eggs! His EXCITEMENT was overwhelming and it was SO FUN to watch him hunt eggs and scream and jump up and down each time he found one! It was great. He got some special little gifts in his Easter basket, too, and that made it fun for him as well.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Happy Everything!

Please tell me you know that poem or I am just going to feel really, really cheesy (rather than just really cheesy).

We have done some fun things lately! Despite the SNOW STORM we have had the last few days, it really is SPRING, regardless of what Mother Nature believes. A week or so ago, the weather was BEAUTIFUL, so Taiger and I went to the park! It was SO FUN!

Taiger and I spent St. Patrick's Day at the Children's Museum and BOY did he LOOOOVE it! Because it was a free day, there were SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, which would have been okay, but it seemed that all of the snottiest kids were there. Horrible. But Taiger still had tons of fun, and I snapped away with my camera. :)

We also had the opportunity to go to my cousin's wedding in Idaho! It was great to see family and friends :)! Of course, Taiger and I HAD to go to Reed's Dairy for their FAMOUSE and SO DELICIOUS, fresh ice cream! We dragged my brother along with us. Taiger really enjoys his company and I think Uncle had fun watching Taiger eat ice cream!

Bryttan, Kramer and I celebrated Hari Krishna/Holi Fest. It was absolutely amazing. Celebrating colour, celebrating spring...it was beautiful and amazing and very JOYFUL!! I would LOVE to write more about it, but I would ramble on and on so I will will leave it with pictures....A picture is worth a thousand words anyway, and it takes less time to appreciate!:D
Okay, my computer is being CRAZY, and I can't get the rest of the photos to load. So, I will post more Hari Krishna photos when I can. In the meantime, they are all loaded on facebook! You can see them there if you really are that interested. :D hee hee