Prepairing for High Tea

 For many years a core group of women have met.

We have a special bond with one another.

This year my home will be hosting our tea.

We have met in tea houses but this year...a home.

He has set a table before me...in this case with my friends.

 

I like to set the formal table and see to it that it will present the way I like.

The tea is not until next Sunday.

I want to have it just right.

Each friend will bring their part of the tea.

High Tea is normally held at 2 p.m.

We have finalized a schedule that will work for everyone.

These days with all of our busy family lives this is a  real accomplishment.

This is not the final table.

Thought it would be fun to let you have a peak.

Tackle it Tuesday

Approaching Christmas with a Hush not a rush

This Morning was spent writing out the last of the 50+ Christmas cards. This is something that I love to do. It is a part of stopping the world and saying hello to folks. It is a chance to thank those professionals that have added blessings to our year.
Many calls made for appointments and such with amazing results. I was able to get into a specialist on 12-28! unheard of! God is good.
With all the calls and cards complete I was off to an impromptu concert at the school. I found out about this at the last minute of course. It is so good to be real and not try to catch the ideal of the so called perfect holiday time. In doing so I was slow and able to relax my way into a wonderful band concert.
Stopping by Dash's class room to check on him the teacher told me that the district is forcing 3rd graders to do multiplication this year for tne new standards will be pushing the kids harder. That is a full years advancement. Needless to explain that Dash came home in a panic at his homework.
His teacher asked if I could stay after to lend a hand making ornaments. So after the concert with the card finished and sitting out in the car to be mailed I was hushed to give my afternoon to the children. We used painted puzzle pieces to make little Christmas ornament with the photo in center like a little wreath. It was nice to be around all those smiling little children. The day had a hard start of a migraine to it. Being with the children really warmed my heart back into a bit of excitement over the holiday.

I have an extra child in tow and so they are all playing now.

The house is actually hushed for the play is quiet.
There will be no rush today.
This is the time to hush my soul into the lush abundant life of loving and being loved.

 

 Dash's class we made the gifts for the parents of these kids today.

 

 Dove plays the french horn.

 

 This is the 5th grade class after the performance.

The sixth graders were up next.

These kids sounded so much better:)

 

 The french horn girls.

Playing the french horn comes with a heavy case to bear.

 

 Presents are almost all wrapped and the cards are finished.

A few more things for neighbors and I am done.

Just gotta clean a messy kitchen and hang clean clothes.

Play for a while then they all do a bit of homework.

Adoption Day number 7 for Dash

 After Dinner we all gathered to give Dash his gift from Russia.

When we adopted him I tried my best to gather as many gifts for his 18 years as I could.

It was made more difficult to do so for Dash due to our location.

We were only 500 miles or so above the Northern Afghanistan boarder three weeks after the special forces went in. We accually met one of those men at our 25th wedding retreat up in the mountains some years later.

It is a small world really.

 

Dash got to come home to us just the December after the 9-11-2002 attacks on the U.S.

We were unable to get him home until he was 10 months old.

It was four months of not knowing if we would ever get him out.

We had a wonderful Christmas child that year.

THIS IS MY SON.

Look at the grin he lost a tooth today

 

 He was so happy with his child doll in Russian attire.

 

 If any one can translate?

 

The cake was a snaggle because I made Chocolate frosting with making the teddy bear in mind, because of size I grabbed his second choice the Santa. I had the frosting made.

So Santa was just covered in chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

I felt bad about it but Dash did not mind, at least he said he didn't

After Company of the day left we all wnet to Panda express for chinese food.

Asia was the thiem

:)

Saturday repose.

 

 Yesterday I sewed all day.

It was so nice.

Above are the dinner napkins for Christmas Dinner

 

 I am doing a tea for us 5 core friends.

We have met together for 10? years at least four to five times a year.

This year it will be a Christmas tea at my house.

They turned out little purses.

Lace edged when opened.

I'll do a tutorial over at "A Place To Create"

Today we had the funeral for a Dear Man

Mr Joe Labriola

My SILove did a wonderful job speaking of her father and telling us about the dreams of so many a man who he prayed a quick prayer with as they died in his arms there on the beach of Normandy 

A Medic on the island of Okinawan in the invasion.

An American Hero.

A husband of one, whose wife passed this time of year four years ago.

Father of two daughter and two grand daughters.

He will be missed.

We all went out to lunch on his behalf and saluted the man.

Please remember the family in you prayers.

The sisters have just become the elders.

I came home and slept and hour and then we had a play date for an over night of a new child into our home. They go to school together she is also an adopted child. I think because we are adoptive parents it is often just assumed we are safe because we have gone through all the background checks and home studies..

I am known at the school and so I think that ease is afforded but it still astounds me.

I opened the door and the child was just standing there the mother just dropped her at the curb and drove off.

They have all played well together and are readying for bed.

 

 I harvested 4 pickling cucumbers and so my first time making pickles!

It was pretty easy.

It was a five minute bath and all three jars sealed ya!

They are sliced dills.

Almost burned the Santa cake.

Dash wanted a Santa for adoption day tomorrow.

 

 Hard crack candy was something of my youth that I held in fond remembrance. I wanted to repeat that old time feeling. I would make this when I came home from school. I am stunned that my mom let me do this it is pretty dangerous. I have cooked and baked and made candy from as early as 5th grade. That's around 10 or so. Almost always unattended. It must of been when I was able to see my mom was during the dinner breaks.

 

Watermelon has yet to be cut

 

 The grape and the raspberry set these will be gifts for neighbors.

I had a dud with some lemon oil was nasty!

So I still have another batch to make to finished the job.

However my bones are done for the day.

 

This has been a full day.

Dash's Adoption Day is tomorrow 7 years home to us.

We came home from Russia on the 13 th of December with our little Christmas Boy.

I need to decorate this in the morning the Lady is tired :)

 Some comment answers if I can recall them
No dash has blue eyes unlike Dove little miss Golden eyes.
I cant think or remember another question that was out there.
I do hope to do a better job keeping up with this blog and the others.
We have a new photo system and I dislike the hassle of it and it is time consuming as well.

A hoilday funeral tomorrow

Please pray for my Sister in Law and her sister.

Their father was found by her sister.

They had taken him to the ER the night before and they released him saying his complain was of no concern.

The girls took him back to his facility to his apartment.

When she went to him first thing in the morning he was found dead on the floor.

Needless to say these two sister have a hard painful time.

Their mother past away only a year or two ago at Christmas.

My sister in law has her birthday on December 25 th, Her sister on December 31.

Please please remember them.

I went and got a little suit for my son and a nice outfit for Dove.

Just home now.

I have not spoken much of this but my right knee is not responding as of yet to treatment.

Two pain pills in me now so relief is coming.

Wal-mart walk is long.

A hoodie jacket for Dash given to him just before the door failed as he zipped it and we had to walk all the way back to the boys department to exchange it.

Before the Wal-mart Costco was paid a visit for the Christmas ham.

I went there to get some white roses.

It has always been my tradition to give a single white rose at funerals.

I will tie ribbons on them for the two Ladies and the two nieces.

Hello to all of you sweet dear hearts that left comments.

I worked all day on a sewing project.

I'll show you soon.

Napkin sets for the Christmas meal and a set for the Formal Tea I am giving my little core group of five sisters in Christ. We meet for each others birthdays throughout the year.

Thankful Thursday * the gift of protection

Perfect topic today

 

Join us here

Thank you Laurie for hosting

Miss Golden Eyes my little Dove came home happy.

She played with the camera as you can see.

Too Cute!

She had a good day, not thrilled that she had to talk with the principle but satisfied so far with the outcome.

The bully absent of course the easiest way to try get away with it.

Read more about it here

After a nice relaxing hour I started in on the Living Room

Almost finished the tree, my knee is hindering me from being on the ladder.

I will try to get some help with the top part of the tree from Steve later.

Several ornaments the kids put on could use a little fixing but that is done little by little to protect their creative heart.

If I tinker with what they did it would not be a good example of acceptance.

Yesterday the bows and ribbons on the packages were completed.

Today I was able to get the lights on the lower part of the tree.

 

 This year I was able to find new clothing the children needed at a greatly reduced cost.

Many of the packages are just that.

I just put one item in each box to make more packages to open.

We also got new bedding for them.

Few toys at all just one major gift for them to share.

TBA later

 

 The cresch set up on the center now.

Using batting I had the snow capped mantle of sorts was created to give a more holiday feel.

It was such a day of joy for me to have stood for my children at the school.

To see all the bounty of Christmas we have been able to come up with for them blesses my soul.

The gifts under the tree were things that they needed.

It is my hope that by receiving them in this way that gratitude will be instilled within their hearts.

Many Children just take for granted having nice clothing or linens.

They will not be left disappointed, the big gift they will share will bring the family together.

Well now that the living room is so beautiful, the kitchen and hall is a mess!

like a big balloon getting squeezed

Ha!

Bully my kid I DON"T THINK SO

Yesterday

A child under the umbrella of the group headed up by Doves nemesis approached Dove as if to loving hug her. Dove was startled receiving the embrace then felt (said child) "A".  rub her hand on her back.

As "A".did this the other two girls stood by and when the action had taken place laughed at Dove amongst them selves.

Dove then asked a child standing by if  "A"  had whiped something on her.

The child then exclaimed that she had wiped snot all over the back of Dove's shirt.

This reported to me

I will be keeping written records of any future action and supply a copy to the school as well.

I spent two hours with the principle this morning 45 minutes of it with Dove in there we were empowering her to feel safe to stand up for herself and to get help.

It was awesome.

I gave written notice on the event and a copy of the AZ state laws on bullying.

I think we shall have some action and I think that my girl will make a change in the way she responds.

She will become a STRONG woman, just like her Mother.

I discussed with great character and poise my position and the next steps I will be taking in the event this is not addressed.

Gentle as a Dove but strong within the Lion

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the wall come a tumbling down

I found this site Stop Bullying NOW
very helpful as I was struggling with the anger of the Momma bear in the wee hours of the night. I circled those walls until I was able to just blow that horn and watch God knock em down!

A touching morning

I was talking to Dash earlier in the morning. He shared that his friend had so many presents that it took his parents four hours to tell him all of the different sizes...I told him that the boy is very fortunate.
We were later sitting at the table eating breakfast...speaking of water I told him how fortunate we are that many places on the earth they do not have water that comes out of the tap clean. That it is the kids job in the morning to go and fetch the water often walking great distance. I told him that once daddy and I shared our money to help drill a well for a community.
He asked me if he was born in Moscow. I told him no, Penza Russia. He asked me for a jar.
He got paper and tape.
" Mom I want to fill this jar and send it to the orphanage that I came from. We have enough stuff."
You just know we made that jar. I sent him into my room to get my change dish. He asked if he could have a dollar of my change. I gave him the dollar and he was putting it in the jar. I was putting all of the rest of it in the jar..."Oh mom it's alright that is enough you do not have to give all of it." I told him I wanted to. I told him I will contact the folks that helped us adopt him to find a way to get the money to the orphanage. I told him I would take him to the neighbors to ask if they might like to contribute.

 Later...

While signing Doves homework binder I read the paper she wrote on MLK I have a Dream.

This was the topic of her paper...I have a dream, it is a three part dream. 1. to build places for old folks to live where it will be nice 2. To talk to Obama and tell him to stop making our taxes bigger cause it is hurting people, I know cause it is hurting me. 3. to make it where no kids ever have to be hungry.
That is what she wrote...