I am baffled. There are all kinds of folks asking for money - the guy / girl with the cardboard sign, the bell ringing Salvation Army person, kids with buckets at stoplights, plea's from Facebook, giveaways for donations, kids selling stuff for schools, Jerry's kids ............what is it that compels a person to give and to whom?
Sometimes I buy the stuff from the kids selling from school(can't resist a cute kid begging)
I've dropped change in the Salvation Buckets because they do good things and in the firefighters buckets for Jerry's kids
I will not give money to the cardboard sign carriers (I will hand them food and/or water) in my area - honestly - most appear to be drugged out .......or so high they can't stand straight so the cities actually have signs asking motorist not to give money to the pan-handlers - one time last year my husband handed a person $5 and we pulled into gas station and GUESS WHAT .........the pan-handler came bought beer at the gas station! his sign said please help me feed my kids!
Usually not to the kids with buckets (the middle of the road is not safe - and I don't want to encourage the behavior) and yes I know they are raising money for good programs - but really a 10/12 year old playing in traffic carrying a bucket is just not a good thing - put the parents out there with a sign - Raising money for my kids softball team !
So what I'm wondering is what makes YOU give - is it the cause, the kid, the story - and why I'm wondering is because a couple friends are trying to raise money for adoptions and both have hit a stone wall even with offering prizes ..........like good prizes like IPAD2 ........you get entries just for donating $10 which you might've done anyways. And I have tried doing stuff to help them also and fell FLAT on my face .......so am I saying something wrong .......you can answer anonymously if you wish - I just need to understand so that my next effort at least gets 2 donations LOL
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Why adopt overseas - and Pampered Chef
So for the eighteen months or so, I've been friends with a girl that adopted. Her family began the adoption overseas, but God had different plans and she adopted from US. When it was still an overseas adoption, I asked her - why choose overseas when there are children here that need to be adopted. It was an eye-opening conversation.
In the USA - families with 4 children are rarely considered- I know you are thinking but I've seen some special needs children that have been adopted into a large family - YES - they were part of the foster parent system - and the foster parents adopted them.
The wait list for baby/toddler is something like 10 years - your income has to be outrageous.
Overseas will let you adopt based on income/family size ratio - In the USA there are still orphanages but not as many - the shift is to foster care -
For both types of adoption you go thru home studies - someone comes in and checks out your house/family interaction etc (i really don't know much else that goes on but do know you have to pass)
So then I started reading some blogs of people that are in the process of adopting and I'm saddened by the conditions I read about - Children with Down Syndrome that are left to lay in rooms all day long - couple diaper changes and a bottle with a huge hole cut out of the nipple - 5 year old kids that look to be 6 months old - that can't walk, or talk and shy away from any physical touching - no hugs, no sitting on laps - that is just sad ...sad .... sad. Because of the countries they are in - the blogs are very careful to not complain too much about conditions because the country will just shut down adoptions. One already has ..........one has threatened to. ..........
So I say to myself - a child with Down Syndrome - is just as worthy of being loved as any other child - And my online friend Mandy and her husband and 2 kids are welcoming 2 boys near age 5 from 2 different orphanages .....I am drawn to her blog - and her story .......and her much anticipated trip to actually meet these 2 little ones which she will name Joseph and Samuel. I have posted about her and her fundraisers but another online friend Susie and I will be having a Pampered Chef fundraiser to help her try to raise the 3990 that she still needs to fulfill the adoptions.
I'll be posting about that in next day or so ------keep your eyes peeled.
In the USA - families with 4 children are rarely considered- I know you are thinking but I've seen some special needs children that have been adopted into a large family - YES - they were part of the foster parent system - and the foster parents adopted them.
The wait list for baby/toddler is something like 10 years - your income has to be outrageous.
Overseas will let you adopt based on income/family size ratio - In the USA there are still orphanages but not as many - the shift is to foster care -
For both types of adoption you go thru home studies - someone comes in and checks out your house/family interaction etc (i really don't know much else that goes on but do know you have to pass)
So then I started reading some blogs of people that are in the process of adopting and I'm saddened by the conditions I read about - Children with Down Syndrome that are left to lay in rooms all day long - couple diaper changes and a bottle with a huge hole cut out of the nipple - 5 year old kids that look to be 6 months old - that can't walk, or talk and shy away from any physical touching - no hugs, no sitting on laps - that is just sad ...sad .... sad. Because of the countries they are in - the blogs are very careful to not complain too much about conditions because the country will just shut down adoptions. One already has ..........one has threatened to. ..........
So I say to myself - a child with Down Syndrome - is just as worthy of being loved as any other child - And my online friend Mandy and her husband and 2 kids are welcoming 2 boys near age 5 from 2 different orphanages .....I am drawn to her blog - and her story .......and her much anticipated trip to actually meet these 2 little ones which she will name Joseph and Samuel. I have posted about her and her fundraisers but another online friend Susie and I will be having a Pampered Chef fundraiser to help her try to raise the 3990 that she still needs to fulfill the adoptions.
I'll be posting about that in next day or so ------keep your eyes peeled.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Food and Housewarming Parties
I love food - I love trying food at parties! ------- (and getting the recipes)
At my daughters housewarming Sunday - our friends Pati and Joe put together a yummy caprice (?spelled right?)
So thin slices of tomatoes, sliver of prosciutto, sliver of mozzarella (in milk juice LOL) chopped up basil - sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil - and you put it on small slices of round Italian bread. Now you are probably saying - oh yes ........I've seen that - but I'm telling you it was delicious - and you know that cause 3 platters were gone before the cheese lost it's chill.
And my dil makes this really weird salad (but yummy) with ramen noodles, sesame seeds - I think scallions - and a few other things - I am always excited to see that come to a party - I was really hoping my other dil would bring her yummy pasta salad - but Rebecca didn't ask her (dam)
The housewarming was awesome - lots of Rebecca's friends came to see her 1st home. She has always wanted a home with a pool - but I was totally bummed that it was too cold to even put a pinky into the pool - although Shelby donned her bathing suit and jumped right in - THIS IS FLORIDA - not supposed to be cold! - I'm blaming it on days of cloudy, overcast skies.
We have tote city beside her house and hopefully our friend that is moving soon can take some off our hands - until we have a bigger place to store them.
Ahhhhh - totes - are so much better than cardboard boxes - several years ago when my son moved from his shop - I bought the 1st 10 totes - you know the 18 gallon totes for like $5 (they were 3.50) - and we thought then - hmmm these are better than cardboard because the cans don't fall thru the bottom - they have handles to carry them - they seal so roaches don't get in them, they stack easy - and that began our building of tote city - he moved - I bought 10 more- then 10 more - a couple huge ones for pillows and blankets and hangers - They were awesome in storage - which wound up being over a year - instead of 6 weeks. We labeled them with masking tape on the top edge of the lids - so that when they are stacked you can stand and see in a stack what is in each box - So here is my advise on that: try to buy the same size/brand - along the way we have bought them for various things so there were some mis-matched ones - they don't stack as easy - so right not the same size ones are stacked - smaller ones inside - one lid on top and all other lids in one of the huge ones. -----just waiting for the next move.
At my daughters housewarming Sunday - our friends Pati and Joe put together a yummy caprice (?spelled right?)
So thin slices of tomatoes, sliver of prosciutto, sliver of mozzarella (in milk juice LOL) chopped up basil - sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil - and you put it on small slices of round Italian bread. Now you are probably saying - oh yes ........I've seen that - but I'm telling you it was delicious - and you know that cause 3 platters were gone before the cheese lost it's chill.
And my dil makes this really weird salad (but yummy) with ramen noodles, sesame seeds - I think scallions - and a few other things - I am always excited to see that come to a party - I was really hoping my other dil would bring her yummy pasta salad - but Rebecca didn't ask her (dam)
The housewarming was awesome - lots of Rebecca's friends came to see her 1st home. She has always wanted a home with a pool - but I was totally bummed that it was too cold to even put a pinky into the pool - although Shelby donned her bathing suit and jumped right in - THIS IS FLORIDA - not supposed to be cold! - I'm blaming it on days of cloudy, overcast skies.
We have tote city beside her house and hopefully our friend that is moving soon can take some off our hands - until we have a bigger place to store them.
Ahhhhh - totes - are so much better than cardboard boxes - several years ago when my son moved from his shop - I bought the 1st 10 totes - you know the 18 gallon totes for like $5 (they were 3.50) - and we thought then - hmmm these are better than cardboard because the cans don't fall thru the bottom - they have handles to carry them - they seal so roaches don't get in them, they stack easy - and that began our building of tote city - he moved - I bought 10 more- then 10 more - a couple huge ones for pillows and blankets and hangers - They were awesome in storage - which wound up being over a year - instead of 6 weeks. We labeled them with masking tape on the top edge of the lids - so that when they are stacked you can stand and see in a stack what is in each box - So here is my advise on that: try to buy the same size/brand - along the way we have bought them for various things so there were some mis-matched ones - they don't stack as easy - so right not the same size ones are stacked - smaller ones inside - one lid on top and all other lids in one of the huge ones. -----just waiting for the next move.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Praises and complaints
I want to start off by PRAISING GOD for the little things that mean so much
...............all 3 of my sons working on the broken car - and the promise to work out the transmission
...............the nurse at my mom's doctor's office that always manages to have enough samples to give to mom
...............the wind this weekend that kept the heat away as my sons struggled over the hunk of junk car
...............the window tinting cheap enough that my husband could surprise me with a tinted car
...............the friends that generously helped put in my daughters 4 windows
...............
with that being said - I'm very discouraged - NOTHING is easy for me - and I mean NOTHING - I feel like I am in a constant struggle with something - and I hear ya - turn it over to God - I can assure you, it has taken me a while to admit that there are things I can't handle alone - or at all - But what I don't get is why oh why do I feel the dark cloud all the dang time. And I know there are millions worse off than me - but also I personally know folks that just breeze thru life without a trouble in the world - WHY??
...............all 3 of my sons working on the broken car - and the promise to work out the transmission
...............the nurse at my mom's doctor's office that always manages to have enough samples to give to mom
...............the wind this weekend that kept the heat away as my sons struggled over the hunk of junk car
...............the window tinting cheap enough that my husband could surprise me with a tinted car
...............the friends that generously helped put in my daughters 4 windows
...............
with that being said - I'm very discouraged - NOTHING is easy for me - and I mean NOTHING - I feel like I am in a constant struggle with something - and I hear ya - turn it over to God - I can assure you, it has taken me a while to admit that there are things I can't handle alone - or at all - But what I don't get is why oh why do I feel the dark cloud all the dang time. And I know there are millions worse off than me - but also I personally know folks that just breeze thru life without a trouble in the world - WHY??
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
My Birthday Surprise
My adult kids totally surprised me !!! I am usually hard to surprise cause I'm nosy.
For birthdays - birthday person chooses their meal - so a few weeks before my birthday - my daughter and daughter in laws decided we should go to my favorite BBQ place for dinner (LOL) - it is 45 minutes drive from here and we usually only go there when we are going to or from Orlando to the outlets. But they convinced me that on a Friday nite it was not nuts to drive 45 minutes in rush hour traffic to eat at my favorite place - so that was the plan. So Friday morning my daughter calls, says I took your birthday off and I'm doing something with 2 of the grand-kids (normally I babysit them everyday) She says you will only have the 22 month old granddaughter. I found out later that they left her with me to keep me from spoiling the surprise by going home after I took mom to the doctor. (ahhh they know me well) - So my daughter slipped into my house and packed my bag while I had mom at the doctor - then she and my son and 2 of the grand-kids drove to Kissimme(Orlando) - and checked into the Star Island Resort and Club in Kissimme, Fl. Then went and stocked the suite with groceries for the weekend. And she made one of my favorite meals Baked Chicken Supreme. Also behind the scenes, my oldest grandson was being dropped off by his aunt (he had spent the week with her), but she drove him to the hotel and dropped him off (1/2 hour in other direction) Meanwhile, I was at DIL's house babysitting.
When my son and dil arrived home - we took granddaughter and my husband and I and headed for the restaurant (or so I thought)- My other son and dil were only a few mins behind us. And for those of you that don't know - I'm a backseat driver - even when in front seat. So as we approached the exit, I'm telling my son you need to get off here - he's like good thing you told me I've never been to this restaurant before, my dil asked me a question and I turned to answer and HE DROVE RIGHT PAST EXIT. I turned around and about freaked - you have to drive 41 miles north to next exit - it will be closed - he's like relax giving my brother time to catch up LOL - as he passed the next exit I realized something was up and was told to stop asking questions.
When we were just 2 blocks away I had to close my eyes until they parked and led me in - What a cool place this was - 3 bedrooms, 2 bath - fully setup kitchen - and dinner smelled and tasted awesome. They had decorated and even got me a pinata! - My 4 year old granddaughter last year made her parents buy each birthday person a pinata - she is relentless when she decides something and sometimes we just have to give in. So this year she asked what kinda pinata did I want - I said one with money! Well - they went to dollar store and bought fake dollars and coins and filled that pinata with money ! and of course lollipops.
After dinner we headed for the pool. The pool at Star Island Resort is family friendly - it has an area within the pool that little ones can play in - and goes to about 6 foot deep on far end. It was not overcrowded so it was easy to keep an eye on the little ones and it is open til midnight.
Later we needed a couple blankets and something in the kitchen - called and within 5 mins they were knocking on the door. We will go back there again - I'm thinking we liked this better than Nick hotel - which can get really really crowded.
Breakfast the next day was my son's bacon - he even brought his grill - and waffles
Lunch - my daughter in law made pasta salad and my daughter got this cool package of lunchmeat for subs that is a kit - for italian subs - 4 meats laid out on paper and stacked for 8 people - awesome kit.
Dinner - my daughter and daughter in laws made homemade tortilla's - and my other son made his delicious salsa
Breakfast the next day was eggs .......delish - then we had to pack and leave but not before going in the pool one more time.
Dessert - a huge chocolate chip cookie cake .........yum
So just when I thought the surprises were over - they gave me a Kindle and a Vera Bradley case for it.
I felt so so special that weekend- nothing is better than hanging out with your 4 adult kids- 2 awesome daughter-in-laws and 4 grand kids.
For birthdays - birthday person chooses their meal - so a few weeks before my birthday - my daughter and daughter in laws decided we should go to my favorite BBQ place for dinner (LOL) - it is 45 minutes drive from here and we usually only go there when we are going to or from Orlando to the outlets. But they convinced me that on a Friday nite it was not nuts to drive 45 minutes in rush hour traffic to eat at my favorite place - so that was the plan. So Friday morning my daughter calls, says I took your birthday off and I'm doing something with 2 of the grand-kids (normally I babysit them everyday) She says you will only have the 22 month old granddaughter. I found out later that they left her with me to keep me from spoiling the surprise by going home after I took mom to the doctor. (ahhh they know me well) - So my daughter slipped into my house and packed my bag while I had mom at the doctor - then she and my son and 2 of the grand-kids drove to Kissimme(Orlando) - and checked into the Star Island Resort and Club in Kissimme, Fl. Then went and stocked the suite with groceries for the weekend. And she made one of my favorite meals Baked Chicken Supreme. Also behind the scenes, my oldest grandson was being dropped off by his aunt (he had spent the week with her), but she drove him to the hotel and dropped him off (1/2 hour in other direction) Meanwhile, I was at DIL's house babysitting.
When my son and dil arrived home - we took granddaughter and my husband and I and headed for the restaurant (or so I thought)- My other son and dil were only a few mins behind us. And for those of you that don't know - I'm a backseat driver - even when in front seat. So as we approached the exit, I'm telling my son you need to get off here - he's like good thing you told me I've never been to this restaurant before, my dil asked me a question and I turned to answer and HE DROVE RIGHT PAST EXIT. I turned around and about freaked - you have to drive 41 miles north to next exit - it will be closed - he's like relax giving my brother time to catch up LOL - as he passed the next exit I realized something was up and was told to stop asking questions.
When we were just 2 blocks away I had to close my eyes until they parked and led me in - What a cool place this was - 3 bedrooms, 2 bath - fully setup kitchen - and dinner smelled and tasted awesome. They had decorated and even got me a pinata! - My 4 year old granddaughter last year made her parents buy each birthday person a pinata - she is relentless when she decides something and sometimes we just have to give in. So this year she asked what kinda pinata did I want - I said one with money! Well - they went to dollar store and bought fake dollars and coins and filled that pinata with money ! and of course lollipops.
After dinner we headed for the pool. The pool at Star Island Resort is family friendly - it has an area within the pool that little ones can play in - and goes to about 6 foot deep on far end. It was not overcrowded so it was easy to keep an eye on the little ones and it is open til midnight.
Later we needed a couple blankets and something in the kitchen - called and within 5 mins they were knocking on the door. We will go back there again - I'm thinking we liked this better than Nick hotel - which can get really really crowded.
Breakfast the next day was my son's bacon - he even brought his grill - and waffles
Lunch - my daughter in law made pasta salad and my daughter got this cool package of lunchmeat for subs that is a kit - for italian subs - 4 meats laid out on paper and stacked for 8 people - awesome kit.
Dinner - my daughter and daughter in laws made homemade tortilla's - and my other son made his delicious salsa
Breakfast the next day was eggs .......delish - then we had to pack and leave but not before going in the pool one more time.
Dessert - a huge chocolate chip cookie cake .........yum
So just when I thought the surprises were over - they gave me a Kindle and a Vera Bradley case for it.
I felt so so special that weekend- nothing is better than hanging out with your 4 adult kids- 2 awesome daughter-in-laws and 4 grand kids.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Fundraisers and helping others
I've been trying to share the fundraisers that some of my online friends are having. I wanted to thank you for taking a look, maybe ordering or just sharing the post about the fundraisers. I can remember when I worked I would be overwhelmed at all the fundraisers that were happening, and sometimes felt obligated to buy. Just wanted to let each and every one of you know - I will never know if you bought something or not. -
no obligation, no feeling bad !
A little information about Madison (Amanda Woodard is her mother) She has Spinal Muscle Atrophy - she lost her ability to swallow at age 10 months. Recently Amanda posted a video of Madison using her 1st switch toy - her mommy holds the device which looks a lot like a snow cone only larger - the snow cone part is a globe that has lights that will spin if Madison squeezes the little switch in her hand. And she was able to make it spin 4 times on the video -
And some information about Mandy Rhodes- She and her husband are adopting 2 orphans from overseas that have Down's Syndrome. Her fundraiser is to raise the 30,000 for the adoptions. They already have 2 bio children and feel called to adopt these boys.
Most important is please PRAY for these families.
no obligation, no feeling bad !
A little information about Madison (Amanda Woodard is her mother) She has Spinal Muscle Atrophy - she lost her ability to swallow at age 10 months. Recently Amanda posted a video of Madison using her 1st switch toy - her mommy holds the device which looks a lot like a snow cone only larger - the snow cone part is a globe that has lights that will spin if Madison squeezes the little switch in her hand. And she was able to make it spin 4 times on the video -
And some information about Mandy Rhodes- She and her husband are adopting 2 orphans from overseas that have Down's Syndrome. Her fundraiser is to raise the 30,000 for the adoptions. They already have 2 bio children and feel called to adopt these boys.
Most important is please PRAY for these families.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Old people coupon also
I was shocked to see how many "old" people were in line at Beall's last weekend. Beall's emailed me a $10 off $10 or more purchase and I went with my daughter to get a "Gator" shirt for watching the game. Well, I'm old - 57 - but these people were older than me and they had HANDFULLS of the $10 off coupon. I had printed 1, thinking that was the rule - but some old lady in the 15 people deep line said - honey you need to go copy that coupon - there is a place right across the street. HMMMM - tempting - then she went on to explain that yesterday the cashiers were letting you use as many $10 off $10 coupons that you had in separate transactions, but "today" they were only letting you do 3 transactions - then you had to go to back of line. She had 9 boxes of K-cup coffee - on sale for $11.99 - she was bragging $1.99 for each. So let me also tell you there were 3 sets of 2 cashiers and each had lines 15 deep. I'm always the line stander when we shop on Black Friday, I hold the place in line and my daughter and daughter in law's shop and bring it to me. So I'm standing near the Tervis cups in line and wishing I had the time to go copy some of my coupons - so another line-stander - hears this "old lady" tell me to go copy mine - I said I don't have time to - she says well I used 15 yesterday and this is the last of what I want - so I will give you what is left - WOW ......
she gave me 4 more - so I got out of line and went shopping - I bought a box of sweet southern ice tea K-cups for 1.99 - and a couple infant toys - My daughter bought 2 "Gator" shirts and a pair of "Gator" shorts the shorts were on sale from $40 to $24.99 then $10 more off - the shirts were $20 - on sale for $12 - then $10 more off - When it was our turn at the register - I asked the cashier before I used them if we were allowed to copy and use several coupons and she said yes, all day yesterday they had people with 10 or more holding up the line - so the only rule "today" was only 3 transactions per person then you had to get back in line. Amazing cheap shopping day !
she gave me 4 more - so I got out of line and went shopping - I bought a box of sweet southern ice tea K-cups for 1.99 - and a couple infant toys - My daughter bought 2 "Gator" shirts and a pair of "Gator" shorts the shorts were on sale from $40 to $24.99 then $10 more off - the shirts were $20 - on sale for $12 - then $10 more off - When it was our turn at the register - I asked the cashier before I used them if we were allowed to copy and use several coupons and she said yes, all day yesterday they had people with 10 or more holding up the line - so the only rule "today" was only 3 transactions per person then you had to get back in line. Amazing cheap shopping day !
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