Sunday, May 31, 2009

THE BENEFITS OF BLOGGING!

I think I have already confessed that I had never blogged until I met Rob and Dede while they were traveling to Moscow to adopt. That chance meeting allowed Ron the opportunity to spend some time with Karyn and Norm who introduced us to Becky and Keith, Dana and Aaron, Lea and John. Later we both met Michelle and Ian and the rest is blogger history. Blogging gave us the opportunity to meet 17 adoptive couples from Jan to August of 2008, and our lives were changed forever as we shared Moscow and a small part of their adoptive journey.

When we left Moscow I thought I would stop blogging as not much exciting happens here in Alabama:) I think I discoved today the reason I have continued to blog. Like us many others I have been reading little Stellan's story on My Charming Kids, and today I was blown away by the wonderful idea McMamma had. Their family supports Sufficient Grace ministy and McMamma came up with the idea of donating $1 for every comment left in one day on her blog to this cause. My interest was peaked so I surfed on over to their website and decided this was something to get behind and support. If I was computer talented I would link this blog to the site, but I am too excited about this idea to take the time to fiqure it out. So I cut and copied a description of what Sufficient Grace does.

Sufficient Grace Ministries for Women, a 501 (c ) 3 non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization, was founded in 2004 by Kelly Gerken with the purpose of reaching out to women and families to offer comfort, encouragement and hope. The Dreams of You division of this ministry was created specifically to provide comfort to women and families who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Kelly has experienced the loss of twin daughters (Faith and Grace) at 26 weeks and the loss of an infant son, Thomas…who died shortly after birth from Potter's Syndrome. From her own family's journey of grief and healing, Kelly has created the Dreams of You Memory Book and other beautiful support materials to help families form a precious memory for their babies who leave this earth too soon. Her mother, Kathy Rutter, created the Comfort Bear in 2004 for grieving mothers to have something to hold to comfort the ache of their empty arms. (Although Kathy went home to heaven in October 2006, the bears are still made with a grandmother's love and prayers by the Helping Hands Ministry at Harvest Fellowship Church.) Over the years, Kelly has shared her testimony of God's comfort and sufficient grace and her gift of song with churches and women's groups. She has also given hospital seminars encouraging caregivers on the importance of creating a tangible memory and understanding the grieving parent's perspective. The Dreams of You Memory Book and Baskets are currently available at 5 local hospitals: Lima Memorial, St. Luke's, St. Charles, Henry County, and Defiance Regional Medical Center as well as Rodenberger Funeral Home. Many individuals have come to us as well through our website and word of mouth. Bereaved parents are never asked to pay for our materials. We are supported through donations from individuals, hospitals and other organizations. Sufficient Grace Ministries also provides a quarterly newsletter, The Women's Edge, which encourages more than three hundred women in eight states, through biblical truth. Our memory book is now featured in a national catalog (A Place to Remember). We are also working on expanding and completing more projects to serve grieving families.

So in honor of our grandson Wyatt we will be making a donation to this ministry plus a donation of $5 per comment left on this blogpost in a 24 hour time period.

I leave you with a picture of our grandson napping with his Poppa.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Where has the month of May gone?

I can hardly believe the month of May is almost finished. We had a blast in early May with a visit from the Mixon's and Bridges family. Melissa did a great job in capturing some of the highlights of the weekend of Ashley's graduation celebration, Andy, Kasey and Wyatt's visit, plus a family reunion held at Ron's mom. Ashley graduated on May 5 and we held a dinner afterwards at a local restaurant to mark the occasion. Where have the years gone?!?

After graduation finished Ron and I were off to a Drilling Conference in San Diego. I laughed as Ron was "networking" to retire while most of the other attendees were looking for their next assignment at the conference. We loved San Diego and took an extra day to enjoy the area.

I returned to Alabama, and Ron headed back to India for his fourth hitch. It has been busy as we moved Ashley from Auburn to Tennessee for her first job. Many thanks for all the help from family to get her settled.

I will close for now with a few pictures of Wyatt's visit to Alabama.
Andy and Granny showing Wyatt the blueberry bushes

Wyatt getting to know his cousin Kate

An Irresistable Grin!

Checking out the roses

and the neighbor's horses.

hmmm.....did I really just say Wyatt's visit to Alabama. What I meant to say was Andy, Kasey and Wyatt's visit. I'm a proud new granny, grandma, mimi, nana, baba,!?!! I do wonder what Wyatt will end of calling us. I am sure we will answer to anything:)

On a sadder note the Queen has turned another corner in her journey of life. At this point I am not sure where it will take us, but I am confident that God is in control and has a plan. She has lost down to 98 pounds and just does not want to eat anything. Please keep her and the family in your prayers as we take things one day at a time.

Friday, May 8, 2009

8 years of books, supplies and equipment.... $

8 years of room and board .... $$

8 years of tuition.... $$$

earning the title of DVM.... PRICELESS

PROUDLY INTRODUCING DR ASHLEY HOPE WARREN