Operation Christmas Child

Our family has been so busy lately. I wanted to share one of the projects we have been working on. It is Operation Christmas Child. I would encourage everyone to get involved in this ministry! Under the direction of Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son, shoe boxes are delivered to needy children around the world. This is a hands-on way for families to reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ and to fill each box with toys as well as essential items such as school supplies and hygiene products. This is about our tenth year to take part in Operation Christmas Child. Through the years we have developed a plan to make as many boxes as possible for as little expense as possible. We do this by shopping all year long for the shoe boxes. For example, the shirt below I purchased at Children's Place for only $1.00 after summer season was over.

These cute leggings I was able to buy for only $.59 after halloween at Target!!! Needless to say, I stocked up on these!

Brandon and Bryce made a large storage box for all the goodies we gather throughout the year. We keep it in the garage and add to it all year long. We hit the off-season sales, back-to-school sales, etc. By the end of the year we are always surprised at the amount of items we have collected. By doing it this way we are able to fill many more boxes with very nice gifts. If we waited until November, when the boxes are to be turned in, we would not be able to fill very many due to the expense. Also, this keeps my children mindful of those less fortunate all year long!

I must add that I am very thankful and so proud of my daughter, Brooke. She truly has a heart for this program and missions in general! I wanted to include her post that she sent out to her Facebook friends ("encouraging" them to participate in Operation Christmas Child) to my blog today but I couldn't find it. In her writing she made it very black and white about where our priorities are as spoiled Americans. She stated it so well. Brooke was blessed to be able to go on a missions trip to Haiti one summer and it has forever changed her life. The stories she has shared with our family are heart wrenching!

Along with each shoe box that is delivered each child gets a booklet, provided by Operation Christmas Child, in their language of the plan of salvation. My children also include in each box a letter sharing their name and address and telling the child that they are loved and we are praying for them. Sometimes the child will write a thank you letter back, however, we have never received one.

The shoe box collection is over for this year but I hope I have encouraged you to begin collecting now so that next November you will be able to participate in this project as well! For more details go to samaritanspurse.org

Be a Blessing!

Good News!

I am so happy and excited for my niece, Rhonda and her husband, Neal. I got a phone call a few weeks ago from Rhonda. It was a phone call I have been waiting to receive for a long time. Rhonda has been very patient in waiting on the Lord to bring the right man into her life and her dreams have come true. I have not had the privilege of meeting Neal yet but I hope to get to see both of them during the Christmas holidays! And now for the long awaited news....they are having a baby!!! We are so very happy for the newlyweds!!

And more good news from the Castleberry family. My nephew, John and his sweet wife, Veronica are also having a baby!!! This is such exciting news as well!! I know my brother and sister-in-law are just as excited as these two couples. They will be blessed with not one but two precious grandbabies to hold in just a few short months!

Children are a blessing and gift from the Lord!

The Best Birthday!

Wow, is it already the second week in November???? My days have been extremely busy lately and I don't "do" busy if you know what I mean. Also, my family has been taking turns with a stomach virus for over a week now. Just about the time traffic slows down to the bathroom and I breathe a sigh of relief....someone else darts by me headed to the bathroom. It has been a couple of days now with no "incidents" - dare I breathe that sigh of relief? Ahhh, such is life in a large family.


My birthday was the last week in October and I was fortunate to spend it in my favorite place ever, the Appalachian Mountains!!!! Monroe and I sort of had a trade-off. You see, he was invited to go to Texas on a hunting trip with a friend. As a matter of fact, he has been gone this week on his hunting trip (he missed out on the sharing of the stomach bug...lucky). So when my dear friend, Kay, mentioned that she had a trip planned to the mountains to see the gorgeous fall leaves it was a done deal ;-) I think we hit the autumn show at the peak time too.


This time Bran and Bryce were able to go along as well. We had such a good time just being out in nature enjoying God's creation. We went on long drives every day we were there. I know the pictures don't really capture the true beauty we saw but here are a few of my favorite shots.

This red tree just stood out all alone. Isn't it beautiful!




I don't know if you can see it but there is a farm down in the valley in this picture. Ummm....what was that tenth commandment?....something about coveting?....ah geeez!

One day we went for a drive on the Cherohala Parkway. You could hear the ooooo's and aaahhhh's as we climbed higher and higher. The contrast in the colors of the leaves was just amazing. Then we began to notice bare trees. When we made it to the highest point it was a completely bare forest as you can see in this picture with Bryce.

We enjoyed delicious picnic lunches each day. Kay baked a turkey breast before we left Georgia and it was so good. We dined on cheese and crackers, sandwiches, hummus and chips. I think it tasted even better because of the atmosphere and chilly weather!! Yummy!

Another picnic spot by the river. This was another day, I promise! We did do more than eat!!

Even on a rainy day Tallualah Falls Gorge was breath taking!!

Another shot by falls. I can't remember the name of these falls.

A highlight of the trip was our visit to Foxfire. The boys and I are studying American History this year and this was a perfect field trip to add to our school year. How about that for creativity. I was able to add in a day of school on our vacation. Shhh, don't tell the boys.

This is a picture of the gorge at Tallulah Falls. It is out of order with the other pictures. I can no longer move my pictures around with blogspot. I'm not sure why. Anyway, views like this one always make me stand in awe of my Creator. He is so big and powerful and yet he takes notice of ME?

"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,

The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?

And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

Oh Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8: 3-4 &9