Fun At The Zoo.....

hungry goat

Christmas Day... Giving Hearts....

Today i was woken by the screams "Santa came ...Santa came..." at about 6:45 this morning. (That is actually sleeping in for me ...)The girls loved everything Santa brought from crafts, the Wii game, an i pod, basket balls ,tennis rackets and more.... so it was a good Christmas morning for Bella , Gabi , Teya and Vada. We went to 4:00 mass yesterday , so after presents, i made lasanga for the Christmas dinner. After gifts we went to see Alvin and the chipmunks, it was a cute movie.

After the movie we went to volunteer at St. Bernadettes church to help serve families a nice Christmas meal . With the help of several local restuarants like Brio (very proud of you Ralph: ) we served 600 homeless and less fortunate. I never did this on Christmas day before and actually a few weeks ago when i signed up to help serve dinners at a homeless shelter on New Years Eve i was thinking i wish there was something we could do on Christmas and i was at talking to Ralph of Brio one afternoon and he told me what the restaurant was doing and i jumped right in and asked if we as a family could help.. It made my heart & Christmas day complete. I will probably look to do this every Christmas day with the girls, it truly was a perfect way to spend Christmas day.... Gabi, Bella, Teya and Vada (with santa hats on ) passed out chocolate Santa candybars and candy canes to all the children . My eyes teared up after i saw the first families walk in the doors.... the indescribable eyes that appeared to be full of love, compassion and sorrow.. they came for food they did not have and for gifts from Santa who put smiles on the faces of about 300 children. It was an amazing afternoon for all of us...My heart was moved to see everything that was done today from all of the volunteers that gave their Christmas day to make Christmas day special for a stranger... To give consistently of ourselves ... is lending a listening ear, a helpful hand, and a compassionate heart.....I bring my girls to help volunteer where ever i can because compassion is something you are not born with .. it is something you learn by others unselfish hearts.....

Matthew 25:35-36: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me..."

Merry Christmas with Love ..to Family & Friends

The Night Before Christmas...

Tonight we sat by the Christmas tree and read....

Twas the Night before Christmas~~~~~~~ Poem by Clement Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, ~~~~ "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"~~~~~~~~~

Life's Surprises....

Life... could be like Christmas day is to a child......Life is full of wonderful surprises... if we are open to them.... Some mornings you wake up not knowing what will happen during the day and you could get to take a horse and carriage ride , get your favorite flowers just because, or a life changing surprise like a call from an adoption agency.....I was telling a friend tonight about how i helped a stranger i met 4 years ago (she is now one of my best friends) with her adoption of her beautiful daughter.

I met her through a "shoe box for children in a Guatemalan orphanage" program and in mins. of meeting her , i knew she was the family God chose for me to help adopt a child , i did and a year later her precious daughter came forever home from Guatemala.......if we are willing to be open, learn from life lessons, accept kindness and love of a friend , reach out to those in need and giving back , act on intuition, follow our hearts, focus on the good not bad in our daily situation , expect a rainbow in everyday and be patient.... the unexpected often catches us by surprise.......

Christmas Thought...

What is Christmas?... It is tenderness for the past,.. courage for the present,.. hope for the future... It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace......." ~ Agnes M. Pahro

Cookie Friday...

I started making cookies for my awesome friend Emilys cookie exchange party at 4:00 am this morning because i could not sleep , no spin class on friday and too early for hiking ....so i made snowball cookies with chocolate chips .....i think they turned out pretty good...Thank you so much Emily, it was a great cookie holiday party!!! lots of love ..and Merry Christmas!!