The Lip Balm Winners...

Tonight at my first Trades of HOPE party we picked the winners from the contest that I had online for suggestions for my new website for Trades of HOPE. 

The site that got picked was:

http://flintofhope.blogspot.com

WE picked TWO Lip Balm Winners:

ANGIE SMITH

JOANNA INGOLD

Thanks to A. Marilyn, Jill, Angie & Joanna for suggestion.

Checkout the blog site. 

Emma's 3rd Birthday Party....

Tuesday afternoon we celebrated Emma's 3rd Birthday Party.  They had great face paintings, fun games and yummy food!  I loved this water balloon game.  The kids played it over and over!

It is so neat to see how much these girls have grown from 

the first time we all meet in Germany!  

Kora Lily, Emma & Brenna

Happy 3rd Birthday EMMA!  

We are so happy you are here in the states!

Memorial Service & Hay Ride... 10.09.11

On Sunday we went to the Pine Tree Barn for an Memorial Service for people that have lost babies in our county.  They had a great service that was followed with balloons in memory of our children.  It was an emotional afternoon, but a great time to reflect and realize just how many people who have lost babies....

We then went to Uncle Jim & Aunt Jan's for a fall party.  Grandma made the kids cupcakes in Ice-Cream cones.  They were adorable and the kids thought it was great and tasted yummy!!

Daddy took Kora on the Hay ride with her cousins....

Grady is always getting smothered in kisses by his Aunt Joy... 

can you see why?  He is so stinkin' cute....

NEED YOUR HELP - AGAIN!!!

My sister Jill introduced me to a new company called "Trades of Hope".  I have signed up to be a Compassion Entrepreneur for this company.  I am really excited for this opportunity to help WOMEN around the world.  

All of our products are "Fair Trade". Your purchase helps women around the world in

difficult situations have a better life! A portion of the money goes back to the community for things like education, clean water, wells, schools and books. Your purchase changes lives!

Women Helping Women

DID YOU KNOW..... 

40% of women around the world make less than $2 a day and they are 70% of those living in poverty. We can change that! By purchasing their products, we can help them provide food, shelter, clothes, education & medical care for their families.

So why do I need your help?  I went to set up my website and the name "JOYfully created" was used!  :o(  So I need your help to come up with a catchy blog name to advertise my new opportunity.  With out getting to wordy and easy for people to remember!  For every FIVE ideas that are left on my blog - I will drawl a winner for free chap-stick item from TRADES of HOPE!!!

Also - if you are interested in learning more about TRADES OF HOPE - I am having my opening party on Monday, October 24th @ 7:00pm.  You are welcome to COME!  No obligations... you can come and try the products out!  Many opportunities with Trades of HOPE. 

My New BEST FRIEND!!!!

WOW...

MY NEW BEST FRIEND IS AMAZING!!!

Who would have ever thought...

I would get so attached so soon!

It usually takes me a while to truly warm up to a friend...

and to be labeled

BEST FRIEND!!! 

I meet this friend at Wal-mart.

I was a little nervous at first...

wondering if it was really worth my time and investment...

.... but wow... fired up in no time and always ready when I need...

it has been there for me in every messy situation...

never giving up ... just going strong....

SO the official introduction to my new best friend.....

YUP ... you guess it... I broke down and got my self a

 NEW SWIFFER DRY VAC!!!

Best investment I have ever made.  It is amazing!!!  I can quickly sweep the crumbs off the floor every night and works AWESOME on all my non-carpeted floors for dust, lint, hair, crumbs and all the unwanted floor items!  To think I have lived all this time with out!!!   

**  Always lots of coupons available for the vacs, filters and pads... :o)  So if you are interested make sure to use coupons... Also I noticed the WET VAC is available at walmart this week on sale and if you use a coupon!  WOW great savings!

You are more than welcome to come try my dry vac out any time...

(No I do not work for this company... but this is a product that deserves bragging rights)

NOW... I just need to come up with a name for her!!!!

(* To all my true valued friends... I do love you more)....

but I just couldn't contain my self on this one!!! 

Kora Lily - 1 Year Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

YUMMM.....

Craving some good German food at 5:30am in the morning!!!

Does anyone know a good place to get some awesome German cooked food???

Willing to drive for food!!!

(I am pretty sure this was the first good meal Doug had while traveling ...lol)

** The four sauce boats in the middle were the BEST!!!!!

 Now on the other hand...

I found where my daughter learned her love for M&M's...

Our first trip to Florida!!! - Thanks Scarlett :o)



County Fair...

Always a fun treat to go the County Fair.  

Kora Lily was thrilled with all the animals.

 Kora Lily's favorite was the miniature horses.   

 The kids were also excited over cow balloons...

 Best thing about the Fair was the Ice-cream cone....

Germany....

Many of you followed along with all of our adventures in Germany in 2009...

I just received an email from Joel n' Elli (the couple on the left of this pictures) 

They just had a baby - Lea Cinja

We are so HAPPY for them and miss them all :o)

House Update...

Almost done with Kora's room....  

We used lots of Uppercase Living ...

need I say more... lol....

Papa made the Baltics this adorable book shelf

They are letting us borrow it for a while

We re-painted it and Kora LOVES it!

This is a picture of our Bathroom... 

That is all that is exciting going on right now with the Gardner's. 

We slowly work on the house and it seems likes the weeks fly by.