CENTRAL ALABAMA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER

In Alabama, there exists a state wide network of Children's Advocacy Centers.  The Centers do a wonderful job  providing direct intervention services to sexually and severely abused children in the communities they serve.  If you would like to read more about their services CLICK HERE. Unfortunately, the Centers are woefully underfunded.

The Central Alabama Children's Advocacy Center serves the 4th Judicial Circuit Counties of Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox.  To raise funds to support direct services to children and to promote awareness of their existence in our community, the Central Alabama Children's Advocacy Center is selling tshirts.  I received a proof of the tshirt yesterday but can not figure out how to post it here.

However,  if you would like to support the cause by either by buying a tshirt (if you want to see the proof provide me with your email address and I will forward it to you) or making a direct donation to Central Alabama Children's Advocacy Center (mail check so payable to 108 Broad Street Selma, Alabama 36701).  For further information, you may also contact Executive Director Lauri Cothran at 334-875-0890 or centralalcac@gmail.com .

Thank you in advance for your support that will offer protection to those unable to protect themselves! May you be blessed and receive a double harvest.  James 1:27

Another Baby....

When Rayne shared the news with Sam and Fair, Sam burst into cheers for another "boy cousin to babysit". Fair, on the other hand, burst into tears. Like lay down on the couch sobbing tears that lasted for 15 minutes!  She told me later, that she just knew "Aunt RaRa was going to have a baby girl."  The news of another boy made her "sad" (her exact word).

Rayne posted a great announcement (love the pic). If you are interested in seeing it, CLICK HERE

TODAY IS THE DAY......

TODAY IS THE DAY MY SISTER RAYNE FINDS OUT THE GENDER OF HER 2ND CHILD DUE IN LATE JULY 2012. DRUMROLL PLEASE..........

Celebrations continue....

I am not usually enthusiastic about celebrating Valentine's Day.  To me, it is somewhat like New Year's Eve. A little overrated. On the average year, best acknowledged quietly at home.  This year, however, I wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day.  God is so good. God is love. I wanted to celebrate it!

Instead of February 14th, we decided to celebrate LOVE on February 18th - Paul's birthday.

Early in the evening, family who live in town gathered at our house. We began the evening with presents. Ironically, gift giving is totally NOT Paul's native love language. Paul, he will tell you himself....often, is ill at ease giving or receiving gifts.

We gave the gift of prophetic scripture. Not as mysterious as it sounds.  Simply, let God direct you to scripture for a specific person, write it down and share! Each family unit "gave" the scripture to each person present (haha, you know how I LOVE puns!!) by reading it out loud. Your cup runs over when you hear what God has to say about you and your family.  Lots and lots of LOVE!!!

So much so, that even Paul became an enthusiastic gift receiver!

For those who know him well you might guess from the pic above, his reformed attitude may also have been motivated by the beer and bread from the Osborns. Two of his favorite things.

He also received a speed rope and boxing gear for his man cave recently reinvented into the Garner Gym.

Afterwards, we retired to the dinning room for dinner. I prepared fried chicken, roasted brussels sprouts and carrots, and smashed potatoes. Rayne supplied appetizers and Pie brought the most fabulous strawberry pies for dessert (I, of course, had a huge slice this morning for breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee - yum!).

Due to the activities of the day/night, I was not the best photographer. These are the best of the few I took. Hopefully, Rayne will post some of hers.  If you are interested, see Rayne's blog

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL, WE LOVE YOU!!!

ANOTHER WEEKEND OF BIRTHDAYS!

I never before realized that for my family February is the MONTH of birthday celebrations.  It definitely is! Last weekend we finished celebrating Sam's birthday (full two weeks!).  Today is Paul's birthday with family dinner planned for tonight. In the interim, Fair took charge of birthday activities....

Thursday morning on the way to school Sam mentioned that he was going to babysit Baby Lane with Pal on Friday night. Fair, not wanting to show she cared or that his plan for Friday night might be better than hers, said "Well I am having a celebration!"  When I asked her what she was going to celebrate, she said "God's birthday". Why not? 

She decided to have her friend Kylie join her. Menu = macaroni & cheese and cheese pizza. Decorations = balloons (we never quite got around to that part). Activity/Dessert = making cupcakes.

For every party, a girl must have the perfect attire.  Our two princesses selected the most beautiful dresses.

I present Princess Fairchild & Princess Kylie

After playing in the castle tower for awhile, it was time to cook. We started with the cupcakes. They both helped prepare the batter. Then poured the batter into baking cups all by themselves.

Party prep continued with making macaroni and cheese.

After dinner, they made perfectly delicious princess neon pink frosting to top their cupcakes.  

Kylie cracked me up, she dipped her knife into the frosting. Put a dab on the cupcake. Then....

licked the knife clean!

Spa time.....

They wanted to wear Anne Frances' pjs. Each selected their favorite pair and modeled them on the runway.

Thank you Anne Frances!!

One final photo before Kylie's carriage departed...

While riding in the carriage taking Kylie home, they sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and "blew out his candles for him".

Sam & Wiley's Birthday Celebration at the Roost

My friend Angie and I have sons born two weeks apart that both attend 5K at Leika's.  According to their teacher Miss Rosemary, they have too much fun together. Sam refers to Wylie as "YY" or "Wildman" and was thrilled to celebrate their birthdays together this year.  I was thrilled to work on it with Angie. She had tons of fabulous ideas for our camping theme.  A few pics below:

The Birthday Boys - Wiley & Sam
(Sam with his real holster on - a little big so he holds it together with clothes pins)

 My parents live in the hills of Perry County. The terrain very much reminds me of being in North Carolina.  You would never think you were only thirty minutes from the flats of Selma City limits.  Our family refers to their home and the property on which it sits as the Roost.  Prior to the party detail discussion arising, my parents made reservations for a trip out of state. They were kind enough to allow us to use the Roost in their absence - very much appreciated! 

Of course, the main attraction was the huge hill that all of the boys rolled down. Repeatedly.
This is a pic of Fair with Paul helping her back up.



P.S. did I mention that after a week of temperate weather, the big day saw temps
in the low 40s with 30 mile per hour winds - a little cold!
Hence the pink (of course!) face mask on Fair. 

Mary Christie and John Braxton
I've always loved MC but my admiration grew when I saw that she had gone
all the way down the hill helping JB back up

Bob Frazer was an answered prayer with the idea of team hide and seek.
The boys had a blast!

Singing Happy Birthday to Sam & Wiley

Mr. Paul singing campfire songs which included Jingle Bells...
Apparently, he needs to learn a few new tunes.

Thank you Angie & Wiley for letting us share this ALL BOY
birthday celebration. We had tons of fun!
Love y'all - jg

Oh yeah, it's my Birthday!

Rayne, James and Lane with baby number 2 making his/her appearance in July

Lane's first taste of cake

Finger lickin good!

smash cake remnants

off to the tub

Tonight - Lane's Birthday Dinner

My sister Rayne graciously hosted the family for dinner to celebrate Lane's birthday. A divine menu of quail in gravy, rice, carrots, brusell sprouts and biscuits all cooked to perfection (thank you Mary!) - delicious!  For dessert, birthday cake of course!

The Grandchildren
Ford, Sam, Lane and Fairchild

The wheelbarrow we gave Lane for his birthday
Lane decided it was a great way to transport his cousin Ford

Then he decided it might be fun to have Fair push him
(until it tumped that is)

Donald MacDonald Russell, Jr. with Donald MacDonald Russell IV

Our two big headed boys!

Ford enjoying a little jumping before bottle

Loved his little hand tucked in Pal's 

Pie assisting Ford in finishing off the bottle

Kid's Table

Adult table
Glad to say I am of the age to still get assigned to the kitchen island!!

Birthday Cake!

Lane's smash cake

Sam's smash cake - thanks RaRa and Ames!