My Christmas Projects-Rag Quilts

Arianne with her quilt.
I made ten of these. Two for my nieces in Florida, two for my San Diego nieces, one for my mom, one for Grandma Val, one for Joni, two for my daughters-in-law, and one for my niece in Oregon.

This one was for my mom. The fabric was titled The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Front:

Back
Miranda's (back)
Miranda's (front)
I think this one was my favorite. I LOVE the colors.

Kylie's (she's 13) back --there was a smudge on the lens. so sorry!
front

Sierra's (she's 17) Front
back Ashley's (she's 22) front
front close-up

Joni-my sister-in-law. She has a safari room so I thought this was fitting. She thought I bought it in Ethiopia. :-/ I had to tell her I MADE it for her. Silly goose.
Alyssa's-she's 15

I need to find the other two on a CD and will post those later. Hope you enjoyed looking at them. I couldn't have made them without the loads of help from my family. Thank you family. :)

For Steve

Lyrics

Abi has mail!

Abi received her first mail addressed to her. Miss Roxanne her Sunday School teacher sent her a Christmas card. Miss Roxanne didn't know what a special thing she did.

Pics from last Sunday's service

My computer had/has a major virus

That's why I haven't been on much, plus the sewing of the quilts. I did get all quilts to their rightful owners by Christmas day, but needed to keep Miranda's so I could cut and wash it. I finished it today and will post pics when my computer is working correctly. It's taking a REALLY LONG time to upload/download pics to Adobe or even to my computer at all.

I'll post pics in the next few days as my problems get cleared up, at least the computer ones. :)

To Santa

Christmas 2004

I LOVE James's face in this picture. He's on the bottom right.

John Newton: The Angry Sailor

I just finished a short little book about John Newton. Who? He wrote Amazing Grace in the 1700's. Ahhhhh.......now you know who I'm talking about! Well Scholastic offered a book through their reading program many, many years. I read it quite a while ago and thought about it for my Class Day Living Books class. Bingo. This book it is well worth the search and the read.
John Newton: The Angry Sailor (Preteen Biography)


Here's a description from the back cover: John Newton hated being a sailor. The ship's officers gave him all the worst jobs, whipped him if the tasks were not done perfectly, and practically starved him while they ate huge meals. John wondered how God could have let this happen to him. Every day he got angrier and angrier with the other sailors and with God. He fought with everyone and stole whenever he got the chance. By the time he was seventeen, he had on of the worst reputations in the whole navy!

John prayed that God would get him off the horrible warship where he worked, but he never stopped to think that God might have other plans. Read about John's dangerous and exciting life at sea and find out what God did have planned for the angry sailor.

Jesse's Ethiopia report

A few weeks ago we went to Jesse's school for his Cultural Anthropology class. He and his peers did a report on Ethiopia and we were able to add the personal touch. The girls and I sang "Bizu" in Amharic for the students. They clapped along with us while we sang.

Getting ready. Jesse's presentation
Us

Pics of Jenny's visit

Addis cornrowed Jenny's hair even though it REALLY hurt.

Sarah and her cute self

She's one in this picture. Isn't she adorable?

More Random Pics

Pt. Loma tide pools
Pacific Ocean

Jesse, Joel & Sarah Joel at the San Diego Zoo

Addis petting a goat at the San Diego Zoo Joel & Addis-He looks thrilled doesn't he?

For Grandma Ferebee from Addis

Random Pics

Christmas tree at Disneyland
The guys at Disneyland last month

Jesse

Sarah and her shirt that Nathan gave her Pt. Loma-Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean Abi Mulu at the zoo. Adah Derartu, Addis Rose and Anna Mihret

Advent Conspiracy

This is on my friend Sarah's blog and it also sums up how we feel.

I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me

I saw this on my friend Jenn's blog and it sums up what we have been feeling this Christmas season.

Addis' Art

Christmas projects

I have almost finished my sixth Christmas project! I have four to go and then I can shop and relax. What are these Christmas projects? Not many people know, and I can't spill the beans just yet, but I'll post pictures after Christmas.

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies

This is for Jenn. :)

Because I'm tired and don't want to type the recipe out follow the link and you'll see a yummy picture. Your palate will thank you when you devour these!

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=14463

One more thing-a Christmas challenge

Steve and I have decided to forgo giving gifts to one another this year. We are sending the money that we would spend on one another to Kingdom Vision International to sponsor a child or to use however they need it most. We know the Ethiopian director personally. He helped me at the American Embassy when I went with Adah and Anna. We also met with him when we picked up Addis & Abi and brought him donations for the orphanage.

Steve & I are in want for not one thing. I challenge those of you who read my blog to sponsor a child in an orphanage or do something for someone who is less off than you are. I'm not talking toys, either, I'm talking food, clothing, shelter. Basic necessities for life. You can do it! Go out of your comfort zone and make a difference.

You can find the Kingdom Vision International link on the side bar under Adoption links.

Class Day

Today was our last Class Day before Christmas. Since we finished Charlotte's Web in our Living Books 1-3 class I read some Christmas books to the kids. We enjoyed How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a Charlie Brown Christmas, the Christmas Kitten, Silent Night-Holy Night, and a story from a 1952 book.

In our games class we had all the kids sit at tables according to their grades and we played Brain Quest. They were asked questions according to their grade level and the first graders won! We passed out cookies and chex mix to add to the fun.

In our third class which is Living Books 4-6 (14 boys) we read How the Grinch Stole Christmas and read more of My Side of the Mountain. As long as the boys have suckers in their mouths and crayons/markers in their hands all is well. They'll sit and listen for 50-60 minutes. It's quite amazing. They look forward to this book. I need to come up with one that is as good or better for the next one!

We made it home with the cookies from John & Addis' cookie exchange. I've had my hot tea and two of the cookies we made yesterday which were quite scrumptious by the way. They were made from a brownie mix, with cream cheese and some other goodies, then a ball of peanut butter mixed with powdered sugar is placed in the middle of the cookie and then after it's baked you frost it with chocolate frosting. Oh.My.Lanta. They are delightful!!!!!

Well I better go and pick up my Cubbie and Class day mess............

Ethiopia Report

Jesse and his classmates had to do a report on Ethiopia in their Cultural Anthropology class. He asked me to bring the girls in their Ethiopian dresses and show them off to the class. They really didn't want to speak any Amharic, you know how kids get in front of people they don't know, so they looked down at the ground and wouldn't say much. The other classmates had to report on different aspects of Ethiopia. I wanted to stand up so bad and just talk about the country. Give them a desire to seek out the country and the people. I kept quiet as much as I could though. Jesse bought Yesega Wot and split pea alicha with injera for the class to sample. He also brought some of our souvenirs, photos, books, and such that we have collected in the last year and a half. We sang Bizu in Amharic in front of the class. Think Caucasian non-Amharic speaking mother singing a song that she "thinks" she knows what the words are, and four girls who really are too embarrassed to be up there, but want to be up there. The class clapped to help us along. The things I do for my kids.........

Jenny came to visit!

I received an email last week from Jenny Becker Taylor. Jenny and I go way back when she was a teenager at Mapleview. Back in 1993 or so I was the matron-of-honor in her wedding in Colorado. Sarah and I flew there when Sarah was two. Sarah cried the whole time during the ceremony. She had fallen asleep while we were all getting dressed and not having anyone to take care of her and since she was in different area of the church I picked her up and brought her with me. Well........she CRIED the WHOLE time and it was quite awkward. On one hand, I was Jenny's attendant and on the other hand I needed to take care of my daughter and tried to do it on stage in front of people. Just another example of my Murphy's Law life.

Anyways, Jenny was in town for a soccer tournament for her son and blessed us with a visit. I'll have to post a picture later since I need to leave and go to piano lessons. We had a great time catching up. She is such a hoot. She allowed Addis to cornrow her hair and was in immense pain the whole time. Think super tenderheaded and you get the idea.

Women's Christmas gathering

Last night Sarah & I went to the Truth N' Chocolate event for women at Mapleview last night. There was a fountain of flowing chocolate, goodies to go with the chocolate, wonderful music and a great speaker. It was fun to be with friends and enjoy one another's company.

I have to say the music was the best part for me. mary-james.com In Mary's "other" life she is Jesse's financial counselor at SDCC.

Facebook is wonderful!

Thank you, Shad, for urging me to go on Facebook. I have reconnected with old friends from Mapleview that I haven't seen in years. I have 35 friends so far from my Mapleview Church family and my Ethiopian adoptive parents family.

I'm now trying to get Steve to sign up. :-)

I'm on Facebook

I took the Facebook plunge at Shad's urging. If you're on facebook invite me as your friend. I NEED friends, people! Love me, please!!! (Can you hear the desperation?) I've already found several people I know from church. :-)