Baby Mason at 24 Weeks Prego!

This little guy is growing and on the move pretty much all night every night! I am loving every move!

 Oh and did I mention he enjoys kicking my bladder on a regular basis as well.  :)

Bending over and getting up is already starting to get a little difficult, scared to think about what it will be like in two more months! 

Happy Holidays ARE Happening in South Korea

THANK YOU!

A special Thank You to Christ Lutheran Church of El Campo's ROC Group for their donation to the orphanage.  ROC, which stands for Rely on Christ, is a group of 3rd and 4th grade students who raised $179.33.  I was able to purchase much needed toiletry items with these funds.  Thank you so much for your efforts!

Enjoying a healthy fruit snack provided by ROC

Posing in front of this week's art project.  We made reindeer with the tracing of their feet and hands.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

This past Saturday we had a Christmas Party full of crafts, singing, Santa, presents, and one SPECIAL DONATION from Shell.  Each child received a gift from an Shell employee which was a either a much needed winter coat or shoes, another gift from the ladies group which was most likely a toy, and then a stocking full of small gifts!  Plus, the kids that had a birthday in November and December received an additional gift for their birthday. 

Singing Happy Birthday

Tuesday's Children's Class Singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas dressed as mini Santas! 

Enjoying craft time, making paper snowflakes.

Tree decorated after the crafts were completed.

Enjoying her Christmas present from Santa

SPECIAL DONATION

Shell has generously donated $50,000 to the orphanage!  With $25,000 they purchased a new van.  The remaining funds will be used to update an existing study room and possibly add an additional room.

Happy Holidays to everyone!  Think about what you can do to help others during this holiday season!  It doesn't always have to be in the form of money, your time can go a long way to help someone in need!



Book Review #3

Reading Binge still on!  Here are my latest reads. 

Are You There, Vodka?  It's Me, Chelsea By Chelsea Handler
Honestly, I have no idea how to review this book.  It was a cute light read with random stories about Chelsea's life that seem to take place before she was really famous.  There are a few laugh out loud moments but didn't have any real substance  If you are looking for a few good laughs then I would suggest picking it up but don't expect it to be a life changer.

Already Gone By John Rector
Here is a thriller for you.  Jake is recently married to Diane when he is attack by two men.  During this attack the cut off his finger and then let him go.  He assumes his past has come back to haunt him.  He has done so much to get his life back on track and even wrote a novel about his past.  When Diane goes missing he digs into his history to find out who has taken her.  Only he discovers that he really doesn't know his wife as well as he thinks he does.  It isn't his history coming back to haunt him, it is hers.  But he is in love and will not stop to find out the truth and get her back.

Come Back To Me By Melissa Foster
Tearjerker Alert!!  I needed a tissue to get through this one.  Tess and Beau have been married for five years and seem pretty happy together.  Beau is an international photographer who takes an assignment overseas in Iraq but promises to return to his wife.  Tragedy happens and his helicopter crashes and everyone is assumed dead.  Tess refuses to believe he is gone, especially after she finds out she is pregnant.  After months with no news her family and friends encourage her to move on and she finally decides she has to.  Little does anyone know Beau is being nursed back to health by two Iraqi women and he is trying to get back home to his wife.  It is a long journey for him but he finally makes it home only to put his love to an even bigger test.

Chasing Amanda By Melissa Foster
Molly had a chance once before to help when a little girl was abducted but didn't do enough.  Years later when another little girl goes missing she is determined not to make the same mistake.  She is able to pick up flashes of the child and fights to find her when no one else will believe her.  This is a story with a few twists and turns that you don't see coming.  I really enjoyed and couldn't put it down towards the end. 

The Hunger Games Trilogy Series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) By Suzanne Collins
My mom suggested this series to me and it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I was hooked.  This is actually a series geared towards young adults but it kept me entertained.  The subject matter is different from anything I have read in a long time and it was just what I needed.  It is based in the future and the country is controlled by the capitol.  Each year the capitol forces the districts with a cruel punishment by selecting one boy and one girl from age 12-18 to compete to the death in the Hunger Games.  These games are televised for the world to watch.  When Katniss' little sister is selected she volunteers to take her place.  This is a story of her survival and friendship with Peet who is the boy selected from her district to also compete and becomes the story of a country coming together and stand up for themselves no matter the cost.  The journey and the horror that these people go through is finally enough to fight back.  All they needed was someone to inspire them.