A Trip to Paris

We took a trip to Paris.  On the road trip, we discussed French words: Merci, De rien, Je t'aime, Bon jour, and Adieu. When we arrived in Paris, nobody was near the Eiffel Tower, so we had it all to ourselves.  Unfortunately, climbing was not allowed, but the girls sure wanted to!! 

After visiting the tower, we went to eat hors-d'oeuvres at a local restaurant.  Jaden was trying to pick up on some of the language that she heard the restaurant workers speaking.  Then, she asked me, "Can I tell them 'Bon jour'?"  To which I said, "They are speaking Spanish not French."  We did not find a single French-speaking person in Paris, Texas.  Oh, well, at least we still got to see the Eiffel Tower, even if it did have a cowboy hat on top!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Homeschool!

We have had so much fun learning hands on!! (Yes, I said "we" because I am learning almost as much as Morgan and Jaden are!) We have been all over the place, but I haven't been posting- so sorry! I have a lot of catching up to do!

In the beginning, Jaden struggled with seatwork. I say this because even if she sat down to do the work in workbooks and things, she did not retain anything she had learned. I revamped their homeschool experience, and all of us have enjoyed it much more. We are doing hands-on as much as possible. It is wild how when Jaden is doing something at the same time learning is taking place, she can tell me all that I said!!

This picture on this post is from the museum we went to and learned about pioneers. Jaden and Morgan asked the curators all kinds of questions, and I could tell their minds were running a mile a minute.

So, I will be posting shortly about some of our fun adventures in life and homeschool. Stay tuned!!

Miracles in Caring Group

I started this group in January this year when an opportunity landed in my lap. This opportunity, has God's hand all over it! It was amazing how desperate the situation was for these Ugandan's and how we were brought together by nothing less than a miracle! Now, after gathering information and getting this business set up, I am ready to show it to all of you. 100% of the profits go directly to the women who made these items in the slums outside of the capital city of Uganda in East Africa.

Miracles In Caring is about giving parents the tools they need to provide for their families. In Uganda, for example, a years long civil war has left many children father-less and without homes. These families have moved to the capital city Kampala to escape the violence in Northern Uganda. When the families finally made it to Kampala, they found they had no skills to compete for the jobs there. These women and their families were farmers, and self-sufficient in Northern Uganda. Now, they are without land, and live in whatever home they can put together with the scraps they find.


These hard-working women have found one job that will take them in. This job is breaking rocks from big pieces to smaller piece. They sit down in the rock quarry and hammer at the rocks all day long. For 12 hours of work, they make about 50 cents! To do the math for you, that is 4 cents an hour!!

Because the pay is so small, most mothers HAVE to include their children in the work. Instead of going to school, the children break rocks right alongside their mothers to put food on the table. These are not bad mothers who want to get rich off of their children. These are mothers who have two choices: put their children to work alongside them, or watch their children starve to death!!

Their children should be in school, there is no doubt about that. An education is the key to breaking out of poverty. The problem is that these children are just trying to survive. When you don't even know if you will have enough to eat one meal the next day, it is a matter of survival. What good is an education if you will be dead from lack of food and dehydration tomorrow?

Our organization is going to change the lives of these women and their families. We have set them up with a business that isn't so back-breaking, and gives them more profit. This will allow their children to attend school, and allow the mothers to have the resources they need to take care of their families.

They have already lived through a civil war- Now it is time to restore their peace of mind!

There could not be a better time to help. To order, go to the MAC webstore.

To see a video of the stone quarry and what it is like to live in the slums of Kampala, and WHY the families are struggling so much, you have to check out this you tube video.

I have all of the items they are selling in my home, so if you see something that you like & would like to save on postage, just let me know!

Saying Goodbye

We met up with Jeff and the crew one last time at Jason's Deli. Then, we had to say goodbye. They are now safely back in California. It was fun while it lasted. Next time, maybe we can go to California!

Happy 84th Birthday, Grandma Frances!!

Saying our good-byes before heading back home

You can tell she DID NOT want me to photograph her, but it's her birthday- You need a milestone annual picture at least!!!

Morgan's cupcake masterpiece (above) Jaden's (below)

If you have been following this blog, you may remember the post from about a month ago about a birthday surprise. Jaden and Morgan had fun painting these cupcake containers for Grandma Frances, and they were very excited when she should her thrill of getting such beautiful things! ;)

Looking for tree types

Jaden brought her Rod and Staff Leaf Book with us to Grandma Frances' house. Then, she and Daddy went looking at all of the trees to see if any of them were in the book. It was so nice to see them doing the activity together!!

Washington State or Bust!

Uncle Kevin is officially on his mission. We talked to him on the phone for the last time today. Now, we can just write him letters and e-mails, which he can read once a week... We won't see him again for another 2 years.
Since he is headed to Washington State, the girls did some pages about Washington to put in their notebooks. I will share pictures of their notebooks soon. They are turning out really great. In case you want to do the same with your kids, here are the links to the pages I used for my girls:

http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_wa.pdf
(map)

http://http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/washington/ (kids' worksheets)


http://http//www.infoplease.com/us/census/data/washington/ (census info, in case you are interested)

http://http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjgeog/a/suswa.htm (home school unit study)

Hunting for Easter Eggs

Since we weren't going to be around Grandma Frances (the girls' 83 year old great grandmother) for Easter, I decided to bring some of Easter to her. I brought 30 plastic Easter eggs & some candy to fill them with. Then, I hid the eggs in the yard. Grandma Frances and I enjoyed watching the girls find the eggs. In fact, Grandma Frances is still on the hunt for one Easter Egg... Somehow, we never did find the last egg. The lawn mower may find it before we do!!!
Enjoy the video... Photos to follow!

Playing on the porch

It rained the on the whole drive to Grandma Frances' house (5 hours away). The next day, the girls wanted to play outside, but it was cold & muddy. I let them get their winter coats on, and then, told them they could only play on the cement part. They had fun anyway.

Playing with Grandma Frances

We spent the weekend with Grandma Frances. We all had a great time. Jaden and Morgan just love Grandma Frances' reaction to their teasing. This time, they decided that they would trick her by asking her which hand a ticket was in, and then, switch hands, so that she always picked the wrong one. She playing along, and got them both laughing.
Grandpa Bonnie and Uncle Damon came by for a little while, too. They brought a bike for Morgan (last year's Christmas present). When we get it put together, I will post that later.

Money Saving Tip #9: Don't pay for magazines; get them for free!

Ok, I have about 15 magazine subscriptions. Looking at it, one would think I spend a couple hundred dollars on subscriptions, but I don't pay for any of them. This is what I do. There is a survey site that lets you earn points and redeem them for items like magazine subscriptions. The website is:
http://www.e-rewards.com
Here are some of the magazines offered (1 full year subscription, with no strings!):
Inc.
Vibe
Flying
Body + Soul
Interview
Woman's Day
American Photo
Outside Magazine
Smithsonian
Seventeen
Golf Digest
Entrepreneur
Family Fun
Working Mother
Travel & Leisure Golf
Computer Shopper
People en Español
Forbes
Martha Stewart Living
The Wall Street Journal
Latina...
Anyway, you get the picture. So, if you had some magazines you have been wanting to get but can't fit them into the budget... Log in & start answering some surveys! My latest order was for American Photo. I think it provides photographing tips, so I am hoping it will help me in the baby photography career I have started (and, by the way, I got my check today... Whew!)

Great books for children

Three great books to teach children about how people all around the world live. Children only know what they see and what they are told. It is so easy to see how they would think that everyone is just like them. Morgan and Jaden love these books! They are packed with information, so they are not books that you read through in a 30 minute reading session. Every time we pick up one of the books, we see something new.

Halloween in Mexico~Janitzio, Michoacan

I wish I had gotten more pictures of the cute little kids in Janitzio, but this is all I've got. I was there Oct 31, 1999 until November 1, 1999 (so, I got to see the Halloween and Day of the Dead rituals which I posted earlier). Anyway, If you are in the state of Michoacan in Mexico, you have to get on a boat to travel to the small island of Janitzio. It is the cutest place you have ever seen, but around the time of Halloween, it gets VERY busy and touristy. The people there make money that day as a tourist attraction, so everyone goes all out to sell things. The island is a mountain, so as you walk the streets, you are walking up and down the mountain. It is a lot of exercise and the mountain air is very refreshing. Along the trek, people are selling Day of the Dead items like food, souvenirs, etc. Plus, everyone who lives there (practically) makes hot cider to sell. So, you buy the cider and walk. By the time you run out, there is already someone els to sell you another glass. The best part was the kids walking around with jack-o-lanterns. The jack-o-lanterns have lit candles in them, and they trick or treat with them... Not only is the jack-o-lantern their "flashlight" to see their way through the darkness, it is also their "bag" for holding their goodies. Here is the biggest surprise that you might not guess... They don't trick or treat for candy. They want pesos. You drop the pesos into their jack-o-lanterns, and you can easily be out several thousand pesos by the time you leave the island. Kids are everywhere!!! Now you know why the kids are smiling so hard in the pictures. Trick or Treat!

Fly for cheap

Since beginning sponsorship, and getting to know the kids in 5 different countries, I have begun to think about international travel again. I would like to meet the kids that I sponsor one day, but I just didn't know how I was going to do it. It is expensive to travel, especially, if (like I) you plan to take your kids with you. Anyway, my friend Mack has given me hope. I am following her direction of raking up frequent flyer miles. Along with the directions she has given me, I have found other web-sites where you can earn miles. Microsoft has games that you play on live search to earn points and redeem for miles, and even some survey companies offer them as prizes. I wanted to pass on her good info, in case any of the rest of you would like to go somewhere for less. Here is what she wrote:

My friends are always asking me how I can afford to travel so much. I tell them that one of my big "secrets" is saving up Frequent Flyer Miles to trade in for otherwise too expensive flights.
If you want to do this, your first step will be to choose a FF program. I have no knowledge about which program is the best, because, like many people, I automatically signed up for the services of our state's small, local airline – the one I fly with the most often, and the one most likely to offer low fares from my nearest airport hub.
If you are researching different FF programs, my best advice is to look for one with a long list of partner airlines. With my program, for instance, I am able to earn miles by flying on American, Delta, Continental, NWA, British Airways, + more, in addition to my primary airline.
TIPS FOR EARNING FF MILES:

1. The obvious and expected way to earn miles is by flying. This is expensive, so if you aren't planning to do it anyway, I don't recommend it. That said, if you have the ability to travel spontaneously, it's fun to watch for super low airfares that make the trip almost worth it for the mileage you will earn. For example, I once found a flight to Paris for under $300, so I booked it even though I had no need to go to France. Between the FF miles I got, and the opportunity to check out some famous art, I felt the trip was worth the money.

2. Apply for a credit or debit card that will earn you 1 or more miles per dollar spent, then use it to buy EVERYTHING. Just be careful you aren't spending more than you can pay off at the end of each month, or you will risk paying finance charges!

3. If there's an expense you can't pay for with your mileage credit card – say, your mortgage or utility bills – use the card to purchase a money order from a department store (Wal-Mart has the best deal in my area). Your bank will see it only as a charge at the store, and you will collect FF miles for your purchase.

4. Be aware of your airline's various mile-earning programs and use them judiciously. I am able to earn extra FF miles by renting cars, buying groceries, sending flowers, shopping online, eating at restaurants … the list goes on and on. Research and determine how you can get FF miles for STUFF/SERVICES THAT YOU WOULD HAVE PAID FOR ANYWAY. If you are buying things JUST to earn miles, it kind of defeats the purpose of being thrifty.

TIPS FOR REDEEMING FF MILES:

1. Book early! Each flight only offers so many FF seats, so if you want to ensure that you snag one to a particular destination on a particular day, you'll need to plan ahead. Find out how far in advance you are allowed to book (usually about a year) and call on the FIRST DAY that you are permitted to make your reservation.
Some programs will allow you to book your outbound and inbound flights separately, so that you don't miss your opportunity to be the first in line if your return date is well past your departure date.

2. If no FF seats are available to your chosen destination, don't give up! Keep checking back, because new FF slots open up at the whim of the airlines or because other travelers canceled. Also, you can try flying into neighboring cities or countries. Note: The more popular your destination, the better chance of securing a FF seat.

3. Before you trade your FF miles in for a ticket, make sure there are no special airfare offers to your destination. Sometimes it makes more sense to pay for your ticket rather than relinquishing valuable miles.

4. Don't be afraid to change or cancel your FF flight if a better deal comes along. You will probably pay a fee to do this, but it can be worth it!

5. Save FF miles by flying into "cheaper" regions of the world first, then continuing onward from that point. For example, let's say you are sponsoring a child in India. Your FF program requires you to exchange 100,000 miles for a ticket to Calcutta, but only 60,000 to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fly into the neighboring country and travel overland or grab a cheap flight to India. Note: Cheap fares to all over the world can often be booked from Hong Kong.

6. Take advantage of "Open Jaw" options. Most airlines will allow you to fly into one country and out of another on your FF ticket. With this money saving method, you can fly into Colombia to visit one child, then fly out of Ecuador after visiting another kid!

7. If you are not on an Open Jaw itinerary, you are generally allowed 1 free stop-over at a scheduled connection city. This probably will not help you to visit your child, but you can enjoy a "mini-vacation" along the way at no additional cost.

Bored at home? Take a trip to the cemetary

When in a small city like Colima, it can get boring really fast. The malls are not really malls in the way that we consider a mall. They may have about 25 stores in them, and the stores aren't that great. There is usually a Sears in one of the malls, and that is their big department store. The movies don't play until at least 3 months or more after they start playing in the states. So, you can easily find yourself without something to do. When some friends called up and asked if I wanted to go to the cemetary with them, I thought they were crazy! And they were, but it was probably from lack of entertainment. At any rate, the cemetary was different than any I have seen here, so I took some pictures. There was a poor part of the cemetary that only had wooden crosses made of twigs or markers made of glass bottles.

Not funny!

While attending a small town festival outside of Colima (I forget which town we were in), I found myself atop a horse riding through the streets. Weird how that happens. I went with my Mexican family (the people I lived with for 4 months). One of the borthers-in-law thought it would be funny to pay one of thse guys on horses to ride me through the town. I'm sure it was funny to everyine else (as if I didn't stand out already~I had to be paraded through the streets). I tried to maintain my sense of humor, but I was glad when the ride ended.

Younger, wilder days~ Colima, Mexico

I can'r believe I was crazy enough to get in this water. It was so COLD!!! Everything was going ok, just a little chilly... Until, my arms and legs stared to go numb from the cold at the same time I was trying to swim to shore. Of all of the stupid ideas!!!