My Meet Up With Nina

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. ~Author Unknown

Ok you might all think I am a nut ball and yes at times, I might come across that way, Jon called me a couple of hundred times, and so did Nina' husband to make sure we were not meeting up with "to catch a pretender" and a 60 year old sicko was meeting up for lunch.

Nina came across my blog through another blog through another, and she is new to AZ and we clicked. SO we hung out yesterday! WE had lunch at "Carbin's" and did some shopping at Bella Amie and a cute baby boutique. Her husband works for Lund (throwing ya some biz out there as they have some GREAT DEALS EVERYONE RUSH TO LUND NOW NOW) and hung out there for awhile and just chatted. Come to find out, we have A LOT in common and God has brought this amazing woman into my life RIGHT when I needed her. MY life has felt like a crumbing building lately and the glue can no longer keep holding it together. And those hours we spent together were pure joy to have someone to chat with,listen and enjoy each others company.

Lets see if she calls for a "second date" ha ha!OF course I bring my camera, why not! :)

xoxo Nina, you brightened my day, thanks so much, it means more then you will understand

Makenzie Received The Servant Heart Award

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

(1 Pet 4:10)

There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service,but the same Lord.(1 Cor. 12:4-5)

Church of Joy School Honored Makenzie last week at the Christian Leadership Awards Ceremony with the Servant Heart Award.

The teacher said she showed kindness, generosity, mother like services in wanting to help others, mercy, wisdom, faith and giving, she has so many "spiritual gifts" I am interested to see which one God lands here with to use for the rest of her life. I see her using them all as a tool, but which one would be her strongest?

GOT THE TICKETS, "I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane, To Get My Baby Aslynn"

Given angel's wings, where might you fly?In what sweet heaven might you find your love?Unwilling to be bound, where might you move,

Lost between the wonder and the why?

~Nicholas Gordon

It is official, I got my ticket, yes be shocked my blog buddies, I did break down on a great deal and got my ticket before the holiday prices go through the roof! I am pretty proud of myself...and now I have something that is "real" to look forward to. Printed off E-tickets...YIPPY! 6 weeks, 5 days.... count down is on!

Logan's 3rd Birthday Party At The Phoenix Zoo

We had a Zoo'pendous Day!

The Phoenix Zoo was the place to be last Sunday for "little man's" birthday party. We had a great time with pizza, a 3 tier cake from OF COURSE our AZ CAKE lady Elizabeth, crafts, train ride, and then the zoo. It was a hot day, not like the week before, but the kids did not mind it at all. Lets just say they slept SO GREAT on the way home! Here are some pictures from Shawna's camera and about 8 disposable cameras. I LOST my digital camera, I know ME lose my camera, HOLD YOUR HORSES HUH!?! I thought it was at the shipping place, or at the grocery store, it turned out I left it at my grandma's house since I had to stop by and grab the "birthday shirt" from gymboree she got him for his special day. I cant believe I left it there, more shocking SHE DID NOT CALL ME AND TELL ME! ERRRRKKKK But the party was still great, and we have a blast! xoxo

Notes From Addis Ababa

It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent

of what he takes out of it.

~ Albert Einstein

After the 2 DHL boxes arrived, we got 2 emails from the head Nanny and I thought I would share them as they brightened my day!

Dear Dr. RADU,

This is to inform you i received the second donation via DHL yesterday fromthe family called LEAH LITTY. Please pass our thanks on behalf of our needychildren. Thanks Melat SOS EE

AND

Dear Dr. RADU,
This is to inform you this morning I have well received from DHL the gifts (clothes, candy and disposable cameras and Creams) from the following families for their referral babies.
1, Br***
2, B***
3, D***
4,O*********
5, D**** I think they are waiting referral 8, >>>>

(ME ME FOR ASLYNN) I think they are waiting referral 9,

St. *****10, *****

Therefore, please pass my gratitude and appreciation on behalf of the orphanage and we will give their gifts for each child and we will take the photos and keep and give their cameras at the time they will come to bring their child.
Thanks
Melat
P.s Just for your information the gifts was sent by the following families USA
* to block out privacy of families last names!

Pretty cool to get 2 emails from Ethiopia saying that they got the boxes and the things were being used, and they ARE going to use the cameras and take the pictures AND save the cameras FOR US! YIPPY. See girls, we did a good thing, all that hard work!

I have some more DHL crazy pictures I must throw on here, the lady thought I was a nut job and hey, maybe I am coming to find out I AM!

Logan's Day, The Big 3

True life is lived when tiny changes occur

~Count Leo Tolstoy

Since we celebrated Sunday at the Zoo for Logan's Birthday Party, on his actual birthday we enjoyed a nice night at home. Logan stayed home from school and we went to Toys R Us and hung out and shopped! It was fun, and even Mommy got in on the action! The employee's saw he had his birthday hat on and said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN" over the loud speaker, and came and gave him a balloon. He thought it was the coolest thing. He wanted "pasta" for dinner, which is Olive Garden, and the weather was so great out so we ate outside and played! It was a great night with Jon and the kids, and my Mom was over too. Happy Birthday sweet pumpkin, loveys!!

More Miley Birthday Bash Pictures

"FUN IS GOOD"

The Girls in one of the rooms of the "princess suite"
Paris my NiecePose,PHOTO!

Me and Makenzie Main Entrance of Disneyland

YOU BET YOUR HOT BUNS I STOPPED JENNIE GARTH A.K.A. KELLY TAYLOR AND ASKED HER FOR A PICTURE, I GREW UP WATCHING 90210 AND LIVED FOR IT WEEKLY! THOSE WERE THE "GOOD OLD DAYS" I CAN HEAR THE OPENING MUSIC AS I TYPE..

The girl next to the green sweater on the right smiling with yellow on is LILY on Hannah Montana show (Emily Osent) Miley's BFF. You can see my Niece Jacque and of COURSE MAKENZIE'S BOW - HA HA

Long night, THE GIRLS! Troopers..

arrived at hotel, just got off plane, poster pose!

Sister Shawna and Paris

Here are some more pictures of Miley's Sweet 16 Birthday Party that my sister and sister in law took, thought I would share, even though I did not layout in a good order, oh well! xoxo L

Makenzie's Parent Teacher Conference

“Other people may be there to help us, teach us, guide us along our path, but the lesson to be learned is always ours.”

Monday Makenzie had her first Parent Teacher Conference and of course she rocked it! The teacher said she is above the level for her age by almost 5 levels!

She so is full of joy, energy, excitement and so much more besides academics. I of course took pictures of her with the teacher, her and I (messing with black and white and other stuff lately,new program, trying it out!), and the box we made together for the books they are doing in the class. I thought it was pretty crafty cute, if I do say so myself!

Go Makenzie for your first of MANY P.T.C!!!
Of course Mr. Lo Lo had to get a sassy picture in...love his personality! :)