Missional Monday

Yeah, yeah. I missed another Monday. So sue me! (Just kidding. This is my guilt talking, and it tends to speak in sarcasm to deflect any TRUE feelings. Sorry!)

This is the second non-profit we are looking at supporting with a portion of our profits from Twice as Nice Boutique. We've found a 3rd prospect, so I'll post on them next...time! :o)

This week's Missional Monday focus is on:

Still Creek Ranch

Since 1988, Still Creek Ranch has served children and families either in residence or through outreach services. We are located 15 miles from Bryan, Texas on 275 acres of Ranch Land.

We accept children from all over Texas and around the world. Twenty-six children live in cottages at our two facilities: Still Creek Boys Ranch and Still Creek Girls Ranch. The boys and girls ages 8-18 grow up in a Christ-centered, structured environment and enjoy a private Christian education and a variety of vocational, spiritual and extra-curricular activites. We give children a hope and a future.

Still Creek Ranch operates strictly by donations. We receive no state, federal, government grants or United Way funding. Through the generousity of committed partners like you, individuals, corporations, foundations, civic groups, and churches, Still Creek Ranch is able to meet the needs for its programs.

If you are interested in donating, go HERE to help!

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Twice as Nice!

My twin sister and I are starting a new business. In light of my need for money, and being denied the ability to teach swimming lessons (more on that in another post...all I can say is URG!), we are becoming entrepreneurs and starting our own company.

(drum roll, please!)

TWICE AS NICE BOUTIQUE: Unique and Custom Apparel, Accessories and Decor. We will include monogramming, baby items and clothing, children's clothing, sibling clothing, women's clothing, pet items, home decor, and holiday items and clothing. Possibly sorority/fraternity items?

We are VERY excited! We've purchased our website space and now need to get it designed. I'm thinking of using iWeb...has anyone used it and had good results? We're also looking to get a logo going. Hopefully for free. ;o)

I will definitely keep you updated on how we are progressing. Please give me any and all suggestions/comments about what you think our website should include, look like, etc as well as our merchandise. THANK YOU!!!

Texas Tornadoes

Here in Central Texas we've been PRAYING for rain. We've gone some ridiculous 100 days without rain (or close to it) and the water bill was over $100. Whew, has it been dry!

This week, though, brought an end to the dry spell. Mind you, we still only got sprinkles here at our house, but the area was hit with thunderstorms and tornadic weather.

Here is a pic of a tornado (okay, not technically a tornado according to the National Weather Service since there is no proof it touched down) that was spotted a few miles from the house:



We spent a couple of hours in the hall hanging out with all 4 kiddos waiting for the bad weather (which, mind you, never made it to us but hit with FLOODING just over a mile away. Seriously, it sprinkled here.). The kiddos were LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, and generally didn't take to hanging out in a hallway very well. Oh well, we're safe! We'll just have to plan better for next time.

And being in Texas, you know there WILL be a next time.

Missional Monday

Yes, this post is being posted on Tuesday and dated on Monday. And yes, I've missed multiple Mondays. But I PROMISE I'm going to start being better about posting Missional Mondays and just plain posting in general. Thanks to all of you for being so patient!

This week's Missional Monday is focused on the area of Bryan/College Station, home of Texas A&M! It is...
TWIN CITY MISSIONS!



Their VISION STATEMENT:
A world in which all individuals and families have opportunity for hope, acceptance, and stability, in a safe and caring environment.


Their MISSION STATEMENT:
Twin City Mission will accomplish its Vision through programs addressing: homelessness; violence and abuse; family conflict; youth in crisis; life skills deficiencies; and poverty.

Twin City Mission Capital Campaign

On June 3rd, 2008, Twin City Mission officially launched the "Because You Care...We Can" Capital Campaign. The public launch followed nearly a year of forming committees, conducting a silent phase of solicitation and building a public awareness campaign.



CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

(click Book at left for Special Event Fundraiser information)













Go to their website to get information on the following ways to help out:
HOUSE WARMING DONATION DRIVE

SHELTER WING PRICE DIVISIONS

'09 TCM GOLF CLASSIC Results

Around Town Article - April 1, 2009


Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

FYI: My twin sister and I are starting a new business (I'll post about it soon!) and this is one of two organizations we are looking to support with a percentage of our profits. I'll cover the other one next Monday!

Some people are so bitter, they don't even like chocolate...

When you move into a new neighborhood, you dream about neighbors showing up on your doorstep with a plate of brownies and a bottle of wine. An invitation to dinner, perhaps? Or even an invite to play tennis or a round of golf.



After moving into what is supposed to be OUR new neighborhood (yes, I'm living with my sister and her family, but we own property just around the corner) I've been welcomed by the neighborhood grinch.

Those swimming lessons I was teaching? Helping people so their kiddos would be safe in the pool? No more.

A lady, who will remain nameless (since I don't actually KNOW her name) has glared at me from day one as I work ONE on ONE with a student in the pool. I know, I know, I MUST be in her way with 5 or 6 kids at a time! Nope, just me and ONE SMALL CHILD. Now she has complained and the head of our HOA has "taken it to the board" (who happens to be the head of the HOA, her partner, and the developer) and has also taken the matter to the neighborhood counsel (read attorney), as well as the insurance adjuster.

Until further notice, I may no longer teach swimming lessons in the neighborhood pool. Never mind that I'm a property owner and that most of my students are residents. Never mind that I'm actually making it so that more of the kiddos that live in the neighborhood are swimmers and less likely to drown. Never mind that there are MANY parents in the neighborhood that use me or local lifeguards to teach their kids here so they won't have to drive to a city pool.

ONE grumpy grouchy senior citizen, who complains about everything, complained. Now my extra income, WHICH WE NEED RIGHT NOW, is gone. (I have been offered a backyard pool for the time being, I think. Hopefully that will work out!)




I know it wasn't the Christian thing to do, but we packed up all 4 kids and called several friends and their kids and went swimming at 8:00 this morning...this lady's usual workout time. She's been upset about me working with ONE kid? I'll bring 10 and we'll play loudly and make lots of splashes. Bring it on.

Girl's Night Out (Okay, make that WEEKEND!)

Some friends from high school, as well as my twin sister M, are going on a girl's weekend in mid July. Why am I writing about it now? Because I've been SO busy and SO out of touch that the idea of even a teeny tiny break is making me overjoyed with excitement!

I've never been on a girl's weekend. Our younger sister, HA, has done a girl's weekend every year since college. Me...never!

What am I looking forward to (besides uninterrupted sleep and getting to sleep in without any guilt...see the theme?)? Lots and lots of hang time with some of the coolest girls I know! I don't know much about the plans, but I do know we'll be kid free and enjoying it.

TO A GIRL'S WEEKEND!

Really!?!

On Tuesday we had one of those days you just wish to be over. I was extremely busy with swimming lessons, came home for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and then went back in the evening. During the afternoon break JMonster decided to jump off of the ottoman in the living room. (Mind you, he'd been getting into trouble for days for jumping ON the furniture!) I was in the back bedroom doing E's hair for gymnastics, so I didn't see the jump, but I immediately heard screaming and P came down the hall carrying JMonster. "He hurt his foot jumping off of the ottoman," he said and passed him over to me. P is an ER doc so I assumed it must not have been THAT bad since he's handing him over.

I checked him out, got him a "boo boo bunny" and went to get ready for my afternoon lessons. JMonster came to watch and talk and sat on his stool. (In the meantime P left for work and M was off getting her hair cut.) I started getting ready and JMonster got bored so he got up from the stool to go play. Screaming and sobbing ensued as he tried to walk. Not good.

I picked him up and carried him to the living room where I plopped him down in a chair so I could finish getting ready. I walked back toward my room, getting about halfway, when I hear A screaming. He's grabbing his hand and jumping up and down. "What happened!?!" I yelled and started running toward him. He ran toward me, holding his breath (he's done this since he was born) and starting to turn blue. I knocked him on the back to try and make him breathe...it didn't work. By the time he got to me his lips were very blue, his fingers were blue, and he passed out. Now I have one injured child in a chair, one injured child laying on the floor, and I'm the lone adult in the house...and did I mention I'm supposed to be getting ready for swimming lessons?

A comes to and I get HIM a "boo boo bunny" and go finish getting ready.

Wednesday morning I took JMonster to the local ER's clinic and get his foot x-rayed. No breaks, just a bad sprain. Not sure which would have been better! Bones heal pretty neatly and quickly. Soft tissue...not so much.

A's fingers are fine. He just bent them backwards pushing a car around on the carpet (sound familiar? That's how JMonster knocked his 2 front teeth loose!). No long term damage.

The funny follow-up to the story is that A, who is now 6, broke HIS foot jumping off that very same ottoman when he was 3. Hmmm...