Water of Life

I just bought a water cooler for our family. It was kind of a big purchase, but I was so tired of buying bottled water by the case. I felt guilty about all those little bottles (even though we recycle), and it was starting to get pricey.

I finally broke down and bought a water cooler. I went to Home Depot and picked up 3 5 gallon jugs of water (Alhambra) and we started drinking.

We LOVE it! Lou mentioned last night that it is like having a cold drinking fountain right in our house. We have already gone through a 5 gallon jug. We fill up our cups at bedtime, we fill up our dog's bowls, we fill our to-go cups and away we go.

This morning on my way to work I was hit with this reality...On the other side of the world there are so many people in hospitals with illness from drinking unclean water. Mothers are faced with the decision daily of weather or not to let their children drink the unclean water.

They can buy wood to boil the water or they can buy food. A lot of the times they chose to risk it and buy food for their family instead of wood to make a fire to boil their water.

Compassion is a beautiful organization. And they have a way to help...

Water of Life

Provide Water of Life
Give a Child in Need One of The Greatest Gifts – SAFE WATER FOR LIFE!

Compassion's Water of Life, a safe water system goes to the heart of one of the greatest and most urgent needs in developing countries today – providing safe drinking water to children and their families.

Every day over 4,000 children are dying of water-related diseases such as cholera and typhoid that are easily preventable. Many more are suffering sickness, diarrhea and acute stomach pains – illnesses that stop children going to school and growing up into healthy adults.

When you give to Compassion's Water of Life, you are not only giving safe drinking water, you are protecting a child from life-threatening diseases and allowing that child to go to school, to dream and reach their full potential.

Your donation of $55 provides:

Compassion's Water of Life system – safe water for life (over 1 million gallons) for a child and their family in developing countries.

Education on improving hygiene and sanitation

Support for improving community water and sanitation sources where needed.
Each tax-deductible gift of $55 will provide a complete Water of Life system to a child and his or her family. Consider a gift of $55... $110... or even $165!

I don't normally post things like this on my blog, but this touched my heart. I jumped online and gave a donation this morning. You can give too...Here!

Jonah & Addy

Tonight we had my cousin Adam, and his wife (and my good friend) Ashley over for dinner with their sweet kids. Jonah is almost two and Addyson is two months old. We had a nice visit. Jackson is very good with Jonah. After dinner we played the Wii...and had a lot of laughs.

I have been playing with my camera again lately...Taking and editing pictures when I can. I still know nothing about any kind of photography techniques, but I got a couple of cute pictures of our little company tonight.

Sweet Baby Addy...

Cute Jonah....

We have a lot of fun with Jonah right now. He has the sweetest little personality.

Another Baseball Blog Post...

Baseball has been our life lately...at least it seems that way the last 5-6 Saturdays. Right after Jackson's Angel League he started playing in another league on the Dodgers. He knew a few of the boys on his team, but he also got to meet a lot of neat boys on this team. We're hoping some of them keep in touch even after the season is over.

Today was Jackson's last day (he will be out of town for the last game next week). All the boys crowded around for a team picture and to tell him goodbye.

Jackson, Brayden & Darrell.

Team huddle...Up to bat...Making his way to second base.

Going out to first base...Making an awesome catch...Today we were so proud of Jackson. He got a little discouraged when he struck out, but he hung in there and ended up hitting a HOME RUN!!!!! WooHoo!

Lou and I met some great parents on this team. We are both a little sad to see it end...It's hot though! We'll be back next Spring for some more baseball fun!

Up next...Soccer! Soccer blog post coming this fall.

Happy Birthday...VIP Style

This year I was a little late planning Jackson's birthday party. We tried to have it at Bounce U this year, but I couldn't get it all coordinated in time. About a week and a half before his birthday, I went home feeling sad about not being able to make all the Bounce U details work. I sat down with Jackson and said, "Buddy, I am sorry I didn't start planning sooner. How about if we just have some kids over at our house? We can bring out the speakers and the microphone and you can plug in your iPod?" I was really trying to make it sound "cool." Jackson's reply..."Can we have a VIP area?"

WHAT? How does he know about VIP areas? We've never been anywhere VIP.

And that's how we came up with the VIP Party.

We created a VIP Lounge in our front room. Jackson and Lou put together a playlist of Jackson's favorite songs. We set up the microphone and roped off the section...for VIP's ONLY. It looks like Simon got in without a VIP pass.

We set up a chocolate fountain with a large variety of items to dip (or not). Cheese puffs, marshmellows, graham crackers, chips, gummy worms, oreos, etc.

Everybody loved it...including Uncle Bobby...I asked the boys to dip the craziest thing in the chocolate...chocolate covered Ruffles...Yuck!All the boys wanted to sit by Jackson...

Our friend Tiff made the cake! We loved it.Uh-oh! Is Grandma Bevy in the VIP section without a pass?

I'm sneaking in to get a drink...Present time...

Jonah had a fun time playing with the big boys...

It's time to play the Wii...VIP Style.
We love you Jackson! Happy Birthday.

Batter Up!

Well, I know I've already posted pictures from this season of baseball, but I just have so many good pictures...I can't stand to not post them. We are officially a baseball loving family.

He can really whack that ball!

Jackson has become quite a good first baseman. He loves being in all the action. He is a great team player, and is always encouraging his team mates.

Happy Easter

This is Jackson in 2007...

And this is Jackson this year....

We're still getting our hands dirty, but every year we get more and more creative with our egg decorating. This is Jackson's Clovis High Cougars Egg...Here are a few of the others that we colored. We had a sweet Easter this year. We got some time to color eggs and we had an egg hunt. It doesn't matter how old you get...hunting eggs is still fun.

We were looking for the old picture of Jackson from 2007...because we just love that picture and when we were looking through the old pictures, we found this cute video...

What Have You Learned?

'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitton both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, Iusually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back....'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

What important things to think about. These are from Maya Angelou...in reflecting on her life at age 70! Just wanted to share...I have been busy lately and haven't had a single minute to sit down and blog about life. Be back soon! Until then...what have your learned so far in your life?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Baseball season has officially started! Jackson is playing on the Angel's this year. His coach is a lot more "strict" than some of the coaches he's had in the past. In fact after the first few practices, Jackson was telling us how hard his practices were. We have already seen a big improvement in Jackson's baseball skills. He is a great team player...and we are so proud of him. Jackson played 3rd baseman yesterday for the entire game. He has no problem catching those balls and throwing them right to first base. He is very focused on what's going on and we had so much fun watching him play. Lou, is the "Team Dad" and he has the job of calling out the batting order and making sure the kids are ready to go up to bat. Here is Jackson at bat. He really did a great job. Running to 1st base... Running in to Home plate....Jackson scored a run for his team! WoooHooo! Happy and tired out from running those bases. Taking off his gloves and getting ready to go out field to his spot at 3rd base. Overall, he had a really good game. The weather was great! We don't know if anyone officially kept score, but they all did a good job and we had fun. We are excited for this season. It is always fun to see how well the team improves over the course of the sesaon. On the way home...We're tired and hungry.

Mom & Me

For my Gram's funeral last week I put together a video of pictures. It was a special project for me...I have always enjoyed taking, looking at, scrapbooking, and editing pictures. I am no photographer, but I do enjoying pretending to be one sometimes.

Anyway, in sorting through pictures I found this picture of my mom and me. There are so many beautiful pictures of my mom, but I think she looks especially beautiful in this picture. I played with it a little to try and artsy it up. I just love how interested I look in whatever she is saying.

I love you, Mom.