Well.....Its Been Awhile!

Wow!!! I feel like such a piece of crap! Although I knew that I was long past due to log in and post something, anything, I didn't realize that it has been two entire months since I have been here! I have the expected excuses, Christmas, New Years, and getting ready for school to begin, sick and crazy kids ((really!! My son got stitches in his chin, and my daughter almost got stitches in her mouth!!)), I could name off many many excuses, and thats what they would be: Excuses. and one of my New Year's Resolutions (most of which I have kept!) was to own up to myself and not try to excuse my mistakes, inadequacies, or flaws.
The good news is that the wonderful and beautiful Mary Kate McKenna (http://www.mksblog.com/, http://www.mkmckenna.com/) has recently contacted me with information for assistance with this project. I will be updating you soon....with more updates. :)

Over 100.

It has been awhile since Ive written anything. It has been a nutty few weeks! On Saturday following the Thanksgiving holiday my parents drove into town. They had driven to MO for the holiday, and when my family wasn't able to make it out there at the last moment, they decided that since they were already halfway across the country that driving from MO to MD was worth it to visit my family. we were grateful, as we hadn't seen them in about a year. They were here for 3 days and 4 nights before they drove back to Utah.
The weekend immediately following their visit my husbands parents flew into DC for a work Christmas party. They spent the weekend with us and left Sunday.
After the visits, we were ready for life to get back to normal, but unfortunately it was Finals Week at my school. After studying and stressing and neglecting my poor home and family I took my exams, spent the entire next week sick and miserable, but am now back to normal!
The good news is that I am certain that there are over 100 pair of shoes in my garage. I have one army tough-box full, and then several bags full loitering next to our camping gear!
Now, the hard part is figuring out how to get them over to the children! I have found an excellent Point of Contact (P.O.C.), but have yet to determine how to finance the shipments. If anybody has any ideas on how to fund this, I would be open to any suggestions!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

A beautiful video: Random people stopped on the streets of New York City and asked what they are grateful for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuwid8_O8dk

Grateful

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-

my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,

that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again according to thy word.

I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed,

thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Ive had this hymn stuck in my head for about the past week. Not a bad song, if you have to have one playing a continuous thread in your head. It is, in fact a beautiful song. But I have been thinking about how INCREDIBLY blessed I am. 

Of the 6,883,699,600 people in the world, 310,780,373 live in the United States- about 4%. What are the odds that I was born here, while I could have been born anywhere? 

of those 310,780,373 people who were blessed to be born in an this advantaged geographical location, only 1.7% are Mormons. To me, this blessing is AMAZING! I have the confidence and peace of knowing who I am, where I came from, where I am going, and why I am here. I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is his son, that we have been given a living prophet who leads us and guides us. I know that I can have an eternal family. 

The odds of me being born here in the united states are inconceivable- I have better odds trying to win the lottery! Throw in the blessing of having the blessing of having Jesus Christ's gospel (fully restored), and the odds are even lower. 

How come I  was born in a country of plenty, where I have always had shoes, and more? I have SO many luxuries! Internet at the click of a button, diapers and wipes for my babies, a beautiful and warm home, A/C, clean water and easily accessible foods. I could go on and on with the list...how fortunate I am! 

And how ungrateful I can be. I try not to be, but it is difficult. I love that I have been so blessed. I love my husband who does such a great job providing for my family and meeting our needs and more! I love my children who are excited and energetic! I am grateful for my health and strength, and the peace and confidence that I have in my life. 

By the way, we are up to about 80 shoes. Thanks to anybody and everybody who has donated!

No, you may NOT help yourselves to those shoes!

I have two children who happen to LOVE shoes. Throughout my shoe initiative, I have had the pleasure of watching them happily inspect all of the shoes that are sitting patiently in my kitchen nook. I cant tell you how many times I have had to scold my son for dumping the shoes into a big pile on the floor, or how many times I have had to kick him out of the box that he had adopted for his cave, or hero lair!

My daughter isn't much better. At 4 years old, she already has at least double the amount of shoes that I own....(well, until we went through and added the ones that she doesn't wear to the collection!)
She frequently looks through the shoes to find the ones that she would love to claim for her own, and tries to wear them for as long as she can get away with before I notice and make her put them back. And if she isn't wearing them, she is lining them up and organizing them into the order of which she likes the best!
Last time, a pair of pink princess cowboy boots were in the number one spot.

The only thing that is cuter than two kids playing happily with shoes is seeing them beginning to recognize that these shoes will make a difference to somebody else.

tally count

I Finally counted.....and the current total is 70 pair!!