PTC's 1st Annual

Dragon Boat Race

And the winner is... What a fun day we had last Saturday as Daddy and many of his friends raced in a dragon boat race. It was at a festival here in the Peach City and was so very cool. The boats were fun, the competition was even more fun, but the huge little boy smiles on big boy faces was the funnest! (yes, I know that's not really a word) AirTran sponsored a boat and they ended up coming in third place! There were about 19 boats in the competition and they raced all afternoon. This is a picture of the final race with the top six boats. Don's team was in boat #5... and they had the best time of the day, and won third place! The two teams that won first and second are teams that compete on a regular basis and the winning team was one made up of many breast cancer survivors who meet and row for support... VERY COOL! I think we may be doing this again next year... although they are going to have it in August... Georgia, in August... what are they thinking!?

Daddy's Girl

Abby was so excited to see her daddy race. She squealed and jumped around and was so happy to see him... before I could stop her, she was running to him for the winner's hug! It was too cute.

Pilots, Pastors, and Postman... Oh My...

Poor Don was on the phone for about 72 hours before this race trying to be sure he had 21 guys! Pilots did not answer the call from the crew lounge and so Don resorted to every directory and phone book we have in the cabinet. We ended up with a STELLAR group... pilots, pastors, and yes... our postman! Throw in my dad (who was visiting from Alabama) and a few others and you have our award winning team... and a lot of fun!

21 guys... check. Life vests... check.

The guys getting ready for their first race. What a great job they did. They seriously were looking like professionals... WHO KNEW? They did... just ask them!

The greatest blessings...
Tonight, as I prayed with Abby, this was the first part of her prayer... "Dear Lord, thank you for me... for my mommy... she's my best friend... my bestest buddy in the world, I love her and you made her and she's my best friend..." THAT, my friends... is the best moment in the whole world. I might add she was playing with my hair as she prayed this. It doesn't get better than that...

Home Sweet Home

I went to Virginia this past weekend to see my brother march in his high school band. He is a Senior and I have never been to one of his games. His band is award winning and he also plays in the jazz band, also award winning, and so I wanted to go. Well... it had rained the two days before I got there and so wouldn't you know it... Friday afternoon their band director decided they weren't going to march since the field was way muddy and they had competition the next day... didn't want to compete in dirty uniforms! Ughh... anyway... it was still way fun and I at least got to hear them play.

It was also just a great weekend to be home. I miss my family so very much. I went alone and so I was able to just hang out and relax... it was great. I got to play and laugh and rest... very much needed. I also got to spend a lot of time with my nephew Christian, my sister-in-law Rachel, and see my sister's new apartment... adorable... go Cynthia!

I had a great time laughing with my mom (much laughing) and I can't wait to go back again for my favorite holiday... Thanksgiving! I love you all!!!!

Friday Night High School Football...

Sherando vs Handley... GO Sheeeerandooooo!

Wow, I think I aged about 10 more years after being at my brother's high school football game. I honestly haven't been to one since mine... high school anyway. Whewww, what an eyefull! But it was super fun. Right before the game begins... Sherando's beautiful horse comes running out, with the warrior on it... who carries the spear. It charges full speed down the edge of the field, hits the corner and then tunrs and heads to the middle of the field where the warrior throws the spear into the ground and the horse reers up on it's back legs... what a wonderful way to start a game!!!!

And, what a way to play and end a game. Sherando won it's 20th consecutive game that night against their biggest rival, Handley High. Yeah... I am so glad I was able to come. I love you David!

The Majestic Mascot!

What a wonderful way to start the ballgame... very dramatic for sure! Fear the Spear!

Saturday Morning...

It was so much fun to get up on Saturday and everyone met at the apple orchard for fresh pastries and coffee. There was a chill in the air, the air where dancing pastries lingered and frolicked... tempting your very last wisp of will!!!! The sun was warm and it was a wonderful morning. We took a little bus ride and Christian very much enjoyed playing on the ark!

Cyntee and Brutie!

My parents dog Brutus is just a hoot! He is so precious and of course, just wants to play. So Christian was getting all the attention and so he went and found this rawhide and just walked around with it... over one eye... looking for a play partner! So Cynthia played dress up with him and got him ready for Halloween. Don't think he'll make it home with the treats!!!

Giving Back

I give back a portion of sales from georgiajewels to various charities. This month, I have sent 50 bibles to Asia though sendbiblesnow.com You can send a Bible for just $4. It's amazing what people do in countries like this... taking pages out of a bible and passing around in neighborhoods and villages just so people can read the word of God. PRAISE HIS NAME! So if you have a few extra bucks and want do to something special with it (I don't mean a manicure either! :0), then check out this website. You never know how many people may come to know the Lord through a bible you paid for and had sent! How powerful is that!? Even more powerful, you will be able to know in heaven!!!

And We Are Off Again!

Yeah... our journey to Caroline continues and we are fast moving on the path! We are back with our adoption agencey we used for Abby's adoption, World Partners Adoption, and we are so very very excited that we can return to Kazakhstan! Our application was accepted yesterday and I have already started on the dossier.

Abby is thrilled and is so very precious. Her favorite nickname has been "Scooter". If we said, "OK, honey"... "that's fine precious one"... she'd reply, "I'm Scooter."

So the other day, we were talking to her about the process and stuff and Abby declared, "I'm going to be "chicken wing" (one of Daddy's nicknames for her) and let Caroline be "Scooter".

How precious is that!!!! So now... everytime we slip up and call her "beautiful, precious, honey, or little one" we now here... "I'm chicken wing and my sister Caroline is Scooter!"

This is our official family photo with our application. I thought it very appropriate they wanted Abby in the picture too. We will be in Kazakhstan for 5 weeks when we go to get Caroline and Abby is coming with us too. We are so very excited we can take her back to her country... maybe even to some very special places if we get to go to Almaty again! Hopefully we will be going to get Caroline in 8 to 9 months!

So anyway... that's the latest on the adoption journey... very exciting stuff!!!!!!!

HUGE

Day for

georgiajewels

WOW, I am just amazed out of my mind at how God keeps blessing my business. I got another store today and am set up to kick off an artist's trunk show for another one! I am so excited... and worn out.

I am now the jewelry supplier for a little pharmacy and gift store in Newnan. It's located inside a large healthplex and is just too cute with antique apothecary jars and old wooden table everywhere. She has wonderful gift items and didn't have jewelry yet! YEAH for me!!!

Don was in there getting his poor injured elbow looked at and stopped in to get me the cutest "love present". He mentioned my business and the rest is history!

My other opportunity is at The Vintage Flea in historical downtown Newnan. You can visit them at thevintage-flea.com. I will be the featured local artist for the first week in November. We are going to have a "meet the artist" day on Nov. 8th. I am very excited and look forward to future opportunities with the very talented flea girls... Jennifer and Valerie.

This gorgeous necklace lasted less than 24 hours! I wore it to the appointment because I had to just get one wear out of it. I made it yesterday, along with three other coin pieces she also bought. Back to the studio and I just got a new shipment of beads!!!!

Open your mouth Mommy...

I had the most HORRIBLE visit to the dentist on Monday. I had broken a front tooth the week before (yes, my moment of becoming a true redneck) and Monday was the earliest they could get me in. With the appointment at 2 p.m. and Don on a three day trip, one babysitter not being home from school in time and the other out of town... Abby went with me.

I am thinking it is going to be about a 2 hour procedure and then we'll be on our way. I am thinking it will be a good thing for Abby to see me at the dentist and give her encouragement for her future visits.

Well.... 20 MILLION shots later, one temporary crown flying on the ground, two jumps out of the chair onto the ceiling, FOUR HOURS and twenty minutes, and yes, finally tears.... it was over... for now!

I have NEVER in my life. MERCY does not do this experience justice. After the doctor had been gone so long that the shots wore off, he came in and stuck something in my tooth/gum and I shot through the roof in utter utter utter HORRIBLE pain... Abby jumps into my lap and YELLS..."Don't hurt my mommy... get another doctor in here!" At this moment I am fighting back tears, trying not to further scare her, and trying to convince her that everything is ok and that the doctor is not bad and that he didn't hurt me... that I just jumped for fun!

It goes down hill from there and I have to go back to the dungeon of torment again tomorrow to FINISH what was not finished in FOUR HOURS and 20 minutes the first time! MERCY!!!!!!!

SO Abby put on my "eyewear" and said, "Hi Mommy, I'm the doctor... open your mouth." I felt confident she could do a better job and so I complied!

I HATE going to the dentist!

Saving a Bee

I found a bee inside our porch that was trapped. It was so weak it just fell into my cup. I was heartbroken and put my lunch eatting outside on hold to try and revive him/her. So I put it on the table and tried to give it some water. Then I plucked some blooms and set him on one. He got a bit of pep and started climbing all over it and putting his little sucker thing out and so I was hopeful.

Then I went back to my lunch and had an idea. I raced back over and gave him a piece of apple. He ended up on the apple and going to town with his sicker thing (really should look up this much needed term here).

So here is the precious little creature. I also petted him for about 5 minutes and gave him encouragement on "coming back". As I made jewelry, I went back to the window to check on him. About an hour later, after several times of checking, he was gone. I am going to think he flew off to live happily ever after and was not lunch for some bird or something. So, yes, he made it and I am thrilled!

It's a Girler Squirrler...

When my precious brother David was younger... much, much younger... every time he'd see a squirrel he'd say, "It's a girler squirrler." So... insight into the title. We can't EVEN keep the bird feeder full. We have brazen squirrels who watch Dusty through the window as he watches him. He jumps down out of the chair and they jump back onto the fence. It is hilarious!

georgiajewels.etsy.com

I am thrilled with what God is doing with my business. He keeps opening doors for me and leading me in directions that allow me to serve people and "care" for them for Him. I feel so excited and priviledged. I have two stores I am in contact with to show them my jewelry and am hopeful. One also has an art studio and so I may also be able to do classes there. Teaching classes has also turned out to be a great blessing. I love to see the excitement they have when they have made something. I have a bracelet class this week too and a show on Thursday... hopefully it will be a blessed week.

One of the most exciting things is how I have decided to tithe what God blesses me with through the business. Don and I already give to our church in several ways and so I wanted to do something different and special with this money. SO.... I am using 10% of my monthly income to donate to the operation smile organization. Doctors volunteer their time and money and travel across the world to operate on children with cleft palates. I am so EXCITED out of my mind to contribute to such a wonderful and selfless cause. So with each sale I make... I am able to help a child have a smile and a better life... how SUPER cool is that!!!!!!!

PEP TALK...

Abby had her first soccer game of the season yesterday. She is so cute in her uniform. She seems much more focused on the game this season and less interested in holding hands! Our games are at 10:30 a.m. and so it heats up pretty quickly and Abby doesn't handle heat well. We are hoping Fall will fall upon us SOON!!!! We praise God that Abby is able to run and play. We praise Him for the way she continues to develop and is able to enjoy life.

Saturday was a big day for her. We took her to her first Atlanta Braves game and she had a great time! There were two home runs and so the fireworks went off twice... she was thrilled.

We had great seats and the weather was wonderful. They won too... yeah!!!!

Waiting for EEG Results...

Abby was such a trooper with her many cords hanging from her head... a better trooper than mommy was for sure! We are still awaiting the results. Two neurologists will be giving us feeback and we are just PRAYING for some sort of new perspective that provides some sort of new approach for stopping her seizures. So that is the prayer there and of course we covet your conversation with Lord on her and the cdoctors behalf. Thank you.

Happy Birthday To

My Beautiful Mother...

How very blessed I am to have such a wonderful and special relationship with my mother. She is such an amazing woman and I am so much of who I am because of the woman she is. Her birthday was Sunday and again, we weren't together. I HATE being so far away. Flying standby at LABOR DAY is not an option either. So we have vowed to try and be together next year.

So here is a small picture of my mother... she walks in the light of the Lord and reflects it upon all she meets, she loves life and makes small things into big celebrations, she has a heart that loves to give and also secretly likes to receive, she is creatively talented in many, many ways, she is not afraid to laugh but she totally HATES to cry, she is a wonderful friend, she is an even better mother and wife, she loves her children, she is a BUSY bee (oh... and her name means "the bee"), She is one of the greatest blessings in my life...

Happy Birthday Mom... happy birthday to you... I love you crazy!