Family Life Organizer

I came across this book at Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago and loved it! If you're looking for a tool that will really help you get organized and on top of things...this is it! I also think it would make a GREAT Christmas gift for any busy mom.

Find out more at www.family-facts.com.

Black Friday Shopping

Here are some GREAT websites to visit if you want to get a head start on your Black Friday shopping:

www.bfads.net
www.blackfriday.info
www.slickdeals.net

Lemme know how you do!

Any Wounded Soldier

Despite email you may have recieved recently, Walter Reed Army Medical Center cannot accept cards or packages addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier". If youd like to show your support of our servicemen and women at Christmas or any other time of year here are some websites to check out:

americasupportsyou.mil
www.usocares.org/
www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
www.redcross.org

Cry of the Orphan

Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and a host of other organizations committed to answering God's call to care for orphans have joined together to create the "Cry of the Orphan" awareness and action campaign. There are over 143 million orphans worldwide and with the AIDS crisis in Africa, that number is steadily growing. Please, take some time to explore the Cry of the Orphan website and pray about how God wants you to get involved in caring for these children.

The following is an excerpt from the Cry of the Orphan site and I think it very eloquently states why you and I need to get involved in this issue...

Why This Matters To God
The World's Waiting Children Matter

The numbers are staggering...More than 143 million orphans worldwide...every 14 seconds an AIDS death leaves another child orphaned...more than 800,000 children pass through America foster care system each year.

Yet, there is One who cares — our Father in heaven. Throughout the Bible, God shares his compassion, his love, and his special concern for the most vulnerable among us — the orphan. The world’s waiting children. Children with no father or mother to protect them, waiting for someone to care for them, someone to love them.

“Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan…”
— Zechariah 7:9-12

The Scriptures are clear that the Lord gives the family of God the responsibility to care for the orphan's needs — to love and protect them. In fact, God's concern for orphans is so central to his plan for us here on earth that he inspired James to write: "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world," (James 1:27)

Why would God tell us that caring for orphans is "pure and undefiled religion"?

Maybe it’s because the world sees God’s heart when he works through his people to help the helpless. And maybe it’s because caring for orphans is such a perfect picture of our relationship with God. In our inability to please God in our own efforts, in our utter helplessness to initiate a relationship with him, we are more like orphans and strangers than we like to admit.

It’s time for the body of Christ to step up. The urgent needs of orphans around the world are calling the Christian community today to a radical faith. One church, one family, one person can make a difference.

Today God is stirring the hearts of his people to this incredible need and opportunity. There is a movement of an increasing number of churches and evangelical organizations worldwide who are coming together as one voice to not only raise awareness but more importantly to mobilize the body of Christ to take action on behalf of the orphan.

“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
— Psalm 82:3-4

Anita Renfroe

You heard it on the Morning Show...Anita Renfroe's Total Momsense. Anita sings everything a mom says to her children to the tune of the William Tell Overture. Here's the video. For more fun with Anita, visit her website anitarenfroe.com

Five Things You Should Never Fix

We learned a lot from our chat with Stacy Bradford from Smart Money Magazine about the gadgets in our life that are just not worth the $$ to fix. Here's a link to the complete article.

http://money.aol.com/top5/general/things-not-to-repair

I Will Just Start!

Ever thought of starting your own business? Pam Newman from Quickbooks was on the Morning Show today and gave us some great suggestions about how to get started. Here are a few websites she recommends...

www.iwilljuststart.com

www.kauffman.org

I Will Just Start!

Save Lazy 5 Ranch

My family LOVES lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, but this wonderful North Carolina attraction is in danger of being shut down. The issue is with the way the farm is being taxed and a potential change that would cost the farm too much money to stay in business. For all of the details here's a link to an article about the situation:http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2007/10/popular-attraction-could-be-forced-to-close-a-day-at-the-farm-endangered

To sign a petition and for more information about Lazy 5, visit their website: www.lazyfiveranch.com

Help the Orphans of Guatemala TODAY!

Please take the time to make phone calls, send emails, or fax letters to your member of Congress and UNICEF/New York. We've tried to make it easier for you, by writing a sample letter that you can use. You CAN make a difference for the children of Guatemala! To learn more about the Guatemala 5000 Intitiative please visit: JCICS
Step 1: Contact your US Senators by phone or email. Feel free to use our sample letter, making necessary changes. Ask to speak to the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff.

Email Richard Burr Phone: 202-224-3154 Fax: 202-228-2981
Email Elizabeth Dole Phone: 202-224-6342 Fax: 202-224-1100
If you don't live in North Carolina - find your Senator's contact info here: Find your Senator
Step 2: Contact your Representative to the House of Representatives. Send the same letter. House of Representatives

Dear


I am writing in response to the Guatemala 5000 initiative. As adoptive parents and advocates for orphans everywhere, I am concerned about President Berger's announcement that there will be no grandfathering of Guatemalan adoptions that are currently in process. We have taken many mission trips to Guatemala and know first hand the conditions of the children's homes. Our concern is not only for the 5000 adoptive families in process, but most importantly for the 5000 children who should be able to come home to those forever families. We are concerned about the welfare of these children if their adoption process is not allowed to be completed.

We are asking that you get involved and

Sign the letter to President Berger of Guatemala that is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. If you do not have a copy of this letter, please contact CCAI at 202-544-8500.
Sign the letter to UNICEF that is sponsored by JCICS. www.jcics.org

These letters simply ask that all adoptions in process as of January 1, 2008 be allowed to process to completion under existing notorial laws.

Thank you for taking the time to hear our concern. We thank you in advance for supporting the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.

Step 3: Call or fax Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF Headquarters
Phone: 212-326-7000 Fax: 212-326-7758
Feel free to use the sample letter below, making necessary changes.

Ann Veneman, Executive Director

UNICEF

I am writing in response to the Guatemala 5000 initiative. As adoptive parents and advocates for orphans everywhere, I am concerned about President Berger's announcement that there will be no grandfathering of Guatemalan adoptions that are currently in process. We have taken many mission trips to Guatemala and know first hand the conditions of the children's homes. Our concern is not only for the 5000 adoptive families in process, but most importantly for the 5000 children who should be able to come home to those forever families. We are concerned about the welfare of these children if their adoption process is not allowed to be completed.

We realize that you have incredible influence and are asking that you use it to ensure that the 5000 children already in the Guatemalan adoption process, be allowed to process to completion under existing notorial law.

Step 4: Send an email to guatemala5000@jcics.org informing them of your support of intercountry adoption.

Questions About Creation?

Thanks to Allen Branch, a minister at First Christian Church in Kernersville for coming in to talk about dinosaurs and creationism. For more information about this topic a great resource is www.answersingenesis.org.

Lauren Cole Run/Walk for CF

Sign up today for this 5K Race to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Research.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Ledford High School
Race time: 10:00AM
Pre-registration:7:30-9:30 AM

For more info, contact Sami Joe Snider at takeurmarx918@aol.com or 336-689-0121.

A Fair Appraisal

So, WBFJ at the Dixie Classic Fair has come and gone once again . Since I barely have the energy to hold myself upright today, here's a quick list of the things that I'll remember from the 2007 Fair.

1. Losing the media goat milking challenge to my own co-worker, Bonnie Hilton. But, I did a lot better than last year, placing a respectable second....eat my sawdust Austin Caviness!

2. Having church at the fair for the vendors and fair workers. Even though there were only a few of us there, it was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL service and I'm sure God was there. Thanks Cindy Johnson and her band "Stage 2" for the wonderful music. Thanks to Scott Haulter, a minister from First Christian Church in Kernersville for his message. And, to the folks at the Dixie Classic Fair for allowing us to be there.

3. Meeting YOU at the gazebo! It was great saying hello to so many of you who came by during the fair. Thanks for all of your kind words and encouragement.

4. Collecting nearly 70,000 non-perishable food items for Crisis Control Minstry! Way to Go!

5. Judging the Heavenly Layerd Cake competition. My blood sugar level may never normalize.

6. Cornerstone Christian Church and their fantastic food!!!

7. Our Morning Show visit with a trainer from the Rainforest Experience exhibit. Not only did I get to handle a 50-pound python, but I may be the only person alive who has ever been peed on by a coatimundi while doing a live radio show.

8. Karaoke at the gazebo...enough said.

Important News From Caroline's Promise

Urgent Action Needed for Guatemala Adoptions

Many of you are aware that the President of Guatemala has made a decision to cease all Guatemalan adoptions to people living in the U.S., effective January 1, 2008. You can learn more from the Joint Council on International Children's Services:
http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm


"President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely. This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala." JCICS website.

JCICS has established the Guatemala 5000 Initiative and we encourage you to participate. They are asking all of us to make 6 phone calls and send 1 email to members of Congress and UNICEF. They are asking us to do this on October 8 -10. Your participation CAN make a difference!


Ultimately we depend on our Heavenly Father to intervene on behalf of these precious children. We believe that He is calling the Church to do its job and get involved!

PLEASE get involved! Here's what you can do:

1. Call US Senator Richard Burr (202-224-3154)

2. Call US Senator Elizabeth Dole (202-224-6342)

3. Call House Representative Virginia Foxx (202-225-2071)

4. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org

Guatemala Prayer List:

That people will take the time to participate in the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.
That the government of Guatemala will at the very least provide a "Grandfather clause", allowing children who have been referred to adoptive parents to complete their adoption and not remain in orphanages.
For the children's homes and caregivers in Guatemala who will now be under extreme financial stress as they try to meet the needs of children.
For the US families who have children in the adoption process in Guatemala.

PLEASE get involved! Visit http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm and forward this to people who want to make a difference in the lives of children

Smencils

Thanks to Tricia Orr from Simply Delicious for providing Smencils for PLINKO this year. Smencils are scented pencils that come in a variety of smells. Simply Delicious has all kinds of creative fund raising ideas. Visit their website at www.simplydeliciousnc.com

Pollard Family Updates

For three weeks we have been united in prayer for the Pollard Family from Clemmons who were injured in a serious car accident. Jeremy Pollard is the Student Pastor at Union Grove Baptist Church in Davidson County. Jeremy, wife Tiffany and their 18 month old son, Stephen were severely injured in the accident. However, God has been so faithful in answering prayers and their recovery has been nothing less than miraculous. Tiffany was released from the hospital over a week ago, Stephen is coming home today and it is likely that Jeremy will be released from the hospital later this week.

Here are two letters from Tiffany and Jeremy that were posted on their Care Page.

September 20, 2007 at 07:12 AM EDT
Message from Jeremy to you!

Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and HE shall direct thy paths.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The last 3 ½ weeks have been the toughest, by far, in my life. But one of the great things about these verses is that God gives two distinct commands – one, to trust and two, to acknowledge Him in everything. If there is one thing that my family and I have learned it is that trusting God is not the easiest thing to do, but when we lean on Him, even in rough times like this, His promise is true and He will direct our paths.

I would like to thank each of you for the many thousands of prayers you have lifted up on behalf of my family. We are all improving and looking forward to being together at home soon.

When your storm comes, I hope that each of you will do as our families have done. Be faithful to pray and trust HIM in the storm.

Hoping to see my Union Grove church family in a few weeks,

Jeremy Pollard
Student Pastor
___________________________________________________________________________________

Heal the wound but leave the scar, to remind me of how merciful you are.” “I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart; wait for the Lord.”

On August 27, our family entered a storm and since that evening, many of you have been traveling with us. Jeremy is doing much better and hopes to go home the first of this week. Pray for strength. Stephen is daily im­proving, and we hope to take him home later this week. Pray for grace and for his appetite.

Thank you for all the prayers and encouraging comments. You are con­tinually lifting my spirits. Please keep interceding for us.

“All I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee...to God be the glory.”

—Tiffany

Suicide Prevention Walk

A person dies from suicide every 16 minutes in the United States. You can make a difference in the prevention of suicide by taking part in the "Out of the Darkness Community Walk" on Saturday, September 22, at Tanglewood Park.

For more information visit www.outofthedarkness.org.

WBFJ, Anointed and Melinda Doolittle at the Mall!!

Considering Adoption?

Family Camp 2007

For the third year in a row my family spent Labor Day weekend at Camp Bethel in Wise, VA., for Family Camp Weekend. Check out my "Tourin With Tami" Blog for my review of the weekend and a slide show.