Serve Day - Northside

We recently joined Northside Church.  It has taken me a long time to find a church I love and where I can feel connected and like I belong.  I think we found it.  We signed up for serve day.  Basically, twice a year, the church commits to projects in the community and around the world. 

Here are some of the Fall 2014 ServeDay stats:

• 1,620 volunteers signed up to serve! 
• Northside completed 98 projects with 32 mission partners.
• 100,000 meals were packed to be shipped to Haiti.
• 100 blankets were made for children/babies at Kosair Children's Hospital.
• 110 beaded bracelets were assembled for FMN in Romania.
• 1 shipping container was packed full of clothes for a missions in Togo and Honduras.
• 7 assisted living homes, 2 youth homes, 2 food pantries, and 2 emergency shelters were visited.
• 17 landscaping and outdoor beautification projects were completed.
• Numerous homes and organization buildings were painted, cleaned, and organized.

...and so much more accomplished, thanks to the generous service of Northside volunteers!

I wanted to find a project Kaylea could participate in.  We talked about volunteering meant and serving others.  I know she didn't completely understand it.  In fact, she said to me at one point, can you believe we are doing all of this stuff for other people are they are doing NOTHING??? But we talk about what it means to serve other and by example, she will know.

Happy 5th Birthday Sam

We also celebrated Sam's 5th birthday this past Saturday.  She had her party at Motion's Dance Studio.  I ended up dropping Kaylea off, but came back before the party was over and got some good pictures.  Kaylea said she had a great time.  We don't see Sam too often, but try to keep in touch for parties!

Soccer

Kaylea has been playing soccer with the YMCA league.  I wasn't sure if she would find a sport she would like, but she seems to have some interested in this one.  She really likes being the goalie!  She got to be goalie for the entire first quarter of the game.  As you can see, Daddy stood behind the net and gave her a little coaching.  She did great as goalie.  She isn't so great at running and kicking the ball, but we are working on that!

New Albany Football Cheer Clinic

Kaylea participated in the New Albany High School Cheer Clinic.  It was 4 hours on a Saturday.  Kaylea got to be the flyer and lifted in the air.  She was really excited about the night.  Then she went out there and I don't know if she was tired or hungry or what, but she started to cry and didn't want to do it anymore.  She came into the stands with us.  She told me she was hungry so we got her something to eat and within no time she was asking to go back on the track.  She was nothing but smiles after that.  She did a great job.  The cheerleaders were excellent with her, especially hers, Ally.  It was a fun night watching her participate in something she likes.

Random Pictures

Here are a few random pictures from the past weeks!

Kaylea's kindergarten school picture - doesn't she look so grown up?

Playing with the neighbors and picking up cans she earned $1!

Playing with the neighbors!

Posing with Pop in the shirt she made!

Kaylea has been asking to play soccer and since I’m excited she is picking a sport, I signed her up immediately.  We are playing through the YMCA where we practice one night a week and have a game every Saturday.  Kaylea had her first game without practicing.  Then she went to practice and go to play goalie.  She did a pretty awesome job as the goalie.  If we could grow her little attention span she may have a chance at this sport.

Happy Birthday To Me

I can't believe I am 34 years old.  If you told me when I was 18 where I would be now, I wouldn't believe it.  I love my family.  I love my friends.  I love my job.  I'm one lucky girl.  I am lucky that my friends and family went out to celebrate my birthday with me this past weekend.  We had dinner at Kobe and then went to Sid's in Sellersburg to sing some karaoke.  I love that my friends realize how important my birthday is to me and make it a point to celebrate.  Here's to another fantastic year!

Happy Birthday Max

We celebrated Max turning 5 a few weeks ago.  It was the same weekend we moved into our new home so I am a little late updating.  He had his party at Kazoing.  It was a bounce & art party.  Kaylea had an awesome time celebrating.  I love celebrating birthdays.