Sponsoring a Child

While researching my post for my Favourite Christmas songs, one video on YouTube of the John Lennon song War is over, brought me to tears.

It made me think how selfish I was to worry about how many presents to buy this year, or what kind of food to prepare to impress my guests. 

There are so many children out there who have no family because of war or disease. Who have to work and not go to school. Who are old before their time.

image I looked at this picture and fell in love:

This is Marco Jose from Peru.  It feels odd to go through photo after photo and try to decide which person to sponsor, I just didn’t know how I was going to choose but I looked at him and fell in love. I guess that’s what I was looking for.

But I had a hard time “picking” my child.

Here’s why:

1) You can select what country, what age, if they’re a hope child (living with AIDS) and even see their picture.

2) When I picked someone, they ended up in my basket (the American site.)

I felt funny, like I was buying someone and they were in my basket. I also felt that I shouldn’t be able to pick, it should just go to the child that needs my help the most. But I wanted to look for a really young child (about my sons age or around it) and found Jose.  In about two weeks I’ll receive a picture and some information about him.

I just love that he has a pink sweater on and a red hat!

What I did notice about the children in all of the photo’s is that they mostly look sad. I’m sure they don’t have much to smile about, without proper clothes, food and shelter, not to mention love. 

I read somewhere that poor people laugh more then rich people because they appreciate the simple things in life. God, I hope that is true. But to have children responsible for so much when they are so young is very sad.

I wish that they didn’t have to spend money on updating me with the child, I mean I LOVE to get updates but I would like them to spend the money on the kid.. you know?

I’ll keep you all posted on Marco!  If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please visit:

WorldvisionUS

WorldvisionCanada

WorldvisionORG

World Vision was founded in 1951 by Dr. Robert Pierce, a young pastor and missionary, who had first been sent to China and South Korea in 1947 by the Youth for Christ missionary organization. Pierce remained at the head of World Vision for nearly two decades, but resigned from the organization in 1967

What I realized is that you can not only contribute monthly to help someone eat, and learn and grow. But you can buy a gift that gives for many years such as a goat or chickens.

So my $35 a month will help Marco receive things like clean water, nutritious food, health care, and access to education.

Anyway, with all of what’s wrong in this world, we can afford to do a little something that is right. Hope you can too!

My favorite Christmas tunes

Here are a few of my favourite Christmas tunes!  They’re not in order, and not all are the original video’s or anything but they’re fun to listen to!  Enjoy!  What are some of your favourite Christmas songs?

 

1) Alvin and the chipmunks

 

2) Dreaming of a white Christmas

 

3) Carole of bells

 

4) Green sleeves

5) Baby its cold outside

6) Feliz Navidad

7) Oh holy night

8 ) So this is Christmas **warning graphic images

Ok I’m going to go sponsor child right now, I just cried my eyes out watching this video. God bless all those suffering in war, and to all those who have lost loved ones.

9) Jingle Bell Rock

10) Mary Boy Child Jesus Christ

Our date with Santa

So it’s our son’s first Christmas and we were so excited to take him to meet the big man in red.  Many people told me that he would freak out and have a melt down and our little guy was sooo good!  He keep looking up at Santa and then at us and then at Santa and then at us. Then he gave us a huge grin!  I know Santa probably thought we were weirdo’s because we dressed up Dominic in a mini Santa suit but I honestly don’t care!  It was so cute!  I bet next year he’ll be scared of the big man but we’re going to do it anyways!

Here he is!

Santa

I know I’m biased but he’s the cutest kid ever to meet Santa!

They’re Baack…


(breaks into song)

it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” And no I’m not talking about just Christmas itself…i’m talking about Starbucks Christmas!

Yes it’s that time of year already and once again Starbucks is displaying the wonderful red cups and Christmas schwag.

The Red Cup

The Red Cup

I love this time of year, the peppermint mocha’s, the gingerbread latte’s and if you are an eggnog lover there are even drinks made out of eggnog. I am also a huge fan of the peppermint hot chocolate.

They also have the little goodies that come along with Christmas time. My personal favourite is the Cranberry bliss bar, but they also have gingerbread loaf.

While browsing around the net for some great Starbucks pictures, I came across this recipe for Cranberry Bliss Bars! If any of you enjoy baking, and decide to bake these up, let me know how they turn out!

Cranberry Bliss Bar®
by Todd Wilbur
The tangy cranberries and sweet lemon frosting make this cake bar a holiday favorite that evokes piles of cloning requests when Starbucks stops selling it after Christmas. Now, with this easy-to-make clone, this treat can be a perennial hit. Break out this red and white treat for the gang on this holiday and you might be as popular as the guy in the red and white suit.
Cake
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup diced dried cranberries
6 ounces white chocolate, cut into chunks


Frosting
4-ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup diced dried cranberries


Drizzled Icing
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Make cake by beating butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, ginger, and salt and beat well. Gradually mix in flour until smooth. Mix 3/4 cup diced dried cranberries and white chocolate into the batter by hand. Pour batter into a well-greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly across the pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is light brown on the edges. Allow cake to cool.

3. Make frosting by combining softened cream cheese, 3 cups powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. When the cake has cooled, use a spatula to spread frosting over the top of the cake.

4. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of diced cranberries over the frosting on the cake.

5. Whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and shortening. Drizzle icing over the cranberries in a sweeping motion or use a pastry bag with a fine tip to drizzle frosting across the top of the cake.

6. Allow cake to sit for several hours, then slice the cake lengthwise (the long way) through the middle. Slice the cake across the width three times making a total of eight rectangular slices. Slice each of those rectangles diagonally creating 16 triangular slices. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com)

Makes 16 bars.



Lest we forget

image

In Canada November 11th is known as remembrance day. In the united States it’s Veterans day.. many countries observe the end of world war one in some way at 11 am.  This is because WW1 ended the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour when Germany signs an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside of Compiegne in France.

image

Since the War ended in 1918 there are very few veterans from the first world war that are still around.   I wonder if in 20 years this holiday will still be as significant as it once was.   Many business’s continue to open as long as they are allowed to on this holiday, just to make a buck.

It makes me sad that the people who died for our country are put on the back burner.  What’s even worse is that many young people don’t really know all that much about WW1.

Its amazing that so many people had pride in our countries and lied about their age to go and fight for us. Many of them under the age of 18 willing to fight and die for our freedom.

So let us remember all of those who fought for this world, all those who died, and all of those who lived to shape this world in a crucial time.

I’ll leave you with this:

Flanders Fields By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

It was written by a Canadian  Lieutenant Colonel who witnessed a friend die before him in the war. He also perished in the war. Part of this poem is featured on the Canadian 10$ bill. So if you are ever in Canada check out our 10$ bill and our tribute to him and those who have fallen. May God protect all the loved ones who protect our countries.