Christmas Pics

Here are some pictures of christmas at our house and the gifts I made (kind-of).......

Christmas Eve

coming down the hall on christmas morning (to see the gifts from santa on the couch)

another christmas eve picture

Brooks sporting his new florida football jersey (he's not a florida fan, he just wants ANY kind of football jersey he can get :)

the big mysterious gift for Caroline (which turned out to be a gymnastics beam)

Caroline with one of her DIY magazine gift bows on her head

Caroline and her tu tu I made her (she told me she wanted one....?)

brooks being silly with the sweater headband and flower he gave me

here's what i found wrapped up under the tree: my biology dissection specimens!  Thank you, Mom! ;)

Alright....here are the DIY gifts I made.......

for caroline, I made a tu-tu.  We measured her waist, sewed a piece of elastic together, and cut out different colors of tulle, and then tied them around the waist band.

These are notebooks I made for the boys.  I bought Sports Illustrated magazines from the thrift store (3 for 99 cents!), and cut out different figures, pictures, and phrases/quotes.  then I took a regular composition notebook, and Mod-Podge matte glue, and decoupaged the pieces of paper onto the notebook.  **To decoupage, I used a sponge brush, dipped it in the glue, and put glue on a section of the notebook.  after covering the entire front/back (whichever side you are working on), I put another layer of glue on top of it all.**   I even cut out letters from the magazines to spell out their names, and put it on the cover of the notebook.  I decoupaged the front and back of the notebooks.

For mom, I painted this sign using a regular canvas and acrylic paints.  I got my inspiration from a sign at Hobby Lobby.

caroline and I did this together.  he said he wanted posters for his clinic, so that when his patients were looking up from the little exercise beds, they would see these pictures.  So mom ordered him some of the ones that Caroline, my mom, or I had taken, and there you have it!

mom thought this one would be funny over a patient's head :)

she thought this one was cute/funny also :)

so that's what the holidays have been like here.  If you haven't, you should check out my previous post and watch the videos of my brothers playing just dance 2 and playing with their RC helicopters.

also.... to the right of this post, their should be a widget entitled "contribute to the well" or " help build a well".  you can directly contribute to the well for world vision by clicking on the button that says "chip in".   You can also put this widget on your blog, or just post it, by clicking on "copy".  Please help advertise the well, and so people know about this amazing thing God is doing.  thank you soooooo much!!!

~Anna Leigh

Family

Well.... hello there!  I haven't posted forever, I know, and I'm sorry :(    I guess I feel I've been too busy, or maybe just enjoying the holiday break way to much.  I really just haven't taken the time to type, and I haven't really felt like I had something good to say, or been inspired.  Either way, its nice to be back :)

Merry Christmas!  (am i a little late on that note????)   I hope your christmas vacation has been wonderful and relaxing (right.....  minus the stress of having to get gifts.... and decorations set up.... and being on time to parties and recitals... this note is basically for the moms ;).  We had a great christmas day yesterday, full of watching brothers and sisters get so excited when you're about to open the gift they gave you, siblings reading verses to the church out of the christmas story, and watching the last gift being given to you full of well money from the family.  Yeah, it was a pretty great day.  

 But i was thinking as I went to sleep on christmas eve.  I was excited about the next morning, with Santa coming :), and and the gifts to be given and received.  And as I was thinking, I thought about having all the gifts I would normally get on a christmas morning, but without my family.  It would be so lonely!  family makes it fun, and exciting, and puts the love in the holiday season.  Being together just warms my heart, especially seeing your siblings or parents get excited about a gift you're about to open, and our seven-year-old brother exclaiming that you're going to LOVE it. (doesn't it make you just smile to hear that, even f you don't know Brooks?)  that's what puts the fun and love in christmas, the sharing your RC helicopter (and then crashing it...oops), and taking silly videos with your new video camera you share with your sister, or hearing you're parents tell you how much they love their gift.  this all just warms my heart.

now it may sound like I'm saying that family is the reason for the love of the season, but I know that Jesus is the one behind it all.  His family, though, displays that all family is important throughout the holiday season.  Mary and Joseph had it harder than we (or I, specifically) could bear.  Mary, first of all, was probably between the ages of twelve and fourteen when being told she would have a baby and be married.  That's mine or caroline (my sister's) age.  I cannot imagine being told I was to have a baby, or even be married, right now. And then to know I was to have the SON OF GOD as my child!!!!!!!!  I can't even imagine it.  And imagine how Joseph felt.  He had been pledged to marry Mary, a virgin, and then it turns out she's pregnant.  How would you be feeling? Cause I wouldn't be very happy.  because back then, it was a huge deal if you were prego and not married. You could be stoned, or thrown out into the wilderness.  Then God tells Joseph that Mary is telling the truth, and the child is the Messiah you have been waiting for for hundreds of years.  whoa.  so then, you have to travel to bethlehem with a pregnant wife, which is, by the way, over a hundred miles away.  I don't even want to get into what they had to go through on the trip.  And then to be blessed, with a small child, the messiah, and holy son of god. Wow.  It's truly an amazing story.

Well, I just did a brief overview of the movie "Nativity story" (which I highly recommend) and our Sunday school class in december.  I hope it makes you think.

So i hope that hopes you see how important family can be over the holidays, and at any time.  Without family, we wouldn't celebrate christmas.

So here's what my family has been up to.... I just happened to get some of it on tape ;)  I hope you enjoy these, and I also hope they work : /  

The boys playing Just Dance 2

My brothers flying their helicopters in the front yard

P.S.  Pardon all the christmas boxes and such scattered in the background.  it's just the normal present leftover boxes, waiting to be burned in the fire :)

merry christmas and happy new year, from my family to yours.

Anna Leigh

Chip in!

CHRISTmas gifts for a cause

Hey guys!

I have been thinking about the upcoming season and what could be the most stressful part: gifts.

This year, i had thought it would be neat to have all (or mostly) home-made gifts.  So, I tried to brainstorm different ideas, and although I came up with a couple of ideas, I didn't think of many.

So, as I was walking through Christmas Village (a shopping thing in Birmingham that comes annually), a neat shop showed up that I loved.  It was a shop that sold all kinds of things made in Africa, and when you buy one, it helps the people that made the gifts!  They had cute purses, ugandan paper bead necklaces, ornaments, and much more.  And then it hit me: the true meaning of christmas is Christ's birthday, right?  And what would Christ want for his birthday?  Justice, hope and care for the orphans and widows. Sssssssoooooo....... why not do that?  I decided it would be better to do gifts for a cause rather than homemade ones.

And i just thought i would share with you this idea of really neat things and great gifts, all for a cause.  This is what I'm going to do. Care to join me???

If you don't know where to start i have a couple of neat ideas:


Like??? I love!!!!!  These are t-shirts, totes, decals, and hoodies.
Click HERE to look at several more styles

African ornaments and Nativities (from Christmas village :)
http://www.ornaments4orphans.org/products-page/page/1

Cute shop from Christmas Village  <3
http://www.kanzicraft.com/



Lots of things @
http://www.147millionorphans.com/

Get your christmas card HERE





Or a cookbook...
http://duaneandjenny.blogspot.com/2011/11/several-people-have-expressed-interest.html


And a couple more....


http://www.compassion.com/catalog.htm?referer=121329


http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?go=gift&xxwvCampaign=1136161&section=10389 


http://water.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=468124&supid=342978266 (give water :)




And of course, there is always bracelets you can buy!


So I hope I've given you some ideas for Christmas, and for some wonderful causes!


Have a great weekend!
Anna Leigh

Busy Bee

Howdy there...

Long time no see...

But for good reason.   The best I can explain it is in pictures.  So here it goes!

                                                                             *

First of all, I have been in a children's theater play (Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.) recently, and here are some of the pics from onstage and backstage.

Me in my costume

Forget About the Boy scene and dance/song

My sweet Norwegian friend, Kari

My friends and I

*

Most Of my time since then has been consumed with school. (Or rather lack of it...) 

On Wednesdays, we go to Fayette for Mom to work at the schools and us for piano lessons. After lunch, mom likes to play with her new camera some, and here are some of the results....

Working on Biology in the front yard

pretty fall leaves

My fun brothers

And I still ask myself: did I really do that?

Brooksie :)

beeeeeeautiful Caroline (my sweet sister)

LOVE <3

*

So thats a smidget of what I've been doing. 

i hope to have a new fundraiser out in time for Christmas gift....but we'll see... ;)

the current count of money is about $500.00   Yay!!!!  So thanks for donations and support, every penny counts!!!

Wellllll...

I have stuff to do (like school and chores) so i better go do that.

But before I go, I'd like you to check out this video. This is exactly what the well is going to do; the exact well that God is building.

Love you all!

~~Anna Leigh

Ragdoll

Hola amigos!!!
First of all, thanks to everyone who has ordered bracelets.  I really appreciate it!  I'm going to get the bracelets to you as soon as possible and thank you for the goings around about the project!
That extra helps me get there!  Feel free to tell your friends and others about my blog and the well project.  It helps so much!

 Today, I come to you to confess.  But before that, I would like to tell you a short story.

Once upon a time, there was a great man who had many children.  He made all of his children, almost as a toy maker makes his toys.  One day he created a daughter, and he gave her a ton of potential, love, and talents.  He loved her just as much as he loved his many other children, and he was happy.  He gave her to some of his other children, whom he was very pleased with, and they helped her grow and tried to keep her from the evil one who lurked in the kingdom all day and all night.  But, as the evil one attracted many others, he attracted the girl.  He would always seem nice at first.  But then, he started whispering to her and tell her evil things to do and say.  As the girl grew, she decided she did not like the evil one.  But she had already formed a relationship with him, and although she wanted him to go, he tried harder and harder to stay with her.  He would affect her feelings about her trust in the great man, make her think she didn't need the great man.  But in truth, she did. In fact, she couldn't live without him.  But the evil one didn't want her to know that.  One day,the evil one whispered to her," Look at all your talents!  How amazing you are.  And look at your friends.  They don't compare to you."  Although he would make her feel too good, some times he would also make her not feel good at all.  "Listen," the evil one whispered, "You're not as pretty and faithful as you thought.  In fact, you're pretty crummy.  Look at you now- who's going to help you?  I won't catch you, even though I caused you're downfall!  This is the way I play!"  He whipped her back and forth like a rag doll, and she cried out to the great man.  Of course, the great man always came and rescued her, but the evil one refused to give up.  And the girl would wander off into the darkness to the evil one again.  So she continues, to this day, to be whipped around like a rag doll in the wind.

If you haven't figured out this analogy already, the great man represents God, the evil one is Satan, and I am the rag doll.  Satan always seems to be pulling me around, no matter how hard I try to get away!  He pulls at me right now, saying," Look at your faith in God. You are so good! Everyone will think highly of you and your faith."  I struggle with pride and judgement particularly.  Satan injects evil thoughts into my head.  Why?  I know I'm not better than others.  I know God created us equally. But guess what? Satan doesn't want me to know that.  He wants me to think I am better than others.  I don't think I'm better than everyone.  But sometimes, I just judge people.  It's not like I mean to.  I just do it.  It just happens.  I don't want to do it.  And Satan's not giving up.

But guess what? Neither is God.
He hasn't left me alone.  He won't ever leave me alone.  He's battling for my soul harder than I am.  And I am so thankful because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here.

And guess what?  He delivers these words from my brain to my fingers.  It's not me typing.  It's him.  So, please don't give the praise to me.  Give it Him.  He wanted you to read this post, this blog for a reason. Why?  I don't know.  You may not know either, but God will show you.  Its not me, but Him.  Please don't forget.

Let the glory be to God forever and ever.
Anna Leigh

Teaching Me with Time

Hello, my friends!
 I have not written in a while (1) because I am vvvveeerrryyy busy (2) because I don't know what to write about. But yesterday, God showed me a topic to write about, and I would like to share it with you: teaching me with time.

If you know my family even a little bit, you know that 99% of the time, we are late. Sometimes, this just drives me crazy!! I mean, seriously, if the Duncans and Pates (with 6 and 7 kids) can get somewhere on time, why can't we? (Sorry, Caroline and Tindol, just had to use your families as an example....:) Is it just me, or do you guys get frustrated with being late, too? But what I have learned is that this can be a blessing.

How?

You know, God has put us where we are in this world, in Tuscaloosa, at our church, with our family and friends for a reason. I mean why couldn't he have put us on the streets in Uganda? Because He very well could have. God can see much more than we can. He sees a whole different, bigger picture up where he is. He knows when something needs to happen. Not too early, not too late. We are always right on time with his script. He knows every word we say......... BEFORE WE SAY IT!!!! How amazing is that?!? See, God is on a whole different time than we are. He is on... let's call it God time. We are on people time. the difference? God sees the big picture, we can only see our little world. When we want something to happen, we want it to happen when WE want it to happen, on our time. See, this is kinda me with the well. I can only see my little box, where I want to be able to raise money fast, and have a well built, and move on with life. But God, he sees a whole lot more than I do. God knows that if i raise the right a mount of money, at the right time, the well may have a much bigger impact on the people He wants it to impact. HE can see the big picture. I cannot. He has so much of a bigger idea, he knows the right thing.

I, on the other hand, am having to learn how to adapt to God time, since I will be on it for the rest of eternity :).  I'm having to learn to be.... patient, which can be hard. I'm so spoiled to be able to get whatever I want when I want it (well, at least all the necessities and a lot more....). But now I have to WAIT!?! What??? I can't have it? This is, like, the American lifestyle falling apart! But, I'm learning.

So, how can being late be a blessing? Well God can see the bigger picture. He knows that if you're five minutes late, you could be just in time for your surprise party, or you could have not been in that wreck that's slowing traffic. I mean, think about it. Those who worked in the twin towers and were late to work on 9/11 perhaps weren't killed in the attack. God knew it was going to happen, but they didn't.

So, I guess the whole point I'm trying to get out is that God is teaching me with time. He may be with you, too. Just remember: I'm on God time, not my own.

WELL UPDATES:
*Bracelets are still for sale!!! Place your order!
*Total money: $393.25
* Thanks for all your support!!!!
* P.S. Our name isn't Threading water, but no certain name yet.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all have a great rest of the week! Love you guys!!!!
Anna Leigh

Pictures of Bracelets

Here are the promised pics of bracelets we're selling!

 Couple of notes:

If you want a bracelet (and I do not know that, or you want to change your order), please comment or e-mail (dbreedlove7656@charter.net) the style you want, colors, quantity, etc. I can make button clasps on any of them (if you want one, please indicate so and what color and size :). As for colors for the friendship bracelets (not hemp), I have just about have every color minus tan and gray. As for hemp, I have the regular tannish-brown, dark purple, dark green, dark gold, and a weird darkish salmon (?). ** Colored hemp will cost a bit more than regular hemp. I can incorporate beads into all of the bracelets minus the craft-lace masterpieces and pretzel knot. Just tell me what color bead, size, etc. I have a lot! (mostly bright colored) The craft lace masterpieces DO NOT come with key chains or clasps.

UPDATE: May have more craft lace masterpieces.

                                           Spiral- Bound hemp                            $3.00

                                          Chinese Staircase                                  $2.00

                                            Craft lace masterpiece #1                    $4.00 (each)
                                             * please indicate which one you want
                                        **Don't think we are going to have any more of these

                                           Hippie Friendship bracelet                       $2.00

                                            Craft Lace Masterpiece #2                         $3.00
                                           ** Last one! Don't plan to have any more!

                                             Craft Lace masterpiece #3                     $1.00
                                            * simpler forms of this are available
                                           **again last one like this!

                                             Knot                                                  $1.00

                                            Candy - Cane                                            $3.00
                                           *This is not my best work.... others look better :)

                                           Thick braid                                               $2.00

                                            Simple braid                                             $1.00



               Coming soon!

                                              Pretzel - Knot Hemp                                                                                      $4.00
                                           *Have made one of these. Very cute!!!!  ;)
    

                                               Square Knot  Hemp                                                                                       $3.00

                                              *** Can't promise the doubled parts  :{