Hello... Who's still out there?

Hello, My Friends!  Seems I am always apologizing for my absence... Another tough year but I'm still pushing forward.

I really hope I've not lost you all but, I would deserve it for staying gone so long. I will be back and posting again  within a day or so. I'll try to catch you up on a few things.

I've got more book reviews for you. I've even got a few to giveaway, if you're interested.

And, photos!!! All our little ones are growing up so fast it's just unbelievable.

Of course, my Son will always be a topic. He's doing great, handsome as ever AND.... well, you'll just have to wait for the rest. LOL!

Okay! Love you guys and I'll be back soon!

-Gena

Help Emily Fight Against Cancer

Some of you may know Shannon from Coupon Mommy of 3. This precious little girl is Shannon's 3 year old daughter Emily, who took ill on December 18, 2010. Symptomatically she looked like she had a bad stomach flu but several tests down the line the family received the shattering news that Emily has Stage IV cancer.

Read more about her story, with updates on the Caring Bridge Site Page created just for Emily by Shannon.

Please lift up this family in your prayers.

We believe the family will also need all the financial support they can get. So to help out, Shannon's friends Karen from Mommy Times and Nancy from Arizona Mama have helped set up this ChipIn account for Emily. 

(ChipIn is a Web-based service that simplifies the process of collecting money from groups of people. They make the process quick, easy, and secure, and provide organizers with numerous ways to get the word out about their ChipIn event.)

The last thing this family should worry about at this time is finances and I honestly believe if all my readers could chip in with a little we can help this family.

(No contribution is too little. Every dollar counts at a time like this)

You can click on the "ChipIn" button below to have your contribution pooled in out of your paypal account.

Please, take the time to share this information with others. Repost, e-mail, retweet.... This is a very troubling and heartbreaking time for this family. Their choices should not be made harder based on their ability to pay.

Retweet: RT @ebmommy 3 year old Emily Needs Your Help http://bit.ly/eduwN9 #chipin #fightcancer #prayer #30daygive #give #sponsor #cancer #faith

Isabelle's Fun Day in the Pool

For those of you who stop by from time to time, you know I just love my Great Nieces. Well, I love all my family but the babies are just too cute! I love to share my pictures of them so here's the latest of my Great Niece, Isabelle, in her pool. I got this cute pool for her for her 1st Birthday last year. We've been having beautiful, sunny days with temps in the low to mid 80's, just perfect for her to get out and play.

Enjoy! Leave a comment, if you'd like.

Awww.... cooling off!

Finally got up the nerve to try the slide. She LOVES it!

Don't ask me! Ha!Ha! This child is the Queen of Faces!

Who doesn't love a little one all bundled up in a cute little towel?!

Share A Little

Just a quick shout out to you. I promise I have regular posts coming. Been crazy and busy for me lately. I want to let you know that I now have 4 blogs. (Hmm... why am I so busy? heehee) The newest one, "Girls With Goodies" is one I share with my niece, Tabitha. It is a work in progress but will have:

* Recipes of all kinds: ours and some borrowed
* Uniques recipes that will teach you how to make products at home: body scrubs, cleaners, garden    products... you name it
* Guest bloggers
* Seasonal recipes and ideas
* Reviews and Giveaways
... and much more.

Currently, we have a remarkable recipe for Blackberry Cobbler. It is a very unique recipe passed on from Grandma Bonnie. She was such a fabulous woman and an unbelievable cook.

We also have a Giveaway. Yes, already. This is a giveaway to accumulate some followers so entry is very simple.

We are giving away this cookbook:

Here is a list of all my other blogs and Tabitha's, if you'd like to follow them:

Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

Visions of Life: A Journey Towards Health and Wealth

Girls With Goodies 

All Things Tabitha

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Yep, it's true! My friends are always a HUGE help to me. You pick me up when I'm down, you share your life with me, we laugh together, feel each others pain, anger, excitement, fear and a whole string of other emotions.

Today, I need your help. I am trying to "collect" comments for a chance to Win a Samsung Washer and Dryer over at my Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! blog. If you have a minute, could you go THERE and leave me a comment.

While you're THERE, take a look at the information on how YOU can post and win a washer and dryer, too. If you decide to enter, let me know and I will comment for you, too.

Thanks my Virtual Friends Forever.

Dance in the Rain

by Angela Dockter-Harris



I think that most people, at some point in their life, have suffered a huge loss of someone they love so dearly. I know I have. I still mourn for my Grandma Bonnie. She died in 2002 after a long battle with cancer. She was such a wonderful, kind giving person. She touched the lives of so many. My entire family mourns her and cannot speak of her without tears.

When I came across a request for reviewers of Dance in the Rain by Angela Dockter-Harris, on The Product Review Place, and I read the description about her book, I contacted her immediately.

It is the most beneficial "tool" for dealing with grief that I have ever come across.

Dance in the Rain is a combination between a journal and a bible study.

The journal section can be personalized for anyone and any situation. I was really surprised at how in-depth the journal is. It covers:

"Remembering the Person I Love" - For the loss of a child, spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend. It includes special topics for the loss of an unborn child, infant, toddler, or young child. It also has a special tribute to the person who has passed away.

"This Gift I Leave You" - For the individual who is either facing death or who may be preparing for the future. In this section, they can dedicate the journal to a loved one(s). It could be very beneficial in helping talk about what is happening with your loved ones, your thoughts and feelings and help prepare them for what is to come. You can also share memories of days past, happy times, your wishes for their future, as well as, your final wishes.

"The Loss" - For the healing process, once your loved one is gone.

The Bible Study User's Guide is in two sections. The sections teach you to deal with loss through scripture. It leads you through the stages of death: grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Each is from a biblical perspective.


"The bible study looks in-depth at sorrow and suffering, anger, acceptance, making amends, letting go, finding purpose, discovering a personal story from the pain and moving forward. Discusses how to find God in the midst of such pain.

The bible study also addresses concerns for people who believe in heaven and the concern of dealing with uncertainity of a loved ones eternal decision.

This book focuses on making amends, so it can be used in the loss of strained or broken relationships, not just death."

I think Dance in the Rain would be ideal for grief counseling. It touched my heart. Upon my completion of the book, I donated it to a family that just lost their child and I hope it brings them comfort.

Don't suffer alone or go through this time with fear and a heavy heart. Dance in the Rain can help you and your loved ones with this process. GOD is with you and HE does not want you to suffer nor does HE want you to be alone through tough times.

Dance in the Rain is available for purchase at:

Amazon.com
Tate Publishing
Barnes and Noble

If you would like to see/hear more about Angela Dockter-Harris, you can find her:

Twitter: @ADockterHarris
Wordpress: Angela A Dockter-Harris
Facebook: Dance in the Rain: His Joy Comes in the Mourning



***A special thanks to The Product Review Place for allowing me the opportunity to work with Angela and Dance in the Rain.***

My Beautiful Redheads

Yesterday evening I attended a birthday bash for Jazmine, my great niece. She is 3 already! Where has it gone? It seems like yesterday she was just born. Now, she's 3 and has a little sister, Makayla, who is 7 months. These are my redheaded angels.

Tell me what you think:



For years, I was the only redhead in my family. My hair is more auburn but, as I have aged, it seems to be a little redder. I got my red hair from my Great Grandmother, Opal, and my Great Uncle, Paul, on my Mother's side. As my siblings and I got older and started having children, my oldest sister, Destie, had a redheaded boy, Kurt. He was the only redhead out of our children. Now, he has the two redheaded girls, Jazmine and Makayla. Here's a picture of them all together, with their Mommy, Angelica.



Such a beautiful, young family.

Love you all!