A new addition to our family . . . Esther

This is Esther Araputha Raj - she's 11 years old and lives in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. We became aware of her need to be sponsored thru my friends Rob and Michelle Wegner who are in India right this very minute! Isn't she beautiful??!!!

Esther lives in a village named Erode - through Compassion International anyone can sponsor a child in need for only $40 a month. For $40 you can provide education, 3 nutritious meals a day, birthday parties, clothing, and best of all the love and light of Jesus.

Rob and Michelle went to visit their Compassion daughter, Sangeetha 2 days ago and their story is incredible! Check it out here - the story and photos are amazing. This is their 2nd visit - and this time they couldn't wait to see ALL of Sangeetha's family. When they pulled out some little gifts for her siblings, they had a gift for her little brother. The Wegner's were shocked and saddened to find out that he had died almost exactly 1 year prior from "brain fever".

Sangeetha was sponsored . . . Kannan was not. Sponsorship probably would have saved his life. A sacrifice of just $40 a month truly can be the difference between life and death.

To sponsor a child, or two or five . . . go to Compassion International and click on sponsor a child. There are a few children left in Sangeetha and Esther's village that still need sponsors. If you want to sponsor them just ask for a child in Erode, India.

To read about Rob and Michelle's month long journey in India - click HERE!

Flip Flop Cake

Here's a picture of the flip flop cake I made for Brianna's Graduation luau party. It was a blast to make! Everything is edible except the beach towel and sunglasses.

Seashells are made of custom colored chocolate

The large flowers are handpainted marshmallows

The sand on top of the cake is crushed up graham crackers

The polka dots are skittles

The first layer is lemon with a raspberry filling

The second layer is white confetti cake.

Making a Difference Every Day

Never doubt that

a small group of people

can change the world;

it's the only thing that ever has

Margaret Mead

Whoever you are, wherever you are, no matter what your circumstances, you CAN make a difference.

It could be as simple as smiling at someone you pass on the street; or a quick phone call to a friend to tell them you're thinking of them; or a kind word of encouragement to a frazzled Mom in the grocery store.

Sometimes we feel insignificant, but just like the little girl who threw the starfish back into the water, a simple act of kindness can make all the difference in the world!

You CAN make a difference!

Cody got his driver's permit

Yes, that's my "baby" holding his next step to FREEDOM - his Driver's Permit!

Watch out world - you only have 74 more days until he's on the road all by himself!

(Don't worry - all those years of his Dad letting him drive up at Silver Lake and out in the field has paid off - he's a very good driver)

Man cannot discover new oceans

unless he has the courage

to lose sight of the shore.

--Andre Gide

Check out http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3717 to read about how this sailboat, which is made entirely of plastic water bottles from the trash, is making a difference in the world