Giving ducks to help families in need...

Busy week this week! Filled with lifes little challenges and joys as I prepare for Christmas and for hubby Michael moving back home in 2 days!

What great joy can be felt at this season, I love it! Challenges, like missing mom still after 23 years are met head on as I play her Christmas music box and shed tears of good memories, and feel her hugs that I have missed, and try to hear her singing in my mind once more... she was beautiful and taught me how to love. She was a gift from my Heavenly Father, sent here to be brave and to give of herself so others could feel happiness and so I could find my footing on lifes path.

I am still finishing up on knitting some family gifts so I can't really post photos on here since they read my blog! But I did want to share another beautiful gift that YOU can give still. I did this for my sisters, so if you are reading, Happy Christmas Lynn and Patti! I love you.

Go to this website for Heifer International and their catalog here:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/

I just purchased a 'flock of ducks' on behalf of my 2 sisters and their families. There was a printable card showing an adorable little boy with his ducks! Click on each gift there and it will tell you what each one can do for a family. The flocks of geese, chicks, ducks cost $20 and you can print out a card to mail out. The others include lamas for wool, cattle, sheep, and mixtures and the prices vary. It's a truly wonderful idea!!

My sisters families and mine have sent gifts for many years, but most of children are older now, and some have moved away, are married etc. It's just silly to me to keep trying to guess what to send, when they don't really NEED things, you know? So this gift to help a family in need just seemed perfect! My daughter found the idea in Seventeen Magazine I think...

I printed out the card they let you create, or you can do an e-card with them too.... and I will mail those out today with our family newsletter and they should get them in time for Christmas. =)

Our "Baby Project" soldier over in Afghanistan, Stephen, sent me this photo today of their Bagram Finance Detachment. So you can see all their faces if you click on the photo... it's actually huge! I need to resize it.

These are the people who will help deliver any items you can send over for the families in the refuge camp and kids in the orphanages. There are hundreds of people in greater need than we can imagine.
If you click on the website link I have added some photos of the camp and people there. These are seriously displaced people who have fled from their homes due to war and other autrosities.

If you are wondering what they need--- anything warm for the next few months, and our soldiers could use some little goodies tucked in there too, and I have a list on that webpage.

GOOD FOR CHRISTMAS TOO!!
Qualheim's New Years Taco Salad Dip
1 (16 oz - large) can refried beans 2 (8 oz) containers of avacado dip 1 (16 oz) container sour cream - mixed with 1 (1.25 oz) package taco seasoning mix 2 medium to large tomatoes, diced 1 can sliced black olives, drained about 1 cup shreadded lettuce 1 (16 ounce) package Cheddar cheese, shredded

Spread these layers, in order starting with the refried beans, on a cookie sheet or in a 9 x 13 pan. Use tortilla chips to scoop up the dip and ENJOY!
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HUG THE ONES YOU LOVE!
BevQ