Light The Night

A few years ago my friend Debra lost her brother Jim to cancer. For the last 4 years my friend has held a Light The Night walk in his memory.

The walk raises funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and over the last 4 years they have raised over $15,000!

This year Brian and I along with the kids are honored to participate. And we are hoping that you will support us in this endeavor. We are looking for sponsorship from friends and family.

The really cool part is that an anonymous donor has a agreed to MATCH EVERY DONATION DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR! So even if you can only donate $1.00, $5.00 or $10.00 it will be valued twice as much.

If you are able to support please reply to this post and I will send you the details.

It is my hope that you prayerfully consider partnering with Brian and I in this year's LIGHT THE NIGHT walk in memory of Jim.

Many Thanks in advance.

Shoe Drive

Brian and I were invited to participate in a shoe drive for an orphanage in Ethiopia.

Most of the children are 6 and up but there are a few younger and they are in desperate need of shoes. If you have any boys or girls shoes that are new or gently used (preferably sneakers) we would love to send them over. Just let me know and I will make arrangements to get them from you.

Also, if you know anyone else that might want to participate feel free to send this on.

Many thanks in advance for your consideration.

P.S. Payless is running their buy one get one half off thru this weekend. So if you need any shoes... maybe you would consider picking up an extra pair. I'm going to take my kids to pick out a pair for the children. I love these tangible ways to help my kids understand how fortunate they are. : )

Win WIn Situation

Ok Friends:

So you know I (it's suppossed to be the kids but let's face it, its REALLY me) collect box box tops as a school project.

I don't know why but it brings me a strange joy to paste those little guys on cute papers and submit them on behalf of my children...

Well now my girls are selling raffle tickets for their baton class.

Stay with me here...I have a point and I'm not going to ask you for money.

If you haven't learned by now I'm VERY competitive. I like (no, I LOVE to win) and now I (I mean my kids) have a chance to win twice.. BUT what's better is YOU have a chance to win too. And not some little win but a big $300 win...

See here's the plan:All you folks out there that throw away the box tops that come on your Kleenex, betty crocker, pampers, hefty, ziplock, chex mix, and oh SO many more products now just need to give them to me and in return I will purchase 1 baton raffle ticket in your name and you will then be entered into a drawing worth $300 and many runner up prizes like gift baskets filled with stuff you can't live without.

Of course this IS a win win situation so I have to share what's in it for us. Should the girls sell the most raffle tickets they could win a baton bag, team uniform and a team jacket. And if their class happens collects the most box tops they could win an ice cream party. The stakes here friends are pretty high.

So please consider teaming up with me (I mean the Growing Garcia's) and let's claim victory in these competitions.

Life Explained

On the first day, God created the dog and said:

'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'

The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'

The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you bac k ten like the Dog did?'

And God agreed..

On the third day, God created the cow and said:

'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'

The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'

And God agreed again. On the fourth day, God created man and said:

'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'

But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'

Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone..

Life has now been explained to you. There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service.

A video from an American Soldier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

The Buzzard, Bat, and Bumblebee

THE BUZZARD:If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE: In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!

20/20 Adoption Distruption Show - RESCHEDULED

I received this email below from the Ranch for kids. I will post when show is rescheduled!

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Dear Parents and Friends;
As much as we hate to cancel one more time, we must! ABC 20/20 has moved us forward due to the hurricanes and the Republican National Convention with its unprecedented news stories. As soon as we get a new date we will let everyone know. Many of you were looking forward to watching the program and I am sure that they will schedule us soon. They know how important this subject matter is and do not want it overshadowed by the before mentioned events. We are content to wait for the "perfect timing."
Thanks for your patience and we will let you know as soon as were are re-scheduled.
Our best wishes
Joyce Sterkel and William "Bill" Sutley
with The Ranch For Kids Staff