Fair Day

The Clay County Fair comes to our area each Spring.  I don't think I have been since I was a Senior in High School.  We won't talk about how long ago that was.

I will admit that I am an Amusement Park Snob.  I am not afraid to say it.  I am not ashamed of the fact.  Disney has made me that way.  Everything about Disney is top-notch.  It's clean, it's safe - it's the "Happiest Place on Earth" and as far as I am concerned nothing - I mean NOTHING compares. So why bother with anything less - I'm always disappointed.

So each year when the Fair comes around, I turn my nose up and refuse to go and spend the money on rickety rides, greasy food and tons of crazy games where you win cheap, tacky prizes (like Goldfish).  See - I told you that I'm a snob.

Hickory Grove is very involved with the Fair each year.  Many of the church members work there and they even arranged to do a Sunrise Service on Easter morning for all the Fair Workers.  How cool is that?  Talk about a great outreach opportunity!

So, obviously when we were given free tickets to get into the fair, we couldn't say no.  We decided to go this past Wednesday after the kids got out of school.

I now have to admit how much fun we had - how wrong I had been all these years and how we are planning to go every year from now on!

Here are some highlights - you tell me whether or not we had a great time!

 Where else in the world can you find a pig made from hay than your County Fair?  How cute is he?

The kids LOVED the swings - I think they rode them like 4 or 5 times!

I stayed away from the Farris Wheel - I don't like swinging from high places in slow motion - but the rest of the family enjoyed it.

This was the best!!!!  I didn't ride so I could get pictures.  I was laughing so hard I was crying!  Jarod's facial expressions are awesome!

Love this one of Anne!

Playing one of those wacky games - they won two fish!  More about that later.

Okay - so Cedar River Seafood was there.  LOVE their fried shrimp!!!!

 I had to get on the swings at least once!

This one was my absolute favorite!  Could have rode it all night!  I felt like Superman!  It was awesome!!!!

They had to ride this one again!  Anne is trying so hard not to lay on Jarod.

LOVE this!!!

Of course Russ has to try the Fried Oreos!  YUMMMM!!!!!!

Those two fish I told you about - well, they actually scooped up an extra one so we wound up with 3!

We had to make a late night run to Wal-Mart on the way home.  Turns out everyone else in Middleburg has been doing the same thing.  Everyone is winning fish!  The fish section was totally picked over and we had to spend a little more than anticipated on a home for them.

But we like the way it turned out!

So as you can see a GREAT time was had by all!  We will definitely be making this a yearly event for the Franklin family.  I was wrong and am happy to admit it. 

Thanks for the tickets Rick - you have helped to break my amusement park snobbery!

Tomorrow is our first Sunday at Hickory Grove.  Russ will preach a sunrise service for the fair workers in the morning.  Very excited for this opportunity.  

I'm off to color eggs with the kids - Easter pics next time......

ApParent Project at EPCOT

Most of you know that Disney is my absolute FAVORITE place to go!  We have had passes for several years and spend many weekends at "The Happiest Place on Earth".  If you have ever been to my house, you know that there are many hidden (and not so hidden) Mickey's around.  If you have been over and tried on AP jewelry in my dining room, you probably have looked at yourself in my favorite mirror.

 Most people don't even realize it's Mickey Mouse.  I love it!

The week after I left Haiti, Shelley received an order from Disney for 1000 pieces of jewelry.  She was blown away and I was totally impressed and excited for her.  We didn't know exactly where it would wind up but someone posted on her FB page that they had seen it at EPCOT.  It's time for their annual Flower and Garden Festival.

I receive emails each morning of all the different Disney blogs published each day (I told you I'm a Disney nut - you have to keep up with all that is going on!) and yesterday they sent me this:

Visit the Haiti Garden of Many Colors

And it just so happened that my friend Christie - who lives in Orlando - was headed to EPCOT yesterday so she went on the hunt for it.  She sent me these photos - 

 How cool is that?????

Haiti has it's very own place in the EPCOT World Showcase right in between Germany and the African Outpost!  And ApParent Project jewelry is on sale there.  It makes me so happy!

Now - this makes my husband happy - 

Haitian Coffee!  Also on sale at EPCOT.  I brought some home for Russ and he is totally hooked on it!  He's been searching the internet (with no luck) trying to figure out how to get more of it here in the states.  Christie picked up a few for him and shipped it today.  Russ will be in coffee bliss - at least until this runs out.  

It's been 2 years since we've been to Disney.  I know, I know - it's shocking to us too!  We've just had too many other expenses to justify renewing our passes.  I so wish I could go see all of this in person, but for now I am thankful for friends who go for me, take pictures and buy coffee!

On a similar note - this kind of exposure is increasing the demand on AP jewelry.  They are having to hire more Haitians to keep up - which is a good thing!  When I was there in February, Shelley had 200 on payroll.  She has a goal to have 1000 on payroll by the end of 2012.  This is not impossible considering the recent exposure.  Jillian Michaels (Biggest Looser) is adopting a child from Haiti and stopped by AP a few weeks ago.  She has over 1 million fans on FB and gave a huge plug for AP jewelry parties just last week.  The fund raiser bracelets are taking off and they are having a hard time keeping up with demand.

All of that being said - they are in GREAT need of cereal boxes!  Shelley posted the other night that they were close to temporary layoffs of the artisans if they didn't get boxes in!

 Layoffs!!!

These went out today

That's the last thing any of them need.

If you are collecting boxes and they are just sitting in your garage - get them in the mail!  They are needed to help keep the artisans employed.  If you have not started collecting - won't you consider it?  It's easy and it's so rewarding!

For more information about shipping - 
 Click here 

And feel free to contact me with ANY questions!  If Rays of Hope gets boxes on a regular basis, Shelley will have a steady flow of LOTS of boxes each month.  Let's blow her away with cardboard!!!!

Until next time....

Spring Break 2012

Last week was Spring Break.  We enjoyed staying up late, sleeping late, and just doing whatever we wanted.  So very nice.  I'm almost excited for summer to get here - except the kids went back to school today and my house was quiet.  I enjoy that too!

The weekend began with Boy Scout Merit Badge Fair.  Russ and Jarod spent the weekend camping out along Dr.'s Lake here in Orange Park.

Love this sunrise pic....

 Russ doing a little sermon prep by the Lake

 Jarod working on his Chess Merritt Badge

Monday was spent at home, relaxing and fielding all the phone calls and emails once the news was out about Russell's resignation.  All of the encouragement and kind words were so appreciated.  We are excited for our new journey to begin.

I spent Tuesday at the church office, training the new secretary.  She's excited to do it and I think she's going to do a great job!  The kids spent the day at the park with Nana and Papa.

On Wednesday, we picked up Sam and Chloe and headed to the beach.  The weather here has been beautiful - but the water is still cold.  Not too cold for my crazy children!  Water temp was 71 - I guess it could have been worse.

 

It was a bit too cold for Chloe but we found a pool that was created when the tide went out.  Love those!  Perfect for the kids to play in and it warms up really quick in the warm sun.

Love this cousin pic!

 Love Chloe's face in this pic - so mischievous!  Makes me giggle!

 No one was safe!  

Cuteness!

Even more cuteness!

Love this one!

Coming back from filling her bucket

It was a great day.  When we first arrived it was sprinkling and overcast and VERY windy.  I was tempted to turn around but we didn't.  The sun came out and it proved to be a beautiful day!

On Thursday, we watched Chloe in the morning and then Jarod and Anne went with Nana to the movies to see The Lorax that afternoon.  Friday I spent the day inside doing laundry and cleaning while Russ mowed the lawn and washed the van.  Although that always entails bathing suits, water guns and massive hose wars.  Not sure who was more wet!  Of course, as soon as everyone was in for the day, we had one of our typical Florida downpours!  But - nothing says "I love you" more than a clean car and it was still fresh and clean on the inside!  Extra brownie points for that one!

Saturday was full as well.  Russ and Jarod went out to Hickory Grove to help with a church work day.  They laid new mulch and got everything cleaned up for our Easter services.

Russ went off to a Youth Camp Meeting that night and I prepared for Sunday's Bridal Show.  

 It was a crazy day!  I met many new brides and had a wonderful time.  The bridal shows are a lot of hard work but always worth it!  So much fun!!!!

Last but not least, Anne's great accomplishment for Spring Break 2012 --------

 Yes ladies and gentlemen - she is now an official bike rider!  2 wheels and everything!!!!  She received her new bike at Christmas and has struggled off and on. But today she got it out and just started riding it - all by herself!  We are proud!!!!  Way to go Anne!!!!!

So that's an overview of our Spring Break this year!  Now we focus on the last 9 weeks of school.  We have field trips, speech contests, FCAT testing, dance recital and MANY other things on the calendar between now and June.  It's going to fly by.  Don't worry - I'll be right here to document it all!

Until next time......

ApParent Project - Fundraiser Bracelets

I thought I would continue my posts about ApParent Project - Stateside.  Marilyn and her helpers continue to stay busy out in Lacey, Washington.  One of the newest additions to AP is their Fundraiser Bracelets.  When I learned all the details about this - I was so excited!

 It has become incredibly popular - especially among families who are raising money for an adoption.

Basically, it works like this - 

"We (AP) mail you 100-500 (or more) bracelets which you sell for $6-8 each. After sales are final you return all of the unsold bracelets to our U.S. address along with $4 for each bracelet sold. If you sell a bracelet for $8, that means that AP artisans earn money to feed, shelter, and educate their families while your group gets $2-4 per bracelet towards your fundraising goals. If you sold 100 bracelets at $8 each, you would send us $400 and you would earn $400 for your project."

Seriously - how cool is that???  How many fund raisers do you know where the product you are selling is helping to feed, shelter and educate the poor?  

The AP bracelets are so popular!  I sold over 100 of them at Christmas time - along with all the other jewelry.  They are simple, inexpensive and so much fun!  Every time I wear mine, I receive a ton of comments.  They are so colorful that they go with ANY thing and they catch everyone's eye!  And then that opens up a chance for me to talk about AP to someone new.

 These are boxes of Fundraiser Bracelets at Marilyn's house in WA.

"And, now we have the fundraiser bracelet boxes going out like crazy. The "normal" Fundraiser Bracelet box holds about 125 bracelets. The "large" Fundraiser Bracelet box contains 200-225 bracelets. This has become enormously popular with people who are adopting from Haiti. We will need to hire more Haitians (a good problem!) in order to keep up with the demand. We ran out of fundraiser bracelets this month, so I brought back LOTS of bracelets last week. It took us one day to make them disappear! Then the next day... which was yesterday... we emptied those 3 shipping boxes full of bracelets."   ~ Marilyn

Does your church, team, school, youth group, workplace, or club need to raise funds to support a program, an upcoming event, or a short term service project? Do you need to raise money for an adoption?  This helps Haitians AND your cause at the same time!

Please Contact Them if this is something you would like to try!

Until next time...... 

God's Grace in Our Transitions

A little over ten years ago, the Lord led us away from church work and we joined with Student Venture, the High School division of Campus Crusade for Christ.   They assigned us to the Jacksonville area and shortly after that we learned my mother had been diagnosed with Lou Gherrig's disease (ALS).   We moved back to Orange Park to care for her and to begin raising our financial support. 

Russ took on a part time job when we began our support raising to help with our income.  He wound up working as an Interim Youth Pastor.  It was perfect.  It helped us financially and allowed Russ to continue in youth ministry while we raised support.  It helped the church because they had someone to work with their teens while they sought a full time person.

The church was wonderful.  They were supportive, loving and they took good care of us. While my mom was sick, they brought countless meals and women voluntarily came and sat with her a few days a week to allow me to go grocery shopping or run other errands - or even just have a few hours "off".  They loved on my then 3 year old Jarod and provided lots of food and help during my mom's funeral.  Russ served there for nearly 2 years.

Much of this time is a blur for me.  There were a good 6 months that I was unable to attend church on a Sunday. Many people helped me out during the week, so I never felt comfortable asking someone to give up their Sunday worship time as well.  But Russ took Jarod on Sundays and he was loved on and taught God's word.

Many people in this church supported us in Campus Crusade as well.  They donated to our ministry and they prayed for us.  They have kept up with us over the years and it's always been fun to run into different people in the community and catch up a bit.

So - here we sit.  Transitioning in ministry again.  You know I always say that EVERYTHING has a purpose.  Things in our life happen for a reason - a stepping stone to the next thing God has for us.  He is constantly building on that foundation.

Ten years ago, we had absolutely NO idea that God would be laying the foundation for Russell's newest pastorate. 

Did you figure it out?

The church that I have been speaking of is......

Yep - you guessed it -

Hickory Grove Baptist in Green Cove Springs.

We walked into this building on March 11, for Russ to preach in view of a call, and it felt like home.

God is so good.  Transition and change are never easy.  You walk away from the familiar into the unknown.  So many times over the years, God has provided "Exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine" in this area.  We have always walked into the unknown with His peace and an unwavering conviction that we are doing the right thing.  And he has either brought wonderful, precious and treasured friends out of the group of strangers or as in this case, (and the case of Ocean Park when we started there) He puts us in a place where we already have a little bit of a history and foundation.

Leaving Ocean Park is bittersweet, but how good is God to take us to a place that is somewhat familiar?  It makes the transition easier and I have to say - exciting!

I have to just chuckle. 4 years ago I was stressed about moving out of my house.  I'm sure God was just shaking his head at me.  He only wanted my willingness to move.  I gave Him that and I get to stay.  We sacrificed and drove back and forth for nearly 3 years and now He is allowing us to serve in our own community.  With many people that we already love. The possibilities are endless.  His plan is best and there is no other place I would rather be than in His will. 

Until next time.......