Stuffed!

I'm writing from Largo, FL in the home of my mother in law on the 4th day of our 8 day time off.  On Tuesday morning we left Purvis and drove the 5 hours to Tallahassee.  We spent time with the Sheffield family and finally got to meet their precious 5 month old daughter, Laurel Grace.  We stayed the night there and continued the remaining 4 hours to Pinellas County Wednesday afternoon. 
My parents are vacationing from Ohio in the area so we met up with them for dinner at Sonny's BBQ.  I think I need to start a petition for a Sonny's in Hattiesburg but, then again, maybe it's best I don't.  We stopped by First Baptist to say Hello before church started and then went to visit with Michael's Mom while she was on a break from work.
Thursday morning we went with my folks to a Historic Walking Tour of Ybor City.  We were early so we grabbed some coffee/soda/water and a Cuban sandwich to split at King Corona.  Delicious!  The walking tour was great and I would highly recommend it (http://www.yborwalkingtours.com/).  Afterwards we grabbed lunch- another Cuban sandwich- at Gaspar's Grotto.  We walked around the wonderful store that is Ikea for a bit before heading over to visit with my step-brother and his family in Apollo Beach.  We went back to dinner in Ybor- this time getting Greek instead of Cuban. 
This morning my parents, Mike's parents, and us met up for brunch at Cracker Barrell.  Mom, Norm, and I went shopping in the afternoon while Mike visited family with his parents.  Came back home and pizza was ordered for dinner and I am now wearing elastic pants.  Such good food over the past 2 days- just too much of it!
Tomorrow morning we are heading to breakfast with Mike's Dad and his wife but no food plans for the rest of the day (though we've already determined we're headed to BJ's for Sunday lunch).
I know everyone has been there- the days where it feels like you have done nothing but eat.  I am really enjoying being in FL and seeing everyone.  I just hope I'm not having to wear sweatpants all the time when we get back to MS.

Christmas Surprise!

Most of the kids left this morning to spend Christmas with their families.  We were eating lunch when a car pulled up in front of the cottage.  The lady who got out of the car is a supported of our ministry and every Christmas her and her granddaughters do something together.  This year they decided to bake cupcakes, sell them, and then give the proceeds to our cottage for the kids to decide what to do with.  The girls raised over $280!!!  What a great Christmas surprise!

Our first Cottage Christmas

We celebrated Christmas as a cottage today and boy was it a great day.  We started out with a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, pancakes, and waffles.  Jonathan and Ariel were my kitchen helpers that morning to get everything ready.  Travis led the younger kids in a military style march to make sure everything was cleaned up and we were ready to go.  We opened presents and the kids had such a great time. Mike and I loved our first Christmas as parents and really, really enjoyed watching the kids get so excited over their new toys and clothes.  We had a Christmas lunch of ham, mashed potatos, and vegtables and then played all afternoon.  We finished the evening with pizza for dinner and a movie.  I took many, many pictures so it was hard to choose just a few to show.  Merry Christmas!

Schools Out!

We came back on duty today and it was a very full day.  We were in meetings most of the morning and the kids had a half day at school. We picked them up around 11:30am and headed to Lamar Meadows, a senior center in Purvis.  They do an act of kindness each month and for December they chose to buy our kids gifts.  They served us cookies and punch and each kid received a gift and a gift card to a place they wanted to either eat or shop. 
After Lamar Medows we came home for lunch and then went out to Calley Hudson Salon to get haircuts.  We came back home to get Travis up to the school that afternoon for an away basketball game and Ariel had a party with her soccer team.  6 kids really keeps us busy!

Time to Party Again

Last night we went to Woodlawn Pentacostal for another Christmas celebration.  We met at the church in Columbia (along with other kids from the community) and all traveled together by charter bus back to Hattiesburg to go to Gatti Town.  We ate the pizza buffet and played games before heading back to the church to open presents.  The kids each received a bike and a sack full of presents.  They had a great time and we are so grateful for the people who are so generous to our kids.

Trell and Logan blowing up balloons for a game

Our team was the one where you can't see his head :-)

Jonathan was chosen to be the snowman and get wrapped in toilet paper

Jonathan and the other player

Ashton and his new bike

He's been wanting a lunch box for a long time

Jonathan loves stuff that makes him smell good

Travis opening his sack

Ashton Claus

Trell diving into his gifts

Christmas, Christmas Time is Near

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with West Creek Baptist Church in Sumrall.  They invited us to attend their Christmas service and meal to be followed by presents for our kids.  The members were so generous! You can see the excitement and happiness on the kids faces in the pictures below.  Enjoy!

Introducing the HOHFC Staff

We had our staff/board Christmas party today so I thought I'd take some pictures of our staff to share.

Communication Director, Sarah Dixon; Executive Director, Michael Garrett

Counselor, Julia Sandhaus; Educational Specialist, Margie Willis

House Relief/Future Girls Cottage House Parents: Tim & Rachel Westley

Mike and I