Give A Day, Get A Day

Rachel & Sarah (with Mama Karen) worked hard at a shelter. Misty, Aliya, Ansley, Elli, Riley, Charli, Papa & Mama worked hard at a horse ranch that helps to rehabilitate children. They earned a day at Disney and what fun we had (Charli stayed with Gma and Gpa for the day and had her own fun!!!) What special, lovely children!!! Loved being with them...

One,Two...

"one, two, one, two, one, two" Charli loves to count to 2 over and over and how appropriate it being her 2nd birthday! What a day! It started in the doctors office - inner ear infection for her and Riley (how odd - same ear even). Then home to decorate cupcakes, nap, play time at Gymboree home for dinner and a party...Many other details I won't bother going into! All in all it was a wonderful day of celebrating my Charli!!!

2 of her favorite things:
1. Elmo
2. Miss Patty Cake

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GEEL!
I love you Charli Girl! XOXOXOXOXO

VIDEO - diabetes type 1 (click)

There are many challenges for a family dealing with diabetes. As I watch this video again I am reminded first that we are not alone and second...we need a cure!!! I love my Elli!!! She's very strong!!!

Ryann Watters And The King's Sword

Praying for Eric Reinhold and the movie producers of his book "Ryann Watters and the King's Sword." They will be in Palm Bay, Fl. auditioning people for this production. I am praying that God will get the glory every step of the way! Don't you love all these movies coming out...Fireproof, Letters to God and so many more where God is the focal point!

Lord we love you and are looking forward to seeing how you work in all of this! I also am praying for our girls who will be auditioning for the movie. They each are very talented, very beautiful, very funny and amazingly centered in our Lord Jesus Christ! I love you girls!!!

SoMe DaYs!!!

YIKES!

EVER FEEL LIKE THIS?

JDRF we walked!!! (click for pics)

Thanks to all who participated in the JDRF fundraiser this year!
Your prayers, donations, time...what a blessing you all are to us!
We love you and thanks so much for giving of yourself!
With your help we were able to raise over $4,000 toward

finding a cure for diabetes. What a goal!

Raising money for Diabetes

MY ELLI:

Click the title for our donation page...

plan to walk, raise and support in any way you can!!!

LOVE to you all!

Grace

What can wash away my sins, NOTHING but the
blood of Jesus.

White carpet, hot pink nail polish, a daily reminder of the
Love Jesus showed to each one of us on the cross!
Thank you Father!!!

Ringing in 2010 (click for PICS)

The only bad part about being in North Carolina is that we missed out on being with our VERY dear friends! How is it possible that we were in NC and we didn't see the Johnson's? Boo HOO!!! Circumstances... We had an awesome time in the mountains! The house we stayed in belongs to Dolly & Jim Rice. Very sweet people whom I've known for a very long time! Thanks so much for allowing us to crash your place! It was amazing! I am set now on buying a place in North Carolina even if it isn't our perminent residence!!! It puts us near the Johnson's atleast for part of the year! So, keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities! K!

Enjoy the pics!

BRING IT!!!! :-)

Disney Mania 2...It's Elli's turn!

I am so thankful for a husband who encourages my time away with each little person in my life! It's off to Disney again! This time we will sleep in a hotel, no freezing camping for my Elli! I am so excited about spending this one on one time with my sweet gir! She is growing into such a beautiful God's girl! Lord, I ask You to be the center of our time, help us to bond during this time as you continue to use each moment to mold us and change us! Let's go baby!!!

NOVEMBER 21st Happy Birthday Elli Rue

MY sweet sweet Elli! Happy Birthday honey! You are such a blessing to me in so many ways! Here are 11 things I love about you!
1. Relationship with your Lord is #1 to you!
2. You are fun and very funny! You quack me up :-)
3. Organization is on your top 10 priority list. Yeah. I love that
4. You are so much like your Papa! I chose him for life!
5. Walking into your room seeing you sitting on your bed reading a book...seeing that book is the bible! What an encouragement you are to me!
6. You desire DEEP / meaningful relationships
7. You are creative and always thinking of new ideas...businesses, projects, gifts...
8. You are extremely B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!!! Inside and out!
9. You are a cuddly bug! Let's cuddle!!! :-)
10. You are an AMAZING sister! Learning and growing in your relationships with your brother and sister. Making them important to you! Thanks for honoring them!
11. Your brown eyes! You're my brown eyed girl!!! Sha La La La La la.....

So many more........................................................ I love you half pint! :-) Mama

Recovering

Umbilical hernia is nothing I thought I'd ever have to deal with but indeed I did! It was painful, it was extracted, it's still painful...I am sure things will get better! I guess I won't be racking up the points for my team this year for Turkey Bowl...BOO HOO!!! Oh well, I'll have to settle for cheerleader this year! Thanks for all your help and prayers! LOVE!

Fun Family Night (click for pics)

Many things are changing in the Olsen/Fijol/Hayes families but one thing remains. We still know how to party! What a fun night we had all cozied up in the Hayes house last night. It's good to know that when it comes down to it, it isn't about the size of the home but about the unity of it! Last night was a night of unity for our household! The kids are wonderful and had a great time. Fun games, picture time, food, movie (Pooh's Halloween), treats and silliness. Love you al! Thank you for making this time important to you!

RECYCLING

TRYING ON LAST YEARS FLOWER...
lovin' it!!

Taking the Final Plunge! (click for pics)

Well, I spent much time in prayer and study (years). My heart has been in a state of conflict for too long. I finally decided that this was holding me back and no longer would I allow it! I was water baptized on Saturday Oct 3rd. I really did feel a huge weight being lifted as I shared my thoughts, agreed with my friends as they spoke God's truth to me, then a refreshing dunk in the waters of the Palm Bay Aquatic Center pool! Just before my baptism I was filled with joy as I watched Elli experiencing the amazing effects of letting go and letting God! She too was baptized. What an amazing experience it was! The fellowship in itself was so free. This truly was a chain that had been weighing me down..."My chains are gone, I've been set free..." Of course, I was set free on the day I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior. This was just another branch that needed to be pruned and I allowed God to take hold of my heart as I gave it to Him FULLY! I have been praying for God to fill me with HIS confidence...Long story short, this was the first step and the changes are already becoming evident to me! Thank you Lord for being so patient with me! Thank you for making it so simple for me to come to You. Forgive me for making it so difficult! Help me to let go as You work miracles in my daily life! I will trust you and love you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength!

Monster Mash (click for video)

MONSTER
MASH

simple celebrations

Thanks for sharing your candles with me this year! I love you honey!!!

Disney Mania! (click for photos)

What an awesome time we had! Riley and I went for 2 days and 1 night to Fort Wilderness. Thursday we set up camp, went swimming, and headed to Animal Kingdom. We saw every animal known to man (:-)) and of course learned everything we could fit into a day, including this fact: did you know that gorillas eat their poop just to be sure they didn't miss anything the first time around! We had quite a show from one very egotistical male! You can imagine Riley! He was LOVING it! Laughed for a good hour.

It was fun to focus solely on Riley and follow his lead! So often he is hushed in life's process! It was a real pleasure to learn all about naked mole rats, rhinoceros iguanas, zebras and the list goes on! We ended the day with hot dogs and smores...Riley was in heaven! Although I will say he had to be the one to put a stop to the smores :-)! We had an amazing night sleep then woke up Saturday to breakfast, camp break down, more swimming , lunch at Trex cafe then off to Hollywood Studios to ride ROCKIN" ROLLERCOASTER! Our favorite ride! So much fun , Riley is so much fun! Loved it!

Dance Off

Last month, for Riley's bday, we spent part of the day at Downtown Disney. We went to Rainforest Cafe for dinner (becoming a tradition), made a "build a dino, had yummy ice cream and entered a dance contest! Well, Elli & Papa did. Riley, Charli and I just sat back and cheered them on. (Riley to Mama: "Mama, I know you love to dance, do you wish I would take you out there, I will." So sweet, I opted out for his sake. Phil is the dance king (at least that is how he sees himself - right honey!) he's so fun when it comes to the dance floor! So, he and Elli, with all the confidence they could muster, began to groove! They were chosen out of many to be of the 4 couple contestants. They ended up tying with another couple! I was so proud. Here are two of the very entertaining videos I shot! Enjoy!

Learning to say no even when it's REALLY hard and goes against my nature! Starting to see the benefits of laying low.

CALIFORNIA (click for pics)

We had an awesome time in Cali this year. Visiting and playing: San Fran, Yosemite, River rafting, mountain climbing, bike riding, hotel hopping, Old Sacramento, Capitol touring, swimming, eating, playing with family and friends, sleepovers, canoeing, FUN, FUN, FUN...Had a great time! Miss you all!

One more thing...God moved in an awesome way in each of our hearts as we walked down k street putting a message of love (attached to cash) to the many homeless who aimlessly walk the street. When we were staying downtown Sac we were shocked at the amount of people with out homes. More to come on this as God has been working a homeless ministry in my heart. For now, thanks kiddos and Phil for your love to those in need! It is great serving with you!

Retreat!!!

Costa D'Estes...I highly recommend you stay there! It is beautiful and very reasonably priced. You're on the beach and it's gorgeous! Phil & I had so much fun hanging out at the beach, on our rafts, taking walks, going to dinner at 8pm, listening to Michael Jackson music by the pool...So many special moments...It's a memory I will hold onto for a long while! Thank you honey for a beautiful weekend. Let's do it again soon!!! I love you!

o

Present with the Lord! (click for pics)

Seems unreal that my last post was all about dads. Today I lost one. Joe Jones. When I think of Joe many things come to mind...
boxer shorts
crazy print shirts
laughing
singing hymns "Joe version!"
unique walk
words like "oh yeah" in a way only Joe could say them
green thumb
belly rubbin' after great sweets
swing sets
floor play with kids
garbage disposals
water filters
dry wall
...get the picture...you name it he could do it and he did! He used his gifts over and over again to serve his family, friends, neighbors, anyone who needed a helping hand!.....


"Absent with the body present with the Lord" are the words that filled my mind and heart as I watched Joe lay peacefully in bed. Thank you God for not allowing him to suffer anymore. I hope Joe knew how much we loved him! He was an exceptional man...so strong in his faith, forgiving, calming, caring...

Sue is a strong woman! I am blessed to say that she draws her strength completely from the Lord. As she struggles to live life with out Joe by her side I pray Lord that you would give her an abundance of peace, an overflow of your healing and love and able her in every way to continue to serve You as she shines BRIGHT for you!

We miss you terribly Grandpa Joe.............

Papa, Dad, Gpa, Gpapa, Uncle, Brother, Friend

Charli & Papa

Papa & Riley

Papa & Elli

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

Happy Father's Day to all you who have chosen over and over again to be DAD!!! We love you guys!

Thank you God for your mighty hand in my life! You are my Abba Papa!