Gratitude...

I thought this video had a beautiful message just perfect for Thanksgiving Day! Just click on the link below and it will take you to the page on Gratitude. You'll find the video there (it's only about 4 minutes long).

www.lds.org/topic/gratitude

I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my husband and 5 children. I'm thankful for miracles in my life. I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for beautiful music, good books and delicious food! I'm thankful to live in this country. I'm thankful for this wonderful time of year.

What are you thankful for?

Birthday parties for Olivia...

Grandma and the girls before leaving on Sunday

Olivia on Saturday with her friends (and Zach the party assistant)

Olivia with our butterfly cake creation

It's almost Olivia's birthday, so Saturday she had her friend party with 10 girls showing up for the fun, and then Monday we had cousins and Grandma E. over for a family party. (Sunday morning we saw Grandma Carol off bright and early.)

When Grandma comes to town...

she goes shopping! Girls can always use some new clothes and Grandma

Carol and mom have fun finding them.

Grace's Songs of China

(Date is wrong on picture above. It is really from about a month ago. Look at the difference between this picture and the one in the video at the end of this post!)

I have learned of a family who needs help raising money for their adoption fees. Ever since I had Grace's songs from China recorded last year, I've wanted to make them available and donate the proceeds to an adoption. I know this family is doing everything they can to raise the money they need, and I'd like to help them. (Their blog is jonahsfamily.blogspot.com)

On our blog, go to the blog archive on the right and click on January. Then go down to the 14th to see one of Grace's songs performed. We recorded all of the songs at a recording studio that she could sing or remember the month she came home from China. She even recited a story and poem that she had memorized. (The story is over 3 minutes long...what a memory!)

She has a beautiful voice and I think it would be a great gift to give families with adopted children from China. Their are 14 short songs, all in Chinese. They are priceless to us and we think others would enjoy hearing her sweet voice singing the songs she learned in her home country. She also had 2 stories memorized, so we included them in the recording.

If we can, we will do as much translating of the songs and stories into English as possible. At the least, we will have the song titles translated.

We will send an electronic copy to anyone who would like to make a $10 donation to help this family pay their orphanage fee. (The fees went up $2000 recently.) All you have to do is e-mail songs@the-earls.com

We will then send you a PayPal request. As soon as we get receipt, we will give you instructions on how to get them downloaded. 100% of the donation will go to this family to help with their orphanage fee.

Grace singing one of her songs in music class shortly after coming home. (Believe it or not this is only from January of this year!):