its not too early to start thinking about christmas presents...

or any time, just because presents. 

and here are a few really good ideas...

the samaritan's purse chirstmas gift catalog is a really good place to start.

for $9 you can feed a hungry baby for a week

for $75 you can rescue a child from exploitation

for $15 you can teach a child to read and write

for $250 you can transform the life of a disabled child

for $45 you can buy 10 fruit trees for a community

for $50 you can help stock a fish pond

for $70 you can buy a community some dairy animals

for $35 you can provide a community honey bees and all the starter equipment and training to start a successful honey business

for $75 you can furnish a weeks worth of hot meals to a child

for $10 you can provide a treated mosquito bed net

for $4 you can provide a weeks worth of milk for a child

for $14 you can buy a starter brood of a dozen chicks

for $130 you can buy an emergency shelter

...clean water, emergency medication, care for AIDS orphans and widows, family survival kits, help sending missionary doctors, build a house for a family, household water filters, freshwater wells, shoes, clothes, blankets, and so much more...

buy some toms shoes and a child gets a pair, too.

world vision is another great organization that i wrote about here that gives you the opportunity to bless people with the things they need...

trade as one is a fair trade organization that empowers people to create sustainable business and break the cycle of poverty in the developing world.

you can empower a child and get to know them through compassion international.

so many opportunities to stay connected, show Jesus' love, and save lives. we are powerful in each others lived and in the lives of people we don't even know.

we are supposed to take care of eachother.

so...happy early christmas present shopping......

xox

happy birthday silas!!!

dear silas, today you are three!

so three years into your beautiful life...

• you have lived in russia longer than you have lived in the USA
• you LOVE regina spektor and ingrid michaelson and you sing all their songs
• you throw a frisbee like a pro
• you are so empathetic - you teach adults how to care for one another
• you love kai
• you love thomas the tank engine {and thanks to thomas you use many "british" terms}
• you dance
• you still like to use a lot of the sign language you learned before you could speak
• the way your face lights up when you see your daddy is priceless
• you prefer almond milk or soy milk to regular milk

• you drink pomegranate juice like its going out of style
• you love pete the cat, anything eric carle and move over rover!
• i think you would live outside if we would let you
• you know all your letters and you count to 20 - you are a learner!
• you have a lot of questions but a true desire to understand - that is admirable.
• you say "hello" to everyone you see, and you have been able to elicit a smile from any stranger since you were a little baby on the moscow metro
• you eat salmon but not tuna, you love fresh mozzarella and avacado
• you would be happy if we had a picnic dinner in the backyard every night
• you are a good friend
• you do love your blanket
• you have always been a good sleeper and you still are {you have spoiled us!}
• you love to paint
• you love your family and friends and talk about them by name all the time
• you are cautiously adventurous {a really good balance}
• you love kayaking

silas, you have lived a lot of life in three years...from way back here to all thats in between and now you are three. what a joy to know you. we love you and look forward to many more years!!!

{many many many more pictures and videos from these last few years here!}

happy birthday buddy! we love you!!!

{you took this picture a few days ago...photographer in the making!?!?!}

xox

happy saturday!

oh how i love that lovely pile of pillows.

happy saturday!

{we're headed out to play!}

xox