I did want to mention that tonight there is a local telethon being hosted, Neighbors In Need, by ABC 33/40. For those who aren't local you can watch HERE.
Also, I wanted to say thank you for all the childcare comments and e-mails. I needed the advice, trust me! To take time out of your busy days to send me the wealth of information you did is really awesome. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and if I have not e-mailed back yet it is not because I am ignoring you, it is because the computer virus that won't quit is still having a blast in my computer.Image found She Takes Flight via Emphasis Added
I love this room because it has my two favorite colors in it. Blue and pink! I like designing spaces for myself that have pink, are slightly girly and very care-free. I love happy colors and fabrics and lots of white. 
It's wonderful to have my Ikea shelf where everything has a place. 
I also love having my desk in front of my window so I can look outside and enjoy our wonderful view of the mountains. 
Thanks so much to Marianne for letting me participate in sharing the room I love! 
I have wanted it for a while now but it fell off my radar until the other day when I saw these (which are sooo on my mind lately)...
Which in turn made me think of something that looked a little something like this, bringing me back to the original watch...
Funny how that happens...and leaves you wanting all 3 even more. While looking at this I found a few others that look like lost cousins (all of which I now want, but I would not wear them at the same time, too matchy)
But who am I kidding? There is no time to dream right now, I am over half way through this pregnancy and the panic attacks are starting. I need help and advice when it comes to childcare!!!
I am looking for something that is not full time, but at least 3 days a week. I am thinking a nanny share/mother's day out combination is the way to go but I am open to any and all suggestions. Daycares you like, people you have used, or nice, normal, perfectly sane new or future parents who might be in the same predicatment that would want to share child care.
I appreciate all suggestions! If you don't want to leave the information in a comment please e-mail me - mariannestrong@aol.com. Thank you!!!
Out of the house and into a much larger space...as you can tell, I need more room desperately. This is only half of it, I also have a storage space with more samples, furniture, etc.
If I am being really honest with you this a relatively clean state, usually it just looks like a disaster.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3
Which brings me to this little fun thing that I want to add to my wish list for Baby Strong's nursery...
I came across it on Daily Candy today and I think it would be so cute on a shelf somewhere. No, I haven't even started on his future home, yet here I am looking at a planter for the nursery. Where are my priorities and who puts a plant in a kids room? Oh, I do. And a plant like the one shown would probably met a much a better fate than my poor Maiden Hair.
For example, these pictures do not show how gorgeous her bedding really is or the pretty rug in this room. The lights will be coming with us, we are both still obsessed.
The ceiling was one of my favorite parts of this room...
I love to think about the new house knowing what great pieces are coming from the old house. Every piece we chose we made sure would last for a long time and transition into other spaces. Remember how much I loved this artist? Her art collection, including this John Robinette beauty, is quite impressive.
More art I love... lamps, side tables, pillows, you all are coming as well...hop in the Uhaul.
This may be a dud of a picture but it holds so much goodness. When I get a better picture I will explain what is above the sofa, very cool. The sofa itself is a long time love of mine- linen perfection. Also hard to see is the skirted table, it turned out so well I can't wait to find a new home for it.
More to come as we get ready for the move...
And you know already I love the dark cabinets with all the white. 
He needs the help of others though first. The program which brought him here for various reasons cannot continue and now the remainder of his education is in jeopardy. I will let him tell his story below but help would be appreciated in any form!
The year was 1989…the month I cannot remember…the time was morning…I was in my small village in Mundri, Sudan. Muslims from the north raided my village…because we were Christians. The goal for the Muslims was to take everyone as a prisoner or slave, and burn anything that remained. However, they did not succeed…my God had greater plans for me…at the age of three. I survived. On this terrible day my parents, 5 brothers and sister were taken as prisoners while I was playing nearby with friends. As we all ran for safety, my grandfather took me into the jungle to live…and for years he and I survived on nothing more than roots of wild fruits.
In the jungle we lived life the best that we could. Tukuls were built for shelter…gardens were planted for food…wood was gathered for fire. Clothing was scarce but the love among us was great. My grandfather that cared for me was a preacher. He understood the love of Christ and he shared it with me often. At the age of 14, I knew that I had no hope and that Christ was the only way I could continue to live…so I asked Christ to be Lord of my life. My life has never been the same. My grandfather continued to model for me how to walk with the Lord. My past will always be my past, but I knew that by following Christ my future would be bright!
Life in the jungle was adventurous, scary and difficult. I was a very tiny small-framed boy, who learned great lessons from a wise grandfather, to whom I will be forever grateful. I dug the garden, walked miles for water, slept on a straw mat on the dirt floor, contracted malaria, had one clothes, listened for incoming aircraft with bombs, hid in foxholes, worshipped the Almighty God, was bullied by friends, lived with baboons and hyenas and I was bitten by a black mamba! I was getting a pumpkin in the garden when a black mamba struck me twice on the leg…blind and paralyzed within minutes…a neighbor witnessed the event…my little leg burst with poison…terrible pain and unable to see or speak for over a month. The Lord of my life healed me! This life was a walk of faith I will never forget and I will use my experience to glorify God by bringing hope to the people of Southern Sudan.
Life continued in the jungle for 15 years. Then in 2005 a peace treaty was signed in Sudan to end the war between the Muslims in the north and the Christians in the south. At this time, I had the opportunity to begin looking for my family. My search began in Juba at a refugee camp and thankfully my search ended there as well. By God’s grace I found my mother and my sister, but was saddened to hear that all five brothers were killed in the war and my father died as well. My mother’s heart was filled with joy, and I knew that our reunion was just another part of the greatness of God in my life.
Education has always been a priority in my life. My grandfather constantly encouraged me to learn. At a young age I would attend school under a tree in the jungle. I learned with no paper and pencils, only with dirt and sticks. But God continued to work in my life and I continued to trust Him for my education. Soon missionaries came to start a “real” school in Mundri. For the first time I was able to use a book and pencils (although I did have to break the pencils in half to share with friends). However this did not last long, after 6 short months the Muslims heard what was happening…Christians learning…and bombed our school. As a result missionaries left and the school was closed. My heart was broken but I trusted that God had a plan. After 2 years of trusting God to complete the work that He started in me…my cry was heard… American missionaries came and wanted to help me go to school. Through the missionaries, God would provide a way for me to travel to Uganda where I would attend and complete high school and begin preparing to accomplish my dream of a college education.
Most in Sudan will never have the experience of attending college, but I know in my heart that God had different plans for me. In January 2008, I was given the opportunity to apply for a student visa to travel to the United States. After eight long months of waiting and trusting, God saw fit for the Embassy to grant me my student visa. I could see my dream coming true…I was headed to the United States to attend college.
I have now been in the United States attending college for two years. This experience has exceeded all of my expectations. It is my desire to remain in the United States in order to complete the remainder of my college education, but this can no longer happen without the assistance of friends like you. Many years ago, God placed a desire in my heart to earn a college degree so that I could return to my country as an honest, Christian businessman and help provide employment and HOPE for my people.
I would first like to ask you to pray for me as I continue in this journey. I know that when believers pray our great God hears our cries. Second, I would like to ask you to consider giving financially to the completion of my education. No amount is too small. I know this is a large task and very expensive but I believe through faith in our big Lord it can be accomplished. Third, if you know of any churches, groups or organizations where I can share my story, please contact me 205-215-6363.
Thank you so much for your love and support! It is a blessing to call you brothers and sisters!
Make Checks payable to:
Four Corners Ministry
PO Box 161
Wedowee, Alabama, 36278
Memo Line: Bullen Education
www.4cornersministries.org via paypal
Comment: Bullen Education
Imparting Hope
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*Also you can find Bullen here: www.wix.com/impartinghope/4one
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