This week over at Kelly’s Korner the theme is teacher gift ideas. I am not a teacher and Will is not old enough to have teachers yet but I am related to a ridiculous amount of teachers! My mom, sister and sister-in-laws are all elementary school teachers.

In my opinion, teachers really enjoy “teachery” gifts the first few years of teaching but after that – how many apples can you have sitting around your house and classroom? My mom has taught for almost 30 years and she gives away most of the gifts she receives to us (yay) or when we visit the nursing home.

I think the best kinds of teacher gifts are those they can use! All teachers always need supplies for their classroom – figure out what they need and bring it in or give them a giftcard to a local school/teacher store. Teaching can be a stressful job so it would be great if all the students collaborated and gave their teacher a giftcard to their favorite restaurant or how about one for a massage.

And if you really want to go over the top – here’s an idea. When my sister was student teaching one of the student’s family owned a jewelry store. Oh, yes she got a ring as a gift! If I am remembering correctly it was an emerald ring.

Well, that is just my non-teacher opinion! Mom, Dana, Mandy – what are your favorite kinds of gifts to get?

It’s Friday and it’s time for “Show Us Your Life” over at Kelly’s Korner. Yay! I love these blog parties – I always find a new friend This week’s theme is Favorite Charities. Being a social worker, I could name about 100 “favorites” of mine. But, I will limit them to one’s I actually contribute to in some way.

Compassion International ” exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.” Compassion currently helps more than 1 million children in 25 countries. Compassion operates through child sponsorships – it is a great way to make a difference in the life of a specific child and family. And it’s only $38 a month – that is giving up one restaurant meal a month!

AAA Women’s Services and Choices Women’s Resource Center are located in Chattanooga , TN. They provide SO MANY services and resources for women who are expecting babies. They provide ultrasounds, full information on a woman’s choices including adoption, and classes for expecting mom’s and dad’s. I feel like this description is not doing them justice – they do some amazing things for women AND men! And the really cool part is that their original location set up shop in what was once an abortion clinic – many of their first clients came looking for an abortion and found AAA instead So many lives saved!

If you’re in Chattanooga they accept money donations for the many services they provide and they accept baby items for their “store.” Clients earn “dollars” by completing classes and then get to shop for baby items.

And of course, I have to mention Hope Church. Hope Church is a new church plant in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. Bill and I are partnering to help start the church and are looking forward to moving soon! (Just have to sell this house.) After Hurricane Katrina the entire area was devastated – as we all remember. But, what a lot of people don’t know is that many, many churches did not reestablish after the storm. New Orleans is a city hungry for God’s salvation.

If you’re interested in learning more or partnering with Hope Church – please contact me. Do you think your church would be interested in partnering through praying, giving and serving? Let me know (amber@dixondialogue.com) and we can send you an informational packet.

And no post is complete without a picture of Will! I don’t have any new ones from this week so I thought I would post a nostalgic picture from March 2009: Meeting his cousin, Greyson, for the first time.

Today, at Kelly’s Korner, the theme is share your typical day. Every day around here is a little different – depending on what kind of moods we are in. For instance, this week I have been a little cranky so we have done a lot of playing and reading in our pj’s! A while back I created a “schedule” for Will and I and try to stick to it most weeks.

6am – 7am: Will wakes up (and either Bill or I drag ourselves out of bed to get him)

7 am: Breakfast

Monday: Cleaning Day

Tuesday: Storytime at Library at 10:30

Wednesday: Bible Study 9am – 11am

Thursday: Play at Home or Play Date

Friday: Grocery Store

12noon: Lunch Time

1pm -2pm: More playing

2pm-4pm: Nap Time (I am usually NOT productive during nap time but watch bad TV, sleep or blog)

5/6pm: Dinner

8pm: Bedtime for Will

10pm: Bedtime for Me!

It is pretty unexciting but it is what we do

I found this picture while I was organizing my gazillion pictures into albums after Christmas – it is funny! This was our first Valentine’s date in 2002. Bill was 18 and I was 17

Then Dana jumped in for a picture! I guess we thought we should wear red and pink since it was Valentine’s Day.

I am excited about what we have planned this year for Valentine’s Day! Will is staying with his grandparents for the long weekend and we are going to take full advantage of the time

Friday Night:

• Dinner at J. Alexander’s
• Window shop in Green Hills

Saturday:

• Sleep In!
• Breakfast at Pancake Pantry
• Browse the Tennessee State Museum
• Do something fun with friends

Sunday:

• Church
• Herb Stuffed Chicken lunch
• Nap!
• Bluegrass at The Station Inn

In year’s past we have enjoyed a nice dinner out and there is usually a sweet surprise. Two years ago Bill sent me an Edible Arrangement of chocolate covered strawberries. It was SO delicious.

Well, this is an unfortunate week for me to join “Show Us Your Life.” I am not a girly-girl so I don’t have any ground breaking beauty tips to share so I’ll just let you know what I couldn’t live without.

Time Wise Miracle Set – this set is perfect for my usually dry sometimes normal, sometimes blemish-prone skin! The moisturizer is just divine and leaves my face feeling refreshed without feeling greasy or “thick.” I love the whole system and use it EVERY day.

Mini Claw Clips – I have a gazillion of these little clips. They are perfect for getting my hair out of my face everyday and I also use them when I actually fix my hair!

Bronzer – especially in the winter. I put bronzer on my cheeks, forehead, chin (practically me entire face!) If I don’t use it in the winter I look like a vampire

Well, that is it! No huge beauty breakthrough here!