Lights for A Cause 2012

    When the Bearden's daughter Autumn was born in 2002 they decided to decorate their home with 100s of lights to make it pretty for her homecoming, never realizing that it would become what it is today!  After getting so much traffic from people admiring the lights they turned it into a way to give back!


Autumn's Lights just kicked off their 10th Annual Lights Show this past weekend and had an outcome of an estimated 1,200 people; and my family was among the crowd!
 We have taken the kids twice before when we were in the area at Christmas; however, I did not realize the story behind the lights until this year.

Autumn's Lights is a 4 acre drive thru light-show that is pretty neat to see; and the kids love it!!

...  But Best of All you can donate to help a Local Family in need at Christmas (if you'd like to)!  The Light Show is Free to drive thru anytime the month of December after dark, but if you donate a few dollars, it is greatly appreciated!!

This year Autumn's Loving Hand (the family's non-profit organization) is giving donations received from the lights show to Lucas Moore, a 9 year old local boy, who was in a horrific car accident October 16th of this year! ()

So... If you are in the Tarboro, NC area anytime this month... Drive Thru, Enjoy the Light Show, and Help a Family have a great Christmas despite the tragedy or illness that they are facing this year.. Bring a BIG SMILE to their face and yours!!

Here's a sneak peak at what you have to look forward to... :)



Autumn's Light is on Hwy 33 in Tarboro, NC if you want to stop by, but If you don't live close to Tarboro, NC and you would like to learn more or Donate to help this AWESOME cause.. visit the website at http://www.autumnslovinghand.com/index.htm

.... Hope To See Ya There! 

Are we as smart as we used to be?

Every since I become a student with a technology interest, I've researched many ways that technology has made our lives easier and what it can do for us.

Our phones store our numbers and we just pick a contact and call. Do we remember numbers like we used to? I catch myself "blank" sometimes if I have to actually dial the number.. Do you?

On GMA the other morning I briefly caught a story where they discussed a study that had been done on the decrease of intelligence in humans due to technology. Which really made me think more about this feeling that I have been having.

Our cars give us directions, talking to us the whole way almost (lol).  However, is this a good thing because sometimes this technology just does not know all the possible shortcuts... Does anyone ever read a paper Map anymore?

If we took all of the technology out of our lives, how lost would we be?  Would we figure out just how smart we truly are or realize we aren't as smart as we used to be?

When the power was out the local gas station was open, but using calculators to calculate the purchase.. I sat there as the young lady (a high school kid) struggled with calculating the taxes... I guess because the cash register had always performed this critical task for her.

Technology is awesome and a part of most of our daily duties, but have we begun to rely on it for so many things that we have forgotten how to do them ourselves?

    

Creation Station: Toys that inspire creativity

As you all know, I love to draw and be creative; and my youngest daughter has a slight spark for it as well.   Every year I try to find the most creative toys ...
Read more...:

Thanksgiving in the ER..

  I left work this morning on the way to get the kids from the hunting farm, where they hunted with my husband this morning (a little tradition he has started).  I had talked to him a few times after they had got out of the woods and he had asked what time I would be coming; however, I didn't know exactly and I was pretty busy trying to get everything accomplished.

  I was about 10 minutes away when my phone rang; and I knew it was my husband calling because of the ringtone.. I was aggravated already and so I kinda answered "WHAT.. I am almost there!!!" (I know that was kinda rude) and he said "I am glad because the kids Rolled the 4-wheeler and I think Kaitlyn's arm is broken!"  My heart dropped and my foot pressed the gas petal a little harder and I prayed that she was Okay the whole way there!

  Once I finally arrived at the farm I was sooo happy to see that they both were okay and it didn't appear to be broken, but she was in a lot of pain and it was bruised pretty bad.  However, she said her chest hurt when she breathed and so I went on to the ER just to make sure that she was alright.

   Thanksgiving in the ER wasn't as horrible as I imagined it would be; because honestly, I was dreading it the whole way!  They took us on back right after checking in (wow..lol) and checked her over (surprisingly, her arm didn't seem to be as non-movable as it was on the way), and they told me that they were going to do a few x-rays to assure nothing was going on.

   After the x-rays were looked over we found out that nothing was broken (Thank God), but the bruise should be expected to get bigger and darker; and probably not go away for a little while.  The cleaned her face and neck for the rub and scratched and sent us on our way.. almost 3 hours later.

    The Turkey didn't get in the oven to way later than planned and spending Thanksgiving in the ER was no ways what I imagined the day being; but I think this is one year that I am truly beyond Thankful for my kids and my husband!  I love them more than Life itself; and could not bare the thoughts of what it would be like without either of them!!

   The accident could have been a 1000 times worse than it was, we see it every day; but thanks to God it was pretty minor compared to the what if's!

  I hope that today you were able to see just how precious Life and family/Friends are to you (Hopefully, not with a scare as I did); and were able to express those feelings with the people that mean the most to you!

  Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Black Friday Chaos

Tomorrow is one of the most chaotic days of the year... Black Friday!  I would rather be in-bed sick than fight all the traffic and crowded stores with people fighting over the last item left; but I know that there are so many people who Love It!!

However, for people who, like me, who hate all the Black Friday Chaos.. there is always other options, Online Shopping!

You don't even have to wait for Cyber Monday if you need outdoor play equipment, trampolines, or a new playhouse for your kids this year.. go to WillieGoat.com and get the best Black Friday sales!

Here are some of the best Black Friday sales you will find at WillyGoat.com ...

Wooden Swing Sets
Palisade Swing Set $1089.99 
Hillcrest Swing Set $900.00 
Sherwood Tower Swing Set $650
Sandy Cove Swing Set $580
And Gorilla Swing Sets All On Sale 10% off thru November 26th
Metal Swing Sets Sheffield Metal Swing Set $360

Peg Perego Ride Ons Magnum Tractor With Stake Side Trailer 12 Volt Vehicle $245
Polaris Ranger RZR (YES! WE HAVE THESE IN STOCK $1099.99)

Trampolines
16' Magic Cage $100.00 Off
Nursery Trampoline $79.99 

**This is a sponsored ad.. However, all opinions are my own.

Pack a Shoe Box for Operation Christmas Child

I was one of my favorite sites this morning (BlogFrog) and one of my friends (OneMommy) was talking about Operation Christmas Child; but I had never heard of it. So, I checked out the site; and thought I would help get the word out because I love the thought of making children happy at Christmas!

I also came across this video of Scotty McCreery packing his box for the Operation Christmas Child; and thought I would share it with you!


Have you packed your shoebox yet?

National Collection week starts tomorrow.. November 12, 2012 - November 19, 2012.

All you have to do is:

Get an empty Shoe Box

Decide if your buying for a Boy or Girl (or Both)

Fill the Shoebox with Gifts (Toys, Person items, School supplies, even a personal note if you wish)

Include $7 Donation (to help with Shipping and other project costs) or Use the Follow Your Box link on the website to Donate Online

and Drop it Off

*You can call 1-800-353-5949 for drop off locations in your area or for more information; or visit the website http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

~ Pack a Shoe Box for Operation Christmas Child and Help make a child smile this Christmas!

Justice for Star..

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I could not believe this story when I seen it.. I just do not see how someone could be so disturbed. (This is all I can say about this for now)

However.. I have heard multiple conflicting updates about this story; so, I am not sure what the whole story is... so, I will try to stay caught up on it.

Although, rumor has it that there are other's involved; and the FBI has gotten involved. I will keep you up to date on it.

If you know anything for fact on this story.. Please Share!!

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Video Resource: WNCT 9; http://www2.wnct.com/news/2012/nov/08/7/edgecombe-county-woman-facing-felony-child-abuse-c-ar-2765828/