Update on my Little One in Uganda

If you followed by June trip to Uganda you would have heard me talk about a little girl in Uganda I just absolutely thought was the cutest thing. Of course I could not bring her home, but I checked with the Pastor who runs the facility that these kids can come to for the day and learn, get fed and medical attention, and she still is coming there daily with her older brother who brings her. No one has details on her, but I was told she is a street child, most likely orphaned but taken care of by siblings. This is Fazira. ADORABLE!!!!!




I can tell they posed her with clean clothes in a few of the photos, and with a banana! So she is getting food there. The kids all swap clothes after they get bathed by the women who help the Pastor. The women are widowed and really devote their lives to these kids who are the bottom of the barrel in Uganda.

One Person Can Make a Difference

"Powerlessness and silence go together. We should use our positions not as a shelter from the world's reality, but as a platform from which to speak. A voice is a gift. It should be cherished and used."
~ Margaret Atwood

My daddy is married!

There is a long love story that goes with this marriage, but you may have seen it unfold in my blog's photos!

If you remember my 2007's family Europe cruise photos had Cammy in them, her and my dad were an item!! Then they split and then for almost 2 years no photos of Cammy until last Spring!!! He bought a new home and she was hired to help him his decor. In the photos I posted from the Hope 4 Kids event last May, Cammy is in them. She attended as a friend and they shared some moments that I noticed were genuine. Then at the family trip to Atlantis we surprised my dad and flew Cammy down to join him. They were not dating at the time and knew they needed the nudge to get together, once and for all. She flew down to where we were not knowing how my dad would react or if he feelings. We flew her down not knowing if my dad still had feelings for her. Overall, it was nerve racking for us all. But it worked!!! And that was documented by photos also! From Atlantis until they married they have been inseperable.

October he popped the question in San Fran, she said YES. Then they planned an engagement Christmas party, invited 300 people and on a chilly winter evening the guests were surprised! It was not an engagment party, it was a surprise wedding!! Cheering erupted when he announced that the glass covered pool would be the site of their nuptials. Pastor Daryl joined my father, all of my father and Cammy's kids were brought to center stage as the guests watched with smiles on their faces as Cammy join my dad for their vows!

2009 was a great year for my father. He bought a new home, reconnected with Cammy, was surprised in the Bahamas by Cammy and ultimately realized he loved her. Probably all along, these past 2 years. So here is a glimpse of the evening. I did not take enough photos of the happy couple, but when I get the professionals I will post them. Look at the details and notice they even had a "kids club" area set up in the basement so guests can bring their children. The air was crispy and the stars were out, heaven was smiling!

National Honors Cotillion's 2009 Holly Ball

Oh yes, I am one of those mom's! My kids will be involved in social events and learn manners. I was involved with the Phoenix Honors Cotillion when I was in highschool, so I am familiar with the concept of the cotillion. As school started, I was approached by Evan's friend Hailey's mom to have Evan join the cotillion in our area. I was excited that they were including the boys, since back in my day it was all girls. Evan found a group of great kids that are now his friends, from not only his school but a few others in our area. Evan attends 1 class monthly and then he will have 2 social events for the school year. The Holly Ball is the first event, which parents could not attend. The Spring Ball is the second event, which family and friends can attend and watch. The kids learn not only social graces, but manners and traditional types of dancing. He loved it!! Which made me happy!!! These photos were taken by the event photographer and I bought the cd (with the rights), so I could get a glimpse of what happened behind the ballroom doors! I did sneak in at the end with my camera and tried to get a photo (the photos I took did not turn out). You can see me in the corner of one photo with a black jacket and blue sweater, HA!

Evan's Holly Ball date, Hailey

Evan's friends

The Dance:
















Evan and Hailey collect their prize for winning the contest "dancing the foxtrot with a ball between their heads".













See me??? HA HA HA.....OH YES SHE DID SNEAK IN!!!!