An update on Joshy Poo...

Josh made it from Lusaka to London safely! He has an overnight layover there tonight. His plane departs tomorrow for Dallas at 10:45am London time....he arrives at DFW at 3pm!! Whooo hoooo! I'm so excited to see him...I can hardly stand it!

Thanks again for all of your prayers!

"O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!"

I know I said I would post these pictures last night, but mom and I didn't finish the tree until tonight. I think it turned out lovely....it gets better (and bigger) every year as I find new treasures to stick in it. Thanks, mom, for all of your help....you always add that extra splash of sparkle that every Christmas tree needs! I love you very much.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product....unfortunately, the pictures really don't do it justice, but you'll get the idea...


The Rives Family Christmas Tree 2008..."there's a lot of sap in here....a lot of sap!"


The sparkly snowflakes were my inspiration for this tree....mom and I found these at an adorable Christmas store in Odessa 2 years ago.


The sparkly white sticks are a new addition to the tree this year...mom found these at Pier 1 last year during their after Christmas sale.


The big read ornaments are a new addition as well. Mom is letting me borrow these....I can't afford them right now! :)


I incorporate traditional and non-traditional ornaments....some are passed down from my Gran (my mom's mom), my mom and Josh's mom...and I have purchased quite a few over the years as well.


Some of my favorite ornaments are from Josh and I's childhood....you can see one of Josh in this picture. He's such a cutie!

Remember...."MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER" when it comes to decorating Christmas trees! Have fun sprucing yours up this year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I'm taking a little break from fluffing the Christmas tree....my least favorite part about putting up the tree. I like a nice full tree, so I'm pretty particular about "correctly fluffing" it...but I don't like doing it at all. It's just one of those things you've got to suck up and do...scraped arms and all! I'm sure that Josh is relieved that he is not here to help this year....I always put him on "fluff" duty...something I know he despises, but he sweetly does anyway because I've asked him to help. :) But, once the fluffing is done, the real fun begins! I'm almost there....I've got about half the tree left to fluff. To pass the time, I'm listening to Christmas tunes on Pandora.com....it's fabulous! Try it out....the Christmas classics (old and new) keep on coming for free...and no repeats! I'm loving it!

I'll post a picture of my tree tonight when I'm finished with it. It's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Rives home!

Happy Fluffing!
Mindy

Kaci's Favorite TV Show...

A few weeks ago Josh and I were watching "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" and we noticed that Kaci was "watching" it as well....she was sitting on the ottoman in front of the TV wagging her tail like crazy. Last night I was watching the show again and Kaci starting doing the exact same thing. It was so funny that I had to take pictures...I took these pictures with my iPhone, so they're not the best....but you can get the point....she loves the Gosselin family!




The girls got their hair cut on Wednesday...they look so cute!


Chloe is on the left, Kaci on the right...

Josh in Zambia...

Josh is doing really well and getting a lot accomplished! He'll be home on Wednesday....I'm counting down the days!

Thank you for your continued prayers while he is there!


This is Emma. She is at Family Legacy's Lifeway home and school which is the temporary program before the Tree of Life Children's Village is completed. She is one of the first on the list to go to the village when it is finished being built. Josh says that Emma is "probably one of the coolest and happiest kids ever." Can't you tell....that smile is full of joy!


This is Charles. He is 15 years old and in the 8th grade. He has 2 brothers, 3 sisters and lives with him mom. His dad left a while back and no one knows where he is. He really enjoys school and hopes that he can complete his education and be independent.

The Texas Hill Country....DFW Events' Style

We just got back from our Fall retreat in the hill country at Juniper Hills Farms in Dripping Springs, TX. We've all been working extremely hard over the past few months, so it was very refreshing to get away for a few days and relax as a team....we took an outdoor yoga class every morning, enjoyed hot stone massages, shopped in Wimberley, took a cooking class and enjoyed being together away from the office. I feel so blessed to work for the most amazing company ever...we had such a great time together! Here are a few pics from our fun trip...


The "casitas" we stayed in....so adorable!


Stephanie, Marina, Me and Karen


Marina and Alison roasting mallows...


Lite Dallas sent us a gift basket filled with new iPod Nanos....whooo hoooo!!!! Thank you Lite Dallas!!


Celebrating our new iPods!!


Ali and I...


Karen, Marina and I on the blue chairs I loved...


I think we're starting to look alike... :)


The whole gang at our cooking class....Sibby and Margaret from Dallas Affaires Cakes Co. (who hosted us at Juniper Hills Farm), the DFW Event's team and my mom, MF's mom and Ali's mom.


I love these girls...


Busy in the kitchen...


Enjoying our yummy dinner...


The leader of the pack enjoying her wine and telling the "best stories you've ever heard!"

What a fun trip! If you're ever in the hill country, you have to stop by Juniper Hills Farm for a cooking class and/or to stay the night in one of the adorable casitas. It's a beautiful place!

Josh Update...

Josh made it to Lusaka, Zambia safely!! I've been able to talk to him a few times over the computer thanks to Skype (what a great invention by the way). He is still quite jet lagged, but doing great. Today was his first full day at work in Family Legacy's Zambian office....all is well so far. He is staying at Family Legacy's house in Mulungushi Village, the same village we stayed in this summer when we were there for Camp Life. Thanks for your prayers.

Have a great weekend!

A San Francisco Treat...

Here are a few pics from our trip to San Francisco this past weekend...we had a great time visiting Ben and Ashley and seeing the city sites! It was my first time to San Fran and I just loved it...


Lombard Street


Me trying to be artsy with my new camera...KMR, this one is for you! :)


A great view of Alcatraz


The Golden Gate Bridge....what a site!


Ashley and Ben....and baby Kerr on the way!


At the Ferrari Carano Winery in Sonoma....it was absolutely beautiful and the wine was delicious!


The light house and warden's house (what's left of it after the fire) at Alcatraz


Touring Alcatraz...it was awesome!


Again, me trying to be artsy...yum-o!


Riding the trolley car...

We landed at DFW yesterday at 5pm and had less than 24 hours to get Josh packed for his trip to Zambia. His flight left today at 4:50pm. He'll be gone for 2 weeks, so please pray for travel mercies and safety during his time there and that he would be able to accomplish everything he needs to get done....he has a lot of really important things to do over the next 2 weeks. I'm so proud of him! Thank you for your prayers!

I love you and miss you already, honey!

XOXO

Kaci "Spayed" Rives

My little pumpkin, Kaci Grace, got her womanhood taken from her yesterday. She came home from the vet this morning in all her misery and cone head glory. She's been a good patient today...so we took a little stroll this afternoon so she could get out of the house for a bit.



I can tell she doesn't feel well, because usually when I get my camera out, she smiles....yes, literally smiles. She loves the camera! Here's a picture of her on a normal day....



Feel better soon Kaci!!

Hope everyone got out and voted today!!