1. My voice is pretty good! I saw my surgeon this morning (totally stressed getting there though since my 45 minute drive took 2 hours with traffic and then I was late! UGH!). She was really happy with how things look. I don’t go back for another 3 months (sigh of relief). Pray that it continues to improve over the next couple weeks so that I can sing a bit for Christmas!
2. Pray for me as I have some editing projects in front of me with deadlines quickly approaching. I am anxious to finish them but find it hard to get undivided time to work (I know all you mommies out there know what I mean).
3. Pray for God to continue to guide us, direct our paths, and teach us to rest when we feel hurried and busy.

Click here to learn more about Thursday’s Things to Pray For. Pray for me, for these things I list. And, leave me a comment to let me know you did if you don’t mind. It would be a great encouragement. And, I invite you to do the same on your blog–haven’t had too many takers on this in weeks past. But, I still feel compelled to invite you to. Or, if you don’t want to link up, feel free to leave your prayer request as a comment here and I’ll lift it up.

<center><a href="http://www.raudenbushfamily.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src="http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/mkraudy/Prayerbutton.jpg" /></a></center>

If you do link up, grab this button above and add it to your blog post. All you have to do is highlight the code in the box above and paste it into your Thursday’s Things to Pray For post in the “edit HTML” tab wherever you want the button to appear.

Then, add your link to the list below. Just click on your own Thursday’s Things to Pray For post and copy the web address. That’s a direct link to the specific post (not just your blog in general). Then, paste that url address below. I’ll be sure to come by and pray for your requests too. (You may not see your own picture show up here–but it’ll be there for others to see. No worries.)

The fun of being involved with Jiayin Designs is getting to see and even help choose what will go on the site. I just updated the site with some new things and they are so neat.

We also added this headband of plum blossoms. Did you know that plum blossoms are a symbol in China for overcoming adversity? Plum blossoms are the first blossom in spring and often blossom when there is still frost and even snow. Pretty neat.

The custom charms are the best seller from the site by far. But, all these new things are pretty cool. I may be ordering some things myself for Christmas gifts this year!

And, go check out the Rippee’s silent auction fundraisers starting today and running for a few weeks. There is a Jiayin custom charm there on auction to help them raise money for their adoption. Go bid for a good cause!

The weekend went by fast–my sister and her family were here overnight Friday. My parents were up too. We did the big consignment sale that we always do Friday night and Saturday (sold old stuff and bought some used stuff–hoping I made more than I spent). We celebrated Erin’s 30th birthday on Saturday (she’s all grown up now with 3 kiddos to prove it). I was up past 1:30am last night cleaning and organizing (have you caught on that I enjoy order?). The day today went by fast too–at church early to serve on the worship team, home for lunch and a little bit of time to get some things done, off to Chinese class with Ashlyn, came home and proceeded to spend 3 hours making Ashlyn’s Halloween costume. I don’t know why I chose to do that project tonight. Distraction maybe. Maybe for a sense of accomplishment. Maybe to relieve the stress I was feeling over the stinkin’ costume that Ashlyn was so excited about (“How in the world am I going to make a peacock costume without any pattern at all????). Well, whatever motivated me, it worked. I was distracted (much to my husband’s chagrin), and I ended the project quite proud of myself that I made a rather pretty (and sparkly) dress that will make this peacock princess look pretty darn awesome (you’ll have to wait to see it…sorry).

I will be headed to bed early tonight and getting up early to leave the house by 6:15 with our little girlie for her to get her tubes put in. Someone at church today told me that when her son got tubes put in, just when she was reaching for kleenex for the first time in the waiting room, they came and got her to tell her it was done. I know that that will be the case for me too. I’m sure I’ll cry, but it will be over fast. And, then I’ll get to be with her as she wakes up.

Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit from CoMission for Children at Risk on Vimeo.

I’d really like to go. I’m thinking creatively about the money.

Anyone else going?