Bright Star Soaps

Hi Everyone!  I want to share about another friend whose soap business is supporting adoption.  Cheryl, also lived down the hall from me at UNC-Greensboro.  She, her husband, and daughters are currently waiting to be matched for a domestic adoption.  They are actually one of the Christian Adoption Services waiting families (it's a small world- I haven't seen Cheryl and Ted in almost 15 years and now I see them a couple times a year at CAS functions).  Please check out Cheryl's soaps at Bright Star Soaps:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/brightstarsoaps  and help them with their adoption.

I can personally attest the soaps smell great, and are beautiful....

Homemade Soaps support Adoption

I want to share with you all about a great gift idea for Christmas.   A dormmate of mine from UNC-Greensboro has a homemade soap and lotion company that you should check out at http://www.catiebeth.com/.  Catherine and her family adopted a little boy from Ethiopia earlier this year and now she is donating her profits to other families that God has lead to adopt.

It's National Adoption Month- Christian Adoption Services Needs your Help.

Hi Everyone;

As most of you know I work for Christian Adoption Services and it's also the agency that we adopted Sara through.  We are in need of a Spanish Speaking Volunteer.......

Please see Gretchen's post below:

Spanish speaking volunteer needed!

Most of you don't know but Sheryl (another Counselor) and I spent 3 days in Wilmington last week networking at the annual conference for health departments in NC. Well Sheryl did the networking and I assisted (total honesty should be good!). We made MANY great contacts throughout the state and most people were eager to get their hands on our information to pass out to their pregnant clients.

We were asked several times for packets in Spanish and not just English to be able to present the option of adoption to Spanish women/men. We are seeking a volunteer who would be able to translate 5 pieces of papers into Spanish which would help explore adoption as an option.

If you are that person or you know of a person who might be interested feel free to have them email me at gretchen@christianadopt.org

Halloween

As in years past we headed over to my parent's neighborhood for a little Halloween fun. Each year my mom makes chili in the crockpot so that whenever your hungry you can stop by the house for a little food. This year was extra special since the Barclays have moved back to Charlotte, Sara had her best friends and cousin, Ella a.k.a. Super Ella along to run the streets with. The boys were off on their own in the neighborhood with friends. (We didn't even get a picture of them, which goes to say they are getting to Big too fast).

Sara a.k.a. the Butterfly, fluttered her way throughout the neighborhood and enjoyed having her pumpkin filled. While Super Ella soared right next to her.! Olivia, a.k.a. the pumpkin, joined in the festivities at the tail end.

Sara a.k.a. Butterfly

Super Ella!

Getting prepared to fly and soar away!

It's time!

Olivia the Pumpkin

B-17 Bomber

David, Jared, Xander, and my mom took off after church today to head to the Concord Regional Airport. There was a B-17 Bomber on display that they could tour (for free), or ride in (for $400.00 a person). The boys were very excited and David being a history buff was in his glory! Mom enjoyed herself too. They all talked about how tiny the inside of the plane was. From the pictures, it looks like they all enjoyed themselves.

 

Fall Festival

The Anne Springs Close Greenway near our house held a Fall Festival this year.  Well the festival consisted of horse rides, a corn maze, a bail of hay maze (for the the younger kids), a wagon ride throughout the Greenway, and corn hole.  They also had a few pumpkins to purchase and some goodies.

Since it was a nice fall day; and all the family is now in Charlotte we headed out to enjoy some fun family entertainment.   We also had Garrett for the night; so in total we had six kids.  [For those of my friends that have more three children (like I do) I have a whole new respect for you].  Sara has a new love; Horse back riding (David is looking into riding lessons; I'm not so excited-especially since I'm allergic).  Ella, Garrett, and Xander enjoyed it too.  Jared was off running around, and Olivia enjoyed the festival from the comforts of her stroller nestled in a cozy blanket. 

The Gang

Sara riding

Garrett Rides!

Ella waiting her turn

H-O-R-S-E!

Xander's Turn

Olivia enjoying the Festival

Ella Rides!

Xander, Scott, and Ella on the wagon

Sara's version of Corn Hole

Bail of Hay Maze

Special Date

What a Special Date I had......

Last weekend Jared and I got to go on a date.  It is a rare occassion that I get to spend one on one quality time with the boys.  As it was Xander and David were gone to a cub scout camping trip and Sara spent the night with nana and papa so Jared and I got to have a great time just the two of us.  I told him that he could choose where he wanted to eat and he wanted Chinese food and we had a coupon for Jo Jo China Bistro at Stonecrest; which neither of us had been too.  Jared told me sounded good to him because he likes trying new places so that's where we went.  It was a nice night; upper 70s/low 80s so we ate outside and just talked.  On the way home Jared started talking about some very important events that have happened in his life and we ended up just talking and looking through an 'important memory' book for over 2 hours.   I was so greatful to have this very special time to just listen to his heart and thoughts about his life experiences.   He is growing into such a young man and he has such a tender heart. My prayer for him is that he always rests in the comfort and love of Jesus and knows that there is nothing that he can't share with David and I.

 

Jared, I love you and am truely blessed that you are my son!

 

I know I may be being vague but in sharing this special time I am also trying to respect Jared's heart and mind; I hope you understand .

Final Cuboree

David and Xander were off to the Districts Cuboree with the cub scouts.  This will be the final one for the Letteer family; as Xander is concluding his years in Cub Scouts.  I secertly think David is more disappointed because since Xander is in cub scouts he gets to go camping pretty regularly; once Xander is in Boy Scouts with Jared, parents don't go along on every trip.  At the Cuboree; Xander participated in orienteering, rock climbing wall, pioneering, and worked on his first aid.  David and Xander had a great time having some father-son bonding; and sleeping in the cool air.  

"Friday Field Trip" - The Pumpkin Patch

Today Sara and I met up with some dear friends (Katie, Mason, Garrett, Allison, and Kyle) at Hodges Dairy Pumpkin Patch. Immediately, Sara wanted to pick out a pumpkin from the prepicked ones .....

until she saw the wagons and realized that there was more to come. (with a little prompting from me and her friends). At first she jumped in the wagon and wanted to be pulled..
Well that lasted all of about 2 minutes when she saw all the other kids pulling their wagons. "Miss Independent", as she is being called a lot lately, decided that she needed to "I do it" (as she would say). a.k.a do it herself!

All the kids had a great time in the pumpkin patch trying to find the perfect pumpkin. I think each one of the kids must have picked 3, 4, or maybe 5 pumpkins before the perfect one made the trip in the wagon to go home.

Following the pumpkin patch we were able to 'visit' with some of the animals at the farm. There were cows, horses, chickens, goats, and pigs.

After the pumpkin patch we headed to Don Padro's for lunch. Gotta love those chicken fajitas at lunch for only $6.00. All in all it was a great day, and us mom's had a great time chatting and enjoy each other's company too. Thanks ladies, and I'm looking forward to the next "Friday Field Trip"; where will the next stop be........?????" Anyone else interested in joining us, let me know.

(It was a great day weather wise too, it actually felt like fall. Cool enough to have a jacket to start the day, and warm enough to leave it behind before the day ends. I love fall!)

Welcome to the World, Olivia!

Olivia Scott Barclay

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl today! Olivia Scott Barclay entered the world on September 27, 2010 at 8:06 am. She weighed 9 lbs 2.9 oz, and 20 inches. Ella is such a great big sister! Sara wasn't so sure what to think at first glimpse; but was so concerned when Olivia was upset.

Kelly and her girls; Ella and Olivia

Grandpa, Olivia, and Sara

Scott, Olivia, Sara, and Grandpa (my dad)

We love you sweet girl!

Best of Friends !

Sara and Ella are the best of friends, and even more cousins that can't get enough of the other! When the two of them are not together they are asking for each other and wanting to be with each other; daily Sara asks if she can call Ella. They play so well together and it is always fun to watch them talk to each other.

Additionally, Sara and Ella holding a huge part of grandpa's heart. He is so in love with them; and just one way the many ways the girls show him their love is to support his favorite team; the Green Bay Packers!
Sara and Ella Coloring with Grandpa
Let's go Packers, Let's Go!

We love your team, Grandpa but love you a whole lot MORE!!

Annual Apple Picking

2010 Family trip to Skytop Orchard

We headed to Skytop Orchards for our annual apple picking. This makes the third year that we have gone. This year was different from the other two; the first year was just like you want for apple picking- a cool, nice, fall day; last year was a little rainy and warm; this year was just plain old HOT.... I think it was almost 90. Not my idea of a pleasant fall day. Since it has been such a hot and dry late summer/early fall; several of the types of apples we normally pick the trees were bear. There was even a sign posted saying that because of the hot and dry weather the pickings are slimmer than other years. But, we still had FUN! Kristin and Garrett went with us so it was fun to watch them with their first experience of apple picking. The boys and Sara just love going too. This year for 3 days before we went Sara was telling everyone she was going apple picking. When we are there if you need to locate Jared and Xander; the best place to look is up, up in a tree because that is probably where you will find them. Garrett, also liked the idea of climbing trees. Sara perferred to stay on the ground.

Sara enjoying one the many apples she picked and sampled

Proud of her picking

Is that a monkey in the tree; no it Xander and Jared

Jared and Xander apple picking

Garrett at "How tall are you this fall?"

As I look back over the last three years there was another huge difference- the first year I carried Sara in the Baby Bjorn, last year she was in the stroller, this year- no carrier, no stroller, she walked almost the whole day- minus a few stops on David's shoulders! I can't believe how much she has changed.

Sara and David

A glimpse at the past ....

September 21, 2008

September 27, 2009

and the present.....

September 25, 2010