Extreme Makeover

We girls had a great morning of serious treatment at the beauty shop on the morning of The Ball, and boy did we give them some RAW material to work with. They are some serious professionals.

Before.

During.

After.
Eyeliner is no longer optional... I'm just sayin'.

Everyone Should Have A Miss Sue

Sue is one of our very favorite people. She has the biggest heart for children and our kids' childhoods have been punctuated by regular and special events initiated by Sue. For about ten years now she has coordinated our Kids' Klub at church and has faithfully taught our kiddoes on a weekly basis since the time that our teenagers were kindergarteners. She is the kind of "back-up" that every parent should pray for. Our kids know that they can go to Sue at anytime and they will find a caring friend who gives wise advice and is so much fun to boot. She has executed the most spectacular parties which are the highlights of many a child's social calendar.

Sue and her sweet sister

She is a superhero- hauling busloads of rambunctious kids to camp each spring, planning service projects, and dressing up as just about anything if it will delight the kids and entice them to listen to her Bible story or memorize just one more verse. It is the highest honor to receive the weekly "Secret Seat" award and choose a prize from Miss Sue's box.

Oh, and did I mention that the girl can bake? Oh yes she can. When S. asked her to help with The Ball by baking her custom iced sugar cookies, it was Sue to the rescue once again.

Now these aren't just any sugar cookies. Sue makes each one by hand over the course of several days; first cutting and baking them, then piping the edges, then filling and glittering. She created TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY glass slipper cookies for the Father-Daughter Ball in honor of her own Daddy, who passed away at a young age.

Thank you, Miss Sue for all that you are to us!

Finally!

After much delay; a Target Photo disaster, a virus throughout The Pink Victorian, and all important Thanksgiving preparations, we will FINALLY resume our regularly scheduled blogging. First matter of business: another installment in the Cinderella Ball recap.

I'll let the pictures say it all. In a few days the dozens of photo cd's ordered by Ball-goers will be shipped out. Our trusty photographers snapped thousands of beautiful pictures and editing the selection down to a mere few hundred was not easy!

Thank you Diane, Valarie, Allison, and Walter for blessing us with your eye for beauty!

A Fairy-Tale Evening

It is going to require multiple posts to even begin to tell the story of The Cinderella Ball this past Saturday evening, and we are still recovering from the bliss of it all, but for far away friends who have been patiently waiting for a peek at the princesses and their daddies, here are just a few snapshots and stories. As beautiful as the girls were, their escorts' obvious love for each outshined all of the sparkle and glitter...

Tiny princesses, some of whom had never met before the Ball, spontaneously joined hands and twirled around the dance floor in a ring.

Older girls practiced their dancing with Dads who sang along with the music, or even shed a tear or two.

Every Cinderella had her own Prince Charming whose aim was to make a dream come true that evening.

A fabulous uncle outbid everyone to win his princess the American Girl Doll "Kit"!

A splendid grandpa escorted two grand-daughters and danced with both at once all evening. Their grandma had made their beautiful gowns just for the ball. How loved are they?!

In all, 220 guests were in attendance!

The Cinderella Ball was an evening to remember, and by God's grace the $3900 raised will be used through Shaohannah's Hope to place some lonely little one in a forever-family of their own, where they will experience the very kind of fatherly love that filled a ballroom...

Once upon a time on November 15th, 2008.

Of Course It Is

Just heard on the news that November 15th, the date of the Cinderella Ball, is

National Adoption Day. We had no idea. In fact, National Adoption Day is traditionally celebrated on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but was changed for just this one year in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of President Kennedy. And for The Cinderella Ball, perhaps?. All we can do is smile at the undeniable fact that this whole endeavor is so much bigger than our feeble human efforts could ever hope to imagine! It did not even occur to S. to ask that National Adoption Day be rescheduled for this little event.

It puts us in mind of that great verse in Ephesians,"Now to Him who is able to do immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,to Him be the glory...."

Oh, Let it be.

A Forest of Cones

We fear that our friends may start to avoid us, but they did offer to help with the Ball in whatever way, so this is what they get....lost in a forest of paper cones. We thank these dear ones for enduring jammed staplers and sticky fingers in the creation of 200 paper cones for the candy bar. The girls are just going to love these!

Another big "THANK YOU" goes to Holly and Chris of ittybittybows.etsy.com who have so generously donated a collection of their adorable hairbows for the silent auction. They are so good at what they do. See for yourself! Their creations have been sold worldwide because any good do is enhanced by a great bow!

We will also auction 2 sets of Whimsy Wee Folks, soon to be available at pinkvictorian.etsy.com .Let the Christmas shopping begin!

The Song That Started It All- Practice Your Dancing!

Shoes? Check.

2 Days To Go!!

About 100 princesses are fine tuning their wardrobe selections and making hair plans and accessorizing.

Everyone has been so resourceful...dresses have been found at Goodwill and Nordstrom and everywhere in between. Some have been swapped between friends or lovingly made. So many sweet stories of God's provision for even these relatively insignificant things.

In a world gone mad, how precious that this many men are taking an evening to make absolutely certain that their girls know that they are loved, loved, loved.

The Banker has in the past accused me of being dramatic...but we both know he likes my ways..Anyway, last night I commented that this event is something that S. and the others will talk about after we are gone. No pressure, but it has the potential to be that significant.

So if you are a Cindy Ball dad reading this, while she fusses over clothes, shoes and hair, think about what kinds of words that you could say that would outfit her for a lifetime of security and well being. In the whirlwind of schedules, take this Saturday evening to commemorate that she is loved unconditionally and everlastingly. She can never hear it enough. Go ahead and say it again. Recite for her all of your observations of her inner beauty. You set the bar for any other man who might lay claim to her heart. Make sure she knows she has a Heavenly Father who loves her even more than you do. And spin her around the dance floor, because soon the clock will strike midnight and she will be grown!

No pressure, and

drama has its purposes.

Special Delivery

Three very special Ball guests were just dropped off at the house- American Girl Doll Kit and the AG Bitty Twins. An anonymous donor has lovingly given them to be bid upon at the silent auciton table. The funds raised by them will be used to provide a way home for some living dolls through Shaohannah's Hope, by God's grace.

Dear friends Charlotte and Jonna are putting their non-profit expertise to work for S. at the ball by running the silent auction table. Among other things, a vintage Longaberger basket signed by Dave Longaberger will be up for bid as well as jewelry, gift baskets, and experiences.

Got a great auction item you would like to donate? Call ASAP and let us know!

Quotables

The Banker upon finding one of our gentlemen eating applesauce by hand in front of the open refrigerator door:
"Son! You don't eat like that! That's how pigs eat!... (realization sets in)... Well, okay, that's how they would eat if they had refrigerators." A moment of discipline dissolves into laughter.

Later that same day; The Banker to our youngest cherub during an unexpected scary commercial:
"M., close your eyes and look at me!". How to obey and not delay with that mixed message? More laughter, but at least the commercial was forgotten!

Oh help us!!

A Sea of Humanity

Our MOPS group is growing beautifully and this week's steering committee meeting was definitely photo-worthy!

I don't believe any of the moms sat for more than 5 minutes at a given time and the innate radar surveillance of the various rooms in Kym's house would rival the Pentagon's abilities! While the itinerary of the meeting unfolded, people were fed, wiped, comforted, disciplined, lost, found, dressed and undressed. Mom Power!


While Moms strategized in the dining room, little girls danced in the kitchen, others played in the bedrooms and the swing set was in full swing!


Our chapter of MOPS began in September and we now have 32 moms registered, with about 45 of their offspring enrolled in Moppets. Fun Times!

Funny, but I don't think this is anything like the scene at The Banker's board meetings. Oh what very different worlds we live in! So thankful for God's grace and good chemistry!

Cinderella Spotlight III

Our multi-talented friend Valarie is going to be one of the photographers at the Cinderella Ball. Along with the photos snapped by our other skilled shutterbugs, hers will be put on CD for ball-goers to order for their own use, with proceeds going to Shaohannah's Hope. That way the mamas of all of our Cinderellas can get a peek at all of the fun that was had!

Val sings, sews, snaps, decorates, is cute as a button, and her Christian faith just oozes from everything she does. Thank you Val for sharing your energy to capture these memories for our families!

Cinderella Spotlight II

10 Days To The Cinderella Ball!

Early on in the evolution of the planning of the Ball, S. thought that white and earthtone pumpkins would be the ideal centerpiece for each table, but could not rationalize them in the budget or imagine how to transport them to The Grand Ballroom.

That disappointment was completely unknown to our friends Roy and Sherry at Gaventa Farm when they called Monday morning and asked if she might be interested in some of the pumpkins from their bumper crop, and yes, Roy could truck them up to the venue on the evening of the ball. Unreal!

So on Monday afternoon we drove out to the field to pick out the 50-plus pumpkins that will adorn each table, the candy bar and silent auction tables. Lovely!Thank you Roy and Sherry for helping to make a dream-come-true! Your offer was heaven-sent!

A Birthday Shout Out

This birthday shout-out goes to our Kansas buddies Carri and Brian.

They are great with child, anticipating a birth day of their own in less than a week. A bunch of us were invited to celebrate Kym's b-day with takeouts after church and wanted to take an opportunity to remind them that we care.

Brian and Carri, we want y'all to know that your Jersey friends are thinking of you and praying for a joyful delivery. Can't wait to hear all about that little one!

Todd and Holly with sympathy shoulder pain.

PS- Carri: Had a rushed morning...not exactly Texas hair! How do they keep up with it?!

Punkin Beanies

Had some fun making a basketful of punkin beanies for M. and company to play with.

I love the personality that developed in each one as I stitched up the scraps from my stash and added vintage button eyes.

The rice filling gives them the perfect amount of plopability. I think we'll try a punkin hunt tomorrow. (think Easter egg hunt for the opposite equinox)

I got so into making them that should have plenty to give as treats to my lion-hearted nephew next autumn. Isn't he just the greatest?

Cinderella Spotlight- Eleanor

We really must introduce some of the special people who are giving of their time and talent to make The Cinderella Ball a night to remember.

Meet Eleanor of The Candy Box in Richwood, NJ.

The Candy Box has been in operation for nearly 60 years and has not changed a bit since my grandmother took me there as a child. That was soon after Eleanor, its current proprietor, acquired the business in 1981. Generations of South Jersey residents have filled the little shop behind her home at each holiday season throughout the calendar year. Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day find folks lined up out the door waiting to purchase her confections.

Eleanor explained that she does as much Christmas shopping ahead of December, because she pretty much only leaves the shop to go to church during that month!

Eleanor has been so gracious as to donate pounds and pounds of specialty candies for the candy bar at The Cinderella Ball.

Girls will be given festive paper cones to fill with the candies they choose from a vast assortment which will be beautifully presented in large jars. A feast for the eyes it will be!

Thank you, Eleanor for sharing the vision!

It's Brain Season Again!

Osage oranges, horse apples, monkeyballs, all synonyms for my favorite decorative fruit, which we refer to simply as "brains". The trees they fall from each autumn are pretty rare around here, but a few years ago I found a fruitful one which drops these goofy things on the public road. Going to scoop them up has become as much of a tradition as a trip to the pumpkin patch. They have a great citrus aroma and are credited with being a natural pest repellent and will stay rot free if kept cool for 2-3 months..

You just can't beat their lime green hue against the vivid orange of a ripe pumpkin.

I think God had some fun thinking this one up!