I Need Your Help............

This year is hard for most everyone I know. Finances are just not there to provide the Christmas presents that we have in the past. So, this year I am teaching my 4yr old daughter a hard lesson in the most kindest way I can.


I want to teach her that Christmas isn't all about getting gifts. I want her to know that it is the thought that counts. That knowing someone is thinking of her is more precious than receiving "toys". Shes a very smart little girl and most all "little things" seem to delight her to no end.
I need your help to make her Christmas THOUGHTFUL. Please help me in doing this by sending her a Christmas Card Snail mail style. She has received two cards already from family members and she really cherishes them.
If you are interested in helping me please send your cards to:

Kaitie Reid
PO Box 127
Morrow, Ark 72749



Random acts of Kindness dont have to be gifts of high dollar value. The best are the simple ones. Paying for someones meal when you stop in to have breakfast or lunch. Buying a stranger a cup of coffee, sending a letter or card just to say im thinking of you, calling your neighbor and offering to pick something up for them while you are at the grocery store, stacking a bit of wood for those that use wood heat, offering to watch someones kids so they can have a few hours to themselves, donating your unwanted items to a shelter for those in need, so many ways to show kindness without expecting anything in return. These are truly the best gifts and are cherished more than you would think.

I really look forward to taking her to the post office each day to see what Thoughts are sent her way! Thank you all so much for helping me make this the best!

~ Mary

Sundays Stills ~ Pets

This weeks Sunday Stills Challenge is Pets!


Here you see Kaitie with HER puppy "BO"


Here Bo is chewing on a stick while enjoying the warm sun, Not to mention the full belly he has going on there! LOL.

These photos were taken during Thanksgiving week. We went camping with my Brother and his family in Texas that week. It was a great time!! More photos to come of that vacation, soon.

To see more favorite pet photos from others that are participating in the Sunday Stills Challenges, Check out the Comment section of this Sunday Stills Post!

I hope you have enjoyed these and look forward to sharing more with you in the future!

~ Mary

Winner of the 2009 Woman Owned Business Grant.....

Investing In Women is a great site with lots of information on all sorts of resources to help you grow your business. At IIW they believe in investing in women through education and appreciation.
I love what this site is doing to help women everywhere! At IIW you will find Articles, Grants, Resources, Networking, Events and more!

I am proud to announce the winner of the 2009 Woman Owned Business Grant!

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IIWOMEN AWARDS THE 2009 WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS GRANT

Investing In Women has awarded a $500 “stimulus package” to a woman owned business, The Underground Railroad To Success. The URS was started by Tanisha Cunningham to teach independence to foster children. This grant will give the non-profit a chance to market their business.

Montclair NJ, November 9, 2009- Investing In Women has awarded their first grant to a woman owned business in the USA. The recipient of the award is Tanisha Cunningham, founder of The Underground Railroad to Success (www.railroad2success.com). The URS is a non-profit that provides a service to foster children aging out of the system to live independently as adults while becoming an integral part of society. This is great for foster children and also has a positive affect on our society as a whole.

“Aging out” is the term used for children who go into foster care, but are never returned to their families of origin or adopted by others. They stay in the system until they turn 18, or graduate from high school, and for the most part, are left to fend for themselves as best they can.

Tanisha Cunningham started URS in January of 2009. A child of foster care herself, she saw the need for foster kids to have additional support when they were no longer eligible for state run services. Soon after her foster care ended, she began a career in child welfare “I wanted to stay there because my passion had always been to give back, because I knew the struggles of living in foster care, and the fear of leaving unprepared, not having a place to go or having the skills to obtain a job.”

Investing In Women (www.iiWomen.com) is a free business resource site, grant program and marketing venue for entrepreneurs. The organization plans to offer several micro grants in 2010, including grants that are not awarded based on gender.

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Please take a moment to read the inspiring interview with Tanisha Cunningham, by visiting Investing In Women today!

~ Mary