Those cute Ugandans!

This weekend was so much fun! You can check out Jena and Erin's blogs to see more. . .In fact, Erin has a rundown of our entire schedule! Instead, let me tell you how it felt. . come on, you knew I'd get sappy. . .we had a BLAST! First of all, Erin's kids are ADORABLE! So loveable, so well spoken and sweet. . so just plain fun! I LOVE them. . in fact, before I go on. . check them out!


Aren't they just too cute. I LOVE their sweet Ugandan accent! I can't wait to get to Uganda one day to visit them, when they move there to start an orphanage on the banks of the Nile!

I had so much fun spending time with these girls that share a heart for Africa. We talked about it ALOT (when we weren't talking about kids or girl stuff!) These girls (I got the chance to hang with Becca, Kelly (she doesn't have a blog but is adopting from Liberia), Jena and Erin). I had an extra night too, with Jena. Let me tell you, these girls are crazy, fun, Loud (in so many ways) and have hearts that seek after our Lord! It was a pleasure. Especially sweet was the time we spent last night praying for Ruth who runs an orphanage and school in Uganda.

It was fun especially to not feel weird. Let me explain. The truth is, I think about Africa almost constantly. I'm not even joking. Sometimes I feel weird. . like Africa has invaded my mind and I just can't stop it. I have a hard time finding other things to talk about even at times. My friends teasingly call me "SF" (singular focus) and my family has nicknamed me "johnny-well-note" (like johnny one note, but with wells). The truth is, I can imagine that it's actually pretty annoying to other people at times. It's even frustrating to me! So, it was nice to spend time with others, knowing that they felt the same ache and thought the same things, in abundance!

Thanks girls for a sweet time of fellowship! LOVE you all!
Bran

NC and the Awesome Families Here!

I made it! Yep, I drove 11 hours with my three children (2 two year old and a 3 year old!) all by myself! Actually, it turned out great! The kids were awesome in the car and I used my time wisely to catch up with friends from around the country. Why did I do this? Because I am an official GEEK. I left my hubby a few days early for our vacation so I could go visit my internet buddies. It's true. . and don't worry, I'm here and NONE of these girls are creepy 45 year old men! In fact, they are AWESOME! I am staying with Erin and her sweet family. . .(ps: oh my her kids are even cuter in person and have the sweetest voices you've ever heard in your life!). Yesterday, we met up with Charity and her clan. I was probably pretty scary to these kids. Seriously, I have been looking at Aries picture and praying for her since before I knew who Davis was! And Emmanuel? Well, who hasn't been praying for him and fallen in love with that sweet smile every time you see it on Charity's blog?! In fact, I kept walking up to him and hugging him throughout the day. Who knows what he said on the ride home! Aries was super quiet and I made it my goal to get her to talk to me. She also had the sweetest spirit and just loved on Gracie ALL day. It was phenomenal. You want to know who Davis loved? Igor! Charity's sweet hubby quickly became Davis' best friend for the day! What a fun day!!! I really can't even express how much fun I had just spending time with these 2 families. As Charity so eloquently put it on her blog, it is AMAZING to spend time with these families who's passions so mirror our own. . .who love and want to talk about Africa forever!

This is our amazing group shot! How fun does this look? You think we caused any confusion at the zoo? Any questioning loooks? who knows! I was having to much fun to notice!

Did I tell you again how much I love this kid?! He is SOOOO sweet. I wanted him to talk to us all day long, with that sweet Liberian english! Seriously his accent makes me ache inside. I want to go back SO bad! Gracie and her new buddy! Sweet Aries, thank you so much for loving on our Gracie.
Playing on the statues!

I swear they were both smiling a minute ago!

Brothers!

How cute are Antonio and Roman?

Davis and his new BFF, Igor

Brayden LOVES rhinos! He was super excited. . in fact, he even willingly (gasp) took this picture because a rhino was in it too!

Pictures and Thoughts on Easter

Easter, this year, was comprised of 5 events: an Easter Egg Hunt in Winter Park, an Easter Egg Hunt at Church, Sunday morning church celebration, Lunch at Barry and Shannon's with the family and dinner at Jan and Bernie (Greg's Parents) to celebrate both Easter and Jan's birthday! It was a wild ride of the last few weeks! Here are some pictures. . .

These next few are at the Egg Hunt in Winter Park. Jan and Granny both go to a Bible study at this lady's house (which is larger than anything I've ever seen before!) and she throws a huge egg hunt in her backyard every year, complete with bounce houses, cotton candy, sno cones, face painting, puppets who share the gospel and everything!

This is my attempt at a cute group shot. . and Davis' first cotton candy!

Isn't this preciouse? I love the colors!
Watching the Puppet Show together. . .yes, I've started dressing them alike almost all the time. Brayden begs most days for them to wear the same thing and truthfully, it really cuts down on the "is he yours?" questions.
Davis and Granny. . .later that day, Gracie pooped through her diaper all over Granny! Granny took it in stride though! She is awesome. .I'll be doing a post on her soon, it is almost her 70th birthday!
Gracie and "Grandpa". . yes, my daughter calls BOTH Grandma and Grandpa, "Grandpa"!

This is his mean face. . .oh my
Davis was not so sure of the egg hunt idea and was quite confused as to what he was supposed to be doing! He caught on quick though!

These pics are at Barry and Shannon's (you know, the house with my sweet cousins who ADORE my children! Each kid has a playmate. . .Brayden thinks Justin is his best friend, Davis and Mitch are inseparable and Gracie and Allie play together. . .it is so sweet!!)

This is Grace and Anna (my sister, Brittani's daughter). . I know it's not the best pic, but it shows their adorable dresses that my parents got them! I haven't gotten the good pics from Britt and my mom yet either!

This is Brayden. . basically, again I chose this one just so you could see his cute outfit!

"The Girls" My sister Brittani, holding Anna, my sister Stephani in the middle and Grace and I.
I LOVE this picture b/c it looks a lot like a picture I have of Allie and I at my wedding. She was my flower girl at the age of 4 and has always been SO special to me!
Mitch and Davis. . .inseperable! Davis saw this picture even and freaked out! I said, 'do you love Mitch?" and he responded with a very enthusiastic, "YES"!

Do you still want to read my thoughts? I included a ton of pictures. . but, didn't want to leave without jotting down a little of what God has been showing me lately. . . .so, read on if you care to!

If you've read my last post, you know about my friend Steffany who is in Ethiopia right now to pick up her twins. She got there to VERY sick kiddos. They are weighing in at 7 and 9 lbs. This is especially hard b/c just last year, Steffany and her hubby were in plans to adopt from Liberia. Before they could pick up their little girl, however, she passes away due to Malaria. As I pray for her, I get overwhelmed by the pain. . .the pain of watching your little one suffer. It seems so WRONG. . so, "out there" that it's hard to understand. . . Then, I realize. . .

I realize that most women in the third world go through this. . .on a regular basis. In fact, there are women RIGHT NOW watching their children die from starvation, from diseases from lack of clean water, from sicknesses that are easily treated here. That breaks my heart. Someone just quoted the founder of World Vision who is said to have prayed, "Lord, break my heart with what breaks yours." In fact, in many countries (Liberia included) 1 out of 3 children die before the age of 5. Read that again. . .now go scroll up to the picture of my children, my 3 children. Realize that were I to have been born in the 3rd world, it is very likely that I would be facing the impending death of one of my precious little ones. I cannot fathom. My heart breaks with the thought of the heartbreak. . not only is it difficult to just survive there, but emotionally I cannot even imagine. And then I realize. . .

I realize that HE DOES. Our Father CAN relate to these women. After all, He watched His Son suffer and die. He stood by and felt the pain of losing His Child, His perfect child, His ONLY child. Oh, HE KNOWS. . .they have a God who knows. Their pain doesn't go unanswered. Their tears are not wasted. . .in fact, He considers their hearts precious, their tears worth collecting and their children, oh their children He collects into His arms. Isn't it amazing to serve a God who understands? Who understands anything and everything we could ever go through.

Jesus, break my heart with the things that break Yours. . thrill my heart with the things that thrill Yours and Capture my heart with your own.

It's time to pray

Hey guys, I need to ask you to stop right now. . and every time you think of these two families and lift them up before the throne. We celebrated today HIS triumph over death and his power to give life and we pray this same power that raised Christ from the dead will be at work in these families and their sweet children.

Pray for Steffany. She is in Ethiopia picking up her 22 month old twins. Here is the update from her blog:

Diezel and Daizey would have died within about a week if they had not arrived there. Currently they are wearing newborn diapers which are too big on them. They could not sit up or even move their own bodies as of yesterday, but are making some improvements today. They are starting to move a little on their own today. Daizey is getting better but she has huge sores on the back of her head. They are big open wounds. Her entire mouth all the way down her throat is infected with green sores. She is only weighing about 7 or 8 pounds. Diezel weighs a tiny more at about 9 lbs. However he has terrible diarrhea right now (going every hour), and is not keeping anything in him. They are eating which is good, but not keeping much down. Adam and Steffany are going to be taking them to the hospital tomorrow. It was around 2am there, so in the morning their time they will take them to the hospital.

She said they look like any National Geographic photo we've seen of starving children in Africa...it breaks the heart. Adam and Steffany are holding up and so grateful that they are there in time to get them the help they need. Diezel has a sweet spirit and Daizey won't let Steffany put her down. She gives her a mad look if she tries to and moans/whimpers at Stef to pick her back up.

Their embassy appointment is on Thursday and Stef would like to try to fly out with them early on Friday if their bodies are strong enough to handle the flight. She'd like to get them home to get all the medical attention they need as soon as possible.

Pray also for little Ellie Horrocks. She is in the hospital recovering from one surgery and gearing up for the next on Wed (mark your calendars now). Here is her latest update:

Came home with the kids tonight and received a call from Denise a short time ago that Ellie is running a 103 deg fever. They listened to her lungs as well and the one side sounded "diminished". The respiratory therapist is checking her right now. We have so appreciated and felt your prayers during this ordeal and ask for you to take her before the throne of God.

"I sought the LORD and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." Ps 34:4

We rest fully in this promise from our LORD. I am asking God in faith to break the fever tonight and that He would keep her from getting any pneumonia...would appreciate you standing with me on this....and thanking Him for doing it because He said if "we ask anything in His name He will do it" - for His glory and honor.

Love you all and thank you so very much!
**********

update-ellie has all of a sudden spiked a high fever....breath sounds are bad one side

Thanks for joining me in lifting these families before the Lord~

Happy Easter. . here and in ROCKHILL

PRAISE JESUS!!!  Our Risen Lord is what we will celebrate tomorrow!  We will celebrate how He chose to suffer and die for us.  We will celebrate how He overcame that death to LIVE and to offer us LIFE!

If you will please notice the thermometer to your right!!  Yep, we have made our goal.  Because you chose to live Jesus in this world, for others. . to suffer and sacrifice in some small way b/c of how HIS sacrifice changed your life. . .the people of RockHill will have life as well!   

Not only will they make the announcement tomorrow that they will be offered life, in the form of clean water that will not harm their children.  Even more special is that they will have the opportunity to present this water as a gift to their community as evidence of their love for Jesus!

Thank you SO much!  I am in tears and in awe.  Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be a part of your work with the precious people of Rock Hill!  Thank you friend for being a part of this!  

Gracie's Birthday!!!

Today is Gracie Lea Ann's 2nd birthday!!! Now is my time to brag on her! Kind of a birthday/blogging tradition. . that I LOVE to read on other's blogs. . .so here you go. . here's Gracie in the only words I can think of today (as she is truly indescribable!)

Gracie is ALL girl. . .this means, jewelry and a LOVE of shoes (you can often find her hiding in her room trying on all her shoes) and DRAMA. . yep, lots of whining for no reason here!

Gracie is SO talkative. . .this girl can majorly talk. She can carry on a full conversation!

Gracie is also super silly. . .she thinks opening her mouth to show you her food, bossing "momica" around, playing "monster", wrestling with Daddy, chasing Davis and just plain running and screaming are hilarious!

She is the sweetest girl in the world. We are SO blessed to have her as our daughter. She loves others so much already. Her love for "bwayden", "Dadis", Daddy, Mama and Dumptruck fill her prayers. She is a great friend who loves to help her friends and hug them lots. She is sometimes hard to win over (for strangers) but once you've got her, you've got her! She is both a Daddy's girl, who's first words every morning are "where's Daddy?", and a Mama's little cuddlebug all at the same time. I love her more than words can describe and the fact that God loves her more is awe inspiring. Did I mention that she's gorgeous too? Her little tiny frame with those big blue, twinkle when they smile eyes and that light up the room smile are adorable! Gracie girl, I love you so much and am so thankful to Jesus that He gave us you! I pray that you will grow up to be a woman of honor who loves Jesus with all of her heart! I love you sweet thing!

PS These pics are from her "park party" today. We will also have a family party on Saturday and I'll probably post more pics next week. Blogger isn't working well, or you'd have WAY more pictures as I took AWESOME pics of each of my friend's kids today that turned out phenomenal! However, b/c of blogger, I just uploaded the pics of my kids for today. . .more to come!

This first pic is of her room this morning. This is a family tradition from my side of the family. My mom always decorated our room before we woke up! What a fun, special thing to wake up to!

Gracie and Abbie (the only pic I got today with friends together. . .the kids were NOT cooperating for this kind of pic!)

They just LOVE each other!

Playing in the "super big swing" together! The kids all loved this swing!

A couple of Brayden. . .they turned out GREAT, which is amazing b/c I basically had to tell him that he wasn't allowed to play until he followed my instructions for a couple of pics!

I just love my kiddos. I love being able to make them feel special and love providing for them. I cannot imagine what it is like, knowing that just because of where you live, your child may very well DIE before the age of 5 b/c of just not having clean water. PLEASE look into these kids eyes. Imagine yourself as their mom or dad. . .consider for a moment, joining us in our quest to raise enough money to give these kids (yes, these actual kids from RockHill) clean water. Every little bit helps. . .if you could spare $10 or know someone who can, please help us make this a reality! So other children can celebrate on their next birthday. . . .Brandi

WATER FOR ROCKHILL!!!!

Many of you remember my trip to RockHill. Those kids made such an impact on me. Realizing the hardship they face. . .their school situation, their lack of medical care and the fact that they have NO clean water nearly broke my heart. I just wept (trying not to let them see me) as they sang and played. In that day, as person after person told me that their biggest need was "clean water" I wanted SO badly to promise them. The words almost lept off my tongue, "yes, sweetie. . I see you, I see your pain, I love you and I will make sure that someone brings clean water here" but, I held myself back. Too often they have see these white people come through promising things in the emotion of the moment and never come back again. Did you feel it too? When you read that post, did you desperately want to provide that for these children?

Well, here is your chance!!!!! Praise God Almighty! Spirit Liberia is putting a well in RockHill. In fact, it's better than that. They are putting it on church property. You know what that means? Everyone who comes for water comes to the church. Also, they are going to be starting a school (you know I'll give you a chance to help with that later!) and every child can bring clean water home from school!!! Yes, the people of RockHill will soon be drinking clean water. Mama's can soon stop living in fear of "running stomach" for their babies. Children will LIVE!!! Oh, Jesus, our Living Water, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be your hands and feet in providing water to these precious souls!

RockHill is made up of Rock (duh!) which makes it a more expensive well than most at $4,500
We have ALREADY raised $3,000. We deliberately held back this last $1500, b/c I knew that YOU would want a chance to really get involved here! So, go ahead, click that DONATE NOW button and let's give these kids the clean water that we so freely enjoy!

Also, if you are a blogger: now's your chance to get involved and give YOUR readers a chance to serve the people of Liberia! Please leave a comment and let me know how much your goal is to raise on your site, I will email you the html code for the donate button and you can write up a feature challenging your readers to get involved. My prayer is that God will raise all of this money, THIS week so that Greg and Vanessa can announce to the congregation at RockHill what God is doing!

PS: You can read more about our whole well strategy in my sidebar, click on the link to "Well Project Summary" to learn more!!

Well Project Summary

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that now has been a time of "research" for me! Well, I am so thankful to say that the research phase is coming to an end, and oh so pleased to announce our first project. . .(drumroll, please. . oh wait, not yet! ha ha, first let me give you a little background)

Over the last year, as we have researched adoption in general and then Liberia and Africa specifically, God has given us a great love for the people. He has also laid on our hearts a desire to be involved. So, during our trip to pick Davis up, we made it our mission to ask almost every Liberian we came in contact with this question, "What is the greatest need in Liberia and here in your area/village?" Unequivocally, the top answers were, "Water, Education and Healthcare". We were shocked to see in person how many of these lovely people were drinking dirty water. Many walked for miles just to get to a well for clean water. This dirty water is not just an inconvenience (although I cannot imagine having to walk a mile just for a jug of water and then carry it all the way home. . .as a 6 year old!), it is also killing the people. Did you know that
----Right now, half the people in developing countries are suffering from water-related diseases. ----About 4 billion cases of diarrhea per year cause 2.2 million deaths.
----1.7 million children under the age of five die from diarrhea each year.
----1 in 5 children die before the age of 5
Much of this is preventable!! How? Clean Water! A hand pump well dug in their village!

As we learned this, our hearts were drawn to help with this crisis! We felt the need to be involved in helping these people and especially these precious children to have what we so easily take for granted ... clean, safe drinking water. The bigger question became, How can we introduce them to THE LIVING WATER as well?

Enter Spirit Liberia (www.spiritliberia.com)! This organization is helping to raise money for pastoral salaries, building a church, putting a fresh water well on that property and then going beyond that to use that building as a school for children during the day and vocational and literacy programs for adults at night! Imagine that ... THE LIVING WATER and fresh water offered at the same place !!!! Our Challenge: To raise enough money to build 10 churches and wells in Liberia this year, starting with RockHill. Spirit Liberia is raising the money to build the churches and we have taken on the challenge to help raise the money for the wells! Most wells cost between $2,500-$4,500 each.

Our goal is to raise enough money to put a well in each one of these 10 villages!!! The purpose of putting them on church property or under church supervision is that now Liberian Christians are the ones who give the gift. . .not some white NGO that comes in, does a job, possibly tells them about Jesus and leaves. . .but, their very own Christian pastors and congregation. We pray that each village will see this for what it is, Jesus loving them and providing for them as a way to call them to Himself!

So, how are we planning to do this?

Well, (no pun intended!), we have 2 layers to this plan. First of all, we will be raising all but the last $1,000 - $1,500 through grants of $500 a piece. We already have commitments for $1,500 PER WELL (Praise Jesus!). If you, your business or someone you know is interested in giving a gift of this size, please email me and let me know! We even have proposals to help advertise those business that may desire to be involved!

What about the remaining money, you may ask. . .that's where YOU come in! I'm talking to both YOU, my readers and YOU my fellow bloggers! We will post (hopefully each month) about a village/area/pastor that needs a well. Then, I will place a donate button on my site and a thermometer to watch how God answers. (that's how my readers can donate). I will then ask any bloggers who are interested to please sign up for a certain portion of these funds. For example: if we have $1500 left to raise for RockHill, Jocelyn may leave me a comment and say, "Count my blog in for $250". Then, I will email her the html code for the donate button as well as instructions for putting a thermometer up (if needed or desired). She then would write on her blog for her circle of readers and ask them to come up with $250. Then, whenever they donated through paypal, Jocelyn would just ask them to notate in the comments section "from Jocelyn's Blog" and I would email her those payments each evening. Get it?

Why do it this way? Well, 2 reasons actually. First of all, it spreads the word. Most of our blogs are read by 100 + people per day, so if 10 bloggers sign up, we could have 1,000 people donating and praying for the people/church of that village! Secondly, it gives the chance for us "little people" to be involved! Many of us do not have the funds to give hundreds of dollars. . but, we can sacrifice here or there or sell something to be able to give $10 (or whatever amount). So, this gives us a chance to really be involved. It also is an attainable goal. All of us who blog (or blog stalk, some of you!) love watching those thermometers rise as people raise money!! If 10 blogs are each raising $150, that doesn't seem so overwhelming! AND, $5 really will make that thermometer rise!

Bloggers: If you want to be involved, just leave a comment and tell me how much you'd like to try to raise this month! I'll email you details. Also, you can advertise this however you like on your blog. . .one suggestion is asking people to CHOOSE to drink water when they go out to eat, and then donate that amount. If you want to do a challenge like this, consider checking out our new campaign, "I Drink Because I Care" . This is just a fun slogan to make it enjoyable and get people talking (we'll be adding badges you can put on your blogs and links to buy "I Drink Because I Care" shirts soon!)

Readers: If you don't have a blog, please prayerfully consider donating to the well projects! You can donate here or you can check out these other wonderful bloggers who are going to add it to their sites!

Are you guys ready to raise some money? Are you ready to watch God work? Are you ready to watch Him provide Clean Water for those who are literally dying without it? Are you amazed, as I am, that He actually allows us to be a part of His Huge Plan for Others?

The well in RockHill will be our first project, which we'll be ready to announce soon. We still have 1 $500 grant to go before launching it online! Check back on Monday for that post, hopefully!

I am SO PROUD!!

Check these girls out!! These are two of the girls from our youth group at church. Sweet Victoria has babysat for us many times and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her. God is working mightily in her and placing in her His Heart for the nations! She is completely talented and along with her sister has now started their own CLOTHING LINE! Check them out, Embrace The Nations!! (PS: you may recognize some of her models as some of my other favorite teen girls, Ruth and Rachel!) They are now raising money for their missions trip to Costa Rica, but after that money is raised, they plan to use this as a creative way to raise money for non profits and helping people around the world! Check out their BLOG (and add a link to them on yours!), Add their cool rotating Badge and DEFINITELY Buy something from them!!!!!

Victoria and Vivian, I am so proud of you girls. I cried when I opened your site! God is doing amazing things in and through you! Love you! I'm placing my order for a brown EMBRACE shirt for Greg and the cloud skirt for me on Sunday!

Our Jumping Beans

This is Gracie's new trick: jumping! It cracks us up. Davis is 8 months older and is a full on jumping bean. The boy can JUMP and jump high and fast all day long. He would hop everywhere if we let him. The funny thing is that they think they are pretty much twins, so Gracie "hops' alongside him. I feeel bad that we are laughing at her a little, but watch this! I only wish Davis would have done his awesome jumping for the camera!

The problem with "Evan Almighty"

My kids have been watching "Evan Almighty" lately. . I have found a number of issues with this however. . .

1. They now think they an watch "The Office" because "Evan" is on it

2. They think it's an accurate depiction of the story of Noah. . .ok, you guys saw this one coming, I know. . .so did I! This is actually the easiest to overcome through a great description of the real story.

3. They think God is a large black man. Yep, it's true. I laughed about it a while ago, almost as a joke. . .However, just now Brayden peeked out of his room to tell us that he's "scared of his walls" (great excuse, huh?). . I went on to assure him that he didn't need to be afraid b/c "God is bigger than his walls" . His response? "No he's not. . .I saw him on Evan Almighty". Oh my!!!

Coming to Town!! Yay!

I'm super excited right now because my friends are coming to town!!! Who? The White family!! Yep, sweet southern Robin and her whole fam are coming to vacation in Orlando! They'll be here in May for a week!

So, for those who don't believe that you can make friends online. . .we will finally be "real life" friends too!

In fact, I'm also going to visit Erin and her super sweet Ugandans in a few weeks! I'm also going to see Becca, Jena and Chairty's whole clan while there. . .

Also, Katy and Amber are planning to be here in early November! Anyone else want to join us?!

I know it really does sound silly if I try to explain it to someone. However, I truly have met girls through this silly blogging thing that I really connect with. Girls who share my passion for Africa and who have "held my hand" through the crazy adoption process. Girls who call and we daydream and plan for how many ways we can figure out to help and raise money in Africa.

So. . .I'm glad today that I have plans in the next year (if you know me well, you KNOW how much I love to have vacations planned out for the year and fun things to look forward too!) to finally meet in person some of these sweet girls and their families!

One of the best ideas my mom ever had

You guys know how I've been working on being a more intentional mom, right? Well, now I need help with what to do. Yesterday, I was praying about what we should do that day and the Lord impressed on my heart, "just play with them". So, we rode bikes down to the park, played a version of tag there, came home and played hide and go seek and read, I think, 100 books. Here's my problem, I run out of ideas!

You see, my kids are really too young to play most of those games. Hide and Go Seek is especially interesting! When it's my turn to hide, I get great spots (of course), but then Dumptruck (our dog) kept giving me away! Then, Brayden would say, "it's my turn to hide! Mama, I'm going to hide in the closet just like you" aagh! I tried to tell him that's not really how the game is played. So, it kind of becomes a game of tag. . .it doesn't really matter b/c it was fun anyways. However, they only have a 10 min attention span so to spend 3 hours playing, I need approx 24 ideas!

Here's where my mom comes in. . .My favorite memory of my mom's mothering would have to be our "rainy day box". This was a simple, old crayon box (oh, what I wouldn't give to own that box today) that she filled with FUN ideas to do on a rainy day. Then, when us kids couldn't figure out what we wanted to do, we could just pick one. That especially settled any arguing between the 3 of us girls! And, let me tell you, these were FUN activities: drawing in shaving cream, dressing up in her clothes, stuff like that.

Here's my problem: my kids are too young for the fun activities I come up with! All the ones I remember are from when I was in gradeschool. So, if you have fun, interesting ideas that can be done with two 2 year olds and a 3 year old, please leave them in the comments section!

Just stuff. . .

Apparently, I'm on a tangent of random posts! I have been spending my evenings researching, researching, researching! I think all I do is email different organizations and drill them. Thankfully, though, the Lord has given me a peace that I'm actually starting to enjoy it! I've also found some cool sites of organizations that look great! Then, I think, "Oh great, now I need to research them too!" I think I need to come up with a tried and true list of questions and information / proof / references from each group so that I don't have to do 100 emails! Either way, though, I'm getting excited about God allowing us to be a part of His work in Africa!

Other random thing. . .I am watching, "Moment of Truth" right now. . HORRIBLE show! They ask the most personal questions, seriously designed to embarrass or actually rip apart marriages. Their commercial actually said, "coming up. . .a question that could put their marriage in danger." Seriously? This is entertainment? I'm so sad right now for our country. I'm all for the truth, obviously. . .but presented in such a way as to endanger someone's relationship? I know these couples must have major discussions before going on this show. .. .well, at least I hope they do! I'm sure some just talk about the money they could make! ugh. . .just had to get that off my chest! This is why I blog instead of watching tv now! At least I can go to you guys' sites and be refreshed, encouraged and challenged in my faith!!

Now to the picture. . .Aren't we cute? Yep, that's why I posted it! I went to Chicago with my friends, Abby and Christie in November (and met Christie's sweet sister there too!). We had so much fun and took great pictures under this GORGEOUS tree, but I never did post them! So, this is Abby and I! She's a super sweet friend AND one of my infamous Friday morning girls! She also happens to be adopting as well! From China. . .they've been waiting forever! We're hoping and praying that little Carmen is home by the end of this year!

That's all. . . .now, stop for a moment and remember to pray for Julie Redman, waiting on DNA for Teddy, Kim Basten, waiting on DNA for Gabriella and our sweet Ellie Horrocks who is in the hospital and in major pain!

Random, I know!

Ok, so things are starting to feel much clearer here! I've been spending lots of time with Jesus and loving it! In any case, I am ready to tell you about my / OUR next project (oh yeah, you knew you'd be pulled in too!) However, I'm waiting for a few more odds and ends before I can post, so just wait. . .hopefully within the next 2 days!

For now. . I'll pass the time with this tag I got. You know, sometimes I don't like these tags. . but, truthfully I love reading others', especially my friends who I only know online. These tags give me a little insight into their lives past, present and most recently, weird! So, thanks to Miss Jen (or, as her name should be "walking in faith, Jen") tagged me to list random things about myself. It actually said weird or random, but I'm going with random b/c you know my weird!

*However, I must take this opportunity to love on Jen for a moment! She recently brought home Naoimi from Liberia who was a special needs little girl who was caustic (most of you heard me talk about her or show you her picture!) Well, now God has called them again. This time to be the parents of William, who has many special needs and needs to get home soon. If you feel so led, they are raising money for their adoption of William and every dollar helps!

Ok, on to randomness!

1. I have been outgoing and passionate since I was very little! My parents tease me b/c as a little girl (maybe 4-6) I would ask to go door to door to tell our neighbors about Jesus. . . you can imagine my mom's reaction. "um, ok" Instead of just door to door evangelism, we did door to door selling of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Every Saturday morning, we'd load up our wagon and go door to door selling hot doughnuts to raise money for missions.

2. I am a bit accident prone! Not AS much anymore. . but, when I was a teenager. . watch out! My youth pastor used to just say that I was too scrappy for my size. We once did a floor hockey tournament where I left with 2 black eyes!

3. As a child, yep, a gradeschooler, I used to love listening to Rush Limbaugh and debating with adults! I wasn't afraid of tackling evolution or abortion with any adult, no matter how educated! I'm sure it was annoying, but I got away with it b/c they were amazed that a 10 year old wanted to talk about that stuff!

4. I LOVE to read and always have. . .as a kid, I had a book with me everywhere I went (car, bathroom, etc!) In fact, I'm pretty sure most of the history I actually remember is from historical fiction!

5. In high school, I was sure that I would end up in the Christian Music Industry. I had big plans to go to Belmont and be a manager for some group. . .I was also obsessed with DC Talk!

6. That kind of leads me to this one. . .b/c it's where we first met the guys of DC Talk (as a 13 year old, pretty much the best day of my life haha!!) We, as a family, have been to almost every Billy Graham Crusade in the last 10 years. The crusade staff have become a second family to us and we have LOVED being a part of their organization. . if only at crusades (my dad was friends with the man who became the dir. of crusades for the US and he would go to be his "right hand")

7. I was homeschooled most of my life. . .I started in public school in K and 1st, but when the teacher asked us to bring a story to read aloud and I brought my Bible, I was told to pick a new book or sit in my seat. I sat in my seat and asked friends to stay in during recess to hear the Christmas story! After that it was in and out of homeschool or private school. I enjoyed both. The best part of homeschooling was the travel. My dad had to travel a lot for work, so we just went with him. Did school in the car, swam in the hotel pools (of course making a new best friend each time) and had dinner with clients each night!

8. I hate GPS systems!! Still to this day. I think it started b/c my mom used to let me sit in the front seat and be the navigator on our trips. I loved planning the best way somewhere and gained a good sense of N, S, E, W and even today would rather plan my own route! I also LOVE being the navigator in a new city. . .i.e. New York or Chicago!!

9. I used to be SUPER messy. Seriously, in college, you could not see the floor of our dorm room! It was BAD! Today, though, I can't leave my house until everything is picked up. . .not necessarily Clean (floors and stuff), but picked up almost always! (by the way, I have Greg and our big old arguments our first year of marriage to thank for this!! haha!!)

10. I currently have a great heart for (and God's growing it everyday) 4 African Nations. . .Liberia, Uganda, Zambia and Kenya. . .and, b/c of that, I am almost hesitant to read about other countries! I'm spread so thin and want to be involved in each of those already. (fingers in my ears) "I can't learn about another country"!!!

Ok, the other fun thing about this tag is that when you tag someone else you get to say why!
So, I tag:

Jessica - b/c she's super random and you will laugh your butt off reading her post to this, I am sure! *ps: I'm not tagging Cassie, so you can!

Kari- b/c she doesn't ever post and maybe this will make her! Also, it will introduce her to my blogging friends (you'll love her!)

Katy - b/c there are surgeries coming up and this will give her something to do at the hospital! Also, b/c we are SO different and I LOVE that we connect so much b/c of our love for Jesus!

Peter and Amber - Yep, I'm pulling Peter into the blogging game. He loves to talk on the phone and is just as connected to all of us, so he needs to maybe write some!!

Kami - She's so random that I'm sure she can find funny things to write that will make us giggle.. . .her weird list was already random enough!

Steffany - b/c she's the cool version of me! She'll have hilarious ones or super random ones!

Ok, so if I really tagged 10 there wouldn't be enough bloggers to go around. .so, I'm putting my foot down and stopping at 6 so you guys can tag others!! AND, I'll even refrain from telling you who to tag!

Ok, wait, two more! Erin - b/c I just love her and I know you will too!!!. . .and, she's about to go private, so you need to find her now and become her friend so that you can stay with her!

And, dear Missy! Mainly b/c I'd just about cry if someone forgot to tag her! I LOVE her heart!

PS: Yep, I made it my challenge to add a link to every item! When you are bored sometime, I challenge you to actually click on each of those links! haha made me laugh while the kids were watching Little Einsteins at least!