Stop Praying and Just Do It!

    

Sarah, Nicole, Heather, Betsy and Lori

   

It is so awesome and humbling to see God's hand at work.  My covenant group just finished reading Wild Goose Chase.   (If you haven't read it, then I highly recommend it.)    In one of the chapters, it says that it is "time to quit praying". Of course, if you read the section, the author isn't saying to quit praying, but he is stressing the importance and difference between "doing/actions" and "well-meaning thoughts".  It is our responsibility to act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Well, that is just what my friend Sarah did.  She says that she and her daughter pray every night about the suffering children of the world.    On this particular night, she felt that it was time to stop just thinking about it and to do something about it.  She started thinking about how to use her gifts to help.  Well, she used to arrange flowers, and one thing led to another, and at the end, my covenant group was all working together to arrange and sell Valentine's Day bouquets in order to raise money for our adoption. 

   

Now, the old me (husband included) would have resisted the help - I can do this by myself, What if no one buys any, What if it offends someone, etc.  But through this experience, and as God refines me, I am learning that it isn't about me.  It is about HIS plan and HIS glory.  I think God is well-pleased with Sarah for "doing" what he put on her heart.  She, along with the others, probably think that it was no big deal, but I happen to think that it is kingdom work!  It blessed my family, brought more awareness to children in need, and even maybe inspired someone else to action. 

 

Well, we were hoping to sell at least 20 bouquets, and we ended up selling 50.  And, there was even some talk, that maybe we do something like this every year to help out a cause. 

 

These women inspire me!

 

The Race

 

Holly: I want to buy Sarah, her daughter, a shirt that says "My mommy runs faster than your mommy."

Me:  I think that would be hilarious.

Then at our Sunday School's Christmas Party, the smack starts over the potential t-shirt.  Something is said about a shirt that says "My mommy runs faster than your daddy."  Then SB adds his comments about well, maybe longer but not faster. It's decided that a race that night isn't really feasible.

Well, the next day in Sunday School, the smack talk continues.  By the time it is over, Holly and SB are going to race 1 mile on New Year's Day at 2 pm at the local high school track.

Over the course of the next 10 days, the pot sweetens and pride is no longer the only motivator.  If SB wins, then Holly comes over and cooks dinner for everyone.  (Holly is an excellent cook, so this is quite the prize.)  If Holly wins, then SB has to buy Sarah a shirt that says "My mommy runs faster than AB's daddy."  Male pride is soooo on the line.

We have a few families over for New Year's Eve, the smack talk continues.  SB trying to get Holly to have just one more glass of wine, and Holly trying to get SB to eat and drink some more. 

Race Day....It is sunny at 33 degrees with a 23 degree windchill.  (In other words, pretty from inside your house.) It's agreed that everyone will do their personal best and be on their best behavior.  Afterall, the kiddos are watching.  

It starts friendly enough....

BB is ready to start cheering for Daddy.

 

They are sooo close.

 

We watch in anticipation.  (Uncle T and Aunt N are down from MI visiting.)

The girls cheer for their dad.

And, the winner is....

SB: 6:50

Holly 7:10

Of course, they both thought they had it in the bag.  SB thought Holly would be lucky to run it in 8 minutes, and Holly thought that SB wouldn't have the endurance to keep up.

(Holly is a marathon runner, and SB works out, but no cardio.)

"I am so glad that it is over."

SB catching his breath :)

Of course, it is all in good fun.

One Blessing After Another

 

From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another.........John 1:16

I must say that I feel so blessed and humbled by all the support of our friends!  Today, my daughter's school had a "shopapalooza".  Basically vendors rent a table at our church to sell their products for a day.  The table fee goes straight to my daughter's school, and the vendors get to keep all of their money. 

Well, my great friend, Betsy offered to donate all of her proceeds from her table to charity (some goes to a family shelter in which our Sunday School class is trying to sponsor a family & the other goes towards our adoption.)  This is not her full-time job.  This is something that she did in addition to everything she already has on her plate with 2 kiddos and work.  (She's an ICU nurse.)  I am totally blown away by her support.  I mean, she could have totally used her profits and skipped a nursing shift or paid for Christmas.  She is such a beautiful person outside and inside.  She is such a blessing!

 

I also had many friends who stopped by Betsy's table to purchase something to help us on our journey. It was a wonderful day!

 

Betsy and me

    
I also have to mention my great friend Holly.  Not only has she been so supportive with her words, but she also had a house show last month, in which she asked all of the vendors to donate some of their proceeds to our adoption.  I was totally blown away.  I never asked her to do this...she just did it and handed me a check.  That is soooo the person she is.  She never does anything half way.  She sees a need, and she just goes for it!  Everyone needs a Holly in their life!  I'm so blessed to have her as my friend!!!  (side note: She is also one of the best cooks I know.  I have the joy of carpooling with her, so I often time get to be her test taster!  It's a perk!)
   

Me and Holly

 

The 147 Million Orphans were also at the shopapalooza.  They use their products to raise awareness of the world orphan crisis and to support Amazima Ministries (Uganda orphans & poor).  They are such an inspiration and a blessing!  I love their shirts!  Not only do they send a message and go towards feeding a child, but they also look good. Check out their website at 147millionorphans.com.

Me and Gwen

Gwen is one of the founders.  She is an inspiration to all those around her.  You can't help but to feel empowered when you are around her. 

 

...one blessing after another...

  

Posh Camping and Culvert Creeks

 

FROM POSH CAMPING:

     

Friday night when SB and I were suppose to be gearing up for our last on-line adoption classes, the girls ambushed him.  After they finished eating dinner, they immediately got on their pjs and got their sleeping bags.  BB even made sure that she put on daddy's favorites, even though they are too small.  They wanted to sleep in the playhouse or as Fancy Nancy would say do a little posh camping.  SB along with Granddad, Papa and the Uncles built the girls a playhouse several years ago.  It is complete with electricity and heating/cooling.  You wouldn't think that you'd need that much stuff for a simple overnight in the backyard...wrong.

They needed air mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows, books, leapster, crayons and paper, Nitendo DS, DVD player, movies, lovey, special blanket, laptop, ipod, eggshell mattress, small air compressor, bottled water, a couple of stuffed animals - you get the idea :)  And, yes it was raining, so SB had to make several trips.

   

 

 

The girls were so excited.  AB even wanted to take one of the Ehtiopian books that we checked out from the library to look at.  Daddy didn't have a chance!

Their bliss lasted till about 12:30 am.  AB couldn't sleep with BB moving on the make shift bed SB made - 1/2 air mattress and 1/2 egg shell foam.  She had gotten the crease, and it wasn't working.  By this time, SB's air mattress had partially deflated, so he decided to call it a night.  Poor BB was sleeping fine, but still had to get up and come inside.  O-well, we'll have to figure out a different arrangement for next time.

     

TO CULVERT CREEKS...

  

On Saturday, after SB's great Aunt Helen's 90th birthday party, we headed to Mt. Juliet to visit some friends.  SB's Aunt Helen is an amazing woman.  After lunch, she had to be sure that she reapplied her lipstick.  I just love that!!!  Anyways, we arrive and the girls immediately want to play in the water.  It has been raining for what seems like weeks and the little creek behind our friends house is more like a river.  So...we tell them that they can play in the little creek instead.

 

 

   

Yes, the little creek is runoff from the culvert.  That's fun here in Tennessee.

   

 

 

Our friends have 2 beautiful girls, Carson (7) and Cate (5).  They all play so great together.  It's too bad that they don't live closer.  Our friends also suprised us with a donation for our travel expenses for when we travel to Ethiopia to pick up our son.  It won't be long!  Yeah!!  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful support group.  Everyone is eagerly awaiting the arrival of baby boy Bonner.