A Differenc a Week Can Make

***These words were typed 3 weeks ago...

Like many of you my brain is still in hyper drive over everything that has transpired over the past month. Week. Day.  Gosh...even the last hour.  Life as we know it looks very different today.  One month ago I was gleefully preparing to leave for Disneyland on the 22nd.  I was buying cute shirts and matching earrings. Planning what park to go to what day.  Getting meals scheduled.  Within 1 week all that changed.  Along with many other things.

Today, I woke up at 5 a.m. to be at the grocery store as soon as they opened in hopes of finding some chicken.  No luck.  Never in my life did I think I would have to do that.  Don't worry...I have food.  And toilet paper.  I'm not really worried about it...it's just something I, and I venture to say the rest of us, have never had to experience.  We are so used to do being able to go to any number of stores and getting whatever we want.  And if, on the off chance, that store doesn't have what you need you go 2 blocks to the next store and they will have it.  Not the case today.  No chicken to be found.

My kids have been out of school since last Friday and we have been on self imposed "shelter in place."  (A week ago I had never even heard those words.) I've made a few grocery runs and Rob has gone into work.  The kids have taken a car ride with me but that is it.  We are trying to do our part to stop this beast known as COVID-19 or Coronavirus.  Even though we have done everything we can...stayed home, social distancing, washed our hands 100 billion times, prayed, cloroxed, lysoled, and so on...every time someone says that something is wrong I immediately think we have it.  Carys and I had throats that hurt 3 days ago...corona. Anytime someone coughs...corona.  Anytime someone's stomach is upset...corona.  It's so ridiculous and I logically realize that.  However, my emotional side freaks out.  It ususally happens everyday around 2:00 that I am convinced we all have corona.  The reality is there is a good chance we will eventually get it.  The reality also is we will most likely be fine.

***I never finished that original post.  I love writing and I have countless number of posts I have wrote over the months that never got published.  Do people even blog anymore?  Isn't it all video now?  YouTube and Facebook Live?  I don't do videos well.  I enjoy writing.  So here we are with all the time in the world and a crisis upon us.  I feel like now is as good a time as any.  So, I write.  This is just my personal journal and you are all invited in. 

So what has happened since March 16th when I originally started this post?  More than anyone could ever imagined.  The Corona crisis has just gotten worse and just about every state has been put on a "shelter in place" or "stay at home" order.  The world is just really weird right now.  Yesterday my kids school was closed through the rest of the year.  They will be doing school online.  Carys is currently upstairs on a Zoom call with her friends.  She had a friend walk to our house about 2 weeks ago and stand on our hill, about 40 yards away, and Carys sat on the roof and they "hung out" for 2 hours.  I hand out wipes and toilet paper to neighbors who can't find any.  My mom made us face masks for us to wear when we are out.  I pick up groceries and sanitize them before they come in the house.  It's just all so surreal and sad.   Oh, and I experienced my first earthquake last Tuesday.  That was interesting.  I was on the phone with Broderick's 3rd period teacher (they were calling to check in on the kids) and I felt my house shaking.  I  was in a different room and I thought the kids were jumping around so I ignored it.  A few seconds later it was still happening so I came out into the kitchen.  The teacher then said, "I think that's an earthquake.  I'm going to let you go."  Sure enough it was.  6.5 with the epicenter about 70 miles from us.  Thankfully there was no damage in the Boise area and besides being shaken up we were all ok.  I don't know if any of you have ever experienced and earthquake but it is one of the most scary things I have ever experienced.  I got zero sleep that night and even now whenever Rob moves in bed I think it is happening again. 

I want to close this post out by saying people can be really cool.  I don't really watch the regular news..I can't handle it.  I do, however, love hearing the stories of how people are being kind, creative and loving.  The way they come up with creative ways to still connect.  I heard a story today of teachers that made a car parade and drove by their students houses to wave.  It brings tears to my eyes to think people are that great!  Why does it take crisis for us to rise up and be awesome?  Why does it take a pandemic for us to show appreciation to our healthcare workers?  Why does it take fear for me to bow my knees to my Savior every single day?  I just really pray that after all this we don't stop these acts of kindness, showing our appreciation or praying. 

Until next time friends stay safe and healthy.  Let's do what we need to, together, so we can get through this.

A few feel good things to watch/listen to

John Krasinski - Some Good News (So good!  Brings me to tears!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oilZ1hNZPRM

A song I have on repeat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DioI2k4IIjs

Reflection

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...I know it is almost the end of January and y'all have moved on from reflection and new year's resolutions.  I haven't ok.  I have been spending the last few weeks reflecting and thinking on all that 2018 held. 

I know the cool, trendy thing to do these days is to pick a "word for the year"...I'm not into that.  I usually don't make resolutions either.  (Let's be honest, my life is a constant resolution of trying to eat healthy and exercise.) 

Over  my weeks of reflection I feel like I brought two words out of 2018...

BRAVE

and

ADVENTURE

As I was looking over all that 2018 held these two words kept popping up.  Brave may seem obvious...because it is.  I have never in my life had to be more brave than I was in 2018.  Literally getting on a plane with a one way ticket to Idaho was the hardest thing I have ever done.  It wasn't just me that was brave though.  Everyday, still, I am amazed at how brave my kids are.  Just last week I dropped Broderick off at his first day of driving school.  He walked into a classroom full of kids he had never met.  Then 2 days later got behind the wheel of a car to drive for the first time.  (Parents:  if your children are not yet to driving age...prepare yourself.  I don't know if there is anything scarier.)
Not only leaving Ohio took great bravery, but since we've been here there are many days that require great bravery.  Some days just driving I need to be brave.   Ok, maybe not for the average person but for me.  There are roads that I have had to literally close my eyes when we are driving on them.

 Do you see the words at the bottom of my GPS screen? 

 HAHAHA..."Keep Your Eyes Open".  No thanks.

Looks beautiful, right?  And it is.  

Except the road winds up the mountain on the edge with no guardrail.  

BRAVE!

This is just a little (exaggerated...kind of) example.  Seriously though,  I am an extrovert and love getting out and meeting people and doing all sorts of things.  But, this move has stretched me in the area of fear and courage like I could never have imagined.  I am so thankful for the ways God has been with our family and pushed us past the fear to be BRAVE.

Now onto adventure.  Again, the move was a huge adventure and I find that most days there is always a new adventure to be had.  But even looking past that (while the move did consume most of 2018 we did do other things)

Rob and I got to go to Nicaragua with my favorite band NEEDTOBREATHE and serve with a ministry, One World Health.  One of the coolest things I have ever done and probably the most gorgeous place I have ever been.

In May, Rob and I also got to go to Belize.  (My hubby is a rockstar at his job and won an award.  He was 1 of 5 people out of the entire company to get the award.)  

I should also add here that this trip required me to be brave as well...I first had to get on a prop plane and fly to the island...

Then I took a boat ride through the jungle, with all kinds of creatures, with a local man.  I was certain we would never be returning.  (Are you gathering that I am a very fearful person?  I am.  God is growing me though.  Years ago, I would have NEVER even got on the plane or in the boat.)

We have had countless adventures since we've been in Idaho also.  Weekend trips to the mountains, "hiking" (I use that term lightly...hiking to me is different than hiking to native Idahoans), having visitors and showing them around, snowmobiling, driving to the grocery some days is an adventure.  I just never know what each day is going to hold and it has been a ton of fun.

Our family motto for the past few years has been, "On the other side of the hardest yes could be the greatest blessing."  I can definitely say that rang true in 2018.  Had I not gotten on the plane or in the boat I would have missed some of the greatest adventures we had last year.  I don't know what 2019 holds for us but I wait in expectant anticipation.

A Year Later

Exactly one year from today we told our kids we would be moving to Idaho.  We had made the decision a few days prior but this day made it official.  And exactly 6 months ago we got on a plane and left all I had ever known as home and we had known as a family.  As I sit and write this my mind is flooded with many thoughts over the past year.  Many emotions surface and I fight back tears.

I think of February when Rob and I travelled here to buy a house and how God showed up in unimaginable ways.  After a long day of looking at houses and an even longer night of no sleep we decided to go to church.  We just went to one that our realtor had mentioned.  The church was having a guest speaker, Jeremy, and he was speaking about anxiety...interesting.  After church we introduced ourselves, shared with him why we were there that specific morning and asked for prayer.  One week before we moved here that church announced they were hiring a new pastor and it was going to be Jeremy.  Today, Jeremy and his wife, Stephanie are our dear friends.  We attend that church, that is about 5 minutes from our house and definitely feel God moving through it in our community.  God was with us.

I think of a morning in church when I was feeling very sad.  Ya know how churches do that churchy thing where they tell you to say hi to someone you don't know.  Well, I said hi to the guy sitting right next to me and began to tell him we had just moved here.  He said, "From where?".  I said, "Ohio".  "Where in Ohio?"  "Between Dayton and Cincinnati."  "Where between Dayton and Cincinnati?"  "Centerville."  "I lived in Kettering and went to Fairmont High School."  May not seem like much to you, but to me!!!  I grew up in Kettering and went to Fairmont High School!!!  I felt God saying, "I see you my daughter.  I know you feel alone, but I SEE YOU!  I am with you."

I think of the week the kids went to camp and I was a hot mess.  I was so worried because they would be jet skiing and tubing, and white water rafting with people they didn't even know.  And then as the week went on and I saw pictures of there smiles with other kids their age I knew we were all going to be okay.  God was with them.

I think of a Facebook post I read of a woman, Lisa, who said, "My family and I are moving from Georgia.  I have a 7th grade girl. (she has other kids too but that one stuck out to me) I would love to meet some people."  So what do I do as an extrovert?  I message her and say, "hey.  I am new here too and I have a 7th grade girl.  Let's get together."  So, we met at the zoo (dragging our children along) and the rest is history.  We had our first Thanksgiving in Idaho with Lisa and her sweet family.  God was with us.

I also think of days sitting in my closet crying texting my friends in Ohio of how sad I was.  And of getting a phone call that someone I love was in the hospital and not being able to get to them.  (Worst feeling ever.)  And of lying on Carys' bed as she sobbed because dance is not the same here and she just wants to be with Miss Holly and Miss Andrea and her dance friends.  And arguing with Broderick (because he's 15) because he doesn't know how to verbally express what he is feeling.  Even in those hard times God was with us.

There has not been one day, not one, that I have questioned our move here.  There has not been one day that I have wondered why we did this.  There has not been one day I regretted moving.  There have been many days that I wake up and literally have to give myself a pep talk to get out of bed.  It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy when EVERYTHING has changed.  But God whispers, "I am with you" every.single.day.

Tonight we will host our first (Idaho) annual Christmas party. One year after we officially made the decision to move, my house will be filled with new friends to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us.  Coincidence?  I think not.

New Year! New Adventure!

Over 2 years have passed since I last updated this space of the world.  I love writing here and have missed it immensely.  Over the past 2+ years many things have changed and many things are about change.  That is why I am revamping the blog.

First, we must rewind to a little over a year ago...

As I mentioned in my last post, we moved to a new house after looking at moving closer to Rob's work.  We love this house and its location.  However, there were some things going on and I felt stirred to pray about Rob's current job situation.  He had been with this company for around 20 years and they have been so good to us, but we both felt like something needed to change.  So, I just started praying...I can't tell you exactly what I was praying but it was something along the lines of "change".  About a month after I started praying this Rob called me and said, "Are you sitting down?"  I replied, "no, why?"  He said, "What exactly have you been praying?"  My first thought was, oh crap!  He's losing his job!  ok...I prayed about this so if so, it's all good.  He proceeded to tell me that the company was being bought and what the could mean for him and us.  My heart started beating at a more normal pace and I wasn't freaking out as much.  I just kept thinking, I prayed for change and this is definitely that so it's going to be fine.  Different, sure.  Hard, maybe.  But fine nonetheless.

Fast forward a few months...

Things with the buying/selling of the company were almost final.  Rob was approached with the question if we would relocate.  See, the main office would now be in Boise, Idaho not Newport, Kentucky.  We talked about it and felt like we needed to say yes we would be willing.  If I had prayed about "change" then I had to be willing to go where God was leading.  Last December Rob and I both took a trip to Boise to see if we really were willing to move.  To our surprise, we both really liked it.  It has the same Midwest feel as Ohio but with mountains!  Time passed and nothing really ever came of the relocation.  We continued to settle into our new (we've lived here for 2 1/2 years now) house, doing remodeling projects and such.  We switched churches (another post for another time) and have fallen in love with it and met new friends that we are coming to adore.

Then about a month ago Rob came home from work and we had a very emotional conversation...relocating had been brought back up.  This time it was very serious.  We spent a week praying and seeking counsel and asking a lot of questions.  We talked to the kids and told them what was going on.  We asked how they felt and told them to start praying.  They could pray that we do move or don't.  They could tell God they don't want to or they do.  We encouraged them to have their own faith journey in this process.  After nearly a month we had all the information we felt we needed to make a decision.  It is with great excitement we announce we will be relocating to Boise!!!

Even typing that makes my stomach flip and feels fake...it's not.  As you can imagine there is many emotions with this decision...fear, excitement, anticipation, and the list goes on.  Rob and I truly believe this is a huge faith step and are very excited about what God is going to do in our lives over the next year.  We will absolutely miss our family and friends and our church and our house.  However, for the past few years our motto has been, "our biggest blessing could be on the other side of the hardest yes."  We adopted that phrase before I went to Africa because I was terrified to go.  It turns out, one of my greatest blessings was indeed on the other side of the yes to go.  I believe the same about this.  I don't know what God has in store but I believe it will be a blessing.  Hard, yes.  Different, sure. But a blessing nonetheless.

Closing Day

Today is closing day people!! To say I am a bit excited is kind of an understatement.  We have been packing and doing all kinds of work to get ready for this day.  The next week will be pretty crazy because we have some sort of work being done at the new house everyday and then we move on Thursday.  But I say, "Bring it on!!!"

You might be wondering where we are moving. Or maybe you don't care.  Either way, I am going to give you a little back ground on this process we have been going through for the past several months. 

A few months ago Rob's office moved.  Now instead of a 30 minute commute he has an hour to an hour and half commute.  And a few nights it has been a 2 hour commute.  For several months we have talked, prayed, fasted and considered moving to another state because of this commute.  It made sense in our heads...add 3 hours back into our family, save on gas money, keep the mileage down on Rob's car, be closer to his work so he could meet us for lunch, come to the kids school activities.  The list goes on and on of logical reasons to move.  We tried to move.  We looked at houses.  We contacted schools. We researched good areas to live.  But we kept getting the answer no.  It was a rough couple of months.  The weekend before we put our house on the market we spent a whole day down by Rob's work.  We drove by A LOT of houses and drove around the community.  We both came home that night with the same feeling...if we move there we are being disobedient.  Makes zero sense to most people.  But we are not most people. We had prayed and asked God to speak very clearly to us and that day He did.  And while logistically it makes sense to move closer to Rob's work, for whatever reason, we believe God wants us to stay in the community we are in. We are not sure why, but we are choosing to trust His plan.

We really didn't think we would move from the house we live in now.  But again through a series of kind of random events we found a house and absolutely fell in love with it.  I'm not lying when I say as soon as we pulled in the driveway I knew it was our house. Now, I'm not say the Lord spoke to me or it was some divine moment.  I am simply saying, I had a feeling.  It felt like home.  It felt like us.  It had everything I would ever want in a home and then some.  And ever since we made the offer on the house I can see God's hand in all the details.  It has been so much fun to watch Him work. 

We are super excited for the next chapter of our lives and what He has for us.  We want our family to be used for His glory and His kingdom purpose.  We trust that while this season may be hard and we may need to sacrifice some things, like family time and gas money, he has a purpose.  And we fully believe that in obedience to Him there is great blessing.  Blessings always out weight the sacrifice. We trust that it will all be worth it.

Move

It has been exactly 10 years that we have lived in our house.  It is the first home Rob and I bought.  I remember the first time we drove by it...Rob had found it online and he took me by to show me.  We weren't even really looking to buy a house. We sat outside and prayed.  Roughly 3 days later we made an offer.  We bought this house with the intention of it being a "starter" home.  Live here for a few years and then move to something bigger.  Time kept passing and I began to think we would never leave.  I began to settle in and dream of what the future would hold in this house.  Now 10 years later we are preparing to move.  After many long conversations we put this house up for sale.  3 days and 12 showings later we had received and accepted an offer. 

There is a part of me that is sad about leaving this little place we have made a home.  I think of all the memories we have made here.  Bringing a baby home, potty training, first steps, first days of school, holidays, baking days, pillow mountain, playing in leaf piles and the snow, squirt gun fights, sleepovers, many fires in the fireplace, and neighbors that have become friends.  This house holds a lot of love.

I keep remembering that those memories and love go with us wherever we go.  With each picture I take off the wall and each item I pack up this house feels less and less like home.  It is feeling more like a place we are staying.  God has been preparing me to say goodbye to this special place that holds so many memories and to move on to the next chapter of our lives. We will move on to a new house.  We will begin to make new memories, hang new pictures, and make a new house our home.

In 3 short weeks we will be signing papers and handing the keys over to a new family so they can begin making their own memories in this house. 

Camp

Even though it has been a rainier and chillier summer, it is well under way.  In fact, we are closer to going back to school than we are from the kids getting out.  I had all these well intentioned plans of bike rides and completing workbooks and not turning the tv on before 8:00 and eating healthy but that has not happened because well...life. 

There have been several unexpected things that have happened over the course of a few weeks. For one, Broderick went to church camp.  As a middle schooler.  This whole middle school thing has been kind of emotional for this mama.  Okay...not kind of but really emotional.  I was already having a hard time with him going to middle school and then to send him off to camp for a week...tears.  He really wanted to and I knew deep in my heart it would be good for all of us.  It may have been one of the best parenting choices we have made.  He had a blast, made new friends, grew in the Lord, grew in being responsible and came home with a whole bunch of great stories and memories. 

Mid week the camp had family night.  Did I mention camp was only 20 minutes away...Ha! Rob and I went to spend time with him and participate in their night worship service.  Can I just say...I want to go to camp.  I never went to church camp as a kid.  I did however spend half a summer with my cousin in Atlanta when I was Broderick's age.  Best. Summer. Ever.  Anywhoooo...back to Broderick....he walked us around the grounds, showed us his dorm, told us what he had been doing and eating and spending his money on (snacks, paintball, Mountain Dew...tweens, geesh!)  He introduced us to his friends and told us what they do each night after worship.  I absolutely loved hearing about all of it.  I saw a grown up version of my son.  I saw a happy, responsible, young man.  I learned he is completely capable of showering and getting dressed and cleaning up with out me constantly reminding him.

I left camp that night with a new perspective on being his mom and our relationship.  I left excited about what the next few years hold.  I left with a desire to stay connected to my son and his friends.  I am so excited about what God has in store for this boy and our family.

Oh...and we excepted an offer on our house last week.  More on that later. 

#33goingon13

A friend and I had a conversation the other day about being in our mid-thirties...which I am not!  She is 34 so she clearly is...I am not though.  Anyway, I refuse to be in my mid-thirties or any age beyond that.  I prefer to live like I am 13.  I mean, why not!? Who wants to act old?

That being said, I had every opportunity to act 13 this weekend and so I did just that.  You all know of my love for Needtobreathe and that I have wanted to meet them for a long time.  They are just people...I know, I know.  But they are people that sing great music!  Did you know that they are currently touring with my 2nd favorite, Ben Rector!!!!?  When Rob called me a few months ago and informed me of this fantastic news I got a little excited.  Okay, okay...I FREAKED OUT!  After I got done freaking out with him on the phone I called Amber (because she shares the same love for Ben Rector's music) and continued to FREAK OUT!  (Amber likes to say I am "easily excitable" which she equates to childlike joy/wonder and I equate to being childISH.)  When tickets went on sale my fantastic husband was online the moment they went on sale and bought us great seats.  I came to learn there was a VIP package where you could meet the band and they sing you one song!  Wait...what!?  So I kindly requested that we purchase these VIP tickets as well.  He was adamant that this was not going to happen. 

Well, I waited and waited for the months to pass and finally Saturday night was the night for the concert.  To my surprise Rob did purchase the VIP tickets!!!  He is so sneaky. He said this was my birthday present which was fine by me.  BEST PRESENT EVER!!! To say I was shocked is the understatement of the century.  I was so excited to meet the band and Ben Rector.  What would I wear?  What would I say?  What do I do with my coat and purse?  Which I clearly made a bad choice on that...

While we were in line I said to Rob, "Do you think I can stand wherever I want? Because I really want to stand by Ben and Bear."  He of course laughed.  When we got up to them he grabbed me and said, "this girl wants to stand right here. You will make all her birthday wishes come true." and then placed me in between them.  Ben (we are on a first name basis now) said, "Oh...happy birthday." AH!...you guys, I was dying.  I get to cross something off my bucket list now!  Random: do you have a bucket list? I didn't until this year...it's kinda fun.  I have crossed two things off already.  Meeting Needtobreathe and riding a Boda Boda with Amber in Uganda - that is a whole other blog post for another day.  Back to the meeting of the band...How perfect is that picture?  I think I am going to print it into poster size and hang it above my bed!

The concert was just as amazing as the other 4 times I have seen them. Actually it was better.
At one point I looked at Rob and said, "I am standing up when Ben performs even if I am the only one!" No shame people...no shame. There was maybe 10 people in the whole place standing and at first I just sat on the edge of my seat, but that didn't last long...I couldn't take it.  And you know what...my sweet hubby stood with me.  Gosh, I love him. 

So there you have it friends my dreams coming true and why I am, and will always be, #33goingon13.

It's About Time

We've been home for almost 4 weeks and I have sat behind this computer screen 100 times...okay, maybe not quite 100 but a few....to try and put some words to my thoughts.  I can't.  I can't hardly form a complete sentence when someone asks me the famous, "how was you trip" question.  I don't have the words to articulate what is going on in my head.  And if I start to try it just comes out like "blah"...puke.  That's what I feel like anyway...like I am just vomiting my thoughts on someone.  I have learned from my previous trips that most people don't want the vomit.  They want to hear "It was great." or "It was life changing."  Not all the vomit that is happening in my head.  This process is just so hard...I come home and I want life to stop so I don't have to continue on with the day to day...work, school, karate, dance and so on.

I just want the world to stop coming at me.  I just need a minute to think and breathe and be still.  I understand that this is not a real possibility.  Life and time will continue to go on.  So I must get up each day and do the next best thing. I must continue to pursue Him and nothing else.  I must continue to press in to His truth and His word.  How do you do that?  How do you "be still" but keep going? 

All that to say...I'm still here.  I'm still doing this life.  I'm still pressing on.

{Water}

I have known for a long time that there are many people in the world that do not have these common luxuries that I do.  To know that people walk long distances for water is one thing.  To drive past people every day walking for water is another.  To actually walk and get water is completely different.

Ebenezer home has a very shallow well with water that they use for washing clothes.  They also have a tap…think like the water in your back yard that you hook a hose up to.  This is “city” water.  They pay for it and somehow it runs on electricity…I guess…if the power is out they cannot get water from this tap.  The power has been out for at least 5 days.  Which means Ebenezer has only had easy access to the water in the shallow well for the last 5 days.  Today we were getting ready to leave Ebenezer and come back to our guest house when I caught word that some of the Aunties and older children were walking to the well to get water so the children could take a bath.  I walked over to Rob and said, “We have a van.  Why don’t we just put the cans in the van and drive down and get the water and bring and back.”  He had already suggested this to George and George’s reply was, “this is what we do.”  His response only meant one thing…I was walking with the Aunties and children to get water.  I grabbed two cans and started my first ever walk for water. 

 

Before I go any further let me say, I am not going to be able to give you every detail or articulate what this journey was truly like. I also did not take any pictures.  I wanted to experience getting the water, not be busy taking pictures, which makes the story telling harder.  Here is my best shot....

The walk there was not that bad.  I am guessing close to a mile, which really isn’t that far.  There was a storm in the distance so it was windy and cloudy.  We got to the well and there was a long line to get the water.  Somehow, we ended up going behind where the well was to these troughs that were filled up with water through a pipe in the ground.  After the cans were filled Sylvia paired the children up to walk back with one can…they would take turns carrying it.  Amber and I grabbed our two cans, weighing close to 20 pounds each, and started back.  We weren’t 50 yards into the walk when we had to stop and take a break.  We continued walking and stopping about every 50 yards until we got about halfway back to Ebenezer.  At that point Rob and the kids pulled up in our van because it was getting late and we needed to leave.  By now we had been gone to get water for an hour and a half.  So her and I, reluctantly, got in the van with our 4 cans and drove them back to Ebenezer.  While the rest of the Aunties and the children walked the rest of the way.  Did you read that!?  I got in a van with my water cans and was driven back to where they needed to be while the other children walked.  I can’t get over that.  I had the option to get in a car with my water.

Let me make a few things clear…

This is abnormal for Ebenezer to have to go and fetch water.  However, if these children did not live here…this would be their everyday life.

One can of water was enough for two baths.  Two baths!  So if I were a Ugandan woman (which let me just tell you…I am not even close!) I would spend anywhere from 2-3 hours a day walking to get water…but only enough for two baths!  So if I wanted to cook or drink it I would have to go multiple times.  Blows my mind.

I knew before we left for this trip I was going to learn a lot….I never expected to learn firsthand like I did today.

Some Days Are Just Fun

Some days are really heavy...like the last post. 

But some days are just plain fun!  Today was one of those days. 

It started off with market shopping which is one of my favorite things to do.  The first time I ever did it, I was terrified and didn't want to get out of the car...now I love it!

Once we got to Ebenezer it was a day of playing.  First for me...We walked to the "restaurant" down the road from Ebenezer for chapati.  Then Amber and I took the kids on a Boda Boda ride (this is a motorcycle taxi).  We went out to the main road, hailed a boda...which really meant we had to tell a bicyclist to ride into town and send 2 Bodas back for us, then took the kids into town to get a soda and brought them back to Ebenezer.  Her and I then continued the ride through the African bush...so fun!  I got to see part of the community surrounding Ebenezer that I had never seen.  It was truly
gorgeous.

We spent the afternoon playing with the children at Ebenezer.  We read books, colored, jumped rope, played soccer, sang songs...just laughed and had fun. 

Today gave me hope.  I really saw how far Ebenezer has come since Rob first visited 2 years ago and I first visited a year and a half ago.  While there are still needs there is a lot of good happening.  Today I was coloring with a little girl that I saw laying under a hut very, very sick.  Now she is healthy and smiling.  I watched the kids eat eggs with porridge and some cabbage with their lunch...thanks to the nutrition fund I posted about a few days ago.  I heard children laughing that 2 years ago did nothing but cry.  I saw children going to school that were not in school a few months ago.  This community and these children have a chance at a future.  They too have hope.

Sometimes It Hits Me...Hard

We show up at Ebenezer around 9:00 am every day.  The work there has been well underway.  I immediately get out of the car and walk to the “kitchen” to tell my new friends, the school cooks, good morning.  Then I walk myself to a chair under the shade tree and watch what is happening around me.  I see preschool children in their classes learning and singing. I see a 3 year old boy skipping class so he can come say hello to the Mzungu children.  I see a 15 year old down syndrome boy smiling from ear to ear and walking my way.  All while I continue to watch my new friends cook over an open fire for about 100 students.   What are they making?  Porridge.  Around 10:00 each morning the children get porridge.  As I watched them cook it, I thought, “I am going to help them serve it today.”  I have done this before.  Every time I have been here.  For every meal I have been here.  I have always loved bringing the children their cup of porridge or bowl of rice and beans.  But today I wanted to help serve it…not just walk it to the children.  I asked Christine If I could help and with her beautiful smile and thick Ugandan accent she said, “yes.”  So I stood next to her and scooped a cup of porridge into another cup and handed it to a child.  About 5 minutes into it she looked at me and said, “These children get half.”  Half?  She meant half a cup.  So I started filling the cups halfway.  I am looking into a bucket of porridge and then up at a sweet face and thinking, “I am giving you half a cup of flour and water.”  Half a cup.  Of flour and water.  I swallowed back tears, hugged my sweet Evelyn and prayed for those children.  I filled every cup until each child had their porridge.  I then turned around to see another cook mixing flour and water over the fire…lunch.  Lunch is not porridge though.  It is Posho…a different kind of flour than porridge and thicker. 

 

 

I started to walk towards Rob and the kids and Broderick stopped me and said, “Mom, can I have a snack?  I am hungry.” I leaned down to his ear and I said, “Bud, you are not hungry.  When I feed you flour and water for breakfast and lunch everyday of your life we can talk about you being hungry.  You just want a snack.”  He had no clue what he had really just said and he certainly had no clue that it was taking every ounce of my being to not be sobbing.  I walked to Rob and explained to him the emotion going on in me.  He asked why it hit me today when I have seen the children eat this many, many times.  I didn’t and still don’t really have an answer.  I just can’t get out of my head that these children eat flour and water 2-3 times a day every single day.  Don’t get me wrong…they are eating…2-3 times a day.  And it is better than most of the children living in the village.  If those kids weren’t coming to school or living at Ebenezer they probably wouldn’t be getting anything…honestly.  I just look into their sweet, sweet eyes and think, “You deserve more.  You deserve more.”

 

From the very first time I have come here God has tugged at my heart regarding what these children eat.   So much so that after my first trip, I talked to Diana from Equip 1 about a “Supplemental Nutrition Plan” for the children living at Ebenezer.  All this means is we would send extra money each month to supplement some food…fruits, vegetables, chicken, eggs.  Healthy, good stuff.  For about a year now each month Equip 1 sends money for this.  I was talking to Sylvia today about what they are eating and she shared with me that they usually get fruit and/or vegetables a few times a week and an egg a day.  I was happy to hear that because that is better than what it was a year ago.  My prayer is that by next year they will be eating fruit or vegetables with each meal and meat at least a few times a week if not every day.  If you are interested in partnering with us and Equip 1 to feed these children please visit Equip 1 Ministries, click on the donate online button, and select Ebenezer Supplemental Nutrition fund.

Here We Go Again

After 24 hours of air travel, a night in a hotel with almost zero sleep, and a full day of road travel we made it to Mbale.  That trip is long and hard...but the second I see those beautiful brown faces and squeeze those precious hands it is all worth it. 

We spent Sunday, our first day at Ebenezer, doing church with them and visiting with the children, George and Sylvia.  Church was amazing...as always.  There is nothing like African church.  I love when they sing and worship.  It is nothing short of joyful!  They sing and clap and dance and laugh.  They worship with no abandon.  Beautiful.  And...I had a precious 4 year old boy fall asleep on me during the preaching.  Makes my heart happy! 

After church we sat under a shade tree (it was freaking HOT!) while the children sat on our laps, held our hands and stared at us.  Later in the day we taught them "Ring Around the Rosie" and "Duck, duck, goose."  They loved it....they just laughed and laughed.  They caught on very quickly to the games and just wanted to keep playing them.  I showed them pictures on my phone of our life back home.  I would show one child and the rest of them would say, "Now do me Aunt Amy, now do me!" 

Carys was reunited with Moses, which was such a blessing.  He saw her and was a little shy at first, but then just grinned!  Such a sweet, sweet moment.

Broderick has been enjoying playing with the little boys and the baby girls.  He is so sweet to them.

Today was another full day of visiting the school, singing and dancing with the children.  We went into Kibuku town for a few minutes and met some of the children that live there.  George told us they have never seen mzungu (white) children before.  We gave them some of the snacks we had which they really liked.

Rob and I are learning this trip (and leading up to this trip) to ask a lot of questions and learn more about the culture here.  Our driver is great to talk to these things about.  We ask him about families, jobs, government, food, and a bunch of "dumb American questions".  He gets a good laugh out of us!

I am try to spend time each day with at least one of the women.  Yesterday I met Ester...she is a student at Suubi Works (go to the link and check out what they do...Amazing!) and she is learning Tailoring.  She is a sweet young woman doing her best to make a better life for herself and children.  Today I met Christine...she is the cook for the Ebenezer school.  She has twin boys, 7, and lives in the village by Ebenezer.  I sat with her and shelled G- nuts (peanuts) and asked her questions.  She told me she loves Mountain Dew...HA!  I can't wait to bring her one...she can drink Mountain Dew and I will drink Novida and we will learn about each other.

A few things I want to share with you all...mom and dad, don't freak out!  I have shared with you all before that a lot of times I operate out of fear.  Our first trip here I wouldn't even get out of the van in town or shop in the market.  This trip I have already, gone into the grocery store once by myself and once just me and the kids, and I walked from the school back to the orphanage by myself!  HUGE milestone people.  God has done an enormous work on  me in the department of fear.  Still to come...another boda (motorcycle) ride through the Ugandan bush!

I am going to be honest with you all...the first couple days here were a little confusing.  I kept thinking, "why am I here?  Why are we doing this again? What is the point?"  I felt in over my head. Today, it all began to make sense.  I came home this evening and remembered my best friend (she gets here tomorrow!  I can not wait!) had given me a card to open today so I opened it.  By the grace of  God it was exactly what I needed.  All it said was...

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am yours
Then you crash over me and I've lost control but I am free
I'm going under
I'm in over my head
And you crash over me,
I'm where you want me to be
I'm going under,
I'm in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I'm
Beautifully in over my head.

It brought tears to my eyes.  I thought...Yes! that is it!  I started the first few days feeling in over my head, but today I feel beautifully in over my head.  I will spend the rest of my days here allowing Him to lead me further and further away from the shore, letting Him crash over me and be beautifully in over my head.

Anthem

Today is the day people!  We board a plane once again to visit a place and people we love and care deeply about. 

Preparing for this trip has been a little different than the 2 prior trips to Africa.  The first time we decided 5 weeks before to go so there wasn't a whole lot of time to prepare.  And since it was just Rob and I going I spent most of my time preparing to leave the kids for 10 days. The second time we went, the kids first time, I spent most of my time preparing to take 2 kids along.  This time, though, since we have all been, and because I hadn't before, I made a conscience effort to prepare my heart, mind and soul for whatever God has in store.  I can not tell you what a blessing this has been. 

One thing has been the same (besides the packing, and checking, and rechecking)...each trip the Lord has given me a song, an Anthem.  A song that I can listen to and pray through.  A song that speaks to what God is going to do.  A song that speaks to what God is doing.  A song that encourages me.  This year the song is "In Over My Head" by Bethel.

I have listened to it about 100 times in the last week.  Whenever I start worrying...I turn it on.  Whenever I feel the urge to pray about the trip...I turn it on.  Whenever I am getting overwhelmed...I turn it on.  I let the words just wash over me.  Some of my favorite lines...

"I'm full but I'm not satisfied. This longing to have more of you."

"I'm standing knee deep but I'm out where I've never been."

"Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put you in."

"Further and further my heart moves away from the shore.  Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am yours."

"You crash over me and I've lost control but I'm free."

(sigh)  So good.  So, so good.  I just pray those lyrics over myself and let the Spirit crash over me.

Okay friends!  I will talk to you from Africa next time!!!  xoxoxo

Steadfast

A lot of people at the beginning of the year have a word that they focus on for the year.  It's kind of like the new trendy thing...instead of a new year's resolution you pick a word.  I never intended to do this.  I didn't really see the point in just picking a word.  However, studying the Bible these past couple months and memorizing scripture I feel God continually highlighting a word.  When I am reading His word it jumps off the page at me.  Or when I am listening to a song it's louder than all the other words.  Steadfast.  The Bible continually talks about God's steadfast love, and that He is our only steadfast.  Seems catchy, right.  That's what I thought at first..."cool word, not really one we use a lot these days." Then is kept showing up.  So I looked up it's meaning.

Steadfast: Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

Good definition. Seems like a good way to describe God and His love for us.  But what I really love are the synonyms...

loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, constant, solid

That is how God describes His love for us committed, dependable, constant.  And then asks us to be steadfast in return...dedicated, devoted, faithful.

There are times in this journey I am on with the Lord I do not feel like being steadfast.  It's hard.  He asks me to do things that I really don't want to do.  He calls me places I don't want to go.  He sheds light on the dark places of my heart and asks me to change to look more like Him.  All these things can become very wearisome.  But then...I remember, STEADFAST. 

"By day the Lord commands His steadfast love and at night His song is with me.  A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8

"But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation." Psalm 13:5

"For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness." Psalm 26:3

"He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in Him." Isaiah 26:3

"Create in me a clean heart God and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

I can't be steadfast and do this life on my own.  I must keep my eyes on Him.  He is the one that is steadfast.

PS. We take our first malaria pill today.  Do you know what that means!? We leave in 1 WEEK!!!!

Should I Laugh It Off or Cry It Out

It started yesterday morning...

"Mom, my throat really hurts."

I knew...I knew right then what was happening.  Carys had strep.  Before bed she was crying that her belly hurt and her throat was so sore.  I prayed for her and told her to go to sleep she would feel better in the morning.  At 10:30 I woke up to moaning coming from her room.  I went into check on her and she wasn't even awake.  She was swallowing and then moaning.  Poor girl...my heart broke.  Around 1:30 she came into my room crying that her throat and belly hurt.  We slept on the couch.  When it was time to get ready for school I tried my hardest to get her ready and force her to go.  I was trying to convince myself there was no way she had strep.  After a brief moment of frustration I gave in and told her to stay home.  Around 10:00 the doctor confirmed what I had suspected....a positive strep test. 

I know what you all are thinking..."who cares?  it's strep.  Get an antibiotic and get over it."  I hear you.  The thing is, last year, the day before we left for Africa both the kids came down with strep.  My kids have NEVER had strep until last year. Coincidence? I don't believe in them.  Nothing happens outside of the sovereignty of God...NOTHING. 

He is all-powerful.
He is good.
He is loving.
He is SOVEREIGN.
He is God and He is in control....of it all!

Leading up to this trip I have been struggling with anxiety...this is an area in my life God has done huge works.  However, I feel the temptation to let my mind wander to worry and doubt.  The thing that is most consuming my thoughts is that someone is going to get really sick while we are gone.  All this sickness before we leave is not helping.  I ask you to not only pray for the health of us all leading up to our departure, but that I would "take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Thanks friends...We will be touching down in Uganda in exactly 2 weeks!!!!!!

Prayer

We are 1 month away!!!! 

1 MONTH!

Our departure day will be here before we know it.  I have started getting clothes out and making lists of what I need to buy.  Making doctors appointments and getting prescriptions. Planning our days out and how we can best proclaim Jesus while there. 

That being said, I am calling you to prayer! 
 

Please join us in prayer:

Safety while traveling
Health for our family
Broderick will be sharing his testimony to the school children.
Rob will be preaching.

The staff and children would be encouraged

God would be glorified and His work would be accomplished.

 

We would also ask that you be in prayer that there would be protection around our family from Satan's schemes.  Going a mission trip makes me acutely aware of the enemy at work.  I am not saying that he is after our family any more than he is after anyone elses.  The truth is, he HATES every follower of Jesus and is after us all every single day.  When preparing for a trip my radar is way up to his schemes.  I have been feeling him work in our midst which can be super frustrating.  However, I can also feel the Lord working in our midst and each one of us drawing nearer to Him, which is very encouraging. 

If you would like to receive more specific things to pray about leading up to our trip and while we are gone please email me (robnamy2000@gmail.com) and I will add you to a prayer email list.   

 

 

Change

 

Look in your couch cushions, clean out your car,

and crack open your piggy bank.
We are asking you to donate your change to support our mission trip to

Ebenezer Children’s Ministry in Uganda.

Please send me an email if you are interested

 in donating your change.

We will be collecting it now through March 7.

 

Broderick and Carys are taking part in the fundraising for our trip again this year.  You may remember from last year that Change4Change brought in $1500!  The kids decided to use the money to build a house for a family of 12 living in small hut.

 

 

Actually, they didn't decide that...God did.  I remember us talking as a family and we had felt it placed on our hearts to do something for this family.  We were thinking small...buy some food maybe a bed or blankets.  Rob contacted George, the director of Ebenezer, and informed him we felt led to do something for them.  George's response, "We shall build them a house."  You can imagine our reaction.  WHAT!?  We are collecting change.  I'm pretty sure we are not going to be able to build them a house.  Well, we serve a BIG God.  Not only did Change4Change raise enough to build a house, but also to furnish it with beds and supply some food.  We are so excited to watch God work through all of you, your children and some change again this year!