Even in Idaho!

We had 4 packages come here to Idaho.

Then.....

a few days later Bruce, from church, called and said "what do you want me to do with the thousand packages I picked up at the Post Office?"

He almost wasn't even exaggerating!!!!

This was the 1st big drop off.

A week later this was the 2nd big drop off.

Thank You Bruce!

This is everything unboxed.

Outfits matched with underwear and cards.
Ready to be bagged and packed.



Here are some names of people that sent their love for the wedding feast boys and girls.

White
Chenning
Lister
Funkhouser
Miller
Lawlin
Knight
Williams
Jolene
Watson
Wheeler
Fox
Pinsom
Patzer
Bradford
Mc Garry
Kendra
Kaezmarzyk
Hasselbach
Donna
Gallagher
Sherry
Mary
Christel
Simmons

We had many more but I threw many of the boxes away before
I thought to post names and pictures like Linny did.



We received complete outfits pre-bagged.
We received lots and lots of shirts.
We received extra ties.
We received shorts.
Lots and lots of underwear.
We received lots of extra special notes.



It was so amazing how so many of the extra ties matched the extra shirts.
It was wonderful how each extra pair of shorts found a shirt to match.


And the girls didn't get left out.

We received dresses.
We received a whole bag of little hair bands.
Then received more dresses each with a matching hairband.


THANK YOU EVERYONE!

It is an honor to be able to take these symbols of your love to Uganda.

Do You Ever Just Feel Like Crying?

I know it is spring and the sun keeps peeking out.

I know I am ready to embark on a wonderful journey.

I know I have God's amazing love and the love of my family and friends.

I know I have much to be thankful for.....

but I just feel like crying.

I feel like I have been trying to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.

I have read so many stories of the plight of children around the world.

I have actually been learning about horrific historical events that somehow I missed over the last 30+ years.

The hurts and the problems in the world are huge and I (and probably you) want to fix it all.

I can't. I don't have all of the answers. I can only be in one place at a time. but....

I can pray, I can trust that God has the answers, and He can be in all places.

He does call us to be His hands and feet. He does call us to love and care and even sacrifice, but He tells us not to be anxious, not to worry about tomorrow. Why because He will give us the strength and the peace we need each day. He will direct our steps.

I can cry because I believe when He sees these children suffering He cries. But I have hope because I know He loves them.

Let us all pray that God will send more workers into all nations.

New International Version (©1984) He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

As Mark 11:7a says: ‘Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’

If you want to begin praying for all nations, here is a great resource to guide you. Each day you get an email with information and a video about a country. It gives a lot of information so we can pray specifically. The kids love it and it gives our family something to focus on together.

http://www.operationworld.org/

Happy Birthday Mr. E!!!!!!

This is Eli's first birthday that the theme song really was "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Dear Eliiiiiii, happy birthday to you!!!! and many more.....now your 4!


The past 3 were more like "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to, you would cry too if it happened to you. da da da da da."


So Happy 4th Birthday Eli! We love you so much and are so blessed to have you to hold everyday. You are starting to do some cool things like rolling back and forth, making sounds that sound a lot like mama, and you are really engaging when people talk to you. But mostly I thank God for the biggest thing He has done in your life and that is making you happy.

Who Will Love Me For Me?

I read this post yesterday and cannot get this sweet girl out of my head.
She is asking on her 15th birthday "who will love me for me?"
I pray someone can be her mom and dad, someone can show her God's love.
I pray she will no longer feel ignored and abandoned.
I pray by her 16th birthday she will feel loved and cherished.

This is her cry and the cry of so many orphans, prisoners, and lonely wives.
I pray that God will pour out His love through me to encourage and love His children big and small.



video and song by JJHeller

Updates~Just in Case You Ever Wondered

I thought I would update everyone on some things I have posted about in the past. I do not want to leave anyone hanging in suspense and not be able to sleep due to my lack of keeping up. lol So, hear goes...

Africa~ we have our passports! Thank you much to those who have been praying for us.

My teammates~ I mentioned I would share about my 2 partners from church and never got back to it. So, here it is in a nutshell since I think most of my readers are related to my 2 partners in some form. lol

About a week after I found out about the trip, I got an email from Terah. For some reason when I was replying to her I felt the urge to invite her to join me on the trip. So, I sent the email with a p.s. "Do you want to go to Africa?" Then I went to my sweet husband, Jeromy, and told him what I did. He said, "she will think you are crazy." I said, "yep, I think she will." Well long story short, she didn't get my little question. I never got a reply and figured I would let it go. Then a few days later, at an evening church event, she and I started to visit and I said, did you get my email about Africa? She was surprised and said, "no" but she was obviously very interested. She wanted to know more and when we met up again less than 5 minutes later she had already talked to Lyle and he said, "yes".

WOW! So we talked and her sister Heidi got involved in the conversation and I thought for awhile she might come too. (Maybe next time Heidi. :) Well in less than 48 hours Terah committed to the trip and God has shown himself in many ways providing for her and making a way for her to go. And now the last major hurdle is taken care of and she has her passport. YIPPEE!

If that was not enough to keep me praying and dancing and yelling with excitement the day we finally got all of our information to our leader at the last second, I got a call. Sweet Kaylee called to find out about the trip. Me of little faith told her today was really supposed to be the day we had everything in. She said, "well do you think I could send Linny a message and see?" Well yeah that wouldn't hurt. So the next morning I got an email from Linny asking about Kaylee and said she really wanted her to go. So we spent a lot of time that day emailing and calling and getting important information to Linny. Another huge day of jumping up and down, yelling with excitement and a day of serious prayer. BTW Kaylee had already been working toward a mission opportunity that didn't work out. I am sure at the time she didn't know God had a trip planned for her with her own cousin. I am so thankful that God worked it out so she would be ready for this trip.

So, there you have it. My version of the story of how Terah, Kaylee and I became partners. Just in case you ever wondered.


Here are some random updates on old posts.

Cloth Diapers~ done! gave them away, no surprise I am sure, I just don't have the motivation to keep up with them.

Gavin's counseling~remember the "I Can't Walk' post". I can't remember what I last posted about this and I am too lazy to go all the way back to find out. he he! We finished counseling and we feel Gavin is dealing very well with his grief. For a while the subject of not walking was a big thing and I am sure it will resurface, but for now I think our openness and encouraging him to share his thoughts and feelings has really done what he needed. This was recently tested at a therapy appointment the other day. A little boy about 7 years old told Gavin he just needs to practice walking after all that is how he learned. Gavin didn't seem phased, rolled over and said I can't. He was very matter of fact and moved on. I told the boy that Gavin can do a lot of things but his muscles in his legs do not work like his. After a lengthy conversation the little boy decided a Dr. should just cut out Gavin's muscles and put in new ones. All the time Gavin was interested but seemed to be thinking "oh another kid that thinks he knows it all". Anyway I was nice to the little boy and told him he should grow up and be a Dr. someday since he has it all figured out.

Updates complete~stay tuned for some upcoming posts about the trip to Uganda and hopefully what God is doing in our little neck of the woods. He is always faithful and He is always teaching us new things, not that we can keep it to ourselves but, so we can share and Glorify His name.

THIS IS A TEST

THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCASTING SYSTEM!!!

I wish God would send out a warning like this
when we are going through the test.

something like: THIS IS A TEST OF YOUR FAITH IN THE GOD SYSTEM!!!!

We are waiting for passports for our trip, yeah Terah and I.
This didn't seem to be an issue since we are not flying for over 4 weeks,
but it seems we need the passport number
and expiration date to get the tickets purchased.
My response "YIKES", Terah's response "I feel like this is a test.
If I go I am fine, if I don't I am fine, whatever is God's will".
It is good to have friends to remind me God is in control.
I am a control freak and God is using this trip
to help me to relinquish my hold on life.
I think tonight I can rest in knowing He is in control.

Thanks Terah!

My prayer tonight:
"Thy Will Be Done"

A-Y-L-A

A-bsolutely adorable

totally Y-ou

L-oving

always -A- sweetheart


Happy 10th Birthday Ayla!
We love you so much!