Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...and SNAKES TOO!

I have been out of town the past week participating in a training that was required for work. This week has confirmed reasons why I am looking to get out of the field I currently work in and pursue something full time that doesn't involve doing what I do. It was so great to come home and get back into the normal routine....well, normal is NOT how I can describe my "welcome home"......................


When I woke up this morning, I found THIS creeping behind my head with assistance from little 2 year old hands......

Many of you may not know, but I am a brave mama. I have overtaken spiders that challenged my comfort level and rid our yard of rodents that resembled more like a jackrabbits than a mouse...but REPTILES, my dear friend, are species that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

Now, of course this is fake-but it's texture is that of the real thing. What do little boys do when they learn that mommy is afraid of this? Well, of course they intentionally put it in places I least expect it for the sheer joy of watching me shriek....the silverware drawer, under my bed covers, and in the bathtub...just to name a few.

So to add to the old saying describing boys, "snips and snails..." there needs to be something added describing their ever-so michevious-ness.

Do any of you go through this!?!?!? I really need a little girl......

More pictures of the aprons

Alrighty, here are some more pictures of the aprons up for auction!!!!! How could you NOT want one of these!?!?!

On top of being the stylish mama on the block you will also wear it knowing that ultimately you have been a part of an orphan's life across the globe.

To review, you just type the amount you would like to bid for the apron in the "comment: section below Brandi's January 17th entry , like those people who have already started, and Brandi will announce the winner every Wednesday. I also will announce the winner on my blog in case it is one of YOU!

All hand made with love by Brandi's mother in law. Aprons for Africa is a ministry she started originally to benefit orphans in Africa after Brandi adopted her son from Liberia. Now, she is donating all of her proceeds for Pastoral scholarships to help get Ugandan orphanages sponsored.

Aprons Making a Difference

Seriously, I am REALLY trying to get better about blogging here on a more consitent basis, but, then again, WHAT New Year's resolutions truly stick? I AM running, however, and I have to say I am enjoying it. For the record, I haven't made an official list of New Year's Resolutions, but there are a couple of things in the back of my mind I would like to accomplish, and NO they do not include scrapbooking, running a marathon, or dieting. I'll be content with pursuing ministry in Africa...WHICH IS THE POINT OF THIS POST!!!!

Dear friends, the Lord has absolutely rocked my heart this week...and that's putting it lightly. I think TJ and I have finally come full circle in understanding why the Lord brought us to Africa last fall. It has been 4 months since we have travelled to Kenya and Uganda and it has been a great process learning about Uganda more and the people and needs there. This week, Brandi, who will be modeling in the photos below, and I have been keeping in touch this fall and getting to know eachother....GREAT GAL!! She is a lil spitfire on FIRE to make a difference in Uganda. She traveled to Uganda shortly after we were there and was pursuing her role in a ministry called HopeChest, a child sponsorship organization dedicated to reaching orphans across the globe. Brandi is organizing a trip this April for Pastors nation wide to travel to Uganda for 9 days, tour Ugandan orphanages, with the hopes of Pastors coming back to their congregations with a vision of their church, or a group of churches, sponsoring one or more of the orphanages they visited. So, this week, God has challenged me. Lindsay, what if the churches in the Fargo-Moorhead area would pursue this? What if I used Fargo churches to change the life of orphans in Uganda?

I have been met by a resounding YES with churches that I have met with thus far. I am so excited to see how God uses the community of Fargo/Moorhead to change the lives of the people in Uganda.

Could God be calling YOU or YOUR CHURCH to be a part of this?


Tom Davis, author of books such as "Red Letters Campaign" and "Fields of the Fatherless" is coming to Fargo February 22nd. He is coming to Fargo to speak at Olivet Lutheran Church here in Fargo who has already committed to sponsoring an orphanage in Ethiopia. PRAISE GOD! (I just received the news this week and about fell out of my chair)


I am organizing a coffee/dessert time for Pastors to come and meet Tom and learn more about this trip and about what God is doing in Uganda and how our churches can be directly involved.


Now for the fun part. Will Pastors pay for this out of pocket?? Not so fast. Brandi (picture below) has an adoring family member who is hand making Aprons for Africa. Aren't they gorgeous? They are up for auction, and 100% of the proceeds thus far are going towards pastoral scholarships for OUR Pastors to travel, without worrying about it being a financial burden?

AREN'T THEY GORGEOUS!?!?!? (she is too !! )

Check out Brandi's mother-in-laws new site, Aprons for Africa. Let the bidding begin. . .bidding starts at $20 and your check will be made out directly to Children's HopeChest so this is a great gift! They'll even come with an Aprons for Africa tag that tells what your gift has done, since they make GREAT gifts!!! Please check this out and bid by leaving a comment. The auction will end at 10 pm on Wednesday night! I'll announce the winning bid on Wednesday night and you can send me (or HopeChest) your check for the winning amount, knowing that you have won an AMAZING apron and changed lives in the process!

If you don't know how to comment (and thus, bid): simply click on the "0 comments" text that you see below the text. Write your bid amount in the text box that comes up (you'll have to scroll down to see the blank text box). Click the circle next to "name/url" Type your name (no need to provide a url). Click Publish Comment.

I will post more pictures tomorrow!!!!! Come on! Let's make a difference!!!!

Want to go to Uganda this Spring?

...then click here.

I have such a passion for this and if you, or someone or group you know would like to be a part of this, email me at email_the_erhardts@yahoo.com or Brandi by clicking the link above.

I'm praying for my church to be a part of this as well as our 2 sister churches, Shiloh and Bethel.

Quotes worth sharing

So, my son, Benjamin is a funny little talker and is usually spending his time updating me on the latest news he is learning about. Since it's been the post-Christmas season and we do Santa in our home, Ben had some questions about what Santa does after Christmas is over.

Ben, "Mom, what do you think Santa is doing right now?"

Me, "Well, I'm sure he is pretty tired after working so hard, so I imagine he is resting, don't you think?"

Ben, (in his "duh, mom" voice) "Mom, of course Santa is resting. He is on the couch watching the elves work on the new toys for next time and sitting there just waiting. . . just like Dad does.

Both TJ and I were in the car when he said this and it was TWICE as funny as those of you know, TJ loves to remind me that Rhealt Farm is hiring elves from after Thanksgiving through Christmas every year.

Leave it to a 4 year old to share life's truths!!!!! ha!

Recently, he has had some questions about eternity. One that has stuck my mind the most is:

(while in the car driving on slippery roads)

Ben, "Mom! Look out at this! (at a book he's reading)"

Me, "I can't hunny because I'm driving"

Ben, "But Mom, this is so cool you have to look"

Me (frustrated), "Ben, Mommy is driving and I don't want to get into a car accident"

Ben (sighing), "But Mom, it's okay, if we get into an accident we'll just die and go to heaven anyways so just look!"

I love watching Benjamin grow more and more curious about eternity and God, now that more of his abstract thinking is developing. God really uses Ben in my life to remind me what child-like faith is and how I need to have more of that! Benjamin simply believes God will do great things. Period.

Leaping and Bounding into the New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!! I'll put a general summary of our holiday season this year! We spent Christmas with TJ's family and had a whirl of a good time!


Here is the photo we used in our Christmas card this year.

Benjamin and his cousin Mason enjoying the record snowfall we've had this year!

The silliness continues to run down the generations.....

TJ's parents with the grandkids (minus one who was napping)

The festivities continued on with a gift opening spree. OH, the joy in that room!

This year, TJ and I are really feeling challenged to pull out of our comfort zone and take steps of faith we haven't before. We are excited to see what God will do in our lives and through us this year!!!