why me!?!?!

You know guys, I have to say. I am simply overwhelmed by the response we have received from those of you who have been ignited to serve "the least of these"-both globally and locally in our community.

I have reconnected with people I haven't spoken to in years and it has absolutely humbled me to know now how God used seeds planted through me in other people's lives. I'm so thankful to hear others' stories, and read about what other people feel called to do in the ministry of orphan care.

I received 4 huge boxes of school kits, croc shoes and a monetary donation from two tiny churches just South of Fargo. Who would've known that God would stir into the hearts of those women from those churches to love on a group of kids they have never met.

THANK YOU to those of you who have poured your heart out to the children at Mattaw Children's Village.

There have been so many confirmations from people close to us and through other means that have shown TJ and I that we are exactly where we are supposed to be in this journey leading to us serving the people of Kenya. It leaves us speachless.

I have to admit, there are days that I feel like I don't want to go-WHY ME!?!?! I look at our home, our dog, celebrating Christmas with snow and decorating cookies that we have started to have become a regularity. Thoughts of leaving friends and family behind, not seeing my boys sing in school programs or play on a T-Ball team sometimes overwhelms me.

But then I think of our Savior, and all He did for us and those things quickly become very small worries. God is preparing the hearts of my kids, and I am thankful for that, because that task alone seems impossible for me, as a mom, to do.

I'm not a superwoman, nor do I have any special powers (though, I'd choose to be invisible, or to have the ability to 'beam' myself wherever I wanted if I could have my pick) but simply a woman, who is loved by God and by chance has given me the desire to care for orphans across the world.

God has orchestrated my life just so-giving me a man who shares a passion for the same ministry and two amazing kids who are very adaptable to challenging situations. I look forward to the day where we are blogging from Kenya, sharing about all that God is doing in that country and in the lives of little ones who need a place to call home.

HUGE Christmas deal!!!!

I couldn't let the weekend go by without sharing this deal with you!

Check out Michelle's blog here to get a steal of a deal for the Leap Frog TAG Junior Reading System.

She, with the help of handy dandy coupons, was able to get it for $8.99. I've got mind in hand ready to go!

And the winner is. . .

Brandi!!!!!!!!

Congrats! I hope you love them!

I was hoping to have the finalized schedule for Bukedea weekend ready to go for today. We had a huge answer to prayer this week so the schedule is going to take a bit of a tweeking to this weekend and I will post early next week.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Giveaway Wednesday!!!

Yahoo!!! I love these days! I find it so fun to share things that mean a lot to me, or things I hope you find inspiration from, that I have found to be encouraging.

Recently, my family was featured on the cover of On The Minds of Moms Magazine. The article spoke about the story about how God has given me the desire to create awareness about orphan care-both locally and globally-specifically in Africa. It also spoke about the journey our family is taking as we feel led to commit a year of our lives to serving in Kenya.

If you know me well, you know I am a classic first-born, Type A kind of a personality. I am a work in progress. Daily I ask God to humble me and remind me that I was put on this earth to be a vessel and to be His hands and feet...that this life is a gift.

The pastor that married TJ and I almost 6 years ago had a really neat way to remind him of how good God is, even in the tough moments. He called it "miracle debris". He took a stone, a stick, a remnant of SOMETHING from an area where he saw miracles and put it in his office as a visual reminder of what God did that day. Soon, he had a collection of debris from all over the United States and the World as he had seen people's lives changed.

I have found myself to be a very visual person too. I have to be shown how a problem is solved in order to understand it. I have to see music notes to play them. I have to have a power point in front of me-or a video to help me understand how something is done.

In the fall of 2008, TJ and I spent time in Kampala, Uganda. It was just for a few days, but we were flooded with video, live music, and hugged children who had been rescued from the LRA who had served as sex slaves - amongst other things for years-some of them so severely brainwashed, they, as an 8 yr old, were forced to murder their younger siblings, sometimes their parents.

It still haunts me.

Today, I am giving away one authentic Ugandan paper bead necklace. One just like the one I was wearing in the photos in On The Minds of Moms Magazine.

These beads are a visual reminder to me of the precious children living in Uganda today still suffering. It reminds me to pray for their lives, that they would be protected and know who Jesus is.

December 3-6, you will also have an opportunity to purchase these beaded necklaces for $10. We will be offering parties around town and 100% of the proceeds go towards building a kitchen for an identified care point in Bukedea, Uganda.

Here is how you can win!!!

1. Leave a comment on this post by 12am Midnight (CST) Thursday and tell me if you are Type A like me!
2. Become a public follower on my blog.
3. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet (RT) the giveaway
Please leave a comment for each of the things you do to increase your chance to win!! Please leave your twitter ID and/or link it into your comment so I can be sure!

The winner will be posted Friday!

Orphan Sunday

It only takes ONE individual to make a life-long difference in the life of a child.

That one person could be YOU.

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

How do YOU want to be involved?

Stay tuned. This week I will be sharing about a special weekend, happening right here in Fargo, where you CAN be involved.