Merry Christmas!

We hope you are overwhelmed in a new way by the meaning of Christmas this year. We look forward in anticipation to see God work in 2010.




Merry Christmas!

Love,

TJ, Lindz, Ben and Collin

Joy Joy Joy!!!

Here is a REALLY encouraging post from a fave blog I have mentioned before called "(In)Courage"

It's about JOY! I loved it and thought I would share it with you!

You can read it here!!!

Not Me! Monday

Here we go again! Better late than never, right?!?!?! I looooove starting out my week with a good laugh, and what better way to do that then to share with all of you of what a "perfect" mother I've been and what I HAVE NOT been up to this week......

Not Me! Monday is a blog carnival started by the one and only MckMama where we all gather together to share about how UNperfect we are in a creative way. Link up to MckMama's blog and see what other moms have NOT been up to this week......

Like me, I'm sure all of you have shopped for clothing, scheduled a photographer way in advance, and had haircuts and coloring done in a perfect timed schedule for your holiday cards this year......

That is why I certainly did NOT take my kids out in -10 weather to shoot our family's happy-smiley-putonyourbestchurchoutfit-Christmas card this year. And, because their health IS my top priority, I certainly did NOT rip their coats off, with them screaming and a-hollerin' saying "we WILL have our Winter Wonderland shot this year".......

The picture will be cute......because I certainly did NOT dance like a drunken reindeer behind the photographer at Santa's Village to get the kids to laugh...NOT ME!!! I am always composed, serious, and always prefer the 1900's style picture where NO ONE can smile......

Also, because of my ahead of time planning, AND because I am so romantic like that....I certainly did NOT go to bed this week dressed as if I was about to shovel the driveway......I have all of my flannel jammies bought, washed and ready to wear before bedtime....

That is why I did NOT wear, wool socks, long johns, pajama pants, 3 shirts, gloves and a hat to bed this week......this always feels WAY more romantic to me....I wonder how my hubby feels.....



Want to join in the fun!?!?!?! C'mon! Don't be a chicken! Link up to MckMama's site and read what others have NOT been up to either!

Crazy Love baby!

So, my hubby and I are doing a small group in our home starting the end of January for couples in our community to study the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I am so so so excited about this because we are going to get our group out and serving the community of Fargo. I love doing small groups but what excites me more is when we can get out and serve together. Have you read this book? I LOVE IT! Here is a clip all about the study.

Overhaul

...my blog will be going through some changes in the near future...I apologize if it looks a-muck!!!!

Orphan care through sponsorship

I'm sure you are familiar with the many commercials you have seen that show pictures of babies all over the world who are starving, who are becoming blind as a result of the saliva that is spit into their eyes from flies who infest them and are drinking water from pit latrines because they simply do not have the resources for any other choice. . . or worse.



Commercials like these are easy for us to flip the channel to and pretend we didn't see it, because we think "why is it my problem". Don't worry, I've been there before.

When I travelled to Africa for the first time in 2002, I was swept off my feet by the most precious girl, named Priscillah. She is more like a daughter to me now than a random child overseas. She and I have dialogued over the phone and through letters. It's a relationship only God could have made. "Precious" only begins to describe her life.



Rialee found her child to sponsor through the Children's HopeChest weekend we hosted last weekend. Rialee met Mary Charity last April, not thinking sponsorship at the time. We found Mary Charity's photo amongst the hundreds of sponsor-needing kids lined up on her studio walls and then she tracked her personal photos of the trip. Check out today's exciting blog post here. Amazing story. Sponsorship is just one of the ways you can give back to children around the world.

You've been cordially invited to break your heart is another story to read to see how one woman's heart was shattered when she met her sponsored child.

Sponsorship is more about writing a check every month.

It changes lives.

Imagine yourself and a mother or father who has to watch your son or daughter starve because you do not have the food to give to him/her to keep them nurished. Consider Children's HopeChest or Mattaw Children's Village as 2 vessels to pursue in child sponsorship.

"Not Me" Monday

Not Me! Monday is a blog carnival started by MckMama, for all of us mothers to safely confess all of our imperfections we have at home, behind closed doors. Check out MckMama's site to see other bloggers who are just as perfect as all of us are.

Typically, I am a very well-rounded, organized person. I have things in neat order around my home, always know where my cell phone, work documents and my car keys are in the event of a work emergency.

That is why I certainly did NOT call my husband frantically last week at 9:30pm when I was getting off work and found that the car ignition was in LOCK and the car wouldn't start. I certainly did NOT start screaming at him, becuase, clearly, it was his fault that the car didn't work. I SO love his $3000 commuter car he drives these days, so that is why I did NOT yell at him, reminding me what a pile of crap he drives.

No, I'm a calm, Godly, Proverbs 31 woman....yes I am.....

That is why I certainly did NOT make him rise our children out of their cozy slumber, pack them in our mini van to drive 10 miles to fix HIS commuter car......no, I am a collected, patient mom who would never ask him to do that....

That is also why I called him back, saying he didn't need to come anymore, as he was packing our screaming, tired 3 yr old in our iced-over van, because.........

.......I was using the wrong keys to try to start the commuter car.


....Because I always know where my keys are....because I'm organized like that.


Do you have a story you want to share about just how PERFECT you are too??? Link up to MckMama.com!

Giving back weekend recap!

.....

..........

I can't find the words.

.....ever been that way, when something completely takes your breath away and you have to sit and process if you were in a dream or if it really happened?

That is me in this moment right now. Speachless.

Brandi and Vince from Children's HopeChest came to Fargo this weekend (which I'm sure you know this by now) to launch our own Community Connect with Bukedea, Uganda.

Guys, this community is OURS! We had a weekend filled with sponsorships, donations, and sales of Ugandan Bead necklaces and aprons. Our total for the weekend came in just below $4000.



4,000 bucks baby. We have 60% to go to get these kiddos a sheltered kitchen so they may be fed daily.

I was completely swept off my feet in seeing the Lord work. Because of YOU and your participation, we are almost half way there! Are you still willing to spread the word about Uganda?

If you missed the weekend and are still interested in sponsorship, beaded necklaces or aprons, contact me directly. We have also started a Facebook group titled "Bukedea: Orphan Hope". Please, if you can, join this group and receive updates on what is going on towards progress for the kitchen and also about future fundraisers, open houses, and even trips to Uganda!!!

Look at this sweet Ethiopian girl, Maya, who stopped by. She couldn't get enough of these necklaces!!!!



I will have a link posted on my blog with ways to keep giving back-by purchasing necklaces or sponsoring a child so stay tuned.

Thanks to Rialee Photography, Lyz and Ilene for hosting parties and to those of you who sponsored children this weekend.

I'm speachless....I feel like words cannot bring justice to what happened this weekend. My prayer is that you do not let these kids leave your minds. Write their names on your heart and pray for them as you wear those necklaces!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Ria Lee Photography and Uganda

All I have to say is.....Ria Lee Photography rocks my world.


Check her out, here!




Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and give back to these precious lives this weekend?

Children's HopeChest Weekend-new schedule!

CHANGES!!! CHANGES!!!!! Thank you to those of you who found me this morning and said you want to host a party on Friday! Anyone up for Thursday evening? It could be an open house style or a formal presentation!!! Up to you!

Thursday, December 3rd

-6-8pm ??? WIDE OPEN ?????

Friday, December 4th

-Total Fitness 1461 Broadway N Fargo 9-11am

-Ilene Anderson home party 2-5pm 1241 N 1st street Fargo

-Open house @ Ria Lee Photography Fargo downtown Broadway studio from 5-8pm

Saturday, December 5th

-Open House @ Liz's home Saturday 9-11am (call/email me for address)
Saturday afternoon Open House @ Ria Lee Photography downtown Broadway Fargo 1-4pm

Saturday night @ Believer's Fellowship Church starting at 6:30pm Moorhead


****************

ORIGINAL POST:

I, with my college friend Rachel Antoine have decided to rally a group of people who are interested in helping orphans in Uganda. We have been working with an organization called Children's HopeChest (CHC), who has hooked us up with a village called Bukedea in Uganda, where 256 orphans are looking for sponsors. During the first weekend in December, two representatives from CHC are coming to the Fargo-Moorhead area to host a number of sweet parties to gain sponsors and fundraise for Bukedea. The parties will include selling aprons ($25-35) and Authentic Ugandan paperbead necklaces ($10). You will also be able to see the children's faces that need sponsorship-to keep their tummies full. All proceeds from aprons and necklaces will go towards building a kitchen for these orphans. The kitchen will cost $10,000.

Bukedea is an identified orphan care point. That means it is a village of hundreds of children who have lost their parents from many reasons such as war or HIV/AIDS and the older children are responsible for raising the little ones left behind. They are starving. Currently, if a meal is provided somewhere in their area, kids will walk miles just to get to it. By building a kitchen and providing sponsorship to kids, meals could be provided at this kitchen up to twice a day!

We are looking for men and women in the Fargo-Moorhead community to sponsor and be advocates with us for these kids. If you are interested in helping build an online community to organize future fundraisers, trips to visit the kids, etc, please contact Lindsay or Rachel. If you are considering sponsoring a child from this village, we will have an on-line community with updates of the kids and Bukedea and an opportunity for us (all the sponsors) to stay connect by blogging. Sponsorship includes: 1. Praying for your child 2. Giving $34 a month 3. Writing letters and e-mails 4. Visiting!!! (this is not a requirement, just a fun possibility).

What a fun way to give back during this holiday season!

Here is the weekend line up!

Friday, December 4th open house @ Ria Lee Photography from 5-8pm

Saturday Open House @ Liz's home Saturday 9-11am call 701-552-1203 for address

Saturday afternoon @ Ria Lee Photography 1-4pm

Saturday night @ Believer's Fellowship Church starting at 6:30pm

If you are interested in hosting a party, we still have openings for Thursday evening and all day Friday.

Please email me at tlkenya@yahoo.com with questions!

Hope you can make it!