VBS

Three Words:

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

I am busy this week, but I'll try to squeeze in a post at some point!

Who Knew 18 Was Such A Big Deal?

Last night NPayne and I went out to dinner with some of our good friends.....NPayne's best buddy and his sweet, tall, thin, beautiful wife....but I'm not one bit insecure around her! ;)

Anyhoo.....what we didn't know was that it was a ploy, a decoy, a distraction...so that many of our friends and family could load into our house with food and drinks and gifts and a CAKE and shout "SURPRISE" as we walked into our house after dinner. You see, our sweet daughter Addi, had been planning a surprise anniversary party for us for a few months now. With the help of her aunt Melinda and some of our friends, she pulled it off. NPayne and I were completely surprised! NO CLUE....NO INKLING....NO IDEA....NADA! Even when we approached the house and saw a big ice chest on our front porch full of cold drinks....I still had no idea. What a nice surprise....a wonderful surprise....a joy! After everyone left, I told Addi...."I can't wait to see what you do for our 20th" joking of course. She told me that she didn't want to wait two years to celebrate our anniversary, but she wanted to celebrate it now. I really mulled that over. I started to think about what NPayne and I did for our anniversary this year....and really it was just a regular day! We were busy with "stuff", so we really didn't do a thing. No celebration or gifts, cards, or even dinner out....we did dine out a few days later and call it our anniversary dinner....but really a "Happy Anniversary Dear! I love you!" in passing followed by a kiss was about it. What Addi helped me realize last night was not how much I love my husband....or what a great kid she is....or what wonderful friends and family we have....or how much people came for her sake as well as ours....but what she made me realize is that every anniversary is special! It doesn't have to be a "milestone"....each year is a "milestone"! What I'm about to say is by no means meant to be boasting; but our marriage has been easy. I've heard so many people say...."marriage is hard"....and it is for many, but for NPayne and I....it hasn't been. I'm not saying we haven't had our challenges and still do.....BELIEVE ME....we do. What I'm saying is that sometimes I think we get in a rut with our marriage, because it's easy. We always love each other, and we do try to make time for each other; and we are better than we use to be....especially as our children get older. But usually WE, US, HE AND I, HUSBAND AND WIFE, get pushed to the back of the list of things that need to be accomplished during a regular week! What Addi helped me really realize is that the WE, US, HE AND I, HUSBAND AND WIFE need to be at the top of the list of things that need to be accomplished during the week. Our union needs to be celebrated....not just on our anniversary but every day....or at least once a week! ;) Thank You Addi.....You are more of a blessing than you can imagine. Thank You Cal, Drew, Bryna and Elli....for helping Addi with everything. Thank You Aunt Melinda, Cynthia, Leslie, Jennifer. Thank You PW and Alicia. Thank You to all who came and celebrated our love and family. Mostly thank you Addi for reminding me what a unique, special, and wonderful marriage I have! Who knew 18 was such a big deal? Addi did, and now so do I!

Kisses From Katie

I have been reading Katie's blog, and you should as well. She is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus...She is shining her light. I would strongly encourage you to read her blog....especially the post from December 15, 2009 and this post. Truly you will see God working through her. To get to her blog, Kisses From Katie, click here. To get to Amazima and receive more information about supporting Katie and her mission, click here. Read it, you won't be sorry....you may be brought to tears....you may be fulfilled....you may be amazed....you may be inspired....but you won't be sorry!

They Need Our Prayers

Sometimes I'm overcome with sadness...sometimes I think I can't read anymore or hear anymore or pray anymore....but then I realized that I can. I must. If you know me, you know that I don't watch the news or read the paper; and that is intentional.....every since The Oklahoma City Bombing. However lately....especially after reading The Hole In Our Gospel....I have been reading blogs and caring bridge pages of people who are suffering; and that is also intentional. I have been praying for people that I don't personally know but that are suffering.....more than I have ever suffered and honestly more than I ever want to suffer. After reading yet another blog about a child dying of cancer, I thought to myself....I can't do this....but then I thought to myself....how selfish of me. All I'm doing is reading and experiencing it through the journaling of the parents....but these families are living it....month to month, week to week, day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, second to second....it is their reality. I can read it, then shut down my computer and go about my day; they can't. I can't shut things off in my head, but I can get distracted....these families don't have the luxury of distractions....their focus is their sick child. I can't imagine their suffering, and honestly I hope I never have to; but if the time comes that I do experience first hand their pain....I would want people to read my blog or caring bridge page about my sick child and PRAY! So that's what I'm going to try to do. It's not easy to do, but it's the least I can do! Won't you consider reading a few of these and praying or donating or whatever you feel led to do:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

http://www.thewhitts.com/half12/

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin

The Call!

So much has happened over the last few months. Remember the nudge I have been having about providing clean water to people who don't have it? Since that nudge and the meetings I've been attending at church, many things are brewing. Our church has adopted a village in Kenya....in this "adoption" we will be working with people in Kenya to help decide what we can do to help them become self sufficient, to help them thrive, to help them stay healthy, to help them live. As I type this, a group from our church....including our pastor.....is in Kenya. I am excited for them to return and hear what our next step is going to be. I also went and spent some time with one of my Lifelong friends, Leslie, this past weekend. She is also feeling the nudge, and we had very long discussions about this. She led me to the following blog....Kisses From Katie. You can get to it by clicking here. After reading it and talking with Leslie....I am really feeling the nudge to support Katie's efforts and Amazima which means "truth"! This young woman is truly an amazing person who has given up so much to answer a calling from God. She will tell you that it has not been easy, and her heart has been broken in doing so; but she will also tell you that her heart is so full of joy because of JESUS CHRIST. This young 20 something year old woman is currently the mother to 14 young daughters in Uganda. She is such an inspiration and a true soldier for our Heavenly Father! She is leading these villagers to Christ by being the hands and feet of Jesus. I am not suggesting this is what God is calling us all to do, but I am suggesting that maybe we should all be more willing to give up much more than we do to answer His call....me included. I strongly encourage you to read her blog and feel your life be changed. Then this morning I checked my email to find an email from a friend about PUR water. I have researched this, and we have been discussing this in our church meetings about how to help the village in Kenya get clean water. I think it is all so fascinating....if you have never heard of this....go to their website and watch the demonstration of how this one little packet can clean 10 liters of water. In the email my friend not only mentioned PUR water, but she said something that really clarified something for me....she said "a shipment of this to Bishop William could change his world". It dawned on me that I don't have to wait for our "Kenyan Village" group to get started, I can start now. I will admit that the waiting and researching and meetings are great and exciting, but I do wish we could get the ball rolling. I know there are lots of details that have to be ironed out but in the meantime, children are dying. If you are feeling led or even if you aren't, check out the PUR water website and check out Katie's blog. Your life will be impacted whether you want it to or not!

http://www.purwater.com/clean-drinking-water-for-the-world.html

I'm Feeling Led! I'm Feeling Confused! I'm Feeling Joy!

Remember the calling....the feeling....the nudge I had? It's coming to fruition in more ways than one and in ways I never dreamed about. It's wonderful, but it's also confusing! I know exactly what I'm suppose to be doing, and I have no idea what I'm suppose to be doing! I'll post more about this later....when my head is not spinning!

Father's Day Surprise!

Just to wet your whistle....here is a photo of my girls and our friend....feeding catfish in the pond. We went to the lake this past weekend, and it was grand. We did lots of fun things but nothing that took too much energy or time. The girls and Cal had a blast, and NPayne....he did a lot of relaxing which was sort of the plan. We visited with our good friends and ate good food and swang in the hammock and picked blackberries and played on the slip and slide and....fed the catfish in the pond!

PHOTOS are FUN!

Skateboards, Dogs, Mom, Dad and the Boy! I took their photos last week....can it get better than this....a skateboarding dog? Click here to see more.

Happy Father's Day! And a Rap to bring it home!

We took NPayne somewhere fun yesterday for his Father's Day surprise. We went to the lake and stayed in "our cabin". It was a wonderful day. I'll post a few pics of the kids later, but for now....just to hold you over....Addi's latest IMovie....a Father's Day Rap starring my sweet adorably funny and multi talented children. Happy Father's Day!

REMEMBER TO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AND PAUSE THE MUSIC, SO YOU CAN HEAR THE RAP!

A Surprise for Father's Day!

Going somewhere tonight....it's a surprise for NPayne....it's a surprise for Father's Day! I think know he's gonna like it. The kids are pumped....I'm pumped....NPayne will be pumped! A nice little adventure coming his way....it's not a place he hasn't gone before....but still it's a surprise! I can't say where we are going, because NPayne does read my blog from time to time....he's a good supportive husband that way. I'll let you know after our adventure. So....Happy Early Father's Day to all the daddies out there! Embrace your fathers and love them and thank them. I wish I could see my dad on Father's Day or any day for that matter! I miss him!