Summer is Here!

Mother's Day Out has ended, school is out so my after-school childcare job has ended, and it's officially summer! I am looking forward to full lazy days at home, at the pool, at the library, and maybe even a few at the beach :0) Life gets so busy and I am really trying to discipline myself to set a more peaceful, laid-back pace for our home. Less seems like much more these days, as I watch our baby grow into a child right before my eyes. Sad and wonderful all at the same time. She is such a joy.

Why is it so hard to enjoy the unfathomable blessings God has given that are right in front of us...husband, daughter, roof overhead, clean water, food, tons of family and friends a phone call away, Bible, journal and a cup of coffee...why aren't these enough? Why, really? Do you wonder, too? Why the endless striving for more? Why the busy-ness? This question will be the focus of my time with God in the coming months...my head knows the answer, but I long to truly believe it with all my being and thus see it in practice daily, both in large and small ways.

On a lighter note, Eden is a hoot people! A hoot! We had "craft time" (I use that term loosely as I was in charge, not daddy) last week and below is the result...a princess crown.


We also had our 6-month cleft clinic appointment for Eden last week and got a great report. Let me just say I LOVE Dr. John Grant at Children's Hospital...he is amazing...and he hasn't even operated on her yet. Such a sensitive spirit and wonderful nature with children. The average age for the next surgery Eden needs (lip/scar revision) is 4 years old. She turns 4 in December. However, after looking at her and the amount of skin he has to work with around her nose he decided it's best to wait in her case until maybe 1st grade. And, one of her ear tubes is out but the eardrum is still moving so this indicates maybe we won't have to replace the tubes...yay! No surgeries for a while right now. The speech pathologist did recommend a dental device that can plug the holes in her gum line to help with speech development, so we're looking into that. It would fit into her mouth like a retainer and keep air from escaping through her nose when she says certain letters. The question is whether or not there is enough to anchor it since she's missing teeth and bone due to her cleft. We're working on getting an appointment with a dental/craniofacial prostheticist right now. Other than that, she is doing amazing.

Eden and I are heading to the beach for a few days this week with my mom, grandmother, and sister and her little one. Can't wait to get away with the girls. I'm sure I'll have tons of photos to share after our trip.

In other news, our house is still on the market. We'll see what happens with that. And, I am gearing up for my mission trip to South Africa in July. Lots of preparation I need to do (on my knees) for that trip. I'm hoping my world gets rocked as I minister to those with AIDS and their caregivers. Also, my brother is getting married at the beach on June 20th, so we're having a mini family reunion down there for a week. Looking forward to sunshine, sand, and time with family I don't get to see that much.

Hope you are all doing great! Love you all...

Mother's Day and More

I have several photos to catch you all up on. Before I get to that, I just wanted to share an excerpt from a book I bought for Eden the other day. It's called "Someday." It's a precious keepsake book, and a great reminder to cherish every moment with our little ones and not-so-little ones. Time is a gift, as is life and breath and every challenge these bring. Hope this encourages you, too.

"Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too...
That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake.
Someday you will walk into a deep wood.
Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.
Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire.
Someday you will swing high - so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.
Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.
Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.
Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you.
Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small.
Someday you will feel a small weight against your back.
Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair.
Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun.
And when that day comes, love, you will remember me."

The question I ask myself today, "How do I want Eden to remember me?" Love you all! Here are some photos of the last couple of months.

Here's Eden with her Aunt Kelly and baby cousin Camp.

Eden sitting in my Mother's Day gift...some of the Vera Bradley luggage I've been wanting. I think we can guess the REAL gift, can't we? But I do LOVE my duffel bag and garment bag!!

A cute picture of Eden at our mommy/daughter trip to the zoo this spring.

At the zoo again, enjoying the spring weather and of course, a popsickle!

Riding the carousel at the zoo. Is that a happy face or what?

Eden at swim lessons...she LOVES her goggles!

She's a little fish! You should see her hold her breath...the teacher has to tap her head to get her to come up. She'll be swimming in no time!

South Africa Mission Effort

Hey everyone! Just wanted to post really quickly about my upcoming mission effort to South Africa. I am going July 24-August 3rd to provide hospice care to end-stage AIDS patients in the villages outside of Pretoria. I am co-leading a team of 20 from The Church at Brook Hills.

I am both excited and nervous about this trip. It is going to challenge me in a whole new way, as I have no training in the "medical" arena or the "hospice" arena (we will receive some training prior to going). But what I do have is a willing spirit and compassionate heart and a longing to share hope with those who likely have none. I long to be Christ to the "least of these." God's Word says whatever I do for the poor, needy and sick, I do for Christ Himself. What an honor to serve my Lord this way.

Please be in prayer for our team. The financial responsibility is $2,700 for this trip and I am trying to raise money to help offset the cost. I have sent out support letters to many and God is providing. I totally trust Him as money is no object to Him. I did want to ask you to pray about helping out. Every dollar makes a difference. Our goal is to pack our personal items in our carry-on so we can fill the 2 50-pound suitcases for each team member with supplies like hygiene items, wash cloths, towels, and medical supplies to ease their pain. If we do this, we will be taking around 2,000 pounds of supplies (give or take).

If you would like to contribute financially, you can post to this message and leave me your e-mail and I will get in touch with you. Contributions are tax-deductible if you make your check out to The Church at Brook Hills. Thank you for considering helping those suffering in Africa from the AIDS pandemic. They so desperately need our help. The deadline for turning in my money is May 25th so I don't have much time left.

My goal on this trip is just to love. To love those, both in word and deed, who are outcasts, shamed and hopeless. To let them know that my Redeemer lives. To let them know that they are loved by their Creator. To let them know it is impossible to out-sin God's grace. To let them know that they don't have to fear death. To let them know the wonderful truth of the Gospel. Pray for these precious people.

On another note, please pray for my daughter, Eden. This will be a huge test for us as I've never been away from her for more than 2 nights since we adopted her. I know God wouldn't be leading me to go on this trip if she wasn't ready for the separation. It's a whole different ballgame to leave the country for 10 days when you're a mommy. I know that by obeying Christ I AM doing what's best for my family. But that's gonna be hard to remember when I'm waving goodbye. I tear up just thinking about it. I just don't want her to be scared that I'm not coming back...the thought of that just kills me. Thank you for lifting her up!

Love you all!