Big Announcement on our House!

I just had a really exciting conversation with someone that made my day! It involves a very cool development in our efforts to raise funds for Nancy and Monica to build their house and start a new business.

Someone has stepped up and said that they will match all the funds we are able to raise up to $300. So, if we raise the full $305 they will donate an additional $300 to Springs of Hope to go to the orphans that have recently joined Molly and Joe!

This is so exciting! I hope you'll get in on this and be a part of impacting the lives of Nancy, Monica and several orphans.

If you'd like to get in on this chance to build a house and start a business on the other side of the world, please email me and let me know.

Good reminders

This morning as I was getting dressed for the day God gave me a few reminders that have already come in handy.

Maybe they would be helpful to you to.

My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."
Mark 10:27

Gratituesday - Building a new house

Today my Gratituesday is dedicated to overwhelming gratitude for the generous hearts of the people I'm surrounded by.

Last week I rolled out the challenge to help build a house and start a business for two ladies in Nakuru, Kenya and I have been amazed and humbled by the responses I have received.

I have had some folks approach me quietly and behind the scenes and simply hand me an envelope. I have had people who have personally been hit the hardest by these economic times say that they will help. And the list goes on. In fact, I'm hoping tomorrow to let you know of a huge surprise in our efforts to build this house.

I am confident that we will reach our goal of raising $305 to help Nancy and Monica start a new life. And I'm tickled with gratitude for the privilege of being a part of it.

If you'd like to get in on this chance to build a house and start a business on the other side of the world, please email me and let me know.

[image is of Nancy and her son Caleb with Molly Bail]

Let's build a house and start a business together this Christmas!

Last year at this time I was getting to know someone a world away who ended up making quite an impact on me.

Her name is Nancy. She told her story as part of our Christmas production, Wonder.

She is an amazing lady. Nancy, her mother Monica and her son Caleb live a world away in Nakuru, Kenya. You can read more of her story here.

Recently I got an email from our mutual friend, Molly Bail, asking me if I could enlist some friends to help Nancy and Monica. Nancy and Monica are working to save enough money to build a mud house on a piece of land that they have. Nancy is working 30 days as a house girl and will make the equivalent of about $26. They have $66 set aside already and have asked Molly to hold this money for them so that they will not spend it on food. In order to buy the tin sheets and wood they will need to build their house they will need another $105.

I know that the economy is incredibly difficult for many of us and this time of year is extra tight. But I would like to ask if you can give even $10 toward helping Nancy and Monica.

I found out later from Molly that an additional $200 would fund the starting of a business for Nancy and Monica.

So, my hope is that together we can raise the $305 needed to accomplish both the building of their home and the funds to launch their business.

It's amazing to me, in my corner of the world, to think that $305 can accomplish so much because it seems to be so little.

If you can help in any way at all, please email me and let me know.

Gratituesday - Thanksgiving post

As I have gone through the month of November I have found myself being even more mindful of all that I have to be grateful for. Today it seemed that all sorts of random, yet important things came to mind as I thought through my gratitude. Here's a completely random and completely incomplete list.

I am so grateful for:

God Who gives me new mercies every day
Opportunities for learning and growth
my amazing husband who still makes my heart melt with just a look
Time to spend with J before she leaves for college
3 yr olds' statements like "Batman's helper is 'tiffer Robin (Christopher Robin)"
my 2 yr old saying "God bless you" five times after each cough
"tuggling" with my boys first thing in the morning
YouTube
Dave Ramsey's FPU
Gorgeous FL November weather
a nephew celebrating his first birthday
good friends and great laughs
Hot tea and honey, robitussin, advil cold and sinus
my health (in spite of the above list)
my family's health
naps
monkey bread traditions
my upcoming visit with mom
smoked turkey and sweet potato casserole
a couple of good friends who taught me the value of gratitude this year
amazing in-laws
that I feel no compulsion to shop tomorrow
Bible stories at bedtime

There were so many more things that flashed through my thoughts of gratitude today.

How about you? For what are you giving thanks today?

[image by Lawrence OP]

Getting the word out

At my church this weekend we are rolling out our invitation tools for our Christmas production this year, Me & My Drum.

Take a look at the video we've created for sharing and let me know what you think:



I'm really excited about our program this year! We are again finding a fun and creative way to tell the story of God's love for us demonstrated by sending us His Son.

We have an awesome cast!
The service and script were created by an amazing team that was so much fun to work with!
Some awesome guys have already been putting in lots of hours creating very cool props we need.
And there will be a high cool factor to the program.

Let's just say that if you like the percussion styles of Blue Man Group, you will like Me & My Drum.

By the way, you can already go to the Cypress Meadows web site and reserve your tickets.

We have learned over the years that the very best way for people to hear about our program is through personal invitation.

My hope is that if you like what you see here you'll forward the video and link for ordering tickets to people you know and let them know about the program as well.

If you are able to join us for the production, I hope you'll track me down afterward and let me know your thoughts.

Gratituesday - The Journey

As we have begun November I am so thrilled to see a resurgence of gratitude all over social media! This week as I have been pondering the things for which I am grateful one thought continues to rise to the surface. I am so grateful for the journey.

Like most of us, I spent years waiting to "arrive", certain that the next event or relationship would give me the contentment I was looking for. I turned back at one point to find I had missed out on so much. That was when I began to see the value in my journey.

There are somethings that I've noticed... first, I am and will likely continue to be a goal driven person so I will often battle the need to "arrive."

Second, there are many places in my journey that the path took turns I would never have chosen for myself. But I would also not trade them for anything. Those turns are places where God was able to teach me things I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise.

Finally, I am finding that the richness in life lies in appreciating each step while I am there. And while many people ahead of me in their journey told me this "secret of life" before, this is one of those that you learn on your own in your own time.

My prayer is that I can take each next step in confidence in my Guide trusting that the turns I'm afraid of He will walk with me through and that I will continue to see the beauty and grace along each step of the path. And that is my prayer for you as well.

What are you grateful for today?

[image by kazatzka]