Happy Birthday To You...

Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday dear so-in-so...
Happy birthday to you!

What's the first thing you think about when you hear that song...

Most folks would think about parties, balloons, cake, AND PRESENTS!!!!!!

Yes, birthdays are days of celebrations, but does the birthday girl or guy REALLY need more STUFF?

Our family says "NO"!  And our friends, Jay and Sohini, say "NO"!

Listen to what Jay and Sohini did this year....They know about these awful places called "remand homes" in a far away place called "Uganda".  Really, these are child prisons.  They are filthy.  They are over-crowded.  They are run-down.  Jay and Sohini couldn't imagine getting MORE STUFF for their birthdays while these children have NOTHING.  So, they did something different.  Something radical.

Read what Sohini said in her email to her friends...

Good afternoon all, as most of you know I turn 30 next Sunday the 6th. I am so grateful to see another year and to be blessed with the family and friends that I have.

This past week it was my brother Jaymin's birthday and this year instead of receiving gifts, he asked his friends and family to give a gift by donating money to buy mattresses for young girls and boys in Uganda, Africa. He visited Uganda about a year and a half ago and was touched by these children and the condition they live in. I know it was a humbling experience for him and it makes me proud of the work my brother does.

So, this year I have been inspired by my brother to do the same thing. I ask you not to take me out to eat or give me cards and gifts. I want you to donate the money to help these children so they can sleep a little better at night. To learn more and to donate please visit:http://jays29thbirthday.com/ or you can send me a check or money and I will donate it in your name.

When you give with an open heart, you receive the profound gift of humility.
-unknown

--
Thanks
Sohini 

Wow.

And here's Jay's link...

http://jays29thbirthday.com/

As for my family, each year we choose a different organization to support.  We put on our invitations something like, "In lieu of gifts, please consider giving a monetary donation to a charity that is close to our heart."  In years past, we've raised money for Jars of Clay, The SAY Yes! Center, SixtyFeet, and this year we asked friends to bring a pair (or five) of flip-flops to take to the kids in Uganda.  No, this wasn't my children's idea.  It's just something we, as parents, decided to do to teach our kids so that they will learn to think of others.  Our kids have enough stuff.  But there are kids in our city and across the globe that don't even have the proper necessities of life.  Really, the party celebration is enough for my girls.  A super fun day with your best friends and treats galore!  Isn't that enough?

As I was chatting with Jay this week via email, we realized this could really be a trendy thing to do.  This thing could really catch on.  And maybe, just maybe, we COULD make a difference in this world.

(By the way - so far, Jay has raised around $2,900 to buy the kids in these remand homes mattresses and beds!)

Who Doesn't Love Free Stuff??!!

Y'all know how much I love the blogosphere and how God is able to connect Believers all over the world....folks I never would have known or befriended are now my bloggie-buddies...and I love them!

Let me tell you about a crazy friend of mine....she's an awesome gal who loves the Lord and has a big heart for orphans (she's got two cutie pies from Uganda in her wild house!).  And I love this gal because we share the same name.  It takes a special person to be named Joy!   She's also super special to us because she totally gets our hearts behind SixtyFeet and The Cupcake Kids (btw - she's the mastermind behind the amazing Cupcake Kids website!)  But mostly I love this girl because she is using her God-given talents and making a difference for the Kingdom and in the lives of others.

She has a fabulous t'shirt company called Wild Olive and creates uber-stylish designs that speak Truth.

Check it out...oh, and she is giving away some awesome hoodies that look like the button on my sidebar.

Love your heart, C.  And love your ugly couch!

Blessed by Others

Don't you just love when you are in a situation all ready to bless someone and God surprises you and blesses you through someone else?

That happened to me tonight.  Twice.

Once or twice a month, my family goes down to a local after-school refuge for at-risk children - a sweet place called the S.A.Y. Yes! Center - to serve dinner.  This safe-haven is located in one of the roughest neighborhoods around - some say it's the heroin capital of the southeast.  It's not uncommon for shots to pierce the quiet of the night.

My husband and I have a heart to serve, though there are very few places that let children serve.  And yet, aren't we supposed to train our children in the way they are to go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it?   The S.A.Y. Yes!  Center is a little different - it's a little diamond in the rough.  They love it when individuals come and tutor/mentor the kids and families serve dinner to the kids.  More than that, they love it when families stay and EAT dinner with the kids.

So, here's my first surprise blessing.  My girls LOVE to come here.  They often ask, "Mom, can we PUHHH-LLEEESE go to the S.A.Y. Yes!  Center for dinner tonight?!"  Wow.  That blessed me.  My children actually WANT to go and serve these children.  They love to do it!  And the S.A.Y. Yes! children LOVE my girls!  They get tickled trying to figure out which sister is which (yes, they are identical twins!)

It's just a blessing to have all racial barriers broken down.  It's precious seeing my children eat next to a child who may be homeless tomorrow.  Or to watch them jumping rope with a child who could probably never give them anything in return.  AND THEY LOVE IT!

Now, on to my second surprise blessing...

There is this precious mom who actually volunteers at the S.A.Y. Yes!  Center.  I never really new much of her story - until tonight.    I casually grabbed my plate and sat across from her and asked how she was doing.  Boy - her whole face lit up and she just started talking about how blessed she was.  In the middle of her elation, she mentioned that there's a YouTube video of her.  Really?  Yes - a video showcasing her story of how she and her son were homeless, living at the Atlanta Children's Shelter, and now she's an employed home-owner who volunteers her time and talents and who encourages others.  Such an inspiring story.

Wanna see it?  Thought you would!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0svsVdK7mk&feature=related

Thanks for blessing me tonight, Brooke, Taylor and Billie.

Thanks for blessing me tonight, God!

When I grow up...

Remember how you always knew how to answer that question when you were little.  Like, "When I grow up I want to be a teacher/mom/ballerina/lead singer in a rock band called the "Model Girls".  (And yes - I thought I'd be all of those at the same time.)

Well, if you asked me today what I want to be when I grow up, I'd answer like this:

"When I grow up I want to be just like Katie Davis."

You're probably wondering who in the world Katie Davis is.  Six months ago I hadn't a clue.  Now, she's one I aspire to be like.  She's a twenty-something cutie pie from Nashville who is able to live past herself in order to be the hands, feet, and love of Christ.  She's a mama of 14 beautiful daughters.  Her smile is so big - you can't help but smile with her.  She loves the Lord with all of her heart, soul, mind, and spirit.  She's truly amazing.

Please, sit down and watch this awesome video testimony for the next 15 minutes.  And then, because you'll probably want to find out more about this precious gal and her ministry, visit Amazima.  You won't be sorry - you'll be inspired.

Ce-le-bra-tion

Can't you just hear Kool and the Gang bustin' it out on the radio....

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times, and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration

Let's all celebrate and have a good time

Celebration

We gonna celebrate and have a good time

(Now that you have that song stuck in your mind for the rest of the night...)

We had a week of celebrations!

Mon: The twins turned 6. 

Mon: We sent in doughnuts for their b'day celebration at school.

Mon: They wanted to eat out at the American Girl Bistro with their best bud, Henry.  (What a guy!  He was right there with his camo build-a-bear sitting in the pink booster!)

Fri: Kate turned 1.

Fri: The twins invited a sweet group of 10 girls over for their American Girl party.

(for our children's b'day parties, we ask friends not to bring gifts for our girls...we have plenty enough!  instead, we ask that they bring something for a ministry close to our heart.  this year, we asked that they bring flip-flops for the kids of sixtyfeet.)

Sat: Kate's party with our family, close friends and 15 of their kids!

Sat: Brooke discovers her first tooth is loose.

Sat: Aunt Lizzie's b'day.

Mon: G'ma Shirley's b'day.

Mon: Valentine's party at school.

Mon: Brooke loses said tooth.

....and there's more in the month of February...my dad's 70th b'day, my FIL's b'day, my college roommate and best friend's son's b'day, and my other college roommate is due with her 1st baby on the 28th.  

**phew**

Crazy, fun times.  And so very, very much to be thankful for!

Dear God,

Thank you for creating life.  Thank you for creating my beautiful family.  Thank you for giving me four beautiful, healthy daughters and giving me the honor and privilege of being their mother.  Thank you for entrusting them in my care on this earth.  Please continue to give me wisdom in raising them, in training them, and in teaching them. Show me who You created them to be. Give me insight into who they are.  Help me to encourage them and build them up.  Father, I pray for each daughter - that You would make Yourself known to each one.  That they would always desire a vibrant relationship with You.  That they would hunger for Your Word.  Lord, please let these girls be salt and light in this world.  Give them a healthy fear of God and not a fear of man.  Father, God - thank you for sending Your Son into this world to die for Brooke's sins.  For Taylor's sins.  For Amy's sins.  For Kate's sins.  For Scott's sins and for my own.  That is true love.  Help me to respond to this kind of love in a way that would honor You and give You all the glory due Your Name.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen. 

Obedience

We have a couple of sayings in our house that we often use with our children when it comes to obedience:

We obey all the way, right away, and with a happy heart!

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Partial obedience is disobedience.

I think obedience is one area of my life where I am quite hypocritical.  I stress to my children that they must obey, because God told them they must (Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Eph. 6:1).  However, I, too, am to obey - because God told me I must (Obey what I command you today. Ex. 34:11; If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Deut.28:1,15; If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love...you are my friends if you do what I command. John 15: 10,14).  The Scriptures are covered with verses about obedience to God and His commands.

I was reading this morning in Leviticus (this is where most folks drop off the "Read the Bible in a Year" bandwagon.)  This passage really gripped me today...

"Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.  So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD."

I'm sure Nadab and Abihu thought the offerings they presented to the LORD were good.  God apparently didn't think so!  They were presented "contrary to his command".

This really makes me pause.  What offerings in my life am I presenting to the LORD that are "contrary to his command"?

Everyone Wants To Be a Cupcake Kid!

This weekend, the wives of the SixtyFeet team had the blessed privilege of attending the Created for Care conference.  This conference was put together by our dear friend, Andrea (www.babeofmyheart.com & www.wiphan.org), specifically to pour into and to encourage moms who have a heart for adoption.  

The gals of SixtyFeet were there in two roles: as moms who have a heart for orphans and to introduce SixtyFeet and The Cupcake Kids.  What a blessed weekend it was!

The Cupcake Mamas made some delicious cupcakes to remind the moms at the conference how loved they are. 

We weren’t going to serve the cupcakes until Saturday, so we had to come up with some way to keep the already made cupcakes cold.  Aha!  We could keep the cupcakes outside on the balcony (it’s down in the upper 20’s at night). Brilliant!!  So, we put the cupcakes outside (they were in these nifty Tupperware totes) and tucked in for the night.  At about 5 am, we heard this “ssccrraaaatttchhhhh….

sssccccrrrraaattttcccchhhhh…sssscccrrrraaattttcchhhh…”  My bedmate, Laura, jumped out of bed and screamed “THE CUPCAKES!!!!!!”  We ran to the balcony and sure enough…a furry little raccoon wanted to get his little paws on those yummy cupcakes.  He was dragging the whole two-tiered cupcake holder across the balcony!!  After we shook off the creepiness of the situation, we couldn’t stop giggling.  Don’t worry – the cupcakes we served were not from the tray this little fella got a hold of!  It seems that EVERYONE wants to be a Cupcake Kid!

We had moms from all over the country who were eager to get their precious angels involved as a Cupcake Kid, especially when they realized it was as simple as making a batch of cupcakes and selling them on the street corner! 

We are getting closer and closer to our goal of having a Cupcake Kids sale in each state…so far we have commitments to host 30 Cupcake Kids sales in 14 different states!  How exciting to think all of these Cupcake Kids are going to be raising money and spreading awareness for the imprisoned children of Uganda!  Only 36 more states to go!  If you are interested in hosting a Cupcake Kid sale in your neighborhood, email the Cupcake Kids.

It was an honor for SixtyFeet to show their film, “Bereaved” to a room of about 200 moms last night.  I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house – I know mine certainly weren’t (and I’ve seen the film 10 times!).  I love that these moms who have a desire to involve their families with The Cupcake Kids now have a better understanding the specific children they are going to help.  Although each family can’t visit “M” themselves (the children’s prison The Cupcake Kids raises money for), they were able to experience it as best they could. 

We are so excited to see how God is going to use this sweet little division of SixtyFeet for His own glory.  And we can’t wait to hear how He is working in your family and at your Cupcake Kids sale!

This Weekend

Oh, I am sssooooooooo super excited about the Created for Care conference this weekend.  I NEVER thought the Lord would have me in this place, but I am thrilled that He has placed me here for a time such as this! 

SixtyFeet is privledged to speak along side three other godly, awesome ministries: 147million, wiphan, and Into the Streets.  Check them out….they are doing some pretty amazing things half way around the world. 

Can’t wait to share with you about this weekend….

Created for Care

My girlfriends and I are always saying how we need to do a slumber party. There’s just way too much to talk about and laugh about and pray about – we can never accomplish it all during a girl’s night out, let alone in a 10 minute phone conversation!

God saw the desire of our hearts and answered our prayer…in fact, we are escaping for a whole weekend! Well, us and 250 of our new best friends!

Our sweet friend, Andrea (www.babeofmyheart.com), had on her heart to plan out a weekend where her close mommy friends could retreat, love on each other, pray, talk adoption, worship, and laugh. So, she blogged about a weekend away at a nearby resort and opened up registration, thinking about 25 or so gals would sign up. In about an hour, over 200 women crashed the server because it was so overloaded with registrations!!!!!

This weekend, about 250 women who are passionate about the Lord, His children, and adoption are joining Andrea and us for a giant slumber party – it’s the Created for Care retreat. I can’t put into words how excited we all are about this weekend! God has brought together some AMAZING women who want to encourage others in their quest for mommyhood and adoption…discussing all sorts of things from attachment to finding strength in the Lord as a busy mom to African hair care to adopting children with HIV and special needs and almost everything in between!

SixtyFeet has the honor to speak at the conference during – not one, but two – break out sessions. The wives behind SixtyFeet get to sit in front of hundreds of women and tell them of the heartbreak and hurt in a little place called Uganda. We also get to tell them of the love and hope Christ is bringing to the children in this place. Saturday night we are showing the “Bereaved” film and you better believe we are doing a major shout out for the Cupcake Kids!

Thank you, Andrea and the volunteers, for putting in countless hours and immesurable amounts of energy into this weekend. I feel like a little kid who is counting down the hours until Disney!

Oh, and don’t worry if you have to miss this weekend. An amazing supporter is paying to have it recorded. And, Lord willing, this will be the first of this kind of slumber party! Continue to check back at Created for Care to see what the Lord has in store...