My Sweet Hannah Is Eight!!

On this day eight years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful 9lb 9oz baby girl at 4:22pm~Hannah Mary Elizabeth! From the moment I laid eyes on her, she took my breath away and every time I look into her big, beautiful, brown eyes I see myself and smile. Hannah is almost a carbon copy of myself and I couldn't love her more! She's my funny, talented, loving, sweet, generous, smart, beautiful, drama queen , DIVA all wrapped up into one and she brings me pure joy!! I am blessed to have watched her bloom into a beautiful young lady who loves Jesus, her family, her friends and life itself!! I thank God for her every day and pray that she continues to follow Him through life and I pray that she will be the salt and light to all she encounters. HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY HANNAH...I'm BLESSED to be your Mommy and I LOVE YOU from here to heaven!!!

Radical Journey

Our church Lifesong, has started a new sermon series called "Radical Journey" and we have all been asked to fast for forty days in order to seek God's will and message for our lives. When thinking about what I could fast, I wanted to fast something that took a lot of my time and use that time for God instead, so I chose to fast from all television for those forty days and that began yesterday. When I came home from Haiti, I had already felt God leading me to stop watching certain shows and I have done that, but eliminating all television is something I am willing to do in order to remove all distraction from my life just to hear what he wants to say.

I'm very proud of David as well, as he has never done anything like this and is comitted to fasting from tv also and just spend time with God. I'm no expert in fasting, but I was able to give him some pointers and I am praying for my husband as he seeks God's will for his life and ours.

There is no mistaking that God has been BUSY working and moving in our lives in the past year or so and it has been such a blessing to see it all unfold. I know that he has moved us closer and closer to his side and there's no other place I'd rather be! We are blessed to have been lead back to Lifesong church where God is a constant and you feel his presence everytime you walk through the doors and in the people who are our family there. God is alive and well through the people of Lifesong and we are just thankful to be a part of it and know that we finally belong somewhere!!

As many of us from Lifesong begin our "Radical journey" together, my constant prayer is that we would all seek God's face, hear his word, and act on his will for our lives...let's all just do RADICAL things for Christ because he has done RADICAL things for us and deserves nothing less!!

Haiti Trip 2010~Forever In My Heart

I went on this trip to Haiti with no expectations of what I would see and experience, I just knew that God had called me to leave everything behind for seven days and give of myself for others. I was willing do that and I am truly blessed because of it. Haiti was one of those countries that I had only seen on tv or in a magazine and it never hit home with me until I set foot in Port Au Prince, Haiti and was able to truly witness the devastation of what an earthquake, poverty stricken country actually looked like. Life changing is what it was and it was hard to imagine having to live like this on a daily basis, but to the Haitians, it’s all they’ve ever known.

We went there to serve the Haitian people but they were the ones who truly served us and touched our hearts in so many ways. For me, it wasn’t the painting, the sanding, or the physical labor that impacted my life as much as it was the children and people that left a mark on my soul. They were some of the most giving, loving, polite and caring people I have ever met. And even though the language barrier was difficult, there was no denying that God’s love was alive and well in their hearts and lives, just as it is in mine. We serve the same God and that fact alone is awesome!

The children were the light of my life on this trip and even when my homesickness set in, they could turn my sadness into joy just by being around me, making me laugh, playing games and even trying to wipe my tattoos off my arms! They have nearly nothing, yet are the happiest children I’ve ever seen. They became very attached to us and we became attached to them. Leaving them was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do and I hope to see them again one day. Knowing that I helped allow just one child to eat by sponsoring him, allowed me to feel like I had made a small impact and that was worth it all. When these children who only eat one meal a day are sponsored, they know it and they become a happier child and seeing that was amazing. We all can make a difference in a child’s life by giving just $30 a month which allows the child to eat one meal a day five times a week, sends them to school and provides an animal for their family. It will change their world and yours!

I am still trying to process everything that God taught me on this trip, but I know for sure that he opened my eyes to the world around me and made me appreciate so much more what we take for granted in this nation. He taught me how to treasure my children more, how to give of myself for others and expect nothing in return, how to love without limitation, how mighty our God is when he uses different cultures to advance his kingdom together. He taught me so many things that I will always treasure. The only thing I haven’t learned is how to stop missing those precious children who stole my heart in Haiti, but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat! To truly know what was seen and felt there, can only be done by going and experiencing it for yourself. It will leave an imprint on your heart and soul that can never be replaced , God will use you in mighty ways and the people of Haiti will thank you in the process. There is hope in Haiti!