now that i have seen i am responsible faith without deeds is dead

Photo Card

2011-12-16T01:32:00.001-05:00

His Grace Alone Christmas

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Photo Card

2011-12-12T00:47:00.001-05:00

His Grace Alone Christmas

Turn your favorite photos into personalized Christmas cards.

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AFRICA

2011-09-06T07:18:00.002-04:00

thank you to the person who wrote this, who ever you are. if you click on the picture then you can read it better. Africa is in my heart and always will be. It is a huge part of forming my worldview. my boys know my heart... Eli said "hurry mom, come quick! it smells like Africa outside and it will make you happy" then Levi chimed in and said "oh yummy, AFRICA" i love that they know that just the smell of someone burning something outside makes my heart happy.

catching up some more

2011-08-10T12:08:00.000-04:00

finished house, uncle bo's visit, blueberry picking, and yard work... pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves!

catching up: sod and cement truck

2011-08-10T08:14:00.000-04:00

house update

2011-05-16T17:11:00.006-04:00

my workin boys

the boys painting (but the green is being up-tinted from gleeful to malange green)

master bedroom fan

boys baseball room fan

aqua tint kitchen

T minus 2 1/2 ish weeks til move in! woohoo my husband is amazing! not sure how he is managing the 70+ hour weeks but ever grateful for him busting his tail to get his family back together again (before the baby comes)!

SWEETEST BIRTHDAY BOY

2011-05-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

i cannot believe my baby is 2 years old today! happy birthday to the sweetest little 2 year old i know! he melts my heart on a daily basis

heart torn mothers day

2011-05-09T23:22:00.002-04:00

i have a wonderful mother, had a fabulous day celebrating together, enjoying the quality time, beach adventure, lupper, and many memories made. thanks mama, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

i have amazing little boys, who are growing up so fast. Eli is innovative, intuitive, independent, compassionate, and loving. Levi is passionate, determined, creative, cuddle bug, and sweet.

i have a little kicker & hiccupper growing each day inside my belly.

i have much to be thankful for this mothers day, and dont get me wrong I AM

however, this mothers day my heart is burdened more than any other mother's day

for my friends who are struggling with infertility and loss of children.

for the 163 MILLION kids around the world who do not have a mother to celebrate with.

for the children we will add to our family, who may already be orphaned, alone, with most likely a shortage of shelter, food, health care, love, someone to care for their needs, the ability to just be a kid. my heart aches, burns, and desires to have them home so that i can love them, feed them, hug them, put a band aid on their boo-boo, share the love of Christ with them.

i read a story about two little boys, who dont look any older than Eli who live in Uganda. they were dropped off in one of the slums by their mother, and she just walked away and left them to fend for themselves. just hours ago my boys were over tired and cried for me to just lay in bed and pat their backs and sing worship songs til they fell asleep. i cant imagine the desperation of just leaving them in filth to fend for themselves. i dont even let my kids play in the back yard by themselves let alone the streets of a major city. to read the whole story visit this awesome mama's blog

i care about the 163,000,000 children who are orphaned, alone, who do not have a mother to care for them. i want to do something. i want to bring them home and i want to place other kids in homes as well. i want to make an impact. i want to make disciples of all nations. i want to follow Him the rest of my days. i want to step out of the box and do something radical according to this society, because this is not my home! i am made for more than this life that i am living...

"once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." proverbs 24:12

"i know what i know and i cant deny it, something on the road cuts me to my soul"
-sara groves, i saw what i saw

"now that i have seen, i am responsible, faith without deeds is dead"
-brook fraser, albertine

smarty pants

2011-05-05T20:38:00.002-04:00

Eli is really too smart for his own good... here are a few examples of conversations lately:

this song was on the radio, in the first 2 seconds of the song, he said: "when will the kids sing? mama can you put it on a cd so i can listen to it on my radio over and over again. i really like it! are those girls from africa? they have pretty voices!"

two nights ago while i was making dinner he sat at the table with a lowes weekly circular and out of the blue he said: "mama i need to talk to the plant man, because i need to show him how to put the gardenias in my new house. they are my favorite. can we get one of those mats so i dont make dirt come in the house? (he knows that when we go to columbia next week that we are going to map out our garden for Uncle Ty to help plant and meet with the landscaper friend of Chris' to choose what plants we want to buy... hoping for climbing jasmine, gardenias, hydrangeas, calla lillie's, & azaleas)

oh there are more... why cant i think of them... ill probably be back to add more later

MELT.MY.HEART

2011-05-05T14:14:00.002-04:00

i'm not quite sure why, but quite frequently we smell the remnants of a fire burning. the outdoor kitchen smelling fire that is often smelled overseas. maybe the little hispanic community two streets over from my parents. normally we smell it early in the morning or in the evening, but today, in the middle of the day, the breeze brings us the scent my heart loves... the smell of africa! eli knows that it melts my heart for him to remind me that it smells like A F R I C A. i guess it being cinco de mayo the ladies are preparing a fiesta! well whatever the reason, i love having my senses exhilarated.

26 weeks

2011-05-03T20:54:00.005-04:00

26 weeks, i breath a slight sigh of relief. i have made it to the "viable" nicu age. not that in any means i wish this upon my family, but at least i know that from now on, every single day counts towards making my baby, bigger, stronger, healthier, and more ready than the last to have a chance to live outside of my stomach, due to technology being so readily available, in our beyond blessed country.
reality kinda hit me the other day, 26 weeks = 10 weeks from when i delivered Levi and 11 weeks til i delivered Eli. i still have so much to do... aka MOVE and in some way or shape get us out of boxes before this little one is welcomed into this world. so all you friends who have said you want to help... believe me i will be calling each one of you for favors in the coming weeks... helping me unpack, watching my kids, or just grabbing a cup of coffee to retain my sanity. ahhh so T-10ish weeks is pretty much reality!
to answer the question in how am i feeling...
i had two really great weeks, few contractions and much more energized and less throwing up... but back to reality, back to contractions, throwing up, feeling utterly wiped out at all times of the day, gallbladder issues, acid reflux, a hernia, you name it... pretty much a complication. i go back to the dr next week for my glucose test and for an ultrasound to check the baby's kidney and ureter that are not functioning properly.
as in housing news... hardwood floors are nearly finished, cabinets and appliances get delivered tomorrow and installed this weekend, tile in the bathrooms gets installed this weekend, first coat of paint are on the walls, security system is installed... 4 weeks til closing!
truth be told, i had a little panic attack, not really but sorta when i realized it was already may... because my baby is turning 2 in the matter of days! sweet little cuddle bug is now nearly fully potty learned and gonna be 2!

waterworks

2011-04-30T23:37:00.002-04:00

tears flow freely tonight...

after spending the day going through old family boxes, crossing paths with memories, going through stuff from all the different cultural expriences i was priveledged to have journeyed have flooded my heart.

i MISS my older brother, Solomon! he is from Kenya, but was one of my parent's students when we lived in South Africa. i wish we did not live worlds apart. i wish plane tickets were not so expenisive. i wish our boys could be best of cousins! i, myself, have only met his oldest, Gideon. oh what a precious little boy he was, lets see he should be about 9 1/2 (he was about 18 months when i last saw him).

maybe i read too many blogs about africa. but that really doesnt change the way i think or feel. something related to my heartbeat for africa is tugged on many times a day.

while looking through different artifacts, wooden shoes, wooden pillows, bow and arrows, beaded jewlery, pictures, my heart ached.

here is a little conversation from today:
i sighed and eli asked what is wrong mommy?
i told him i missed africa, to which he sighed too, and said i miss africa so bad! hey mommy, look at that plane, is it going to africa? can we go to africa?

if nothing else, in theory, my kids LOVE Africa.

this week we have grown to love the local public library, to which i let them pick out a few construction or animal books, but then i get books about other cultures so they grow up with a multi-cultural worldview verses the selfcentered american bubble culture.

Levi's Jelly Beans

2011-04-30T09:13:00.002-04:00

so i started to panic a little... Levi was not potty trained nor did he have much interest. the interest grew to wanting to wear underwear, but many accidents. so i brought the bribing on strong along with verbal compliments. my mom bought him a HUGE jar of jelly beans which are far better than m&m's cause they dont melt so i can even take them in my purse. i even made the comment to my friend Merrie Jo that it was going to be much harder with him than it was with Eli. then the next day it snapped... and he got it! this week we have had no accidents, even while running errands, and during naps :-) the other day i forgot i laid him down without a diaper on and very much unlike him he slept over 3 hours... DRY! he has a bout a 25% chance of being dry all night too! i am so proud of my little guy who is growing up all too fast!!! he makes the cutest face after he goes to the bathroom, which 9 times out of 10 he tells me he has to go, TREAT mama? and then kisses me as if thats supposed to help him get a treat! MELT.MY.HEART.

too much

2011-04-24T22:26:00.003-04:00

so i have too much to say, but due to the audience of some of my readers, my writings remain silent... but ill leave you with some pictures

Fear...

2011-04-22T22:01:00.002-04:00

You look around
It's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt
Will it pull you under
You wonder

What if I'm overtaken
What if I never make it
What if no one's there?
Will you hear my prayer?

When you take that first step
Into the unknown
You know that he won't let you go

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water too

Verse 2:
So get out
And let
Your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste
Don't wait
Don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for
I know you're not sure
So you play it safe
Try to run away

If you take that first step
Into the unknown
He won't let you go

Even when a storm hits

Even when you're broken

Even when your heart is telling you telling you to give up

When your hope is stolen

You can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting,
What are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water...
Walk on the water too

Who does he look like?

2011-03-29T10:44:00.002-04:00

so basically everyone from day one has questioned who Levi looks like... well for the first 9 months he looked JUST like my dad. I still see my dad in him, but while spending time at my parents house I found this picture...and now i have to say he looks JUST like me!

20 weeks

2011-03-28T12:40:00.003-04:00

so im a week late... but here are. the ultrasound pictures are terrible due to the fact that stubborn little steyne decided to be laying with his/her feet above their head and squirming all over the place while positioned transverse (sideways) in utero (which is the most favorite position of this little one... never head down always breech or transverse). there is a potential problem called "prenatal hydronephrosis" which refers to dilation of the renal collecting system. The collecting system is the structure that collects urine directly from the kidney tissue and routes it by way of the ureter to the bladder. we are told not to worry too much as there is nothing that can be done til after the baby is born, it is pretty common, and although it runs in the family, there is not anything we can do and He is in control, so we wait... but we at least get another ultra sound out of the deal. hopefully the little one will cooperate and give us a cute picture!

Inspiring role models!

2011-03-25T18:47:00.000-04:00

VIDEO: Twietmeyers on the Today Show

Happy Gotcha Day

2011-03-25T03:24:00.002-04:00

my cousin Tara and her husband Brad are meeting their precious new little bundle of joy aka the cutest Ethiopian cousin i have ever laid my eyes on. for months he has been the picture my phone displays. my boys ask to look at him daily. we pray for him constantly. and finally, the day in the journey where they meet him and hold him for the first time has arrived. i awoke in the middle of the night praying for them... and wala, as if i expected any different, its the EXACT time they are holding him for the first time! WOOO HOOO CONGRATULATIONS Tara & Brad

Jebediah Willow

2011-03-15T22:06:00.004-04:00

3-18-2011 was your due date
7-18-2010 you left this earth
8 months have passed by, but not a day goes by that you are not remembered
although you were not born today, this day will always be your special day
i love you Jebediah Williow
no baby will ever replace you!

dream

2011-03-15T21:45:00.003-04:00

"There’s something to be said for patience
So hold on to what you know is sacred
Don’t let your only dream be taken
And cashed in for everything you’ve hated"

- Jill Phillips, Sacred

patience is hard... makes my heart hurt, makes me frustrated, makes me sad, makes me mad

i know, beyond a shaddow of doubt, that God did not put my passion for Africa in my heart 23 years ago for nothing...

i pray, dream, hope, wish, desire, yearn, long, burden, ache for africa (all encompassed many aspects into one simple word... africa)

everything i have hated... the american dream... yet i feel like my life is the american dream a husband, 3 kids, 2 dogs, a house we are building, a mini-van to be, and the average church.

im so sick of the mundaneness in my life... there is SOOO much more to life than what im living, whats going on in the little bubble around me

the purpose in life as a Christian is to advance the Gospel to the ends of the Earth... what am i doing about it?

thankful tuesday

2011-03-15T21:02:00.003-04:00

so im totally behind... not that i have not been thankful but life has been chaotic to say the least. lets see if i can catch up a bit

21) numbing medicine & a dr on scene of Eli's accident
22) blessings of a monetary gift
23) new britax booster/car seat for Eli (old booster/carseat hurt his back) with $
24) paying off a debt!
25) using extra money to pay for all of my 17p shots and learning that the cost was going up from $15 to $1500 and being able to still get them at $15 per shot
26) baby kicks and hiccups
27) Eli's heart for Africa... when asked if he wants a brother or sister he says brother because sister is in Africa! (unprompted!)
28) cell phones to be able to text and talk to Chris while away
29) computers so we can see the progress of our new house
30) sunshine and warmer weather
31) 22 month old adorableness
32) learning to knit
33) online sermons... current series on acts from church of brook hills
34) Dr a few houses down who is willing to give me my weekly shots
35) figuring out my gallbladder triggers are: beans, nuts, eggs, and too much dairy
36) chick-fil-a playground as a fun distraction and way to get out of the House
37) all the construction going on around us to keep my boys happy
38) the joy that trash trucks bring my boys... tomorrow will be a fun morning for them
39) not having to cook or make sure the house is picked up or i look put together cause its just me, as Chris is in columbia
40) friends who check up on me
41) my parents who were a huge help in the ER and took us to mcdonalds as Eli's treat for being good
42) for Merrie Jo and our daily chats
43) tickle-time
44) Levi now saying "Hug me"... he has the bestest hugs of the family!
45) that God is STILL in control despite the earthquake, nuclear exposure, tsunami, wars, chaos worldwide

single motherhood

2011-03-15T20:32:00.002-04:00

the last few days have been a bit rough... horrible allergies
- sat = over 50 intense contractions
- sun = 4 hour er visit and 5 stitches and boys only sleeping 8 hours instead of 12
- mon = very fussy boys with bad attitudes due to little sleep and no naps
- tues = horrible headache, recovery day of sleep, and fun outing to chick-fil-a
- wed = praying for more patience, better attitudes, obedience and less allergy issues

we sure miss daddy... i hate being the only one to discipline and the boys are tired of me always correcting them.

my champ!

2011-03-15T20:02:00.003-04:00

while on a walk we ran into an old friend who lives down the street from my parents... its the pastor who my dad works with daughter. we were catching up while my kids played in her yard, and Mr Eli slipped and fell on the metal electrical hub sticking out of the ground. he split his chin. now let me preface the story...

the said friend is about 10 years older than me, so we have never been close friends. i just met her husband for the first time and finding out that he is a Dr asked if he could give me my weekly p17 injections, and to top off our introduction he got to bandage my little one up.

on the flip side his numbing medicine was amazing for Eli. surprisingly my child who does NOT do band aids and freaks out at the sight of blood was pretty calm. they helped us walk Blair back to the house and clean up the boys before sending us to the emergency room. thankfully we were met there by my parents... Babu took Levi on walks, ate snacks, and talked to the paramedics, while Meme and i kept Eli occupied.

They celebrated st patricks day down here on Sunday, so the tiny hospital was hoping with an incarcerated man who swallowed drugs, a girl who was 33 weeks who delivered, 7 ambulances, and all rooms were occupied, so our measly 5 stitches were on the bottom of the totem poll during the shift change of course!

here is Eli while we waited to be seen (numbing medicine worked great)

waiting patiently in our room

getting more numbing medicine

waiting with numbing medicine on his chin

after the stitches aka his awesome whiskers!

by the GRACE of God Eli sat perfectly still the entire time he was being stitched up! now remember this child takes after the Steyne men who do NOT know how to sit still to save their lives~

view from here

2011-03-10T19:36:00.004-05:00

last week i was blessed with a check for far more than i ever imagined and while talking with a friend i asked if i should return the money or if i should count it as God's little blessing. after praying about it i concluded that He was in control and was providing in ways i never dreamed.

fast forward to this week... while researching about the 17p injection to help prevent from having a preemie due to my history of preterm labor and already having had contractions this go around for over a month i randomly put the question out on a mommy forum that i sporadically read. i cant stop thanking Jesus and the ladies who had quick responses... evidently due to some pharmaceutical changes only one company will be allowed to compound the drug starting at the end of the month which is spiking the cost from $15 a shot to $1500 a shot and most insurance companies will no longer be covering the cost. after a couple of phone calls to my ob office and talking with two nurses and two doctors and three pharmacies i have my prescription for ALL 17 doses.

back to the blessing in the form of cash... the amount "extra" was exactly the amount i needed to pay for my shots today! the Lord knew exactly what He was doing even well before i had any clue.

the view from here... mid-contraction

beautiful day

2011-03-10T19:14:00.003-05:00

qualities

2011-03-04T22:40:00.004-05:00

i have not been the most kindhearted, sweet talking, encouraging, loving wife... the built up stress has made me lash out at chris more times than i would like to even think to admit. i needed to make it up to him in some way... so babe i sat down and thought of all sorts of qualities that i love about you... mind you its late and some letters are difficult. i do love you even though my words have not shown it lately. please forgive me

Adventurous
Burly
Charming
Determined
Eager
Forgiving
Gifted
Hardworking
Important
Jazzy
Keen
Lyrical
Manly
Neat
Opptomistic
Patient
Quirky
Rustic
Steadfast
Trusting
Unique
Vigorous
Whimsical
(e)Xuberant
Youthful
Zealous

dont give up

2011-03-04T20:47:00.003-05:00

after a stressful few days/weeks i just feel like quitting. not motivated to do anything. im DONE. i have no more patience, effort, energy, or time for anything else or even the important things on my plate like my marriage, my kids, my relationship with Christ. im spent. im exhausted. im stressed. i dont feel good. im discouraged.

i quit.

after a heart to heart conversation that left me feeling even more discouraged, upset, down. i opened my computer to look up some verses, but first felt led to look at my google reader... and clicked on my friend Katy's blog. and it was EXACTLY what i needed to hear!!! i have since re-read these verses as i had time waiting for some of the kids to be done with school and in the quiet of the evening after my boys were in bed. thank you Jesus for leading me to these verses.

Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Hebrews 12 (The Message)

1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

4-11 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

12-13 So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

14-17 Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

spud vs tater tot?

2011-02-26T23:44:00.005-05:00

so last week was avocado and this week potato... need i say more? the only two things i have craved have been summed up in week 16 & 17 and look at the combination i found: hmm i might just have to try this combination!!!

6 1/2 inches long from head to rump and 5ish oz.

so the nicknames this week are spud and tater-tot.

Eli's comment today as i took a picture to send Chris "Mama you need new car SOON, that baby is getting BIG" he knows we are going to get a new van... and im not going to rage against the mini-van, im embracing my love for being a mother. dont worrry one day you will understand (you know who you are)! but we just cant buy the van until we close on our house. he is convienced we are gettin a sienna from jim hudson toyota and reminds me every time we drive by.

17 weeks down 19-21 more weeks to go... almost half way! wooohoo

how do i feel?
- i still throw up, but i dont mind hugging the toilet because it is a reminder that the baby is still healthy. so i dont complain
- i have already for a few weeks started having contractions
- my scatia nerve hurts pretty bad
- my belly is HUGE and officially is ITCHY

how do i feel outside of pregnancy... thats a whole nother post of my insane 2 weeks of nannying, moving, and house parenting all back to back!!!

16 weeks

2011-02-19T21:55:00.004-05:00

little one moves around all the time, has ears that can actually hear us now, has fingernails & toenails, and is working on eye lashes, eyebrows (hopefully not daddy's), and possibly hair.

funny thing about being the size of an avocado is i have been craving avocados the whole pregnancy. just looking up the picture to post made me want to get in my car and go buy one. but i resisted the craving.

old snow day

2011-02-19T21:21:00.004-05:00

these pictures were from when it snowed while we had h1n1 and were cooped up in our house for over a week. i finally let Eli go out and enjoy the snow when it was a good 50 degrees and he was much much better. somehow i never downloaded these pictures, but they were too cute to not show! i love this boys creative mind, innovative spirit, and love for hot chocolate. the way he says it with an accent melts my heart every time!

Multitude Monday

2011-02-14T22:37:00.003-05:00

16) the warmth of sunshine
17) starting the building process of our new house
18) dr's practice who goes the extra mile for their patients
19) Lauren, who let me come as i was (in my pj's) to chit-chat and catch up
20) breakfast bagels with Jenni

Thanksgiving Thursday

2011-02-10T21:44:00.003-05:00

this week has been very stressful and overwhelming. my life lately feels like im wondering in the desert with no end in sight.

Wrecking Ball by Jill Philips
Just when my tears were falling deep enough to drown
Down in the valley of the shadow of a doubt
When I gave up that's when He came to lift me out and set me high
When I saw it as a gift of matchless worth
I started thinking it was something I deserved
He pulled the rug from underneath without a word and left me dry
Piece together these little mysteries
It isn't hard to see the writing on the wall
Triumph and tragedy, only God can be
Both the builder and the wrecking ball
He gave them freedom and a fertile promise land
They took for granted their deliverance at hand
Thirty-nine years later they're still walking through that sand
Wondering why
And He builds it up
And He knocks it down
Just to build it up even stronger

in the midst of my week that broke me down to puddles of tears, frustration, and fear, He built me up with peace and encouragement today...

1) peace having to go to a different ob dr

2) my dr had his office manager send a formal request to keep me in the practice even though they are not taking my insurance (it would be a 3 month extension to their current contract)

3) city hall approved our house... footings start monday (they only made us change two very small things)

4) Chris has a place to stay, an entire house to himself, rent free

5) perspective... my kids are healthy, active, growing, at home with me

prayer request... my perspective was rocked today as a dear friend, my former English teacher, is facing a much more challenging week... preparing for the mission field, support raised, in pre-field training, they were sent home early due to their little girl being sick... come to find out she is really really sick... at 7 months old she was diagnosed with leukemia on monday and started chemo today. please pray for Georgia and her whole family as they walk out this journey. i pray for healing, quick recovery, and that the Lord uses this trial for His glory.

funniest fan

2011-02-10T16:39:00.002-05:00

so when eli was about 18 months til 2 ish he called all fans an ass. here is a little video i found. hilarious and will make your day. no we did not teach him, encourage him, or endorse the big a$$ fan company wish i would have known about them, maybe we could have made our millions.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-02-09T22:23:00.009-05:00

so life is crazy... my birthday is at the end of the month and right amidst me nannying the week leading up to our move. with packing needing to be done and ingredients still sitting on my shelves and being pregnant and craving chocolate i decided to make my birthday cake early. ironically on sunday i was in walmart for way too long and forgot powdered sugar... key ingredient to buttercream (with a touch of cream cheese) icing so i froze the cakes.

today i acted like a big girl, didnt boo hoo too much to my dr, whom i have grown to trust for the last 9 years due to the many complications and times i have seen him, not to mention that he was the hands that God used to saved Eli's life (in one of the worst deliveries). but with his help, i have chosen another dr in another practice.

i also faced a huge emotional hurdle today by visiting my baby nephew, Timothy, in the hospital. challenging, difficult, heart-wrenching, overwhelming, personally sad because Jeb's due date was just around the corner as our due dates were less than 2 weeks apart. obviously he is precious and cute and tiny and a little bundle of joy, but there is a real part of my heart that still aches, still hurts, still misses my baby... and being pregnant doesnt take those feelings away, although im super excited about my new baby.

i have been an emotional basket case to say the least this week... today i had much more peace and i appreciate all of your prayers and words of encouragement. because i faced today with a different attitude, i treated myself to my birthday cake. pulled it out of the freezer, made the icing, with the help of 4 little hands tried to cover up the pieces of cake they ate and the holes they put in the icing.

a few days ago we painted my best childhood friend of 22 years and counting birthday cards to be sent to africa along with a couple presents. i dont recall mentioning that Rachel's birthday is the same day as mine, but tonight when i pulled out the cake Eli kept calling it Rachel Ray's cake and said that his favorite baby Eli and Ellie needed to taste it too... he was so persistent that we lit candles and sang to Rachel Ray... so since im celebrating all month, my dearest friend i love you and want to celebrate your birthday all month too!

dont laugh too hard at our horrible singing voices... this shows love that chris and i are publicly singing.

words of encouragement

2011-02-08T13:28:00.002-05:00

"you will feel a lot better when you stop trying to do everything the way you want it to be and just be content with what God has given you and His will for your life"

simple enough advice i know, but these words have brought me so much peace today amidst a HORRIBLE day/last few days.

thank you friend...

Multitude Monday

2011-02-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

My dear friend, Julie, who is now serving the Lord 1/2 way around the world has encouraged me by her weekly posts of thankfulness. Despite the difficulties to find God's hand in the situation even when it is not pretty. The challenge is to write and share 1,000 things you are grateful to God for. Maybe over a few weeks. Maybe a few months. The timetable is up to you. When you get to 1,000 you start over. The point of blogging (or finding another way to share) your thank-yous is to encourage and build up your community.

I have put this off for a while and each week I say I will start next week, but I have not... so here it goes

LORD I thank You for...
1. Levi's compassion in rubbing my back as I throw up each day
2. Chris' hard work to provide for our family
3. Eli's energy because it means he can run, play, be all boy
4. A great cup of coffee this morning with homemade vanilla icecream, after a rough night of little sleep
5. Reunited friends from college, Sarah & Anna and their sons Hudson & Titus
6. G-chat with Rachel and even being able to call her in Uganda
7. the rain to bring in the color green
8. peaceful, authentic music that draws me to my Savior
9. throwing up, because it means my little baby is healthy
10. chick-fil-a french fries (which are about the only thing I crave)

8 & 10

2011-01-30T10:57:00.003-05:00

currently i am 13 weeks pregnant, but i have been saving these for a few weeks. i had been wishing, hoping, praying to make it to 12 weeks, to be "in the clear", but that day came and went with many tears. this whole week has been incredibly emotional, especially when i went to my dr appointment on wednesday and they could not hear a heartbeat on the doppler, tried an ultrasound and could not find one that way either, finally after about 15 minutes we were able to see the baby moving around and a heartbeat (mind you its the old not so fabulous machines that are in the room instead of the high tech amazing ones the u/s tech's use). i was a basket case. not that wednesday was the first time i have balled my eyes out to my doctor. we had an amazing 15 minute conversation in his office about my friend who lost her baby, my 4 previous miscarriages, and God's perfect plan for each life that HE creates. it was the most encouraging conversation i have ever had with any doctor. i mean i know all of the right answers, God is in control, He is the Creator, He gives and takes away, blessed be His name... however, sometimes, especially in the midst of pain those almost seem like empty words on a page. i know that He is in control, even if the life of my baby does not go the way i desire it to. its still hard to trust. so each day i try to make a conscience effort to give Him my heart, my life, and the life of my husband, Eli, Levi, baby #7 (fruitcake/sweetcake/button depending on who you ask), daughter/s in africa and loved ones. im still a work in progress.

belly pictures from 8 weeks

baby at 9 weeks

belly shots 10 weeks

Levi walked up and kissed my belly himself while i was shooting the picture

and Nikon has my camera so no 12 weeks :-(

reading & 700 club

2011-01-30T10:37:00.004-05:00

i do realize that BopBop is wearing the same shirt as the picture from early Dec, but these are taken more recently.

the boys, especially Eli, love to sit with Nana as she eats breakfast and watches the 700 club. precious memeories.

cant wait to get my camera back from nikon for more pictures that are hopefully not so terrible in quality.

broken-hearted

2011-01-24T10:12:00.003-05:00

tears tears and more tears have been shed over the weekend as one of my best friends was due just two days after me... and at 12 weeks lost her baby. it has hit me so hard. i cried myself to sleep on saturday night. i am broken-hearted for her as she lost of her precious baby. so incredibly sad that she has to face the death of her tiny baby and the difficulty, heartache, and grieving process that she will be facing in the coming days, weeks, years. it hurts so bad that my baby will be a constant reminder of pain and i hate that it will obviously be awkward and difficult to walk out a friendship for some time.

it makes me very scared and nervous about the life of my little one. the books say that 12 weeks is the breath of fresh air cause you are "out of the danger zone and in the clear" but clearly that is not always the case.

a blog friend, Raechel, posted an amazing post yesterday as it was national sanctity of human life day it is totally worth reading and exactly what i needed to be reminded of yesterday..."to give thanks to the One Who shapes each of us as He sees fit to carry out His perfect will."

Nana

2011-01-24T08:59:00.005-05:00

upon Lyn's request for pictures of Nana.

overwhelming feeling

2011-01-21T22:04:00.003-05:00

there is much in my life that should be overwhelming...
but its not the 3 kids under 3, the moving within the next month 2 1/2 hours away from my husband, the boys daddy, my dr & hospital, the fact that if history proves itself i will be on bed rest come april due to preterm labor, yet our house wont be ready til sometime in june if all goes well, we are still not sure where chris will live, have no clue what would happen and where we would move if i were to need to be closer to my dr & hospital before june, how exactly i am going to juggle 2 kids & 2 dogs in a neighborhood that i will have to walk my dogs every time they have to go out, the fact that i do not have any friends in hilton head and absolutely nothing to do until it warms up (because there really isnt much to do except beach, pool, tennis, golf, miniture golf, and shopping), the fact that the boys and i will be driving back and forth and back and forth a couple times a month, and the list goes on...

non of that is what is overwhelming me right now

my heart has a totally overwhelming sense of loss, heartache, desire, sadness, urgency for my daughter/s in ethiopia. i am brought to tears often with the sense of loss that she will be facing in order to one day become part of our family. since november i have had a few dreams where i have seen our little girls face. i am certain that she is already born. i hate that she is or will be facing hardship, i hate that she is going to face loss at such a young age, it breaks my heart to even think about her family and what they are or will be facing, will they willingly give her up for adoption? will they passaway and someone else places her in an orphanage? undoubtably they will face some form of hardship, financial, physical, or even worse spiritual. my heart breaks for her enat (mother), my heart breaks for my one day daughter, i am brought to my knees in prayer, break down to tears at the most random times of the day (like tonight while washing dishes, the other day while driving, in the middle of the night while i cry myself back to sleep).

i feel guilty that my thoughts are so consumed by her that i may be missing out of praying for the kids that are in my arms and growing in my belly right now. honestly i have to keep reminding myself that God is in control, He knows all of the details, He knows that if we would have started the adoption process in june like we were planning (although our hearts wanted to have already started but due to family circumstance that is not possible) that we would not be placed with the daughter that God has planned to join our family. oh but my heart still hurts to have to wait any longer. its hard for me to not question God as to why on earth He would make things increadibly clear just to make me wait that much longer. i am incredibly blessed with a miracle baby growing inside me, but it was not my plan and its a bit difficult to understand Gods timing. i secretively like to plan, get my ducks in a row, and organize my life (dont look at my house not everything is organized... too hard with toddlers)... God is showing me TIME & TIME AGIAN that HE IS IN CONTROL NOT ME!

i almost feel like im an israelite wondering in the desert for 40 years. they wondered for 40 years for the unbeliving generation to die off... ok so i am only 26 (next month 27) but for the last few years i really feel like i have been wondering. have totally been exactly where i dont want to be. i have complained about it, grumbled, been ticked off beyond measure. hmm sounding incredibly familiar to the israelites. maybe its my unblief that i dont trust God that He really can move mountains even the hardest of hearts or take my super clean husband to the trash dump of ethiopia... my huge mountain i want to live in africa, yet i feel very stuck in columbia. i just have to keep believing that He is in control, He is in control, HE IS IN CONTROL!

movin, movin, movin

2011-01-17T21:59:00.003-05:00

curve balls keep flying

the most recent one is an extra move in our near future
we have prayed for someone to care for nana and He answered, just not in our timing, not quite sure of the "urgency" however, it is what it is. why should i expect "normalcy" when life is never normal or easy. chris' aunt and uncle from indiana are moving down at the end of feb which means we are moving out. im just not going to be part of the circus if we were to stay til june-ish when our house is finished because life under one roof would look like = 6 adults (1 with alzheimer's & 1 hormonal pregnant mama), 2 toddlers, and 4-7 dogs... yeah no thank you. so the boys, dogs, and i are moving to hilton head to stay at my parents house, while chris stays in columbia to work and build our house. praying about with whom he should stay. thankfully we are going to be able to keep our stuff boxed up in the back bedrooms of our current house. so i can do a little at a time, without it cluttering my house.

i got a jump start today... i packed all 14 boxes that we got from publix, 3 trash bags of junk, 2 trash bags for His house, and i even cleaned my house. hopefully we will be picking up more boxes tomorrow (as long as they dont throw my saved boxes away as they did on sunday) so that more packing to be done!

by the end of the summer, when we move into our first real house all by ourselves, it will be my 32nd house to live in! crazy huh if you dont believe me i can list them all for you

Dear Nikon

2011-01-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

Dear Nikon
I have a love hate relationship with you. I love the D-SLR cameras that I have used of my friends but hate the lemon of the point-and-shoot that is mine. I have called and emailed you more times than I can count in the last 20 months. I have returned, repaired, and even gotten my camera replaced, yet still there are issues! I seriously am beyond frustrated. For compensation for my time, the crappy pictures you have produced, and missing moments of my precious boys, I do believe you could repay me by upgrading my camera to a D3100 and I would love you forever!

Thanks,
Keely

crumbles

2011-01-12T14:23:00.003-05:00

there are so many of my heartstrings that have been damaged as of late. good things that have gone awry. i feel like not even trying anymore. cause then if its not a dream it cant be shattered.
- missions/vision trip to uganda/kenya
- twins
- adopting 2 girls from ethiopia (put on hold)
- created for care adoption retreat

i feel like everything i touch that has to do with adoption or africa crumbles.

worst snow day ever

2011-01-10T10:19:00.005-05:00

living in the south we all act like little kids when it snows. everything closes and we just take the day to play our little hearts out. hey, it rarely happens so we live it up! well today not so much... since we are all getting over h1n1 i get to be the mean mama who says no one gets to play outside. so far the boys have not been as upset as i would have expected. but to say that we all have cabin fever from being under lockdown for a week, is totally an understatement. i have two who can't sit still to save their life and their boredom is driving me crazy. looks like tomorrow will be the same thing as we are supposed to get a 1/2 inch of ice on top of all this beautifulness

my geeky boys

2011-01-10T07:52:00.005-05:00

backhoes

2011-01-08T16:26:00.003-05:00

Pine Street will soon... well not so soon... be our new place of residence. i say no SO soon because we just found out this week that due to some silly paperwork and hearing with the city of columbia we have to turn in some paperwork that only gets approved once a month so we will have to wait until after our hearing on feb 10th to move forward with the next step... but until then we are clearing the lot, getting sewer, and praying that the water tap they found today will work which would save us a bunch of mula! so happy to say that we got the price of our lot down 50% of asking price!

p.s. for those of you who know we are sick... we were there for 15 min ONLY because we had promised Eli for a few weeks that he could ride the backhoe and he asks us everyday! so i was the super awesome mama who bundled her kids up drove 1/2 hour each way so that my boy could have his backhoe day... had to bribe him with chick-fil-a (drive through people no i didnt infect anyone) to stop the tears of not being on the backhoes working with daddy all day! back to the couch we all sit and recover and rest!

Medical update...

2011-01-07T10:38:00.002-05:00

we have H1N1

no wonder we feel so so terrible!

also my gall bladder checked out fine at my apt today... however, not sure if thats good or bad as i still have tons of pain. waiting it out just a bit longer before going to a gastro to get a scope down my throat.

dr trips

2011-01-06T20:27:00.003-05:00

this is how we spent our days this week... at the dr and in the hospital

we are all really sick. im not one to complain, but i have not felt this miserable in i cant tell you how long, if ever. we have the croup coupled with nasty coughs, fevers, body aches, chills, sore throats, sore ears, and the nastiest congestion ever.

we could use some prayer. the boys are on pain relievers and steroids, chris is taking a steroid inhalor and musinex, and i just get to take tylenol and water! its supposed to last 5-7 days for the boys... chris is on day 5, levi day 3, eli day 1 and the dr today told me it will be well over a week before i feel better.

it was such a blessing to have our friend Josh as our dr today. a bright surprise, comfort, and encouragement. we got tip top care. he checked on us a whole bunch more than normal er visits.

so thankful that Chris was able to stay home from work so i could sleep while the boys kept coming to snuggle and nap all throughout the day. not to mention that we slept pretty much the whole morning at the hospital.

thanks for your prayers

giving in

2011-01-05T19:50:00.002-05:00

to peer pressure... well sorta... since there is NO reason to look back at the last year, because when I do I normally see the bad stuff instead of the amazing thing... instead I am going to look ahead to the year to come. I re-read the book "Don't Waste My Life" by Piper the other night. what an encouragement, especially on the topic of looking ahead, setting goals, and putting it in writing for more accountability.

so without further ado... my goals & passions of 2011 in random order
- daily, deeper communication with Christ
(i could stop there because thats all that really matters)

-be involved in something to do with orphans in Africa (if you have any suggestions please let me know)

- advocate for adoption

- begin the adoption process

- reach out to my new neighbors (come april)

- build relationship with a lady from Egypt i met in chickfila

- involvement in church

- looking forward to getting off the waiting list for Community Bible Study (in depth study of the Word)

- prayerfully gain more patience for Eli

- be less critical of Chris

- spend more one on one time with Levi

- learn to let the recurrent family drama of cutting words go in one ear and out the other

- read more tv less

- 1 hour or less of comp time (only if i am in the Word first)

- stay organized (esp in new house... everything needs to have a place... be thorough in downsizing)

-more structured learning for Eli

-learn to knit

- continue my creative cooking

- coupon and budget WELL!!! SNOWBALL our debt away!!!!

some favorites

2011-01-03T20:44:00.007-05:00

these are our some of our favorites this christmas... but the best gift of all was to throw up as soon as i rolled out of bed due to my little christmas surprise aka fruitcake

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T23:11:00.009-05:00

2010 family picture
this is what happens when you have toddlers...
it takes a few shots to get a good one

Ringing in the new year as a family of 5 but what we need you to know... me being pregnant now, does not change the heartbreak that we have faced. This pregnancy does not bring back baby Jeb whom we lost in July. This baby does not make March 18th an easier day, because this precious child is not a replacement of any one lost. We will miss each one of our little blessings now and they will always will they be remembered in our hearts. Our baby is 1000% an impossibility according to man, no where near our plans (as we were starting the adoption process as soon as we move into our own house), but 10000% God's plan for our family and we are excited about yet another curve ball in our life's journey. We will be welcoming our newest arrival sometime in July (although my due date is Aug 9th). Oh and if you think that this means that we are not going to adopt... that is not the case... it just wont be starting the process in April but sometime in our NEAR future!!!

Aunt Tutu photoshoot

2010-12-30T23:24:00.005-05:00

Thanks Aunt Tutu for the fun photoshoot! Thanks for making our Christmas card so special!

behind the camera

2010-12-30T23:13:00.003-05:00

since im never in pictures... here is one for you aunt lyn but im still behind the camera

Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T22:51:00.000-05:00

Christmas Day 2

2010-12-30T22:38:00.005-05:00

so although we borrowed the amazing celtic works camera... somehow we forgot the charger and my camera is dead (not a nikon fan unless its an slr) and my mom's camera died... so these are the only christmas pictures with my family! sorry for the poor quality but at least you can see we had a white christmas the second go around!

Christmas Day 1

2010-12-28T20:41:00.005-05:00

Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T23:54:00.006-05:00

Family Traditions:
we open 1 present on Christmas Eve
it is always new pj's
here are ours this year

WHAT MAMA??? We are just not in the picture mood tonight!

Christmas Card

2010-12-21T16:02:00.001-05:00

Simply Memories Christmas 5x7 folded card

Personalize your Christmas photo cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly Season

2010-12-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

My LOVE for Christmas cards is quite the understatement! I love to see pictures of our dearest friends and family every time I am in my kitchen as they fill my refrigerator doors. I would keep them up all year round if it were not for my husband, who think they should go down shortly after the holiday decorations get stored away, but he has learned the hard way to not just toss them and has accepted that I will keep them up for at least a few months.

I have enjoyed our picture photo cards from Shutterfly the past 5 Christmas'. They have many options to choose from, high quality, easy editing, quick communication, and fast shipping! I have been pleased with mine each and every time. This year I am stepping out on the edge and going to make a "real" card vs the flat photo card and that makes me so happy! The hardest part of the whole process is choosing a card and then actually picking my pictures! What can I say... they have SO many AWESOME ones to choose from and I have two really cute kids, not that I am bias or anything!

Join the love this season, you are NOT too late to make your Holiday cards too! Please check out Shutterfly's AMAZING selection!

Now that my cards are done I really need to go make a Calendar or two!

Jesus vs santa

2010-12-20T21:58:00.003-05:00

everyone everywhere keeps asking "what do you want from santa" its about to drive me CrAzY! eli does not even know how to respond... but for me and my house we will not be celebrating santa now or ever. so i apologize in advance if my child so kindly tells your child that there is no santa. the reasons why we will not ever believe in santa: he NOR presents are the reason for the season despite what the world says. so for us we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. also i am not going to get into the practice of lying to my children, because it is wrong, but also because one lie leads to another which leads to another... and i dont want this to backfire with the conversation of well mom you lied to me about santa, what else have you lied about, Jesus? im not a scrooge, after eli loving the movie avin and the chipmunks he has had an obsession with cutting down a christmas tree. so we found a cute little farm in newberry and chose the largest tree chris or i have ever had in all our years. here are a few pictures from our adventure (please disregard my blurry pictures as my camera is going back to nikon for the 5th time!)

cuffed

2010-12-06T09:40:00.003-05:00

so there is a first time for everything right... well over thanksgiving i officially got put in handcuffs!

here are my "favorite 84 cusins"
all three of us were born in the same year
feb, june, and oct
and doug was always towering over us even at two months old he was nearly as big as me at 10 months old! there is a special bond between and we take a ritual 84 picture everytime we are together! doug was sweet enough to come by while he was working for a yummy meal where we were all gathered!

Church

2010-12-05T20:36:00.000-05:00

this is SO worth watching... look what we have made of church these days

depraved indifference

2010-12-05T10:44:00.002-05:00

so i did have a dream about a little girl... my little girl... however, the waiting to get her is just about to kill me. i hate that we can't even start the journey to her until after we move and then it will still be 12-18 months from then and thats if the waiting period does not increase in the next 5 months.

TRUTH PANDEMIC

2010-12-04T07:31:00.003-05:00

EDUCATING FACTS ABOUT HIV/AIDS:

HIV is a virus that infects cells of the immune system. Without treatment, HIV is fatal. However WITH treatement people are living almost as long as those without the disease.

On average, people with HIV need to take medications twice daily. They also need to have lab work and see a specialist quarterly.

HIV is spread through sex, drug needles and birth.

HIV is blood borne, not air borne. HIV cannot be spread by saliva, tears, sweat, urine, or feces.

HIV is not spread through casual, household contact.

As of 2009 there were over 1 million people with HIV in America.

Children with HIV are perfectly safe to be around, hug, kiss, and share food and bathrooms with. For this reason, generally people with HIV are not required by law to tell ANYONE about their condition, including schools and even dentists.

Thanksgiving Trip

2010-12-03T21:39:00.003-05:00

So i was crazy and drove up to Illinois with the boys... 12 hours through the night to surprised all of my relatives. call me crazy but im so glad i was able to have some quality time with my grandmothers, cousins, and a dear friend from kenya. im waiting on more pictures from my cousin... she got an early christmas present of a nikon rebel so she was the photographer! Update: as i was writing this post, tara happened to be updating her blog too with pictures! thanks. the shirts we are all wearing are to support her adoption journey!
yet again levi was not quite photogenic with the grandmothers!

My Taste buds trickled down

2010-12-03T21:25:00.003-05:00

So thankful that my boys both got my taste buds... quite possibly because i ate ethnic food while pregnant and either indian or ethiopian food were the boys first foods :-) love love love that my boys dig right into it... maybe cause they are allowed to eat with their hands, but if thats it dont burst my bubble. and in case you dont know that the first picture is, its africa in my coffee cup.

Nana & BopBop

2010-12-03T20:41:00.004-05:00

Aunt Lyn these are for you...
no worries Nana is not off her rocker, she was being silly for Levi who did not want to be photographed!

emotions

2010-11-17T15:55:00.003-05:00

when emotions get high

i feel like

crying my eyes out

yelling at the top of my lungs

going for a nice long run

(btw the yelling is not directed at people just going to an open field and yelling since no one can hear me)

but for now i sit and watch little rascals with my boys (when i should be cleaning for the millionth time)

my new hobby

2010-11-16T15:35:00.002-05:00

after two simultaneously loud, throw ones self on the floor and kick and scream type of tantrum from both boys about coming inside to take a bath (normally they love baths, but the "worked" so hard yesterday that they were exhausted), i had a brilliant idea... i should take up hunting... its a mindless quiet refuge, away from people in the midst of the simplicity of nature! ahhh pure joy!!!

just for the record the bath was the perfect 45 min to change their attitude and run down the clock until the it was bedtime.

hunting may also have been spurred on by having an 8pt buck living in our back yard!

Eli Conversations

2010-11-11T16:07:00.004-05:00

K: Eli, please do not do that at the dinner table
E: Mama, please stop whining
___________________________________
E: Mama, you picked your nose and have a boogie man in your hair
K: Eli, I did not pick my nose. My hair is wet because i have gel in my hair so it stays curly
E: Brobro picked nose and put boogie man in your hair

___________________________________
E: what DAT is???
K: Eli, what IS THIS

(insert his middle school girl attitude)
___________________________________
E: Mama I WANT ALMONDS SOOOOOO BAD (note loud voice and after he ate 5 pancakes and 2 pieces of bacon)
K: Eli you just ate, you do not need any food (note normal tone and volum in my voice)
E: shhh mama you cant hear me, please may i have almonds please (in a whisper)

___________________________________
E: I like to eat Chit
Chit= chick for chick-fil-a

goodbye friend

2010-11-09T23:08:00.002-05:00

i just returned from a coffee date with a precious friend who is moving across the atlantic to a distant land. she has been such a wonderful encouragement, great person to bounce things off of, share my dreams with, and always loyal, honest, and encouraging. i will truly miss her and her sweet family. i am very thankful for skype, vonage, and emails!

know you will be missed and that you are loved

there are no goodbyes only see-ya-laters!

autumn upgrade

2010-11-06T22:23:00.001-04:00

ok just tickle my fancy and click on my blog instead of reading it in google reader... i upgraded my look and added many more friends whose blogs i read.

thanks

oh and btw i actually like comments

you know just in case you didnt know that

thankful tree

2010-11-04T14:10:00.003-04:00

so a fellow blogger posted this thankful tree... im not even going to begin to believe that im as artistic but i loved the concept so i tried my best to make our family a thankful tree. for every day we will all say one thing that we are thankful for... so far on the list are:
each other by name
music
Rachel Ray (my bff not the cooking star)
Eli & Ellie our sweet adored twins in Uganda that our heart aches for because we will not meet them, at least not right now (twice the chance has been taken away)
Judd
washing machine
parenthood (the show)
and many other great things

but most importantly the cross that Jesus took upon Himself for our sins

this is such a great reminder to stop each day and THANK Jesus for all He has done, is doing and will do for us instead of just praying for our needs and wants.

we love and miss you dearly sweet friend!

my hope

2010-11-02T22:14:00.001-04:00

Luke 1:45
"blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished"

unexplainable

2010-11-02T21:50:00.002-04:00

i am so distracted these days...

so distracted by a concept to most

but its not concept to me... its reality

majority wont understand and that doesnt sit well with me

but my reality is my reality

my feelings are my feelings

and i dont really care what you say or dont say

im not trying to impress you, win your favor, or even be your friend

i am following my heartstrings and loud speaker callings

i know without a shadow of doubt that the Lord has broken my heart for His purpose

i know that He has broken my heart and calls me to pray in the middle of the night every night as of the last couple of months

i know that He has a plan, even when it is not my plan

its hard... oh so hard... some days down right impossible

im so tired of saying goodbye... baby after baby after baby (beginning long ago)

i cant even count how many i have had to release...orphans to death, an orphanage, or someone else adopting them, and physically by miscarriages...

my heart yearns, aches, breaks for the babies/children of ours that the Lord has
called us to welcome into our home... but how, when, and where are still questions in the air... clarity, wisdom, discernment, direction oh my Lord

Starry Night

2010-11-02T21:18:00.001-04:00

From the Birds that Sing, In the Tallest Trees.
To the Human Life, of you and me.
From the Desert Sands, to the place we stand.
He is God of All, He is Everything.

I'm giving my life to the only One who makes the moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything

From the autumn leaves, that will ride the breeze
To the faith it takes, to pray and sing
From the painted sky, to my plank filled eye
He is God of all, He is everything

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun
On that Starry Night, He changed my life.
I'm giving it all to the only son who gave me hope when I had none.
So let the praises ring,
Oh Let the Praises Ring

pumpkin patch & corn maze

2010-11-01T22:11:00.003-04:00

not as awesome as the midwest... but we still had so much fun making memories as a family!

autumn days

2010-10-31T22:35:00.002-04:00

insomnia

2010-10-30T13:40:00.004-04:00

so for weeks on end i have had the worst time sleeping... i think i mentioned this before... but its not getting better. i am up late at night laying awake in bed for hours awake in the middle of the night for hours... and normally not because of the boys waking up. i am up burdened to pray. my heart aches for my child/ren who are waiting for us in Africa. but i dont even know what agency or country we are going to use. i think i narrowed it down to 2 agencies: holt international and america world. we are leaning towards Ethiopia because it is a well oiled country to adopt from in Africa and because i love the country, culture, food and have this unexplainable attachment ever since 2001 when i was there. but we are still praying for guidance as to where and with whom and how many children.

in the middle of the night this week i opened my Bible to the back and looked up waiting and this is the verses that popped out to me... yes a little out of context but it still reassured me

Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption

Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

bloom where planted

2010-10-28T15:41:00.003-04:00

Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

i have been challenged to get out of my hole and bloom where i am instead of just dreaming of where i want to be...

harsh

hard

reality

but

its

true

i have been so focused on where i want to be. focused on my boys. but have slacked in ministry. i have not been intentional in my relationships.

so today i stepped out of the box and this is what it looked like today to bloom where i am planted

i saw a lady with her two little daughters today while at lunch with some friends. she was speaking in another language and while we were sitting in the play area i introduced myself. i found out that she is from Egypt. she just came here 2 month ago and does not have many mom friends. so i gave her my number and got her number. i am going to be intentional.

i am excited to see what this is going to look like.

today

2010-10-23T10:09:00.002-04:00

today is hard... today is sad... today i want to just sip on my cup of coffee and cry
today i should be boarding a plane with my two little guys and a dear friend... tomorrow i should be arriving in my heartland of Africa greeted by two precious friends the orphaned twins they are caring for. today i am still confused as to why God closed the doors at the last minute. today i am trying to trust in Him and walk by faith even when i cannot see because this broken road prepares His will for me. so today i am trying to give up, yet again, my will and follow His. this is a daily, hourly, often minute by minute task. my heart yearns, aches, desires, longs, to be in Africa. over the years it has not disappeared, dissolved, or even decreased in the slightest, if anything its bubbling over more now more than ever before.

no im not scared to take my family there. im not scared to show them the realities of this world. im not scared if we dont look like the typical american family... actually in moments when we begin to fit into the norm everything inside me bucks. i dont want to be the typical american family. im not going to pretend that nothing is going on around the world while i go on with my daily life. i cant forget that there are somewhere between 163-203 MILLION orphans around the world... for as long as i can remember, around the age of 3 perhaps (yes that is pretty accurate as i have memories from age 20 months onward), i have known without a shadow of doubt that i would adopt babies from africa. so i lay awake at night longing, praying, dreaming, desiring, craving, my sweet children that are where i want to be, but knowing that where they are is under horrible circumstances so my heart hurts, cries, and is crushed for them and their families.

it is hard to be here when i desire to be there. it is hard to go to the grocery store when so many are starving. so blooming where im planted... i deperately want to get involved with the missions program at the church we are currently attending (hoping that this is where we can settle down and get involved). i have some really awesome ideas. im trying to bloom where im planted. oh and on a little side note im SO excited that for my birthday this year i am going to be able to go to an amazing adoption retreat with 200 other adoption mamas. God has blessed me with new friendships right here who are on a heart level with me in the adoption/africa world and it is amazing.

5 years ago today

2010-10-22T15:33:00.003-04:00

to say that the last five years was all "wine and roses" (wait... i dont like wine and i think roses are a waste of money) so what about "beer and coffee"... would be complete lie. it has been the most challenging, life-changing, adventure. we continue to learn how to love each other well. its not easy, but its rewarding. we have been through a whole lot in the last 5 years... living apart due to jobs, losing a job which caused much debt, many medical set backs, moving, living with many relatives (sorry if you are reading it) which is stressful, and have had 4 miscarriages which have been heartbreaking but we have also grown so much, learned to communicate much better, and have become a great team and have two amazing little men. in the coming weeks we hope to find and buy a house, start the adoption process, and hope to get plugged into a new church. life sure is an adventure!

October 15th

2010-10-15T21:23:00.003-04:00

so today is just another day

to most people

but today

october 15th

is a day that means something to me

as it is

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

you might not get it

many dont

but for me my heart still aches for my babies everyday

did you hear that?

EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE i miss my babies, long for my babies, and want to hold my babies

i will never forget the ones who i never got to know face to face

i will never forget the day i lost them or the day they should have been born

i will never forget the sweet names we gave our precious babies

they mean just as much to me as do Eli and Levi

they are my babies and i miss them dearly and always will

your daddy, mama, and brothers love you always & forever

Skylar Hope 12/4/06

Noah Journey 2/1/08

Natalina Grace 5/25/08

Jebediah Willow 7/18/10

your names are written in the sand, yet quickly washed away by the crashing waves

never will you be washed away from my heart, for there you will remain forever!

overwhelmed

2010-10-12T22:03:00.002-04:00

decisions... life-long choices... and too many changes to count have completely and utterly turned my world upside down and made me overwhelmed/unmotivated. my heart physically, emotionally, and spiritually aches. there is so much going on, so many huge decisions to make and no time to pray, process, and wait. praying i have done... funny how the quiet moments of my day are those long hours i lay awake at night trying to not become tangled in all of the details but to lay each of them at the cross. God obviously wants me praying, because i now have insomnia... which to some is no big deal and they experience it all the time, i however, never have trouble sleeping. i can sleep anywhere... a loud matatu ride with people squished like sardines, in a ski lodge during lunch, airports, you get my point. lately though, i am up for hours at night or awakened suddenly in the middle of the night or up bright and early well before the sun. normally they dont happen all in the same night, thank goodness. so here are some of the things i can share:

~ we are now not going to uganda and kenya in what should have been less than 2 weeks (due to lack of financial support and the need to care for Nana) my heart hurts so bad and tears fill my eyes. after 5 years of waiting for Chris to be willing and wanting to go to Africa and our schedules lined up perfectly it crumbled from the core. it doesnt help that we talked it up so much to eli that today he told me when he found money, mom this is for rachel's babies, 3 days i give them, 3 days mama africa cause it was my birthday, mama airplane to africa to see baby eli and ellie and rachel ray (these are constant comments)

~ we are most likely going to be moving (downtown) because a full time care giver is going to need to move in our house to care for Nana all day and I just cant do that with two active little guys. she is 86 years old, can hardly see anymore, and has dementia/alzheimers. we are most likely going to buy as its the buyers market, not the renters market, plus i have a mr. fix it, so we are praying for an amazing deal on something that we can in the end make money on when we move again... cause if you know anything about me it makes me want to hypervenalate at the thought of buying a house because in my head that = being stuck and i cant be stuck. i am a nomad at heart and my heartstrings are tied to africa. i cant be stuck here.

~ after being involved in a church here for 3 years it is time to bid them goodbye... and church hunting is so hard... Jesus teaching redemptive theology, the heart of worship, community, outreach are all so important

~ our friends are dropping like flies and moving to africa, india, florida, georgia, and somewhere in the military... for such a times as this... you are dearly missed!

~ our adoption journey is in the beginning... with possibilities... that i am not able to share... i am excited at the possibilities, however, trying to protect my heart. i of course am much more ready to walk this journey and the chance of a lifetime has presented itself to us... but it will require a HUGE step of faith and it would not be easy, would not be comfortable, and quite frankly could be a bit insane... but with that said, i do not believe that Jesus called us to a comfortable christian life... when He called His disciples He called them to abandon their careers, comforts, family, posessions, and ultimately themselves, but somehow we twist the truth to fit our comfort zone. "we do have to give up everything we have and follow Jesus. We do have to love HIm in a way that makes our closest relationships in this world look like hate. And it is entirely possible that He will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor" (Radical, by David Platt). all that to say... my Savior didnt say pray this prayer, sign this card as your free pass and forget about me until heaven.

PRAYER is huge and means oh so so so much to me, to our family.

3 years ago

2010-10-11T00:16:00.002-04:00

my miracle boy was born blue limp without life or breath- bet you woyuld ever guess that looking at him today! Happy birthday miracle boy

Harambee

2010-10-02T22:20:00.002-04:00

something that i appreciate in kenyan culture is how everyone came together to help each other out in times of need, whether that was a hospital bill, getting married, a new baby, etc. i experienced the reality of carrying each others burdens. a harambee means "all joined together" in swahili and it could be an informal get together or an event that carried over for a few days. my mom jokingly said that we should pass a basket at Chris and Eli's birthday... to fund raise african style, since africa is where we are desiring to go.

i am really having a hard time. chris is the one who came up with the idea of taking a family missions trip to africa to see where God might have us in the future and to serve Him in radical ways now. we are also wanting to adopt from africa and this would just spur on the desire to care for orphans.

i know that the Lord is in control, even when i feel like everything is spinning out of control
i know that He would not have closed many many many job opportunities for no reason
i know that His timing is perfect
i know that He is the Great Provider
i know that i have experienced many God ordained an orchestrated appointments this week
i know that my 5 years in waiting for this point and time is not in vain
i know that i can trust Him
i know that even in my sadness He is still good, all the time

our trip to africa for vision/direction/serving/loving/being faithful/encouragement/reuniting/friendship/obedience/worship/refreshment/renewed priorities/and many a more is on the line... we cannot financially front this deep desire and calling to go to africa all by ourselves. we made a decision to not put it on a credit card... so we do not have tickets, because we do not have enough support. i am still trusting, still waiting, still praying, still hoping, still dreaming of africa

twins

2010-09-29T10:09:00.002-04:00

these babies are so close to my heart... i wish i could just scoop them up right now! their mother is on her death bed dying from AID's and TB while they laid malnourished, negelected, and uncared for because their mother does not even have the strength to take care of herself, let alone these precious little ones. The boys and I will get to love on Eli and Ellie in Uganda when we visit Rachel & Mandie in a month!

Uganda & Kenya

2010-09-29T09:24:00.003-04:00

Steyne Family Missions Update

My heartstrings have always been tied to Africa…they say once you have been you never really leave! The time has come for my family to see my passion for Africa come to life. From the overflow of my heart, Eli, has caught the desire for Africa (if only in theory)- with every airplane he says “I go to Africa on BIG airplane to get baby girl. I want to bring her to me house for a bath and shoes”. Although we will not be bringing a baby home on THIS trip (because it is just not that easy, legally), however, adoption is in the VERY near future and we would appreciate your prayers as we begin the journey. James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” Our worldview is the way that we perceive and look at the world around us and we want to make sure that our children know the realities around the world. Reality makes it hard for me to sleep at night-

· 163 million children are orphaned
· ½ the World’s population live on less than $2 a day = cup of sweet tea
· 40% of the World have NEVER heard the Gospel

These statistics are more than just statistics to me because I know names, faces and children who make up the enormous number of orphaned, poverty, and lost without Jesus. In James 2:17 it says, “Faith without deeds is dead.”

So as a family we are taking action, stepping out in faith, looking at the bigger picture… there is more to life than the day in and day out stuff that consumes us. We are on a journey to live out Jesus in all that we say and do. We are seeking His face in the next chapter of our lives. This October & November we are taking a step back from our daily grind in Columbia, SC and boarding planes headed to Uganda & Kenya.

Our plans are not set in stone, but being the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus Christ is our purpose. Eli (3 years), Levi (17 months), Christen (friend since middle school) and I will be spending 10 days in Masindi, Uganda where we will:

· Encourage and come alongside of Rachel & Mandie, who are training Ugandan nurses to run a hospital.

· Spend time at Family Spirit orphanage, especially with the 5 month olds twins who Rachel and Mandie are caring for in their home.

· Teach about nutrition, prevention & hygiene

From there Christen will return home; Rachel, the boys and I will take a bus ride to Kenya and spend a few days together. Then Rachel will return to Uganda and Chris will arrive in Kenya where we will be spending time at:

· Kings Kids Village (orphanage where I did my internship for Intercultural Studies degree from Columbia Int. University)

· Mattaw Orphanage in Kitale, helping to finish the construction of their third house for orphans

· Visit professors and friends from Scott Theological College (Bible college I attended my sophomore year

· I hope to introduce my family to my dearest brother Solomon (we knew him when we lived in South Africa 14 years ago)

· Visit the coast for a time of rest, relaxation, reflection and prayer, before returning to the chaos of life.

Part of why I need Africa is to slow down and become intentional in my relationships, instead of being consumed by the busyness of our lives and culture. I find it much easier to fall face down on the dirt before my Lord in prayer, even over the smallest things and I need to get back to this place in my life. We need to be reminded that there is more to life than the life we have been living.

So we ask for your prayers:

· That He will break our hearts for what breaks His heart

· For the Lord to use us as a family to live out Christ to everyone we meet & to be intentional in our conversations

· That the Lord will show us His plans for our lives

· Traveling mercies, especially with Eli & Levi

· For the funds to make it possible. We have both been working side jobs, but have fallen a bit short and time is drawing near. I am selling necklaces made by Ugandan women, and if you would like one please let me know, they will make great Christmas presents!

Thank you for praying for us and for walking through life with us. We love and appreciate you!

Chris, Keely, Eli & Levi

No Matter What

2010-09-09T21:29:00.001-04:00

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I’m running back to your promises one more time, Lord that’s all I can hold on to,

I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises you.

Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands, and even though I keep asking why, I keep asking why.

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You,

I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

When I’m stuck and there’s nothing else by myself, I’m just sitting in silence, there’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won’t even try it. I know You have Your reasons for everything, so I will keep believing, whatever I might be feeling, God you are my hope, and you will be my strength,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s OK if You don’t, I’m not here for those things, the touch of Your love is enough on its own, no matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You

No matter what I’m gonna love you, no matter what I’m gonna need you, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not , I’ll trust You, no matter what, no matter what. I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain, but if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what no matter what no matter no matter what

forever in my heart

2010-09-09T21:13:00.003-04:00

written in the sand
washed away by waves

forever in my heart
may the Lord be praised

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

Korah

2010-08-10T23:31:00.003-04:00

this morning was trash day... now let me back up a little... friday was also trash day and my brother and i both forgot to bring the trash can back up the driveway and it poured raining (we had a good foot in the bottom of the trash can) and it WREAKED and had a little trash remnants left in the bottom so billy dumped it into our street drain and then this morning when i went to take the trash down again i remembered that there were the remnants so i went to pick them up... oh how disgusting i thought as i smelled this nasty rubbish. i quickly finished the task, came in washed my hands with antibacterial soap and hot water and even lysoled the trash can before putting in a new liner. then it hit me... like a DUMP TRUCK!

my heart has been pulled towards the people of Korah (which means cursed in Amharic) on the outskirts of Addis Ababa Ethiopia... 100,000 of those affected by aids and leprosy along with widows and orphans... the outcasts of all outcasts live in the area in and around the landfill. it is where they work, live, eat, sleep, have and raise babies, socialize, and all other aspects of life as they know it! they dont have clean water. they dont have much food (they dig through the trash for food puts our whats for dinner into perspective). they collect different things from the trash to sell. they cant go wash their hands with antibacterial soap. their kids dont get baths just because they are dirty. they dont have proper shelter. health care. nutrition. sanitation.

here is a video that is so worth your time... it will change your life...

Ordinary Hero~ A day in the trash dump in Ethiopia from Kelly Putty on Vimeo.

my heart breaks. my heart yearns to change this. THIS is what makes me HATE america... hate our lifestyle... hate our waste (working in food and beverage through college tore my heart apart knowing what we threw away was better than most live on) this is why i could sell everything leave and never look back... i desire with all my being to make a dent in this world for the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

these children are my peace right now... they are filling my mind, heart, and prayers. occupying my time instead of feeling sorry for myself and the circumstances of losing our 4th baby (ill probably write more about this later). although i will NEVER ever not a day go by forget my precious babies that i never get to hold in my arms this side of heaven, nor the abandoned babies that i held and loved and lost due to death or by placing them into an orphanage in kenya, and now my prayer is that not a day goes by that i forget the precious 163 MILLION orphans that are around the world without parents today!

so tonight i leave you with James 1:27

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you!

most precious words

2010-07-28T22:24:00.002-04:00

yesterday i was looking at an adoption agency's website, as that is the avenue that we are traveling down, researching, reading, and praying through as we pay off debt (hopefully by next tax return in Jan). needless to say there was a picture of a child on the computer, which i had left open and when i went to put the computer away and click out of the internet these are the sweetest words that fell upon my ears...

NO NO Mama... thats MY baby girl! he just wanted to stare at the picture of the child.

Eli loves the little girl on my header... and quite frequently tells me... i want that baby girl at me house, she needs a bath, clean clothes and water!

so our tentative plan is to go to Uganda and Kenya for a month (the boys and i for a month and Chris for 2 weeks)... i think E will be one sad little boy to not bring home his one, two, three baby girls as he often tells me when he sees an airplane (on his own without coaxing from me).

Lord my prayer and hearts cry is that You will make a way to help us diminish our debt and move forward with the adoption process!

Isagenix

2010-07-15T22:00:00.006-04:00

ok so hear me out... i am NO salesperson... not going to try to be one cause its not in my blood and never will be. i cant lie and am not going to start trying now (making my mama proud)

needless to say i feel like i have something to offer that will be helpful to many of you... its a product called isagenix. before you turn me off and skip reading the rest... please dont. just hear me out for the mere fact that im stepping out of my comfort zone and taking a risk by telling you.

our bodies are toxic... much of we put on and in our bodies are not good for us. toxins cling to fat cells and enlarge them... cleansing them from our bodies helps us feel better on the inside and out.

my dad is doing the weight loss program (two shakes a day) and lost 45 lbs, 30 in, and 2 suit sizes. smallest he has been since i was really young. im so proud of him for taking control of his health

my brother is doing the athlete route and it is helping him as he is trying to bulk up (some weird stomach issue at school has made him go down to 140 at 6 ft tall... a string bean)

my mom and i are doing the total health and wellness program and have both lost more than 10 lbs each and at least a pants size.

chris is doing the mars formula... created by the author of men are from mars women are from venus. it helps with stress and overall balance physically, mentally, and emotionally.

it tastes delicious. its simple. and it doesnt leave you hungry. even the boys both asks for shakes everyday!

here is a little video to share from the experts about these products. if you are interested please let me know so i can share more~

Ft Augustine

2010-06-30T22:20:00.003-04:00

family vaca

Bebi on the Beach

2010-06-29T23:18:00.004-04:00

(yes i called him Bebi because thats what Eli calls him)

initial reaction...

but clearly that didn't last long!

the most precious

beach bum

i have ever seen

soaking it all in

dreaming the day away

PRICELESS

2010-06-15T21:12:00.002-04:00

so first let me tell you that i am not a reader... i love the idea of being a reader... i wish i were a reader... i wish i had the time to be a reader... but thats just not me... probably has to do with the fact that i have a weird thing going on with my eyes that makes them work against each other instead of with each other so it makes it harder to read and takes much more focus which i just dont have when it comes to the evening after running around with two boys and all the stuff i do all day long...

all that to say i am really looking forward to next week of doing NOTHING but caring for nana and the boys... no cooking, no cleaning, no nothing just watching them down at the beach. im planning on taking a book and actually finishing it.

i have read tom davis' blog for quite some time and he just came out with a new book called PRICELESS i am very excited about reading his novels as they encompass the my deepest heartstrings: orphans, sex trafficking, the needy, the forgotten, and africa. if you would like the chance to win a copy of priceless visit kari gibson's my crazy adoption and simply love blog.

2010-06-14T21:40:00.001-04:00

ONE international

3.5 million healthworkers needed
Tell the G8 to give hands-on support for mothers and children living in poverty

For women giving birth and children struggling to survive, 3.5 million healthworkers could make the difference between life and death.

The facts are shocking: Every year more than 300,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth; 3.6 million children die within their first month of life and 5.2 million more die before they reach 5 years of age.

On 25 June, G8 leaders will meet to sign onto a new maternal and child health initiative. ONE is asking for a commitment to train and support 3.5 million additional healthcare workers in countries where they are needed most.

SIGN PETITION

middle road twist on life

2010-06-14T17:12:00.001-04:00