Fundraiser for my darling

Everybody remember my little love, Heidi?

I dressed up her picture. :) Did anyone else notice that her hair is frenchbraided? I'm happy that at what ever point this picture was taken there was somebody who loved her enough to fix her gorgeous silky hair. And I am an absolute sucker for plaiting in every form.

Several months ago I was praying/brainstorming for a fundraising idea for Heidi, as I've been pretty inactive about raising money for her. I decided on making necklaces, and calling it Hearts of Heidi. Heidi has a minor heart defect which I don't think is causing her any huge problems now, but still a heart defect is a heart defect. I just want her home and healthy.


I'm making them out of things I have at home: handbraided silver string, nail polish, and scrabble letters, so there isn't any over head. They're 5$ and every bit goes towards Heidi's grant to help with her adoption expenses if/when a family commits to her.

The hearts remind me to pray for Heidi's physical health and her spiritual health. I am hoping to have a specific verse to pray over her soon too.

Contact me at ama2@bellsouth.net if you're interested in a Hearts for Heidi necklace!

A Little More LONDON

Beach!

My friends Kylie, Abby, and me.

The Round Church built by Christians home from the 3rd crusade. This thing is so freaking old. I think its my favorite church we saw.

My friend Claire and I at the Lewes Castle. Please delicately ignore my offensive black leggings/brown dress/converse situation. I know, poor choice. Sometimes my wardrobe just takes over and attacks me. Oh well.

My friend Caroline Grace and I at Bunhill feilds, where many puritan heroes (such as John Bunyan) are buried. We also had outdoor church there.

In St. Pancras station looking at the Eurostar which runs from London through the Chunnel to Paris! Its long. VERY long.

My dear friend Kylie and I on the beach.

Morning train ride from Brighton into London.

With a palace gaurd's horse!

This was a very cold decision. But I'm glad I did it. :)

6 pounds in an Antiquarian bookshop in Cambridge. Happy sigh.

Rooster on the top of All Hallows Barking Church across from the tower of London. Did you know that the rooster was the symbol of protestantism? I didn't. Cool.

Grateful

I graduated from highschool yesterday.

I'm just so grateful for all that the Lord has taught me and will teach me and all of the wise and wonderful people who have poured into me for the past 18 years to get me to this point.

In other news, my pastor preached this morning about being constant in prayer. Um, convicting? Yeah. Remebering to pray for this precious boy. God has given me so many oppportunities. To many to blog about. And I'm so grateful.

England

In no order at all, this is a random assortment of a couple of my Senior Trip to England pictures.

Eating noodles at Wagamama's. Chopsticks and I don't get along.

Sleeping with my friend's Pooh bear in the airport.

Looking at the chalky cliffs of Sussex from the Lewes castle.

Most of my class (missing Sydni, Hannah, Elizabeth, Christian, Elle, Grace, and Hannah) at St. Paul's cathedral.

Sitting in Winston Churchill's chair, wearing Winston Churchill's hat, at Winston Churchill's favorite cigar shop. I am a fan of Winston Churchill.

Inside the heart of Westminster Abbey.

The coast of Brighton, where we stayed.

Me on the English Channel.

5.14.11

The stories that are never told.
The candles that are never burned.
The sterile home thats frozen cold,
With lessons never learned.

The plastic-bead filled candy jar.
The meager meal, tastless,
Though food abounds and never far,
The safety caution rigorous.

A shield of life against all life?
What mischeif lies herein?
That steals away the joy, the day,
The tales, the toys, the gin?

What theiving villian taries nigh
And blinds the men to light?
Who tells the Noble's sons a lie,
Embalming them in fright?

For we were called to work and strife,
To tears and toil and woe.
But we were made for joyous life,
Victorious peace also.

Our shortened days? They are a gift.
A bless'd, far-sighted tool.
The one who tries to hoard his time?
A pale, cowardly fool.

So will we cower in a cell,
A safely screened captive?
Or will we heed adventure's spell,
And, dying, ever live?

New Love

Just heard about these guys last night. They are incredible. They music is beautiful and the lyrics are perfect. It pulls heavily from Scripture, especially Galations 6:9, Isaiah 57:10, and really a ton more. This song basically sums up a big struggle in my life (and really the life of every Christian) especially at this part:

Its not that we don't know or we're not shown the proof of poverty.
Its not that we don't have the tools to go to break this yoke of slavery.
We quit because its not an easy fix and then forget that they are even there.
We forget to care.

Oh, my soul, faint not, no
Faint not.
Oh my soul, keep up, in love.



Everthing is so hard and complicated. The struggle is so real and the fix isn't easy.

Oh my soul, faint not.

Overheard

Julia to her doll: "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
Doll: "No."
Julia: "Tomorrow the Holy Spirit is coming for a visit!"

Michael playing by himself: "The people see a light far away and they say 'Oh! Is that the sun?' No! It is big lazers coming to shoot them!! Ahahahaha!"

Birthday Party Project

Yesterday was my beloved Avery's sixth birthday. Sixth. My boy has spent six years without a family. It breaks my heart.

But, this year, I decided to celebrate. To celebrate his life. To celebrate the hope he has in Christ. To celebrate that he is not forgotten.
My parents were out of town and my brother wasn't home, but Michael, Julia, and Lela Grace were game:

So we got balloons. (We got birthday plates and noise makers too but forgot to take a picture of them. I'm sure the neighbors were delighted, however.)

We hung a banner in the trees.

We bought a beautiful, colorful banner. I wanted everything to be colorful to go with Reece's Rainbow. I made colorful cupcakes but forgot to take pictures of them. However, if I had, it would have looked something like this:

If you have a Prayer Warrior child or a New Years warrior child or a sponsor child, find out his birthdays. If on Reece's Rainbow it just says the month, pick a day. Thats what I did. Spend that day praying for him. Write him a letter. Make him cupcakes. Whatever. The goal is to remember to be in prayer for your little love. If people ask you what you're doing and why you are doing it, praise the Lord. This doubles as an opportunity to raise awareness. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell random people on the internet who read your blog (Just kidding. You aren't random. And I love you for putting up with me).

If you buy a banner or a pack of plates or rainbow candles, get a little box and put them in there and use them next year when your RR child's birthday roles around, or if you pray for several children, pull them back out in another couple of months.

"So we do not loose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day."

~1 Corinthians 4:16~