Compassion International

If you look closely at my sidebar, you'll notice a new button. This button is for an organization that is close to my heart. First of all, if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know I have a heart for children and for adoption. I truly feel that God is calling me to further the cause of adoption, and children in general. Where this might lead, I'm not quite sure. One thing that my husband and I have done for many years is support children through Compassion International. These are kids that are not orphans, they do have families. However, their families cannot provide what they need on a daily basis. Through Compassion International these children are given healthy meals, medical care, an education, and most importantly, they are told about the love of Jesus. Entire families are changed through the work of Compassion all over the world.
Warren went on a mission trip to Haiti shortly after we were married. He saw firsthand the poverty and need in that country. Because of this we chose to sponsor children in Haiti. Our first Compassion child is Wisley. Oh boy has he grown! He was a tiny 4 year old when we began sponsoring him. He's now a tall, lanky 13 year old! I bet he's much taller than me (ok, stop the laughter, I know it doesn't take MUCH to be taller than me!!!) He sends us letters a few times a year. We received his latest letter last week, he says it's cold in Haiti (wonder if I could send him a snowball from here...then he'd see what COLD looks like!). I've seen him grow so much in the past years. He's learned to read and write. He's gone to church camps. He's growing into a young man.
Or second Compassion child is a little girl named Marline. She's a cute little 6 1/2 year old who excels at school. One of the wonderful things about Compassion is that you get your child's story. You find out how many siblings they have and their favorite activity. You get the opportunity to write to your child so that you can form a bond with them. (Unfortunately I am fail miserably in the correspondence area. I always start letters, but never seem to get them completed and mailed...I am going to sit down and write Wisley back, TODAY!) One really cool thing that Compassion does is organize trips so that you can go to your child's country and actually meet them!! How wonderful would it be to be able to go see Wisley graduate from school? Oh what an experience! Maybe someday we'll get the chance to do this, but for now we pray for them daily. We have their pictures posted on our refrigerator door with other pictures of family and friends.
If you are at all interested in the work that Compassion International does, or would like to get involved, click the button to the left and it will take you to their site. I would love to hear if any of you have a cause that you are passionate about. Please leave a comment!!! Also, if you have a Compassion child, what is their name, where are they from, and how old are they???? Can't wait to hear from you all!!!

Christmas at home

After the service in Bazine, we drove back home to have our traditional "FIND THE PICKLE!!" contest. We have a pickle Christmas tree ornament. We hang it on the tree like any other ornament. Then, when we are ready to open gifts, I hide the pickle. The kids come in and whoever finds the pickle gets to play Santa. (Legend says that whoever finds the pickle gets the first gift, but in our home they get to be Santa and hand out the gifts to the rest of the family, which means they are LAST to get to open a gift, but they LOVE being the one who gets to hand them out, so it's a great hunt!!)

Andrew found the pickle this year, so he got to play Santa..Oh what fun!!

We open one gift at a time so that everyone gets to see what everyone else receives. Makes it last a lot longer, and we get to enjoy each other, not just the stuff! With Warren serving in Bazine, his income has increased a bit, which translated into a few more gifts this year, the kids were excited! Our family knows that the real meaning of Christmas isn't the gifts, but it was fun to be able to go out and get the extra gifts that I normally would not have purchased!

Each of the kids made something at school called Reindeer Feed. It consisted of oatmeal, shredded wheat, and glitter! We spread it in the yard to encourage Rudolph and his buddies to come to our house!!!

After that, we got dressed up again and went to the 11:00 service at our church. All three of my kids were fast asleep about 10 minutes...ok, 5 minutes into the service. I carried each of them out to the car. Abbie woke up when we drove into our garage and said "Hey, why didn't I get to do a candle??" (We always do candles during Silent Night at Midnight! What a beautiful tradition!) I even went up to communion ALONE!! The kids ALWAYS go with me to receive a blessing, but they were all fast asleep and so I went alone, felt so weird!

Christmas morning we realized that the reindeer feed must have worked because their stockings were filled so full that some of the gifts could not fit! Each of the kids received a camera so they can take pictures of their own! I heard that Santa didn't enjoy trying to get all the little gifts into those awful stockings. The inside of the stockings are just a maze of strings and yarn. Getting the gifts out was hard enough, I can only imagine Santa's frustration in getting the stuff in there!!! So, I hit the after Christmas sales and found some new stocking that we will use next year, sparkly ones for the girls and a cute one for the boy...I'm sure Santa will appreciate the change! :o)

First Day of School!!

Today is the first day of school. There was excitement, joy, and a bunch of nerves...and the kids were excited, too! Abbigail's 1st grade teacher was the crossing guard, and Abbie was thrilled to see her. She has missed her so much! So that started the day off well. Andrew and I took her to the gym where the classes line up to say the Pledge of Allegiance. After we got her to her spot, we went to the library where the Kindergartners were to meet their teachers. I could feel his tension mount as we got closer and closer. He was so nervous, poor guy! But as soon as we walked in he saw Mrs. Schlamen, a very kind, loving woman who helps with the K's. She has become a grandmother figure to my kiddos. We stop to chat with her whenever we see her outside of her home (she lives across the street from our church). As soon as he saw her, he started to relax. She greeted him with a big smile and a hug...that helped, A LOT!

Abbigail, my dear, I pray you will grow this year. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I pray you will become more confident. I pray you continue to love to learn and read. I pray you will not be so self-conscience about being so "tiny" compared to the other children. I pray you will know your worth comes from your Heavenly Father, not from anything you do or don't do, look like, or don't look like. I pray you let your kind and loving heart show, and not be afraid to let it get scratched...but I also pray that it won't happen. I pray you make wonderful new friends, but cherish those older friendships. I pray your teacher has a loving heart and a creative mind. I pray God reminds you each and everyday that He loves you...even more than I do! I pray I can be the best mommy that I can to you, show you patience and love. I pray that your daddy and I can guide you and help you grow into the beautiful, wonderful girl (woman!) I know you are meant to be...and I pray that there is a boy out there that is receiving love and nurture from his loving parents. I pray that he knows Jesus loves him, and he is growing into the wonderful kind man that will someday marry you and make you as happy as your daddy has made me.

Andrew, my son. I love you! You have such a kind, sensitive heart. I hope you never guard your heart so much that you can't show your emotions. I pray God will show you His love each and every day. I pray that you will grow and learn this year. I pray you continue to love school and learning. I pray you respect your teacher, and all the other authorities in school. I pray you make new friends. I pray that your teacher has a kind and loving heart, and shows love to you. I pray that she guides you well into the love of learning and reading. I pray that your daddy and I can help you become the kind, loving, generous, and strong man that God intends you to be. I pray there is a little girl out there somewhere that is being hugged by her mommy, and read Bible stories. I pray that she knows love and gentleness, so that she can be a wonderful wife to you and mother to your children.

Bethany, my sweetie. My baby is going to school! You've grown up so quickly...I can't believe you are old enough to go to preschool! I pray you are kind and loving. I pray you respect your teacher and listen to her. I pray you acquire the same love of school and learning that your brother and sister have. I pray you learn more and more about Jesus every single day. I pray your teacher can lead you in this love of learning and growing. I pray she has patience, creativity, and a loving heart. I pray you play nicely with your new friends, and that you share. I pray that your daddy and I can be the best parents for you, and that we can teach you about Jesus' love and forgiveness. I pray we can help you to grow and become the wonderful woman of God that I know He intends for you to be. I pray for that little boy out there somewhere that is learning and growing. I pray that he has an example of Godly manhood. I pray that He learns gentleness and love, and that God will bring you two together at just the right time.

I love you my children. You are three of the most precious blessings God has given to me! Thank you for loving me back, and being patient with me...I'm still learning about this "mommy" thing! :-)