Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Importance of 20 Minutes
My apologies for not posting.....we have returned from our missions trip to Jamaica but.....in our hearts we are still in Jamaica. Missions has become our lifestyle not a missions trip one week a year. There are so many thoughts and feeling swirling around in my head I've been reluctant to try to capture them with my inadequate words.
I would like to tell you about an amazing young lady named Samantha. Last year when A and I were in Jamaica we spent our mornings with children at Central Basic School in Norwood, Jamaica. On the day we went to Westhaven, the disabled home, we made a stop at another school called Lethe All Ages School. We were to spend about fifteen to twenty minutes touring the campus then head up the mountain to Westhaven. As soon as I stepped off the bus on to the campus and young girl about nine years old walked up to me took hold of my hand and said, "Missy, can I show you my class?" "Of course!" I replied as I followed her to class holding her hand. I squeezed myself in next to her in her little wooden desk and she read to me from her reading book until we were called to return to our buses.... I gave her a hug, boarded the bus and off we went. I've thought of Samantha often and wondered if our paths would cross again. This year I was thrilled because we followed the same Westhaven schedule as we did last year. A quick stop at Lethe then on to the disabled home. When I got off the bus at the school I wondered if I'd have a chance at finding her. I looked around for her but didn't even know where to begin my search without her last name or the name of her class. Then I looked down into a face that was studying me closely, I lifted up my sunglasses and heard the words, "I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!" What a sweet reunion! One girl, at one school, that I had spent maybe twenty minutes with, 365 days ago - was waiting for me to return. We can not begin to imagine the impact we can have on someone's life in such a short amount of time. I didn't explain to her deep theological truths, or listen to everything that was wrong in her life and try to make it right.....I just listened to her read me a story about a cat from her school book. So simple and so important.
Samantha's words are still ministering to me, they have shown me a glimpse of how amazing it will be to one day hear my Savior say, "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!"
I would like to tell you about an amazing young lady named Samantha. Last year when A and I were in Jamaica we spent our mornings with children at Central Basic School in Norwood, Jamaica. On the day we went to Westhaven, the disabled home, we made a stop at another school called Lethe All Ages School. We were to spend about fifteen to twenty minutes touring the campus then head up the mountain to Westhaven. As soon as I stepped off the bus on to the campus and young girl about nine years old walked up to me took hold of my hand and said, "Missy, can I show you my class?" "Of course!" I replied as I followed her to class holding her hand. I squeezed myself in next to her in her little wooden desk and she read to me from her reading book until we were called to return to our buses.... I gave her a hug, boarded the bus and off we went. I've thought of Samantha often and wondered if our paths would cross again. This year I was thrilled because we followed the same Westhaven schedule as we did last year. A quick stop at Lethe then on to the disabled home. When I got off the bus at the school I wondered if I'd have a chance at finding her. I looked around for her but didn't even know where to begin my search without her last name or the name of her class. Then I looked down into a face that was studying me closely, I lifted up my sunglasses and heard the words, "I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!" What a sweet reunion! One girl, at one school, that I had spent maybe twenty minutes with, 365 days ago - was waiting for me to return. We can not begin to imagine the impact we can have on someone's life in such a short amount of time. I didn't explain to her deep theological truths, or listen to everything that was wrong in her life and try to make it right.....I just listened to her read me a story about a cat from her school book. So simple and so important.
Samantha's words are still ministering to me, they have shown me a glimpse of how amazing it will be to one day hear my Savior say, "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday in Jamaica
Wow! What a full day! We did everything I mentioned in yesterday's post and then some. You have not seen craziness until you drop a football (soccer ball) in the middle of 25 five and six year olds. It turns into something of a rugby scrum combined with kickball with a little bit of soccer mixed in.
We were incredibly hot and sweaty when we finished out the morning, I think Hubby and N could have wrung about a quart of sweat out of their shirts, E and I were close behind! Tomorrow they are going to bring a fresh shirt to wear in the afternoon. Hopefully it will stay dry for at least half an hour after they put it on. Can you say "humidity"??
This afternoon we spent two and half hours at the orphanage. There were more of us then there were children. A great situation! A has fallen in love with a little boy named Nathaniel - funny huh? Really, he has fallen in love with her. He would not let her put him down or let him go to another person. He wanted her back! N made a great friend as well. I have to be honest it was hard to hear his name and even harder to spell it! They were inseparable. What an amazing sight!
Tomorrow we head back to the school for more VBS, soccer and ring-around-the-rosies. In the afternoon we head to Westhaven, which is a place for those children that have mental and physical disabilities. Dr. Mark (Muirhead) has a good thought about Westhaven and it's this: "Some of us look on the inside the way these people look on the outside". It's painful to even consider those words, and yet so very true.
I am going to close with a few pictures from today. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, that we will be His hands extended.
Hugs!
Our Soccer Field
A and Nathaniel
E and Big John
We were incredibly hot and sweaty when we finished out the morning, I think Hubby and N could have wrung about a quart of sweat out of their shirts, E and I were close behind! Tomorrow they are going to bring a fresh shirt to wear in the afternoon. Hopefully it will stay dry for at least half an hour after they put it on. Can you say "humidity"??
This afternoon we spent two and half hours at the orphanage. There were more of us then there were children. A great situation! A has fallen in love with a little boy named Nathaniel - funny huh? Really, he has fallen in love with her. He would not let her put him down or let him go to another person. He wanted her back! N made a great friend as well. I have to be honest it was hard to hear his name and even harder to spell it! They were inseparable. What an amazing sight!
Tomorrow we head back to the school for more VBS, soccer and ring-around-the-rosies. In the afternoon we head to Westhaven, which is a place for those children that have mental and physical disabilities. Dr. Mark (Muirhead) has a good thought about Westhaven and it's this: "Some of us look on the inside the way these people look on the outside". It's painful to even consider those words, and yet so very true.
I am going to close with a few pictures from today. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, that we will be His hands extended.
Hugs!
Our Soccer Field
A and Nathaniel
E and Big John
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
We're Here!
Jamaica may never be the same!! All of the teams have arrived and are....well, exhausted. Most of the teams began their day at around 4:45am, and have spent the day in airports or on airplanes.
We have our first taping for Friends Forever TV tonight. Tomorrow morning at 8am we hit the ground running. We eat a quick breakfast and then head to our assigned schools. Our team will be having fun with the outdoor VBS activities at a local elementary school. I expect to play lots of soccer over the next few days. After lunch we will head to an orphanage and get to spend the afternoon playing with kiddos. I think Elizabeth will spend her time holding babies. I really enjoy playing with the toddlers. You can never get enough time swinging and blowing bubbles. After that we will go to either an AIDS hospice or another orphanage that serves school aged children. I haven't been to either of those places so I'm not quite sure what to expect.
This is a bit newsy, but I wanted to let everyone know what we will be doing tomorrow. I expect that Thursday there will be video at Friends Forever TV of what we will be doing tomorrow. Be sure to check it out!
'Til tomorrow!!
Kimberly
We have our first taping for Friends Forever TV tonight. Tomorrow morning at 8am we hit the ground running. We eat a quick breakfast and then head to our assigned schools. Our team will be having fun with the outdoor VBS activities at a local elementary school. I expect to play lots of soccer over the next few days. After lunch we will head to an orphanage and get to spend the afternoon playing with kiddos. I think Elizabeth will spend her time holding babies. I really enjoy playing with the toddlers. You can never get enough time swinging and blowing bubbles. After that we will go to either an AIDS hospice or another orphanage that serves school aged children. I haven't been to either of those places so I'm not quite sure what to expect.
This is a bit newsy, but I wanted to let everyone know what we will be doing tomorrow. I expect that Thursday there will be video at Friends Forever TV of what we will be doing tomorrow. Be sure to check it out!
'Til tomorrow!!
Kimberly
Friday, June 13, 2008
I'm Becoming a Bit Fearful...
I've come to a frightening realization this week...I am afraid of the "Empty Nest". Don't get me wrong, I'm not sending E and N away to military school or anything like that. I've just had a little glimpse of life with no children at home and I really don't like it! This past week Hubby was out of town on business travel, A was away at the beach, E has worked at the church from sun-up to sun-down, and N is like a vapor - sometimes here, sometimes gone but never really around. So it's just been me...and the dogs. I think the thing that has made it even more difficult is that A will be playing a bride in a Father's Day skit at church this Sunday. (I'm sure I will have the video posted next week!) I started bawling at the practice this Wednesday and she wasn't even there to play her part.
When brought A home from the hospital everyone (Yes! EVERYONE) said, "They grow up so fast!" That doesn't even begin to cover the speed with which they grow. With our first child we are so anxious for that next big event, when will they turn over, say "Mamma" or "Dadda", walk, run, go to Pre-School, and then one day they walk up those bus steps and wave good-bye on their way to Kindergarten and it seems like you blink your eyes and they are driving home with their High School Diploma. It makes me just want to put a stake in the ground that stops the world from spinning and scream, "STOP! Just wait! I like things just the way they are!" If only it worked that way....
So for now....maybe I'll stop and think about my feelings this week before I fuss about having to drive someone across town, or stay up late to pick one of them up or nag someone about cleaning their room.... because if the room is messy...it means they are still here!
When brought A home from the hospital everyone (Yes! EVERYONE) said, "They grow up so fast!" That doesn't even begin to cover the speed with which they grow. With our first child we are so anxious for that next big event, when will they turn over, say "Mamma" or "Dadda", walk, run, go to Pre-School, and then one day they walk up those bus steps and wave good-bye on their way to Kindergarten and it seems like you blink your eyes and they are driving home with their High School Diploma. It makes me just want to put a stake in the ground that stops the world from spinning and scream, "STOP! Just wait! I like things just the way they are!" If only it worked that way....
So for now....maybe I'll stop and think about my feelings this week before I fuss about having to drive someone across town, or stay up late to pick one of them up or nag someone about cleaning their room.... because if the room is messy...it means they are still here!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Nathan's Announcements
Happy Monday All!
N is quickly becoming a video announcements "star" at Christ Community Church. Yesterday he presented CCC's Top Ten List of things to do this summer at CCC, I thought you might like to see it.
N is quickly becoming a video announcements "star" at Christ Community Church. Yesterday he presented CCC's Top Ten List of things to do this summer at CCC, I thought you might like to see it.
Friday, May 30, 2008
An Awesome Author!!
Well family, I must say I am a bit disappointed no one responded to my last blog.
Alas, I will still write again.
I did something new yesterday, I wrote an email to an author. She was a new author to me and it was the first of her books that I read. The main character ate chocolate popcorn, especially when she was stressed out. Poor thing had to protect it like we have to guard our food from Nathan. The book was great so I decided to step out of my comfort zone and write the author Diann Hunt. Below is our email exchange:
Diann,
I just read For Better or Worse and loved it! The storyline was great, I even found myself giggling out loud - "Over the Hill" balloons to scare off geese?! Awesome!
I have a question about something in the storyline, in fact it is so important you may want to talk about it on Girls Write Out so it reaches a larger audience. So here's the question....where do I find chocolate popcorn??? I had chocolate popcorn once about 14 years ago and have not been able to find any since. So I created my own version that I only eat at movie theatres. My version is M&M's and popcorn. You let a few M&M's melt in your mouth and when they are at the right melting point, add a few popcorn kernels to the mix. Having said all that, it would be a lot easier to just eat chocolate popcorn.....
Can you help me?
Signed,
Kimberly
Craving Chocolate in Atlanta
Diann's Response:
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this letter!!! LOL!!! You are my kind of friend!! That whole M&M melting in your mouth then eating popcorn thing is soooo me!
Okay, I'm sorry to say the only place I know where you can buy chocolate popcorn is at Carmike's Theater! LOL! Actually, my favorite is chocolate caramel popcorn! It is to die for! I was going to make my character love that, too, but I got tired of typing chocolate caramel and shortened it to chocolate. Ha!
Anyway, thanks for the laugh and thanks for your interest in my books!!
God bless, and happy chocolate eating! :-)
Diann
Diann has a fan for life!! She responded to my email AND she responded within the same day!!
My Amazon wish list gets longer and longer!!
Alas, I will still write again.
I did something new yesterday, I wrote an email to an author. She was a new author to me and it was the first of her books that I read. The main character ate chocolate popcorn, especially when she was stressed out. Poor thing had to protect it like we have to guard our food from Nathan. The book was great so I decided to step out of my comfort zone and write the author Diann Hunt. Below is our email exchange:
Diann,
I just read For Better or Worse and loved it! The storyline was great, I even found myself giggling out loud - "Over the Hill" balloons to scare off geese?! Awesome!
I have a question about something in the storyline, in fact it is so important you may want to talk about it on Girls Write Out so it reaches a larger audience. So here's the question....where do I find chocolate popcorn??? I had chocolate popcorn once about 14 years ago and have not been able to find any since. So I created my own version that I only eat at movie theatres. My version is M&M's and popcorn. You let a few M&M's melt in your mouth and when they are at the right melting point, add a few popcorn kernels to the mix. Having said all that, it would be a lot easier to just eat chocolate popcorn.....
Can you help me?
Signed,
Kimberly
Craving Chocolate in Atlanta
Diann's Response:
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this letter!!! LOL!!! You are my kind of friend!! That whole M&M melting in your mouth then eating popcorn thing is soooo me!
Okay, I'm sorry to say the only place I know where you can buy chocolate popcorn is at Carmike's Theater! LOL! Actually, my favorite is chocolate caramel popcorn! It is to die for! I was going to make my character love that, too, but I got tired of typing chocolate caramel and shortened it to chocolate. Ha!
Anyway, thanks for the laugh and thanks for your interest in my books!!
God bless, and happy chocolate eating! :-)
Diann
Diann has a fan for life!! She responded to my email AND she responded within the same day!!
My Amazon wish list gets longer and longer!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
School's out for the summer?!!?!?!?
Yes, it is that time of year again. The time that kids have waited for all year and stay-at-home moms begin to shudder....school's out tomorrow. I have to be honest.....I am just as excited about sleeping in as the kids are!! No snooze buttons, no "Nathan hurry or you'll miss the bus"....just a nice quiet morning snooze. I have been thinking about summer goals....personal goals, goals for the kids and goals for our family. This is where I'd love to get input from others... Here is what I have in mind so far:
Personal Goals:
Work-out 5 times a week
Keep the house presentable
Scrapbook 3 Layouts a week (starting slowly)
Beat Nathan at Mario Cart twice a week
Kids Goals:
Work-out 3-5 times a week
Keep rooms clean - this one's gonna KILL Nathan
Have summer reading completed early
FUN, FUN, FUN
Family Goals:
Love as many kids as possible while in Jamaica and return a changed family
Have a fun family vacation in Destin!! Yahoo!!
At least one game night a week
One fun family event a week
Spend time getting to know one another even better
So, there are some thoughts....let me know yours.
Personal Goals:
Work-out 5 times a week
Keep the house presentable
Scrapbook 3 Layouts a week (starting slowly)
Beat Nathan at Mario Cart twice a week
Kids Goals:
Work-out 3-5 times a week
Keep rooms clean - this one's gonna KILL Nathan
Have summer reading completed early
FUN, FUN, FUN
Family Goals:
Love as many kids as possible while in Jamaica and return a changed family
Have a fun family vacation in Destin!! Yahoo!!
At least one game night a week
One fun family event a week
Spend time getting to know one another even better
So, there are some thoughts....let me know yours.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Just Getting Started
Well, I guess I will join the world of blogs! I'm not really sure what I will have to say over time....but this gives me a great opportunity to put some thoughts out into cyberspace. My goal is to do better than my daughter who hasn't posted anything on her blog since April 8th!!
I need to learn how to do this now, because I want to keep our family and friends up to date while we are in Jamaica. Well, with Elizabeth's help I'll be able to do this!!
'Til next time!!
I need to learn how to do this now, because I want to keep our family and friends up to date while we are in Jamaica. Well, with Elizabeth's help I'll be able to do this!!
'Til next time!!
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