A Child's Challenge

           As any reader of this blog would know, I have 4 grandchildren who were adopted, three of them from Korea. We get a monthly magazine from Dillon International, the agency our daughter and son-in-law used to adopt. This month, there was a story that blew me away. I have continued to think about it, so I want to share it. 

Austin's Change for Children

          A love of family and a love of pancakes netted scholarships for children in Vietnam at a fundraiser organized by Dillon adoptee, 8, and parents Bill and Kim Evans. 
          The fundraiser--dubbed "Austin's Change for Children"--gave the Evans family's friends, church and community a chance to have fun while showing their suppport for those Austin likes to call "his Vietnam kids." Austin joined his family at age 3 via adoption from Vietnam and regularly saves and donates change to help children in his birth country attend school. 
          Dillon International provides scholarships for children in Vietnam, paying for school supplies, tuition, uniforms, a book bag and a new pair of shoes for each of these children. $100 will fund a child's annual education expenses. These children wait each fall to find out whether their scholarship applications have been approved and if they will be able to go to school that year. 
        The benefit breakfast, held in January at an Applebee's Restaurant in Oklahoma City, raised more than $1,600. "I had fun serving pancakes to the people," said Austin. "I want to help my Vietnam kids. It is important because they need money to go to school." 


That's the story that broke my heart. An 8 year old raising money to help orphan children in Vietnam go to school. WOW 

Big Weekend

Probably no one cares that I had a big weekend, but I care, and want to share it. 


First, we went to Dallas. We don't go to Dallas often. We like Fort Worth, it is easier to drive in and closer, so, for special events, we choose Fort Worth. But a few weeks ago, Les saw a commercial for a concert at the American Airlines center in Dallas, Can You Hear the People Sing. It was a sort of tribute to Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, who wrote the musical Les Miserables, which is our favorite. Well, it is my favorite. Les may like Phantom of the Opera better, but anyway...They also wrote Miss Saigon and several more. Can You Hear the People Sing included performances of top Broadway singers who have performed the lead roles in the musicals. I had seen the commercial, but, since I am on a spending freeze, I did not say anything. Les is not on a spending freeze. So, when he saw the commercial, he immediately said, "We are going", and bought tickets. That was the reason for our trip to Dallas. 
We left Friday morning, and first visited my parents. They are doing very well, thank you. 
Then, we strolled around the Bishop Arts District and had lunch at Gloria's. 
 After that, we drove over the the Dallas Arboretum. (I am so glad that Les is not on a spending freeze!) It was incredible.   This place was indescribably beautiful. 

Here are a few pictures of the gorgeous flowers. 

After our flower tour, we drove over to McKinney Avenue, where we enjoyed a delicious meal at a little Italian Restaurant. The neighborhood, and the restaurant, had a very New York, Urban feel to it. We enjoyed the atmosphere, and had the best food we have had in a long time. If you are ever in Dallas at meal time, I recommend the Avanti Restaurante on McKinney Ave. 

Finally, it was time for the much anticipated concert. We enjoyed it a lot. However, on the few occasions that we have splurged for a big event like that, we have gone to the Bass Hall in Fort Worth. The Bass is a concert hall. It is not huge, so all the seats are good, and the sound is excellent everywhere. The American Airlines Center is an arena, so it is not fare to compare it to being at the Bass Hall. Although we could hear everything, the sound was not clear and we could not always understand the words. But these were some of the most beautiful songs ever written, performed by incredibly talented singers, with the music of the Dallas Symphony, accompanied by a huge choir. It really was a wonderful experience. 

We then drove over to Katy and Kyles to spend the night. 

Saturday, we got  up early for the annual Kidney Walk. "Maddies Team" was one of the top fund raisers,  at almost $3000, so we got our own tent and special signs. Maddie was also recognized for the top individual producer, with $2300 in her name. 

This is Maddie with my niece's husband, Jerry. He had a kidney transplant 5 years ago and is an inspiration to Maddie and the family. 

There is music and dancing before the walk, which we usually join. 

I

Kylie was not feeling well, so she is reclining as she eats. 

Last year, after the kidney walk and a quick picnic, we went over to the zoo and rode the little train. In our family, if we do something once, it is a tradition! So, after the walk, we rode the train. (Mel and Brad took their kiddos for a planned camping trip with friends.) 

 

 

Les and I then went home with Kyle and Katy, rested, cleaned up and went with them to Gateway Church. We enjoyed a special surprise. Their children's choir has made a C.D, and they sang two of the new songs. They were FANTASTIC. I don't cry easily, but something about children singing always gets to me. Robert Morris shared the first message from his new series about our words. We all know that our words have the power of life or death, but it was a great reminder of that. We topped off the day with an early birthday dinner for Katy, then headed home. 

Sunday, our ladies class completed our series on discipleship that Teressa has taught. I learned a lot and really was inspired to be more deliberate in leading women in focused discipleship. 

Cottonwood worship was great. Shelly Hooper sang a special with her young niece and nephew. Again, brought tears to my eyes. 

Mike is in a series on resurrection; Profiles of Resurrection. Sunday's sermon on Lazarus was fresh and had some surprising applications. 

So, a busy and full weekend. I am blessed and grateful!

National Kidney Walk/Family Event

This Saturday is the National Kidney Walk to raise funds and awareness about kidney disease. Our granddaughter Maddie has a rare kidney disease, IgA Nephropathy. She also suffers from a host of allergies, asthma and other pulmonary problems. We watch as Maddie struggles with chronic pain and low energy. Maddie is extremely intelligent. She understands her health issues better than I do. She is also extremely responsible, careful, and determined. Although she misses school often, her grades are excellent and she is an outstanding student. She deals with her health issues with so much maturity and grace, much more than you would expect from an 11 year old. 

Her mother, our daughter Emily, works tirelessly; taking Maddie to doctors, watching her diet because of her allergies, giving her all the medications she needs at all the appropriate times. There is little that we, as grandparents are able to do to help, although we are willing to do anything possible. The kidney walk is something that we can do. The whole family joins "Maddies Team" to raise money and do the walk in Fort Worth together. I have a nephew who began to have kidney failure as an adult. After 10 years of dialysis, he had a transplant. "Maddies Team" is made up of family and friends of both Maddie and Jerry. 

Faithful, Just Be Faithful

           I haven't posted anything about Celebrate Recovery in a while. It is amazing. We are having a wonderful time. Every week, as we gather, God is there. His sweet Presence is so strong. We are joyful and expectant. The C.R. Praise team continues to lead in dynamic worship, helping us forget about everything of our day, and everything around us, to bask in God's Presence and enjoy His goodness. It is great. But, people aren't coming. I don't mean that no one is coming, its just that our attendance is down. In the fall, we had 75 to 90 people there each week. Then came the Holidays, when people are busy and attendance dropped to about 35, which is expected. But, in January, it didn't pick up. In fact, our numbers have gotten lower.
          We had a leaders meeting last weekend. We discussed the problem and prayed about it. We asked ourselves if we are doing something wrong, or not doing something right. The conclusion we came to is that, of course, there are some things we can improve on, but nothing that is driving people away. We are committed to keep on, stay the course, and just be faithful to do what God is calling us to do. (I am so grateful for the faithful volunteers who serve in this ministry. We have so many who are there every single Thursday night. I never have to wonder who is going to show up. We have small group leaders, worship leaders, and sound and computer helpers who are just always there to serve. What a great group.)
We are praying, and we are trusting that God is bringing those who need to be there each week. We know that He is telling us to be faithful, just be faithful to serve as He asks us to, and He will be faithful to produce the fruit.
         This Thursday night,we gathered as usual. It is Spring Break, and many of our regular attenders were not there, so our numbers were really low. Our usual leader of the Newcomers Group, where first time visitors go to find out what C.R. is all about, was out of town. We had a visitor, so I took her and led the Newcomers Group. As I went through the 12 steps of Celebrate Recovery and explained what they are about, she took notes and asked questions. She became excited and sure that this is where she needs to be. When I showed her our testimony DVD, she was moved to tears. When I prayed for her, she wept. She left encouraged and excited about coming, and planing to come back. She took a brochure and a C.R Bible to give to her estranged husband.
        There were other people there this week, but, if there weren't; it would have been all right. Everything that we did was worth it for that one woman. Being there to minister to one hurting soul was worth the effort. I thought of what Jesus said, that whatever we do to someone in need, we do it to Him. How awesome to have that kind of opportunity.

If you haven't seen the Cottonwood C.R. video, you can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZRqtj90F0 or go to You Tube and search for Celebrate Recovery Cottonwood.

I do believe, I do believe, I do believe...

I believe

I have thought a lot about faith lately. These are a few things I have learned.

Faith is a decision. We all doubt sometimes. There are questions that do not have answers. There has to come a time when we decide to believe. We have often heard that love is a decision, not an emotion. Faith is a decision.

In Mark 9, a man asked Jesus to deliver his son from demon possession, "if He was able." Mark 9:23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

There are two principles I see here.
The father made a declaration. I do believe. He came to Jesus because he was desperate for help. He had come to the disciples, who had tried to cast the demon out of the boy, but they could not. When Jesus showed up, this father had a choice to make. He could have become discouraged and given up. It is hard to continue to believe after you are disappointed. But he made the decision to believe. When Jesus confronted the mans doubt, saying if you can, the man made the decision to exercise faith, stating, "I do believe." regardless of past experience, regardless of disappointment, even thought the disciples couldn't help him. He fought to believe Jesus word in the face of past disappointment.

Then, he asked Jesus to help him. He was honest. He took his doubt, his hurt, and his disappointment to Jesus, and asked him for help..."help me to believe, strengthen my faith."

A new generation of mission trippers

Our oldest grandchild left this morning for a mission trip to South Africa. This is not his first trip. He went to Nicaragua a few years ago, as part of a group that did sports camps. That trip, he went with his mother. This time, he went with a small group from his church, without his parents. He will be working with a group that ministers to children who have AIDS.
I am so excited for him.
Our family does missions. We believe that when Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples", He meant it. None of us have been lifelong missionaries,we have never suffered, we haven't done anything great, but we do go from time to time. I was trying to think of the nations we have been to specifically on mission trips, all together...China, South Africa, Botswana, republic of Congo, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Greece, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Brazil,Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bahamas, Haiti...
I'm pretty thrilled that this desire has been passed on to another generation.

Spending Freeze Report

So, it's been two weeks...no, I have not bought anything. Only food. Well, I did buy vitamins today, but I decided they were essentials. Like I told my husband (when he told me that I could buy mascara because Jesus told his disciples they were to clean up and look nice when they fasted), "My game, my rules." No mascara.
I haven't yet had to decide about the shampoo. Les went out of town and brought back 4 little bottles of shampoo from the hotel. Then, I brought one little bottle back from the Ladies Retreat. That might just last me until Easter!

Really, not buying anything for two weeks is not a big deal. Most of people in the world would think I am a ridiculously spoiled free spender to even need to set that kind of goal. I haven't suffered.

If I were going to spend money, I would be buying flowers for the front flower bed about now. It looks a little sad. 

Oh, and my welcome mat is not too welcoming. If you come to my house, just know that you have not worn out your welcome, just your feet have.

Blessed by Believing

We were blessed by hearing this weekend at the ladies retreat. Our theme was Blessed by Believing, from Luke 1:45, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.
Our good friend Lindsay Edwards shared her story of her life growing up in South Africa, then coming to Abilene on a track scholarship, where she came to know Christ. She shared her experiences of believing that God will accomplish the things He has spoken, even through loss, heartbreak, and woundedness.
Lindsay gave us three guidelines for the weekend which are really great rules for life.
1. NO guilt. If what we hear stirs us, convicts, and encourages us to go on, we will not allow that to cause feelings of guilt. That is not from God.
2. Open your heart. Allow God to speak, to heal, to restore. You cannot experience the healing that God has for you if you will not open up.
3. Anticipate that God is here, that He is at work, that He is speaking. Be ready, believe it.