10 Containers

Over the last 5 months I have walked beside my friend Sumer as the Lord called her family to leave the American dream behind and move to Africa to care for orphans. It was last fall when the Lord told them to sell their house. It was their first step and yesterday they walked into a closing to sign the papers and arrived at a destination called obedience.

I know that Sumer was fine with selling the house but when the Lord confirmed they were going long term to Ethiopia; they had to get rid of everything in it. Her house held the contents of 12 years of marriage and 3 youngins' so you know how much "everything" was in it. I watched her sell away her life 50 cents at a time, and I know that it was a little harder than expected. It's all just stuff but much of the stuff we have sitting in our house is there because it holds a memory.

And some memories just don’t fit in containers…



I’ve watched Sumer make lots of choices this week. She has had to sift through the boys things and decide things like…3 pajamas, 10 shirts, 6 pairs of shorts, a few toy cars, 3 sippy cups, etc. because they just can’t take it all. I've sat beside her as she placed the necessities for their new life in ten containers.

(Yes, of course, I labeled those containers. You don't think I'm going to let her go all the way to Africa and not label the containers. When she puts it in a container, I go behind her and take it out and reorganize it...that's how I roll.)

Many friends have asked me what they could get as a gift for Sumer. We’ve packed and rearranged these containers several times and I’m here to testify that there is no room for sweet gifts or mementos. After talking to Sumer yesterday, she told me that they are just $5000 from being able to provide one meal a day for each child that will attend Sumer’s summer school at Great Hope Church.

Teaching school in a church that has tarp walls, a dirt floor and no running water is going to be a new challenge but teaching school to a child that is weak from malnutrition and has a rumbly tummy will be the real challenge. If you want to give a gift that will warm Sumer’s heart and have lasting value, please consider donating to the Project 61 summer feeding program. And if you don't know Sumer but love orphans, we'll take your money too:)

Your tax deductible donation can be made payable to:
Thompson Station Church (Project 61 in the memo line)
Attn: Angela
PO Box 218
Thompson Station, TN 37179 or I'll take it in person too:)

Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

Extreme Makeover Blog Edition

I know it's going to take a moment for your eyes to adjust so go ahead and take a look around.

It's still pink here at my house.

My friend Tabitha is doing blog designs to help with the cost of their adoption fees. I emailed her last week about giving me a makeover and this is what she whipped up for me. She was nice enough to let me call her and say...could you move that little thing over there and could you get rid of that over here and could you make this a little lighter. It was kind of like picking out a new comforter. So much fun but a big commitment. Or maybe I'm the only one that thinks picking out a new comforter is a big commitment....you have to look at it for at least 2 years so you want to make a good decision.

I sent Tabitha some blog designs that I liked and this is what she came up with. You can email her here to get your own extreme blog makeover.


Thanks Tabitha!


P.S. Now I actually need to get back to writing on this blog:)

A Good Name

It was just two weeks ago today that I was making my tentative plans to jump on a plane to arrive just in time for the delivery of this little girl, my niece, Aubrey Christine. Tammy Faye sent me a text on Friday night that said she just had a prenatal massage that included pressuring spots that could induce labor. And I thought to myself...what's the chance that will work?

It works. At 1:15 a.m. I received a call from CraftiMama saying that Tammy Faye was on her way to the hospital. So I called Tammy Faye to see how fast this labor was progressing and I knew immediately by the lack of words and intense moaning that I was not going to be there to cut the cord. Yes, I was to be the official cord cutter because my brother in law has issues with the cord cutting. I received numerous text through out the night and a phone call around 5 a.m. with the news that she had arrived. I booked a flight that morning and was there by the afternoon...

Meeting Aubrey. We share the same middle name. Aubrey's great grandmothers had the same middle name too. We all know that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. And being named after your favorite aunt is way better than a million dollars:)

Aubrey meeting her big brother Josiah

Tammy Faye and I tend to get carried away with the monogramming. The blanket, the bow, the diaper bag. You name it; we monogram it. In fact, we would both probably get tattoos if we could get them in hot pink and a cute font.

I got to practice my swaddling techniques. I watched some swaddling videos on youtube to refresh my memory.

Pure sweetness! Congratulation Misty, Eric & Josiah!

P.S. Yes, I stopped to get a hotdog on the way to the hospital.

Making the Team!

Big news for the Lil'Nanny today...

There are no words to describe her face when she saw her name on this list.

She's been on cloud nine all night:)