Quotables

Peter: "I think I'll spend a little time in the other room learning about science."

(studying an encyclopedia)

Anna: "I think I'll spend some time in here learning about TV."

Our part. . . World Water Day

We have small hands, small spheres, small acts in this story called "Life," but together we can band together. Here is one way we can be part of the solution. Join with me in supporting this important cause. $2o at a time...

Go here and help

Clean Water:

An amazing cause... a friend of mine from high school is involved in heading up.

Here is what she wrote about it today:

"What if bloggers could dedicate World Water Day to writing about water, and inspire their readers to support the Well Mechanics Program in India? They said they could find 100 bloggers. Becky said, “How about trying to find fifty, this has never been done before.”

We built a webpage on Tuesday and launched Wednesday. Within 24 hours fifty-two bloggers

signed up. Tiffany and Suzanne were right. So we doubled the goal. As of this morning, 85 people have registered their blogs.

Friday afternoon, Becky received a call. If we can find 100 bloggers, and they raise $10,000 in 24 hours, The Prem Rawat Foundation will match it. Once again, our goal has doubled. We’re speechless.

Now, this Tuesday the 22^nd on World Water Day, we have the chance to raise $20,000 in 24 hours. This will help WaterAid’s Well Mechanic Program fix hundreds of broken wells, turning water back on for approx 600 people each month. This is epic. And we need your help. Here’s three things you can do:

1. WE NEED TO FIND 15 MORE BLOGS BY TUESDAY: Encourage others to sign up here.

2. BE A BLOGGER: Prepare your posts for Tuesday! Make sure to mention that all donations will be matched by The Prem Rawat Foundation and are tax-deductable. If you’d like inspiration for your blog post, here’s a few articles and stories about water and WaterAid’s Mechanics Program: About the Well Mechanics Program: Keep It Clean Campaign Personal Story: The Worth of Women and Water Featured Press: Fast Company Article Our Partner, WaterAid About The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF), which focuses on helping people with fundamental needs offood, water, and peace. If you want to learn more about water issues and what the US Government is doing for WWD, you can read more Here:

3. SET UP A FUNDRAISING PAGE: If you’d like to direct your readers and friends to your own fundraising page to track donations, you can create one here. (This way you can set your own personal goal for you blog and it’s readers and track it on your own page!–while still receiving the TPFR match and helping to reach the 10K goal.)

4. NOT A BLOGGER? NOT A PROBLEM. Set up a fundraising page to reach out to your friends. Go to our typeTAP page to download photos and content to use for your Facebook page or Twitter (#typeTAP) or emails. We are thrilled. We are so grateful for TPRF.

Thank you for coming alongside and believing with us that we can eliminate poverty and preserve dignity. What an adventure!

Let us know if we can answer any questions or help in any way to get you ready to go for Tuesday’s revolutionary campaign. We can’t wait.

OK. Happy Sunday, folks.

Crossroads

We are at a crossroad. We're supposed to move but we aren't sure when or if we really will. The house is on the market, but we don't know if we should sell it. We'd like to live here, if we're gonna live HERE. Current events have put a stop to everything, because of the handsome genius' line of work.

Moments like these make it comforting to know God as a Father.

I cannot imagine walking my three little children out to a busy intersection and saying "Watch out for all the cars, I'll see you on the other side."

Obviously, like every parent. The busier the intersection, the tighter my grip. I have a vested interest in getting them to the other side safely. What kind of mother would I be, to leave my children alone at all, not to mention in the middle of a busy street.

If I, with no halo's on my head, hold my children's hands and help them cross the street. Why would He not do the same... Luke 11.

We will navigate our way across this street with His help.

As for now, we're gonna live here, cause the house hasn't sold, the orders haven't come, and the handsome genius is still at work. That's all I need to know.

Shalom... continued part 2

Strong's Concordance defines Shalom this way: completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.

Are our souls sickly and poorly fed or well fed, strong and healthy?

The credit of a shepherd depends on the condition of his flock. . . . The universe is looking to see what the Lord Jesus Christ is able to make of us and what kind of sheep we are. . . . Their verdict concerning Him will largely depend on what they see in us.

--Hannah Whitall Smith

These are the dots God keeps connecting for me. Trials are inevitable, but what God does for his children through these trials is exactly what can bring God glory.

If the chief end of man is to ... Glorify God and enjoy him forever, then this is how we do it:

Like sheep we follow Him wherever He leads: the valley of the shadow of death and the presence of our enemies. That is where He promises His Shalom: right there in the middle of the worst case scenario.

Quotables

Peter to his now two year old sister as she hits him to get a toy....

"According to my calculations, fighting is not a good way."

Thanksgiving

I read somewhere that the antidote to despair is thanksgiving. It is so easy to fall into a pattern of complaint, but there is a flipside to every complaint, a silver lining. So my resolution for this Lent is to be thankful I have so much to be thankful for. . . and that is paramount at the cross.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Pea!!!

And Sweet Pea just about sums it up.

Loving conversationalist: There is so much you have to say and so little time. I am amazed at how much you know. We marvel at what you say. You have a giant heart in a tiny little body. You love laughing with your brother, playing elephants with your sister, cuddling with your momma, and talking with your daddy on the phone. Your baby dolls are by far your favorite toys. You're a born nurturer. Our little sweet pea, you're the perfect addition to our family.

Right now I'm thankful for . . .

Diapers that cover poopie little bottoms, and for the spotbot to clean up after them when they don't.

Now this girl has some serious fashion sense!!!

My Friends Rock!

I've been under the weather for the past 7 days with a body aches that convince me I've been run over by a truck, a sore throat, headache, fever, and well you know you've been there. Meanwhile, this appeared at my house around dinnertime. Those meatballs are made from scratch and so was that french bread. I was on the phone with her when she was rolling it out.

After a dinner like this, and a drink like that, plenty of motrin, a heating pad, and the best friends ever I'm feeling as good as new. . . well, pretty much.

Like the song that I have listed on this blog... you find out who your friends are... My friends are the kind of people who would do anything for anyone in need. And that would be why, my eyes tear up at any thought of leaving this place.

Tink's Castle

Tink has a castle she has created in her mind.

She tells us about it every day. It's where she is going to live some day.

Each day she comes up with something else that will be in her castle. So far it's made of purple bricks. Daddy is there all the time. There are six hippos, five horses, and two cows that live there. She also appeals to her audience by including things she thinks they may like. For Peter there will be dinosaur bones, popsicles, star wars, chocolate milk, Jackson, and ice cream. For me there will be: news shows. Nice very nice... perhaps I've given her the wrong impression.

Shalom

I mentioned a few posts ago that God connected a lot of dots for me this Christmas. It can be encapsulated in one word: Shalom.

I've always wrestled with God over the dead end roads and tragic stories?

This shalom means something more than freedom from war and pain. It means freedom in the midst of pain.

And that my friends, is how all the dots began to connect for me. If that is what that means... then that is what he means by saying "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Dot by dot, promise by promise Bible reading has become a new adventure of discovery and illumination. His words light up and fly off the pages.

Pain is part of the bargain, but so is his peace and all of his promises.

to be continued . . .