I needed a change here. You know, something with more than 4 colors.

So? What do you think?


The thing with picking a template is that they are predecided on...meaning you get stuff you don't need. I have NO idea what to do with the fancy-schmancy stuff up at the top.

(Are you secretly making fun of me for calling it fancy? Uh huh. I know what you're thinking. Don't lie about it. I hear your thoughts. I'm everywhere.)


About??

(I loathe filling out anything that asks for that kind of range of information. About what??? How can you expect me to put the entirety of my purpose for existing behind a button you can click on?!? Maybe I could write something about how undramatic I am.)


And Archives???

I'm pretty sure that's what the "official" bloggers do. I'd prefer to read about them and search through their archives.

But, to avoid future embarrassment, I may contrive something just so you don't always come back to this page every time you click up there. Because that would annoy me to no end.

Oh, and the SEARCH button! Geez. Ummm. What to search for...what to search for...

I have no idea.


I feel pressure. :)

So, I'm trying to win this....




















(this is MckMama's picture)



Pretty, right?


You can try to win too (but watch out cause I'm just a teensy weensy bit competitive).

I have a feeling this might turn into a series.

Hence, the part 1.


The scene:

Isaiah was told to take his blanket and pillow to the playroom to get ready for his nap.


I: But Mooommy! I don't waaaant tooooo. There's monsters in they-er. I'm scaaaaay-yerd.

~quick note: if you read my previous post about Isaiah's accent and notice some inconsistencies ("thar" vs "they-er")....we know! It's a complicated phenomenon that we don't pretend to understand. It's taken on a life of it's own. It could very well mean that he's all 7 brands of redneck. Who knows....I'm still analyzing it myself. Ok, back to regularly scheduled programming....



I: But Mooommy! I don't waaaant tooooo. There's monsters in they-er. I'm scaaaaay-yerd.

M: Isaiah, we've talked about this. There are no monsters in there. And you know what? Jesus is always with you so you never have to be scared.

I: Nuh-uh! Jesus does not! live! in my! heart!




See? You feel better about your kids now, don't you?

Well.

You're welcome.


(and if you're still in need of encouragement I could tell you about our, um...nipple situation.)

Ok, here's the post I mentioned earlier. This is a compilation of ways to be Jesus to the needy and forgotten AND get someone a Christmas gift.... AT THE SAME TIME (!!!!!). I'm sure I will forget some so I will add to the bottom of each category as I go. This is in no particular order.

Help bring clean water and other life-saving resources to Africa:

--Junk Posse -- awesome, funky jewelry!

--Millepedebead -- be sure to look at listed with "Non-Profit" in the title.


--Water4Christmas -- they seem to adding to their shop daily.


--Swirls of Creativity -- in conjunction with "Water 4 Christmas."

--White Hall Trading Co -- pimp your blog! All proceeds from blog banners go to "Water 4 Christmas."

--Copper Boom -- all proceeds going to "Water 4 Christmas."

**Basically, go to Etsy.com and search "Water 4 Christmas." Lots of shops have teamed up with their efforts and are doing a GREAT job!

--Aprons for Africa

--Saint's Coffee -- skip the Starbucks and make a REAL difference (sorry, Starbucks). I've ordered from them before and the coffee was great.


--Just Love Coffee Roasters -- haven't tried them yet, but I LOVE their vision....like, I want a job with them.

--Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog -- especially if you missed the shoe boxes like I did, which, btw...they say it's not too late yet to pack one!


--Compassion for Christmas -- even if you're unable to sponsor a child monthly, you can give a donation....100% goes DIRECTLY to a needy family

--Sweet Sleep -- provide beds, blankets, mosquito nets and bibles to children in Ethiopian regions that have been war-torn by the LRA.


Help bring orphans into loving arms:


--Sugarplum Boutique


--Jessicasisson

--erbare74


And while I tend to talk a lot about big picture, orphans in Africa...kind of stuff...I was reading in Luke 16 the parable "The Rich Man and Lazarus." What struck me hard about that parable was that Lazarus (the poor, bloody, hungry man the rich man would not help) was laying at the rich man's gate. His gate! Like, his mailbox! There was no way to not notice him. I'm sure he had to walk past him, and intentionally ignore his groans when he left his house.

It just made wonder...who's at my gate? Who has (or will) God bring to my immediate attention? God, give me Your eyes to see and Your heart to love and serve.


Oh! And if you know of other places we can shop or contribute to others who need more, let us know!

Happy Giving!

The title is how I've been feeling about Christmas. Something's very wrong with that. Very.

(and if you don't think you're rich, go here and find out exactly how rich you are. If you're reading this on a computer... and you are :)... you're one of the richest in the world.)

Our families are incredibly generous and love us very much...so Christmas is big each year. But I just can't get this voice out of my head...

"You need nothing...and they need to live. They need water. They need food. They need a decent shelter. They need a mommy and daddy. They need..."



What do you do with that?

I like this idea: Advent Conspiracy

Watch the video if you haven't seen it. It's 1 min 54 seconds.

I have some thoughts about what this means for our family, and while it's in the baby stages...I'm getting really, really excited about it! The creative juices are pumping through my veins!

It won't mean that we will completely stop buying any gifts for Christmas (at least not this year), but it does mean being more prayerful about how we approach this whole get-more-stuff thing. It means conversations we've never had before. It means an ever-weakening desire for the stuff. It means spending money to help others....and not the "others" who already have what they need to live. It means believing and rejoicing in the truth that "the Lord is my portion and my cup....I have a beautiful inheritance." And knowing "...as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." It means simplifying things.

Funny how what I call "simplifying" could save a human being's life.

How slowing down the whole picking it out-ringing it up-taking it home-wrapping it up process could actually cause someone to live who would otherwise die.

I don't think we get it. I don't.

I have so many more thoughts and ideas about this that need to get out... so another more practical post is coming. :)

But in the meantime, I'd love to have your ideas and thoughts on this. Have you made significant changes in the past on how you spend money at Christmas? Are you planning to this year? Share! I would love the encouragement!

I've been talking to Isaiah a lot about being thankful and having a grateful heart, as well as trying to drive home the whole spirit of Thanksgiving.

("A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" has been surprisingly helpful in this.)

Anyway, we were eating breakfast this morning, and I took the opportunity again to ask him what he's thankful for.

And here's a look into the depth and profundity of our 3 year old's mind....

(Note: imagine a back-country red-neck in a small body and you'll get a better feel for our conversations)