One Little Word

We received an e-mail stating we have a court date! 

My heart nearly lept out of my chest when I opened that e-mail... until I continued to read and noticed... but. 

I don't like that little word.

But... trampled all over my excitement.

We got another e-mail telling us that an application has been filed to have our case  re-allocated to another judge.  There were multiple reasons for this decision.

Oh... the highs and lows...

and oh... the difference one little word can make... but.

I like the word pray.

One little word that makes a huge impact.  A powerful word.

It's an action word too... which means means it kicks but right out the door.

Pray.

What's Cookin'?

This summer I decided my girls needed to get busy cookin'.  After all, they need to be prepared to feed their adoring husbands and many children!

They have always been helpful in the kitchen and they do know how to put a whole meal together, but I am usually in the kitchen working right along beside them.

For the past couple of weeks, they have done it ALL.  Even the grocery shopping!

They are planning our meals...

and cooking.

Kat likes to follow directions...

while Lizard likes to get creative.

Lizard is our serious girl...

Kat is... not as serious.

Elizabeth, our creative and serious cook,

created this YUMMY potato dish.

She worried when Daddy "helped" melt the cheese!

They have BOTH done an excellent job!

My girls bless me tremendously! 

I'm a proud Mama.

Mosquito Net Project

After working outside with Daddy the other night, my youngest came in with mosquito bites ALL over her legs. We put some itching cream on them and she went off to bed.

Now... that isn't really a big deal in itself.  The "big deal" part is that I didn't have to worry that she might get sick with malaria from those bites.

In Uganda those mosquito bites would be deadly.  320 people die each day from malaria in Uganda.  It is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years old.

Mosquito bites kill. 

Malaria is treatable and preventable.  The problem is poverty.  People don't have the money for the medication or for the mosquito nets.

Part of our plan through The Suubi Project is to show the love of Jesus to the villagers around our project in a practical way.

To SHOW His love we want to purchase 336 mosquito nets.  That will provide each family in the village with two nets.  It's a practical way of caring for the poor.

One net costs $10.00.  Ten dollars.  Ten!

The fact is mosquito nets prevent mosquito bites which prevent malaria which saves lives.

Ten Dollars = One Net = One Life.  That's a great investment!

Please visit The Suubi Project  and help us show His LOVE!

"whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:45

Spread the Word

This little boy needs a family NOW!  Please visit this blog for more information.

How many times have we all spread the word about a fabulous restaurant, a great book, an amazing sale, a beautiful vacation spot???

This precious little boy needs our prayers and our help in spreading his story so that his mommy and daddy can find him!

Will you help spread the word, please? Together as the Body of Christ we can find Monroe's family.

Crowned by Grace

Please visit  Crowned by Grace and check out this GORGEOUS hand crafted  jewelry!

This jewelry is made by my precious friend, Jeri. Be sure to read about her heart behind creating each piece... truly beautiful.  She has graciously decided to share a portion of the proceeds from her sales with The Suubi Project! 

How AWESOME is that!  Glory to God!!!

Walking

Evening walks are magical.

We slow down...

and just enjoy being together.

We talk quietly and really listen...

while being the people God has created us to be.

There is such joy in the simplicity of it.

Walking.

When I think about walking with Jesus...

I think we make it complicated.

I think we over-anaylze it...

and set unrealistic expectations on ourselves.

Walking with Jesus...

is just walking.

It's putting one foot in front of the other...

slowing down to marvel at His beauty...

enjoying Him for who He is...

listening to His voice...

embracing the person He created us to be...

and celebrating with great joy His saving grace!

I pray that as you walk with Jesus

you will enjoy the marvelous simplicity

and blessing of just being with Him.

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Beautiful Testimony

Lightning Ahlers - My Adoption Story from The Ahlers Family on Vimeo.

18 months...

It has been 18 months since I took my first step onto African soil and fell in love with a country and its people.

18 months since I first laid eyes on three beautiful children that I knew in an instant were mine.  I felt it in my heart.

Most days I walk in the blessed assurance of God's unwavering love and perfect plan. But some days... it's hard.

Sometimes it feels like it's just a dream... or a wild idea.

I have visited "my" children four times since I first met them.  Each time it was a direct result of their prayers for help.  God answers prayers. Faithfully.

Each time I have visited them I have fallen more in love with them.  Their pleas for me to bring them home are heartbreaking.  They want to understand about judges and court dates and paperwork... but they don't.  They just want to come home.

18 months...

I know of families that have waited much longer than this... and my heart goes out to them.  My prayers go up for them.

And I ask that your prayers go up for us... for our children to come home.

Celebratin' the 4th

It was a Burger cookin'...

Tattoo showin'...

Picnic enjoyin'...

Girlfriend chattin'...

Hoola hoopin'...

Crawfish holdin'...

Canoe ridin'...

Watermelon eatin'...

Fireworks watchin'...

kinda day!

The Book of Blessings

I love searching Scripture and finding verses for specific needs when I'm praying for family or friends.  I also love adding verses when I send a card or e-mail that will comfort, encourage... or just BLESS!

That's why I am so excited to have found this book!  It has hundreds of blessings, taken directly from Scripture, that have been divided into different categories. There is no word as powerful as the Word of God! 

This book is a WONDERFUL resource!

From the introduction..."If we wish to speak into people's lives with power, love and annointing, our best opportunity for impact is to recite the Word of God."  "Therefore, as we season our speech with His Word, we are equipping ourselves with a sword that truly has the potential to cut to the heart of any matter."

Be blessed!