Our crazy journey continues...

My husband and I just returned from an amazing trip to the Continent of Africa! We have some incredible stories to share with you! Hopefully, over the next weeks we will be able to get most of these stories into words on my blog! So, hold on tight for a glimpse into what we experienced God doing in and around the people of Africa and how that has changed us.  Justin will be joining me on my blog for a while to help share our stories.

We set out for our adventure Nov. 1st, with this picture of our four kids fresh in our minds from the night before. 

(Our kids with Chris's mom, trick-or-treating)

We have some awesome children! (but, we're a little partial)

We sent 2 hesitant boys on their way to school and a wonderful friend came to pick up our 3 year old son Levi for the day.  Then off we went (we thought) as quick as we could to Jeremy & Erin’s house close to the St. Louis airport. Our brother and sister-in-law were willing to not only take us to the airport but also adopt our precious Baby Bel for the next few weeks.

A slowing lesson for Chris:

“Off we went” didn’t quite happen quickly… all morning the Lord was reminding me that my timeline plans and His timeline plans sometimes are not the same.  We left the house about 3 times, each time forgetting to leave or take something. My "quick" run into walmart was thwarted by a number of incidents including, a older gentleman playing for his newspaper and donut in nickles.  I stood behind him outwardly looking pleasant and quiet but on the inside I was screaming "Ahhh! Really?"  I felt a quiet ah... come over me as the Lord whispered "Calm down, Chris, no hurry."  and I actually laughed at my self realization that I'm on a mission to love where ever I am at, even the walmart checkout line and this sweet man, was a blessing. I smiled at the gentlemen as he turned and gave me a funny look after he heard me giggle. We got on the road with Ms. Bel headed to StL and Justin laughed out loud, loudly! at my walmart story.

Erin and her girls greeted us at the curb and rushed us off to the Airport. With hugs and kisses from my baby (& a 'Be Love' from Erin) we were off. Peace is such a wonderful gift! The Lord granted His gift of peace in my heart and our first flight seemed quick and quiet. I am so grateful for the friends and family that the Lord provided to care for our children while we were going to be gone. I spent the first flight reflecting on and reading my journal from my May Trip to Sierra Leone. The page where I wrote this scripture speaks straight to my heart again and again.

Luke 10:42 Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her.

We flew from London to Sierra Leone. We landed in Sierra Leone about 8pm.  After we got our bags we headed out the door to the water taxi unfortunately things took a strange turn. I walked up to the counter and a man stopped me at the curb, kind of swindled us on to the wrong water taxi.  What an ordeal.  Long story short after things got worked out we ended up missing our water taxi and had to charter a boat to come pick us up. 

So...paid the extra $$$, hopped in a 'tiny' boat across the bay in the dark!

(Did I tell you it was raining?) phew... finally got picked up by our wonderful missionary friends and tucked into bed! Thank you Lord!

Breathe... He has a plan, and we are along for a delightful crazy ride…

Exciting News!

Have you ever experienced something so great, so incredible that one of the first things you think to yourself is "I've got to share this with someone!"

I just asked my husband this question and his reply was:
"The meatloaf at Farmer's Gastropub! in Springfield, MO. It's FANTASTIC!"
and "Oh yes, my first espresso at Coffee Ethic, also in Springfield. It's divine, you need to try it!
and Skydiving!"

Well that crazy husband of mine is one of kind. I adore him, in all his strangeness. This November 8th will be our 9th Wedding anniversary. It seems like I've been in love with him for so long that I can't remember what life was like without him & that is a blessing!

Well, I'm so excited to say that during our anniversary this year we will be in
... Africa, ... together!
I knew after my first day in Sierra Leone that I wanted to someday be able to share it with him: this amazing country and its beautiful people. God has crazy blessed my life! I feel humbled by the outpouring of grace and love the Lord lavishes on me.

Please be in prayer for this trip, that the Lord would bless it and our time there. That every detail will be taken care of and our four young children would be safe and well loved while we are gone. I will be sharing more details soon. I can't wait to get back to Africa and love on those people! and to be able to be there with my best friend!

Sierra Dolls

Before I left for Sierra Leone I made a few dolls

for some beloved people who helped send me on this life changing trip.  For some of their young daughters I made a doll named Sierra, as a reminder to pray for the little girls of this country.  And for the little girls of Sierra Leone, I made dolls who were named for the wonderful families and generous friends who gave me the chance to meet and love on these precious little girls. When I tuck my daughter Isabel in at night and see her hug her doll named Sierra, I think about these sweet faces.  I wasn't able to get a picture of every little girl who I have a doll to, but I pray for all of them, that they would receive a loving hug when they need comfort even if its only from a doll. I pray they will know someone loves them and cares for them.  And that one day they will come to the knowledge that there is only one we can truly hold on to.

One who will never leave or turn their back on them, it is the Lord. 

Reality in Sierra Leone may mean that only some of the girls got to keep their doll.  It could have been stolen, taken and sold for food or lost.  Funny thing about gifts, once you gift it... it's no longer yours.  Actually, when you consider that everything is the Lord's, it wasn't even yours in the first place, you were just caring for it, for a time. You don't get to be the boss of how it is accepted, loved, used or kept.  The Lord knows the answers to all of our how's, where's and why's, all we need to do is trust, be obedient and give when He says to. And if these little dolls fulfilled their purpose in being placed in the hands of these little girls (no matter what the bigger plan was) I am so grateful for the chance I was given to give them. My heart does hope, that most of the girls get to have her to hug on when they need one. I can't imagine life for a little girl living in the hardest parts of this country. 

 I made a video dedicated to the lovely little girls and women of Sierra Leone. If you haven't seen it yet, and would like to, it is in my video tab or you can click this link: (if you can find the time to watch and listen please do, I feel it says what my words cannot)

       http://afewwordsandramblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/faces-of-sierra-leone.html

  

Life is a gift.    

I gave baby doll Shelby to precious baby Rebecca.  Baby Rebecca was born and orphaned while I was in Sierra Leone.  I held this sweet gift on Mothers Day this year. And she returned to the Lord a few weeks ago. My heart broke when I heard the news.  I remember holding her, laying my hand on her sweet little head whispering a prayer over her. I thanked the Lord for her sweet life.  And I still do.  Sweet baby Rebecca had a short but loved life here on earth. Her story has impacted mine and now, she has impacted yours. 

I haven't been able to watch the video I had made since her death, until today. My heart longs for hope for these beautiful children.

My husband & I were talking about death this weekend and he said this to me:

"We are all just a pile of dry bones without the breath of God."

I feel like I take so much for granted, forgetting to thank Him for His Breath.

Everyday, every person, every moment is a gift.

(I'll leave you with my thought from above)

Funny thing about gifts, once you gift it... it's no longer yours.  Actually, when you consider that everything is the Lord's, it wasn't even yours in the first place, you were just caring for it, for a time. You don't get to be the boss of how it is accepted, loved, used or kept.  The Lord knows the answers to all of our how's, where's and why's, all we need to do is trust, be obedient and give when He says to.