Friendship

I have joined a group of other 5th grade moms from my kids' school in a Book Club.  We met last week and decided that we would read Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst.  Honestly, it wasn't my first choice, but as I read it, maybe it should have been!

As I picked up the book this morning and began to read about a mother that would occassionally "explode" on her kids about stupid little things, I began to think, "I used to do that.  BUT I have it under control now."  I felt like "I don't need this book.  Why did we choose this one?"  But then I heard it.  That voice.  That thought.  I knew what it was.  God was opening my eyes.  He was begging me to listen to what the author had to say.  I wanted to reply with "This is for someone else."  but it wasn't.  It was for me.

You see the book is about controlling yourself amidst raw emotion.  (Head hanging low)  Wow!  I do need this.

I feel like I have gotten myself under much more control than I used to.  Just maturing and growing up will do that I guess.  I have a successful marriage and kids that are (usually) very well behaved.  From the outside I have it all together.

But as I analyze my past, I notice one thing.  My friends are never the same from season to season.  Each big event in my life has a different friend standing by my side.

Now honestly, I have always considered my husband and my mom to be my two best friends, but a girl can never have too many friends right?  Right?  Right?  (I don't know the answer to that)

So I look at my friendships of the past and try to figure out what happened to each of those relationships.  Yes, some just drifted away as our lives changed but some stories are different.  Some stories end in big explosive discord.  Hurt.  Anger.  Embarrassment.  Shame.  Loss.  What happened?  What went wrong?  Was it me?  Was it them?  I don't know, but I am anxious to dig deep into this book to see what the author has to say about these situations.

But I do want to hear your take on this.....
Is it possible to have life-long deep friendship with numerous people?
Is it better to have many surface friends or a few deep friendships?
What do you think?

Faith it till you make it

Is it okay to.....

So we have all heard this statement.  I have even been known to say it before.  I have said it to my kids.  I have said it to my Scentsy team.  I have even said it to myself.  However, I want to change that statement.  I want the new statement to be:

You see, when we step out in FAITH, God will provide the Grace needed to "make it".  

We had an amazing service last night at church.  Pastor Tommy Barnett came and spoke to Church on the Move.  I have heard Pastor Barnett before but nothing really stood out from those past messages.  Last night was different though.  He spoke on the need for us to take a leap of faith.

Now, a leap of faith is not something new to me.  I have taken many leaps, big and small.  This message is one that I need to hear over and over though.  Each day we are all given obstacles, problems, and decisions that we must face.  Life is hard.  But it is our choice how we deal with those obstacles.

Now I am forever an optimist.  I know that everyone does not see the world like I see it.  I try my best to find the best in every situation.  BUT, I was not always like this.  It has been a learned trait.  I have developed it over time.  I think I have developed it by watching these leaps of faith come to fruition.

So often we come to God with a "please fix my life" mentality.  We pray things like "Lord, my finances need help.  Please give me more money" or "My marriage is hurting.  Fix him" or "I hate my job.  I need a better job."  The thing is-God already knows this stuff.  Yes, you can go to God with anything.  Take it to him.  But YOU must take faith steps before his GRACE with show its face.

Situation #1: Finances

Ugh.  I hate to talk about this!  No matter how much or how little you have, finances can ALWAYS be an issue.  So many times I have wanted to say, "I just need more money.  Then we will be able to make it."  While more money might make a situation easier, we as humans (and as spoiled Americans), can always find ways to spend our money in non-fruitful ways.  

(Speaking to myself here) I encourage you to take care of what you have now in a respectful, smart, and logical way.  God will never give us more if we don't properly take care of what he has given us now.

Paul and I have taken a class in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace.  We go in and out of REALLY working the plan, but nevertheless, the program has taught us great principles about money.  It has truly changed the way we think about money.  

Situation #2: Marriage

While I am NO expert on marriage, I am thrilled to say that I just celebrated 15 years of marriage.  A marriage that many said would never last.  After all, we barely knew each other.  We were so young.  We were so naive.

However, here I am 15 years in and would not change a single day!

Marriage is not easy.  It is not natural to put others ahead of yourself but that is exactly what you have to do to make a marriage work.  I think the best example is the movie, Fireproof.  The acting is terrible but the message is perfect.  God wants us to have a successful marriage, but He can't do all the work for us.  We must take the steps needed to nurture, support, and guide each other daily.  If you take the leap of faith to love someone that is driving you crazy, God will give Grace.

Situation #3: Job

Are you the best employee that employer has ever had?  Do you do work above and beyond what is required?  Do you get to work early?  Do you dress the part (or better)?  Do you treat your employer's money and belongings like they were your own?

You MUST do all these things if you want to advance in your current job or get a better job.  It's the same philosophy as the marriage and the finances.  Do the best with what you have so you can get better and get more.

Oh, I know there are tons of things that I pray for and that you pray for daily.  I know some things that I pray for will take nothing short of a miracle to change.  But I believe that our God works miracles!  I know he does.  

I have also learned from my experience with God that he honors Faith.  

So today I am choosing to

Child-Like Faith

Let me preface this post by saying my daughter is a HUGE Taylor Swift fan!  She knows every word to every song.  HUGE fan!

I also appreciate Taylor for the fact that she is a great role model for young girls.  She is classy, modest, young, and adorable without feeling like she has to be "trashy".  I admire that.

Well, we found out Taylor would be in town with her RED concert tour about 6 months ago.  Paul and I were working really hard to get out of debt and just didn't have the money for EXPENSIVE concert tickets.  Mackenzie however, believed that she would get tickets.  We knew we couldn't afford them and told her that.  She always said, "That's fine.  I will get tickets.  Don't know how-but I will!"  She believed-truly believed that she would be going to that concert.  She prayed fervently for the tickets daily.  She thanked God for the tickets that she didn't have yet.  Faith.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, after periodically checking craigslist for tickets that we couldn't afford, I happened upon a post.  This post had two tickets for much less than face value.  Still couldn't afford them but Paul and I were willing to sacrifice for the tickets.  We bought them.  Crazy nosebleed section-but they were tickets nonetheless.

Well, we didn't tell her we had tickets.  She still believed we would be there.

We tried to win tickets on the radio and television.  We really were trying because our tickets were CRAZY high up there.

Yesterday morning, the morning of the concert, I caught word that a local radio station, K95 was giving away TS shirts.  If you were caught wearing a K95 shirt at the concert, you had a CHANCE to win pit passes down front.  Well, Tony and I zipped up to the radio station after dropping Mackenzie at volleyball practice.  We got there just in the knick of time.  The lady said they were actually out of shirts but pitied me for having called and then driving all the way up there.  She found one small tucked back in the closet.  So, I wouldn't have one but Mackenzie would!  She said to win the pit passes you had to wear K95, scream, holler, and make a scene.  Say no more-I can do THAT!!!!!

When we picked Mackenzie up, we showed her the shirt and told her they would be giving away tickets before the concert tonight.  (Remember-she doesn't know we have tickets)

Well, we made it down there to "win" tickets.  Even made their facebook page.  When we got there, we found out that the pit passes were a drawing.  You just enter to win.  (Insert gloomy music here).  Well, we entered to win.  Mackenzie wanted to go ahead and get in line still believing for tickets.  Faith, I tell ya!

While standing in line, we had the opportunity to meet some really great people, namely from K95 because our sign was working--it was gaining us attention!

At one point, one of the DJ's was going down the line asking where everyone's seats were.  Kenzie told her that we didn't have tickets.  We were out there just hoping to get in with giveaway tickets.  The DJ was in awe of our  her faith.

A bit later, that same DJ came over to us.  "Now don't freak out or anything but I have some tickets for you.  We had a listener call in earlier today and tell us that she could not make the show.  She wanted us to give her tickets to someone else that needed them.  They are not good.  Nosebleed section.  But they are tickets."  

Oh No!  What am I gonna do?  I have tickets!

I leaned into the DJ and whispered, "We have tickets.  She just doesn't know!"

Then I looked at Mackenzie.  "Kenz-I think we should hold out for the pit passes.  If we take these, we wouldn't be able to win the pit passes.  Go big or go home, huh?  What do you think?"  

She was in shock.  So much to think about.  She didn't say a word.

The DJ said, "Hey, let me see if I can scrounge up some that are better seats.  Hold tight."

As the DJ walked away, I asked Mackenzie if she was mad at me.  "Mom, I don't know what to think!"  She was almost in tears.

I told her I would go talk to the DJ and work something out.  Meanwhile I filled the DJ in on the story.

When I returned, I told Mackenzie that the DJ said if we didn't win the pit passes, we could still use the tickets she offered.  

Mackenzie was ecstatic!  This is the reaction I got:

OMG!  I am getting to see Taylor Swift!

Well, we didn't win the drawing.

I told Mackenzie that I would give the radio station some time to deal with the winner and then I would go over there and get our tickets......OR.....(pulling tickets out of my purse) we could just use these!

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER FACE!  She was so very excited.  Almost in tears.  She said she wanted to scream but didn't want everyone to stare at her.  VERY EXCITED!

Story doesn't end there.....Turns out if you are wearing the K95 stuff inside the concert, they will be scouring the crowd looking for people screaming and raising a ruckus to win an upgrade to pit passes.  Kenzie knew we would be in the pit.  She just knew it!  As we continued to wait in the line, a few of the DJs came to talk to Kenzie about her cool story.  They were so excited for her.  She also told them that she was still believing for amazing pit passes while still being grateful to just have a ticket.

We went on in to the stadium, grabbed some sushi (yumm), and found our seats.

O-M-Goodness!  I don't want to fall!  Those seats were CRAZY high up there.  3rd from the top row.  The people on the floor were like ants.  But we were there.  And I had one happy girl next to me.  Couldn't have been better!

View from our seats!

She is beaming!

We enjoyed hearing Casey James and Ed Sheeran open for Taylor.  (BTW-if you don't know Ed Sheeran, look him up.  Crazy talented!)

Between those sets, we waved our signs and screamed.

After Ed Sheeran, we were waving our signs and screaming again.  Suddenly Mackenzie nudged me.  "Mom, that is the radio station people!"

They were at the end of our row hollering at us.  "Do you want pit passes?"

What?  Are you kidding me?  "YES YES YES!!!!!"

As we jumped over people in our aisle, Kenzie was in shock.  She didn't say much.  Just grinned from ear to ear.

They handed us an envelope and off we ran!

We had to make a pit stop at the potty on the way and I felt so sorry for everyone in that bathroom.  Mackenzie and I both were giddy little school girls.  We couldn't believe this had just happened.  We were laughing.  We were soooooo excited.

So we finally get to the pit just in time for the show to start.

One word A.Maz.Ing.

I am fully convinced that Taylor Swift is one of the best entertainers EVER!  That girl can put on a show.  Enjoy a few of our pics:

PIT PASS BRACELET BABY!

Up Front and Ready

OMG!  I am in the Pit for Taylor Swift!

This is NOT on Zoom!

That is a Red Sequined Guitar.

She changed outfits for EVERY SINGLE SONG!

Kenzie loved this dude.

She flew around the stadium on this thing.

The set was over the top cool!

We were in the middle of the confetti shower.  So fun.

Yep-Guys on stilts.

Even a two-headed woman.

Simply in awe.....

Another amazing set.

Almost got to touch her....

Singing along...

"I knew you were trouble when you walked in..."

It was an amazing show!

Couldn't have been better!

So you know I always try to find a lesson or at least a "good to know" thing to think about.  Here it is:

Was getting a 12 year old girl pit passes to a Taylor Swift concert high on the Lord's agenda?

Well, what do you think?

The answer.....YES!

Being at this concert was not just a whim of Mackenzie's.  It was a desire.  True desire.  Something she prayed about fervently.  Something she had amazing faith about.  Mackenzie is a strong Christian believer of the word.  She knows that Psalms 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."  She knows that our God is faithful to His word.  She believed with her whole heart that the Lord heard her prayers and He would answer.

If only us adults could have just a little more faith.....

Faith Prayers Answered

So we finally made it up the mountainous terrain to arrive at Cap Haitian.

Before we made this journey, I had heard accounts of visits to this orphanage using phrases like:
"In the mountains of Cap Haitian."
"They have nothing."
"They literally only have 2 sets of clothing for each child."
"Bathing outside"
"Sleeping under mosquito nets"

Because of these phrases, I had a picture in my mind of what I would be encountering.  This picture was of a dirty hut in the middle of the mountains.

While all the quoted phrases above are true, my idea of where we were going was vastly incorrect.

These photos are the location we were taken to-The Justice Rescue House.  After questioning, I learned that a generous person has donated the use of this three-story "mansion" for the time period of two years.  It is gorgeous!  Many spacious rooms, three kitchens, several bathrooms, and a spacious walled play yard including fruit-bearing coconut trees and a make-shift basketball goal.

Here is the irony though:

While these children live in an architectural paradise, they have NO toys and clothing that does not fit and must be washed daily because that is all they have. 

There are plenty of beds for each child to sleep alone, yet they sleep cuddled together because that is the security they know.

They bathe outside because the house lacks even the bare necessities like a shower rod and curtain to block the water from the rest of the restroom.  (and because that is what they are used to-bathing outside)

As we walked in, I saw bright smiling faces.  How could these be the same faces I saw back in September?  Their eyes were bright and glistening.  Their teeth showing from their excited wide smiles on their faces.  They were eager to see us.  THESE CHILDREN ARE THE FACES OF A SAVIOR!

While they were excited to have visitors, they were even more excited to see what was in our large bags that we had brought.  I do believe that Piermenn, the nanny was the most excited of all.  She has been caring for these angels with very little supplies.  She has made due with what she had, but was eager for more items.

We went into a bedroom to show Piermenn what all we brought: cars, babies, legos, play kitchen toys, bubbles, and tons of sports balls.  We also brought a few pairs of shoes and clothing, but not knowing the sizes needed, we were grossly unprepared in that department.  The bags also contained needed items like toothbrushes and toothpaste, along with peanut butter.

After some short discussion, it was agreed that it would be best to give each child one toy and store the rest.  These kids have NEVER had toys and we didn't know how well (or not) they would be taken care of.  Piermenn also has a fear of never getting anything more so she was obviously storing it away so to make it last.  I respected her wishes and we gave each child a toy-a car for the boys and a babydoll for the girls.  It truly was CHRISTMAS in JUNE!

Simple Amazement

Loving her baby doll

These girls knew exactly what to do!

Showing off their cars and trucks!

The entire play yard became streets for their new toys.

My buddy thanking me for the toy.

Everyone began taking turns and sharing.

Exactly what I needed to cap of the night!

Couronne is my favorite soda in Haiti.

So part of our mission was completed in just the first hour of our arrival-to give needed supplies and toys.  But, we were not done yet.

Before we headed to Cap, we asked Ryan V. (the head missionary) what he wanted us to accomplish while we were there.  He stated that they had beds and food, the bare minimums of life, but they still didn't have tables to eat at.  He asked Paul is he could build some tables.  ABSOLUTELY!  

We arranged for a private tap-tap to pick us up in the morning so we could head to town for supplies.

We enjoyed a great nights sleep after our nice cool showers!  We were ready for a new day.

Wood-check!

Loaded down tap-tap

The guard getting us some nice refreshing coconut milk.

The BEST ever!

Everyone watching while Paul worked.

Tuckered out!

Viola!  Finished project.

Paul knocked out three of these in a matter of a few hours.

Gems is pleased with the final product.

While we were only at Justice Rescue for barely over a day, I fell in love with these children and the wonderful adults making a difference in their lives!

Please continue to pray for the children, nanny, and guards at Justice Rescue!

Unfortunately, our time in Haiti was coming to a close.  We had to leave bright and early the next morning to get back to Montroius.  Our flight was leaving back to the US the day after that.

I am happy to announce we did find that glorious nice charter bus to take us back.  It was heavenly!

I had some amazing conversations with God on the way home.  He is opening my eyes to our future with Haiti and what is in store for us.  I hope to be able to share that with you all soon, so please follow this blog and know that I will share as soon as I am able.