Abundant Life

We have moved!

2011-04-09T13:05:00.003-07:00

So sad to say Adiue!

But fret not, find us at

www.tinygreenelephants.com

Infact, it will be better over there. My posting will go from biannually to "almost frequently."

(Note the quotation marks, meaning, don't hold me to it)

In the mean time, I'll see you on the green side.

Love,

Amy

Beach Day!

2011-02-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

This weekend, it was a lovely sunny day in February and we headed out to the beach.

One of the main reasons we went it because the sun shade we ordered came in, so I wasn't too worried about pale baby skin getting burned.

We met some lovely friends there and here are some pics of our day:

Here are some of the happy guy:

The proud papas

A family shot:

Let's pray for Romania to open up for adoptions...

2011-01-20T16:56:00.001-08:00

I was in Romania a few year back, and it's just silly that they don't allow adoptions. There are so many children. Our group visited one orphanage every day for a week and we were only allowed on the first floor with all of the "typical" babies (but in my opinion, it is not typical to have babies lay, without crying in a crib all day...)

Anyway, one day a friend and I secretly ventured upstairs. There we found all of the special needs children whom we hadn't been allowed to visit. The little children rushed to us, grabbed our legs and didn't want to let go. They begged to be held, and didn't everything they could be entertaining to us so that we wouldn't look away from them for a minute. I remembered there being very few staff for so many children, maybe just 2, but they were actually friendly enough. When we left, some of the children threw themselves on the floor in tears. It was heartbreaking.

Those poor children need a chance, they need families. Let's start PRAYING NOW that they open their doors to international adoption. If they would open up, so many children could be listed on Reece's Rainbow, so many children could find families!

I don't know what else to do other than that right now.

Thanks guys,
Amy

Hello!

2011-01-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, do I even have a blog? Hmmm...

I guess I have been busy. I could at least stop by and share a picture of our boy, otherwise there would just be that little sonogram pic on the sidebar. Well, since I am a slacker blogger, I will let Finley take over for now:

Hi! I'm Finley. This is me happy after a shower! You can see my papa's nose in the picture, and I like him. So I am smiling at him. Here is me when I was just fresh from the shower in my little frog towel! All clean!

And sometimes I just like to have no clothes! In fact, I prefer it cause that's just how I spent most of my life, and how I came into this world! But my mom always puts clothes on me, what the heck?

Well, that's pretty much my life these days! I hope you enjoy all my pictures of me! I am pretty sure I should go take a nap, cause I am most the time very sleepy!

Love,

Finley

God is GOOD!

2010-10-20T22:12:00.001-07:00

And to see why, watch my video I made! (it's kinda dorky and poor quality, but thats ok, right? :)

To be loved...

2010-09-28T14:30:00.001-07:00

"A woman's world"

2010-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Read this, written from a dad who as of today became the father of this boy who had been living in an institution for 4 years, and who didn't want to adopt:

A Woman's World

I have said it before: the world of special needs adoption is a woman’s world. If you don’t believe me, try reading some adoption blogs. Take just one cautious step into this marshy bog of sentiment, and suddenly you’ll find yourself thigh-deep in a muck of chatter about breast pumps, toddler fashions and the contents of dirty diapers. There isn’t a man alive who wouldn’t rather hang himself to death with his prison sheets than read these womanish adoption blogs.

On the other hand, these children need families, and that usually means two parents. How do we men come on board? I only know how I came on board: ~~My wife talked me into it.~~ I carefully weighed the options, then firmly and decisively led my family down the road toward adoption.

To explain, I have to relate a bit about how I feel about women: I love women. In my opinion, there isn’t a single woman on earth who doesn’t have at least some God-given beauty-- although a few hide theirs most effectively. And I especially love my wife. I find her endlessly fascinating. Every good thing I have in my life, I have because of her. Everything that matters to me matters more because of her. I love life only because of my love for her and my love for my children. No other earthly thing signifies-- no accomplishment, no amount of wealth, no pleasure or diversion. I knew God before I was married, but I understood God’s father heart (a little) only after I became a husband and a father.

When my wife became interested in special needs adoption around last Christmas, I resisted. The pictures and the stories on the many blogs she followed didn’t move me in the same way they moved her. I’ve always given liberally to church and charity, but I was very reluctant to bring a stranger into our home, our only refuge from work and the world. When I’m home, which is little enough, I want to rest. And I already had bookkeeping, editing and business chores chewing away my home time, plus my home schooling duties. Besides all of that, we both knew that we were in no financial shape to undertake a hideously expensive international adoption.

Yet only a few weeks after all of this came up, I found myself agreeing to pursue Aaron’s adoption. I told Julia that I would “follow her heart.” I said that after I realized that every good thing we’ve ever done has come from following her heart, her good woman’s heart. I couldn’t let myself be the fool who stood in her way and prevented her from doing what I was sure the Lord was leading her to do.

If the path of our lives together was left to me, I would do nothing but work. I would work for twelve hours every day, six days a week, thinking about little but work all the while, and go home exhausted. I would come to view my time off as unproductive, wasted time, and I would begin to work half days on Sundays, too. I’m already a long way down that path. My work is tiring, but satisfying. I don’t have the energy for much else.

My wife is different. Her heart is more like God’s heart. She is more in tune with the Holy Spirit. She naturally cares about the things God cares about. She loves what God loves, and hates what God hates. Where I overlook people and their needs, she cares for them and frets over them. Where I assume that people are beyond help, she finds ways to help. Our family leads a much more fruitful life when we follow her heart than when we follow mine. We lead a more Godly life, a life more pleasing to God, when we follow her heart. And we experience more of the love that God has to offer when we follow her heart.

I picture it in this way (I may be borrowing this illustration, I don’t remember): imagine that all of God’s people are swimmers in a broad, swift stream. The stream is God’s will, and it flows toward the accomplishment of God’s purposes. People like me tend to stay close to the banks, where the water doesn’t move too fast. We hang on to the edge to keep the raging will of God from pulling us faster than we have the courage to go. Sometimes we even try to swim upstream, against God’s will. People like my wife, on the other hand, are always pushing away from the banks, out into the center of the stream. They want to be where the action is, to see God moving in the world and move with Him. We’re all going downstream to the same place, because God’s will cannot be denied. But if we want to experience more of God, we have to move out into the center of the stream.

That’s how I see this adoption: we’ve pushed out nearer to the center of the stream of God’s will. With God’s help I followed my wife’s heart, I took a step in faith, because I wanted to experience more of what God has to offer. I was curious to see what God would do. And God has not disappointed me: He has aroused compassion in the hearts of hundreds of people who have helped to bring Aaron home. Through them, He has raised all of the money that we needed. He has saved a precious little boy from being Lost forever. He has moved the heart of our skeptical judge.

And before any of that, he chose the perfect little boy for us. This was the thing that worried me the most before we got here: who was this little boy? We committed to adopt Aaron based on one smiling photograph and a short description that turned out to be about 75% right. All of our efforts to learn more about him before we got here came to nearly nothing. I even doubted that we’d be able to find him when we got here, because there seemed to be so little information available on him. When we finally found him, though, it took us only a few minutes to discover that God had not steered us wrong. On the second day we knew him, we were already making plans for his care, plotting his life with us as if he were one of our own. Now that we’ve been with him for several weeks, we smile fondly at him and admire his features, just as we do with our own sons. We take pride in his little eccentricities. We couldn’t have wanted any other child this much. God made the perfect choice for us.

Yes, our adoption has been hard, harder than it had to be. Maybe that makes it even better in the end. No matter what happens from here on, I think I shall always consider Aaron’s adoption the best good deed of our lives.

Come to our ART SHOW!

2010-08-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

WHEN: THIS SUNDAY, 10-5

WHERE: PANNIKEN, ENCINITAS ON THE 101

WHY: YOU CAN BUY AWESOME, ORIGIONAL ART BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND EACH PENNY GOES TO JACOB'S ADOPTION FUND!

Hillary and I spent the day getting ready for our special event! All the girls will be helping day of, though!

Will you say a prayer for us? Will you pray that the event is successful, and that God multiplies our efforts and that we can earn alot of money for Jake's fund? THANKS!

-Amy

Did you know?

2010-08-24T20:35:00.001-07:00

143,000 orphans in the world spend an average of 10 years in orphanages or foster homes.

In countries such as Ukraine and Russia, about 15% of children who age-out of orphanages commit suicide before the age of 18.

60% of the girls become prostitutes, and 70% of the boys become criminals.

Every 15 seconds a child in Africa becomes an orphan due to AIDS.

Did you know that you can help change these statistics?

These statistics are taken courtesy of the Home for Good Foundation www.hfgf.org

November 7, 2010, is Orphan Sunday. This is a time for you and your church to promote orphan care and adoption. If you would like for your church to celebrate this event and encourage others to care for the "least of these," go to orphansunday.org to learn what tools and resources are available.

These are some lucky kids

2010-08-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

I think it takes a brave person to adopt "older children" (Can you really be considered older if you aren't even 11 yet?) This awesome family just got back from the Ukraine after adopting two "older" children from there. What an amazing opportunity for these kids, to actually have parents, to actually be able to learn about God. Watch this short video of their adoption, the first scene of their meeting just gets me :,)

You can follow this family with their new additions along with some other adopted kids on Smiles and Trials.

Now, I feel like I need to explain myself. You might be thinking, Amy, why do you care so much about adoption? You haven't adopted, and you're pregnant with one of your own.

Yes, I know, and I never used to ever think about adoption in my life. That was until my very first trip to Romania. I will not be able to put into words here what I experienced for two reasons; first because it's hard for anyone who hasn't been there and seen the orphanages, and seen the many children locked in up in those rooms to really understand a short paragraph about how horrible it was. And second, it's wimpy but it's hard for me to let my heart even go there again. It is much easier for me not to think about it.

There were so many babies there, and after being the only one holding them day after day, you start to feel ownership of them, like they really are your babies because I was the only one who ever did hold them with love, and maybe ever. These babies are beautiful, and they don't cry. They just lay, stiff, staring at you.

While holding these beautiful children, I would just make a frantic mental list of people who would be able to take one of these children in and save their lives, and my list was long. I thought of my elderly neighbor, and how she would adore holding and loving one of these babies, I thought of almost everyone I knew, and I actually knew a lot of people in America would could take on of these children in and save their little lives, in fact, I could only think of a few who couldn't. But, people don't really adopt children. People don't really want an overseas baby, especially one who might be stiff in their little bodies from lack of being held. It might effect their good lives or be a hassle.

So, each day I would lay my babies down, and I would walk away, until the day came that I laid my babies down forever. Any progress they had made with me would be forever erased with months of staring at white ceilings and cribs slats.

I would have taken one. I would, at 18, taken Rebekah and smuggled her out. I often dreamt about foiling that stupid guard at the entrance. I would bring her home and raised her on my own, or found a family for her who would love her and her tiny pixie nose, long curvy lashes and dimples cheeks. That sweet girls who practiced smiling with me, and stretching, and falling asleep in loving arms.

I can't really think about her too often, because no one wants to be around a crying person.

Since Romania, I have been to many orphanages around the world and met some of the most amazing children who would light up the life of any family who would take them in, if they were only given a shot, but none orphanage so bad as Romania. Kenya's orphanage has less food, less clothing and more disease and dirt, but the children seems so much healthy emotionally. Nothing was like Romania.

So, God had to lay some scars on my heart to have me care about adoption. I literally celebrate when I see an adoption story, because I know what these children are being saved from.

Ok, now I'll go wipe my tears and end this post! I hope I explained myself at least a little.

Yummy lunch

2010-08-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

I've really been trying to be healthy recently. I feel hungry more times in the day than I ever used to, and I sometimes find myself filling up on not so healthy snacks. So, last week, I wanted to be very proactive about making a lunch that is absolutly healthy.

So, we have quinoa, tomatoes, bell pepper, black beans, onions and peas all sauteed together. I have been reading all sorts of health benefits of quinoa, and let me tell you...it was delicious! And I felt great afterwards, no guilt and lots of energy!

So, if you're ever in a lunch pinch, try it our. It's surprisingly delicious!

5 months pregnant in Mexico

2010-07-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago we went to Las Gaviotas in Mexico with some friends. They were nice enough to take a picture of Andrew and I at our official "half way point" of 20 weeks! Enjoy. (And no, we didn't plan our outfits.)

My inner monoglogue coming to life...(only more eloquently)...

2010-07-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

So, as you know, I read some of the blogs of the people who are diving into adopting special needs children through Reeces Rainbow. I think I love these blogs becuase these people who decide to do this aren't super special, super spiritual, and are very real with their fears and emotions prior to meeting this child they have chosen to come into their home. One in particular adopted a young, beautiful girl with a heart problem from Serbia last year, who a few months ago passed away due to complications. On her blog yesterday, I feel like she said everything I am trying to tell myself on a regular basis, and majorly challanged me......to say the least............

Lorraine Patterson
http://www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/

Make a Difference Monday
Posted: 26 Jul 2010 12:23 AM PDT
“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.” ~Mother Teresa

I was going to stop with that powerful quote, but there's so much more I want to say.Basically, I'm tired. I'm not tired of the things you might think...not tired of dishes, laundry, kids...those are all blessings, and I never tire of blessings. I'm tired of people sitting back thinking that theyr'e waiting for some magical moment to step in and make a difference in the life of just 1 child.Waiting to sponsor that child until they get a larger paycheck.Waiting for our "own" kids to grow up and move out and then we might consider helping someone else's children.Waiting for our house to get cleaned up before we think about a home study.Waiting for more bedrooms before we can possibly add another child into our home.Waiting...Waiting...Waiting...While we wait for our lives to be perfect before we consider helping another child, guess what?There's someone else, a helpless child, who is waiting...waiting...waiting...for us to get our act together and decide that RIGHT NOW is the time to make a difference. Right now is the time to step up to the plate and say YES. Right now is the time to trust God with our lives, our homes, our finances, instead of relying upon self.Right now is the time to realize that as we wait for the right time, a child dies of starvation. A child dies of neglect. A child dies of malnutrition. A child is ignored. A child is abused. A child wishes for a clean cup of drinking water. A child is sold into sex slavery. A child aches for a mom and a dad. A child yearns for just one person to tell her that she's special. A child wastes away in a crib in an orphanage, waiting for someone to rescue him. All of this while we wait at a fast food restaurant, getting angry when it takes longer than 3 minutes to get our food. While we wait for our pocketbook to grow larger, wishing our waists would grow thinner, and hoping our gym memberships will get us in shape so that we'll be in a better position to help others.When will you decide that RIGHT NOW is the time to make a difference?"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." ~author unknownOne life matters! There are so many ways to help, to make a difference, to help orphans and live out James 1:27 (to care for orphans and widows in their distress).

Feed 1 child. (through a child feeding sponsorship)

Pray for 1 child. (that he/she would find a home and be kept safe until God unites them)

Foster 1 child. (it's free...you actually get paid to do this)

Adopt 1 child. (yes, adopting 1 child really does make a difference)

If you're ready to commit to making a difference RIGHT NOW, go register to attend the Together for Adoption 2010 Conference to find out how YOU can make a difference in the life of 1 child. Or more. :-) There are SO many ways for you to make a difference. Come find out how. CLICK HERE to register.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

~Mother Teresa "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty". ~Mother Teresa "There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." ~Mother Teresa "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." ~Mother Teresa "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." ~Mother Teresa

Cutest girl ever

2010-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is a short post, with just a link to a blog I have been following of a family who went to the Ukraine to adopt a little 7 year old girl named Bianca with HIV. When they got there (a few weeks ago), they found out she was unadoptable! So sad! But, they were able to get another referral of a little girl who was 2, almost 3. At first, the husband said no way! Too young! But, once they met her....

The only reason I am sharing this is because she is the cutest little girl I have ever seen! Scroll and look at this precious little face. "So sweet she can cause a sugar tooth ache" says her new mommy.

http://www.letitbetome.blogspot.com/

Garage Sailin'!

2010-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

On Satuday morning I went garage sailing wiht a hardcore garage sailer, and one not so hardcore garage sailer, who usually doesn't rise before 9:30. I think the 7am wakeup call was pretty rough for her :)

Oh well, too bad for her, becuase I found a couple cute trinckets for our little bundle, who as of this very day, has been brewing for 5 whole months! I'll post pics one of these day, but I definetly am feeling like I am showing now.

SO...here is the first little treasure I found on my hunt:

Little leather moccasins, straight from Minnetonka! Yep, I have been there, yep, I had my own pair of Minnetonka moccasins when I was a kid, although mine were pink with rhinestones ;)
These little brown ones cost just a dollar, and are supposed to be good for little feet.

Next is this cute little devotional bedtime bible. It cost fifties cents, but the women was adamant that it was for free because I had found a dollar on the ground and given it to her. It's really cute and interactive.

And last but not least, this cute and new baby einsteins book that teaches letters and art history all in one, umm...yes PERFECT! Ok, I'm kind of a dork, but I love it. I was subject to long hours of art history books with my grandmother, for which I am now thankful. Hopefully this will be fun and easy :)

I also thought I found the deal of the century when I found a hiking backpack, but it didn't recieve Andrew's seal of approval, so it's going on Craigslist this weekend. OHHHH WELLL....

Happy Garage Sailing!

It's a boy!

2010-07-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

...and a little thumb sucker! We had our big sonogram the other night, and it went really well. We saw our boy in action doing all the crazy things he likes to do in there. At one point he got the hiccups, which was so cute to see his little chest rise and fall. He pull his arm over his face and put his fingers in his mouth, which is this picture right here:

She said that it was a really healthy sign that he was doing this already. Everything checked out, he's as healthy as can be! He was on the smaller scale for everything but that's compared to 20 week babies, and we went in at 18 (my doctors mistake!) She guessed our due date is Nov. 30th, but we need to have it confirmed with the doctor.

So, now it's onto nursery and names. We are keeping the yet to be decided name under wraps until the little on makes his appearance, just to keep things nice :)

I was so blessed last night to have my girls come over to get stuff I had ready for their big garage sale this morning for their missions trip to Ecuador! AHHH! I can't believe how much stuff I was able to get rid of, and how great my house feels now! I hope they make alot of money so they can go bless some orphans, I am so proud of them!

Well, have a great day! We will!

Love this!

2010-06-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

Reece's Rainbow is so awesome and literally helping families to save these little lives! This is their 4 year anniversary video, so good. You might see a little one you recognize! :)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

There is a family in the Ukraine right now adopting a little boy named Joseph with Down syndrome. While there, there was a little girl in a pink skirt who loved them so much. They decided to try to adopt her too while there. She has an unrepaired cleft palate and HIV and the sweetest heart. While pursuing this last minute adoption, Mrs. Urban started becoming overwhelmed with her special needs and all it took to adopt her. Her husband wrote her this:

Lk 10:30-35
Jesus answered by telling a story. There was once a child living in an
orphanage near Kiev. On her way into this world she was infected with a deadly
disease from her mother. She left her, not caring wether her daughter lived or
died. Care takers took her to the orphanage where they watched her for 5 years.

Luckily, the pastor was on his way down the same road, but when he saw the
little girl, he angled across to the other side, and avoided her, reasoning one
must use their God-given wisdom in these situations.

Then a local Christian man, showed up at the orphanage; he also avoided the
hurting little girl saying to himself, someone will eventually care for her. I
have 3 children now and they are all I can handle. I just can't take on another
responsibility. I cannot afford to send 4 kids to college.

Then, a man who saw God's heart traveled down the road, on purpose, and came
to her orphanage to visit the beautiful young girl. When he saw the little
girl's condition, his heart went out to her with overwhelming compassion and
love.

He gave her medical attention, and special medicine to help her get better.
Then he lifted her into his arms and led her through the court system of her
country, all along helping her feel loved, wanted, special and valued.

Then one morning he took out money and a large stack of papers and gave them
to a judge, saying, Take good care of her for 10 days. I will be back and
take her to my home to live with me and my family for the rest of her life.
Please allow her to become my beautiful daughter. We will love her. We will care
for her. We will be her forever family.

4 month pregnant?

2010-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I guess I don't usually feel pregnant. Last night I hung out with 2 pregnant friends with their round bellies, and felt like mine is still needing to come out into the light!

Yesterday, Andrew took a picture of my four month belly just to show that there may just be a baby in there.

I feel like I am trying to look pregnant, haha! My day will come, I'm sure.

Burdened...

2010-06-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones, or what, but I have recently been finding myself overwhemingly burdened for little Jacob. I have been having dreams of trying to find him in Bulgaria, walking up in the mornings thinking about him, pleading with God to find him a family, then not being able to go back to sleep. It pains me to think of him lying alone in an awful crib all day.

Today I asked God to take the burden from me, but then retracted that prayer. Should I be less burdened? Should I continue my life happy and ignorant to the fact that this little one never even sees sunshine, or feels a loving embrace? Is that what I want? Selfishly, yes, sometimes, but I know it's not right. It's ok to be burdened, to want something better for someone I have never met. I know God care deeply for His children, that He is ANGRY when they are mistreated, and that those who reach out to help these children are greatly rewarded here on earth and in Heaven.

Here are two families and children who have recently given me hope (and actually more burden) for Jacob. The first is a family who recently adopted a little girl with almost the same situation as Jacob; Almost 5, kept in a crib all day every day, fed only bottles, 14lbs, and she was heavily medicated to keep her sleeping and silent at all times with a medication that was toxic. This family has had her home for about 6 weeks, and I can see the rapid change and growth in her:

In a matter of weeks, this little girl, so similar to Jacob in their inhumane treatment when from this:

To this:

I don't know if this little girl had ever smiled before, ever felt happiness before. Read about this amazing, and current transformations here: www.nogreaterjoymom.com

The other family adopted a little boy named Andrew from Bulgaria of all places who is blind, and kept in his crib his entire life for 5+ years. His adoptive parents even saw some abuse towards him while visiting. When they first got him, he was so weak, he couldn't even lift his head and ate from a bottle. He is now walking. Watch this video of their first night with him: http://blessedbyachild.blogspot.com/2010/06/watch-this-video-of-andrew-first-nite.html

So, yes, these stories bless me. They give me hope for Jacob and his potential. But they also frighten me to know that there is so much of a chance that this potential could be lost. That he will remain in that godawful crib for the rest of his, what will be, short life and never swing, smile, walk or be rocked to sleep.

So now what? I don't know. I really don't. Our art fundraiser got pushed back until August, the month before his 5th birthday. Please pray for him, donate, or suggest to me a great idea that could help him. Think about taking him into your home, or suggest it to some momma you know.

The cutest cake!

2010-06-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

How badly do I need to make this cake!?

I also love the dotted table cloth it is on :)

Perhaps I should make it for a sweet girl named Hilary who is returning from a missions trip to Fiji today! I am just so proud of that awesome girl!

The first day of bible study she proudly announced, "I don't believe really in the bible!" "That's alright," we said. "We are happy you are here and you can believe anything you want!"

Well, now look at this angel serving the Lord with her whole heart the mothers and children in need across the globe in Fiji! God is so good and changes hearts with his love and truth!

(She the cute blond one holding the child.)

p.s. She LOVES owls, so on her first bible study back, I think this cake will be a great celebration! So proud of you Hil!

A poem about children with Ds

2010-05-31T21:48:00.000-07:00

My face may be different
But my feelings the same

I laugh and I cry
And I take pride in my gains

I was sent here among you
To teach you to love
As God in the heavens
Looks down from above

To Him I'm no different
His love knows no bounds
It's those here among you
In cities and towns

That judge me by standards
That man has imparted
But this family I've chosen
Will help me get started

For I'm one of the children
So special and few
That came here to learn
The same lessons as you

That love is acceptance
It must come from the heart
We all have the same purpose
Though not the same start

The Lord gave me life
To live and embrace
And I'll do it as you do
But at my own pace

-Connor, waiting for his family

-Victoria, waiting for her family

-Trenton, waiting for his family too

Updated medical info on Jacob :(

2010-05-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, this description just makes me want to cry. He is being treated so unfairly, but you can see that he wants to be learning and active. This boy needs a mommy quick to rescue him. 14 pounds!?!?!? For an almost 5 year old, that is just pitiful, just wrong. Poor baby.

Boy, DOB: September 10, 2005
Main diagnosis: Down syndrome
lagging behind in physical and mental development

He has already been transferred to a mental institution

Jacob is over 4 years old and weighs just 14 pounds. He is still very much a baby, even though he’s already been transferred to an institution. He lives in an environment with children that are completely cared for by staff and does not have opportunities outside of the institution.
His motor skills are significantly delayed. He can sit up unassisted, but does not crawl or walk. His report says that most of his time is spent lying in a bed. He shows interest in his environment and in toys and other objects. He recognizes his name and responds to it. His speech is significantly delayed but he is beginning to make sounds. He eats from a bottle and does attempt to hold the bottle by himself.

SINGLE MOMS, OLDER PARENTS, & LARGE FAMILIES WELCOME, EASY TRAVEL

Oh my, he just needs a little love. A little stimulation. Maybe to be put in a walker, or jolly jumper to get his legs stronger. A family would change his life. Please spread the word of this boy.

2010-05-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

How is your week going? Mine is just fine. Last night when I walked into small group, I was shouted at, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" and surrounded by sorbet colored ballons and streamers. My girls are so sweet.

Today, my husband tore up my to do list, and put me on bed rest. I am sick, and have been much longer than I ever have been. I have a cold, a frightful cough, and the flu :( To make matters worse, my doctor has canceled on me twice, this week and last week, so I have been have these nightmares the past two nights of sonograms with crying, sick babies, etc.

My cat lucy is so sweet. All she wants to do it cuddle. Piper on the other hand... all she wants to do it demand. Yesterday I had a sardine samwhich (seriously) for lunch, and she cried her eyes out the entire time. Haha, I gave her the juice.

Austin Blogging

2010-05-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

We're in Austin, and we love it. The food, the people, the things to do, the open spaces. I'm not gonna lie, we are so happy being here.

"I've never been happier since I moved to Austin," said out super cute, shy waiter who was about 19, then drew us a map to his favorite local spot.

Ok, so first today we went to Ladybird park. It was nice. A bunch of joggers runnin around it. Lots of fish ready to be caught.

Families on bikes, couples with picnics. You get the idea.

SO then we were off to Clarksville, on the way, I saw this:

hmmm, looks like things are doing better than back in Cali.

The food here has been incredible. For lunch today we ate at Sago, some modern Mexican place. I'm telling ya, delish. Last night we has more mexican outside in a field with large shade trees strung up with twinkle lights. It was pretty idealic. Good amount of people out too, but never crowded. The weather is warm enough at night to eat outside in shorts and a shirt.

After lunch we went to a street called "South Congress" where we stopped at some cafe's, pet some rescue animals and poked around. It was awesome.

Here are some SoCo memories:

Mmm, my Texas Tea from this place:

It's called:

There are alot of activists in Austin, including for animals. They had the cutest dogs and puppies being rescued. This was Paris, she loved me and was going to be killed this morning, but these guys rescued her. Cute in a bandana!

There is an awesome used clothing store here with a pair of boots Andrew has his eye on. We might swing by tomorrow and pick 'em up. Texas boots, can't beat em.

This was a delicious smelling open air market. Pass the bbq sauce. You can kinda see me in this next shot.

we love austin

This guys was awesome!

Imagine when you're looking at this that you're smelling the best BBQ ever, and listening to live musica by the guy in orange shorts.

A belly shot, proving it's true

Oh my! Perfect!

Can't be Texas without some open spaces, right? A whole lot of land out here, it's wonderful.

Tonight we're getting some real Texas BBQ, seeing Mason Jennings play on 5th, and touring downtown. Tomorrow we're going swimming at the green belt, and maybe jumping off some big rocks while we're at it.

Hope you liked the pictures as much as I liked taking them!

My heart is SO happy!

2010-05-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is totally not just for dads, because it spoke to my heart too!

Speaking of hearts, mine is just BURSTING RIGHT NOW!

SUCH GOOD NEWS!

Sweet, beautiful Cordelia was committed to today! Cordelia was first placed on my heart by my friend Kate who began fund-raising for her. She is SO beautiful and now doesn't have to live life without a family!

She is just so sweet, be still my heart!

Another reason my heart is bursting, is becuase GOD IS GOOD, and let me tell you why (preach it girl)

Ok, so my high school girls and I made the cutest little prayer cards for Jacob.

Ok, so these might be hard to read from here, but they say:
1. Pray that a family commits to him soon.
2. Pray for his growth and development in the institution.
3. That he is shown love by his caretakers
4. That he knows Gods presence
5. That our group can raise enough money for him.

We passed them out last week, and have been praying for him daily. Fast forward 3 days from Wednesday, to Saturday. Saturday, my friend Jessica and I had planned a garage sale to raise money for her missions trip to Fiji. That same week, she received in the mail MORE than enough money to fund her trip. Praise the Lord, right, well, He's not done. Remember, six lovely young high school girls have been praying daily for Jacob for a couple days now.

"Why don't we STILL have the garage sale, but donate all the money to Jacob??"says Jessica, the night before.

WOW! I think, until Saturday morning...

when we realize we really don't have that much stuff to sell. She has a couple bags, I have two bags, and our first customers leave rolling their eyes at the waste of time.

Bummer.

I decide to go upstairs to Jessica's mom's room. Hoarder? Um, perhaps.

We slowly start to go through the items in her large room. (Which is devine intervention in it's self, have you seen the show, "Hoarders"? These people and there stuff don't usually part without screaming and crying, which only happened once during this garage sale) I find my self taking armfulls of item down to the sale, over and over again.

Nice stuff.

25 pairs of new shoes. 25 pairs of new jeans. 15 new purses. I mean, there was about fifty trips of NICE stuff. Jessica is wheeling and dealing below. She gives a fair price and sticks to it--she won't be taken advantage of. We are making money, alot of it.

The stale muffins we were selling from the Panniken sell like HOT CAKES. Ever last hard croissant and corn muffin. The people were delighted.

At noon, Jessica's mom's room has NEVER looked better, you can actually WALK in her closet. We count the total......

$430 FOR JACOB! NO JOKE! Has a random, almost unplanned garage sale ever made that much in history? The story of that boy with loaves and fishes come to mind. So.... strange? You know what I mean. Thank you God.

Wait--

Debbie's friend comes over and says if we sell his dirt bike for $400, we can have 300 for Jacob. We sold it. $300 more dollars for Jake. Now God's just showing off, and we LOVE it! :)

HURRAY!!! HURRAY!!!

Please keep praying for him, especially that a family commits to him soon! Oh buddy....

Justin

2010-04-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

We are still working hard to fundraise for Jacob, but while on Reeces Rainbow today, I noticed this sweet little baby named Justin.

He is only 1 and a half, and his only special need is a cleft pallate. Talk about minor! Can you imagine being born in another country with a cleft palate, so you are left alone in an orphanage? That's just crazy! He seems like a sweet, healthy boy!

If you know anyone who might be looking for a sweet baby boy to add to their family, will you mention little Justin. My old neighbor boy was born with a cleft palate and it was easily correctable with minor surgery.

Cute boy. Spread the word.

(www.reecesrainbow.org "other angels," orphanage 35)

Bottom of the Arch

2010-04-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

Did you know that below the "Arch" in St. Louis, there is a museum? Neither did I, until we stood in line to get up into that arch, only to find it was sold out for the day (who would have guessed it would be so popular, well, I suppose, what else are you going to do in St. Louis. In December)

So, we got out of line, and decided to peruse the museo de historia.

Some baseball players:

We ran into this guy

Almost got trampled by a BUFFALO!

Learned about the history of banking from this fine gent

All while not going up in the arch!

But I will say it was pretty cool. I felt like I was on a field trip.

"Carpet Baggers for life!" -Natalie

You know what I get alot of complimets on?

2010-04-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

My herbed foccaccia. Yum, that's right. Someone's coming over? Whip this baby together to serve with a lil balsamic and oil, and boy o boy, the guests are a raving.

Then, it doesn't matter if the rice is too dry, the fish too burned or the dessert spilling over onto the oven floor. This focaccia covers a multitude of sins.

Here is my recipe:

Ingredients

4 cups white flour, plus 2 tbsp for dusting
One pack yeast
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1 tsp olive oil for greasing
5-7 tbsp of mixed herbs you like. I use Herbs de Provonce, but you can use whatever you like
2-3 tbsp coarse sea salt (don't even think about using regular salt you weirdo!)

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in mixin' bowl
2. Pout in 3 tbsp of the exta-virgin olive oil and add the lukewarm water and herbs. Mix well with a wooden spoon or until it's all softee.
3. Lightly flour your counter or a cutting board, then kneed it for 8-10 minutes, or get your husband to do it. Mine enjoyed it and said it released some tension. (hah, whatever it takes :)
4. Place the dough in a bowl, cover with a clean cloth and let it rise in a ward place until it is double in size. Crazy! (about 45mins-1 hr.)

5. Turn the dough onto lightly floured surface and kneed again, but this time be gentle and don't knock out all the air. (Maybe don't let a husband do this part)
6. Gently roll out the dough on a cookie sheet greased with olive oil until it's about 3/4 of an inch thick (well, whatever, I usually just stretch it out until it mostly fills us a regular cookie sheet with a nice rounded rectangle)
7. Cover with a clean cloth and like rise in warm spot for 20-30 mins. Then, with a little stick thing (I use a wooden chop stick) make holes all over about 2 inches apart.
8. Drizzle with the rest of the olive oil, (you can kinda rub it around with your hand too) then toss all the big salt over it.
9. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 mins in center rack. Don't over cook, you want it soft and silky like butta'. Transfer to cooling rack ORRR....what I prefer is to slice it up right before guests come in LONG pieces, wrap them up in a lovely dish towel, and place in a serving bowl with oil and balsamic on the side. Then when someone goes to grab one, it comes out all steamy and delicious...OH MAN!

The usualy response it, 'Oh wow, this is so amazing, Amy. Can we be friends for life?'
To which I kindly remind them, 'Um, we'll see, I get that alot'

oh gosh...

2010-04-22T21:58:00.001-07:00

Little Lera Doll

such a little beauty :(

Heartbrake

2010-04-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

I guess sometimes when you dive into serving people, and your hearts are all intertwined with those whom you are serving, one day your heart will inevitably be broken.

My precious girls have been working so hard to raise money for these orphans. One attended an Orphan Care ministry meeting with me last Wednesday and spoke boldly of the needs of the kids on Reece's Rainbow, and particularly Jacob. Many in attendance wrote down the website and said that they indeed had never heard of it before. Last week, all the girls got up in front of the entire youth group, and shared how we felt God's leading to help these kids. They were very open and touching when they shared how helping these kids is a window into God's heart and has changed their world view profoundly, while urging other groups to "adopt" a child of their own.

We should have known. I mean, we asked God for this very situation. We asked God to lead us to someone in great need, someone who would otherwise be completely overlooked and cast aside. That was our exact prayer, "someone in desperate need." That is the night we found Jacob.

Recently, I wanted to know his medical records in case someone was interested in adopting him, I would be better able to share about this little peanut boy with the dark brown eyes and his long, beautiful lashes.

The response I got was this:

"Jacob has already been transferred to the institution."

oh no. Jacob...

Our poor baby. Our poor boy. Unfortunately, we know all too well what life is like in these places. It is not a place for humans, no place for children. Especially Jacob, he is just so little, and all he needs is a mom and a dad to give him the childhood he deserves, baby him, even though he is four. Don't you just want to hold him when you see him? Oh how he needs it...

I was very heart broken, and emailed the lady what the chances are the Jacob could even survive a place like that? She told me that the quality of life for children in mental institutions is very low, but, in Bulgaria where he lives, the care is better than in Serbia and Russia. The woman emailing me told me that she was in the process of adopting her son from a Bulgarian mental institution and he is seven years old.

So, in this heartbreak there is hope, at least we pray, somehow. Hope that someone will find Jacob, the little lost lamb, and rescue him. A little lost treasure, hidden in a dark place.

I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:3

Each passing day is a day lost for him. My group is going to work really hard, but I was also wondering if you would be able to make a donation today. I know we all have things we need to buy and do with it, I understand that really well. But, I know that this little boy's life literally depends on donations towards his fund. I honestly believe that if he has $10,000 in his fund, a family could have what they need to go rescue him. Wouldn't it be amazing if 100 people each donated $100?

If you would like to be a part of saving his life, please, please, PLEASE donate.

1. visit www.reecesrainbow.org
2. click donate
3. In the donation note, be sure to mention Jacob #840

If you don't have the money to spare, will you please pray for him. Print out his picture, hang it on your fridge and as a family pray for him each day?

Thank you.

p.s. I truly believe this little boy is so beautiful, he really is a lost treasure looking for his family.

A Family Living Boldly

2010-04-03T20:39:00.001-07:00

I saw this video a few months ago and since then have been searching and searching for it! I love it! I finally just found it right now so I am putting it here so I can watch it whenever I want.

Mommy and Daddy Day out was a SUCCESS!!!

2010-03-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

This was, by far, the best idea we have ever had. (By we, I mean our lovely friend Sharon) To raise money for our little orphan (admit it, he's the cutest), we decided to just have a fun day together. A day of fun in the sun, with the cutest kids in all of San Diego county, playing games, blowing bubbles, eating hummus and making visors (hello summer!) all while spending quality time together!

How awesome are these high school girls to give up a Saturday to help this sweet boy!?

Check out a few of our photos from this great day:

Sign ups!

I'm pretty sure bubbles are magic. One boy had a routine: Put wand in

tub, pick up dripping stick, yell "BUBBLES!" with a huge smile,

and lastly wave frantically, now laughing. Repeat for 25 minutes. I know, cute, right?

What a beauty!

Such a talented boy

Beep Beep! Look out kids!

Pass the apples! Our healthy snack of the day!

Cute carrot tops (Savannah is the voice behind our choice in Jacob :)

"You come here often?"

Making our lovely and practical craft. No, they are not for sale

Tah-Dah! This sweet boy sporting his new creation while making laps.

A work of ART!

Taming an Octopus

"I don't want to go on a cruise if there is rough waters, people would most likely get seasick."

This is what this smart boy was telling her, and yes, he said "rough waters"

Besties for life!

All for one little boy who has never blown bubbles or made a craft. A little boy who doesn't get to play outside or any hugs.

We love you Jacob, we pray that a family saves you one day.

Wanna know our total that we are putting towards Jacob with the funds raised from Mommy and Daddy's Day Out?

400 Dollars! Hurray! And a few sweet people said they would donate online because they couldn't come. Isn't that fantastic!?

My dream last night

2010-03-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it was really more of a nightmare. I had this crazy dream that Andrew and I flew to Bulgaria and visited Jacob's orphanage. When we found him, we picked him up, and held him up and tried to get him to stand, but his little legs were too weak even though he is four years old. He was wearing socks so his feet kept slipping and sliding on the floor. All I can remember was feeling so sad that he was so small and weak, and mad that nobody was doing a good job taking care of him.

Then some hefty women came in and told us that we were too late and that he was being transferred today, so move aside. I started crying and crying, and Andrew was telling them not to take him to the mental institution because he was too small and weak and he wouldn't survive there. But they took him anyway.

It was horrible. I woke up crying and started praying for him. Actually, I can't help crying right now remembering it. I have been praying for him all day, pleading with God to stir up a desire in the heart of a family to rescue him from his fate. I am praying someone will look past his poor picture and sweet a sweet boy when needs somebody.

PLEASE please please pray for him. He really does look like a sweet, well behaved boy. Please pray a family finds him quickly.

2010-03-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

This was written in December of last year. A family went to Russia to adopt a little girl named Nina. Little did they know, that Nina's orphanage would be full to the brim of children, wish they were their to pick their parents. This is the story of what this woman saw while she tried to visit her adopted daugther Nina:

Let me start by saying that Nina's orphanage is a good one. From what we have been told, it is one of the best orphanages here in Eastern Europe. The doctor at their orphanage is wonderful, she really cares about the children, and the workers are also all very caring. At least in the small ways they can and know.

Nina's house (this orphanage is made up of several houses) is getting remodeled. So as I walked inside, neither the doctor's office nor the room where we visited before were available. As a matter of fact, as I walked in I wondered where in the world I would visit her. So I walked straight to her room, as far as I could tell, it was the only one with children. My guess is that the other kids have been moved temporarily to the other houses.

I walked in, and all the children in Nina's groupa were playing in the big playpen. Some of the kids saw me and tried to get my attention. A little girl with CP (this was Oksana -Erin) saw me and started to cry, reaching out to me and calling me "mama." Talk about heart wrenching.

The workers found themselves in a predicament, so what was their solution? They brought a little table and a chair with a stool for me. I realized then, they were going to have me visit with Nina right there, in that room, and please ignore the other children because any attention I give them makes them very agitated.

When I visit Nina I bring toys for her in a bag, along with candy and snacks. Nina knows this, and of course wants to play. Imagine doing this in front of the other children. Do you see my dilema? I can't give her candy and not the other kids! I can't give her a snack and not them! The little girl, Oskana, kept crying for me, or for a mama, and even though it was Russian I underestood what she was saying, "I want a mama! I want a mama!" And I know the workers were telling her to stop, that I was Nina's mama. So she cried some more, "I want a mama too!"

I wanted to scoop her up, to give her a big hug. And how I wished I could have found her a mama, and tell her, "See! Here is your mama!" I decided maybe it would be a good idea to blow bubbles for all the kids. Oskana stopped crying and loved the bubbles. So did the other kids, and Nina. I realized Nina was confused, why was I not playing with her? And I really did not want this to become a question in her heart, "Is she here for me or for them?" Her little face was really confused. Not jealous, not throwing a fit, but I could tell she did not understand. Bubbles were great, but with the children so spread out it was taking me a while to go around the room and get enough bubbles for all of them.

A little girl rocked and rocked herself. Okay, I just don't know how to describe this, she violently rocked herself against the playpen. She was hitting it hard. The workers kept asking her to stop. Obviously having me there was causing her some distress. Rock, rock, rock. She wouldn't stop.

I had to leave the room, me being there was too much for these children. These children who desperately want a mama. They do not understand "She is Nina's mama." All they know, is that I am someone's mama, and why in the world won't I get them and pick them up.

Two simple steps to freedom

2010-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Step one:

Ok, go now and secreetly plan a date night with your spouce on Google for the 27th.

Step two:

Sign your kids up for this day o' fun!

Tah-Dah! Perfect day of fun for the whole family, while saving a life? Still not enough? Well, you can also adopt Jacob from www.reecesrainbow.org.

Be sure to pass this amazing info on to friends with kids along with my step by step procedure.

2010-03-13T11:06:00.001-08:00

to you...

2010-03-04T23:09:00.000-08:00

I am waiting...somewhere far...far...away on the other side of the world. I may not know who you are or what you look like, but some how deep in my heart I know you are out there. That one day you will come and find me. It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time... I wish it could be easier. But I know that the ones who come for me will not count the cost. They will only see the joy of finding me. For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless. Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else? Asking....why my life couldn't have been different. It is so lonely...Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know something is missing... I know in my heart I need a place to call home. My arms long to be wrapped in a father's embrace.. I long to be saved by a mother's love... Gazing out the orphanage window I offer a prayer of hope,"Oh, God, please help them come quickly." Even as I lay there in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear I am not alone, Holy hands guard my steps, sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart. The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call. He whispers his promises in my ear. I listen with hope to His voice. But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me. The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth. I wonder how one little child, so lost can be found? Yet he calms my heart and assures me, that He will find you. That he will make sure that you hear His voice clearly. He has promised me that He will make a way through the fields. That he will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door. My prayer is... When he speaks... Please don't forget to listen... When he calls don't be too afraid to go. For I am waiting somewhere, far,...far...away, on the other side of the world... TO COME HOME.

-by Jan Beazely

Peanut

2010-02-24T22:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight, seven young women sat around my living room, dining on pita chips and warm chocolate chip cookies, as we shared excitedly about our weeks. Finally, I told them that I asked to have small group at my house because I was too overwhelmed to pick an orphan off of Reece's Rainbow on my own. I was overwhelmed knowing that while one sweet face would be chosen, the others would not be. While one will have a chance for a home, the others face being sent to an institution. One could have a mama to rock them to sleep, while the others rock themselves to sleep (very common in orphanages).

We decided to go to God in that moment. We retreated to Him who loves these precious children when their parents have forsaken them. We asked God to lead us to someone in need, someone in desperate need. We prayed that we could honor them, and humbly serve this child. First, we knew that we wouldn't pick a baby this time. We also decided that we would pick a boy, because less orphaned boys end up finding families. So, we clicked on "waiting children" and went to "Most at Risk, ages 3-5." Our faces began glowing by the light of the computer as we slowly began scrolling through the precious faces staring out at us, pleading for parents. We couldn't pass one face without wishing we could chose them to love on, "ooo's" and "ahhs" filled my living room. Hillary was secretary, and we wrote down our initial names, just shouting them out--14 of them! Sweet boys, and a couple girls just because of how precious they were! We swooned over each face, discussed our favorites, until I finally had to say, "We each need to pick one, write their name down, then draw them all out!"

The hearts of the girls in my small group are very beautiful. The boy I wanted wasn't picked. I like Sterling, because, well, he is really cute. I quickly wrote down Sterling's name, tossed it into the pot, then in that moment went to go finish the cookies. It must have been God's timing because I wasn't there for those few minutes to champion Sterling, while my girls discussed one other boy before writing his name down. They like him for two reasons; 1. He wasn't as cute, and 2. He has $0 in his adoption fund.

$0!!!! $0 for his entire life.

A note in red under his picture says, "URGENT NEED! HE WILL BE TRANSFERRED SOON IF HE IS NOT ADOPTED!"

We printed out his picture, and prayed for him, for God to wrap his arms around him, to comfort him in his crib, to whisper to him that he is loved and cherished, and that we will work very hard for his mommy and daddy to come rescue him soon. To help him grow and be healthy.

We are hitting the schools selling candy for him tomorrow. Will you please join with us in prayer for him. His name is Jacob and his life is in the balance. He has a small window of time to be rescued. Please pray for a family to adopt him. Please my for my small group to be resourceful and find ways to fill his fund, please pray we encounter generous hearts. Please pray for his health, physical and emotional.

I can't wait to show his picture to you! I now think he IS the cutest! I think he is precious! Such a tiny little peanut. Any family would be blessed beyond belief to have this little on at the breakfast table, to have splashing at bathtime, or saying nightly prayers with.

We love you dearly Jacob, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You deserve love.

Our fear is that we won't be able to think of enough ideas to fundraise for little Jacob, that we won't be able to fill his fund enough to be adopted before he is transferred! If you have ANY ideas, any at all, please share them! Right now--we are selling airheads! I mean, we'll pretty much do anything. If you want to donate directly, visit www.reecesrainbow.org, and in the donation note, write: Jacob # 840

the boy and me

2010-02-19T22:57:00.000-08:00

Braden and I on one of our trips to the "buttercup tree" on a nature walk.

Photo by Patrick Martin

One less...

2010-02-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

There is one less orphan in the world...

There is one less child on the Waiting Childrens list on Reece's Rainbow

One less baby needing to rock herself to sleep each night...

On less baby forgotten in her crib.

Anna was adopted today.

"Anna has beaten extraordinary odds - she has been adopted - the funds raised (and of course prayers) of several people she will never meet helped her find her way to a forever family. Kids with special needs VERY rarely get adopted - it is nothing short of a miracle "

-My friend Kate, orphan advocate and adoption facilitator

Oh sweet girl...

This very day, Anna's forever family commited to her. Because of God. Because six HIGH SCHOOL girls let God work through them. They gave up their time with friends, tv time, activities and held garage sales, and collected money from anyone who would listen. They listened to Him, became the light of the world to stand up for one little orphan. Our memory verse before the week before we found Reeces Rainbow:

James 1:27 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Andrea Roberts, the director of Reeces Rainbow wrote me an email thanking us for our efforts, and said our fundrasing and prayers worked!! She even asked us to chose another child. What an honor!

p.s. People magazine is doing a segment on Andrea Roberts in the newest issue coming out Feb.19th! Pick up a copy and look for her in their 'heros' section!!

Sooo....

We're celebrating!
Celebrating life,
celebrating God's goodness,
celebrating new beginnings for one little baby. One of God's most precious daughters, even when her country thinks otherwise.

Please praise the Lord, He is so good. And pray for Anna and her new family as they begin the adoption journey.

We love you Baby Anna, you are precious in His sight, and ours.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me"

Matthew 25:35-40

Anna

2010-02-15T23:37:00.000-08:00

First I want to start by thanking everyone that opened up their hearts to me and are praying for me. I'm only 18 months old and in an eastern European orphanage, and I can hardly believe how many people’s lives I have already touched. 2 months ago I was unwanted, unloved, undesired, and considered disposable…

But the truth is, I am God’s masterpiece- fearfully and wonderfully made! He knitted me together in my birth mother’s womb, and in His book were written. And now, by the grace of God, there are many people who think that my life is valuable. I have girls in my life that are more of a mommy to me than I have ever experienced before. Hillary, Natalie, Kelly, Mandy and Tori pray for me, work hard to save money for me and tell others about me. How lucky and I?! They love me, they think I'm special. Now I am just waiting for my mommy and daddy to come pick me up and take me home. I'm somebody's baby girl.

Something horribly sad, then happy

2010-02-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the first thing I have to show you is the reason why we are scrambling to find money for baby Anna. If she does not get adopted by age 4, she will be sent here, were she has an 80% chance of not surviving her first year. PLEASE WATCH, Goodmorning America was lucky to capture these shots, because it's usually illegal.

No one would want their child to go to this horrible place. So, now for the good news! Although we are far from our $5,000 goal for baby Anna's adoption fund, we just sent some money today totaling $412!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HURRAY! Don't worry baby girl, we'll keep working and praying for a mommy and daddy to come rescue you soon!

We've already started to refill our collection:

If you're reading this and would be willing to make a donation, please let me know, or visit

www.reecesrainbow.org and donate to her from there!

To Donate:

www.reecesrainbow.org

-click Waiting Children

-click Children with Downsydrom, 0-2

-click Donate

-In the note say, (You can just copy and paste :)

Donation for Anna 2, in orphanage (9)

(There's a couple Annas, so be sure to say Anna 2, orphanage (9) :)

Thanks, I appreciate you reading this :)

Love,

Amy

Two things I like

2010-01-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

A good snack

The strange places my cats chose to nap; a fallen bathing suit box, or earth friendly bag.

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-20T23:29:00.000-08:00

I can barely believe this story I'm about to tell you. Each time I tell it, I still can't quite believe it.

So, tonight I brought to bible study a picture of little Sasha, the little orphan with no family. My girls fell in love with him, and raised $22 that night for him, while brainstorming many ways to raise money (the girls in my group are super cute). We decided to do a walk-a-thon, garage sale and collect coins from everyone we know. I told them my heart was kind of broken while picking Sasha, because there are so many children on the site that need homes. I told them there was a particular girl named Anna who stole my heart, and is in an orphanage which is described as:

"Regrettably, this orphanage is one of the poorer ones, with very little outside aid and very little hope. All of the children are tiny and undernourished. These children are immediately transferred at 4, and have little chance of survival where they are sent. All of our waiting children need families, but these have a critical need. Please consider adopting her soon!"

We decided that once Sasha got adopted, we could fundraise for little, really little, Anna. We ended the night each praying:

"God, please be with baby Sasha right now, alone in his crib, give him extra comfort tonight Lord, and bring him his own mommy and daddy to love him, amen." -we each prayed, as we also prayed for each other.

I promised the girls as I left that I would email them the link for a picture of Sasha to show their parents. When I got home, I logged onto www.reecesrainbow.org, clicked onto children 0-2, and scrolled down for Sasha, but where was he!? I can't find him. I became panicky! I saw all the other 30 babies, but no Sasha. Then, I read that Sasha was adopted this very night, during the two hours of small group.......are you kidding!? SASHA WAS ADOPTED TONIGHT!? I mean seriously...so I got down on my knees and praised our father in heaven.

Please don't think of this as a coincidence. Out of 147 million orphans in the world, do you know how hard it is for a child with Down Syndrome to get adopted? These kids aren't flying off this adoption site. Isn't this next verse so true.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" EPHESIANS 3:20

I kind of love that these high school girls are working together to help orphans. That is so God. Many people would imagine that they don't have alot to offer orphans being that they don't have jobs, money, very much extra time and are you so young. All they have is a love for God and His holy spirit guiding them, but isn't that more than enough! That is so God to use people who wouldn't seem effective in huge ways. God is so God and wants to use us, any of us for His purposes.

I would like to present you with Anna. This sweet precious, daughter of God is the next little girl to find a forever family. All our money and effort will go to her.

PLEASE!!!

-PRAY FOR HER to find a loving mama and papa, a family all her one. The one she deserves.

-PLEASE DONATE! Seriously, that is what makes a differences for many families being able to adopt or not. So far, we still just have our $22! Let's make it grow and get her out of that nasty place!

Why am I blessed?

2010-01-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

So has God ever called you to do something? And as soon as He does, it sounds pretty amazing, but then even more scary than amazing?

Me too.

Every time. Anytime God asks me to do something, I am immediately thrown into this mind battle where I am choosing between my own comfort and not stepping out in faith, and trusting God, taking a deep breath and that first step...

I am trying to get used to the fear that creeps into my heart as soon as God guides me to his will. The only thing that helps me move forward, is remembering that when I DO choose to trust him and do the crazy thing he's telling me, I experience a waterfall of blessings that I can't begin to describe. Then, I start to realize what faith is. Then I start to realize what my life should be about. Then I see who God is.

For instance, the first time God told me to go to Mexico with friends to an orphanage. I loved that God would ask! Then I was freaked! And stressed! "No God, this is too stressful, what if everyone hates it, what if we all die in gun fire, what if I can't organize everyone and everything, what if..."

Well, God kept pressing it on my heart, despite my fussing, and on the way home from Mexico, every single one of us felt dirty, sweaty, and like we had the best, most blessed and fun day of our lives. We were filled up with the good things in this world, we were filled up with God. We were forever changed. And I was afraid of what?

So then this other time, this past summer, He asked me to lead a high school bible study. "Great Idea!" I first thought! Then, while driving to meet the youth pastor a couple days after I sent my inquiry email, I realized God had made a mistake!!!! A HORRIBLE MISTAKE! How could he ask me to do this!?? I don't have time for this, nor do I even want to! I don't know these girls, I don't know what to say to them, and I'm pretty sure I am feeling nauseous right now! (none of this is an exaggeration of how I was feeling on my way to Starbucks. And can I just say I am usually never an anxious person, I mean, never, which is why this is so strange.)

Well, I made that meeting. I said I might want 9th grade, she said she needed me in 11th. Before the first night of bible study, I was pretty sure I couldn't do this, and even more sure that I didn't even like high schoolers.

Fast forward six months to tonight. Two of my amazing, beautiful girls just left my house after dinner with Andrew and I, while we discussed God, His goodness, how they want to serve him in their lives, and how we can serve him in our group. We decided to;

1. Organize and take little lunch sacks of food, toiletries and bible verses to some of the mexican immigrants in need of work.
2. Serve a meal at "Bread of Life" soup kitchen next month
3. And lastly, fund raise, for the adoption fund of Sasha. Who is Sasha? Check him out, this little boy is in great need of help! We're thinking of doing candy sales, and anything else we can think of! (If you have an idea, please share!)

http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/waitingchildgallery.html
Go to children 0-2, and scroll down a couple to Sasha! Many families have a heart to adopt children with down syndrome, but don't have the fiances for the huge cost! So, we are going to raise money any way we can, so that Sasha can have his own loving mommy, and caring papa.

All this to say, I couldn't imagine my life without my little 11th grade bible study, or without the amazing girls who have touched my life a million times more than I touched theirs. I seriously look forward to it every week! Its so fun, and we are so close now.

All this even more to say, that I can't wait for the day, that when I experience the fear that accompanies God's call to action, I can overcome it with joy and anticipation knowing that God is pretty smart, knows what He's doing, and is in the business of blessing lives!

Ok so seriously, contact me if you want to donate to the sasha fund, please!!

*UPDATE! The next Wednesday I brought his picture to small group, and we each lifted him up in prayer. When we got home, he was adopted. Before I left, he wasn't.*

Happy Birthday Miriam!

2010-01-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

Last night at the orphanage, Miriam turn 12 years old so we celebrated with singing, then dined on cake. While we ate, all the teen girls asked me every detail of my proposal and why I don't have children yet. :)

extra pizza

2010-01-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

"Are you hungry? Would you like some pizza?"

Last night was the last night of Urbana. The first night we got here, we asked each other, "What are we even doing here?" Last night, New Years eve 2009 as we sang out with 17,000 other people praise to God in English, Spanish, Swahili and Hindi. It was a different kind of worship for me, I think for all of us.

You know when you look at some one differently, when you get to know their heart more. How you desire to hear someone speak more often when you realize how deep their wisdom is? Maybe you were so busy speaking you never listened before, too busy with other things to realize how unique and special they were. We "look" at God differently, because we see him more fully. His character, his movement and his heart.

Each day at Urbana, we experienced God more deeply for two reasons. They may sound basic--because they are. Our recent connection with God, which has been overwhelmingly altering, joyful, etc., includes no secret steps or rituals. We didn't learn a secret prayer. It's so easy that we often just overlook it.

1. The bible (I know, hold on, don't tune out yet.)
2. Seeing what God is currently, right now doing globally to save lives. To help the 24,000 people who die a day from poverty.

OK, so the bible--I know, basic. But I guess Andrew and I just kind of stick to the New Testament, maybe some Psalms or proverbs, right? Well, what stuck out to us was hearing seminars spoken by these amazing people, who do great things for God, and each one claims sections of the bible that I NEVER pay attention to as their own ministy section of the bible.

examples
-Abner who runs a Latino outreach in urban LA starts every bible study studying the story of Moses. How Moses didn't feel like he belonged with the Egyptians where he lives, or with the Hebrew, the land of his heritage. Abner says that the immigrants who have moved to America from Latin America feel like God understands them when they read this story. When it says that Moses brother had to speak for him because Moses who is said to "not speak well," Americans imply he has a speech impediment, the Latinos understand it differently, and know how it feels to "not speak well" in the land they live.

One speaker claimed the book of Amos for his ministry, another found inspiration in Hosea when sent out, "Chosen People Ministries" point Jews to their Messiah throughout the old testament, especially Isaiah. Ruth Padilla, a missionary in Costa Rica speaks of Joseph constantly to the people she's ministering to. Daryl McCarthy shared from Ezekiel which shot straight through Andrew and my heart.

Andrew and I look at the Bible with new eyes, and consequently God. He knew what he was doing when he put those "weird" books in the bible. That's why the bible is the living word of God, and why it's for every person. How he can speak to the heart of each person on this each despite their country, nationality, or position. So now we're paging through it, and loving it.

NEEXTTT, we see what God's doing. In America we don't really see people dying of starvation. We don't really see poor people very often. But we saw them this week, and we saw God seeking them. There is a section called"Global Connections" center in Urbana. Name a people group, anywhere in the world, and there is a ministry set up to meet their needs. We saw thousands of college students sign up to do all sorts of things around the world. Indian slum ministries to Afghanistan outreach, Italy to Bolivian prostitutes, China and Russian Jews. Many organizations set up to save the overwhelming amount of slaves in our world. Children used as sex slaves in southeast Asia behind locked doors, raped for pay.

Us?

Well, I got in trouble for bringing my camera in. Yep. I was kindly told that many of the people who run these ministries work in a very sensitive areas, in countries where Christianity is outlawed, and if their pictures get out on the internet they could be in danger.

Well, since I don't want to add to the 480 Christian martyrs a day, I tucked my camera away.

I was shown in God's word his desires for the people in the world, met examples of people living in constant service like Jesus risking their lives to help the poor and oppressed, and saw what God is doing globally. It's just sad to see how much people are needed to go and serve, to be willing to give up comfort for doing what is desperately needed. We live in a real time world, where people live and die each day without knowing Jesus.

"If you don't serve the people around you in your community, you have no business being a missionary. An over the ocean plane ride doesn't change people, or make people more spiritual."

Andrew and I are praying that God will open our eyes, and give us courage to serve the people we interact with or see on a daily basis. Tonight we ordered a medium pizza, but could only eat half. While driving around town, the snow lightly falling outside in the 17 degree weather, I felt sad thinking how our pizza would go bad in our hotel room without a fridge.

"God, show us someone hungry, so we can share this with them." My thoughts, 'you know, if I saw more hungry people, I could do this more often, we probably won't see anyone.'

Then we saw him sitting at a bus stop, at 11:30 pm, while it snowed.

"Let's give him the pizza"
"But, what if he's not homeless, we could offend him"
"Well, we could just ask, or something"
"But we already passed him"
"Let's just turn around."
"OK."

"Excuse me, sir. Are you hungry? Would you like some pizza?"

"YES! Oh, thankyou," he sputtered through his thick speech impediment as he limped excitedly towards us.

"Oh THANK YOU! God bless you, thank you!"

And we drove away and cried.

ME NEITHER!

2009-12-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

See told you they call Panera the wrong thing! And here's the proof!

Urbana, day 2. I don't even want to write this post knowing how poorly I will be able to convey even the slightest insight we heard today compared to how powerful the speakers were when they spoke. No, seriously, when I think back over our day, I just want to close my computer, but it was so powerful I can't.

First off, we are so lucky to be in the hotel we are in. Seriously, it's the best option!

Ok, so we went to two seminars today, 2pm and 4pm. The first one I want you to guess what the topic was, here are your clues:

1. 85% male population listening to this seminar
2. 90% asian population (which is alot even at Urbana)
3. Jokes were make about isomers and crystallization of impurities found in compounds

Guesses? Anyone?

The title was, "Reaching the scientific world with the gospel." All in attendance were undergraduate science students, post grad science students, or scientists who work in a lab. Wow, it was an amazing study on science, creation and athiesm. We were encouraged to read many of the books by Dawkins, Hitchens and other atheist writers in a group of others and share what we think. Many in the room already had, and found it very helpful to see what athiests believe, as well as to find the most common mistakes and misrepresentations that are said about Christian beliefs. Many are surprisingly basic.

But my favortie part was at the end when those in attendance were welcomed to stand up and share some of the experiences they have had, positive or negative, with sharing thier faith in the lab. I intend this in only the kindest way, I mean, nerdiness is loveable, right? But, some of the cutest nerds from all scientific fields stood up, pushed their glasses further up their noses, and shared their love of God and how it has played out. "As a paleontologist, some of my partners and I were on a dig for dinosaur bones and were telling me how Paul's letters were..." haha, that is a direct quote, but lacking without his awesome voice.

So, after this seminar, we casually strolled down the lane to get to the next seminar we chose. It was called "Follow Me To Freedom," and there were two speakers, John M. Perkins and Shane Claiborne. Maybe those names mean nothing to you, they didn't to me either, at the time. We waltzed into the conference room to this...

No room in the inn. No room for our butts. So we plopped down on the floor, as more and more people crammed in to hear these two guys.

John is an 80 year old black man from the south who has been beaten and brutalized by the hatred of racism. On Switchfoot's latest CD, a song is titled, The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues) about him. He was asked to serve in a role created by Obama, but refused becuase he didn't want to chose a political party, knowing that both sides are limiting and both represent wants of a fallen world, while only Jesus can fill our needs. He said he has great hope in our generation to be done with racism and seeing race first, and that he plans on living the last few years of his life serving God radically.

Shane is long dreadlocked hippie, has a southern accent and has served around the world, including with Mother Teresa. He is a founding partner of something called The Simple Way which is lived out locally, as days are spent feeding the hungry, doing collaborative arts with children, running a community store, hanging out with neighbors and reclaiming trash strewn lots by planting gardens. He does alot of work to expose the fundamental structures that create poverty and imagine alternatives to them. He writes and speaks about peacemaking, social justice and Jesus. Some of his books are Becoming an Answer to our Prayers, Jesus for President and The Irresistible Revolution.

"We need to be a people, not concerned with going 'up there,' but with bringing heaven down to earth." -Shane. And he lives it everyday, denying possessions and choosing to live among the poor.

He also said that each night when Mother Teresa would go pray with him and her other helpers, they would all remove their shoes. He noticed that her feet were grossly deformed. One of the sisters told him that they recieve the exact amount of shoe donations they need each year, and she never wanted to have a pair of shoes nicer than someone elses, so she would feel through to find the worst one, and wear them year after year, decade after decade. This made her feet to be very deformed.

"What if we all chose to put other's needs above our own like that? I don't believe that God didn't create enough resources to take care of everyone, but I do know that we need to change thinking and acting and idea of possessions. We live in a time of rich Christians and 24,000 people a day dying of poverty." -Shane

ok, so the title of this post was me neither. Best line of the night;

A man approached Mother Teresa and said, "WOW! I am so impressed by what you do, and the lives you change! It's so amazing, I couldn't do it for a million dollars!"

"Me neither!" she replied. "I would never do it for a million dollars, only because and for the surpassing love of Jesus Christ do I do this."

sassy and to the point, love it.

Hello from St. Louis!

2009-12-28T20:16:00.001-08:00

Brrrrr...... It is freeeeeeeeeeezing here! But, even though there is snow on the ground, it doesn't seem as cold as New York was last year. Thats good.

So, we have one full day of Urbana under our belts. Inspirational, uplifting, yes and yes, but there are a couple other things I want to touch on first.

1. This conference of 17,000 people, mostly college students, is full of asians! I mean, shocking amounts of asians! Apparently there are large asian Christian groups and clubs at all the various colleges. Tonight we sat at dinner with a delightful and shy asian college student who goes to Harvard ( a lot of asians are here from Harvard, seriously taking about YouTube kitten videos, seriously) who is majoring in statistics and who ate his entire meal in about 220 seconds...no joke. We were just taking our first bite when he said his goodbyes, and Pete came and sat down, making us feel better about "being too old to be here." He came to Urbana in 1996, and now runs a program called....called....oh dang, I can't remember, but his shirt said "2 Billion, unacceptable" about the 2 billion people on this earth who have never held a bible, have never met a Christian and who don't know Jesus. He was so kind, and asked us a million questions about us before he mentioned that he ran this "little group." Jeez, people here are so other's minded, weird :)

2. So, in review, #1. many asains, and now for #2 let me tell you that this poor city is BLOATED with people, seriously, I think they're a little overwhelmed. I mean, 17,000 people in a small area of a few blocks is insane. There was a line out the door at "Hardy's" (which normal people call carl's junior), and even more people at "St. Louis Bread Co." (which normal people call Panera). But what I love is that we see people going over and above to show kindness, and be friendly to the hotel staff and people who work in this city. We've gotten into it to, trying to remember people's names, and telling them when they doa good job, etc. One hotel worker told an Urbana staff that when everyone came, she felt like it was the first time people "saw" her while working in the hotel business.

But, even though that's good and all, we have learned ALOT of patience waiting in many LONG lines for pretty much anything around here (usually behind a group of asians, haha, ok, maybe just half the time). Luckily, no one's getting all huffy, cause everyone knows your a christian, so you have to put a smile on and work on your patience. No name calling or line jumping, even if you want to. That's what we did tonight while we waited in line for AN HOUR for dinner with all the other 17,000 people. (Urbana provides free dinner to us all, which we thought was awesome, then unawesome half hour into the line, then awesome again after another half hour when we were eating)

3. Asians, waiting, and my last random thing I have to tell you about Urbana is that apparently people found out we were coming, so wanted to drive their big "REPENT OR PERISH" bus down here from Washington, and pass out flyers to, well, repent or perish. We all believe it is most loving to smile, but ignore them. They are trained to engage in long debates, so we just walk on. Others pass out flyers for strange cults, called things like 12 TRIBES "where we share all our possesions, just like the bible wants, etc" but don't provide a bible verse to back up their claim. Well, the 12 tribes would do well in preschool where sharing is BIG!

4. We can see the arch from our hotel window.

YEEEESSSSS we went to amazing seminars, and met life changing people, heard startling facts and statistics ALL that I want to shout from the roof tops, but I'll save it for another day.

We're having a GREAT time though, and wish that everyone we knew was here

Ok, maybe one stat:
Today, 480 Christians were martyred. All while we sat back, drank our coffees and thought about maybe signing up to be greeters or which movie to see. 480 people risking everything to tell others about Jesus, while we sit worried what others might think.

Los Cuties

2009-12-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Check out this sweet video of Los Angelitos orphanage that Andrew went to yesterday to bring donations. You might fall in love!

Crazy Love

2009-12-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am reading the book Crazy Love in a bible study right now, which inspires and challenges us each night in an intense way. (We all go home each night ready to change the world ;) So, this story particularly caught my eye--because it's a miracle. WOW! I just LOOOOOOVE IT!

This is taken from the Hollis' Blog

"Most of you know by now, our family decided three years ago to forgo giving presents to one another during the holidays. Instead, we reach out and raise money for orphan ministries.

We just finished going through the book, "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan with our kids and decided this year, we wanted to be CRAZY for Jesus! He is so crazy about us, we wanted to share His love with everyone throughout the year, but especially during November and December.

Lydia (They're 11 year old daughter) took "CRAZY" to a whole new level, however, when she approached me (while her dad was on a mission trip in Africa) and asked if she raised $20,000.00 before Thanksgiving, could we adopt a little orphan girl, Darya, who has Down Syndrome in Eastern Europe. (A friend of ours adopted a little boy from the same orphanage and reported that Darya gets no attention at all....no one speaks to her or holds her.)

THAT WAS 8 DAYS AGO! Being a sensible 41 year old, I told Lydia she would never be able to raise $20,000.00 in 8 days.....she is only eleven. She didn't hear me. Instead, she asked again, "But if I do raise the money, will you adopt her?" I responded yes, if she raised that much money in 8 days, we would know God is in it and would travel to adopt Darya!

Tonight, I would like to report that Miss Lydia has raised $26,550.00 and the donations are still coming in. It just so happens, we have good friends who have been planning to adopt a little one with Down Syndrome through Reece's Rainbow, but lack of funds has delayed them. Not anymore, everything above $20,000.00 goes to them.

So, friends, you have been a part of a double Thanksgiving Miracle. Not only will Darya have a home ....but through your gifts, another little angel will be given hope for a family tomorrow too! God is so great, isn't He?

Lydia will be on the local Fox Morning Show tomorrow at 6:45am. I will try my very best to post it to the blog, because I know so many want to see it."

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!" Phil. 4:4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hug your kids tight because they are not sitting in an orphanage where no one hugs or loves them. God had other plans for little Darya, and had a family in mind for her, all it took was a brave 11 year old who had the courage to listen to God and not be discouraged by "impossibilities," but to live out the same crazy love God has for us.

The additional money is going to another family who is adopting another baby from eastern Europe, but who hadn't been able to make the funds necessary. Two babies coming home!

We need your help

2009-12-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of my tens of readers out there in the blog world! Tis I, Amy, from "Abundant Life" blog(hahahaha). Andrew and I are gearing up for Christmas by not decorating, or buying a tree, or having a Christmas party, but just feeling the holiday spirit, that counts, right? Well, we're enjoying it. :) This Christmas we are headed out to Phoenix, woot woot, to spend time with the Brockhaus fam, especially our FAVORITE nice, Miss Charlee, and our nephew(just a guess) chillin in the womb.

This year, we welcomed a little cutie named Milagros into our lives that I blogged about here.
Since then, we have received two letters and two drawings from her in Peru telling us about what she's doing, and thanking us for being her sponsor and telling us that she loves us is always "remembering us in her prayers." She is so cute. I almost feel bad, because we have her funding set up through direct deposit, which automatically pays for her once a month though our account, so we never actually do anything for her, but she is ever grateful. It feels good to get thanks for not really doing anything :)

A couple months ago, Compassion asked us if we would be willing to pray for two little girls who need sponsors. We said yes and signed up and got packs for two little girls in Rwanda. I took a picture of one girl to my 11th grade bible study to pray for her, we did and she got a sponsor that SAME NIGHT! That little girl's life will be changed forever because someone was willing to to love her. She will be told very soon that she has her own sponsor. It must be an exciting day in the life of a child when they hear that someone in America loves you enough to pay for you to get food, go to school and learn about the bible. Um, best day ever? I think so! Many poor children are at risk to believe the lie that they are worthless when in fact they are precious in the eyes of God and worth so much.

So now we have Iragena, who also lives in Rwanda that we are praying for. So I know this isn't the beast picture of her, but just know she is super cute with her fancy white dress and green sandals, standing in a little chalk circle for her picture to be taken.

She has 5 kids in her family, her father is sometimes employed as a farmer, she is in Kindergarten, she loves to jump rope, and she would love you forever if you chose her to sponsor. If you can't sponsor her, will you please pray for her? Pray for her for anything really, she lives in Rwanda for crying out loud, that's rough.

If you never meet her in person, you will meet her in heaven one day and we can all chat then!

Thanks for taking the time in reading this, and for praying for her. If you are reading my blog, I pretty much love you right now!

Love,
Amy

Some things I miss about Fiji

2009-12-03T09:01:00.001-08:00

Teaching everyday by a lake, surrounded by trees and green to these cute kids who really started to learn what we were teaching.

Fiji. Well, I miss Fiji. Look at this place. gorgeous.

Living waking to sleeping with 25 friends.

UPDATED!! giving blood has it's dangers...

2009-11-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

***********************
This is an update as to why giving blood was such a painful ordeal in my life. So, five, yes, five days after I gave blood, my arm was killing me. I mean, I couldn't grip things, I couldn't go for a run because the bouncing hurt my arm, I would wake up at night in pain, etc. So I called that blood bank, yes I did! I called them and I told them what bad shape my arm was in.

"Oh my gawd!" -The nurse said, "You should have called me earlier, hmmm, do you feel numbness and tingling?"

"YES!"

"Is it hard to grip objects?"

"YESS!!! (Hello, lady, I just told you that)"

"Yep, it sounds like they hit a nerve"

Hit a nerve? Are you kidding. All all things to hit with a sharp object in my arm, least of all I would want my nerve. I just want to let you all know, that even though it's embarrassing, when I hung up with her, I started crying just thinking about that incident, and now I know why! Cause hitting a nerve really hurts--so it makes me feel emotional. Now I don't feel so silly for loosing it in that blood bus infront of a slew of strangers.

And...they said if I need to go to the doctor, they will pay for it, but I think I'll wait it out a few more days. Goodness gracious, I just don't know if I will EVER be giving blood again in my near future.

So, here is the original story;

So I thought it would be a great idea to give blood last week; good cause, relatively easy, all in all a great way to spend a half hour...right?

I am going to jump to the end of my experience and tell you that giving blood was not fun, nor did it help anyone and left crying. Why? Well, first off, she jabbed that needle in, missed the vein and sent this electric shock of a pain up and down my forearm( remember this part...) She waved off my feeble attempts to complain about the pain as well as my sudden decent into wooziness, that is until a minute later--when to her alarm she notice I wasn't giving off any blood. "OH NO! OH NO!" she uttered as she began to wiggle the needle into my arm, causing my body to become on fire, and a rogue tear to escape my eye... "Oh No!" she repeated, "I'm going to have to take this out and repoke you!" Which she did before I could soundly protest.( I was feeling woozy or I would have been screaming) Upon entry the second time, my eyes were waterfalls and I almost passed out because when she missed the vein, she hit other objects. She decided to take it out, kept apologizing for doing a bad job and got me a cold press for my burning, colorless skin. I left crying and 3 days later, I still have an electric shock pain in my forearm! That night I couldn't stretch or bend my arm, and Andrew has to help me put on my pajamas...

Silly flobotomist!

incredible.

2009-11-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

Can I tell you how amazed I am right now? I have been reading this blog

about a girl who lives as a missionary in Uganda. Everyday, she makes a difference between life and death for hundreds of children and orphans, around 400 to be exact. They attend school, receive medical care, and come to Katie's home on Saturday for lunch, Bible study and play time. Some of these children are so sick and malnourished when she finds them they have open sores and are barely mobile. Some she has taken into her own personal care...

and did I mention that she's 21? And remember when I said she has taken some into her care? Read what she wrote recently about her life as a missionary and caretaker of so many without parents:

"I don't even know where to start to tell about all that God has been doing in our lives since I last wrote. I know that my words aren't even close to adequate to describe His goodness and love.

A week ago today, I turned twenty one. I sat in awe as I celebrated with 14 beautiful girls who call me Mommy. (Ok one actually calls me "Maamaaaamammaaa") I wondered why God chose me, little ole twenty one year old me, to be entrusted with so much. There is nothing greater than the responsibility of raising a child to love Jesus. Except maybe raising 14. Words are escaping me. Two years ago today, two we moved into this home. In the last years I have learned more about Jesus, about myself, and about life than I ever could have imagined. I am so thankful. So, so very thankful for the life you have given me Jesus, for entrusting me with so much when I deserve so little..."

I am awed at this young girl with open arms to these needy children. Are you kidding!? 14!? For them, it was her or death. Katie was so moved by Jesus, that she scooped them out of ditches and gutters and is giving them new life. I am continually inspired and moved by her writing, but also challenged. She wrote this a while back and I thought it couldn't be said better:

"I DO NOT BELIEVE that the God of the universe created too many children in His image and not enough love or food or care to go around. In fact I believe that He created the Body of Christ for just that, to help these little ones, the least of these. And I believe that except for a handful, the Body of Christ is failing. And its not just me who thinks this. When I'm angry, I like to research so that I can at least feel a bit justified in my rage ;) According to several differnt resources, there are an average of 147 million orphaned children in the world today (this statistic includes children who have lost only one parent as well), 11 million children starve to death each year or die from preventable, treatable illness. 8.5 million children work as child slaves, prostitutes, or in other horrific conditions (making things like that cute baby Gap dress Jane wore today...) 2.3 million children world wide are living with HIV.

That is 168.8 million needy children like Michael and Patricia. Seems like a big number, huh? It shouldn't, because there are 2.1 BILLION people on this earth who profess to be Christians. Jesus followers. Servants. Gospel live-ers. And if only 8 percent of those Christians would care for just ONE of these needy children, they would all be taken care of."

Ouch! What are we as Christians focusing our time and energy on? I need to be doing more, I need to be God's hands and feet. Thank you so Katie for living boldly for Christ, and for being an inspiration for the rest of us who aren't...

Now go get moved by her amazing writing and life: http://amazima.org/blog.html

mind laps

2009-11-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOSH! I am the slackingest blogger! I know, I know! So, what to write about...

Andrew and I sometimes wish we would sell all our earthly belongings and serve the poor in Guatelmala, yep, Guatelmala. Set up a home for the orphans on the street, revolutionize the education system by retraining their teachers, start small businesses to hand off to Guatemalans to support their families. Feed the poor, reach out to the needy, offer hope to the thousands living in the dump, pull kids out of the gutters who spend their afternoons sniffing paint out of a bottle, edify young mothers and teach them to love and care for their babies and not sell them....

These are things that fill our minds...but what about our relationships here? What about the American dream? What about family ties, and Thanksgiving turkey dinners, and tv time on the couch, and trader joes? What about savings accounts and dinner parties.

What about how our lives are a vapor. I believe that He wants us to love others so much that we go to extremes to help them. I believe He wants us to be known for giving. To stop the suffering of the world. To stop giving excuses for others to not believe in God.

So now the decision. Should we go to Urbana and learn about missions this winter, or to book a flight straight to Guatemala and feel it out. Should we got now, or go later in life. Should we go?

Why am I even writing all this? Well, because it's the thought cycle that fills my mind. I want to be sure that whatever decision we make, that it is based on God's crazy love, and not my crazy centered fears.

Honey

2009-10-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

As I sat on the plane, the glossy cover of my new novel as pristine as it would ever be, I struggled to stay awake. Sleep bullied me until I made amends with the pain in my neck necessary to sleep in a seated position. Somewhere in my mind I was conscious that I was dreaming, while my mind began to drift over the complications in human relationships. People are stuck to others as if by honey, most not knowing how tightly bound we really are. Even when we kick and fight to separate ourselves from those in our sticky mess, we never do more than pelt and damage those stuck in our lives, often cause unrepairable damage while gaining no distance.

"I have hidden your word in my heart..."

2009-09-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

"I have hidden your word in my heart" Psalm 119:11

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

These are the cutest CDs with bible verses, called "Seeds of Purpose." It's an easy way for kids to hide God's word in their hearts :)

Vinaka Vacaleyvu!

2009-08-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to share with you about my Fiji trip. God is doing miraculous things daily in that small country where there is such great need. Everyday, lives are being restored, Satan is banned from making people feel worthless and unloved. More on that to come...
My camera broke the very first day we arrived in Fiji, through which God taught me to focus on the relationships I was making as opposed to focus on the photo ops... ;-)

The future Soulemama?

2009-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Ok ok, so I'm no Soulemama, but I do love this ladies blog. She makes me want to be crafty and make things from scratch. I'm serious, her blog is by FAR my favorite...as of right now :)

She homemakes things and takes incredible photos all with a vintage flare. Sometimes, she even writes posts that make me want to knit. ALMOST, I said...jeez, hold your horses already! knitting is rough...

Infact, it's almost as if she would prefer to have everything in her house to be homemade than not, even socks...YES SOCKS!

Ok, so now I'm looking around for things that I can homemake...I started off small hoping I can start working my way up! (perhaps you will see homemade socks on MY blog in a mere months. perhaps not )

But, I did do a few projects based on some haushold needs.

Need #1: For my cats to STOP scratching the couch! Enough all ready!
Solution: So, for my cowboy birthday party, we had purchased a heavy duty rope to circumference the dance floor. As I don't need rope often in my daily activities, I decided to wrap and nail it around my cat tree, and VOILA!! It's homemade, functional, and free--just welcoming the curved daggers growing out of my innocent fluff balls.

Not bad, eh? But then it was time to see if my couches were saved from the wretched kitten talons: would the cats like my rope creation?

Exhibit A: mission accomplished!

Need #2: A baby gift for a little girl who's parents like to dirtbike:
Solution: Check out this pink and skull quilt I totally made! YES!! I am so STOKED! Make me an offer and I'll sell it to you before the shower-no shame! ;)

Need #3: Some durable shorts for Andrew that "aren't lame" he says! Well, those are not easily found in stores, so I took some super shears to some Levis (That "feel kinda lame") and solved the problem! (Soulemama would be oh so proud of how well I have been homemaking things!)

These babies held up perfectly on our 10 miles bike ride on the fourth of July! Bellisimo! This is Andrew watching the fireworks in his new britches.

This LAST bit of craftiness was an accidental blooper. Oh well, you can't win em all. This paint job that I did, which I was SO certain would enhance my picture frame to a lovely shabby-chic quality, instead now resembles the best teal blue home in Mexico...

So now, hopefully bigger and better things are on the horizon, we'll see. Either way, check out Soulemama for some REAL inspiration!

swim day

2009-07-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Carrying the cargo to the pool...

We were well prepared

some had double duty

Can't have a pool day without kisses

Our pool is great, come join us when you can!!

Thank you, Mr. Piper

2009-07-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

John Piper writes,
"I'll show you what tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they travel on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells...." Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: "Look, Lord. See my shells.' This is a tragedy.

God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God called us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives."

Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. This book will warn you not to get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. It will challenge you to live and die boasting of the cross of Christ and making the glory of God your singular passion. If you believe that to live is Christ and to die is gain, read this book, learn to live your life for Christ, and don't waste your life."

I wondered why I was pink slipped untill....

2009-07-01T23:58:00.001-07:00

Then I saw these...

This is when things got crazy....

Don't worry, I'm keeping my options open :)

p.s. please look at the boy, front and center in picture two, HAH!

Our final products!

2009-06-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

I promised that I'd share our final starry nights, so here they are! They were a hit at the school's art show!

Starry Night

2009-06-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

I love art, I love painting, and I mostly love teaching it. We studied Van Gogh's life, and some of his paintings until we studied, Starry Night. Then, with their seats separated, my students painted just the sky, for an HOUR! Yep, no talking, just painting, curves and curves of blue. Layer after layer, dash after dash. I kept reminding them, "wind can't come from the middle of the sky, start it from off the page."

I supposed many teachers use art time as a time of just lazy fun for the kids...but not me, which is why I said it is mostly fun teaching it. I am very serious about teaching art. I taught the students brush technique and how to lay the paint, how to move the brush, how to mix paint, how to look at the original and then quickly back to your own painting. I take art seriously, and I expect the same. Don't get me wrong, its still fun, they absolutely LOVED it....but if a student wasn't following directions, I kindly showed them the proper way on their own paper. :-)

The next day we added the moon and the stars. Special curved-dashed of mixed color makes it look like they are really shining int our dark, windy skies.

The next day we finished the hillside and the town. With carefully placed flecks of yellow, it almost looks as if their are people inside the little cottages, finishing up their evening reading.

The paintings will be in our school's art show, so I'll take a final picture then and put it up for you guys to see, but they really turned out great!

YAY ART DAY!

Our new, sweet child!

2009-05-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

is four years old, matches stripes with plaid, lives in Peru and has a bit of sass. We love her.

Now it's time for a proper introduction. Her full name is Milagros Del Pilar Ramirez Iparraguirre. Kinda just rolls off the tongue.

How did we meet such a delightful child? Well, I happened upon my bff's blog, and well, she'll do a better job explaining our decision of why we chose a Compassion Child. After reading about her very own experiences with children who are currently being sponsored by compassion and how their lives are bettered daily, from living in trash, to living with a hope and future, we decided to find one of our own.

Oh, and then there was God. He's all, "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Well, hey, ok then!

Well, back to our little Milagros, which means "Miracles" in English. She is in Kindergarten, where she is doing "average." hmmm, I will pray that although I am not there to tutor her, that she will soon become advanced. :-) Who knows where I can find Kinder/1st curriculum books in Spanish?

Please pray for little Milagros with us, she needs it! Thanks!

Here's her pic, told you she was sassy! That's why she jumped out at us, we knew she'd fit PERFECTLY into our family!

To see some of the other precious (seriously) children needing sponsors, visit here!:

WARNING! Do NOT click here if you are not ready to see some MAJOR cute

Quick, pray for Milagros right now before you click on the next blog/facebook!

Why I miss Lucy

2009-05-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Cause she was so flippin' good at data entry. Entering grades has become a tedious chore in her absence.

11 Countries in one day!

2009-05-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we had the best day! We met up with our sweet friends Jason and Mindy and went down to the international fair in Balboa park. There are little cottages, each with artifacts from their country, and little treats! Norway house has heart shaped waffles and strawberry jam, Ireland has beef stew and soda bread, Sweden has almond danishes, Italy had biscoti, and much more! My favorite was definitely the Norwegian house because the man in charge was passionate about sharing the history of Norway with a smile! He also spoke like many in Minnesota when they are telling an "Ole and Lena" joke. (these are classic Norwegian jokes with the same two protagonists, and they cannot be told without a thick Norwegian accent, even ask my dad)

Andrew's favorite was the Ireland house because they had an abundance of food, and Irish dancers which made it very festive. Well, just thought I'd share, it was really fun and I recommend it to all!

It came in a dream

2009-05-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

"Mrs. Brockhaus, can we stay in at recess and create a poster to cheer us on for First in Math?" asked four of my students.

First in math is an online game, and each class at our school is a team. You can log in at home, school, library, play math games and earn points for your team. Our team is in second place at our school with 48,000 points. But only first place gets a trophy. The closest next behind us is only 30,000. We are in fierce competition. We DONT' share our secrets, we don't fraternize with the enemy, we do whatever it takes! We are pitted again the first place team--a fourth grade team--who currently has the trophy in their class, and they have all year.

Oh, did I mention you can be ranked within the city and state? Oh, did I mention that this fourth grade class who holds our trophy is ranked second...in the state? ONE of their players has more points than half my class....

But California has a small populous, right?

Well, here's to high hopes! :-)

My eager students created this masterful paper of hope, had each student sign it and we hung it on the wall above the computers. "I thought of the idea in my dream," said Timothy.

Here's us with our poster, and YES! WE mean BUSINESS! WE are MATH STARS! At our school at least...

Three cheers for optimism!

The tricky team strikes again!

2009-04-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

So, I have some buddies that I have been taking care of since they were almost two, now who are four. The best part about us, is that we are REALLY tricky, I mean, basically, if you're around us, you're gonna be tricked! I not sure exactly where our most prominent strength is in our trickery...if it be coming up with the tricks, executing them, how silent and invisible we become when have the task.... while I search for our strength in how we are so good at what we do, all I know is, that we get the job done! Here is just one of our most recent capers on a poor, unsuspecting victim:

WOW! Did you see the look on that poor fellow's face! What a SHOCK! After this more than successful event, we decided to have our victim play us some music, a free concert! We demanded!

We were so enthralled with the tunes, we decided that we wanted to learn how to play this contraption! We are vaguely certain that we will be signed within the month. Still working on a band name, please share any suggestions.

Until next time! Watch over your shoulder for a time that we may just be pulling a fast one on you! We look for unsuspecting personas!

amazing

2009-04-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing video of a family's journey to their baby!

i miss you, seester

2009-04-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

Deer Lucy,

Plis come hom soon. i miss you for all day! I miss steeling all ur foods all dae. When I tinks of yous, i has an emotion. purhaps a tears.

Dunt bees mad whens i is better at poopin on the potty than yous, or fur my stylush three culur furs.

seencerly,
Piper

p.s. i wil resel yous when yous git here

Brockhaus Bazaar

2009-04-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

It only comes around once every two weeks, so save up your tickets. You get five every week, and you may save them, or use them for drinks and water....you decide, but I think I know what you'll say. Also, you can MAKE MORE tickets to add to your savings. If your clip goes ALL the way to excellent day, well two tickets. If you go to the library before school, you get a ticket for each new book you get. Extra credit sheets are a ticket each...but those are few and go like lightning.

But today was the day we had all been waiting for--BROCKHAUS BAZAAR! I put it as the VERY last thing we would be doing that day. Tony has the most reading points, so he would run the store, a highly coveted honor.

I talked to Tony infront of the class, "Tony, look for a table who is clean, silent and working hard--if they do this for a few minutes, you may excuse the best looking table to the Bazaar. Once, in the Bazaar, the students are to touch NOTHING. They tell you what they want, they hand you the tickets, and you hand them their precious treasure." -me

"ok" -Tony

As Tony conducted the Bazaar, I got some work done.

I allow my students to sell some of their own possessions in the Brockhaus Bazaar, and they keep the profit. Thanks Dave Ramsey. Lets just say that if little red tickets were dollars, I'd be ROLLIN' in it right now, and Andrew and I would have to take a trip to Paris. But, alas.

Eduardo bought a game of jacks, and while the bazaar continued for other tables, I taught him how to play. As I taught him, I realized how good I was at jacks. So I began to cheer for myself each time I did well. Which drew my whole class to want to play. But really, they weren't as good as me, except for one girl, she's got rhythem. We were tied, but let's not think about that.

"Ok kids, time to go, but you can play jacks with Eduardo at lunch. Oh wait--nevermind, Eduardo has lunch detention--bummer. Teaches you to do your homework."

"awwwww!" -my class.

Here is a rare and treasured photo of the Brockhaus Bazzar.

Yes, that is a "Dairy of a Wimpy Kid, part 2" in there for 50 tickets. Don't be jealous, it is still on the market. 50 tickets is hard to save.

I used to have a raffle, then Dave Ramsey came into my life and I realized that I am teaching these children to gamble, which is not wisdom. So, I came up with the Bazaar to teach thrift and sense, and how to be a good loser at jacks.

Where I should be

2009-03-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus:

Who, being the very nature of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
And being found in appearance of a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even on a cross."

Philippians 2:3-8

My life object should not be my own comfort and happiness. My life objective needs to be God's objective. His objective is people. Loving them, serving them. He gave up everything--and that's a lot when you're God. My sacrifices come nowhere near His, He gave up everything to serve people, me, you. Why do I often make it my life's goal to be comfortable and happy, when that is not the example that Jesus gives us.

Jesus words are, "come and follow me," not get what you need and like. "Follow me."

Lord, help me to see sacrifice as my goal, and not furthering myself.

"my purpose remains
the art of losing myself
in bringing you praise.
Let justice and praise
become my embrace
consume me from the inside out, Lord"

Missing Lucy: Dedicated to Brieanne

2009-03-18T18:21:00.001-07:00

Well, folks, he haven't had any contact from Lucy since the photo she sent. But--I haven't lost all hope as of yet. I just hope that wherever she is, she has access to a computer where she can check the blog and know that we are looking for her.

In the meantime, Andrew and I are keeping very busy! Dancing, laundry, you name it. In fact, we recently received a new washing machine. It's just so fabulous, I thought I just might include a photo of it!

Well, I hope you all had a great St. Patty's, and please keep your eye out for Lucy, would ya?

Garage sale!

2009-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we had a garage sale, but it wasn't really the original plan. My friends and I gathered our things in January to have a garage sale to raise money for Los Angelitos Orphanage. We picked a date, but a week before, the forecast spelled out impending rain. BUMMER! Well, we picked a new date in February, and knew we would be just fine because well, San Diego had been so dry, we were almost on water restriction. Well, when we got rained out again--we started to get a little suspicious of someone who didn't want us to have a charity garage sale, as well as feeling powerful that if San Diego ever has a drought, we have the secret to ensure rain--we'd just plan a garage sale.

So we decided on March 7, heck it is almost Spring! We would be safe by FAR! The Sunday before, our pastor was teaching about prayer and how we should pray for what we want--He already knows what we want, we can't have some formula or pattern to butter Him up, but just to approach Him as his child, and, well ask him for what you want--novel, I know, but it really did impact me. Monday,the next day, we decided to check the week's forecast.

Sunny skies all week!!!

That is--until Saturday. Well, there was to be rain just that one day out of the week, well, out of the whole MONTH of March. The day of our garage sale, the 3rd date we picked in 3 months. Oh, and did I mention that the last time we held a garage sale for the orphanage, it rained so hard that we really didn't sell that much stuff?

As Saturday approached, we decided to pray--for what we want, specifically. I am sure you can imagine our prayer, it was really only about three words, each time we prayed it.

Please, no rain.

The Friday before, it was supposed to start raining in the afternoon and continue through Saturday. All us teachers grumbled at the thought of our kids eating lunch inside the classroom--and my friends show astonishment at the thought that we would be rained out again. "How weird!" one commented. Not really, I thought.

But I asked my Father the same three word request, because that's what He said to do. He wants His children to talk to him, and ask Him for what they want, and often.

Strangely--fortunatly, all us teacher's got a little break because our kids got to play outside Friday afternoon because there was no rain. I prayed the prayer again.

That night, we set our alarms for a dark 5am. We lifted boxes and old belongings on dry cement. We drove to Kathleen's house without our windsheild wipers. We set up our sale without the tent, without soaking hair, without having to wait until 8am to make our first sale! My prayer changed to two words.

People came early, and they came in hoards. It was bittersweet. The failing economy brought them, but they were able to buy things they needed. We sold almost every last item. Almost every piece of clothing, median cost being 25 cent each. We rarely sold anything for over a dollar. Parents brought their kids, kids brought their pennies, and slowly, we were raising money for the parentless.

The forecast never changed. It still said it was going to rain, but that day it just didn't, and people's lives were truly impacted. We raised more than $250 and sent it down the following week.

www.losangelitos.org

Psalm 121:2
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

My worst fears realized...

2009-03-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Its been days or weeks that Andrew and I have been missing our first cat, Lucy, and the hole in our heart is ever widening. While we still hold onto silvers of hope we find each day, today we felt as if all hope was lost. In the mail, we found this photo sent to us, the return address area just had the marking of a single paw print.

Our worst fears are being realized. We have been lead to believe that Lucy is out somewhere with another cat, forced to create their own type of shelter to manage in the cold. From the picture, I can tell that the area looks dangers, and that they are forced to stand watch over each other while the other sleeps. I can't imagine the sleep deprivation Lucy must be experiencing--she needs 20 hours minimum!

I have organized a few peeping tom comitees for the sole purpose of finding our sweet feline. I will make an icon soon that you can put on your blog, with a picture called, "Looking for Lucy" This will help get the word out. Until then, take care!

Dirty Water

2009-03-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

So, I used to just rinse my fruits and veggies before I would eat them, then I picked up this little baby, "Biokleen Produce Wash" at some health food store. I decided to start soaking my fruits right when I got home with it in a big bowl--super easy, right? THANK GOODNESS! the stuff that comes off my fruit is disgusting! I feel like if I soaked all my third grades after PE the water wouldn't even be this dirty. Plus all that nasty waxy film comes off the fruit like apples, etc. Ok, so I guess this is a product endorsement, but I really like this stuff and I suppose I would even recommend it. I mean, the picture speaks for itself, right? The nastiest water is after I soak grapes. Plus--it's all natural!

A Celebrity visits Twin Oaks Elementary, and runs reading groups

2009-03-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

I just wish I could have been there. I totally missed out on one of the biggest celebrities that I could possibly imagine visiting out very own Twin Oaks, and then proceeding to run reading groups for the lucky students in room 19--I know, right?

Well, she came early, and was able to come to Friday Flag Salutes. Miss Longstocking herself! She signed many autographs, participated in the book character parade, and even participated in the Reader's Theater with the principal, VP and a few others to a raucous round of cheers and applause. Some of my kids said Pippy should have won an Oscar! WOW! If only I could have been there! This is her during one of the most touching scenes from the reader's theatre, grab your kleenex!

Of course, there was also a mini celebrity visiting our school with Pippy. Really, the two are very seldom separate. Mr. Nilson accompanies Pippy the entirety of her visit, calmly perched on her shoulder. Infact, some of my student said they scarcely heard a peep from him all DAY! What a good little monkey!

Well, after the assembably, my students tried to go back to their classroom after one of the most life changing mornings, and to their suprise, Pippy and Mr. Nilson came along. Pippy said that she would be giving the dragons their spelling test, as well as running reading groups! WHAT! ARE YOU SERIOUS? yes. Pippy said she even loves the book their reading, Ramona age 8. Although I have total trust in Miss Longsticking's ability to run the class, I will tell you that I found an incriminating photo of the class maybe having a little too much fun...

Well, until next time, keep reading! And I'll let you know if any more celebrities visit my class.

One year ago this month...

2009-03-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

While pretending how to learn how to be a teacher last year in the credential program, my colleges and I would take a once daily trip to the campus Starbucks. During this time, we had many laughs, many awkwards moments, but always a good time. Please enjoy this small time capsule of last March, before any of us embarked into the realm of full time teaching.

Highlights:
How grumpy Brieanne is
When Andrea thinks it's a photo, not a video. Also, when she says vraycation
How Laura never got to talk
Megan's dry humor
Mandy's song? Ok, that's probably not a highlight

ENJOY!

Still no sign of the furball...

2009-02-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a few days since I wrote of Lucy's strange disappearance. Despite alerting local authorities and even more publicly--posting it on my blog, we still have yet to find her. hmmm, but her food still is eatin in the morning. We're thinking about searching the downtown bars and the San Marcos dairy to see if she's there. Please, if you have a heart, keep an eye out for our big eyed fur face. We are eternally grateful!

In the meantime, please enjoy this photo that I have included of my beautiful orchid I took the other day. It is just so gorgeous, I had to snap it's photo! What a charming example of the perennial epiphyte. Until next time.

whoops

2009-02-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

Keep your eye out for our cat Lucy. You see, we were doing laundry the other night, and she just plain went missing! Let me know if you have any leads!

I keep looking for clues, but still have no leads!

Thanks

Snow Day

2009-02-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

A day in the snow with sledding, hot cocoa, people getting car sick and BBQ food. Everything was going great!

But then...

This happened...

At least they were happy about it.

This is Amy, signing off for now!

Dear Sugar Lips, love is in the air

2009-02-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Who needs cheesy cliche phrases written to a significant other, when you could spend your days writing love notes to fish and finding new terms of endearment for parents? Well, that's our motto, at least. They other day, I told the kids that Herbie the blue beta would now have a mailbox, and in the occurrence you were to finish all your work, you could write him a little note. That same day, after I bid the dragons farewell, I decided to open the mailbox I had given to our gilled pet. The top popped off and the folded papers it was suppressing came flowing out. I suppose most of my kids were able to find the time to write Herbie a little note, and fold it lovingly into the box. I learned many things from these notes: 1. Herbie is apparently the "best friend" to many in my class.("Herbie, you are my best friend, and you are the best fish in the world) 2. Herbie is "da bomb" 3. Many inquired how it is that he reads while in his fish bowl. (I told them that he does).

He even got a couple valentines and candy:

Like I said, who needs a significant other when a fish is just a able to receive letters and candy. Now, like I mentioned before, those of us in room 19 don't need to rely on cheesy cliches of endearment to get our point across, especially some of my English language learners. While we lovingly created letters to parents using little candy hearts to add phrases, many of the children decided to throw out some of the more "off" hearts. Phrases like, "you flirt," or "email me" weren't popular in the letters to parents. But when Eduardo read me his letter to his mom, I knew he had definitely chosen some winners. He didn't chose the common, "I love you" heart, or, "you rock." No way, we are not hindered by mediocrity here!

Please enjoy the letter to him mom, and his choice of hearts just as I did:

It reads:

Dear Mommy,
Sugar lips, you are just a sugar lips. There is no no way way that I am going to stop loving you. No doubt you are the best mom ever no doubt. Sincerely, Eduardo

His mom, aka sugar lips, will be so blessed, she won't know what hit her!

We are college bound!

2009-02-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you--but I think college great, and so do all of us who spend most of our day in room 19--third grade. At the beginning of the year, we adapted the mascot of the Dragon, and it has been our being, our essence ever since. We love dragons, we ARE dragons.

So then our school had college week. When we decided to write letters to a college telling them how excited we were to go one day, we chose Minnesota State University. Why Minnesota you ask? Not because of their neat local, or even their striking color combination, but because they happen to share the mascot that has brought so much to our lives--Dragons. We wrote them letters, here is a sampling:

"Dear Minnesota Dragons,

Wow, we are dragons too. I want to go to college to learn hard stuff. I want be a dog trainer so I will go to college. I want to dissect a lion and a tiger. I love college, college is asom.

another

Dear Minnesota State University,

I can't wait for college. I want to go so I don't be poor. My uncle went to college. What is it like in Minnesota? I love your mascot. Dragons are cool.

Well, Minnesota state wrote back. This is NOT a joke. We were ecstatic. They said that even in third grade there is so much we can do to get read for college; pay attention in class, read a lot, and try extra curricular activities! They also sent college pencils, fake dragon tattoos and brochures.

So we came up with a cheer, made a poster and had a pep rally with painted red and black faces... Over the top? I think NOT!

COLLEGE ROCKS! :-)

On the verge of inappropriate...

2009-02-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

I will apologize in advance to those of you who may consider the graphic nature of this video offensive, but I know I must share the type of bathing and loving that happens in our house. Please consider the end of the video the best part of the entire video.

Kitten Love

Sam and Esther...

2009-01-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

A day in the life of 3rd grade science

2009-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Well, we just finish our math unit on area, perimeter and volume, so we are diving into science. My kids LOVE science because we do alot of experiments and exploring, and they like it when I get dramatic and tell them how we might all die if we mix the wrong chemicals, etc. (Even though we have never mixed chemicals, telling them this gets them into the right scientific mindset) Our new unit is all about animals, biomes and adaptation. To test our how adaption works, we simulated how certain beaks are better at eating certain foods. We used clothes pins (a Cardinal's beak) and popsicle sticks glued to clothes pins to simulate a Heron. We tested which beak, short and strong or long and thin, would do best with different types of foods(cut up drinking staw, etc.) Turns out, Heron beaks can go deep into sand, while cardinal beaks are good at crushing small things. And these decide where these lovely birds live!

But, I would have to say that the highlight of our day was definitely our video and song that we most definitely memorized, and sing throughout the day.

Enjoy, and please just remember that the camel's lashes are more dope than J. Lo's.

A Taste of Serendipity

2009-01-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Good NEWS! Well, as you may know, Andrew and I waited an hour and a half in the freezing cold to taste the cold confections inside of "Serendipty," the ice cream shop featured in the movie, "Serendipity." When John Cusack and his girl first begin to fall for each other, they travel to this two story shop to sip on frozen hot chocolates. When Andrew and I arrived, there were about 75 people eating in this deceptively large, two story shop. When we were seated, we thought nothing of the table shoved into an old marble fireplace, but reminisced of the movie just the same. The other night, we popped in the movie to point out the destinations we shared with the characters. When they arrived at Serendipity, we were excited to see them enjoy the same setting we did, then we had a SHOCK! Out of all the many table they could have sat at, they ended up sitting at the SAME table that we did! Same marble fire place, same marble bust of an angry aboriginal--what serendipity!

Well, we were pretty excited, and if you don't believe us, I included photos!

On another note, aI am so excited about the Inauguration tomorrow! It's going to be history in the making. My third grade class is a very diverse group, and we will most definitely be watching Mr. Obama become out very first African American President! Look for one of my students to become our future president one day! :-)

Resolutions and Rotations

2009-01-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

My lovely monther in-law recently pointed us to Suze Orman's tips for financial success in 2009 she had seen on Oprah. We love the tips, and are testing them out. Some of her tips were to go a day without spending money, a week without the credit card, and a month without eating out. The first two are easy for us, but that last one freaked is out, impossible, we thought. Well, we began this week and after having to eat out for each meal in New York which costs an arm and a leg, we were kinda excited. It has now been a week and we have not eaten out at all!!! WOW! We were tempted once or twice, I will be honest. Saturday, after our walk on the beach, we got on the scooter, and I asked Andrew if we could go get burritos somewhere. He said, "Yes, wait--I don't have my wallet, its at home!" So we made hamburgers with grilled onions and steamed veggetables at home--WAY BETTER! Not only have we been saving major money, but there have been other bonuses as well. We have been eating healthier, working together in the kitchen, and we have been spending more time at home, avoiding being out and spending money elsewhere. Tonight, Andrew is making his homemade chili, and I made some corn bread, it should be ready soon! mmmmmmmmm

Actually, we have been saving so much money, that we were able to buy an airpurifier on woot.com. Why an air purifier, you ask? Well, our two little furballs aren't as hospitable to our friend's noses as we would like. On Friday night, we had friends over for dinner (another no eating out night!), and after "Burn After Reading," two of them left with itchy eyes.

So, our new year resolution will help when dander attacks.

The last thought that I will leave you with is our cat's butts. Our cats desperately needed a bath this weekend, so Andrew got 'em all lathered up and bubbly in the tub. They always look like skinny, drown rats when they are all wet, haha. Before he was about to let them out of the tub, he decided to cut off the fluffy fur that grows on the back of their hind legs, otherwise known as their butts. It looked great in the shower, but now not so much. But, turns out we love it because everytime we see them know, we literally crack up. They look like little lambs when they walk.

A non vacation Blog!

2009-01-07T15:36:00.001-08:00

WOW! Look at me I'm blogging and we're not on vacation! It's a miracle! But, then again, I don't generally blog when I'm not out and about becuase I don't have kids, so what to tell? Well, our cats are doing really, extra well since we got home. I think they missed us so they are on their best behavior. Piper's not whining, and Lucy is always rolling on the floor, looking for love. "Wookin for nub in aw da wrong pwaces."

I went back to work, and I have been with my kids ONE day. I had GLAD training Tues and Wed. Poor kiddos, oh well, it's for their good. We got a class pet Monday. Herbie, the blue Beta. He's kinda a grumpy guy, always frowning, even though I think he can't help it. But the kids LOVE him. "Ok boys and girls, today is Herbie's first day of school ever, and his first day in our room with the Dragons, (thats us, we're the Dragons), what should we tell him about us so that he feels more comfortable?" -me

First hand raised, "WE LOVE reading!"
"Oh yeah, good one!" -me
"WE LOVE SCHOOL!"-second child
"So true!" -me
"We are super smart"
"seriously!" -me
"we LOVE Mrs. Brockhaus"
"hmm, best one I've heard yet!" -me

So, as you can see, Herbie probably feels right at home, even though I thought I had killed him when I first transferred him into his bowl. Traumatizing I suppose.

Well Herbie, we're glad you're here! You have some friends in the class, Duncan the paper dragon hangs on our wall, our room 19 mascot, and Bananas, the monkey that hangs (with a staple) from the paper tree in our room.

New Years Eve from my perspective...

2009-01-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

Ok Ok. This is my vacation too. Now you get to hear about our new years eve from my perspective. We got on the subway to go to Brooklyn for a New Year's party. When we emerged from the underground at our final stop (after accidentally arriving at a few of the wrong, "shady" subway stops) and it was quite chilly...it was one of those 10 degrees but "feels like" ZERO times! I love the subway though...It's like Mario Brothers. You just go down, pick a destination, and come up in a new world! I love it!
Our faces were instantly numb when we got to the street level and were hit by the brisk cold of the night. It was still quite exciting though, and to us San Diegan weaklings, we consider it an adventure every time we face the extreme cold. It feels great to come out alive!
So besides the fact that I ended up talking and dancing with another GUY last night, it was a pretty darn coool night. And actually, Ed, my fellow bloke from England was a pretty nifty guy. Well...that's about all I am going to give you for now. Getting home at 6:00am was definitely out of the ordinary for us, but it was well worth it as New York was a wonderful setting for a New Year's celebration!

Sorry Carson Daily....

2008-12-31T16:56:00.000-08:00

Well, this morning Andrew and I awoke with colds, and saw fluffy snowflakes swirling and floating out our 12th story window. It looked very beautiful, but not like anything that we wanted to spend too much time in. We took out time getting ready, watched an iCarly movie, and finally went out for lunch. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR! It was 27 degrees, but "felt between 0-10" degrees. We went to Whole Foods for their hot lunches, but we wern't the only ones. It seems eveyone wants to hang at the grocery store when it's snowing. We tried, we really did, but we just couldn't get lunch there, there were too many people. We left, and went to the sweet French Bakery. I got hot tea and this organic, free range, no pesticide, etc, etc chicken soup to make me feel better. Mmmmm! So warm and delish! I feel like we are getting spoiled off the food out here.
It is seriously SO cold outside, and the wind is so biting, that we will NOT be walking just a few blocks away to Times Square, where half of New York will be standing, and half the world will be watching (I know, sounds like my dream come true! ;-) but seriously, it is painful outside. Plus, once you go, they lock you in for 24 hrs, no bathroom break, no nada. So we are going to a party with friends in Brooklyn.

But I almost forgot to tell you about out NBC studio tour! It was pretty cool, we saw the studios where they film nightly news, Conan O'Brian (we LOVE him), and SNL. Andrew sat in chair 1A which is Donald Trump's chair when he watches SNL! We learned alot of neat info about some of our favorite shows like the offica, SNL, etc. This picture is us in the top of NBC studios overlooking Rockafeller center and the ice skating rink.

Right after our tour, we decided to see one of the loves of our lives doing what he does best. Andrew and I love Bobby Flay. There, I said it. His red hair, his New York accent, his love for ancho chili, the fact that he is the one celebrities that Andrew can do a good impersination of, his food....we love it all! So we bordered the subway and headed to Union Square. We dined at Ray's Pizza for lunch, and if any of you have seen Elf, you know there are MANY Ray's, but we got 'le origional.' Then for dinner, we had a date with Mr. Flay at his Mesa Grill. Luckily, we had a reservation, cuase it was PACKED! It was SO cute, and awesome, and the people were nice, just as we would have expected :-) But Bobby wasn't there, and yes, we asked. haha, we think we're so funny!

Afterwards, we went home and decided that it was time to expereince one of the reasons we wanted to come to NY. Andrew LOVEs the movie serendipity, and it's set in NY. John Cusack and his gal eat dessert at a little place called 'Serendipity." So at 11pm, we walked down, and expected some huge sundaes. "An hour and a half wait," we were told. "WHAT!?!??!?!" WHo, I mean, who in their right mind, wants to wait in the bitter cold for an hour and a half, until a half hour past midnight for ice cream!!!!!!!! Well, we're on vacation, what else are we gonna do? hehe, so we did it! AND IT WAS KILLER! they have HUGE fifteen dollar sundaes, and they are to die for. I got one with pecan pie, butter pecan ice cream, hot fudge, pecans and whipped cream. Andrew had black out cake, fudge, ice cream, fudge morsels and whipped cream...mmmmmmm

SOOOOOOOOOO, no ball! Thank God!

all about town

2008-12-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Hi HI! Oh man! It's finally pretty cold here! BRRRRRRRRRR! There has been a major cold front, and we have had to bundle ourselves like little eskimos, but sometimes I still just gotta wear tights! (When in Rome!) Last night we took a romantic horse and carriage ride around central park at around 11pm. Andrew was such a good business man and totally talked the guy down in price, nice job!It was cold, but there was a blanket to snuggle in! Then we went to Rockafeller center to see some skating, had our first NY hotdog and checked out the Trump Tower.

Then we head to the pure glass apple store which worked up a big appetite for some New York cheese cake. Since we had finally digested the food from Carnegie Deli from the first night, we headed back for our cheesecake fix. It was a massive, dense, creamy delicious triangle loaf, coated in cherry sauce. We could barely finish it, but don't worry, we somehow managed.

We got home early after a wonderful night at 1:30am. I was sure to shower that night and lay out my clothes, because our alarm would be sounding at 5:30am. After a couple hours of sleep, we awoke , bundled, and ran down the empty streets. It was worth it enough just to actually see the streets empty! WOWSA! We ran into starbucks for caffeine boost and got in line at the ABC studios. WE were there early enough to be very infront for Good Morning America. We waited for and hour to where we were told they were DEFINITELY letting in stand by, and that we were guaranteed in! cool, huh? WEll, then they realized that there wasn't enough room because they were having all these crazy dancers with umbrellas, or something. But, we actually didn't mind, because at least we were up, we didn't have to stand anymore and the city was SO empty, it felt all our own!
WE walked over to the NBC studios and checked out the TODAY show, kinda lame, so we went and signed up for the NBC tour, which we will have manana, awesome! We began to feel kinda tired, and my boots were dragging. We went to McDonalds in Time Square then decided to go to SoHo by Subway. SO LAME! SoHo SoSucks! boring! So, we got on the Subway again, and went to the stop that said, "Brooklyn Bridge," cause we had heard of it before. It got all crazy bright, but it end up being pretty cool. We walked along the pedestrian path, don't even THINK about stepping over onto the bike path! The Brooklyn bridge was the accidental sight that was probably my favorite of the day! I really recommend it to all!
Since we were having such good luck on our subway bingo game, we decided to keep going, despite how dry and itchy our eyes were getting. We went into the subway, and saw that we could go to Wall Street. "WE've heard of that!" we said! So on we went. At this location we were met with two sights, one disappointing, and one very emotional, both we were not expecting. Andrew was pretty excited to see the New York Stock Exchange, and well, in many ways we did. The building that is. Yep, so we stood outside of it, and looked at it, and took a picture, but "no tours allowed." lame. It was a quick pic, them on we went.

Next we went to ground zero. There is a World Trade Tribute Center with a museum inside. There we found video footage, quotes from dying husbands to their wives and families, artifacts found as the crash. A dusty high heel, twisted metal beams, half a phone, etc. There was one wall of the "missing signs" of family members pleading to find their son, daughter, wife, etc. It was so sad. There was also a picture wall of all those lost.

When we were done, we couldn't take it any longer! We were SO tired of running around all day with only a couple hours of sleep! WE went home and passed out, almost literally for a few hours. We had plans to go to a museum with friends, but we were too worthless. OKOKOKOKOK! NOW THE BEST PART OF OUR TRIP SO FAR!!!!!!!

WE had a date. An amazing date. On Broadway. To see a Braodway, Tony award winning show. Jersey Boys. Incredible. Amazing! WE LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVED it! Please, please, make it a point to see it. So fun, and lovely. We sat next to some great people from Florida (people here are so nice!) and they were saying that we should all be happy cause San Diego and Florida football teams won last night. Andrew and I just smiled and nodded. whatever :-)

THIS TRIP ROCKS! Comment any recommendations with our final days approaching. mmk, thanks bye!

P.S. I ALMOST FORGOT THE BEST PICTURE OF THE WHOLE TRIP!! mmmmmmmmmmmm!

NY NY

2008-12-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll! I LOVE NEW YORK! People here a SO nice. You make a new friend around every corner! People are so friendly, and they really have the most endearing accents. So this morning we woke up at the early hour of 1pm, then hit some shopping! People here take shopping VERY seriously! We found a couple treasures at H&M and I flipped when I saw a Zara. That was my fav store in Spain, and I couldn't believe they had it here yet, score! In the middle if the mall they had this statue, it was SO nice of them to commemorate me with a statue, thanks guys!

Ok ok , so we ran around town, and looked up show times, got some food, ate a HUGE pretzel from a street cart, and had some free beverages from out hotel. Our hotel is so stinkin rad!
We had our drinks on the "sky terace," oo, so fancy! Here is us sittin at the sky terrace!

At dinner, we heard from an old friend of mine that was in Little Italy. They came up to meet us and we all ran around and saw some more sights, it was really fun! We met up with Bree's other friend, and we decided to go out on the town in Brooklyn. Andrew and I bought Subway passes and we all went to Jessica's house. She lives above this sweet Russian bar where they serve Chimay beer that Andrew was really excited about. So we start to go in, and I realize I left my ID in my other pants!

So we had to take a picture with Garfield! JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ! They wouldn't let me in. Here is the bar that wouldn't let us in:

So Andrew and I hoped onto the subway and took the L to the N, got off at 57th and walked to our hotel. It is SOOOOOO busy in New York, and so fun! We love it. I hope that tomorrow is as fun as today!

OHHHH! I forgot ONE thing. There are all these bus vans of Jewish men, and they are passing out kits to other Jews, luckily for US, Bree is jewish so we GOT one! Yes! I was pushing her yelling, "She's a jew! She's a jew!" So he grabbed her and started telling her how to count the candles, "I know how to count," she said. "You're one of US!"-he said. so I put it in my purse, and lit seven of them when we got to Jessica's house, cause it's the seventh night and all.

Our First Night in New York

2008-12-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hurray! I have a reason to blog again! So, I have taken a short hyeattus since my last trip, but now that we are landed in New York, I have a reason to write! The flight was fast, an hour shorter than schedual due to 100mph tail winds (NICE!) As we waited for our bag, we heard more than one gentleman telling his friends about his preferred type clasps on jackets. Apparently, jacket clasps are the hot topic here in New York. Andrew and I should study up. When we walked out of the airport, a large man approached us, asked us where we were going and assured us his rate couldn't be beat as he motioned us into his limo. A few meters back, a stlyish young clasp man shouted out, "Take a Yellow Taxi," and quickly walked away in his designer jeans. The large man first stared in disbeleif as he walked off, which quickly turned to anger. He shouted something cruel to him as we quietly slipped into the line for the taxis.
Our taxi driver, IQBAR Hussain, informed us that it would be a $50 flat rate to any where in Manhattan. hmmm......

In Spain, I didn't think I could ever see a cuter, nor smaller hotel room, but New York seems to have many surprises up it's sleeve.
Our room is really, I mean really small, and wonderful! The light fixtures have faces.
Our hotel itself is amazing, check out the front desk! www.hudsonhotel.com

So, after a bit, we hit the town! It's pretty chilly here, but it's alright if you have a jacket, boots and gloves, check check check! Also, we did mostly walking, which warms you up quick! We were starving, so we decided to head to Carnigie Deli. On the way, we passed Al's soup kitchen, made famous by Seinfeld.
Carnegie Deli is wall-papered with framed, and mostly dated photos of celebrities writing things such as, "Thanks Carnegie, your briskett makes my heart sing! -Brooke Sheilds", etc.
We ordered the $23 Ruben, aka death by heart attack at age 25. We were first brought a pickle sampler (haha, who's ever had that?). Then we met our match--7 inches of hot corned beef and pastrami piled high on two pieces of bread, coated in a thick blanket of swiss. We had this really nice waiter, and he said, "don't worry 'bout it, it's ok! You have one of dees, maybe once or twice a year, it's OK! You don't need breakfast tomorrow. You wanna cheesecake when you're done, you just tell me, ok?" Oh, did I mention is cost $3 to split? New York does not cater for people on a budget, but they do cater for barmitzvas--Carnegie is famous for their matza ball soup. Maybe next time, I suppose.

So after gaining a combined 12 pounds, we decided to walk to the area that seemed like day light. Time square seemed like a real life Disneyland. And while I checked my watch to know that it was night, when you are surrounded by skyscrapers coated in flashing billboards, it feels like day! It is loud and busy, full of people. That is--until the rain came. We started quickly walking home, careful not to look to hard as to what is littering the streets (it's pretty dirty). We stopped at the 3 story M&M store, which I guess could be cool is you really wanted a $200 leather M&M jacket, or a woman's bedazzled T-shirt, with a sassy saying and a green M&M's winking face. So we headed home through the rain to our hotel which was alive with party music and dancers, but we were tired and just hit the hay. Until next time!

-Amy

2008-02-28T18:47:00.001-08:00

Hola! welcome back to my blog, its been a while since Spain, but Andrew and I are attempting to make more vacation plans for this summer! So, since Spain, I began and almost finished the crednetial program, Andrew started his own business: clarkhaus.com, and we added to our family. Now we have Lucy and Piper. We are SO happy!

2007-06-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

Stop right there! This is part two our our weekend trip, so if you haven't read about Toledo, skip down the the previous before you read this one.

I guess you can tell by the picture where we ended up. Three hours into our moto trip from Toledo, we made up our mind; we would grit out teeth and bear it. We were so cold and tired that nothing really sounded better than a warm place with a beach. As the kilometers in-between us and Valencia grew smaller, we would at times see patches of blue sky behind the thick gray clouds. The first one I saw, I made the mistake of excitedly pointing to it with an upstretched arm, causing me to nearly be flung off of the bike due to the force of the wind, and when I clung on for dear life, the entire moto began to wobble. The wind was so strong that I couldn’t sit up straight without my helmeted head being pulled back, so our only option was to take a racer’s position of hunched backs and low heads, but poor Andrew had to keep his neck craned to view the street, while my heavy head rested on his back. 40 kilometros out from Valenica, we began to smell fragrant flowers, and at times sweet oranges, and have more glimpses of light. Just as we reach the Valencia city limits, the sky opened up and we could see true shadows on the ground; the city was full of sun! People in this town walked slower than anywhere else we had seen in Spain, and wore clothes similar to those from San Diego. We were filled with an overpowering, yet tranquil joy, which we expressed to each other with weak thumbs-ups and smiles behind our helmets. Once in Valencia, we refused to dismount the bike, and decided to ride until we saw the ocean. In our pursuit, it got very hot and I needed to quickly take off my two jackets (it was a great feeling). We rode around for 30 minutes, following any palm trees, people with bathing suits, or place of business with the words, “mar,” “playa,” or “arena.” Finally, after following three young men wearing trunks, and seeing a sign for “Puerto,”(port) we FOUND THE BEACH! We parked at once, and were so happy in a tired, sore and almost grumpy kind of way. We decided to get a hostel right on the beach, and found luck on our third attempt. Here is the view from our side window! Once we got in and cleaned up, we felt like brand new people! We decided to walk down the boardwalk and we had such a great time! We were so happy with the sunny warm little city we found. We ran down the beach and put our feet in the Mediterranean sea, for me the first time. Up and down the boardwalk, immigrants from all different countries have a hundred booths set up of all sorts of things to buy, music, hair braiding, etc. We grabbed a quick dinner at Pans&Co., and were so stoked to be in Valencia. We thought it was a fun, casual beach town, but later that night we would be proved very wrong.
That evening we were so tired we wanted to just fall asleep, but we decided to go on a walk up and down the board walk. To our surprise, the city had morphed in the setting of the sun into a posh, high-class town of night life. At this time, the port of Valencia is having there, “32nd America’s Cup,” of million dollar sail boats, sponsored by Louis Vitton and a few other notable affiliates. Everywhere we turned, was the most elaborate and modern night club, concert or lounge, and all the people looked like they walked right out of Vogue magazine, except of course Andrew and I. One particularly tall, white night club with interesting architecture would change it’s outside paint every 5 minutes, with the use of a projector. We turned it at 1am, after riding an aqua-bus through the port, listening to the concert and seeing all the sites, but 1am was just when the parties were first getting started. I can’t imagine another place on earth would be more luxurious, hip or “de moda.” Here is a short video of the concert at the Port;

The next day, we were probobally the first people in the whole city to wake up at nine. We ate breakfast out (first time I did this my whole time in Spain) with Bocadillos de Tortilla, and café con leche! (so fun!) Then we retired to do what tourists do best, lay on the beach with our books. As I sat there, taking in the Sun, I couldn’t help but to think about all my classmates in rainy Valladolid, where everything on Sunday is closed, and so they would be restricted to their little homes. I knew the long trip had been worth it. As time wore on, I slowly began to realize the this beach was a topless beach. Kind of a nasty surprise since those who decided to tan their chests were generally neither young nor thin. What a culture shock, but it really wasn’t as big of a deal as I may have presumed.
After we checked out of our room, we went into the city to do some touristy things and get lunch. We decided on McDonalds, and were beginning to have a nice relaxing lunch when we were approached by a Gypsy (my favorite…). So reached over our table and began to take some of our French fries, but just before she touched them, I slapped her hand and yelled, “VETE, GITANA!” My rude request wasn’t adhered to, and she persisted. Although she obviously didn’t go hungry, she told us she wanted some of our food and kept grabbing at it, but we forcefully told her repeatedly; no, get away from us and out food, leave, and don’t touch us, goodbye, while we glared at her. Andrew ripped my purse away from where it was sitting on a chair next to her and stood up and told her to leave right that instant. (she shouldn’t beg food from tired people who have been on a moto for more than 9 hours in the past day, plus never ever give anything to gypsies, it’s a rule) Finally she left, and we were pretty much ready to wrap up our visit to Valencia. We stopped quickly at the bull-fighting museum on the way to the moto, but when I took out my camera to take a picture and a lady yelled rudely at me, “Guardalo!” I walked out of the museum. We were extra ready to come home. We got on the bike, and prepared for out 4 our ride to Madrid, which was more pleasant that the chilling ride there. Once we got into Madrid, we rode in and out of rain, looking for the moto place for an hour and a half. Estaba harto de estar en el moto, y querria llorar. Finally, but put it away, and took the metro to the bus stop, bought out tickets and had a quick sandwich for dinner. I was so homesick for Valladolid, my little house, my little room, and Visi. It was all worth it, but it was quite exhausting. It is an everlasting memory of an adventure we will never forget. Que bueno tener un amor de la vida, Andres es el major hombre en todo el mundo aunque me hacia viajar por moto por mas que quince horas. Andrew went home the next morning, and I am left to wrap up school!
see you guys soon

ps. this is where bulls die in Valencia:

2007-06-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

BUENO! Bienvendios otra vez!

Salemanca. That is where my whole school was going on Saturday. All day. 100% chance of rain. Famous for a couple historical sites and their abundance of discotecas. I imagined classmates scurrying around in soggy groups from place to place to escape the rain. We were basically over it as soon as we heard about it, so Andrew made other plans last minute while I was in class. Friday after school, we hurried home and quickly packed what we would need for a weekend in one backpack; two shirts each, one book each, one extra pair of pants, socks, toothbrushes, two apples, one plum, 9 cherries, the two sandwiches Visi made for us just before we left, and we strapped our big jackets to the back of the backpack. After a quick, but LARGE lunch, we excitedly went to the estacion de autobuses, and hitched a bus ride to Madrid. We were late to get to the little shop, "Alquila motos," so were ran to the metro, then ran through the city, asking hurried directions when we could. Finally we found it, and we entered into the little basement full of many motorcycles and two tough looking guys. Walter pulled out our motorcycle for the next two days; a silver Honda with a place to pack our backpack and comfortable seats. We were really excited and the men helping us were very nice, but it was already almost 9pm, and we needed to get on our way. We had one night booked in a hotel in Andrew's favorite Spanish town TOledo, which was one and a half hours away. We told them where we were going that night, and the day after we were going wherever there wasn't rain. Walter looked up the weather online for us, and the little map of Spain that popped up was covered in little glowing rainclouds, except one spot, Valencia on the Medeterrainian coast, five hours from Toledo. We decided to decide our plans later, because we needed to get on our way. The tank was empty, and we didn't know where any gas stations were, so Walter said we could follow him to one. After we filled up, he told us to follow him and we would go our separate ways once we were on our correct road. We tried our best to keep up with his, but Andrew was still trying to get used to the moto, as well as they crazy streets of Madrid. At our first red light, Waltar looked over at Andrew's bare hands and exclaimed, "NO TIENES GUANTES!?" Andrew shook his head. Walter immediately took the gloves off his OWN hands and pushed them into Andrew's hands. We were so thankful for all his kindness! Finally we came to the street where we need to part ways and WAltar sped off towards Andalucia, and we took the tunnel towards Toledo. I couldn't help but to low him a kiss as he left becuase he was so great. Is was just past nine and we sped down the road with the last remaining 20 mineutes of orange light in the air. Once is got dark, it got pretty cold especially with the wind gushing by you on the moto. We made one quick stop at REPSOL gas station and I put on every piece of clothing I brought; three shirts, one sweater and my jacket.

About an hour after our stop we arrived in Toledo and drove around up and down (WAY up and WAY down) the narrow and wet cobble-stone roads. I couldn't believe how narrow they were, I felt that is I streatched my arms out on either side I could touch them. The city is ancient and beautfil, and we found our hotel easily by the impressive Catedral.
Our hotel was a dream come true, so clean and nice, and we even had a small wooden balcony from which you could see the Catedral tower. Our room looked like a little hobbit room with small carved desk and chair, and little round wooden door. We walked the wet streets and stopped by to have a glass of wine from a quite little place called, "Entre Vasos."
It was the best wine I had ever had and for only two Euros. We were so tired afterwards, so we went straight to bed and fell asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
The next day, we paid six Euro each to visit the world famous Catedral which was constructed in 1222, and obviously at the height of Catholic power and prosperity. It was the most elaborate place I have ever visited, every minute detail attended to with the utmost care, superfluous attention paid to each small attribute. We spent about an hour in there because there was so much to see, but after a while I started getting annoyed and was ready to leave. I was sick of seeing Jesus hang on intricate golden crosses, embedded with jewels, and have the faces of ordinary men exalted on the walls of a church just asking to be worshipped. It made me sad to see the troves of tourists from around the world learning that Christianity was about things that don't matter. I wanted to tell them, 'Jesus hung on a WOODEN cross, no jewels, and he doesn't want money to be wasted on this kind of crap when it could actually be used for his will in HELPING PEOPLE!' So we left, me feeling irritated. Sometimes I feel the "Saints" made the same mistake as Lucifer.
<---Look at this guy

We toured the amazing city, bought a couple souvenirs, and decided to be on our way before it started raining again. But just as we loaded up our stuff, it began to sprinkle. The lady at the front desk was so worried about us and made us jackets out of trash bags and scissors, she was so kind and had always treated us like family. By the time we got on our moto, it had begun to rain pretty hard, and though we didn't know where we were going, but we just wanted to leave. The first fifteen minutes on the moto are always the worst.
You feel like you have been on there for 3 hours, but after that your body adjusts the extreme conditions of wind, cold, posture, noise and a few other things. Thirty minutes outside Toledo it stopped raining and the rain began to stream off our helmets and our clothes began to flap dry in the wind, which felt great. Somehow my rain jack started coming apart bit by bit and flying off into the wind behind. Pretty soon it was all gone, it was quite odd, and we thought it might be due to the intense winds. Birds couldn't even fly straight. After an hour, we stopped at a field and ate the food we had smuggled from the European Breakfast buffet. ( One shared sandwich, an apple, a pack of crackers and a piece of cheese). WE didn't really know where to go, so we decided to attempt Valencia, but decided to stop if we saw someplace better on the way, know that five hours on one moto would be very difficult in many ways....

well, i am going to have to get back to you about what was in our fate, but its really exciting, so check back soon as to where we ended up!

xoxo