August Number

So we're finally out of the 40's and it feels good! The past couple months have been challenging and the wait  long. There's been a few poor souls who have asked how I'm doing at just the wrong (or right) time and they get a sobbing mess. But today....today brought a sense of renewed hope and faith in the work that has begun. I spent the afternoon with mamas that have a heart for adoption and beautiful little loves from the country our hearts have grown so fond of. I believe, we are right where we are supposed to be.

Let us hold unswervinly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

The small things

On Friday, Maggie and one of her BFF's Kennedy had a lemonade stand. They're no strangers to the lemonade business. They've put on their fair share in their 10 short years and they always seem to walk away quite successful. This time around though the stakes were a bit higher. They've been dreaming up this lemonade stand all summer long...actually a bit longer than that. Maggie even convinced her super talented Papa to build them the ultimate lemonade stand. Maggie must have taken a hundred notes on what items they would have available and who would provide what. They were set! The goal... to make some money for the electronic gadgets they'd been dreaming about.  But just a few days before they would be open for business everything changed.

We've been talking and praying a lot about the current famine in the Horn of Africa. It is said to be the worst in 60 years. The devastation is hard to even comprehend and according to the experts it's far from being over. You can read more about it here.

With their stand complete and the plans made they were ready to mix up some lemonade. But these girls have hearts that beat for others and with one quick phone call they decided that this wasn't about them, it was going to be about giving to something so much bigger. They wanted to donate every last penny to famine relief in Africa. And let me tell ya, they had the most successful lemonade stand to date.......$235.00!!! All going to help stop hunger in the country where her brother will come home from. They truly amaze me. Yes, we try our hardest to open their eyes and share the world with them but ultimately they choose. They are a couple of amazing kiddos and I just can't wait to see how the Lord continues to use them. Thank you girls for reminding us that every small thing counts!

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
Mother Teresa

Blessed

We are so truly blessed. Gifts we don't deserve and yet they are freely given. I am counting those gifts today.

1. Baseball in a tutu

2. A bigger sister teaching her younger sister how to swing

 the bat with all the patience in the world.

3. A grandma that stopped by with thoughtful gifts for the girls.

 Stickers (covering Jo's chest)

and Best Friends Forever bracelets

for the little sisters. I pray they will be BFF's.

 4. My silly and full of spunk girl that I'm not quite

ready to let go to school in a month.

5. Upside down swinging and yelling "This is the best day EVER!!"

 6. Wildlife in our front yard....even if it was just for a moment before the girls tried to catch him for a pet.

7. Fresh produce growing in the garden.

 8. The funny faces the girls make when they eat the sour apples.

9. Our home

10. The lessons my kids teach me each day.

{ I am BLESSED}