Starving Ethiopia

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-08-17-ethiopia_N.htm

This article was on USA Today. It is so heartbreaking to hear and see what is going on over there. I pray daily that my son gets enough food, that the children get enough food. I couldn't imagine not being able to provide food for my child. What the parents must be going through... There are ways to help!

1) Buy Saint's Coffee
2) www.tomdavis.typepad.com and the 5 for 50 campaign.
donations marked Ethiopia will go to providing food.
3) Sponsor a child through www.compassion.org

I know giving is hard in this economy, but if it was our child that was starving, what is $30???

Princess Haley

So we were at Famous Footwear on Sat. with our girls and Haley had picked out some vinyl high heal shoes and was walking back and forth down the aisle. Alex was quite impressed and said "Haley! You are walking so well in those shoes. I couldn't walk in high heals like you can." And Haley simply said "Well Alex, that is because you aren't a princess." Haley didn't say it meanly, just as a statement of fact. Alex is our Tom-boy Army girl and Haley is a princess, and she really believes it, hence, the song to the birdie in our garage. Alex and I jsut looked at eachother and chuckled silently. She is precious! Here are some more pics of animals I ran into on my trip and one of our Haley.

Malibu Moments

So this past week, our family was separated. Vince was in Charleston for training, the girls were with grandparents and I was in Malibu! We were blessed by some wonderful people through the use of their condo (on top of the mountain on Pepperdine Univ.) and the use of their car. This was the first time I have ever had this much time away from my kids...and it was a nice break. We would have fresh fruit, yogurt and granola every morning out on their porch, go hiking through the mountains that were right outside their garage. There was a vineyard and avocado tree farm filled with animals on our hike. We went to the beach, with no luck of seeing Matthew McConahey (sp), but we did see some interesting swim attire and beautiful views. It was truly a gift from God. While there, I read a good, convicting book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Khan. Then in church today, it just really hit hard with what the book was saying...lots of things to think about. For example- Am I radical in my love for Jesus? Has his gift to me made such an impact, that when people see me, they see a Christ-follower? Do I blend in with the culture and is life pretty much all about me and my comfort, or do I put myself out there for people, even if it is hard and painful and might cost me time, energy and resources? It is a lot to chew on. A really cool thing happened when I was laying outside on the porch alone late one night...I was trying to memorize what the stars looked like in the sky and I prayed that God would show me a shooting star (since I had NEVER seen one). Well, He showed me one and so I prayed that he would show me another one and He showed me two more. It was beautiful. Here are some pictures. I miss Malibu already!

Future Titus?

Cute pics and funnies

I've been wanting to tell this story for a while, but I hope I can do it justice by typing it. About a month ago there was a bird stuck in our garage. It wouldn't leave and we were all out there trying to get it to go. So Lila is doing her part yelling LOUDLY "GET OUT OF MY GARAGE BIRDIE!!!! GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!" and then Haley, in her sweet, nasal-Cinderella voice sings "ah-a-aha-ahhhh, ah-a-aha-ah". She sings with such passion and concern, looking sweetly at the bird. I am thinking "What in the WORLD is she doing?" And then Alex, who knows her all to well, says she is "talking" to the bird, like the princesses do it. If you've seen Enchanted or Snow White, that is what she was doing. It was the cutest thing! Above are some pics from this last week. The girls helping me make a ice cream cake and then Lila with her candy.

10 Years

Vince and I celebrated out 10 year high school reunions recently. Mine was July 25 and 26 and Vince's was the 19th. We had such a good time seeing old friends and holding their babies!! At Vince's, we won for most kids (big suprise!) and Vince was voted most courteous and well-mannered! I married the best guy out of the Derby graduating class of 1998! I can't believe it's been ten years, but then sometimes it feels like "its ONLY been ten years???" I didn't take my camera to mine, but here are some pics from Vinny's. Our good friends (Vince's college roomate) Ben and Jenn from Dallas are pictured. Thankfully, Vince's parents went with us to watch our kiddos for the evening event--they visited their cousins who live in Wichita and celebrated cousin Angel's birthday! They had a blast.

Alex at Bible Camp

So my firstborn Alex, went to Nebraska for a week of Bible Camp. It was fun for her, hard for me. I missed her so much. I have never been away from my children for more than 3 days, let alone 7! She had a great time--it was hot, but they got to have plenty of splash time in the shallow, sandy river. It was in the middle of nowhere, about 10-15 kids total, and heat rash covered my girl, but that is better than ticks. Here are some pictures. The last one is of Alex's friend Isaiah--pooped out during craft!