Well, I think God knew that I needed to go on that retreat before we leave for Africa. My eyes were opened so wide to so much. I am really still processing it all! And if one night with these women affected me that much, imagine 16 days! Man, I may need to go to counseling when we return to the states. :)
I've been asking the Lord lots of why questions. Why are these women in this situation....a situation most of them were born into and had no say in. Why is it that my family was born into a totally different situation? My kids will most likely never struggle with the things these ladies and their children deal with. Don't get me wrong, a lot of it has to do with choices. But a lot of it has to do with just unfortunate circumstances.....coupled with a cycle of life that is very hard to break. Why have we been given the privileges that we've been given?
God took me to Philippians 3 where Paul talks about all the privileges he'd been given....but yet that still was no reason to boast. God immediately impressed on me that privilege or no privilege, it is counted as nothing compared to knowing Him. These verses helped me assimilate these emotions....and kind of "leveled the playing field" in a way. We are basically all on the same page. We've got to cut through all the fluff and get to the heart of the matter- it's all about knowing Jesus Christ- regardless of the circumstance you're in. And that's what the retreat was all about. Loving on these sisters of mine and sharing the love of Christ with them. Sharing hope with them.
Phil 3:7-10 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ....
Getting her trophy from Coach Chris
Faith with 3 of her soccer buddies at her party
Tag enjoying the cupcakes at the party
Please note Beth's wink. That girl cracks me up!
Tag is such a funny little man. He loves to read books. And chew them.
He really really loves his Daddy.
I love the diaper butt. 
Beth is Tag's biggest fan. She thinks he's hilarious. Well, we all do.
Here Tag is with a newfound use for Logan's "protection".
Wow, we could market it as a baby teether! Think of the untapped market out there. :)
This is Logan's buddy Alex who lives down the street. He is 15 months old and loves to kiss people...especially Tag. Check out the funny video below. Mind you, this is after Alex had already kissed him about 5 or 6 times! Help Mom!
This past Sunday the big kids performed in their choir musicals at church. Beth's was called "I'm a Little Piece of Tin" and was so cute! The parents had the joy of making each child a car out of a cardboard box. :) Luke had fun making Beth's Daisymobile look like a Honda Element. She even had movable windshield wipers. It was a lot of fun!
I got to be one of Beth's choir teachers this year. It was fun to spend special time with just her each Wednesday night. She loves to sing! At the end of the show they asked all the choir teachers to stand up so we could be acknowledged and gave us a round of applause. Luke said he was waiting for them to say next, "Now all the parents who slaved for hours over these cars....please stand up so we can applaud you too!" Ha.
Logan and Faith Anna performed a few hours later in their concert called "Parablelooza!" It was very creative and the kids both did such a good job. We are very proud of them both. Faith Anna never missed a hand-motion....and was just singing at the top of her lungs! Then Logan was a row or two behind her....still doing a fabulous job....but with that far-away "boy look" in his eyes that was a few seconds behind the music. :) You follow? I love that about him. All boy.
Tag got a hold of the kids' light sticks afterward...
Whoah! These are like real light sabers!
