Packing Our Bags

This week we are finalizing plans to literally travel around the world over the next month. First up, a trip to Dublin, Ireland to see our favorite quartet in action. I'll tell Bono, Larry, Adam, and The Edge you said hello (over a fresh pint of Guinness in a local pub). AP and I are making that trip with great friends, and this is the first time in a long time I am traveling out of the country for something other than serving others. Although, I promise I'll still be nice to people.

Following Ireland, we return home for 3 days to pick up Biddy and head to Cambodia to gather up some hope from our friends at Transitions Global, who are highly successful at helping girls find a future once they have been rescued from slavery. I have no idea how long the flight is, but I know we go from Cincinnati to Memphis to LA to Singapore to Phnom Phen. Whew.

From Phnom Phen we travel to Mumbai to see the girls who have not yet recieved that future. From Mumbai we fly into Newark, and then Cincinnati. Literally, we're going around the world.

Why are we taking a 14 month old with us? It's time for Cana to start learning the family business -- fighting for freedom in various forms.

Anti-stuff

Recently I have found myself wanting to get rid of more and more stuff. Why do we have so much stuff anyway and where does it all come from? The Biddy loves to play with tupperware, and I end up wearing the same 10 items to work over and over again. So why do we have all of those baby toys and big people clothes? Stuff makes me crazy, but I keep buying it. The rule for baby stuff in this house is that all baby toys must fit into the storage bench in the living room. No room? No more toys. I need rules like that for the rest of my house. Like 25 coat hangers and once they are full, no more clothes. What about all of that winter gear for snow days? That stuff takes up tons of room. I will not buy a bigger house just to accomadate all of my stuff. Anyone out there winning the stuff-control war? I'd like to know what you do.

Momtuition

Last week the Biddy started screaming in the night. This kid who has slept for 12 hours since she was a month old woke up in fits of screaming. I look at her and think, "it's her stomach for sure." 2AM, 3AM, 4AM more screaming. Finally she falls asleep on AP's chest. The cycle continues the next morning. This is not my kid's normal behavior.

We take her to Cincinnati Childrens'. 5 xrays, blood tests, IVs and ultrasounds later they confirm, yes, it is her intestines. Good thing we took her in. She was totally dehydrated and in a lot of pain.

The lesson for me here is that no one knows my kid like I do. She's intrusted to me and I have knowledge that other people don't. Going forward that gives me a great deal of confidence. I know who that kid is, and can encourage her like no one else can (well, maybe her daddy).

I Cried at Work Today (twice)

CASE #1: Showing kids that following Jesus is an adventure that brings abundant life is sweet, and it is more than just my job -- it's my calling. It's one that comes with an extra dose of learning what it means to be free of all the lies the world tells you, reminders of what childlike faith really is, and a healthy dose of humble pie when some one asks if this is just a stepping stone for you. I cried the first time at the end of service today, just thanking God for that clear calling. Right now it plays out in the midst of my family, my neighborhood, my friends' houses, my job, and sometimes the local grocery store.

CASE #2: A few of my very favorite people left my team to follow where God is calling them next, which just happens to be building into jr high and sr high boys. I unexpectedly teared up when I tried to tell them how much it has meant to me to serve next to them for the past five years. I wanted to say that they fulfill Hebrews 13:17 in the most beautiful way.

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I don't think I have ever before had two people receive correction, ask for challenge, and soak up encouragement with the grace that these two men have done in their own unique ways. They have honest and sincere hearts; they honor their families. They are totally different from one another, yet totally alike in a hunger to know Jesus. I'm going to miss seeing the two of them on a regular basis, but can't wait to hear the fantasticness that comes from their faithfulness applied to the lives of those boys.

Maggies Monkeys

My neighbor, Linda Sanders-Wells wrote this little gem of a book, it is a sweet and sassy tale of a little girl with a big imagination and a big brother who loves her.

So, Cana and I went to our favorite bookstore, Blue Manatee and picked it up, along with a copy of my all-time favorite kids' book, What Do You Do With a Kangaroo by Mercer Mayer. The people at the Blue Manatee built this super fantastic train/tunnel that Cana loves. She also loves books, but the train/tunnel is especially wonderful.

What a Year

Watch Out

She has taken a few steps before, but tonight she walked across the room over and over again. Just in time to walk around on her birthday.