When I Grow Up

I had an older sister. She had friends. They taught me things about tight rolling blue jeans, eye liner and boys. They pretended to like me and let me listen as they pranked called people at 2 a.m. Everyone should have sibling friends to learn from. Well one of sister's friend grew up to teach me the greatest lesson. Obedience. Her name is Allison Clyburn. She grew up to be a teacher, wife, mommy and now missionary. She along with her family and the McAdams' family went on a Mission Trip to Swaziland Africa and were changed forever. God called them to move to Swaziland as full time missionaries. They answered the call and moved to Swaziland over a year ago.

Their day to day life I sometimes try to imagine. I can't wrap my head around what they see on a day to day basis. They see poverty. They see starvation. They see the orphans. They see the dying. And at the end of the day they serve them all in His name.

I mean when I was little I tried to be like my sister and friends. I would wear their clothes even when they were too big. I would fix my hair just like theirs. And today I would want nothing more to grow up like Allison. Her family has made Africa a whole lot more "REAL" to my family. The pictures. The stories. They break my heart. And yet they serve in a place that most would like to pretend doesn't exist. Their work is not complete. They need our help to continue their mission. I will be posting more information on how you can become involved and even find out about an exciting event at Roach Ranch in their honor. I ask today you first Pray. Pray for their financial support and for God to provide. Second GIVE. Give monthly. Give what you can. No amount is to small. God will use it all for His glory. For more info leave me a message and I will send you the information.

The Clyburns from Warren Baptist Church on Vimeo.

My World

"My World" is getting a whole lot smaller.

Africa is getting a whole lot closer.

There is a story that is becoming a whole lot clearer.

Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something.-Author unknown

More to come.

You are needed.

School Is Back

I am slowly getting back into the routine of school and I have really been diving back into work. I can now check dunking booth of my bucket list.

Sweet Summer

The final days of summer are slipping through our fingers. This is always bitter sweet to me. Our lazy days of pool, playing and no agenda are coming to an end. I have enjoyed this summer so much partly because I could be an active participant this year. I am blessed to have two working feet this summer. The kids were so excited when I could physical jump in the pool.

I have enjoyed my new and old friends this summer. "Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share troubles? " Proverbs 17:17

We enjoyed each other this summer. One thing about living on the farm is that is forces the kids to be friends. Either they play with each other or they play alone. There are always moments of killing each other but I watched them really grow to enjoy each other. We enjoyed some new experiences at the lake this summer. My kids got to know all their cousins this summer. We got to experience a long family vacation. The joys of the kids getting older meant we were able to enjoy the beach all day. It is still hard to believe they are 6 and almost 9.

My prayer for them this year is they make new friends easily.

I pray they are kind and generous.

I pray they grow as students and desire to learn.

I pray they can come talk to me even when it is hard.

I pray they grow with their love for the Lord and He becomes bigger to them.

I pray for their teachers who will love on them for forty hours a week.

I pray they write in color.

I pray they color outside the line.

I pray they dance when they feel like it.

I pray they sing out loud.

I pray the play in the rain.

I pray they mix the play dough colors.

I pray when they are not picked, when someone hurts their feelings, when they get boo boos they find the smile in their heart.

But I pray whatever the year holds I hope they ride the wave of life together.

The Cellar

I heart my old house. The door knobs own me. I mean seriously the door knobs own me. But this door knob leads to the spookiest part of this old house. This cellar haunted me as a small child when I grew up here. Tonight husband had to do some home repair on a condensate drain which required a trip into the spooky old cellar. There are no steps here anymore. They have rotted away.

He put on his big boy boots and got his plumber face on and had to take the other entrance into the cellar.

Luckily, Kevin G. was at our house to provide moral support and duct tape. Notice the cat food we had laid out cause we have had missing kittens since Momma Kitty can't nurse so we were putting food in all their usual spots. (*kittens found alive and well)

This is husband getting his plumber crack on and moving into the spookiest, darkest place on the planet. Billy the Exterminator would have loved his guts. Although listening to him squeal when he encountered spiders and hissing kittens was hysterical. I am thankful to report he emerged unharmed.

Vet Success

9:42 a.m. Momma Kitty was captured by son and placed in the pet taxi without incident. Being a fantastic mother, I allowed son the opportunity to do the capture himself. One day he will thank me for that but in all honesty, she likes him the most. Momma Kitty then began to make a noise we had never heard. A type of cat distress call.




9:45 am Momma Roach began to get nervous.

9:55 a.m. Mommy Roach broke the law and drove above said speed limit fearing her life and her children's life were hanging in the balance.

10:15 a.m. After quickly ditching Momma Kitty at the door we got a room to wait on the vet to see Yoda. Yoda was so nervous. We could hear Momma Kitty in our room with the door closed.

10:20 We slowly began to lose control in the small stinky room. I personally began to think why did I shower and shave to come here?

10:21 Son began to sneeze. I encouraged hand washing. Then the vet came in and gave Yoda two shots and the injectable up his nose. We wished Momma Kitty good luck and took Yoda to Pet Smart for new tennis balls!

Don't gamble with your pet's health. An appropriate picture for a Vet's room.

The real story will be this weekend after Momma Kitty comes home and has to be pinned up for 7 days away from kittens that will want to nurse.

Momma Kitty Danger

Momma Kitty is exhausted. She is still nursing. For those that don't know we kept two of the 6 kittens. I am a SUCKER. The black one is named Ortiz after son's favorite MLB player. Daughter named the stripped one Buttercup after Butter who is no longer with us. Momma Kitty is rarely ever called Peanut. She is always called Momma Kitty. She and I are about to have the uncomfortable talk about how when the kittens ask for it they are too old to nurse. But you know cats could careless what you say, so I am taking Momma Kitty in for her big girl surgery. In the morning, I must capture Momma Kitty and then put her in a carrier. My plan is to place the carrier in the back of the car. For some reason I also thought it would be a good idea to get Yoda's rabies shot tomorrow. So he will be with us also. Oh and I have two kids. The vet is a good 20 minute drive. Oh and son is allergic to cats. If anyone comes out of their cage our life will be in danger.

I tell you all this because if this happens we are in trouble.
http://youtu.be/7VD7fQWtZgo