Greetings from Africa

I met a dear friend when I taught in Rwanda. His name is Andrew. He was a teacher in the class I taught. He just recently got email and has been emailing me a couple of times a month. I just love to hear from him. It always takes me back to my time in Rwanda. It really puts things into perspective for me. He told me that his sister just passed away because she was ill. It broke my heart for him. I know he and his family have suffered greatly from illnesses. When I told him that I was teaching in an elementary school and Andrew was with me, he asked me if Parker and Piper stayed home alone. Imagine that... and I totally understand the question because it's the norm in Rwanda but can you imagine a 3 year old home alone?
Here is a picture he sent me. He is studying computers right now in school.
Dear Lord... Please be with Andrew. Help him to have success in his studies and be able to find a job to help support his family. I pray for his health and the health of his family. My heart breaks for the people of Rwanda and the struggles they face daily but I find comfort in the fact that You are sovereign and in complete control. Thank you so much for all that you've taught me through my friendship with Andrew. I pray that our friendship will last for many years to come.

Fall Pics

Here are some pics I've taken over the past couple of weeks but am just now taking time to upload. Parker and Andrew had a great time trick or treating this year. Andrew was the "Red Ranger" and Park was "Buzz Likeyear:)". It's so great that they're still young and naive... they still have almost all of their candy left. Cam and I told them they could have 3 pieces a day... so for about 3 days they went by that rule and have kind of forgotten about it:). The rest of the pics are from Cam's mother's house. She has a beautiful yellow tree out front. As soon as Andrew saw it he said, "Is it FALL?" :)
Speaking of... we're keeping Andrew home after Thanksgiving and having him start Kindergarten next year. I've been a little uneasy with him being in Kindergarten because he's the youngest there and not just by a little bit but most are already 6 or just about to be 6 and Andrew just turned 5. I talked to his teacher and the principal and they both think logically he should stay because he's doing well academically and socially but they both understand my concerns as a mommy:). Andrew is super excited about staying home (he likes Kindergarten and has never complained but would really like to be home, too:). Parker is pretty pumped, too! Mrs. Mindy is going to continue to homeschool him with the curriculum she was using last year. It's really been a great experience for him and he's really enjoyed it but I'd feel much more comfortable with him being one of the older kids instead of the youngest. Another thing that played a huge role in our decision was that this year there are tons of boys. Andrew has 18 kids in his class and 12 are boys. All of our Kindergarten classes are that way this year and it concerned us for Andrew when he's older. I also think Andrew will be entirely too young at the age of 17 to leave his mommy:( and for sure will need another year... or maybe it's me that will need another year:).

but it was $12.00....

Now, I am a pretty cheap spender and always look for a deal. I get so upset when I've bought groceries and they're bad. Although I want to take it back and cause a stink, I usually just throw it away BUT this ham was $12.00. I mean, I could've eaten at Zaxby's like twice for that!!! So after cooking the ham the day before the sell or freeze by date... I realize it's ruined and slimy. I just couldn't let it go. Today, Cam and I go to Wal-Mart and I told him I'm gonna tell them that I've let other things slide by but not this one!!! I mean $12.00. As we pull into the parking lot, I sort of lose my gumption and beg him to take the empty ham wrapper with the fish net stocking that went around it with the price tag hanging off. Piper and I walk 10 feet ahead of him.... snickering while he's waiting for the elderly greeter to tag his trashy wrapper. It was taking forever. Piper and I made it almost clear to the ladie's section before that thing was tagged. I kept looking back laughing and every time I looked back he gave me this EVIL stare. I literally couldn't quit laughing... then I get to thinking that I'm probably embarrassing myself more by laughing than I would be if I were taking back the empty, trashy fish net wrapper... anyway... so Cam waits in line at the returns desk and one of his old bosses came by and said, "How are you doing?" as they glanced down at the trash in hand with a sticker waiting to be returned. Then the dreaded "you'll have to get an exchange" comment came from the lady behind the counter who looked disgusted by the empty wrapper. She asked him, "So did you eat it, keep it or throw it out?" seriously, like it even matters! At the end of the trip I eventually had to go up to the counter with my new ham in hand to get the exchange taken care of because Cam conveniently left his ID at home... I'm sure there were a few "white trash" comments thrown around about us after we left BUT at least we got a new ham:).

Shouldn't everything stop?

I am so full of grief right now for the Attebery family that I find it hard to breath in and out and all the other things that I SO take for granted. I feel that I can't get a good enough look at my family, I just want to watch them longer. I'm so saddened for baby Bryce. Just a day ago he was nursing from his mommy and now is trying to learn to live without her embrace. I am so heartbroken for Scott. He was absolutely smitten with Jill. I will never forget his excitement after he met her. He would say, "I'm going to find my Jill Jarvis one day" and then as God would have it, he got THE Jill Jarvis. They found comfort in God through miscarriages and then finally were blessed with baby Bryce and now Jill isn't here to enjoy his first words, toddler years, school years.... I live with such fear of tragedy striking my family. This is definitely a sign of weak faith because God does not give me a spirit of fear. I should not cling to the things/people of this world as if they're all I have. It is so hard because He gives us such love for the blessings He places in our lives that sometimes it's so easy to get too attached and to never want to let go. Sometimes I wonder how Heaven could compare to embracing my family. My human mind is so simple and cannot wrap itself around the splendor of Heaven and His glory! I pray that God can give me a stronger faith and a better understanding of His goodness. Oh, how I rejoice in Him as my Savior. I rejoice in the fact that He opened my eyes, when I was, and still am, SO unworthy. Thank you so much Father for giving me something so much greater to look forward to than even the greatest moments here on earth. I can only imagine what kind of JOY I will have when I'm able to do nothing but praise You.
Aaron has posted on his blog a letter Scott wrote after a young lady in their church passed away a couple of years ago. It's as though Scott's words then are ministering to his pain now. Please continue to pray for this daddy and baby boy.

Home...

Jill went home to be with her Heavenly Father at 7:30 this morning. She remains on a ventilator so her organs can be donated. I can't even begin to imagine what Scott is going through. Thank you Lord that his faith is so strong and that he understands this world is NOT our home. Thank you Lord for the promise of eternity with You. May You be glorified in moments like these.

Prayers needed..

A friend of ours was in a bad car accident this afternoon. Scott, Jill and Bryce Attebery were traveling home from a family reunion when they had a car accident. Scott and baby Bryce have been released but Jill is in really bad shape. She was thrown from the vehicle. Praise God there was a nurse in the car behind them and was able to revive her twice before the ambulance got there. There was little hope she was going to survive at first but she's just come through surgery to fix some internal bleeding. NOW.. they're waiting to see what type of brain damage she may have. There's swelling and some bleeding around her brain. This family desperately needs our prayers Scott is a pastor in Eldorado. They just had their little boy a few months ago. I can't imagine what Scott is going through. I can't imagine what baby Bryce is going through. I'm sure he misses his mommy. Please keep this family in your prayers.
For updates you can check out this blog.

He gets it:)... well, sometimes..

I just put Parker and PIper down for their naps and Andrew and I were sitting here watching a little t.v. There was a scary movie on the Disney Channel. It was PG and I didn't realize it was going to be scary until I see these monster type creatures talking pretty scary. I reached over grabbed the remote to change it and Andrew said... "I wanna watch it". I said, "No, it's not a good show". About 2 minutes later he started lightly singing, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see". I said, "why are you singing that?" He said, "Because God doesn't want us seeing bad things like that movie".