Be still my soul.

Be still my soul. 

And get ready to take a deep breath of fresh air.

This cd....

....is now in my possession.

Timing couldn't be any better.

And here's a sample for your listening pleasure.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

I've developed a new morning routine.....

Repeat these three phrases to yourself:

God is faithful.

God is good.

God loves me.

Because whether or not you feel it,

God is faithful.

God is good.

And God does love you, more than you know.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

A hobby of compromise

Next thing on the update list...Matt and I were going through a list of items, trying to figure out a hobby that we would both enjoy. My list involved all things "North Face" {or so he calls them}, the usual rock climbing, kayaking and biking. His involved pretty much everything opposite of that, but both our eyes lit up when we ran across the word "Photography."  I had taken a class in high school and a college course, but hadn't really used my camera for a couple years. We found him a camera online that needed a few repairs, but luckily he is the fix-all handy-man that isn't even intimidated by SLR digital cameras and was able to fix it!  This equaled two things for us: a major steal of a deal and an opportunity for us to enjoy each other's company while flexing a little bit of our creativity muscles!! We had so much fun and I will admit, it was fun being able to "model" for my hubs! Haha! Here's a few of our combined favorites! :)

Ethiopian Orphan Relief

I wanted to share with you something that is very close to my heart.  I've said before how one of my biggest passions in life, even from the time I was a little girl, has been helping the orphans in Africa.  Once I had a steady job and was making my own money, one of the first things I was able to do was "adopt" a child over in that amazing continent! My little boy is named Gift {I know, how fitting!} and has been the biggest blessing in my life! I love getting letters from him with pictures he has drawn for me. {He sends me a nine year old boy's rendition of a car, goat, house and of course, a self-drawn portrait! How fabulous!!} Anyway, that's beside the point.  A few years ago, I was privileged to meet an amazing woman who started a home for girls in Ethiopia who had lost one or both parents to the AIDS epidemic.  The program is called Children's Heaven and currently sponsors 75 girls with nearly 150 on the waiting list to be sponsored. It's an amazing organization and has been making a huge difference!!



But before I go any further, let me just address something that I know you're all thinking....no, I'm not going to ask you to give money. I'm here to ask you to do something much more simple.  On Sunday morning I received this email from Hanna Fanta, the head of Children's Heaven, about the current state of the organization: