Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. I love and admire these things about her:

• She chose to be my mom when my biological mother could not
• She always treated me like I came from her own womb and she knew she would catch flack for doing this sometimes
• She taught me to be strong
• She taught me to be independent
• She has always encouraged my adventurous side
• When I was about to marry the wrong guy she kept her mouth shut until I figured it out with God on my own
• She taught me how to work hard
• She taught me how to make a beautiful home with what you have
• She taught me how to respect my husband with words as well as a lack of words
• She gives me her shoes from her 100+ collection when she's done
• She takes me shoe shopping
• She teaches me the beauty of being a business woman by weekday and a cattlewoman by weekend
• She's the example of fine fence building, dinner party making, cattle branding, and business suit closet designing
• She makes a mean chocolate cake and is kind as a princess
• In fact, she is a princess...ask anyone in the state of Kansas...

Happy Birthday Mom. I love you.

Pedicure

Today I had a pedicure. Didn't take the camera so there are no pictures. This pedicure was significant. She scrubbed and sanded off all my Jordanian calouses and blister remains. I am so sad....but I'm looking on the bright side. I'm ready to go and get new ones...somewhere in the world.

3 Worlds

I love what Kay Warren says in her book, "Dangerous Surrender", the book she began to write after returning home to beautiful, affluent orange county from her first Africa HIV/AIDS experience. How do I learn to live in 3 worlds?

• the world of supermarkets lined with choices and quantities and beautiful malls and etc.
• the world of knowing and being "gloriously ruined" by knowing there are 12 million orphans in Africa as a result of AIDS
• the spiritual world of knowing there is evil, we are all capable of evil, and that there is hope in heaven. The same heart that is capable of evil is capable of compassion. By His power.

Upon arriving home from the Middle East where there is a minute supply of Christ followers and a haunting call to prayer 5 times a day and honor killings of girls and women, I needed to hear her words. There is hope in heaven, and meanwhile I can be a presence wherever I am to those who are suffering from the consequences of evil. I can't change evil...I can just be Jesus with skin on to expose the evil and give comfort and compassion to the suffering.

Mmmm. so what's next? Lord, I am listening.

12 million orphans

As I read about 12 million orphans in Africa due to the HIV/Aids virus I have an interesting time living life in perspective as I buy groceries for 6 different birthdays this month, go to the beach in my motor home to make smores, drive through Starbucks to get my foamy capp for the day, go to the mall to pick out the birthday presents, drive my car, weed my flowerbeds, curl up in my comfy bed, lay down on yet another piece of comfy furniture to watch my one hour favorite t.v. show, de-clutter my food pantry (hello?) wash my dishes in a sink with hot water, and watch all the kiddos on my block skateboard or bike by with helmets and their mommies, look out over my swimming pool with two empty floaties on it, feed my dog (?)



I know what you're thinking....just say it. Leave a comment!
d

Picture crazy

Now that I know how to do it...well maybe I went overboard. Enjoy all the reasons why Jordan is on my heart...

Heart Lag

I don't seem to be experiencing jet lag. I sleep fine and get up fine after being on the other half of the globe with a 12 hour difference. What I'm struggling with is heart lag. I struggle to put my heart back into life here...because I don't want to lose sight of what captured my heart there. MMmmm. Pictures of why that is so are coming....after all, what's a blog without a picture?

New Faces- New Hearts

I'm headed for another part of the world in 3 days. I am so excited about

• New smells
• Peoples' faces who live a different life than me and meeting new hearts
• Seeing another part of God's creation and the way He created people
• Sensing His presence amongst a people who don't even realize He's there. There's something deeply moving about seeing that spiritual chasm.
• Hummus! yum yum

I will miss my children, the smell of home, the chaotic routine we live in, my freedom, my personal space, Starbucks (UGHHHHH), my temperapedic mattress, my own coffee pot, my workout routine, my computer, my young adult children, and my cheerios.

Until I carry home new experiences,and a full heart with new faces, .......................Most of my blog readers know what to do in the meantime concerning situations like these; especially concerning the first thing I said I would miss.