Following The Call » Our lives as we went from adopting to mission work to leukemia fighters.

We are so lucky to have so many people who care!!!  Our fabulous friends at The Branch purchased a bunch of t-shirts to sell at our soup dinner. And… they are letting us keep the left overs to sell!! Because we have been so crazy blessed and we want to give back, we are letting Lola pick where the proceeds for the shirts go!!  A few of her favorite groups to support are- The orphanage in Tanzania, our friends in Tanzania, other kids with Leukemia and many other great organizations. Lola has an amazing giving heart and we can promise you that she will pick great places to support!!  We will keep you posted on how much money is raised and where the funds go!! (Although I can  guarantee you that some will go to the kids at the orphanage in Tanzania.) All shirts are $10 and shipping is included. All T-shirts say ‘we choose joy’ on the front, and have a picture of africa and www.followingthecall.org on the back.

Have you seen those billboards around claiming that the end of times is coming on saturday?

Matt and I initially laughed when we saw them.  Really…   the world can end any time. We are ready!!  (and I hope and pray you are also!!)  I used to really hope the world wouldn’t come to an end in my life time. I wanted to live my life, have my kids, hold my grand babies etc. But now, at this point in my life, I can not tell you how often I pray for the Lord to just swoop down and rescue us from this horrid world, full of so much pain and suffering. My life is hard at times. And i’m sure yours is also at times. I will not even go into the details of trials Matt and I have been wading our way through, but believe me they are there. How I wish I could just leave it all behind and ring the door bell of the great pearly gates of Heaven. Wouldn’t that be nice?  Lola told me the other day that she really really hopes God comes back for her soon. Her reason is because she loves being a kid, and wants to go to heaven when she is a kid so she can be a kid forever.  While I am so glad that she knows death is nothing to be scared of, that sure brought a tear to my eye!! She has no idea that she is in a battle for her life, she has no idea how that statement hits my heart so hard.

When I told Lola that we didn’t get this last house we tried to buy, she cried. Which made me cry. Lola was devastated. Part of the reason was because it was past bed time when I told her, and the other reason was because that house had the most perfect swing, and she just knew we would never be able to find her another swing like that!!  It was such a unique swing. A hunk of wood with a rope on each side tied to a tree branch. Where I ask you will we ever be able to find one of those?!!  I love that kid

I know there is a reason why everything in our life is hard to do right now. There is a reason why we seem to be unable to buy a house. Why it has proven hard to even buy vehicles for ourselves. Why my sweet baby has cancer.  I just don’t know why. I can only hope it’s because saturday is the last day of the world……

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.  Jeremiah 29:11