Chill

Lately I have had this need to "chill." As much as I love my chaos I have come to realize that I just need to relax and do nothing. Doing nothing allows me to be quiet and enjoy time with God. No phones, computers, radio or people. Just me, my thoughts and God.
My favorite place is the ocean but since one isn't close by my backyard comes in second. I love my backyard. It has lots of trees, it faces the west so I try to go out right before dusk and watch the sunset. I am one of those people who feel God when the breeze blows on my face or the sun is shining on my face. I see God in the sunsets, the moon, the trees, the birds. I hear God when I am quiet. He ask us to be still and know Him.
Life is busy but that doesn't stop us from spending time on the computer, wathcing sports or going to the mall. Sadly most of us just can't seem to find the tme to be quiet with God.

Since I have made this decision my attitude is much more relaxed. I have more peace. You know what they say "don't sweat the small stuff." I hope you will find some time to "chill" with God. 

Asking

If you read my blogs you know my husband and I founded the Hug Away Foundation. We are advocates for adoption and orphans. Right now my main priority is finding sponsors for some children in Ethiopia. We have 90 children and many are still waiting for sponsors.
We have a website www.hugaway.org and a blog: www.titus3project.blogspot.com We also help the school they attend once they have a sponsor. I am traveling to Ethiopia in October with a friend of mine and we hope to add a kitchen to the school. For the time being the sweet lady who founded the school is making the meals at her home and carrying them to the school.
One of the down sides to all of this is that I am constantly asking for donations, monthly donors,sponsors or having to come up with ways to raise money. I may ask 100 people for help and get one response. It is very disheartening at times. I often think I can't do this much longer and what is the point. Then God speaks to my heart and I am reminded that we have been called by Him to help those who need us. Everything we have is a blessing from God and we are to share with those who have little or nothing.
I have found that people don't like seeing pictures or even think that there are kids who are starving to death, live in conditions unfit for humans, are targets for sex trafficker, or they are dying because they don't have a simple medicine that could save them. Yeah it is hard to look at those faces and to be honest it isn't my favorite thing to do. Let's face it denial is much easier. And asking for money, well I would rather have a tooth pulled. Uncomfortable? yes. Impossible? no. It is a step of faith.
I found this quote and thought it pretty much said it all.

...orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms...

.... but once you do, everything changes.

So when you & I hear staggering numbers & statistics about the poor & needy around us & around the world, we have a choice.
We can switch the channels on our mega T.V’s and continue our comfortable, untroubled, ordinary, church-going lives as if the global poor don’t exist.

We can let these numbers remain cold, distant, and almost imaginary....

Or we can open our eyes and our lives to the realities that surround us and begin considering the faces that are represented by these numbers.”
-David Platt



This is the sweetie I sponsor



Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Brandon Heath

Chaos

Can I just say there is never a dull moment at my house? NEVER!!!! I am not complaining, not at all. As a matter of fact I find the ongoing chaos amusing and I love it. I beleive even when I go to sleep during those few moments I rarely get of deep sleep, what is it called? RPM, RAN or REM? Whatever, it doesnt' matter I don't get enough of it anyway! But back to the point. I beleive that during those moments my sleep is chaotic!
When I come home from work my dog who is usally the first to greet me at the door has this whine like he is trying to tell me the events of his day. Then instead of a hello the first thing out of Kennedys mouth is "can I?" Cameron gives me a beautiful smile an says "what's for dinner momma?" Jordan is just thankful I am home and retreats to her room and Mike needs to know if he has clean jeans and underwear. This is before I have made it all the way into the living room!
If I am so blessed to get out of my scrubs and into something more comfortable and I am not in need of a 15 minute power nap it's off to make dinner where my faithful audience of 1 Cameron will help in anyway she can so we can hurry up and get the meal on the table! Throw in a few loads of laundry where on a good day I can collect up to $20 in tips! I use to give it back but after years of lectures on cleaning out our pockets they know better. With three girls you know there is a lot of talking, that would be mostly Kennedy with her many opinions and questions. Back to the kitchen to make sure we cleaned up everything and dream of the day the remodel from>>>> is done! Finish up a load of laundry, work on Hug Away and by 11:30 off to grab some of those RPM or REM things! And that is after I get home. Morning is another story.
I would not have it any other way! I love my life chaos and all! My mornings always begin with a thank you to God for my life and time with Him. My day ends with a thank you to God and knowing how blessed I am.
Some people need things to make them happy. I need my chaos :)
Welcome to my world!