Amazima

I don't really even know where to begin with this post - my heart is so heavy...
I was reading a friends blog a few days ago, and learned of this 21 year old girl named Katie who has a ministry to orphans in Uganda. I started to read her blog, and was amazed... This young girl moved to Uganda, cares spiritually and physically for over 1,000 children and their families, and has adopted 14 daughters of her own!!

I have always wanted to adopt (from Africa, specifically) but have become more serious about it after struggling with fertility issues. After reading about Katie, and seeing the sweet faces, and hearing the above and beyond sad stories of these children - I want to commit to praying about adoption more fervently. I remember saying as a young Christian that I did not feel called to missions, as some were not. That, I now feel, is a lie. We are ALL called to missions. Maybe not full time, but we are all still called to make disciples of ALL nations. On the same note, I have heard people say that adoption is not for everyone. And that may be true - but we are ALL called to "Be kind to widows, orphans, fatherless children and strangers. Share whatever you have with them." Deuteronomy 24:17-21 "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." Psalms 82:3-4

We can do this through Amazima - and I encourage you to all pray about this... For only $300 a year, you can "adopt" one of these orphans and provide them with the funding for school, school supplies, 2 meals a day, and minor medical care. Not to mention providing them care for their souls - and introducing them to the God who loves them so much... I would love to go visit Katie one day - and meet these children face to face. I am so jealous of Bens medical knowledge and training, because he is so needed in places like this - where I sometimes feel useless. But one thing I CAN do is LOVE on those children - and maybe even bring one home! :)

I have had Katie and her ministry on my mind and in my prayers since I read her blog - it was so convicting to read her stories, and know that I was living so comfortably here doing nothing to help. It also confused me that I am begging God for another child and medically pursuing treatment that could give me one - when there are SO MANY children waiting to be loved in Uganda, and so many other countries - even our own. Please look into Katie's ministry - you'll be glad you did...

amazima.org

kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

Conversations with Daddy

 

Campbell is definitely a daddy's girl... and as much as Ben wanted to have a boy (and still does) it has been so fun to hear him tell people recently "Man, there is nothing like having a little girl..." She thinks her Daddy hung the moon, and cannot wait until he walks through the door each day. (well, he doesn't actually walk through the door EACH day unfortunately, but we wish he did!)

Being the faithful reformed man he is :), he has started teaching Campbell some Catechism questions and answers. (It is basically the foundations of our faith put into question/answer form - super helpful for teaching kids) She knows the first one, and it is so cute to hear Ben quiz her...

Ben: Campbell, what is the chief end of man?
Campbell: To gworify God, and enjoy him forever!

Then sometimes she turns it around on him and asks him the question... Guess I better start learning the Catechism! She keeps us on our toes... :)

The other day Ben was talking with her in the car, and she was asking him (quizing him) what color things were. This is the conversation that followed...

Ben: What color are you Campbell?
Campbell: I'm clear daddy!

We died laughing....

Then the other day I heard her talking to Ben under her breath (he didn't hear her) but she said "Daddy, you are always so beautiful... and I love you so much" Now if she would only tell me that every day :)

Catching Up

 

Once again, I have fallen behind with blogging... but I will try to catch up with a little review of the last few months:

-We had our first appointment with the fertility doctor, which was really helpful and gave us a "plan". We hoped to move forward with treatment in December, but then found out my blood sugar needed to be more tightly controlled before we began. So now we are waiting on that to go down some, and will have more bloodwork done at the end of the month to re-evaluate. Pray for test results close to a 7.0...

-Ben and I got to go to Gatlinburg for a little trip before Christmas to celebrate 6 years together, and almost got snowed in there since the Yukon doesn't have 4wheel drive. :)

-We had a great Christmas in Auburn, Campbell really understood more this year and LOVED singing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus...but we aren't really going to do the whole Santa thing, so it was interesting to see how she responded to the "What did Santa bring you?" questions. She would mostly say that yes, she got presents - but would then shout "Happy Birthday Jesus!" I think she got the important part! :)

-New Years was uneventful since Ben had to work... bummer.

-My friend Kendall had her twins! 2 healthy boys, and one healthy mama... hopefully they will all be home together soon!

-Campbell will be 3 soon (Feb.3) which has happened WAY to fast... but I have to say, I wouldn't be too terribly sad if we skipped the 2.5-3.5 age all together... it is kicking my butt!! Any survival advice?

-As tough as this age is, she still cracks me up with her hilarious comments... here are a few:

Campbell: Turtles don't talk mama...
Me: Thats right baby, they don't talk.
Campbell: No, they just laugh...

"You are the goodest man Daddy...and you are the goodest you Mama." (guess she couldn't think of the word woman :) )

She has also been into "getting married" lately. (Partly because Cinderella is her favorite movie, and she loves how they get married at the ball) So she likes to tell Ben she is going to marry him at the ball too - and gets him to twirl her around like the prince does Cinderella... priceless! (He even showed her our wedding album the other day so she could see my dress, and the pictures of us dancing "at the ball")


That about does it for the news around here... sorry for the lack of pictures - but the ONE THING I forgot on the Gatlinburg trip and in Auburn for Christmas was the CAMERA!! I promise to do better...