79 days until Christmas!

Summer 2010

It has been awhile since I blogged. So much has happened since then. In June Samantha turned 14, she is growing up so fast, and turning into a beautiful young lady. In July we went on our summer vacation. We skipped the beach like most did due to the oil spill, after a week in Knoxville and Chattanooga visiting friends and going to some really awesome attractions we returned home just in time for VBS. VBS was awesome as always, and we really enjoyed the week spending it with all the sweet kids. After VBS was over it was my 3 week countdown to Africa. 2 weeks to go and I started having horrible stomach pains, I first thought it was my nerves, or something. I went to the doctor twice only to find my self in the ER for 2 days. They told me I was anemic, I needed 2 pints of blood (for those of you who are asking the question how many pints do we have... well it's only 5) They also found a blood clot on my liver going into my porta vein. No that wasn't enough, they also found 3 large mass in my uterus. So now I am waiting for my red blood cells to be large enough for surgery. I need a hysterectomy soon. The doctors have found NO CANCER, I am thanking GOD for this great news. So if everything goes as planned I will have surgery in 3 weeks. Please pray for me a quick recovery for I am not a person that handles down time very well and also that everything goes good. So after all of that I was told by my doctors I was not allowed to go on my trip. Travis did get to go and meet all the sweet people in Korah. I will get there in January, so my plans have just been postponed awhile. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me then. God takes things away for a reason, and I know he has a bigger plan for me now. Tabby turned 11 last week and she is growing up so fast too. I am very excited to get to meet our sponsored girls, 2 of the girls have e-mailed me from Sumers computer and I just cry. However the e-mails are sweet and they want me to know they are praying for me to get better fast. Bethlem (aka Betty) told me she would come to me but it was to far, that just broke my heart that she would be willing. I can feel the love so strong from Betty and Fikirta that it totally amazes me. I love the other 8 girls too very much two, however I think Betty may be chasing my heart. Nothing has never felt so right in my whole life as to the feeling I get when I think about getting to meet the girls. I can't wait! For all of you that know me really well, you will know that Christmas would be the perfect time. God knows what He is doing, we never need to second guess the great ONE. So I can't stand it anymore I would like to introduce to my family and friends... My sweet sweet girls that live in Korah...






This is Bethlem aka Betty
Betty is 14 years old, and she can make me cry, laugh, and smile all at the same time, and we haven't even got to meet yet. She can do all this just through her letters. Betty once spent her days at the trash dump but, no more. She now lives in the shelter and will be attending boarding school this fall. She wants to be a good student, her favorite sport is soccer in which she also likes to play the game. Her favorite thing to eat is meat. Going to school gets her out of the dump and an education, no more empty stomachs, clothes and a bed to sleep in.
Betty reminds me all the time to have no fear for God is in control and He will take care of everything. Betty has shared a Bible Verse with me and that is..."If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35



This is Fikirta, she is also 14 years old. Fikirta and Betty are best friends and now they get to be sisters. Fikirta is laid back and easy going. She also was in the dump until she was able to go to the shelter. Fikirta will also be attending the boarding school this fall, she is in the 7th grade. She likes soccer and loves to dance. Her favorite food id ingra.




This is Jeruselem, she is 13 years old. Jeruselem lives with relatives and still goes to the dump for food everyday until she goes to the boarding school this fall. Jeruselem's relatives have taken her out of the program a few times. So we are praying that they leave her in the program so she will for sure get to go to school soon.




This is Heaven she is the baby of the girls at only 9 years old. Heaven is just one sweet and loving little girl. Heaven lives in Korah with her grandmother until this fall when she gets to go to the school also. She is an only child who has lost both of her parents. Heaven loves to dress up and wear finger nail polish. She also likes to draw and play basketball. She is our Girly Girl! Heaven's favorite Bible verse is John 1:17 "For the Law was given to Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."



This is Tsehay D., she is also 10 years old and lives with relatives. Tsehay will also be attending boarding school this fall. Tsehay is the smallest of the girls, by the pictures I have seen I am guessing she is not much bigger than Kolton.
Tsehay also loves to have fer finger nails painted, Travis promised her I would bring her some. I can't brake a promise. I think this sounds like a good job for big sister Samantha.





This is Mesret who is also 10 years old and lives with her mother, brother, and sister in Korah. Mesret also enjoys dressing up. Mesret will also be going to school this fall also.




This is Marihawit she is 10 years old. Marihawit is our shy one however loves the camera. We have lots of pictures to show off, of this adorable little girl. She makes her Daddy Tim proud, for he has yet to admit it, but she has a special place in his heart. Marihawit gets to go to school this fall too. Yea! Marihawit will be going into the 4th grade, and plans on someday being a doctor. She also likes soccer, taking pictures, her favorite color is blue and white (this was also Tim's school colors) and her favorite thing to eat is bananas. Her favorite quote is.."Be Good, Do Good, Leave the rest to God."




This is Tsehay T. she is 14 years old. Tsehay lives with her mother who has leprosy. She enjoys running,singing, soccer, and she loves school and studies hard to be a clever student. Her favorite subjects are Physics and Chemistry. Tsehay also goes to the dump for food, clothes, and treasures that the family can sell on the street. Tsehay also gets to leave the dump for school. God is awesome! Tsehay has several verses that she sent me and they are...

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my Supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6

For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18



This is Zemenay who is also 14 years old. Zemenay's mother is living with the daily battle of leprosy and trying to raise 6 girls a 1 boy. Zemenay goes to the dump daily to help her family. We are just thankful that her mother is allowing her to go to school this fall and get an education with the rest of the girls.


Last but not least is Habtame, however I don't know how old she is, and I haven't got a picture yet.. a picture will be coming soon thanks to Cherrie C.



Here is some pictures of Travis's trip Africa...

VACATION!

Well the time left on our vacation is quickly coming to an end, not without many memories though. Our journey began on the way to Knoxville. We ate at "Ye Old Steakhouse" I love to eat there. Its on my top 10 list of places to eat. We went on into Pigeon Forge, got to the villa, it was beautiful. The kids played pool, darts, and relaxed in the hot tub. On Monday, I drove Samantha back into Knoxville to meet Lee and Brittany (aka: Bean) for some much needed Girl Time. We had lunch and did some shopping at Turkey Creek. Lee went back to spend some alone time with her hubby and I took the girls back with me. The next day we went to The Track were Sam, Bean, Tabby and Kolton all rode the Skyrider then my crazy daughter and Brittany bungee jumped. They also enjoyed the go-carts and bumper cars. More than anything in the 24 hours that Sam and Bean were together I just loved hearing the two of them laugh, it's been 7 months since I heard that laughter from the two of them. It just totally totally amazes me how these two beautiful little girls are turning into beautiful young ladies. It seems like just yesterday the girls were playing with their toys before either one of them could hardly talk and now all they talk about is clothes and Boys! Stay tuned for the next destination, and pictues.

This is some of our sponsored girls
Betlhem, Marihawit, & Fikirta

I can't wait to meet them all, and to show them God's love.
Thanks Erin for taking pictures and posting them.

Today, I'm going to be maltitasking a lot, wait that's normal for me. I'm trying to figure out some idea's for a fundraiser to raise the mission money to go to Korah. Since Travis is going also we decided to raise the money together and decided we would have a softball game. Now I need players and the rest of the details. Like team names, a cool name for my fundraiser, any ideas?

If you are not as close to God as you used to be, Who moved? ~Unknown

Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God. ~Diana Robinson

Some think its holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's the letting go.
~ Sylvia Robinson

Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor. ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

When like knocks you to your knees, your in the perfect position to pray! ~ Unknown

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light. ~ Mary Gardiner Brainard

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." ~ John 14:27

"We are not powerless specks of dust drifting around in the wind, blown by random destiny.
We are, each of us, like beautiful snowflakes-unique, and born for a specific reason and purpose." ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

I have been doing the Generational Blessings Bible Study ~ WOW!


Keep praying for me because I have been going back into the generations and have found things that I never knew, things I have forgotton about, some things that have always been with me that I wish was not. However, I do not have a time machine to go back and fix the ugly stuff and more importanly God is in Control. He made me who I am for a reason, I can honestly say I have found The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!





This is a verse we talked about in our small group...





"See, the former things have taken place, and the new things I declare;


before they spring into being I announce them to you." Isaiah 42:9

"Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment." ~ Bonnie Mohr

"The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had. ~ Author Unknown

"One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, how much money I had in my bank account, or what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child." ~ Unknown


Well its official I finally filled out my application to go to Korah. I'm very excited to be answering God's call and going with such a great team. And I will get to meet Melkameye, I can honestly say I can't wait to hug her and welcome her and the other girls we have sponsored to our family. I already love all the girls however there is something about her that I can't seem to get out of my mind. I wonder daily if she's ok and what she's doing. Please keep all of God's precious children in your prayers.

Today's Quote:

"We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them." ~ Francis A. Walker

Memorial Day has so many mixed feelings for me.. I pray for those that fight for us everyday, so we can have Freedom, I think about the ones that we have lost, I think about how my Great Grandpa never talked about the war even though he lived to come home, he was one of the lucky ones, or was he. He also carried around with him memories that no one should have to live with. I thank God for every soldier that come home and for every soldier that paid the ultimate price for my Freedom.

The picture above is my Great Grandpa, Great Grandma, My Grandma as a very young child and my uncle.

May 31st is also the day that my Grandpa Amos lost his life to colon cancer, Yes I was a Grandpa's girl. It's been 11 years today and I still miss him like crazy. I know that he wouldn't want me to be sad, so I just focus on the fact that while in Hospice they asked him if he had a last wish. He said only that I would give birth to his 2nd great grand-daughter on his birthday. Only God could grant that wish. (My due date was 3 weeks after his birthday) Three months later in the middle of the day in less than 2 hours I gave birth to his great grand-daughter. Yes it was his birthday. So I guess you could say God granted me with his last wish.

This man loved to fish, and is greatly missed.

Today's Quote is...

"Never Give Up on something you can't go a day without thinking about."

This gets me thinking about Korah and a little girl that lives in the trash dump, she has stolen my heart and we have never even met. God has a plan for us and I can't wait to see what that is.

I would like everyone to met Melkameye...

I also give you a verse that God keeps giving me...

"Father of the Fatherless, defender of widows - this is God, whose dwelling is Holy. God places the lonely in Families." Psalms 68:5-6

Thank You Tabitha for a great new make over for my blog. I love it!


The reason I started this blog in the beginning was to keep family and friends updated on our wonderful kids (when they are sleeping, lol). The other reason was because I love quotes and wanted to put a daily quote on my blog, so I'm going to give this a try.

Today's quote I got from a friends facebook page~ Thanks Daniel!

"God will guide your path, but you must be willing to pick up your feet and walk." ~ Church Sign

Samantha's Mission Project with the girls at church, making pillow cases to show God's love to the kids in Korah.

Samantha is taking photography classes and lovin every minute of it.