"Honey, It's Home"

"Honey, it's home" were the words I heard as the newest addition to our family arrived Friday around lunch time. Kevin had it home and hung on the wall all before lunch (he had to drive 1 1/2 hours to Pittsburgh, KS to get it & then the return trip). He obviously wasn't excited or anything. So, here it is. . . we shared photos from the great day last fall when he got this, his first deer & he wanted to share this photo of his trophy!

Aunt Kelly Babysits

Just wanted to give you a smile. I helped my sister over the last few weeks occasionally babysitting Olivia while she had shoe shows. At my house, all the high chair things are gone, so I had to feed her in this - which if you've seen one, rock turn, move, etc. Yes, that is food all over the side of her head. Sorry Holly! She had fun though & so did we!!!

Arts for Orphans

The other night as I prayed with Isabelle, she prayed fervently for orphans around the world: that God would protect them, that they would be safe, that they'd have everything the need to survive, and that people in the world would help them. I felt very challenged by her belief & fervency that the orphan crisis going on the world could be taken care of if we would all do a little something.

As we finished our prayers, I could tell something was on her mind. She looked at me & said, "Mom, how did it happen that we in America have so much & other places have nothing?" Wondering her thoughts I responded, "I'm not sure, what do you think about that?" She simply said, "because God wants us to help them." For a 6 year old, it is so clear & straightforward. There are no thoughts of how much can I give out of my paycheck, or what about that bill, or what about retirement. For her, we have been given & we are asked to give it away!

These children need us. There is much that you can do:

1. You can go to Isabelle's blog, the link is to the left entitled "Arts for Orphans". She continues to sell her handmade cards & her Nana has made & donated 2 quilts for her to sell. Isabelle loves quilts & my mom desired to help Isabelle in this journey.
2. You can contact Kevin & I about sponsoring a child through C3 ministries. Our family desires to partner with other families, couples, individuals, or businesses to fully fund homes that have been built by C3. By God's grace the construction costs of many homes has been given by God's people, but there is a great need for monthly sponsors for the children in those home. 100% of your $40 monthly commitment goes to the child. There is no money taken out of your donation for administrative costs. Isn't that awesome! In the future we'd love to take a trip with all those who partner with us to fully sponsor children in a home in Haiti - so we can meet the little ones God is connecting our hearts with.

Please pray & ask the Lord how He is asking you to be involved. If you would like to partner with us in fully funding the monthly support of a home in Haiti, please contact us as soon as possible.

Isabelle's First Lost Tooth

Fear, Tears, Joy, Sadness, Laughter, and Reward are several words I could use to describe the events of Friday evening February 15. Isabelle has 8 loose teeth - we discovered the first loose tooth back in early November - so to say that she has been waiting a while for one to come out would be an understatement in her mind. Last night while eating corn on the cob at Grandma Redfords, the tooth lost all its efforts to hang on, (despite the fact that Isabelle tried to eat with all her side teeth. . . it was a sight to see.) The tooth was just hanging & she refused to eat any more until I pulled it out - needless to say I didn't even have to pull, it just fell out in my hand.

I have to say it was bittersweet for me. There is something about losing that first tooth and seeing the new "big girl" tooth already popping up that changes something. She is growing so fast right before our eyes. Kevin & I talked last night that it feels like loosing her first tooth is a right of passage for her. It's very strange. Starting kindergarten didn't seem to phase me as much as this did. I guess I just got a little sentimental watching her grow up!

She decided that she needed to write a letter to the tooth fairy so she'd know where she was sleeping at Grandma & Grandpas. I thought how sweet, until she showed up the next morning at 6:30am next to my bed demanding to see her tooth. I asked what the tooth fairy had left her & she said, "she's you mom, thanks for the dollar & where's my tooth?" I don't know why I thought I could pull this one off. She's way to smart.

Snuggled in bed, with the tooth under her pillow!

Be quick to listen & slow to speak!

This little verse has take new meaning for me this week. Many of you know that I was diagnosed with vocal chord nodules back in the fall. My voice has not been good since Sept. and it has been a challenge for me. On Wednesday I saw my speech therapist who was very alarmed at the stage of my voice. She is enough concerned that she has asked me to STOP talking. Well, I can talk when needed, but nothing extra. She said that I MUST have vocal rest as much as possible - which translates into not speaking unless it is necessary. I was also informed that this is going to take a long time. If I don't take this seriously, I could end up with long term permanent damage or no voice at all. YIKES!!!

I have a choice to make. I have been told what needs to happen and the consequences if I don't remain silent. For someone who loves to talk for fun, to encourage others, to read stories to my kids, to pray, etc. the choice is obvious, but one that is very hard for me to make.

I have to admit, I was pretty discouraged yesterday, but today God has given me new eyes to see that He has something bigger for me through this process. Romans 8: 28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I claim this promise for myself & ask that you'd pray with me. I don't know all I'm going to learn or understand about myself & Him, but I know it will be a sweet time. I definitely feel His presence and His gentle hand in letting me know He is working & that I need to rest in Him through this.

All that to say - please leave me a note on this blog or email me. I cannot talk but VERY occasionally on the phone, but I probably shouldn't at all. I need communication so keep me updated on you!

Olivia Lynn Kemp

Today Miss Olivia, 7 months old, came over to play while her mom & dad had a shoe show downtown. JM "keeps an eye on her" which is such a big help! :) Just this week she has really started enjoying baby food - I mean REALLY ENJOYING it. Feeding her food in addition to her bottle has made her seem so big to me. I did bring 2 kids through this stage, but I have to admit I lost all my skill. Let's just say she went for the bowl, I bobbled & peaches are now on my carpet. JM said I made a big mess. He is good a correcting me when I make a mistake.

BIG KISS!

She loves to blow bubbles . . . fun to catch it on film.

Here she is blowing bubbles to her mom on the phone.

Here begins the tug of war . . . JM w/ such innocent eyes - she is looking at him, like give me a break and let go.

JM starts to crawl away & she is ready follow.

He is definitely inticing her to keep going. She WANTS that toy.

So close if that right leg would just get out of my way.

Can you see the intensity on her face - she SO badly wants to crawl after him.

Don't worry mom I didn't crawl one bit. I made it to my tummy & for now that makes me a happy camper!

A Remarkable Life

This morning at church we had an amazing sermon entitled "The Most Remarkable Things About Christians." Our pastor defined this in such simple terms - "What makes a Christian remarkable is seeing their lifestyle reflect that of Jesus." We were challenged to identify what areas of our life reflected Him & what areas did not. Here are a few questions I have been challenged by & am pondering this week:

• Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world . . . Let your light shine before men so they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in heaven." - This implies there is darkness around, and begs the question: Does my life bring light where I am at & does my behavior lead to the praise of God?

• Matt 5:43-47 "Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you." For Jesus to say this, obviously implied that loving & praying for enemies was not our natural bent. So what does my love & heart reflect for those I have labeled enemies?

• Matt 6:12 "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." What does my capacity for forgiveness reveal? Can I ask the Lord to forgive me, when I can't forgive another?

• Matt 7:12 "Do to others what you would have them do to you." Does the kindness in my life reflect the life of Jesus?

• Matt 22:39, John 13:34-35 "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By THIS (your love) all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Is my capacity to love growing to be like Jesus?

So I left church thinking, "What am I doing, what is my family doing that is remarkable? When others see us or hear us, do they see or hear Jesus? Is my capacity to Love, Serve, Forgive, Give, Be Patient, Be Forgiving, Be Kind growing by God's Grace?"

At first, I was thinking remarkable meant the apostle Paul, Billy Graham, and other Giants in the Faith, so obviously we weren't that remarkable. BUT, the more I have pondered I've realized that Jesus did many things quietly & discreetly to minister to individual hearts. This opened my eyes to things/people very close to me who truly are remarkable:

• Kevin - sincere heart & compassion for those who don't know Jesus
• Isabelle - her persistent dedication for orphans all over the world
• JM - his deep love for God & a prayerful desire to show God's love to others
• Other - strongly desires to raise her family counter-culturally & focused on the Lord
• Other - tutors children in poverty situations
• Other - Persistently prays & seeks to care for orphans & widows
• Other - Passionately shares the Word of God
• Other - sacrifices free time for those in need
• Other - Gives generously when needs arise
• Other - Quiet Patience can't be ruffled by any storm or chaos

This list could go on & on, I'm sure as you read this you could think of people you know who are doing remarkable things, (maybe quiet & behind the scenes) but remarkable none the less, for the Lord. Take time to thank God for them & encourage them in their service for the Lord.

I would challenge you to think & pray with me about what God is asking of you & where He wants to grow you to be more like Him. There are too many misconceptions of "Church" and "Christians" because we have made up so many of our own rules - let's just be like Jesus!