whatever

oh so very random...and a giveaway!

whenever you have something going on...lots of plans...very busy...
something always happens to throw you off and slow you down.
thursday night lauren cut her leg open on the trampoline.   
it's unclear what occured...but stitches were required.
 

craig is not a doctor (he just plays one on the blog)
but he did his best to pull the cut together with butterfly bandaids
until we could take her to the dr. in the morning.
and by "we" i mean ME.
we sat for a few hours at the doctor
which actually turned out to be very relaxing...i read my book.
and there were no tears even with a bunch of stitches...she thinks there are 8...we forgot to ask.
she let me hold her hand....that is a big deal.
 

here is a lovely shot.
i was trying to catch the beautiful light that was blasting in my kitchen while i was stretching.
ha.
interesting eh?

then i came across this pic from new year's eve.  
i think i took it...but i don't remember.

and this one...all the moms trying to figure our phones to text each other...we are dorks. (new year's)



my kids don't know it but i have presents for them each day i am gone.
nothing major...candy for movie might...cd for the car rides to school...new underwear...
but they will love a little note form me each day.
at least i think they will.

i have had quite the week for mail.
happy happy mail.

this cute M necklace arrived from madison reese designs.  
she sent it just to be nice.  
it is sweet and goes with everything! 
 
and sarah sent me journals and pens for my trip.  SO thoughtful.  i was wowed.


tiffany sent a bunch of scrapbook supplies.  I LOVE THEM!!  little umbrellas?  sigh.


cecy sent me sunscreen that she sells for beauty society.  i am going to use it and NOT get a sunburn.
i promise.


and THIS!!!

carissa you are so awesome!  
i couldn't believe it when i opened the beautifully wrapped box what was inside....i got all teary.
wow. 
the 5 is BIG and it's from the french larkspur.  
i love it.


julie told me about these shoes...i picked them up that day.
perfect yellow ruffles to make me smile.
they are like sunshine. 
(and they are platform wedges)

AND NOW for the giveaway....
my flea market style magazine arrived in the mail today!


i got a copy in the mail because linda from restyled home put ME IN IT!!
 

 
and guess what?! 
i got an extra copy to give to one of my readers!  yay!

it is a really great magazine!  
i was impressed....it was even better than i was hoping.  
if you don't win one you can pick it up everywhere you buy magazines.  
i saw it at walmart and our grocery stores.

leave a comment telling me the best thing you ever got in the mail.  
i will draw a winner on monday morning.

and then i will leave for africa!!! 

where we are going.

 i'm going to make you do some work to find out more....

here are some pictures of what we may see.

this article is about where we will spend time and the people we are going to meet.

and these are the people we are working with.
we will be helping with sewing, gardening and physical therapy.
and i am in charge of taking the pictures.
we will not have computers so i will tell you everything when i get back.
 
***********************************************************************************************************************
i have no idea how to prepare.
materially or emotionally.
i don't know what to imagine....what to think...what to do.
so i am praying.

as i pack and check off my list....check check check...i pray.
"help me to do Your work"
"let me bring glory to You"
"thank you God...thank you."
 
i feel completely unworthy to be one going in this group...to these missionaries...to this place.
God chose me to be a part of this...
me?
it still seems like He picked the wrong girl.
hmmm....
it feels crazy.
 

these verses have been swirling in my head for a month.



i was afraid when i said yes to pam and jody last fall.
i am afraid when i think of leaving everything i know.  
everything.
being away from my kids....AND my husband....across the world??? 
that scares me.
but those verses...they are true.
HE tells me DO NOT FEAR.

if i am not going to listen to GOD then who AM i going to listen to?!
He is the maker of all things...and i still want to be afraid?

no.
 
He chose me.
He is with me.
i will not be dismayed.  

i am reading my book...packing the suitcases...making some meals to leave behind.
it's all good.
He is in control.

WILL YOU PRAY FOR OUR GROUP?
 
pam
jody
cassie
teresa
jodi
shelia
kari
meg

every time you click on the blog...pray for us.
every time you see some thing polka dotted...pray for us.
every time Gods brings it to your mind...pray for us.

:)

thank you.
i know that you will.

i am smiling so big right now.
this is going to be amazing....i can't wait.

no fear.

the prep.

my head is full.
i have so many things i want to get done and have to get done before i leave.
we leave for Sierra Leone on monday....march 1.
that is in 5 days.  
wow.
i am feeling OVERWHELMED...to say the least...but there is nothing to do except get things done.
one at a time.


looks like fun right?

one bag is getting packed with dresses for africa.
ashley got me connected with rachel and rachel sent me TONS of dresses to take.
 

they have all different sizes made from scrap fabric or pillow cases.
so sweet.
annie really wants to keep them.
i will have to sew for her when i get home.


then another bag will be full of cake mixes and frosting.
the people at Word Made Flesh requested it for the kids in the center to be able to celebrate birthdays. 
it was fun to pick out.
the man bagging my groceries asked "are you having a big party?"
i smiled and said "yeah...kind of."
 

 
so....that is my day.
and the next five days.

but i am excited.
tomorrow i will tell you more about THE TRIP. 
not just about me.


i thought this picture was funny....that is the look i give when i am saying "really?" very sarcastically.
like seth and amy on SNL.
"REALLY?! REALLY?"
and i look a little cross eyed.

do you know that i LOOOOOOOOOOOVE  the show LOST?
it is amazing.
i think i could watch 3 hours a day and still LOVE it just as much.
it is SO GOOD!

and one more thing.
i almost hit a baby deer and it's mama this morning with my truck.
6:45 am.
i cringed and braced for it.
but thankfully it was faster.
ahhhhhh.

ok...time to check something off that list!   
and have more coffee.

*****edited.
my red scarf was a gift from julie.  :) she bought it here.
love it love it love it.
thanks again julie.

AND...i shipped every etsy order i had left yesterday.
41 photo envelopes went out.
woo-hoo.  
i have the coolest blog readers.******