Zambia 2013

I'm going to share my journal from the trip here on my blog, hope you "travel" with me. 

Day one: We landed and had dinner, just Tandoori chicken and chips at the mall. I am in Africa, right?With a large agricultural event in Lusaka from August 1-5 everything is crowded. Parking, roads and people are full! Tomorrow is also a full day, starting early.

Day two: I am attending an African funeral of a woman 5 years my junior. Her 5 children are now without their mother, and her family without their daughter and sister. The deaconesses from the church prepared her body, attended to the service with their singing and weeping and will bury her at the cemetery. A white pine box, simply made,  and her life is now complete. Her oldest daughters wept so hard as they passed the body, they couldn't continue to stand and were helped out by the women. I had held my tears until then but they flowed freely at this sight. She is in heaven and although I mourned her having never met her, I will meet her one day.

After the funeral, I met 82 orphans, their guardians and overseers. It is unimaginable the joy which comes from seeing your work in person. I do not have the ability to see my daily work and the impact it has on a regular basis. Papers do not hug you, thank you, kiss you, or make you smile! It has been so good to be here.

We then went to see 12 orphans and welcome them into our program. They live in a village called Soweto with a population of around 400,000. probably the size of Warr Acres in OK. little huts and houses everywhere, and children as far as the eye could see. Muzungu (white people) draw quite a crowd. They were shy and in shock. When I announced they did not have to wait until January, there were smiles and whispers and tears. With profound thanks, they came forward and received their first month of support. Many couldn't even look at me, many had tears. I encouraged them, prayed over them and she'd my own tears for the hundreds I walked by on the way out whom I could not yet offer help.

We shared dinner with Fraywell and his family. Loveness was a sweet hostess and so excited to see a woman from Reaching Souls. Fraywell, when asked what was his favorite thing about her, said her frankness for it made him a better man. She loved most his persistence and love for her and her children. They shared their love story, Fraywell took us by the place he had first seen her on our way home to Lima Garden and it was such a special time.

Tomorrow, church and rest. 

Peace

Invisible

I needed this today. Thank you God for knowing and seeing.

The Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’

Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? 

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’

Some days I’m a crystal ball; ‘Where’s my other sock? Where’s my phone?, What’s for dinner?’

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going, she’s going, and she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I brought you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: ‘With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.’

In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. 

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’ 

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was Almost as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. 

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he’d say, ‘You’re gonna love it there…’ 

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

—Anonymous

peace. 

women.

Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957):

Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross.

They had never known a man like this Man—there had never been such another.

A prophet and teacher

who never nagged about them, who never flattered or coaxed or patronized;

who never made arch jokes about them, never treated either as “The women, God help us!” or “The ladies, God bless them!”;

who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension;

who took their questions and arguments seriously, who never mapped out their sphere for them, never urged them to be “feminine” or jeered at them for being female;

who had no ax to grind and no uneasy male dignity to defend;

who took them as he found them and was completely unself-conscious.

I love this! Thanks Dorothy.

peace.

Because some days you just need a cute baby and a kitty.

peace. 

Reflecting on dads...

Yesterday was Father's Day. And I've been in a little bit of a funk about it.

I have a great husband and he's tried really hard to be a great dad. I appreciate his efforts and so do our girls. I am grateful for his struggles to do the best job for our children having never seen it from his own dad. God is good.

But that isn't where the funk comes from.

Looking back at his dad and my dad, I feel cheated. I don't have those rosy, fun, uplifting dad stories that many people have. Neither of us do. Our dads were lazy, selfish and uninvolved. More than that, they caused great pain by putting themselves ahead of their wives (ex-wives) and children. They left, many times. They created holes of regret and abandonment in our lives. Even into our adulthoods and our children's lives, they created places of hurt. Sometimes I'm really angry still, sometimes I'm really jealous and sometimes, I'm just in a funk. That would be today.

It's hard to admit that two men who are no longer living still have such impact. Especially when I do have so much to be grateful for. But yesterday was a reminder that I missed out and I don't like it. I wish it could've been different. I wish they had chosen to serve, protect and love their families. I wish they would have decided to have fun with us, invest in us, support us and stay with us. But they didn't.

There is good news. At some point in my life, I began to see God through the haze of my earthly father. I began to look to Him for the everything my dad hadn't given me, hadn't done for me. I began to learn of His love for me and see my own dad in a different light. My dad didn't do the best he could, but I haven't always either.

I'm still healing. Another onion layer pulled back and another chance to let God clean out more gunk. Search me Oh God and know my heart.

I'm just glad I don't have to lean on Hallmark for my sentiments. :-)

peace.

We are Oklahomans

We are Oklahomans.

We are survivors.

Whether by man's hand or random disaster, we will not be defeated, we will thrive.

We hurt, we pray, we pull together and together we recover. 

We will not be taken down, put down, stay down or throw another down. 

We will get up, stand up, and pull each other up until we're all back up. 

The pioneer spirit which founded our great state is alive and well.

Today we've been called on once again to rise up and join arms with our brothers and sisters and get to work making life better again for our hurting and displaced family members.

We will recover. We will rebuild. We will see another bright day for us all.

We are Oklahomans. 

peace.

My skin is saved...

Yes, this is a Carmex post but for real you guys, I didn't think my skin would survive winter.

I got this care package from my friends at Carmex. It had all of this in it.

                                      

 

And honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. I felt like my skin was so dry (how dry was it?), it was so dry I understood how fish feel out of water. ALL SCALES! (groan) So once again, Carmex to the rescue. I think I maybe addicted to the healing cream. It gets in and changes the texture of my skin and I don't have to put it on over and over. A couple of times a day and my hands feel better. I like the lotion as well, maybe for summer since it isn't as heavy.

So if you've survived winter but you aren't sure if your skin has, leave a comment*, tell me your name and tell me how dry your skin is. My friends at Carmex want to save your skin, too. The two goodies I got, they'll send you if by random number generator, you are chosen.

No charge, no catch, no gimmicks. Just hope for scaly skin. :-)

peace.


*For US citizens only. I was provided these products at no charge by Carmex.

Thoughts for Today

I've been thinking about turning 50 next February. There are a few things I would like to do before then, only to have a deadline to get them done. 

But 50 before 50, although a clever title, is not really practical for me given the pace life already runs at.

So I think 12 before 50 is much more attainable. Plus thinking of 50 things stresses my brain. 12 I can handle.

Here goes:

1.   I want to take a trip with my husband to celebrate 30 years together.

2.   I want to walk on African soil and hug African people.

3.   I want to sit court-side at a Thunder game. Or pretty dang close. 

4.   I want to travel with friends.

5.   I want to travel with family.

6.   I want to hit the 100 pounds lost mark.

7.   I want to ride a motorcycle.

8.   I want to read 12 books.

9.   I want to become more skilled at what I do. Work smarter, not harder.

10. I want to make more time for art.

11. I want to write a book.

12. I want to be a blessing to everyone I come in contact with. Even if it's just a smile. 

I think this is it. I'll be 50 on February 26th. Check back with me and we'll see how it goes.

peace. 

Helping the Kids

Most of you know that my day job is directing an orphan ministry in Africa. Every day I see the faces of children with no hope, no help, advanced trauma needs and few advocates. Do you know that in Oklahoma we have some of the same issues?

The Human Services Commission for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) was abolished by the voters of Oklahoma on Nov. 6, 2012 with the passage of State Question (SQ) 765.

This is a good thing, however the next step has yet to be taken.

Previously, the Commission had oversight of OKDHS, but the passage of SQ 765 means that the Director of OKDHS makes all decisions for the agency and reports directly to the Governor. Four citizen advisory panels will report to the Director and provide advice and recommendations on Administration issues, Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Developmental Disabilities Services. 

Each advisory panel will have five members, with one member on each panel appointed by:

the Governor, Mary Fallin - Contact her here
the Speaker of the House, Rep T.W. Shannon- tw.shannon@okhouse.gov
the Senate Pro Tempore, Rep Mike Jackson – mikejackson@okhouse.gov
the Minority House Leader - Rep. Scott Inman – scott.inman@okhouse.gov
the Minority Senate Leader – Rep. Ben Sherrer – bensherrer@okhouse.gov

As appointments are made, the names of panel members will be published on the OKDHS website.

I tell you all of this because I know two women who need to be on these advisory panels and I need your help.

Michelle Kelley and Shelley Cadamy Munoz have seen the system from the inside out. They have both been foster parents and are adoptive parents of children who have experienced trauma and have been through the DHS system. These women are staunch advocates for children and for the system around them. Their passion and their skills could be an invaluable asset to these advisory panels.

I think its important to note and I am asking:
1) Who is being considered?
2) When will it be announced?
3) There are no priorities for DHS listed for the House - is this because they consider the issue done? But if they haven't named the panels how can the issue be done? Oklahoma House Priorities listed here.

Taking care of kids should be a non-partisan issue, so regardless of how these women vote they are in it for the kids. Shelley has a background in organizational development - this would be helpful in a culture change situation. Michelle has a background in marketing and this would be helpful in public awareness, foster and adoptive parent recruitment, and brand credibility building. 

Shelley's story

Michelle's story

So here is what I'm asking you to do. MAKE SOME NOISE! Help me spread this on social media, send a email to the officials listed above, make a  phone call, just do something. We need to let our elected officials know that languishing in a place of indecision in unacceptable and we want to see action. We want to see these advisory panels staffed and in place. We want to see the kids in our DHS system made a priority. Without us, they have nothing. With us, there is hope for a different today, tomorrow and forever in their futures. Make the effort, make a difference. 

Thank you!

Glynis

It is this easy...

There isn't really anything I can add other than just do it. Be nice to someone who can do nothing for you in return. Be Jesus to a world who has lost sight of him.

peace.

Mrs. B

I recently went to Chandler, OK to watch a marionette show. I took with me 2 of my favorite ladies. Mrs. B and my mom.

Mrs. B created the marionettes used in the show. They are historical characters and a work of love. Most were created from just looking at pictures, translated to 3-D through her amazing imagination and creativity. From the choice of the wood to the last stitch in the outfit, Mrs. B completed this project so children in Chandler could learn OK history in an interesting and educational way.

The museum in Chandler is quaint and charming. Worth the trip to step back in time. I loved being with mom and Mrs. B for this trip. It was so special to see her honored by the museum and the children whose lives she has blessed.

Like mine. Mrs. B has been in my life all of my life. She has known my mother since she was 16. I remember coming to OK and going to visit her. Always felt so welcomed, loved, and pretty close to perfect in her eyes.

She has supported us in the fun times, the hard times and in the in-betweens. I'm so glad my girls have had the chance to know her. 4 generations of friendship. Pretty cool.

peace.

Been doing some thinking...

Still going to the gym and brother, it's that time of year! Every treadmill and elliptical is full, the weights are in use, and the machines taken. New Year's Resolutions in full force! I've been going consistently this past year and this January thing is a new experience for me. Trainer Patrick says it will slow down after Valentine's Day. :-)

Anyway, the thinking part. For the first time in a long time, I weigh less than I did this time last year. That is exciting! What's got me thinking is how much time I didn't invest in doing better.

A little before and during...Adrian is journeying, too. 

This year passed so quickly and although I have made changes, I have also allowed myself seasons of laziness. Times where I ate whatever I wanted and decided to sit on the couch instead of moving. I know this will happen and it's ok but I need to let this become something I choose actively, not just because I'm being lazy.

Life changes are hard. I was watching the Biggest Loser and when the doctor was talking to them about uncontrolled diabetes, fatty livers, heart stopping cholesterol,  blocked arteries and such, I felt blessed to know that I'm not there...yet. 

Thank you God for preserving my health for me in spite of me. 

BUT...I don't want to presume upon His great goodness to continue to do so in light of my absolute lack of care of myself. I feel convicted to pursue God's plan for my health. Shifts my whole perspective.  

It is getting better and it will continue to do so. Even if I have to become a morning person. 

peace.

My Christmas Wish

This year my wish is different than in years past. 

This year, my wish is for 4 young girls I know.

Lucy Belle and Ellie Kate are sisters. Born with NKH both of these beautiful children suffer seizures, feeding issues and much more. Ellie Kate is 7 and has just been brought home under hospice care. Her life on earth is ending with as much grace and peace as can surround her. Lucy Belle will one day walk her same path save God healing her. These beautiful girls have 2 brothers and amazing parents. Please pray for them all.

Lorelei is 18 and fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma. She's undergone chemo, transplants and is still facing more fights ahead. Dynamite really does come in small packages and Lorelei is proof of that. She is beautiful on the outside and inside, full of faith and ready to give God all the glory for the work He has done in her. Please pray for her.

Madison is also 18 and I've known her all of her life. She is my brother-in-laws niece and a lovely young woman on the cusp of college and life. She is battling Metastatic Melanoma and undergoing chemo as we speak. She is surrounded by family and friends and fighting for all she is worth. Please pray for her.

So this year's wish is for healing and peace for all of these amazing girls. Please help me pray and please Lord Jesus, touch them. 

peace.



Update: Ellie went to her eternal home today. She is free of this world's struggles and dancing with her loving God. Please pray for her family.

My Heart Today

My thoughts today seem to be contradictory, but I think they are not. Here they are.

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

For if you think about it, God is in every day and as we muddle through, He lead us if we let Him.  

peace.

Getting artsy...

I've taken a break from my art creating for several months. I needed a break and refresh. But I'm getting the itch again (and I have a show I'm participating in January) so tomorrow's the day!

Back in the studio, grubbies on because I'm a mess and I'm excited about what's to come.

I promise to take pics and keep you posted. I'm thinking about starting with....

a dream is wish your heart makes...

peace.

Today I'm thinking on this....

Storms 

make trees 

take 

deeper roots. 

Thank you, Dolly Parton.

peace.

Orphan Sunday is HERE!

Months of work have gone into the most important event I've ever been a part of, I am blessed. Here is where it all began.



Zambia's Gift to the World from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Take a few moments and pray. Find out about God's heart for the orphan. After all, we were all orphans until He saved us, accepted us into His family and became our Heavenly Father. We cannot sit by and let the 163 million orphans in our world continue to suffer.

Stand up Church! James 1:27 is clear that this is our job.

peace.

I love Dr. Seuss

I found this today and thought that I'd share. I love throwing goodness around everywhere. Some say it's cheesy, some say it's just dumb, but I love it sticks in your brain like chewed gum.

Ok, I'm not exactly up to snuff when it comes to the Seussian rhyming game, but I do love him and see much wisdom in his simple, fun script.

Enjoy!

I found this here.

Peace.

Dexter & Gracie

So my friend Kristy has a rescue pup, too. Her name is Gracie and she's a black lab. Dexter and Gracie have a love/love relationship.

Dexter loves playing with Gracie and she with him. Dexter loves her toys, her bones, her couch...not so sure Gracie loves this, but she tolerates his intrusion.

Every time we go to visit, our little rescue babies play this game.


 Hope you get a giggle out of their shenanigans!

peace.

Bonus Blog for Tuesday!

I've been thinking about my next tattoo. Something serious? Something fun? Something meaningful? Maybe...

or this...

Source: fyeahtattoos.com via Glynis on Pinterest

peace.