Cancer, meet Bloggy World. Bloggy World, show Cancer what you've got.

Remember when I mentioned my friend E? We were sitting outside her operating room waiting to hear if she had ovarian cancer. Well, she did. Or, I guess (though I still don't like to look at it this way) she does.


The good news is that her doctor is great and her tumors were nice self-contained suckers that were able to be removed. The bad news is that cancer is sneaky and evil and so even a successful surgery doesn't mean it's not coming back. So, that leaves E with one more major battle to fight: chemo. Nothing like resting your hopes on pouring poison into your body for four months.


But, if you've read E's blog, you've already seen that her hope isn't in the poison/chemo, it's in Jesus. And she's got a wicked sense of humor to help her fight. And one more thing: she has some great friends who have vowed to join her in the battle. We know she will beat this, but we'd like to make the fight a little more bearable.


A group of bloggers who call E a friend have banded together to ask our readers to consider giving a gift to help E as she enters this next stage of her battle. We're calling our humble plea for help "GimmE 5" because we're asking our readers to consider giving $5, although you can absolutely feel free to give any amount. Just click this cute little button. 

All gifts will be used for expenses incurred by the Koproski family during E's months of chemotherapy.  Since E is a stay-at-home mom, these expenses will likely include paying for child care, transportation, house cleaning, and grocery shopping but will also likely include many 'unexpected' expenses that at this point we cannot imagine, and other things like insurance co-pays, and any adaptive equipment or items that E might need to be comfortable at home. Rest assured that E and Steve are grateful and humbled by this effort and will be the best stewards of your generous gifts.


All I can say is she is one of my dearest friends, and I am so thankful for every person who seeks to touch her life the way she's touched mine. 


Head over to E's blog to read more of her story and see more pictures of her adorable children (um, one five-year-old and two three-year-old boys, yikes that's a lot of work!). She starts chemo on February 21st, so please join me in praying for her. If you want to stay updated on how you can help E and her family during this time, we set up a blog for that purpose, caringfore.blogspot.com.


Thanks to these ladies for participating in this "campaign":

Emily Berry & Jenny Rapson, Mommin' It Up

Andrea Deckard, Savings Lifestyle

Cortney Loyd, Evan Has Landed

Becky Dell, Random Becky

Maria Woodall, the BMC Report

Tricia Callahan, Once a Month Mom

Celia Emmons, WestAnaWillGo

Waiting

A small few of us (relative to the general population) have had to experience the pain of waiting through an adoption of process. A great many more have had to experience this kind of waiting.

In an actual waiting room.

With a loved one on the other side of the door. Not knowing what the doctor's going to say.

God has given me great friends. Some that I don't even know beyond this blog or your blog. But He knows we need more than blog friends. He knows we need those in real life, flesh and blood, there to babysit your kids and meet you at Chik-fil-a friends. He knows that we need friends with whom we can actually sit in a room and cry and hug and feel despair and hope with.

One of my great friends - in real life - is E. She's awesome, funny, and she has genuinely (non-judgingly) challenged me to take steps of faith. I really love her. And that's why I'm asking you to pray even as she's in surgery and recovery that there will be No Cancer. None.

I know this little circle of friends isn't the only one sitting, waiting, hoping and trusting. I know some of you might have this kind of waiting - trying to trust in the waiting. I'm praying for you today too - even if I don't know your story.

Friends are so great, aren't they?

(E's on the left)

Thank you isn't enough

The car is packed. It's almost time.

But I can't go without saying thanks.

Thank you to everyone who has been happy for us, who felt the urgency with us, who tried to understand why waiting for a piece of paper could drive us absolutely insane.

Thank you to those of you who sent stuff for the Bloggy Baby Shower for Charlie's orphange. I got stuff with no information identifying who sent it, but know that I am so thankful!

Thanks to our parents & siblings, who have loved us in a way that has shown us we always have enough love to give. We make crazy decisions often that you are dragged along behind, but you always do it with so much enthusiasm, which makes it infinitely easier.

Thanks to Lindsay & Megan. Without you, I'd be up til 3 am packing and cleaning. Megan, when I put Sy to bed tonight and thanked Jesus with him for Megan, he interrupted me to correct, "No Mom - Megan Aunty." You are indeed an aunt to all three of my kids. Lindsay, you cleaned my bathroom, is there any greater love? Yes, there is - peanut butter smoothies, and you brought me one of those too.

Adrianne, Ben calls you my adoption wife, which I think might be slightly overstating matters, but I can't imagine having done this without your voice on the other end of the line. Becky, Suzanne and the rest of you, I can't wait to meet you either.

Thanks Elizabeth for showing me that adoptive moms don't have to be weird (although right now, I think I'm evidence to the contrary).

Thanks John & Lisa for easing the burden and loving us like family.

Thanks Pop-Pop for lending your name to our son. We hope you are as proud to be his as he will someday be to be yours.

Thank you to Ben for always listening and obeying, which makes it a little easier for me to obey when I don't want to.

Thank you to the Inventor of Adoption for allowing me to be a part of Charlie's story.

Here's Hoping

I am REALLY hoping to get some adoption news this week. I am hoping that when I sit at the Thanksgiving table and someone asks me what I'm thankful for I can say, "For Our Approval!"

Maybe I will be able to, maybe not. But since I believe in the whole "Give thanks in ALL things" thing, here's what I am thankful for in the midst of the oh-so-difficult time of waiting.

I'm thankful that my waiting, my obsessive email checking, my overuse of the phrase "hopefully soon," is because there are people whose job it is to protect the children of Rwanda. This job is important, and they do it well, and it involves so much more than writing my approval letter. So, I wait while they work, and I'm thankful for their work.

I'm thankful that every day I long for good news, for a bit of information, for a picture of my child, is a day that love grows in my heart for a child I've never met before. These days are important, because love takes time, and the foundation for it is being laid right now.

I'm thankful for a real-time conversation with my friend Adrianne, who is full of wisdom. I'm thankful for her pespective, for the way her heart breaks at suffering, and that she talks just like me, but with a cute semi-southern thing. (She's hoping to get news about her baby soon too.)

Ooooh, AND..
This has nothing to do with adoption, but today is the 10-year anniversary of my first date with Ben. I'm thankful he remembered even though I didn't, and that he's still glad he asked me out - even though my brother told him not to.

Craft Night

One of my best friends called me this week and asked if we could have a "craft night." She said she wanted to do some "crafts" for friends and help me with my projects.

Ben was out of town and I was craving the sound of adult voices, laughter, something to look forward to.

Three of us sat on the couch while all of the sewing supplies, scraps of fabric, mod podge, scissors, and large hunks of foam sat in another room.

We had to inform her (while she was eating her fast food dinner) that corn has no nutritional value and wheat bread isn't really that good for you unless it tastes like cardboard. I think she was pretty sad.

Then, I got out a tub of my son's animal crackers and we used them to scoop chocolate icing straight into our mouths. They didn't judge me when I finished the whole container almost without any help.

While the crafts sat in the other room, we talked about the important things in life. How boys are so stupid (except for Ben), and what Ben and I fight about and how even when we're fighting I still know I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

We talked about how it's kind of annoying when people say things like "God's timing is perfect," because while that may be true the world is a broken place full of wickedness and sometimes God's perfect timing seems to refer more to when we're dead than the here and now.

After discussing all the reasons why boys are dumb and google-stalking a few of them, we debated the pros and cons of sending a random guy an email out of the blue. We got all philosophical and spiritual about whether or not it's good, and then we convinced her to do it.

Because, what good is craft night if you can't drink too much Diet Pomegranate 7-up (with antioxidants) and convince your friend to email random guys, because what the heck?

I love friends and the way they make everything so, so fun. I love the way they hear your thoughts that don't sound right coming out, but they know how not to "take it the wrong way." I love that sometimes we make each other slightly dumber and goofier, but mostly we make each other infinitely wiser.

A little nervous, a bit raw, and it ain't nothin yet

A year ago, I wrote this.

So, here we are a year later, and we're about to take a horrible grief journey with a dear friend as she and her baby spend a week with us over the anniversary of the day they lost everything.

We've been grieving with her from a distance, crying with her over the phone and texting, saying stupid pithy things on facebook. This will be the first time we'll have been together since the funeral, which was the first time we were ever together without him.

I'll probably be missing for a while. I'll be busy trying to let the ugliness of grief be ugly, trying hard to resist the urge to "make it better," which of course I can't. I'll be busy trying to balance the laughter that comes with watching our kids fight over toys and snort yogurt with the heaviness that has settled into a dear friend's reality.

It seems that there is a lot more I should say, but I can't seem to think of it right now. I'm sure this is not the last time this week I won't know what to say, and it's time I learn to be okay with that.


PS - I appreciate your thoughts and words this week, but I'm going to close comments on this one... it just seems to cross the blurry line between my story and someone else's... there's a newly functioning email link in the sidebar if you want to reach me.

Beauties

I have beautiful friends. Most of which are inexplicably single. I mean, what man in his right mind would glance away after seeing these ladies? What man would NOT say to his nearest buddy - somebody get me her phone number!

Of course, Ben wouldn't, but that's because he has me.

We had Lindsay's birthday party here this weekend. She is thirty and gorgeous. She gets hit on all the time and goes on dates with hot Italian tennis players, but the right guy has yet to surface.

Megan is not only a cute natural blond, she's also hilarious. And can throw a party. Um, what other qualities are needed in a woman? Oh, and she does missions work in Africa. I'm just saying, it's kind of hard to beat that.

I have more lovely, adorable, single friends...see?

Wait, this isn't that kind of site. I'm not advertising them - just bragging about them. But if you're a good looking, Jesus-loving male who would rather spend an evening at a basketball game than a concert - and you're of an appropriate age, or knew some such person, I wouldn't be upset if you left a comment.

Because, seriously, true beauty is hard to find.

All pictures stolen from my friends with (sort of) their permission.

Emergency Party

Sunday was the fourth birthday party I’ve thrown Sy, but the first at home. (#1 was at Lake George, #2 in India, #3 in Philly.) It was also the first party that I let him share with his friends.

Well, that’s not true, exactly. For his 2nd birthday, in India, we invited every kid in the neighborhood plus all the kids at one orphanage. But we had the party at a park, not my house, and there weren’t a lot of parents, just kids running around crazy, and someone else cleaned up.  Which is completely different than playing hostess to a mass of kids in your own home.

I figured for our first attempt at a friend party, we’d limit it to just a few kiddos. And, lucky for me, Sy’s little best buds are all girls, which leads to more squealing, but less killing, stabbing, destroying, etc. I promised him next year he could invite all his boy-buds too, but thought it’d be best to start out small.

I think any mamma knows that present-opening time is the most stressful part of such an event. That is when your kid is most likely to say something like “I HATE dinosaurs” or “I already have this one” or “Is this ALL I get??” That last one happened at a recent party I went to, and I still giggle about how cute it was.

Pre-party, I went into full lecture mode about having a grateful heart. Why? Because everyone knows that the way to get your child to have a grateful heart is to lecture him. Lectures breed righteousness, right? Wrong? Shoot.

Well, it (sort of) worked for me. Sometimes it’s about short-term results, people, not the big picture. He excitedly opened all his gifts and said thank you (every time I reminded him). He got a couple of shirts to which he responded, “I don’t get shirts for my birthday!”

He meant, “Um, hello? It’s my birthday people – I want toys!” But I tried to giggle loudly enough and murmur responses to give the illusion that he meant, “Wow! I’ve never gotten a SHIRT for my birthday!” That’s okay, he got excited about them later.

And then it was cake time. Now, I watch A LOT of Food Network. Well, I used to, before we cancelled the cable. Now I just dream in re-runs.  So, I’m pretty much an expert on decorating cakes. Except I’m not.  I already shared with you my strict cake-decorating rules, which emphasize creativity, not perfection.

Sy has spent the last month or so going back and forth between wanting an Ambulance cake and a Fire Truck cake. This is due to his current obsession with emergency situations. Because I love him, and I knew his indecision was a recipe for disappointment, I decided to make both.

For those of you homey types who want to see the directions, I used this, and this fondant recipe. For those of you who just want to make fun of my pictures, here you go:

I was pretty proud of my efforts, even though the results were a little crumby and sloppy. I mean, he is turning 4 and the sooner he learns to accept “good enough,” the better off we are all going to be.

Emergency Response cakes, Fireman games, squealing kids, a birthday boy battered into having a thankful heart – all added up to a successful party and an exhausted mommy, and it’s not even his birthday until tomorrow.

(This is the kids being firefighters, putting out the "fire" with squirt goons and watching the fire float away.)

)

PS - Why did PBS Kids change their programming? Where is Clifford the Big Red Dog?

Kristy

Over a decade ago, I had one of those change-your-life meetings. I was 17, at an age where my insecurities were met by dressing like a weirdo and getting boys to like me despite of it. Or something like that. Anyway.I met Kristy at a summer program for high schoolers at Taylor University, the prestigious institution which would eventually give us both degrees. It took maybe a week and a half before we were inseperable, and before we returned home for our final year of high school, we vowed to go to Taylor together, be roommates, best friends forever, pains in the butt to our future husbands (who of course are not the guys we thought they would be that summer), and role models to each others’ kids.

Fast forward through all of the dance parties on our beds, questionable pictures that we let the Taylor bookstore develop, different boyfriends and friends of boyfriends so there wasn’t a third wheel (always me, by the way), and games of Minesweeper, and we got married and became real people with responsibilities.That’s when it became clear that we weren’t used to having to CALL each other to keep in touch. We were used to just being together for at least 12 hours a day.

Fortunately, luck, God, and the powers-that-be where I work have ensured that a bi-annual (does that mean twice a year or every two years? Because I mean every two years) conference I need to attend takes place at her graduate school. So, we’ve gotten to keep hanging out, which is a relief, because if it was up to us to pick up the phone, we probably wouldn’t even know the names of each other’s firstborn. But, we’re getting a lot better.

Here’s the other irony, that perhaps only I find interesting. Before we got married, and our lives revolved mainly around each other, Kristy and I took a couple trips – one to Fort Collins, Colorado (where she and her husband would go on to live for 7 years), and one to a small town in Ohio (where Ben and I have worked for the past 7 years). What? I’m the only one that cares?

This was us then:I used to go to class dressed like I was going clubbing. I had a thing for leopard, and Kristy secretly did too, but she hid it well. But if she ever gets out of line, I have pictures.

And, this is us now. Four kids, two dogs, a doctorate degree, a cross-cultural life, and not enough time together later.

Roommates? Check.
Best Friends? Check.
Pains in the butt to future husbands? I think her hubby would agree.
Role models to each other’s kids? I think her little Ellie definitely wants to be like me, and I’m saving my red pleather pants just for her.

Kristy moves to Iowa today, where she is going to be on the faculty of a university – teaching gross anatomy, and other things that I’ll never understand.

But I do understand this: I can always trust her - with my crises of faith, when I'm in tears over potty training, and to see me for who I am today and not who I was ten years ago.

Trust is important, especially with someone that has a box of pictures of you from college.

Happy Earth Day!

There is less than 2 hours left of Earth Day, and I am going to bed having done nothing to celebrate. Sad day.

1998 was my favorite Earth Day. Kristy (the best college roommate one could hope for) and I decided to be "one with the earth" by sleeping naked (separate beds) and not wearing underwear for the day. How that makes sense is for you to figure out. Anyway, we talked almost our whole Wing into participating in our celebration and later got in trouble because the prospective students visiting were supposedly really freaked out.

To be honest, I wasn't all that aware of Earth Day this year (blame it on my most recent stint as a single mom. I love excuses.) until I started feeding my social media addiction and read the perspectives pouring in through Facebook status updates and Blogs.

I'm not attempting to be critical or judgmental - just wanted to lend my voice to the sea of Earth Day Opinions. That being said, here you go:

I noticed today a fairly overwhelming negative response to Earth Day on religious grounds. Not that you asked, but I'm all for it. As a follower of Jesus, I want to be about: caring for widows and orphans, seeking the lost, building the Body, and being a steward over creation. If you're not a follower of Jesus, that's Christian Code for: loving God's people and taking care of God's stuff.

I forgot to celebrate this day, but here are the itsy-bitsy changes I have made in my life this year:

• Homemade laundry detergent and cleaning products when possible/effective
• Wash cloths instead of paper towels for cleaning up Baby-Led weaning
• Somehow raising a son who insists on turning off all of the lights all of the time, even when I need them.
• No more fabric softener sheets
• Planting an (indoor) garden with Simon that I managed to kill already
  

Okay, so that's all I can think of. But, I've come a long way since the only thing I could come up with was going commando to Chapel.

Jesus & Jack: An Easter Post

Maybe it's my continual failures to explain the resurrection. Or maybe it's that death has been too real this year, too close, much more threatening than ever before.

Maybe those are the reasons why my Easter thoughts for 2009 are less than "traditional" and definitely darker than I've ever thought before.

I love the Easter songs - the hymns that soar victoriously, that sing Hallelujah, that bask in the promise of a resurrection. But this year, we lost a close friend, and behind us sat a family mourning the loss of their beautiful young adult daughter. And let me tell you, that mama and daddy sang the fire out the Easter hymns.

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia

My Jesus did not lie helplessly and sputter to life after three days of sleep. My Jesus saw Death - face to face and beat the crap out of it. Three days of battle ensued, where my Jesus was tortured by a Death who thought It had won. It taunted and threatened and my Jesus fought back.

(I'm not gonna lie. The Jesus I am picturing looks a lot more like Jack Bauer than the picture Simon colored this morning.)

And my Jesus basked in our praises today, but when he looked at my heart and heard my voice singing, he heard me taunting Death right back. My song wasn't one of peace and beauty - my song was full of fighting words.

You have hurt me.
You have threatened to take the joy of those I love.
You have shown yourself powerful and ugly and scary.

But you do not win. You have already lost. Today I cheer my Jesus on, and I spit in your face.

Happy Easter everybody!

Being a Mama

Today's post is a bit different. I hope to get some Easter thoughts up soon, but there's something I've been putting off for almost a week now.

First, I read a post by anymommy, who referenced a little cyber-project by her bad mother to find out what moms around the world love about being a mother. Interesting. Then, that very day, I was in Detroit - specifically wasting time watching Oprah cater to her mom-fans by being all cheer-leader-like and sympathetic when we all know Oprah's babies are dogs, which doesn't count. (in my book)

Then, I got the following email. (I won't identify the sender, except to say I love her to pieces and she just found out she's going to be a mama - to a human, not a puppy - and on her first week of mommy-consciousness she got scared out of her pants by Oprah.)

I'm wondering if you had the opportunity to watch oprah today...she had on her "oprah mothers" (first of all, what business does oprah have to discuss motherhood on tv when she's not even a mother...) anyway, all the mom's on there were very negative and were talking about what "nobody told them" before they became mothers. frankly, it was very disturbing to me. #1. I don't like when people are negative. and #2 I'm just scared about being a mom in the first place so this didn't help. anyway, so i'm emailing to find out if you watched it and I'm looking for you to tell me that "yes, those woman were very negative and although motherhood can be difficult like the woman were talking about at times, it is still wonderful." If you could also say something like, "the oprah mom's were just trying to be a little overly sarcastic to get more air time on oprah" cuz that's what i'm really thinking it was...but i need some confirmation.

I put off responding to this email because I wanted to really evaluate if I've turned into a negative mommy? I'd like to think I'm a real mommy, but does that have to be negative? So, I've been contemplating this this week, and these are the haphazard thoughts I've come up with:

Because I love you, here you go: Yes, those women were being very negative, and although it is difficult at times, motherhood is wonderful. And, by the way, I think those Oprah Moms were just trying to be overly sarcastic so they could get some more air-time on Oprah.

Thanks to things like mommy-blogging and Oprah, us mommies have found a little community where it is okay and welcomed to vent about the hard work that we do at home. Finally, we've realized that there are other people out there who are struggling to make it through the day and who think, "If I hear Elmo's stupid little voice one more time, I'm going to stomp on him until he stops begging to be tickled!"

And, that kind of community is welcome.

And, when we get in that kind of community, we do tend to get a tad (I have to watch my language because my grandma reads this) not-so-nice.

But, I love being a mother. I do. Here's how I've come to understand it:

The moments are precious.
The days are torture.
The years go by too fast.

*****

That's the perspective I try to let govern my attitude. And that's why, although there's many things I love about being a mother, the one that comes to my mind this morning, is Tina.

To be a mommy and enjoy it to its fullest, you need a Tina - a friend who will soak up every precious moment with you, celebrate every victory, understand every time you can't pull it together, not get offended when you don't call back for three days, sympathize when the baby not sleeping makes you actually angry, get you through the torturous days, and be there as the years fly by.

Having someone - a friend or the blogosphere - to understand how it can be so hard and so amazing at the same time is Mommy's Secret Weapon.

But, if that's not enough for you, there is more to love about being a mother:

• making a mess every day
• seeing the things you don't like so much about yourself coming to life in the cutest ways possible
• having a reason to care about the future of our planet, our country, etc.
• having someone to pass on all of those family stories you've been mentally collecting for years
• watching your husband become a daddy

You know what? You may hate it. You might hate "being a mother." But, guaranteed, you will LOVE being YOUR baby's mommy.

I have to admit, many days, that sums it up for me.

*****

To play along with Her Bad Mother in getting around the world in 80 days, I'm going to tag Kristen at Following the Dream. She lives in Hungary, and I'd love to know what she loves about being a mother.

Goodbye, Halloween

The Halloween season is officially over. We celebrated in style last night with a grown-up party for our AIA friends. In the spirit of the presidential election and our own independent political leanings, we dressed up as Sarah Palin and Barack Obama. I wasn't committed to character enough to cut myself bangs, but I did add to my costume Baby Trig and a hunting rifle. Ben ticked off the mostly-McCain-loving-crowd by carrying around an Obama script and using his talking points the whole evening.

Prizes were given to Debbie Fesler for her impressive rock star costume. I'm not sure how she got a hold of my leopard pants. In fact, minus the afro, she looks pretty much how I did in college.

Jared and Erin Wellman for dressing up like each other

And Megan Soderberg for her ridiculous costume - "Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain" - talk about getting into the spirit of Halloween!

All in all, fun times.

Proximidade Award

Erin at 5 Dollar Dinners gave me this great Portuguese Blog Award. I'm pasting the little blurb for you to read, but given my sketchy comprehension skills, I believe the gist is that this award celebrates that blogs connect us over distance... I like the part about "doing friendship." I know it's a shame that friendship can now be defined electronically, but I have e-friends and blog-friends I wouldn't have it weren't for the beauty of the internet.

So here's the blurb:
"They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut or that they propagate? Then let’s try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 blogger's that in turn must make the same thing and put this text."

I'm awarding this to my blog friends:
Kristin - blogs have made us more than the acquaintances we used to be.
Tricia - blogs will help us stay in touch when you move.
Libby - my "e-friend" whose life in India I envy, and who I don't expect to pass this on because she has a little cute baby and not enough sleep.
Barb - because she writes my favorite new blog and she's the funniest person I know and I'm glad that we're legally related!

My goddaughter!

I was the proud godparent of Sophie as she was dedicated on Sunday. My job is to pray for her, which I am humbled to do! Isn't she beautiful?

unanswered questions

Yesterday was one of the worst days I've ever experienced. We left our kids and drove to Alabama to be at a funeral for a close friend.
He died in a senseless, confusing, shocking way.
The wife he left behind is another close friend, and we drove 9 hours just to hug her and be there as she cried.
The son he left behind is Taly's age - old enough to sense when things are wrong; young enough he won't have precious Daddy memories.
We cried and prayed - more yesterday than I've done either of those things in a while.
We miss him. Ben will miss a dear brother. I will miss the way he loved my husband, and brought out so much good from him (and me). We will both miss the way he loved our sweet friend, and inspired a great love in her.
But, mostly, right now, I just miss heaven. My real home. Where there will be no unanswered questions, no pointless answers, no separation, no heart-wrenching grief. Where God's love will finally be enough for our darkest days - not by faith, but by actual, visceral, true experience.

peace ... and facebook

Peace: BOTH children are napping. At the same time. No small feat, let me tell you.

Facebook: I did it, I caved, and I feel like a total pushover, as I like to consider myself immune to peer pressure. And I am already feeling the confusion of who to call a friend. And I have two sisters-in-law (I think you know who you are) who have some sort of top secret email addresses so I can't "friend" them. I guess I'll wait for you to friend me....

And, by the way, how cute is my little girl?!

And, now the moment of peace is over.... Mommy! Mommy!

I'm coming, and you better not have pooped in your bed!

Flying Pig Marathon

About 25 runners from AIA participated in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati to honor Liz. Being 8 months pregnant is a great excuse to not participate (not that I would have anyway), but we were there to cheer them on and remember Liz together. Most everyone did the relay marathon, meaning they ran about 6 miles each! Good job ladies! Here are some pictures:

Flying Pig

Happy Birthday Liz!

A year ago, we lost our good friend Liz when she was hit by a car while running. Some of us got together for a birthday party for her to celebrate her life and friendship. It hurts to lose someone, but makes you feel so lucky that you got to be a part of her life for a short time. We miss you Liz - the way you made us laugh, the way you ate crazy health food, and the way you got when you were mad about something (that's one of my favorites!).

Home of Hope

We just had the privilege to visit Home of Hope with our dear friend, Mr. Song. I could write pages on Mr. Song himself and the way he has given his retirement to the Lord, moved to Bangalore and serves as a more-than-full-time prayer warrior, encourager, and minister to the "precious souls" at Home of Hope.

Home of Hope is a home that takes in people off the streets of Bangalore. Most of them are very sick, many are in their last days. All of them have nowhere else to go. It is a heavy experience to visit this place, which is very organized and well-run, despite the challenges of a staff shortage and finding adequate funding.

These people are precious indeed, and we arrived, many lined up to be prayed for. Mr. Song pays special attention to those whose time on this earth is short, beseeching our mighty God for their salvation. It is so humbling.

Ben said it best, "If Jesus were here today, Home of Hope is where He would be." This place isn't about complicated strategies, glamorous programs, or lofty goals - it is about providing food, shelter, comfort, love, and dignity to people who have none of those things.

Please help Mr. Song continue to minister to these people. He is praying for short-term teams to come love and serve at Home of Hope. Anybody with a medical background, or even just a compassionate heart that would like to show Christ to people by bathing, feeding, and praying with them would make a tremendous difference. Please consider putting together such a team from your church or small group to come here. You will get such a vivid picture of Christ's love if you do.

The picture above is from New Ark Mission, which has fantastic stories of people who have been rescued from the streets of Bangalore, as well as ways that you can help. Please also follow this link to see some beautiful pictures of the reality of life at Home of Hope.