My trip to Ecuador (The Child Survival Program)

Thank Heaven for 2011?

How was your 2010? Great? Mediocre? A Struggle?
Are you thinking, "Thank heaven! It's 2011!"
As I look over the past year, I am grateful for all the ups and downs of 2010. But, I know 2011 is going to be an amazing year! Not only am I excited about the adventures we have planned as a family for 2011, but I am also excited about Beachbody in 2011.
As I was reading Success Magazine last night, it dawned on me...I'm an Entrepreneur. I was reading the stories of the different people in the magazine who are entrepreneurs and I could relate to them. Then I thought, "When did I become an Entrepreneur?" It was the first day I said, "Yes," when my friend asked me to be a Beachbody Coach. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn't know I was an Entrepreneur...I was just a stay-at-home mom who thought she'd like to make a little extra money for herself. $100 a month would be a great success! Little did I know what the next almost 4 years would have in store for me.
When I made the decision to say "Yes" to Beachbody: I did not let fear take a hold of me (because there was little to risk), I knew I wanted to make a change in the life of my family (because of the health of generations before me), and I had some goals (I wanted something to call my own).
Maybe you know someone who is ready for 2011 to be different. Maybe they don't see themselves as an entrepreneur but want to make a change. If so, I'd love to have them on my team. I'd love for them to be
saying for themselves at this time next year: I'm an Entrepreneur.

Prone to Wander

In 1758, Robert Robinson wrote these words:
"Bind my wardering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, o take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above."
The song was Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing and is still sung today in churches all around the world.
This song has been going over and over in my head this past week. So, I decided to do some research on it. I couldn't get over the fact that it was written in 1758 by Robert Robinson. Does't it seem like in those times, people didn't have the distractions to cause them to wander? I mean...what would cause them to wander? They worked, ate, and slept. They didn't have all the distractions we have today that cause us to wander. But, still, they were prone to wander. Even Eve was prone to wander. We just have that bent! Ugh!
I was thinking of several friends who have been caught in their deep sin lately. I don't think they just woke up one day and said, "I think I'm going to ruin my life and those around me. I'm going to...." No, they were prone to wander...just like we all are! The wandering is what causes the beginnings of the disaster. The longer you wander, the farther off you are and you don't think you can get back to where you were before.
I love the fact that Robinson asks of God to take his heart and seal it. Wrap it up tight, Lord, so that nothing can get in! But, the verses go on to acknowledge that he will struggle with sin all his days.
Have you been prone to wander lately? I sure have been and will continue to be. We've all been there. Maybe you've wandered away pretty far...let this song be your anthem today . (even if you don't use the words Thy, Fount, Ebenezer, fetter, and some of these other "old" words in our current speech).

Come , Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fxed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here They praises I'll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by They great help I've come;
And I hope, by They good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let They goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.
prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for They courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see They lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I'll sing They sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Summer 2010

I get so sad the last day of summer! Do you? So, I usually make a slideshow of all the fun we had...

To Adopt or Not to Adopt?

About 5 or so years ago, Jeffrey and I started praying about adoption. Because we'd heard how expensive adoption was, we decided to go to a Foster/Adopt meeting through CPS (Child Protective Services). There was a lot of fear in me because of all the horror stories I'd heard. Shortly after the meeting, Jeffrey's company filed bankruptcy so we did not pursue adoption. A couple years later we decided to approach adoption again. Then, my dad got very sick and we had to forgo the adoption classes again. Two summers ago, on our 10 year anniversary trip to Barbados, Jeffrey and I decided to approach the adoption subject again. We decided we would look into adoption when we returned home. The following day, Jeffrey's company called and said they had sold 38 of the 58 stores. So, again...the timing wasn't right. As we were talking about our goals for 2010, the subject of adoption came up again. Our boys are now 10 and almost 8. We decided to pursue it for 6 months and if it didn't happen, we'd shut the door and know that wasn't our path. We also decided to pursue private adoption and CPS.
So, about 3 weeks ago, I sent our information to New Life Adoption Center. It is an amazing agency that bathes each placement in prayer and fasting. We got a response a week ago that we did not fit the qualifications because you can't be over 40 years old and adopt with their agency. Another door closed. Yesterday, we went to the Foster/Adoption Information Meeting. We decided to go with Covenant Kids Agency and are excited to see what God has in store. Maybe it is a "no" and the door will be shut forever. But, we are moving in that direction.
Did you know in the state of Texas, there are over 3,000 kids who are waiting for adoption? I can't stop thinking about them! My prayer today is that families would rise up to adopt them.
Yesterday, we talked to the boys about the process we are going through. Will was quiet and Jake was excited. Then, we started looking at kids online who need homes. It was interesting to hear the boys and their questions. Last night, when Jeffrey put the boys down for bed, Jake said, "Dad, it makes me want to cry thinking about the 3,000 kids that don't have families. I think we need to adopt 2!" So sweet!
We don't know where this road will take us but we know that God has placed on our hearts to have compassion for others. We're excited to see what He has in store for us!

Shakeology?

Busy with Boys

Yep! Being a MOB (Mother of Boys) is a busy task! When they were toddlers/preschool age you were busy chasing them and cleaning up after them. Now that they are in elementary school, you are busy driving them to various things, listening to their day (and wanting to punch the kid that was mean to them), teaching them life "things" (God, friends, etc.), and still cleaning up after them. :)
We've gotten ourselves into a new world of Modeling/Acting with Will. (Jake wants nothing to do with it...just give him a ball and he's happy). We had him take an Acting for Film Class at Cathryn's Sullivan's over the Christmas Break to gain some confidence and try something new. He had a great time! So, we sent in some pictures to some agencies and he was actually signed with one of them! He is now with The Campbell Agency. We've very excited about this new adventure. He had his "Headbook" Photo on Saturday and had a blast doing it! See...all my painful (to the boys) picture taking of those boys over the years has paid off! :)
Jake is enjoying playing basketball with Upward. That kid needs a ball in his hand at all times. He truly enjoys playing any sport! I love watching him just have fun!
Both boys will be seen every afternoon throwing the football. They both have their eyes set on the NFL. Will says he feels he will be picked up by Georgia Tech. Jake thinks he'll play for A & M, since they have a better team than Baylor. Will wants to be a Quarterback while Jake wants to be a Runningback.
They are both taking piano (which is painful to get them to practice) and will both be doing soccer this Spring (which actually starts February 13th).
This is such a teaching time in their lives and it sometimes overwhelms me. God has been faithful to calm my spirit and we've been blessed to spend some quality time together.
I'm excited to see what God has in store...