There were two men sharing a hospital room, each struggling to recover from devastating illnesses. Two things made them friends: loneliness and opportunity. One was blind, the other old.

Every day, the old man would describe what was happening at the park, just outside his window to the blind man. He would describe the children playing ball and the young couple arguing on the park bench.  His words painted a picture describing the way the wind blew the kite a little girl was flying and the way the trees were blossoming.

Every detail was described. The old man helped the blind man see what he couldn’t.

The day came for the old man to have surgery, but sadly he never returned to the hospital room. He passed away. When the nurse told the blind man the news,  he wept. He said nostalgically, “Before you leave Nurse, could you just tell me what’s going on at the park outside the window?”

She opened the blinds to a brick wall, “What park?” she asked.

Sometimes we have to be blind so we can see.

We have the opportunity to make the world a brighter place. We can change someone else’s world with our words and our actions.

Today, I’m going to show you an opportunity to help save someone’s life and I pray you see the world more clearly.

If my 6 year old discovers a tiny hole in her leggings on the way to church, by the time we get home, it’s the size of her head.

It just keeps getting bigger.

Because sometimes once it starts, there’s no stopping it.

I feel like the more good we do in Kenya, the bigger the hole gets. Every time we rescue a new girl at Mercy House (4 more this Spring) or have a new baby (1 newborn and 3 more on the way) for a total of 24 lives in our home by summer, the spiritual attacks increase. Satan is relentless. The more we do, the more work there is to be done.

But the victories are greater.

I know our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but the attacks often are. It can be discouraging.

The last few weeks have been hard. The kind of hard that makes you want to pull the covers over your head and cry UNCLE.

Many of you who have supported Mercy House since the beginning, know of the personal loss Maureen, our Executive Director, hero and girl rescuer, has endured. She lost her beloved sister and nephew in her immediate family while we were opening the home in 2011 and the battle has been personal.

Jennifer, Maureen’s mom, has been a huge support. She has endured so much loss in her 53 years, but she has been faithful, volunteering her time and skills to help us help girls in Kenya. Our family fell in love with Jennifer several years ago and she is our extended family now.

The day after we rescued our newest girl from the grips of darkness, Jennifer, Maureen’s mom, was diagnosed with a life threatening brain tumor that has already caused her to go blind in one eye and her other eye is at risk and ultimately, her life.

What a blow.

Thankfully, it’s not cancerous and brain surgery will save her life. (She is tentatively scheduled to enter the hospital June 2, 2013)

Most people with her medical condition in Kenya would die. And without a financial or healing miracle, Jennifer does not have a chance. The surgery and recovery cost $15,000.

I have struggled with my faith lately, just feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and a little whiny. I know God is able, but the hole fills up with water quicker than I can bail it out.

What better way for satan to attack the good work of Mercy House than to try and cripple our beloved Maureen?

God keeps asking me to believe for the impossible. Probably because He keeps coming thru. I just want to shake myself and say, “Don’t you get it, Kristen!”

Please, pray, there are obviously many risks involved.

It’s a big hole, but God is bigger.

You can help Jennifer by giving a charitable donation here. You can also follow her journey to healing by liking this Facebook page.

We are grateful to the amazing work of an organization called CURE Kenya, who is helping to facilitate this surgery on the ground.

About CURE:

More than 100 million physically disabled children in the developing world can be cured through surgery.

These children have conditions like clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lips,untreated burns, and hydrocephalus. Without treatment, they won’t go to school and will have little hope for a future. Many will die from their condition.

That’s why CURE exists. We’re a non-profit organization that operates hospitals and programs in 27 countries worldwide where patients experience the life-changing message of God’s love for them, receiving surgical treatment regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, or ability to pay.

Since our first hospital opened in Kenya in 1998, we have seen over 1.9 million patients, provided over 138,000 life-changing surgeries, and trained over 6,100 medical professionals.

[We are collecting donations thru third party Pure Charity so they will be tax deductible. We don’t have a way to receive a tax deductible donation via Paypal at this time.  If you don’t want to pay with credit card/debit card online, you can send a check here:

Pure Charity

2003 Horsebarn Road, Suite 9

Rogers, AR  72756

in the memo line we would need to have “CURE International 58-2248383, Jennifer’s Brain Surgery”

Will you help one precious life  see the world clearly? 

An Opportunity to See More Clearly is a post from: We are THAT Family

The Vintage Pearl, an Oklahoma based business, has been my go to hand stamped jewelry shop for years. I love the heart behind the company, the quality of their products and The Cute. Because seriously, they have mastered both.

For example, earlier this week when the Oklahoma tornado devastated Moore, they offered this gorgeous piece and gave 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross to help aid in relief efforts. They have raised an incredible $150,000!! Amazing.

I love these new Sweetheart Jewelry Boxes because you can customize them for a special event and put a sweet secret message inside. It’s the perfect place to keep your special silver necklace too.

The perfect little trinket box to hold your lovely little keepsakes!

This jewelry box measures about 3 1/2″ across. It’s a 2 piece heart box with a lid that was hand molded in our studio and then cast in fine silver– it has handmade imperfections that make it perfectly imperfect. This handstamped jewelry box looks beautiful on your bedside table, ready to hold your favorite tvp pieces and keeping them safely stored when you’re not wearing them. You can customize both the lid and the inside of the heart by handstamping them with names, dates, an inspiring quote, an inside joke, favorite scripture, whatever is meaningful to you– making it a unique custom keepsake.

This jewelry box makes a sweet gift for mom, grandma, a new bride, a graduate and more!

Today, I’m excited to give away one custom jewelry box to a lucky winner.

Tell me what you love at The Vintage Pearl as your entry.

Introducing Jewelry Boxes by TVP {Giveaway} is a post from: We are THAT Family

Before school this morning, my 6 year said, “Momma, what if a tornado comes to my school today? I don’t want to die. I prayed for all the people in Oklahoma last night.”

When tragedy strikes, we are all touched.

Her words sum up how devastated we all feel for the beautiful people of Oklahoma. My in-laws and many other family members and friends live in this state and I know it affects so many far and wide.

When I was 20 years old, I was home from college for the weekend when a killer tornado hit our Dallas neighborhood. As the freight train of wind and debris moved thru our home, my parents lay on top of me, protecting me with their bodies. I’ll never forget the way they sacrificed for me or the way our community lifted us up. The Red Cross fed us breakfast everyday and we picked up toiletries and aid at the local high school, volunteers shoveled glass and put up roof tarps. Everyone gave.

I think prayer is the greatest gift we can give Oklahoma today. Here are some other good ways to give:

•  Text FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the OKC food bank
  
•  Text REDCROSS to 90999 gives $10 to disaster relief
•  Text “STORM” to 80888 to make $10 donation thru Salvation Army
•  Give via the BGCO Disaster Relief Fund
•  Volunteer in Oklahoma with Samaritan’s Purse or Give thru this trusted ministry

WFMW: How to Help in Oklahoma is a post from: We are THAT Family

It sort of ruined Dr. Seuss for all of us.

We’ve been talking about sex in our house with our older kids lately.

They are at the age where it’s being mentioned or joked about in some way nearly every day. And my husband and I want to be a part of their sex education. It’s not just public school kids talking…you might be surprised what kids say at church or what my son’s homeschool friend saw on the Internet. Not to mention what’s readily available on just about every TV show and screen in our homes with just a click.

Kids talk about sex.

So, we do, too…much earlier than I thought we would. But I think it’s important to set up God’s standard of purity before they start believing the world’s.

We’ve talked about things that make us blush and giggle and hurry and change the subject. We’ve corrected rumors and dispelled untruths, but most of all, we try and teach the importance of purity.

My husband and I grew up in an era of purity commitments and to put it bluntly: a church environment of shame-based sex education. Your commitment was all fine and good until you broke it and then there was no going back. You were ruined.

This kind of pressure to be pure doesn’t really work because it’s in and of itself, not pure. While my husband and I married as virgins, we did so because we chose to be pure in our hearts first. It took some time for us to untangle the guilt and shame wrapped up in our view of sex.

We lived in the time of “don’t confess you’re struggling with impure thoughts because you’ll be condemned and certainly don’t admit to giving into them or you’ll be damned.” We want to teach our children that they will in fact probably struggle with impure thoughts and possibly act on them at some point because they are human. And while this isn’t ideal or what we want for them, it doesn’t void or negate their purity commitment. It just gives them reason to talk to God about their hearts and ask for his help again.

I desperately want my kids to know this about sex:

1. They can talk to Mom and Dad about anything. I don’t want to hush them or tell them it’s inappropriate. The older they get, the less they talk, so I want to keep the lines open. I want to keep my kids talking, even if the first ten minutes aren’t important. If they hear a word they have a question about or someone sexts them a picture once they have phones (it happens to even good kids) or applies pressure in the cyber world or whatever…I want to be the one (or their Dad) they come to, not peers.

2. There is grace in this life. We all struggle. We all need to forgive and be forgiven. I want my children to know that if or when they make a mistake, their life isn’t over. They aren’t ruined for life. There are consequences for actions, especially sexual promiscuity. But God often uses our mess-ups to draw us closer to Him. My life is full of broken pieces he’s mended. And  I’m stronger because of them. The last thing I want my teenager to believe about themselves is that they are damaged goods. God is about redemption and I want my children to know we serve a God who can redeem anything. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.”

3. God’s way protects and provides for you. I want my kids to know we don’t just make up rules because we’re mean. We are teaching our kids that if we follow God’s standard of holiness, it protects them physically, spiritually and emotionally. It also provides for them in the future without all the cumbersome baggage and guilt that comes from doing too much too soon.

We are still figuring out what to teach our kids. With heavy media influence and availability (and the apps!), the dangers change nearly daily. But instead of creating a giant list of Do’s and Do not’s, we’re focusing on the heart.

It’s really where purity begins and ends.

Resources (Amazon Affiliate Links):

What’s the Big Deal?: Why God Cares About Sex (God’s Design for Sex)

Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World

Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle

Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle

Passport to purity

What I Want My Kids to Know About Sex is a post from: We are THAT Family

When the ultrasound wand confirmed we were having a boy, I cried and whispered to my husband, “a son.” Because we all know about the dad and son relationship. But I didn’t know about the mother-son one and how this boy with his long dark lashes and tender heart would undo me.

Nearly every day for the past 11 years, he has touched my soul in some way. He is the first to ask “How was your day ?” and “Did you you sleep good?” or say “Momma, you look so pretty today.” He can also burp my name. So, there’s that.

My son turns 11 tomorrow and there are 11 things I need to say to him:

You don’t have to fit in. The world expects you to act a certain way. Culture demands it. But it’s okay to be a square peg in a round hole, to look different, be yourself. It’s alright to chart your course to God’s plan, even when others might not understand it. Yes, you might feel odd or weird chasing it, but that’s okay, most world changers do.

You don’t have to give in. You already know about the pressure–to talk or dress a certain way, to disrespect adults or girls, to be like those that do. But you possess the strength and character to walk away, the Christ living in you will help you stand. You don’t have to give in.  But if you do…

You get second chances and third and fourth… You can start again. Every sunrise is a second chance to get it right, to say no, to say I’m sorry, to ask forgiveness, to make a new start. I want you to know that this is what God is about. He wants to give you as many chances as it takes, just don’t every stop taking them.

You don’t have to be tough (all the time). Boys are supposed to be rough and tough. Maybe you’ve heard that “real men don’t cry” and always wear a stiff upper lip. But I want you to know real men are tender, they care about others, and root for the underdog. They rush to open the door for elderly women and use their manners. They cry over poverty and when they grow up, they tuck their babies into bed.

You don’t need a girl (yet). Girls. They are everywhere and their influence can be intoxicating, you’ll discover that soon enough. I can’t wait to see the girl God brings into your life and I already pray for her. Become friends with Godly girls, but don’t be in a hurry to make them a girlfriend. That time will come, enjoy today.

You make me proud. If you didn’t do another thing, win another award, get another A, or an E in conduct, I want you to know I’m proud of the young man you’ve become. I love the way you love your sisters (most days). I love the way you are a good friend and listener to others. I love the way you give generously. I am proud of you, son.

You are a success if you love God and others. I don’t know what you will be when you grow up. I think an engineer or a millionaire, possibly a missionary pilot or an artist. The sky is your limit and it’s your choice. But no matter what you accomplish or don’t, in my eyes, you’re successful if you love God first and others second. Always remember this is true success.

You have great men in your life. God has given you amazing men to shadow. It doesn’t get better than your father and grandfathers. They love God and their families more than themselves and if you aren’t sure where to step next, look for their footprints.

You can always come home. No matter what happens in this life, what you do or don’t do, you always have a place with us. We might make you want to leave with our rules or ask you to because of your actions, but we won’t stop you from coming home. (must read for prodigal children)

You are loved. No matter how long those legs grow or how high I have to look up to you, you will always be mine. I can still wipe your tears and listen to your heart. I can still ground you and make you say your sorry (hopefully). No matter what you do or what happens in this life, you are mine and nothing can change that. If you never hear another word I say or choose not to listen, you must believe that you are loved deeply by your parents. But even more than we love you, you are loved by a God who sent His son for you. Don’t ever doubt it. Believe it. This life might bring great joy or sorrow, great wealth or loss, but you can make it because you have love. Make sure you give it away. It’s the best way to receive it.

And most of all, we say a lot by not saying anything at all. We can accomplish a lot by praying these words from Psalm 63:8, “Lord, please instill in my child a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You.”

Happy birthday, son.

What Every Son Needs to Hear is a post from: We are THAT Family

We are big salsa people. We dump it on eggs, burgers, chips, chicken and tortillas. And other food.

I’ve tried dozens of store bought brands and have finally concluded, mine is the best!

Here’s how I make my Southern Salsa:

Ingredients (I don’t measure, so these are approximate):

• 1 can of Rotel tomatoes (we usually use mild)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon of garlic
• 1 chopped (seeded) jalapeno (I also used canned ones if I don’t have fresh)
• 1 tablespoon of cilantro and then I keep adding (love this stuff) -fresh is best
• 1/4 cup onion

Throw it in a blender or food processor. Add salt to taste. It makes enough for leftovers, unless there are chips involved.

Serve with everything.

Homemade salsa works for me!

WFMW: Easy Homemade Salsa is a post from: We are THAT Family

Congrats to random commenters #287 Kimberly, you won the $25 certificate and  #66 Krista, you won the fundraising giveaway! 

Last September I attended Together for Adoption on behalf of Mercy House. I set up a booth with the help of a couple of friends and we told the story over and over again.

One of the best things that came from the trip was meeting Rebekah from Compelled Designs. The minute I saw her gorgeous pottery jewelry, I knew she was a gifted artisan.

Not only are she and her husband talented, they have a huge heart for adoption, missions and the world.

You might remember this gorgeous cross she created and we sold to help pay for Violet’s surgery in November 2012? Rebekah made it.

She also created the Mother’s Day jewelry we had a hard time keeping in stock.

Her company is called Compelled Designs. Not only are her designs compelling, she and her family are compelled to help others raise money. Check out her beautiful jewelry here.

I was amazed at the conference watching her talk to adoptive families. Adoption is expensive and many families do fundraisers to help bring their child home. Compelled Designs helps families do that by offering assorted bags of pottery jewelry at a discounted rate to be resold. It’s a creative and successful idea!

Today, Compelled Designs is giving away a $25 gift certificate to a random commenter.

She is also giving away 10 assorted necklaces to an adoptive family to resale ($240 value)! Awesome, huh?

I absolutely love how we can all use our skills to bless others. It creates something beautiful when we do!

To be entered to win the $25 gift certificate, please leave a comment with your favorite piece. To be entered to win the necklace fundraiser set, please leave a comment with where you’re adopting from. This giveaway ends Friday.

A Compelling {Giveaway} is a post from: We are THAT Family

It’s been years since we’ve done anything like this and it was so much fun! We laughed and ate too much. My oldest niece is about to leave for college and she is a wonderful example and friend to my 13 year old. (They were in charge of the luggage rack:)

My 6 year old’s best friend happens to be her cousin, so the little girls had a blast being together. I love the memories we created!

While we were away, my husband took our son on a Passport2Purity Weekend. I cannot recommend this resource enough! I took my daughter on a weekend getaway when she was 11 and it was life changing.

*Passport2Purity is a parent-driven time away together that focuses on talking to your kids about sex and purity. All the hard work is done for you. There are CDs to listen to, a journal to write in and object lessons in the kit. All you need to bring to the table is bravery. *Amazon affiliate link.

“This time together helps build heart-to-heart communication between you and your pre-teen while laying a foundation of purity that will prepare them for the turbulent years ahead.” The latest version has been updated to include teaching that is appropriate for kids being raised in our world of technology.” -Family Life.

Without a doubt, our generation of children deal with incredible sexual exposure, pressure and availability. We cannot simply ignore it and hope our children weather the storm alone. At the end of the weekend (filled with fun and learning), my son signed a purity commitment with his dad and my husband gave him a cool ring to wear to signify the covenant.

When I returned home, my son looked 2 years older.

So did my husband.

It’s not easy for parents to talk about sex, pornography, purity, lust, sexting, aggressive boys and girls, the list goes on, with our kids.

As a matter of fact, it’s one of the hardest things we’ve ever done.

But if we don’t talk to our children and keep the line of communication open, someone else will. We choose to explain God’s standard concerning sex as a preteen so everything they hear later on can be compared to it.

I asked my son what the best part of his weekend was, fully expecting him to say paintball.

He looked at me with wise eyes and said, “The best part of the weekend was discovering how much Dad loves me.”

I can’t think of a better answer.

The Best Thing is a post from: We are THAT Family

She loves funky and sleek. Modern and cool. Athletic and colorful. She got shoes in her Easter basket, under the Christmas tree, for her birthday and at the start of school. And boots during the rodeo this year. She saves her babysitting money for shoes and if you ask her what she wants or needs at any particular time, she might just say shoes.

Too bad she only has two feet. And they are still growing.

She wanted a pair of sandals for summer since she’d outgrown the last pair and so I brought home cute ones from Target. She liked them and I sighed in relief (because y’all know that’s a big point for mama).

The next week, her brother, who owns a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of cowboy boots (period), needed a new pair of shoes to replace his one battered pair. And that’s like pulling teeth, taking a nearly 11 year old boy shopping, but that’s another story.

We went tennis shoe shopping and without getting into all the details that are nobody’s beeswax, I ended up having an ugly argument with my daughter about shoes.

I huffed and puffed. She lamented and apologized. I realize it was just regular mom/daughter stuff but I felt very defeated about the whole thing that night.

A few days later, I tucked my kids into bed the night before my trip to Kenya. I didn’t cry when I covered up my 6 year old and ran my hands thru her hair. My lip didn’t quiver as I prayed with my son and answered his “what if” questions. By the time I made it to my teenager’s room, I was proud of my stiff upper lip, knowing her age would make her the easiest one to say goodbye to.

She put her book down and scooted over so I could sit on the edge of her bed. That’s when I noticed the bright orange and green posters tacked to her bulletin board. I stood up so I could get a closer look and when I read the titles “Prayer Requests” and “50 Blessings” my resolve broke.

Her lists were precious. I mean absolutely humbling and one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.

How can you not cry when your daughter puts bobby pins, sweet tea and your name on her blessings list?

But it was # 2 on her “Prayer Requests” list that made me do the ugly cry.

We are amateurs in this teen mother-daugther world, she and I. We are learning how to dance through hormonal highs and lows, clothing battles, friendship heartaches and messy rooms. It’s not easy. There have been big fights and bigger apologies. We have cried and prayed and loved each other to understanding.

We both have regrets and pledges to do better and love more.

But we are making progress in the journey and learning a lot about each other in the process. We love each other deeply and are finding new ways to let each other know every day.

When I read #2, “Help me be thankful for my sandals” I knew all the hard work and teaching and crying and praying, all the pouring into, the mistakes and challenges of motherhood were finding their mark.

We cannot give up on our kids because they don’t give up on us. No matter how hard the day or long the road, our consistent love will pay off.

I felt like I met God in my daughter’s room that day and instead of filling her up, He used her bright orange list to encourage me.

#21 on that “50 Blessings” list: sandals.

I think we have some shoe shopping to do.

Happy Mother’s Day, Moms! Don’t give up!

p.s. I always get approval from my kids when I write about them and I might have cried reading it to my daughter.

Why Mothers Cannot Give Up is a post from: We are THAT Family

The grass is getting greener, the sun is shining brighter, in other words, it’s getting harder to get my kiddos out of bed each morning.

I love summer–especially those first few weeks of bliss and togetherness.

Then boredom strikes and I make them turn off the TV and go play outside. As a work-at-home mom, it always a balance between squeezing in work in the cracks of my time. I already have things on my current TO DO List like “1.pay for camp  2. stock summer box (see below) 3. get kids a bathing suit.”

So, when I read the new ebook Kid Ventures: 50 Outdoor Experiences of Wonder, Discovery and Childhood Memories, I knew this would be a good resource for our summer time together. (Ebook available May 8, 2013)

It has 50 awesome ideas with picture tutorials. Some of my favorites are Build a Homemade Toy Zipline, Make Coffee Can Ice Cream and Build an Outdoor Fort. My girls are rough and tumble and I know these ideas will keep them busy too!

7 Reasons You’ll Love This ebook:

1. 50 Simple Ideas to Get Outdoors & Connect With Your Child

2. Promotes Hands-On-Learning, Creativity, & Active Adventures

3. Frugal Fun for the Family

4. Suitable Ideas for Kids Ages Preschool to Preteen

5. Clearly Outlined Step-by-Step Ideas

6. Seasonal Suggestions for Every Climate

7. Additional Printables, Diagrams, and Resources

Buy it Now for $4.99: Click on my affiliate link to buy KidVentures.

Make a Summer Box

I have a plastic tote I’m calling our Summer Box. I’m collecting fun activities for when boredom strikes. I don’t want my kids spending their summer on screens and so I’m hoping the goodies in this box will help stimulate their creativity. I don’t normally print ebooks, but I’m putting Kid Ventures in there, because my kids are old enough to do some of the activities themselves. So far, our box has a big jigsaw puzzle, fresh art supplies, water guns and balloons, a stomp rocket, origami paper, rubber bands to make bracelets, sidewalk chalk, and a new book for each of my kids.

It works for me (will hopefully!)

WFMW: Kid Ventures Ebook and Summer Box Tip is a post from: We are THAT Family