Girls Glorious Girls!

This post is long overdue.
And because it is so long overdue (1.25 months to be precise), I will not attempt to offer up all the details of my trip to Tennessee in December.

I will, however let you see three of the sweetest reasons I have ever found to visit a place...

Reasons #1 & #2, Ava Gray & Havyn, sporting their puffy pink marshmallow twin jackets in their brand new twin stroller.

These two love to be outside

& I think their momma already loves that they can be outside & restrained at the same time.

Another favorite is bathtime.

This is Ava Gray (pre-heart surgery) with her awesome in home nurse Ana.


Sweetest Reason #3 to visit The Volunteer State...

Rose glorious Rose!

In case you can't tell us twins apart, I'm the one on the left & she's the serious one.

I was so grateful for the chance to be with my sister & the twins for Ava Gray's heart surgery & to get a few precious days with Rose & her parentals!

It is never enough time, and I find it harder to leave every time.

So, I try to soak it all in while I'm there, and remember that I have the chance to be involved in their daily lives through prayer & Google+

Havyn (who shortly after this wiggled out of my clutches), me & Ava Gray (who rather likes being clutched & is sporting her "I can't be bothered to wiggle" face).

Don't let these next few photos fool you, Havyn may look like the ham, but Ava Gray just happens to be more particular as to when one should "ham it up". She seems to enjoy doing it when the camera is hidden while Havyn has a unique "camera only" grin ready the moment she sees it pointing her way.





This is the one of the dolls from many lands that my Grandmother, Ardis, made.
It represents the country of Japan.
I introduced Havyn to this doll when I was trying to distract her from eating power chords.
I showed her each doll sitting on the shelf and we talked about them.

She seemed to like all the dolls, but I think she fell in love with the Japanese doll at first hair tug. I don't know why she did, but I think it is sweet!

Honduras 2011

Through a series of some surprising & exciting events, I found myself a part of the 2011 Honduras Team.

Initially, I struggled with feeling like my stepping in at the "last minute" was saving the day. Thankfully, God was not under any delusion as to who who really steps in, orchestrates, and saves.

Once I stopped thinking of my own fabulousness (sigh), I was able to see how God had been working on my heart since last year's trip & preparing me to go.

There is nothing like some good ego deflating to prepare oneself for adventure & hard work.

Our team consisted of 3 adults & 5 highschoolers.


Dan K, Dan H, MHR Dan K, Brianna F, me, Kellen H (our fearless leader), Jon K, & Bobby D.

We worked hard doing construction...


playing with the kids, comparing musical influences with the locals...


helping with a medical clinic, practicing English & learning Spanish in return...


and serving the local missionaries
(notice the commanding way that Mike Pettengill just sits)...


I was especially blessed to get to reconnect with some of the precious kids I met the year before.

Here are some of my "tagger-ons" Samuel, Oneda, and Carolina...


Another special treat was getting tons of time with some of the craziest and most creative and athletic teens I have had the pleasure of knowing...

We became obsessed with this little footballer monkey that was made out of coconut husks that Dan Katches (the kid) bought as his souvenir. There were a whole series of photos taken of the adventures of this strange little creature.


Who says boys don't play with dolls?

I am glad for the chance to go again to a country that is finding it's way into my heart.

Grateful & open to a third trip.


I heart Honduras!

Hearts to Honduras...

My trip to Honduras in a few short words was...


...too short.

However, my post about it will be too long.


Here are a few high & lowlights from the trip:

1. Being drenched in sweat by 8:45 every morning.


2. Playing futbol (soccer) with people (read missionaries)...


who would have been red carded...


...3 times over if there had been a referee.


3. Breaking my toe


4. Choosing time with people over time with an x-ray machine.


5. Eating delicious food


6. Eating PB&J everyday for lunch.


7. Snorkeling.


8. Digging ditches, mixing cement, digging ditches, moving boulders (read stones), digging ditches, repeat.


9. Attempting to bring justice to jumping rope.


10. Riding in the back of a red pick-up truck.


11. Humidity, humidity, humidity.


12. Repenting.


13. Meeting a big scary guard Rotweiler named Max.


14. Realizing that aside from his size, big scary guard Rotweiler named Max is actually a cuddler.


15. Sunburning my white white back.


16. Making new friends while enjoying time with old friends.


17. Shadowing my talented & tender cousin Jina, as she treated patients.




18. Soaking in the downpours of a tropical place.


19. Dipping in a cool river nestled in the shadow of the rainforest.


20. Having a little American freak out trying to figure out which of the 30 or so kids could actually swim.


21. Chilling out & enjoying a hysterical game of King of the Castle.


22. Hearing the missionaries' "How we got here" stories.


23. Belting out an impromptu rendition of "I can show you the world" (from Disney's Aladdin) during a squishy van ride.


24. Gathering as a group to witness surgery on Josh's big toenail.


25. Watching the final game of World Cup Soccer on tv.


26. Playing with kids who are desperate for attention.


27. Yelling at kids in Spanish, & actually understanding what they are yelling back.


28. Sleeping on the top bunk.


29. Catching a glimpse of the beauty & heartache of Honduras...and the whisper of hope that God is working.


30. Admiring the driving in Honduras & pondering rules such as "All motorcyclists must have a helmet with them, but need not wear them."


31. Discovering one of my favorite plants that I thought only grew in Papua New Guinea.


32. Listening to stories of friendships forming & lives changing.




I'll leave it to you to guess which "light" are classified as high & which are classified as low.
(hint: only one and a half are actual lows)

Thank you to those of you who prayed for us, who offered advice, who supported & challenged us!

See our transformation below...

before...


after...