coming home - in a big way

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 
to loose the chains of injustice 
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
Isaiah 58:1-6

this season of Lent is already so precious to me. and it's not even a week over!

i chose to give up anything "not healthy" that i might consume (this includes things like: diet coke, ice cream, candy...and french fries, pancakes and even ice tea. i actually can't find ANYthing to drink besides water that i can convince myself is healthy - i hate milk) 

i didn't want to share it at the beginning because that wasn't the focus. i was just picking something that i KNEW would keep me aware of Him. and, oh it has!

i did NO research on the effects of "quitting" caffeine and sugar cold turkey. and, i basically felt awful for the first 3 days. like, i couldn't put a THOUGHT together, much less a sentence! it was ugly (in my head. He gave me the grace and strength i needed to get through each moment.) still don't feel great. but i HAVE been aware of HIM so.much.more. and i'm praying very specific prayers during this time that i am trusting He will answer.

i also went into this season knowing that it wasn't just about "giving up." i also desired to GIVE. i have prayed each day for Him to show me how to GIVE. some days it might be a meal for someone. some days it might be "just" putting my computer down and snuggling up to pat on the couch before our days ends. He always shows me.

and He's given me a HUGE way to give - and WITH my kids! which is a definite added blessing!

"CLEAN WATER" was one of the big ways God woke my heart up (3 1/2 years ago!) to how to TRULY love Him. if i love Him, i need to NOT be ok with the fact that 4500 children die everyday as a result of not having clean water. this is something we can FIX! so simple. yet so big.

using this season to help, once again, more people have access to clean water is such a joy! and i knew it wasn't going to be something i could do in addition to my family..but something we had to do TOGETHER. they are ALL excited about it!!!
we hope you will join us!
here is the page to give to our family's campaign: GIVE HERE!

1/3 of all wells drilled in the last 20 years are now broken. we’re proud to partner with Water for People, to help expand and accelerate their well mechanics program across rural India. This is the most effective way to ensure people have sustainable access to clean water. Every $550 we raise helps one mechanic receive:
*Training classes
*Tools and spare parts
*A one-year stipend to help an entrepreneur launch their business.

And here's a really cool part: One well mechanic will care for 50 wells which will ensure clean water for 5,000 people!


"No one ever became poor from giving." Anne Frank

and here are the 3 ways you can give!!! (this is a result of a fun family meeting about how, TOGETHER, we can reach our goal of $550 by April 7!)

1. JUST GIVE. You will be blessed. and thank you!
2. We'll make you chocolate chip cookies. and mail them anywhere in the US. $20 for 2 dozen. We will do 3 of these a week...so the first 3 to email me or leave a comment starting today for this week (next Monday I'll post about the cookies again and you'll have another chance!)
3. Buy a water shirt. We've had a lot of water shirts over the years! But never SHORT sleeved ones! Just email me or leave a comment (make sure to leave your email!) if you are interested and then we'll be in touch! $25 for adult/ $20 for children - including shipping

If you want to just give - go here and do it. THANK YOU!

if you want to buy cookies or shirts, you'll need to pay through paypal (AFTER we confirm through email!) and then i'll give to the main page.

{small disclaimer - there was only a handful of these tank tops at target...not sure how many i can get my hands on!}