You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~Gandhi

My brother gave me a gift certificate to Kiva for my birthday.
Thanks, Jesse, for helping make this such a special year for me.

Greetings from Ruhengeri in Rwanda!
Vestine is 28 years old and is married with three children and four adopted orphans from the 1994 genocide.

In 2003, Vestine started her business of selling agricultural produce in different local markets in the area. Vestine has a plan of expanding her business to other local markets in the country. She is requesting a loan of 500,890 RWF to be repaid in 8 months.

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

I just love this boy... Warning: Long post

I know I have a lot of entries that are about Myles. Here I go again... I have had several conversations and situations in the last week that have led me to where I am today, right now. Filling out intake forms I realized this kid is a genius. Really. I know all parents say that. He is. One week ago we had dinner with a family who has a two year old. Sometime I have difficulty being around kids his exact age. Don't get me wrong, I love his little friends. I love spending time with their families. Sometimes it is just hard. Sometimes it hurts my heart to see what he "isn't doing". I hate the comparing thing. I have always hated it. It always made me mad at church when people would comment that he wasn't walking or he wasn't talking or whatever he wasn't doing. I hate the stupid emails that I get "Your 23-month-old". Anyways, we came home from this previous mentioned dinner a little... I don't know what the word is. We had the conversation... "Why isn't he doing this or that?" Matt sees is so logically as if to say, he isn't doing ______ then this is what we should do. I see it more emotional. I am his mom. I want to protect him. I want to hand pick his little friends. I want to rescue him in situations where I know he is struggling. I want people to see what I see. To love him like I love him. From the moment he entered my life I knew things were going to be different. Not a bad different. But just different. I was given a quote at a time when I was struggling. I know I have shared it with a lot of people but it fits a lot of different situations. It also makes me feel good.

Two friends are taking about one of their wayward son and how heartbreaking it is and ultimately why...

"This is what I think, Sam. In the premortal life you had a heart, which allowed you to love, and you had a mind, which allowed you to make choices. I think your mind recognized in David something that said he might not come home, and you worried about it. And because your heart loved him, you said, "Send him to me, and let me be his earthly father. I will always love him and teach him and never give up hope, and I will do all I can to help him because I know him so well. I will be patient and kind. He might break my heart many times, and I may lose a thousand nights of sleep over him, but I see him for who he is now and what he may become. So please, please send him to me because no one will love him more than I." You might have said something like that, Sam, and now you have your wish, and your heart is broken and your thousand nights of worry plague your mind, but it could be that you asked for all of this. Maybe it was one of the first decisions entrusted to us, to petition for certain family relationships on earth."

That has really helped me not necessarily that I have wayward children but some of the difficulties we have faced with our children. Why them? And it helps for me recognize that maybe I had that same conversation with Heavenly Father and I said to him "Please, please send him to me because no one will love him more than I."

So as I completed the latest round of intake paperwork I realized I have been entrusted a very special little boy. I will be patient. I will do all I can to help him because I know him so well. I will help him show the world his light. I want to share a few brilliant Myles moments we have had...

I want to share a few brilliant Myles moments we have had...

11 months old. I had just dumped a bunch of stuff on his tray and he sorted.

14 months old. I know, I know. Babies and chemicals don't mix. But he was obsessed with organizing them and I was right there by him, watching. See his method.

18 months old. I watched him do this one afternoon. Picked up a green marker. M... Y...L... E... S... I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen him do it in that order.

Lots of things end up like this at our house. Nothing wrong with a house of order.

He could spend hours doing this. Actually he does spend hours doing this. But he has a method. One he has perfected. No one can disturb his stack. Stack them all exactly the same way, put them in the basket, stack them all exactly the same. There is something very calming about this...

I just love him.

David

We received news yesterday that my nephew David was injured while serving in Afghanistan. I just wanted to write about how proud we are of him. I am amazed at what an awesome man he has grown to be. He is a wonderful husband and father. We couldn't be prouder of him that he has chosen to serve his country. He is constantly in our thoughts and prayers. We love you Dave and pray that you will make a quick and total recovery. ~ M

Happy 9th Birthday Liam!

Happy birthday buddy! We love you!

Happy Birthday To ME!

Okay, it wasn't my birthday (for those of you who just questioned the title of this blog). Well it isn't my birthday yet. Matt gave me my birthday present last week. Apparently he has been planning this one for a while and everything just fell into place last week. So I will let you in on a little story. About a year ago, just in casual conversation, I mentioned that the one piece of furniture I wanted was a Victrola. Sometime in my life I wanted to own one (sometime...) We always had one in our home growing up and it just part of my childhood (not that worked but it was just always there). Four months ago Matt and I were in a local Flea market and we saw one. It was a total piece of junk or I would have bought it then... So for my birthday Matt searched and found me the perfect gift. He gave me one clue and dropped some hints so I knew what it was going to be. I was really nervous for him because I had in my mind what I wanted it to look like and what if he brought home something completely different. How was I going to fake being happy? Oh the stress. When he took it out of the van it actually took my breath away. It is just perfect. It looks perfect in our living room. I love how well he knows me and how hard he tried to make me happy. Thanks Matt! Happy Birthday to Me!

So here are some random pictures of the Victrola in our home... always in the background.

The adorable boys in this picture are David (see post below for a grown up version, my too cute little brother Jesse and stylin' older brother Richard. Totally on a side note, does any one else notice the striking resemblance between baby Gavin (previous post) and David and also Little Jesse and Myles?

Here is our Victrola in our home...

Yep!

It's just been one of those days...

and it isn't even noon yet.

If you happen to be offended by this and/or anything I have said,

stop being a baby.

It is just a joke... Seriously people.

Happy 4th of July!

Our first 4th here in Arkansas. We spent the day with our friends from Colorado. They moved out here about 7 months before us so it is nice to have some friends to hang out with. We had a fab bbq at their house and then headed down to Little Rock to watch the fireworks. We got to sit on the balcony at Catherine's work and watch... perfect place, no crowds, no traffic and a birds eye view. We quickly learned that Myles isn't a big fan of explosions in the sky. We drove back to their house for a little firework show of our own. We have always lived in places where it was illegal to have fireworks so this was a first for us. We had a great time. It was so nice to spend the day with friends. We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful country. We are so grateful for all of our men and women defending our freedom.

Speaking of divine pie...

Fresh strawberry and rhubarb

Saturday In Tulsa

WARNING: I know these pictures are small

click on them to see them enlarged... it is worth it

(Jessie @RedRobin) Gavin and Grandpa

Try eating some lettuce with your Ranch

Jessie and David

This last Saturday we got to go to Tulsa and visit my nephew David, his wife Lauren and their two too cute kids Mikayla and Gavin. Dave is home on Emergency Leave from Afghanistan so we really wanted to get over there and visit with them. Really bad aunt confession: This is the first time I have seen either of his kids. They lived in Kentucky and we lived in Colorado and it just never worked out. But we were soooo excited to get there and meet them and by the time we left Myles and Kayla were the best of friends. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Susan met us there and we had a little late birthday party for Jessie. We all went out to Red Robin for lunch and Jess got the Birthday Singing. It was a really fun day and I am so glad that we got to see them all. We are so proud of David and Lauren. We are so grateful for their sacrifices. They are just the sweetest little family. And we seriously loved their little ones. Mikayla is such a little girly girl. She is so smart and just the cutest little friend. The kids just loved playing with her. Gavin is just the sweetest. I think I heard him make two little squeaks but he never really cried. He is such a laid back little guy. It made those baby hungry feelings even stronger ;) Matt... Anyways, some pictures from our day. Also, we loved being around family. We didn't realize how much we miss everyone.

Silly Grandpa

Playing on the ham-ock

I think we are in trouble, damn the parent curse...

Just for fun I thought I would add these pictures...

kids grow up way too fast.

November 2004 June 2008

Just one more thing...

I am becoming a domestic goddess

Fresh Blackberry Pie

Just because we had a sweet tooth