Great Day for a Wedding....A Royal Wedding!

Need a new Dose of Perspective

I think about myself a lot. A whole lot.A whole whole lot. Mark working at a Humanitarian Organization is one of the best things that could have happened to me. Our dinner conversations now often center around what is going on in our world...poverty, seemingly hopeless situations, hopeful hearts. I have learned so much. My eyes have been opened...but, sadly, not completely.
We have been on an emotional journey for the past several months (7 to be exact). This journey will be most certainly blogged about, I just don't have the words...yet...Just know it has been filled with: Ups, Downs, Twists, Turns, a roller coaster. I have been feeling sorry for myself today. Perspective is clouded. It often is.
I was reading Lamentations 3:22-23 today:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for loving me, despite my selfish thoughts,selfish perspective, and my,"it's all about me and what I think is best for my family" attitude. My selfish attitude was slammed today as I watched this video about the work that World Concern is doing in Asia in order to prevent the horrors of Human Trafficking. I felt so ashamed about my pity party. We are so blessed. So Blessed. SO SO Blessed. Lord, please be with these precious children.



Mark and I are currently fundraising for World Concern's Free-Them 5K, a race that is raising funds for the prevention of human trafficking of innocent children around our world. If you would like to help, click on the link below.
Free Them 5K Fun Run/Walk May 7, 2011

Rejoice Greatly

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey" Zechariah 9:9

Reminded today that Palm Sunday was a fufillment of one of the many prophecies surrounding our Messiah. Always amazed at Old Testament Prophecies coming true in the New Testament...

Ryann enjoyed waving her palm branch in the service today. Happy Easter Week!

Ryann's Debut

This past week, Mark and I experienced a first as parents...a preschool spring musical. Ryann's preschool,Heritage Christian Academy, had their annual spring musical last Tuesday night. The theme was Easter, the t-shirts were bright, the kids sang loudly,enthusiastically,and endearingly off-key, choreography was attempted, parents shot tons of photos, and cookies and punch were served. All in all, a great evening.
A Star is Born. Ryann and one of her preschool friends. Man, I wish Ryann would show some personality;) Ryann's class is the far left of this video. Since we have a tall girl (genes not from me, clearly), she is on the second row, barely to be seen. You can sort of see her green and white bow bobbing up and down. The program had all sorts of Easter songs, but Ryann's all time fave is,"Lord I Lift Your Name on High" She sings this all the time, usually mixing up the words, but always done with gusto...would we expect any less? Here is a portion of Ryann's favorite song:

Since we couldn't see Ryann very well, we asked her to "re-enact" her favorite song in the parking lot...You can see what happens when you don't have your trusty preschool choir behind you

Four.

Ryann,
I cannot believe you are now four years old. It was quite a big year for you. This past year, you lived in 3 different states, which ultimately resulted in a cross-country move to the rainy, yet beautiful city of Seattle. You took this move in stride and have taught me and your dad a thing or two about accepting change. You, in many ways, have been my teacher this past year and I love you all the more for it.

I love watching you enjoy real preschool for the first time. I love watching you love your teachers and soak in all they have to teach you. I love hearing you talk about all your friends at school, always talking about a different one each day. I love that at a young age, you are extremely inclusive, desiring to play with everyone, not just a few. I love that you love learning Bible verses. I love that at your first parent-teacher conference, the first phrase your teacher used to describe you was that you were always, "friendly and nice to all", a phrase that is far more important than knowing all your letters and numbers in my book.I love that your imagination is vast and creative. I love watching you play. I love playing princess with you. I love that your daddy is always your prince. I love watching you love on your daddy and vice versa, you two are so alike. I love that you are liberal with your "i love yous". I love that you don't see race. I love that that the words "Sri Lanka" and "Kenya" are in your vocabulary. I love that you describe your daddy's job as "helping people", simple and true. I love that your dad and I talk daily about how blessed we are to have you in our lives. I love that you are so extremely funny. I love that during this past year of ups and downs and twists and turns, you have remained constant, a sweet, enchanting constant, that I hold so dear.

I love that the Lord gave me you, and knew way before you were born what your personality would be like at four. I love that He knew that I needed your 4 year old self, more than you'll ever know. I love you, my precious 4 year old. Happy Birthday.