The Baggage Girl

Well, we changed our minds. After much prayer and consideration Jesse and I asked Melanie if she wanted to come with us to Rwanda. I know it was a silly question, but Jesse videoed her response and as soon as he teaches me how to edit it I'll post it. Actually, she will be the video girl, but that wasn't as catchy as baggage girl.

At first I didn't know if we should bring her because I didn't want Trent to feel left out. But after talking to him and getting a good sense that he doesn't care if he stays home with Izzy we then thought about finances. I feared we didn't have the funds to take her or if it was the right use of such funds if we did have it. I just kept thinking she's going to be so helpful and what a great experience for her.

She actually told us she thought she was going to get to go because she was saving up her money to pay her way! Sweet child. She wants to work to earn money to go to Rwanda and she's only 11. She's not looking for handouts, but wants to earn it, she amazes me. She wants to babysit, pull weeds in the summer, mow lawns, you name it she wants to do it. I admire her enthusiasm.

I take great courage in the life of George Muller, a 1800's God fearing man who ran an orphanage in England without ever once soliciting. He was a man who prayed and believed. He wanted God to receive all the credit for every good thing at the orphanage and so never asked for a handout, but prayed for every last penny. The children never went to bed hungry because God provided for His children everyday in every way. God was glorified in all of George Muller's life and I pray will be glorified in all that we do.

Baskets

2 months ago I signed up to be a basket consultant for The Rwandan Basket Company. This company and the founders are one of the reasons we wanted to adopt from Rwanda. Tracy and Greg Stone started a non-profit organization out of Seattle to help the people of Rwanda and especially the women and children. They lead Rwanda Partners, look them up they are pretty neat, and out of that began the basket company.
Their stories drove me to tears and left me wanting to do more. They have helped women learn the weaving arts that their grandmothers used to do and then give them a broader market for their product. I've bought baskets before from other companies, but never have I bought something so practical and helpful.
Every basket you buy comes with a card and picture of one of the weavers. They usually explain how they had no income to take care of their children and now by weaving they do. This is not a free hand out or charity case. These women work and want to work to feed their families. Most of the families have been devastated by the genocide that occurred 15 years ago.
In 1994 almost a million people were slaughtered in 100 days. No one helped them. It breaks my heart every time I watch a documentary or movie about what took place there. This country has gotten under my skin and now that I know what I know I can't turn away.
I love these baskets and I hope some of you out there may love them too. I will host parties at anyone house and would love to introduce as many people to Rwanda as I can. Anything I make from these baskets will go to helping us adopt our 2 children. This company is not interested in making anyone rich, but in feeding and caring for those in need. These women are already paid for their baskets, but the more the demand the more women have a chance to care for their families. Please call me or look for your self at www.rwandabaskets.com

My Bog Picture

I thought I would explain my blog picture. I took this a year and a half ago in the fall. I'm standing outside from my bedroom door looking at my back yard and the trees from my neighbors yard. And people say Nevada isn't pretty! I love Spring here because of the new flowers and baby ducks, Summer is very nice to because we cool ourselves off in the river in our backyard and eat on the patio a lot. Fall- well, this picture describes Fall, and then there is Winter which I don't like, at all. It's cold and I'm stuck inside all the time.

So, I love looking out my backyard and watching nature. Saw a gray Crane fly past yesterday and a huge hawk eye my chickens today. I would make a very lousy city girl, too many people and not enough nature.

Blogging!?

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to post things. Not actually pushing the button, but writing something down coherently and worth your while to read. I don't have much free time in a day as a homeschooling mom and I know many of you have even less time as working moms or fathers (or random people who happen upon this blog), so I want my words to matter and be clear. So it has taken me over a week to write out a post about how God changed my life and heart. I'm still not done, but at least I feel better now for not abandoning my page. Plus we're just waiting go get a letter in the mail from immigration telling us to get our fingerprints done again. It's one of the final steps before we get to send our paper work to Rwanda. So I am trying to ignore the mailbox and finish my testimony or God's dealings with me!

Rwanda?

I forget sometimes that not everyone knows that we are adopting. It is a very personal thing, but not private. We love to talk about our adoption with anyone who asks and sometimes I have to contain myself from blurting out that we are adopting from Rwanda to total strangers. I feel so many emotions when it comes to adoption because God has laid this on our hearts and brought us through the process to surrender our lives to Him. In no way do I ever want to make anyone feel judged or guilty for not adopting, but I hope to encourage everyone to think joyfully about adoption and that they can take part in some small way. If I seem overly excited about this journey it's because it is a constant reality of God's grace, mercy and love for us.
So why Rwanda? Well, we prayed a lot and then we prayed some more and the programs that were least consuming for time and finances were Rwanda and Ethiopia. I first started looking at anything I could find on the internet about Rwanda, like where in the world was it. I came across an organization that helps in Rwanda called Rwanda Partners and they started a company for the local women to sell baskets in the US. I feel in love with the baskets and their stories. Jesse and I watched everything we could get our hands on concerning the country and cried-a lot. It's a tinny country with much beauty and deep sorrow. Rwanda has one of the highest %s of orphans per-capita than any where else in the world. 50% of the 10 million people living there are under the age 14. I wanted to do something there and be apart of that country as it was taking me in. So I signed up to be a consultant for the baskets because I wanted to do something for the women who are there now. Our adopted children will have something that we have integrated into our lives from their homeland. The Rwanda Basket Company is a beautiful thing that I love. I do have so much more to say, but don't want to talk you ears off so please get to know this country yourselves and see if you can stay away.

Introductions

I would like to introduce our family for those of you who may not know us very well because we are another example of God's grace and mercy.

Isabelle-5 years old-think: noisy bell-loves baby dolls-reminds me of me-loves to do what ever sister and brother are doing-inquisitive- sings when she's happy, sad, bored or trying to get your attention.

Trent-8 years old-loves anything on wheels-does not have fond affections for school-is a good cuddler- HATES roller-coasters, but will do tricks on his bike that curl my hair-has inherited a desire to collect pocket knives-really wants a little brother to teach all his cool boy stuff to.

Melanie-11(on the 17th of Jan.)-Loves: horses, reading, babies, friends, camping, making cards, drawing; basically if it's an activity she wants to do it (and do it well)-plays the piano very nicely- loves learning about Jesus- she can't wait to grow up and take on the world.

Jesse-35-deputy sheriff-is a wonderful father and husband-loves to make homemade beer- loves to go camping and fishing- is gracious to eat my cooking with a smile-not picky about much-easy going-friendly-funny-handsome-creative with trying new ways to organize our family life-dedicated in following Christ and seeking Him.

Me-36-homeschool mom who is just trying to figure out a good plan -loves to go running-loves to bake or cook new recipes while sipping a good glass of wine and listening to Italian music- likes to stay home (occupationally and daily)-gets great satisfaction while pulling weeds out of my garden (spiritually and literally)-loves to spend time with my husband-LOVES babies (If you have one and I'm anywhere near I will knock over anyone else to get a chance to hold that baby)-asks God daily (hourly) to give me wisdom on how to train-up my children to know and love the Lord while battling my selfishness-stays busy around the house and yard to keep from being idle which for me leads to self pity.

We are just a family of 5 ready to grow as God leads us.

Why?

I have often thought "Why would I start a blog?" I don't have much to say that's new and I am not a good speller. Well, the second issue is solved for me with spell check. But as to having anything new to say that is true. I am an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I may not have anything to add to the blog world, but God is using my husband and I in new and amazing ways. I wish and pray that I can encourage others to live for Christ and as we go through the process of adopting two children from Rwanda I hope to encourage anyone thinking about adopting. I have followed many bloggers for several months now and am taking in things that I like about the various blogs and hope to incorporate in mine. Someday I hope to have the time to explain who I am because that has helped me get to know many other women and be encouraged by them. But for now my 5 year old is singing about Jesus at the top of her lungs in the tub because no one is paying her any attention right now! Hopefully soon she won't be the youngest anymore.