Update

Just wanted to give a quick update on the cupcake project. The cupcake making has definitely slowed down! I'm not complaining about the work, but it has been a nice change of pace for this week! Ella has raised over $1150. Amazing! We are proud of her, but more proud of the fact that we got to be a part of something so much bigger than all of us. A great friend of mine once shared a poem with me entitled "To Be Of Use". I love those moments where I feel like I have been "used" for a greater purpose.

Cupcakes for Haiti!

Some people have asked me for the "whole story" behind the cupcake adventure going on at our house. I figured on our blog was the easiest way to give the full story. Last week, right after the earthquake hit Haiti, Ella and I were watching part of the news. (To be honest, it was Good Morning America - I usually watch it while I fix the girls breakfast. It is not the same with Diane Sawyer, but I digress...)

So we saw some footage of Haiti and the devastation (what was viewable for Ella). We began talking about it and incorporated Haiti into our prayer time. I thought for a few days about something Ella could do to help the cause. Some friends suggested having her go door to door to ask for money, then make the donation on line. I loved the donation idea, but not a huge fan of asking for money. I just felt like there could be something more where she could be more actively involved.

If you know Ella, you know she LOVES to help in the kitchen - especially cupcakes. So . . . the cupcake idea was created. My original thought was to bake a batch, A BATCH, and split them. I would take 12 to work on Tuesday, and Ronnie would take the other 12. I thought we maybe would raise $20 and let her donate that and have a teachable moment. However, I believe when God gets a hold of one of our small ventures, He can turn it into something so much more!

We emailed our small group members and a few family friends. Word began to spread and people started emailing and calling us. Now, only 3 days later, we have baked over 200 cupcakes and Helping Haiti Cupcakes has raised over $650. Amazing!!! This "little" project for our 4 year old has turned into such a teachable adventure for our family. Instead of sitting back and looking at situations and thinking, "I'm just one person. What can I do?" I believe God has taught me through this that one person can do so much when G0d blesses an opportunity and venture.

We are so proud of her. The local news station, Wave 3, was at the house today to film the story. It has aired a few times and is on their website.

http://www.wave3.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=5728&topVideoCatNoB=76863&topVideoCatNoC=97701&topVideoCatNoD=97702&topVideoCatNoE=101703

Since airing, we have had some more inquiries about cupcakes and donations. I guess we might be baking for a few more days! That's ok, though. It has been a very hectic week around here, but a rewarding one beyond words. She has worked hard - she puts in the liners, adds the ingredients, helps to stir, decorates with sprinkles, and writes a thank you note to each person that buys a cupcake. She has not complained one time, though. I wish I could say the same. By Tuesday night, when I hadn't sat down one time all day, but was still baking at 10:30 PM, I wasn't feeling very "servant like". I think that I why God wants us to watch and learn from children, though. She isn't impressed by the media coverage or dollar amount. She just knows that helping Haiti makes God happy. Simple.

Our prayer is that she learns whatever lesson God would choose through this. . . serving others, doing something to help regardless of age, and the power of prayer.

Thanks to everyone who has supported her efforts!

Pepa Brown

A visit a couple of years ago on the porch of his home.

My favorite picture of him - this is the smile / face I always think of when I picture him.

Pepa with the girls.

First meeting Kinsley

I can't imagine what it must be like to switch from the child role to the parent role for your own parent. My dad's father, Pepa Brown, has not been doing well for some time now. A couple of weeks before Christmas, I decided I needed to try to go visit since I didn't think I would get a chance to until after the holidays. The girls ended up being sick, so I made the trip alone. What a blessing. It was one of those days I probably will never forget. I went to the nursing home, not really knowing what to expect from him. Would he recognize me , be up for a visitor, be having a good day? It was the best of my expectations. We had such a great visit and I was able to send a couple of hours just sitting with him, talking to him, holding his hands, and spending quality time with this man who means so much to me. It reminded me of those times, back when I was in middle school and high school. I would go spend a few days with him during the summer. He worked at my uncle's station, opening the store at 3:30 or 4:00 am. I always wanted to go with him. Of course, no one else in the entire town was awake at that time, so it was just us. It was great.

He has more rough days than good days, and my poor dad (and aunt and uncle) have had such a trying time dealing with the situation. Please keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. I pray for Pepa to be released of his pain and suffering. This is no quality of life for such a great man, and so difficult for his children. He will be greatly missed, but will be reunited with his wife that passed away so many years ago. Plus, he will always live in the memories of his three younger generations.

This post is more for me than anyone else, I know. I guess I just wanted to honor him for a few minutes and post some of my favorite pictures of him.

Wow

This weekend, our church did a series about Baptism. I know this is a tricky issue for so many people because no one ever wants to hear anyone disagree of their own beliefs and upbringing. It was a good series, though, that looked at how the Bible views baptism. For the first time since we have been at Northeast, there was an invitation at the end of the service for people to come and make the decision to be baptized. 112 people later . . .
I attended the service where 12 people were baptized and it was emotional. I always get emotional at baptisms because of the meaning and significance. But to see so many make the decision was overwhelming and incredible. Ronnie and I both agree it makes us proud to be Christians and to be a part of somewhere where God is truly impacting peoples' lives. This isn't the first church where we have had this feeling, but it isn't about a particular church - it is about seeing how God makes a difference in the lives of people.
I can personally look back and see lots of times in my life where God has blessed me, and also times where I have had major heartache and disappointment. It isn't that God wasn't there in those times, but just life sometimes brings those times. In particular for me, the miscarriage was really tough. However, God brings good in all situations. Just a few months later, Ella was beginning to grow. That is just one example.
I have learned that God doesn't cause bad things to "punish or teach", but brings good out of just the junk of the world. So to see so many at once, this weekend, who publicly say, "I will trust God, be obedient, and try to live a life that honors Him", was amazing. It isn't that these people have it all figured out, but that they believe in God, His promise of Heaven to those who serve Him, and choose to be obedient - not perfect.