Peru or Bust

Hallie recently brought home a composition she'd written in school. It sounds suspiciously like someone we know, even though she wrote it in first person perspective. I have to say it brought a little tear to my eye, so I thought I'd share it here. She's only ten, but I think "someone" has already rubbed off on her.

Peru

by HallieB

"Snap! The lady at the drugstore took the picture for my passport. I have never liked planes, but I was willing to do anything for those poor little orphans in Peru. Every time I get on a plane I blank, so I have to take these things I call my "Happy Pills" which make me drowsy and I soon drift off to sleep. When they called my flight to get on the plane I hauled my luggage up the ramp, sat in my seat and took my happy pills. The pills sent me to sleep quickly so I am unaware of what happened on my flight.

As I awoke from my daze, I realized that I was in Peru, South America. When I emerged from the airport I was very confused and did not know where I was going, so I just walked to the first American person I could see.

When I got to the orphanage I got teary eyed seeing all the little children. I knew I had done the right thing. I walked nervously into the orphanage, when I caught the sweet innocent eyes of a little boy who's name was Edwen. He had dark hair and big brown eyes. Then I looked around and saw many sweet and precious faces. Then I heard a sad story of how most people in Peru do not want little daughters, only sons. And that most boys in the orphanage have special needs. Some poor children looked as helpless as newborn kittens. I felt like I was doing the right thing although I was going to miss my friends and family. I felt like a good person. And I think it would be pretty easy to get used to this style of living for just one year. I may not even want to leave my new family in Peru."

Weekly Pic--Hard Hearted

I took this picture of rocks in a riverbed in northern Arkansas during our Thanksgiving trip to Shepherd of the Ozarks last year. I *heart* SOTO.

Alice and Change

I remember being so excited last summer about the movie Alice in Wonderland coming out in March, and then being so sad when I realized that Elizabeth wouldn't be here to see it with me. Well, today was the day. BigJoel is snowmobiling in Alaska and due to scheduling conflicts, none of my friends were able to go with me; but HanK was sweet enough to let me tag along with she and her two friends. She even let me sit with her. As nice as that was, it just wasn't the same as seeing it with Elizabeth. I laughed out loud several times, but the three teenagers with me were either too cool or didn't get the humor. If Elizabeth had been here, I know she would have laughed even louder than me.

After the movie, I took the kids out to eat. Again, at least they let me sit at the table with them. At one point, HanK and Tiff went to the restroom leaving me alone with JamesBond (the third "friend"). Man, was that awkward! But as uncomfortable as it was for me, can you imagine what that poor kid was thinking? If Elizabeth had been here, I wouldn't have been stuck by myself trying to have a conversation with a 15 year old boy.

People keep asking me what I'm going to do without Elizabeth, and I usually just change the subject. I've tried to avoid thinking about a day like today. A day when something so small, like a movie premiere, would bring the realization that everything has changed. I have "prayed" Elizabeth back to Hometown more than once, but I know I cannot do that this time. Of the last two people that have held her job at the albergue, one came back with 5 kids and the other one found a husband and decided not to come back at all. She says it will only be a year, but I know that things are forever changed now. Maybe that's why this song, "Shine" by David Crowder, is stuck in my head.

After night, comes the light,

Dawn is here, dawn is here

Its a new day, its a new day

Everything will change

Things will never be the same.

We will never be the same.

We will never be the same.

We will never be the same.

Oh the glory of it all

Is You came here

For the rescue of us all

That we may live

For the glory of it all.

For the glory of it all.

That kind of puts things back into perspective. Change is a small price to pay for a rescued life lived for His glory. It can also be the greatest reward.

But I still wish Elizabeth could have been here for Alice in Wonderland...

Weekly Pic--Mar y Cielo

Mar y cielo~sea and sky. This picture was taken looking through the massive aquarium at the Atlantis resort. I thought it was kinda neat how you could see all the way through to the huge arched window. If you look closely, you can even make out blue sky and palm trees in the window.

I'm Always "Right"

Joel and I have a "tradition" of taking one-armed pictures. Someone asked me one time why I am always on the right and he's always on the left. I think the person thought I might be hiding some secret scar or blemish on the left side of my face, but the simple truth is that Joel has the longest arm and he has to hold the camera in his left hand to push the button.

Instead of writing about every piddly detail of our recent cruise, I thought I'd just share the one-armed shots we took. After all, who really wants to hear about the extravagant food, relaxing in the sun, and how many times Joel visited the soft-serve ice cream machine?

On the tender (which is really just a little boat) riding from the ship over to CocoCay.

In "our secret spot" on the beach at CocoCay~the sun is in my eyes and I'd really appreciate if you'd keep the comments about my granny-gardener hat to yourself.

In the lobby of the Atlantis resort in The Bahamas. Man, it was fancy!

No pics of the soft-serve ice cream machine, but here we are in front of Ben & Jerry's~with a cherry on top.

People are often gracious enough to stop and ask if we'd like them to take a more traditional picture of the two of us; but honestly, the one-armed shots are always my favorites.

Weekly Pic--Snow Day

So the biggest miracle of last week was not that we received a record 12 inches of snow in north Texas, but that the sisters called a truce in their sibling rivalry long enough to build a pretty impressive snowman.

Baking with a Buddy--The Sequel

Each year our Children's Ministry at church hosts "Baking with a Buddy". Its basically a cake decorating contest for kids and their dads or some significant adult. Hallie and BigJoel had a pretty tough act to follow after last year's Love Bug; but this is one of Hal's favorite things, so they were up for the challenge.

On Monday, HanK and I had to go dress shopping (oh, the drama) so Hallie and Joel stayed behind to do some research and plot their strategy. By the time we got home, they had searched online, watched a video, and had a solid vision.

On Tuesday after dinner, they took over the kitchen so they could bake the cake. This enabled them to refrigerate the cake overnight so it would be easier to cut and decorate.

So today, they showed up at church with the cake still in the pan and all their supplies. Here they are waiting for the starting signal.

First they used a template to cut the shape.

Then they began to assemble their masterpiece.

Even though time was of the essence, they couldn't skimp on details.

And finally, the finished product! They called it "Love Song".

The competition was tough, but Hallie & BigJoel emerged with the 1st Place award for Teamwork. It was definitely a collaborative process and so fun to watch them work together. If this road manager thing doesn't work out for Joel, I think there might be a future for he and Hal at CharmCity Cakes or perhaps working for the Cake Boss.