HELP!!!

Normally I would not even think about participating in some sort of contest...it's just not me. I hate asking people for help!!

But today I am asking!!!

Would you help me get to this year's Orphan Summit??


All you have to do is visit the Lifesong for Orphans facebook page and post that I sent you! That's it....it should take less than 30 seconds and I would be so blessed if I were to win and be able to attend.



Why do I want to go so badly???

For the last 2 years God has really wrecked my heart for orphans. So much so that we are in the process of adopting from Africa. But I have known from the beginning that God was calling me to more that just adoption. The line fro Brooke Frasier's song keeps replaying in my head..."Now that I have seen, I am responsible"! I have seen how desperate the orphan crisis is and I know that I responsible to take what God has shown me and share it with others.

I know that not everyone is called to adoption. I also believe that adoption is not the solution to the orphan crisis. But I do believe that we are called to play a roll in reaching out to the orphan.

I want to go to the Summit so I can learn more about how to help and how to teach others how to help.

Please help me go!! At this point I am so excited that I am not afraid to ask...please go comment on my behalf and tell anyone you know to do it as well...post it on your blog or on your facebook page!!

Thanks so much!!
Blessings to you!

Jenna

What I would do....

Nathan and I have been going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at our church. It has been challenging and eye opening to say the least. Two weeks ago Dave taught about having a job that you love...a job where you are working in your strengths and doing things you are passionate about.

So the question was asked....

"If money were not a factor what would you want to do?"

Immediately I said that I would create and run an orphanage in Africa. I love children and I love Africa so it just made sense to me. That is until my husband reminded me that we are not independently wealthy and God has not called us to the foreign mission field (yet) so I might should look for something to do that would actually bring in some type of income.

I spent the next week thinking about that...what would I want to do???

And here is my answer...

I would love to make cupcakes!! Not just your average grocery store variety either. We are talking cupcakes filled with cream or infused with caramel. Melt in your mouth moist cupcakes that are so moist you may even need a fork to eat them (I like to call them forkers).

So in the last several days I have been doing some cupcake experimenting...

of course there were the Oreo cupcakes



How about Butterfinger Blast cupcakes that are infused with a creamy caramel butterscotch sauce and topped with a cream cheese butterfinger icing



Or maybe the simple yellow cupcake filled with a buvarian cream



My first chrysanthemum cupcake... perfect for a baby shower or a little girl's birthday


I am still continuing to work on my decorating techniques...I just bought my first tip set and can't wait to try making sunflower cupcakes and so much more. But let's just be honest... a cute cupcake is good but a cute cupcake that tastes great can't be beat so I am spending lots of time making sure I have the perfect mouth-watering recipes.

Next up...Cinnamon and Sugar infused Banana cupcakes and chocolate cookie dough cupcakes!!

My ultimate dream would be to have a little cupcake shop where part of all my proceeds went towards funding an orphanage in Africa. It would even be more fun if my friend Flo wanted to sell her super beautiful refinished furniture in the shop as well.


Or maybe my sweet friend Kathryn would want to sell her wonderful girly creations in the shop too!!



****Can I just add that both of these beautiful ladies are answering God's call to go and serve the children of Uganda this year. The proceeds from all of their wonderful creations are going towards their trips. So if you have a need for some furniture to be redone or something sweet for your little girl head on over to their sites. It is a win, win situation...you get a great product AND you get to be a part of serving Uganda's children!!****

My little sister shares my love for cupcakes as well...if only she were closer we could be the next DC cupcakes!!:)

Just a girl and her dreams...

And if you are wondering what my boys think about all this cupcake making....


It doesn't seem to bother them! They are my favorite taste testers!!:)

Moments for Memories

Last week Nathan and Kaden took some time to themselves to make some great memories! After a field trip to the children's aquarium in Dallas, Nathan surprised Kaden with tickets to an FC Dallas Soccer game. I have never seen a daddy and son more excited!

The pictures speak for themselves...

"Wow daddy...their field is huge"

because no sports experience is complete without a team shirt and one of these...

You're not a real fan unless you paint your face

Now we are ready for the game!

Game on!


Two of my favorite guys in the whole world


It was a really late night since the game didn't start until 8pm but both of my boys were still on cloud 9 by the time they got home after midnight! I am not sure who had the most fun!!

The only down fall to the whole professional soccer experience was that Kaden wanted to try all the tricks he had seen the pros do in his game the next day instead of just getting the ball to the goal!:)

I can always tell when something has made an impression on Kaden...when he is excited about something or really loves something he draws about it any chance he gets. I found these in his backpack yesterday...

I love the "kid writing"


They had fireworks at the game!


Thank you Lord for moments to make memories. Thank you for little pieces of time when we can love on our boys individually. Help us Lord to see those moments even on the most ordinary days and to be completely present...enjoying and savoring the precious time you give us with our boys.
Looking forward to making more memories!!

Dust and Grime equals Life Sublime!!

I always said my kids would never run around with dirty faces and fingernails full of grime. Oh how this boy mom has had to eat those words!!




I have discovered that there is a direct link between dirt and fun for these little guys! The dirtier those faces, hands, and feet get the more fun they have!


And this guy...

my all or nothing kid...you can always count on him being twice as dirty as his brothers! Dirt seems to be one of Karty's best friends! And I agree with a popular quote from a shirt "I make dirt look good"...even caked in dirt he is such a cutie!

I am so glad that my boys love to be outside and that they never let a little dirt get in the way of having fun!! All three of them are so full of zest and excitement for life. I pray that they never lose their excitement and that someday they will just as excited about sharing Jesus as they are about sharing dirt!!:) What a blessing it is to be the mom to these three little guys...dirty or not!!

Yummo!!

Nathan and I finally decided that it is high time for us to get our eating habits under control. After all we are 30 now and health seems to be more of a concern.

Of course it could have something to do with the fact that I had a baby 23 months ago (I put it months because that feels like less than years) and I am STILL hanging on to baby weight.

Or what about the fact that my sister had a baby 8 months ago and looks like this...


My parents have pool now so I know I will be spending lots of my summer in one of these...


Both Nathan and I are heading to Africa this summer and need to be in good enough shape to carry out the mission God has called us to.


So we decided on Weight Watchers. We have done it before and had great success. While the thought of not cringing when I put on my swimsuit sounded appealing to me I wasn't so sure I could give up my foodie ways. I love food and good food at that. I love sweets and carbs and foods that are full of flavor. Thankfully I found Gina's Skinny Recipes blog and I have not had to give up too many of my foodie ways. Just look at what we have had to eat the last two nights...

Asian Glazed Drumsticks with brown fried rice



Or how about Skinless chicken thighs with shallots in red wine vinegar
I seriously wanted to lick my plate!!


And even a little dessert...

Banana fritters with ice cream...so yummy!

With food like this I think we might actually be able to stick to this lifestyle change!!

Next up...Honey pecan salmon and chocolate strawberry crepes!

Walking on Sunshine!!

I am currently working my way through Beth Moore's study on Daniel and let me tell you it has been great!!

Tonight I read about God answering the prayer of Daniel, Hananiah, Misheal, and Azariah to reveal the mysteries of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream to them.

I was first touched and convicted by the fact that these praying men didn't just say a short prayer but they got on their knees and begged God until the answer came...scripture records that the answer didn't come until the middle of the night. When was the last time I was so desperate for God to move that I prayed through the night?

What totally blessed my socks off was Daniel's response to God answering their prayer. I am so glad that Beth is challenging me to memorize these words as a part of the study:

Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the descerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers; you have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.

Praise just exudes from Daniel in these verses as he declares how great our God is and that He is the giver of wisdom and power...the only one who can answer our prayers.

I love that Daniel didn't just run off to see the king...after all his life and lives of all the other wise men were at stake, it would seem like getting the king as quickly as possible would have been the very best thing to do...I am sure it is what I would have done. But not Daniel, he chose to stop and offer up wholehearted praise and gratitude to the only one worthy of it. I love that he chose to stop and celebrate the answer to his prayer. So often I run so crazy that I forget to stop and offer up my praise to God, giving him the glory that is rightfully his.

So tonight I am going to stop and praise my God for the wonders he has done this week!!

Not long ago we received word that adoptions could be seriously reduced in Ethiopia. With much prayer from people all of the world it seems this is no longer a reality and adoptions are and will be continuing.

On Tuesday of this week we had our fingerprints done for USCIS (immigration) and we knew we would need to wait for our approval letter before we would be completely finished with our dossier (big pile of adoption papers). We were gearing up to wait at least 2 weeks and maybe even a month or two. Would you believe that our approval letter arrived on Saturday...just 4 days after our fingerprints!!!

God has already provided more than half of what we need for this adoption and we are more than confident that He will provide the rest down to the very penny!
(And these are just a few of the things He has done and is continuing to do)
So in Daniel fashion:

I thank you and I praise you, O God of my fathers; You have given us favor and blessing. You have carried us and provided for us along this adoption journey. You are God and you are Holy. What God is so great as our God? Thank you for your wonders and your mighty deeds!!

Pride Swelling...

Dear Kaden,

I can't believe you are already 6 years old and more than half way through Kindergarten. The time has gone by faster than I could have imagined.
I am so proud of the wonderful big boy you are becoming. In the last few months you have recieced your first report cards, your first awards for good citizenship, and you went on your first two kindergarten field trip! You even lost your first 2 teeth (in the same day)!


Your dad and I have been so pleased to see you coming home with "green" faces in your folder everyday! You seem to be thriving and flourishing at school. I love that you come home with new pictures you have drawn and new words you are trying to spell on a daily basis.


School has really brought out your creativity. You love to draw and then tell me the stories about everything in the pictures.

(pirates anybody?)

I am also proud of the character I see growing in you. I loved watching you at your first field trip. In recent years you were the little boy who joined right in with all the craziness but that day I noticed that you stepped up and followed the rules and your friends seemed to follow suit. Your dad and I were so proud when you gave some of your own money to help fill Christmas shoe boxes. And just the other day I watched as you gave a homeless man some money and then said a prayer for him...your heart is enormous!! I am praying that God will continue to grow you into a boy who is full of good character...a mighty worrier and leader for Him.

You are the most wonderful big brother (well, on the days you are not bossing Karter around)! Karter wants to be just like you and is always quick to declare that you are his best friend. Kolson is always watching you and I love that he always wants to play "ring around the rosie" with you!


I am always so touched by the tenderness of your heart. I love the way you help without me even asking when you know my day has been hard. I love your bright eyes and the way they are still so full of wonder. I pray that you will always stand in awe of God's mighty works and that His wonders will never cease to amaze you. Remember sweet boy that you are one of those mighty works...you are wonderfully made!!

I love you more than words can say and I cannot wait to see what God has planned for your life! My greatest prayer for you and your brothers is that you will know Jesus and serve Him with an undivided heart all of your days!

I am so proud you! I blessed just to know you and even more blessed to call you my son!

I Love You,
Mom