Oh, the Privileges

What adventures I have had...near, and far, from home....on this journey! Recently, it seems that my adventures are closer to home, training and encouraging others for the adventures in far off lands.

As I travel the sweet path laid out before me, I am so grateful for the people that God has brought along the way...to join me on the journey.

As we fast approach the graduation of our most recent Disciple Training School, I am overwhelmed with great love and affection. This team has touched my heart in a very special way. I think it is their selfless love for others. The tenacity in which they have pursued the ways of God, how they have gone after life with...LIFE!

They have spent the last 8 weeks in India. They spent their time working in the slums that are set aside for those suffering with AIDS and HIV. They shared the Gospel in meaningful ways. They loved on people. They gave of themselves in sacrificial ways and they allowed God to break their hearts with the things that break His heart...injustices, pain, suffering, loss. They were able to introduce MANY to Jesus. Sharing the TRUTH with great joy.

Here is a video that captures just a part of what happened in India. It gives us just a glimpse.

And oh, how I count it a privilege to walk side by side...

(Turn off my playlist before starting the video)

Live! From Munchkin City...it's Opening Night!

The Making of a Munchkin; part II

This week is Dress Rehearsal with Opening Night being Thursday, February 19. To say our days are "full" would be an understatement!

I know that Ashley has been working so hard and having so much fun! (She's not the only one).

Our little "Drama Queen" has really blossomed...literally.

Take a look...

"We thank you very sweetly, for doing it so neatly!"

-says Munchkin Ashley to Dorothy

For tickets, go to www.UCPEBoxoffice@ucps.k12.nc.us

Love Day

"This day shall be a love day."

-William Shakespeare

When the Christmas decorations come down, the Valentine's Day stuff goes up! What a glorious thing to celebrate...love.

Imagine that!

My sister gave me this great, pressed tin vase for Christmas. I bought vintage Valentine prints online and made my Valentine tree.

The kids and I put crayon shavings between pages of waxed paper, ironed them and then cut out hearts. We hang these in the front windows. On the front door hangs a heart from Todd's mom.

For the teachers we are so thankful for...baked goodies!



And for my dear, sweet, dinner club friends...

I LOVE making hand made Valentines. I got to use my "Stampin' Up!" toys on these.

And for the "little people" in my life...

...heart shaped crayons!

All the broken crayons go into a heart shaped muffin tin (Thanks for my new muffin pan Janelle!) and get popped into the oven. They are so fun to make and are even more fun to color with!

From "The Message"...

"love never gives up

love cares for others more than self

love doesn't want what it doesn't have

love doesn't strut

love doesn't have a swelled head

doesn't force itself on others

isn't always 'me first'

doesn't fly off the handle

doesn't keep score of the sins of others

doesn't revel when others grovel

takes pleasure in the flowering of truth

puts up with anything

trusts God always

always looks for the best

never looks back

and keeps going to the end"

-1 corinthians 13

Let's make every day a "love day!"

xoxoxoxo

The Making of a Young Lady

What could be more wonderful than a delicious dinner out, dancing until you can't feel your feet, time with friends and a great date?

I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Ashley!

Tonight is the Father Daughter dance at Ashley's school. This is the sixth year that Ashley and Todd have gone.

I can remember the first time she went, as a kindergardener. I picked out a beautiful dress and shoes, did her hair and nails. She looked adorable and was so excited. "Oh Mommy!", she would exclaim as she saw her reflection in the mirror.

Each year, she has become more invloved in the process of preparing for this special night. This year, she had her dress sketched out, color swatches, a hair style determined and a request for "wedge heels, pleeease?" And, "Maybe just s tiny bit of make-up, you know, like eye shadow?"

Wow. The years have flown by. It is amazing how my kids have gotten older, but I seem to be stuck in my early thirties...ha!

I know that this is how it is supposed to be, my kids getting older and all. I want to enjoy each and every stage...not looking too far forward, or yearning for the past. I sometimes find myself missing the fun, crazy "little kid" stage at times, but I am so thankful for these amazing moments I have now...the depth of conversation, the creativity, the companionship. (We are still having fun and we can still be a little crazy.)

We were all created to grow and mature, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We should embrace growth...not hesitate or try to slow it all down. We should not hurry it along either. God has the perfect pace for us. Sometimes, I find myself running. Other times, I am crawling at a snail's pace. As long as I am moving forward, at the pace He has set for me, I know that I am on the right track.

Lord, help me to embrace all that you have for me...including the pace that you are setting for me.

Tonight, I watched my husband walk out the door with another on his arm. She is a beautiful young lady, who I could not be more proud of...looking great in wedge heels.

Stuck in Traffick

Ever been stuck in traffic? You know... going somewhere, coming from somewhere, needing to be somewhere, wanting to be somewhere...but you are just not moving. I've lived in major cities, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Greater NYC area, Charlotte, I know traffic!

Being stuck can be frustrating, even infuriating, at times. I will listen to the radio, chat if I am driving with a friend, pray. I certainly do not want to be anxious, or uptight. If I prepare mentally for it, I do much better.

Well my friend, the Hedgepeths are currently "stuck in traffick!" The kind of traffick I am talking about is human trafficking. You see, our adoption is on hold due to trafficking happening in, and out of, our child's country.

All of our paperwork is approved and up to date, we are just "stuck". Let me give you a few facts that may help you understand the gravity of this global situation.

The following information is from http://www.thefreedomproject-ywam.com/

-Human Trafficking if the world's 2nd largest criminal activity after drugs, earning up to $39 billion per year.

-Approximately 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders, 80% are female and up to half are minors

-Nearly 200,000 people live enslaved at this very moment in the United States and an additional 17,500 new victims are trafficked across our borders each year.

-Modern slaves are expendable. At about $100 a person, it is more costly to care for the enslaved than replace them.

The definition of "trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments to achieve the consent of a living person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced, bonded labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

These facts break my heart! They can be overwhelming. And yet, God has called us in righteousness. He has taken us by the hand, given us as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations. (Isaiah 42:6-10)

As Christians, God has called us to engage with the world around us. For Todd and I, we are called to engage in this area of woman and children issues, the poor and needy, in the whole area of Compassion.

We had no idea where God would lead us as we said yes to this precious baby Girl. We really have gone through a plethora of emotion as we have traveled on the truly amazing journey. We are still traveling, and yet, we are "stuck" here. Please pray for us and the process.

Please pray...

*that God would continue to meet all of Baby's needs in a very poor and needy situation

*that the people in charge of policies in that country would have godly wisdom in setting up boundaries and guidelines

*that there would be a breakthrough SOON in our adoption

*that other children would also be set in families

*that people of integrity would be placed in positions of influence, to see justice established in this whole area

As we "sit in traffick" the Lord has sent encouragement. A friend to sit and "chat" with us, signs of moving (albeit slowly) forward, people along the way, giving a shout out, inquiring of us and our status.

Thank you for that. We are grateful.