Extreme Home Makeover Update!

It is amazing to watch ABC's Extreme Home Makeover show. I always cry before the end of the show...I am so impacted by each family's story. I am overwhelmed by the goodness and generosity of "neighbors" and the faithfulness of God (whether others recognize it for that or not. I do!).

Now, Extreme Home Makeover, and the many other home improvement shows, not only get the job done in five days or less, with modern technology, it can happen anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, on my tv. If, and I say if, I have time to watch tv, I can see numerous shows in a single day! As inspiring as they are, it leaves me with a few unrealistic expectations. ("What do you mean you can't finish the siding in an hour?")

The truth be told...it takes a long time to build a house. I think it was Hillary Clinton that said, years ago, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, mark my words, "It takes a village to raise a house!

Another awesome team from Ephrata United Zion Church

...along with Bill, Berkeley and my fam!

I appreciate you all SO much.

That being said, I now say a million THANKS to the "village people" that came two weeks ago to help. This project depends on the generosity of others, financial gifts and precious time and talent. We are so grateful!!!

Ty Pennington has nothing on this guy! Kyle was amazing. At seven years old, he would run to the "work site" every morning. He worked on a team that caulked all the interior seams, helping to keep the house well insulated.

A few "camera shy" crew members!

This team literally went to "new heights", working to complete this project. The weather was so beautiful, sun during the day, much needed rain at night. We still need to finish up the rest of the siding. Then, we will be able to finish the inside.

Thank you for all of your prayers on this project. We appreciate them! Keep them coming! Here are a few specific prayer points...

-thanks and praise for all of the friends that we have met

-safety for everyone working on this project

-blessings on all of the volunteers that have given of their time and talents

-continued blessings on Bill, for overseeing this project, and wisdom as he completes it

-finances to finish up soon, and well

-an electrician to complete the job

It has been an amazing process. Some discoveries from "The Process"...

-I find that I am more adventurous in trying new things out side of my skill set.

-I have learned that God's timing is not my timing, I trust Him.

-I am more relaxed in my mantra, "Everything has a place and everything in it's place." (Although, I LONG for the day that I can put everything back where it belongs!!!!!)

-Everything is going to be okay...to everything there is a season.

-God is so faithful!

-Life is good...God is GREAT!

Lots of Love. Locks of Love.

My daughter is beautiful. I'm talking inside AND out.

Things have been a bit crazy around here the past few months...travel, home renovations, continued international adoption process, court cases, the passing of my grandpa and then the very recent passing of Todd's dad.

There has been no time for blogging, but there is ALWAYS time for my sweet girl! This week we took an early break from "home reno" stuff to go to the movies...at least that is what we told Dad!

We planned for a later night showing of "The Diary of a Whimpy Kid", so that we could stop by the mall for a hair cut and ear piercing! We were so thrilled to be pulling off this huge surprise.

Once at the hair salon, we realized that Ashley may have enough hair being cut off to donate to Locks of Love, a non-profit group that makes wigs for children that have lost their hair due to illness. (FYI...80% of hair donations are donated by children who want to help other children.) Ashley had 10 inches cut off!

As I sat there, watching her interact with Jamie, the stylist, I was overwhelmed with such joy. I could see that she and Ashley were talking away. When it was all said and done, Jamie told me what an amazing daughter I have. I have to agree.

Our prayers over the last few months have included two people very close to our hearts. Jane, who has battled breast cancer.

Spencer Daniel who has battled Ewing's Sarcoma. Both are doing great. Both have lost their hair. This was just one way that Ashley could do something in honor of both of them.

So, sweet Ashley got her ears pierced and her locks cut off. Tomorrow I will be sending 10 inches of her ultra thick hair to Locks of Love! Tomorrow she will be going back to school and showing all of her friends her "new look!"

A Mom's Love for her Son

It's that time of year, where the rest of the world is challenged to try to understand ours.

April is Autism Awareness Month!!!

I am not looking for sympathy or pity. I do, however, want to advocate for awareness, compassion and action.


Autism is a very real situation for many more families than we, as a society, can really imagine. The numbers are only going up each year. At this point in history, there is no known prevention or cure for autism.



A few facts...
-Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism.
-1 in 110 children are diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
-1 in 67 boys are diagnosed with autism.
-500,000 (yes 500,000) children with autism will enter into adulthood in the next decade.


No one in their right mind would choose to enter into the "world of autism", but those of us who have arrived at this place have two choices...
1. to allow autism to dictate how we live
2. to dictate to autism how we will live

We have chosen the latter.

A few celebrities, who have arrived at this same place, have used their status as a podium to bring awareness and hope to others. Holly Robinson Peete has a great article that is a must read for those wanting to become more "aware".

Jenny McCarthy

Holly Robinson Peete

Then there is me, with MY guy!

Autism doesn't just happen to an individual. It happens to a family.

Not only do we want what is best for Jack, we want what is best for our family, and other families that face the same challenges that we face. I want to see options, and supports, in place that will help individuals and families in our little area of the world. Options and supports that allow Jack, and others, to get all the help they need in order to be everything they were destined to be!

The past few months have found me doing things that I wish I did not have to do.

I did not want to be sitting in a courtroom fighting for the right for my child to have adequate services provided to him, in order to reach his full potential later in life. I'd rather be scoping out YWAM locations or colleges for him to go to next year.

I did not want to have to file papers that will allow me to be appointed guardian of Jack after his 18th birthday. I'd rather be helping to fill out YWAM DTS or college applications for him.

You know, I cannot even "park" on these issues, before I know it, I would be sliding down a slippery slope into self pity. I was there YEARS ago. I'm not going back.

So, putting on my "big girl pants"...

...we are pointed to the future, moving ahead, unsure of exactly what we might discover.

KNOWING that the Lord is with us the entire time.

KNOWING that He will never leave us of forsake us.

KNOWING that each day is a gift.

KNOWING that He uses all things to make us more like Him.

KNOWING that His love for my son far out weighs the love I have for my son.

KNOWING that His ways are higher than mine.

It is His ways that we have chosen to follow...This Amazing Journey!

Snow Flurry Equations

snow in the Monroe = 2 hour delays and cancellations=fun


Now, that is the kind of equation that we like around here! For the third time this year, we have had snow. Last night's snow did equal a 2 hour delay today. For me, it was glorious. In the middle of a busy week, all things "busy" came to a halt.

Last night's snow=2 hour delay=sleeping in=savoring great coffee and pancake breakfast!!!

French Press or Fresh Brewed?

" Pancakes up on two!"

Two weeks ago we were suppose to host a team from Ephrata who was coming to put the siding on the house. Well, a Nor' Easter blew in, giving them more snow than they had seen in a life time!

This is what we got...Narnia!

Todd and I took a midnight walk through the gate onto the ywam property.

It was glorious! The quiet that comes with the snow is breath taking. It is so pure and beautiful, majestic...quiet...lovely.

ywam-charlotte

too bad this equation is NOT true

snow=2 hour delay=2 hour school day extension!!!

Happy Wedding Day!

From this day forward, February 27 will be know as the wedding anniversary of Bradford and Dana Hedgepeth!!!

Brad is Todd's youngest brother, and one of my most favorite people in the world! I have watched, sometimes from afar, as Brad has grown to be the man he is today. He is kind and gentle. He is funny and fun loving. He is a real gentleman and master of conversation. He has a great sense of adventure. He is the favorite uncle...young enough to run with "the gang", old enough to offer sage advice.

How excited we were when "Uncle Brad" chose Charlotte, NC to start his adult life and teaching career. As a teacher and baseball coach, he has the opportunity to impact many lives. As a resident of Charlotte, he has the opportunity to impact our lives as well. We are grateful.

It is with great delight that we welcome Dana Clerico into our family and into our lives! Dana is also a teacher who has changed the world around her! And she is quite wonderful. In just the little while that we have known her, we have come to love her so dearly.

Together, this Dynamic Duo, is embarking on a Grand Adventure! We are thrilled to be joining them!

Congratulations! Happy Wedding Day to two of my favorite people on this earth!

Oh, my...how time flies!

It's been over a month since I have posted. Let me assure you, it is not for lack of stories, let me tell you!

Listen, life has been full, more full than I would like, but full none the less. I really want to embrace each day...live it to the fullest. With a few crazy things going on around me, I have found "refuge" in a task that has cleared my mind and been a sweet time with the Lord.

A few months ago, we discovered that we could save A LOT of money on our renovation by painting the siding ourselves...myself.

Todd did give it a go when I was out of town earlier this month. He called me to say, "We have had a religious experience at the house and I'm sure it is not Christian!" I asked him to explain. He went on to say, "I worship your painting skills. I am not worthy to hold your paint brush." Honey, please explain more...

He said that he was trying to paint the siding and found it to be so tedious! He did not know how I had been able to do what I had done so far.

Oh, appreciation goes a long way, Baby!

So, while I was away, Todd, our friend Del and Bill worked on the awnings, interior walls and other stuff.



Todd was happy to leave the painting to me! I was happy for him to leave the painting to me. It has been my place of solace. It has been the place where I have prayed for friends, for myself, reflected on times gone by and simply praised God for the works that He is doing in my life. And I do mean "works", plural.




It is amazing to me, how when my hands are engaged in a task, my mind is so free to engage in conversation with the Lord. What sweet conversations they have been. I will always look back on this home building process and see what a special time it has been, and remember all that the Lord has done...with the house and in my life.

The siding awaits skilled hands, for the next step.

Weekend Warriors!

Last Friday the "Weekend Warriors" rolled in from Ephrata United Zion Church! This team arrived as we were getting kids up and off to school. They unloaded their tools, stretched their legs from riding all night, had a warm breakfast and then hit the work site. These guys were ready to roll!



They spent two and a half days installing windows, painting trim pieces, tearing out a back wall, building stairs and building friendships that will last a lifetime.

Ashley really got into it too! She learned how to do demo, build stairs, as well as painting like a pro. Seriously, this 11 year old can paint! She listened well to Mark and ended up "schooling" me a bit (and I am a pretty good painter).

(She also learned how to enter a locked house with a simple credit card...mmmm....I guess that will come in handy when there is no small child to send through a bathroom window or down a wood shoot to enter the house to then let mommy and daddy through the front door!)

The weekend was a family affair...not just for the Hedgepeths either! Mark had his son Jeremy with him, and John and his son John Boy/Little John were back for more! (they came with Mark the first trip).

It was such a delight to have these guys around our table. I just love meal times...to hear stories and share laughter. It really was wonderful.

Thank you Weekend Warriors!

And a special thanks to the Warrior families, those who let your guys come to help out here. Special blessings on you for sharing!