Nashville Family Christmas

This is one of my absolute favorite traditions I've started since moving to Nashville!

Review of Plan B by Pete Wilson

Plan B - What Do you Do When God Doesn't Show up the Way You Thought He Would by Pete Wilson

What do we do when things don’t go our way?  How do we react when our life looks completely different than we expected?  As human, we want to understand the “why”  but these issues are tough to tackle. 

Pete’s writing is incredibly relational, honest and easy to read.  He writes as someone who has also experienced pain, failure, and shattered dreams.  By telling the stories from his own life, as well as stories from family and friends, you feel like you’re sitting down with a friend, not reading a book.  Pete writes with wisdom and boldness, although he will be the first to admit that he doesn’t have all the answers.  He tackles this complicated subject well and shows hope to those who may be feeling like their own lives are falling apart. 

If you or someone you know is in need of encouragement after watching dreams shatter, then this book is a great place to start.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Happy Thanksgiving From the Beach!

Friends Couch!

I’ve been a HUGE fan of the tv show Friends for a really long time!  It’s one of my all-time favorite shows!  So you can only imagine my excitement when they told us we could actually sit on the Friends couch! 

Final Four Tickets!

Looks like Katie and I made a great decision!

Help My Team Get to Nairobi

If you consider yourself a person of the praying type, I'd love for you to partner with me in prayers for our team and our upcoming trip to Kenya!

There are 15 of us going in just under a month. Many individuals on our team are up against some incredibly steep deadlines for funding.  It costs $2600 per person.  All money is due on Monday and many members of our team still have not reached that goal.  We have all been hard at work fundraising, but we are trusting that each one of us is supposed to go on this trip and we are trusting that God will provide the funds.  

While in Kenya, we will be working with Jacaranda Creations, a sewing ministry started in the slums to give women a trade and skill to provide for their family.  We will also be working with Jacaranda Kids, a sponsorship program that provides education to children living in the slums of Nairobi.  And we will also begin work with a medical center in Mararui slum.  

I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to be going back so soon!  I can't wait to hug those precious faces I got to meet last year.  

If you can help support financially, no matter how big or small, we would greatly appreciate it.  Every penny counts!

To donate:

Go to: www.crosspoint.tv/give

Click: One Time Donation
Select "Bellevue" in campus dropdown

Select "Other" in dropdown

In the box, type "Nairobi April 2012\

Fill out your own information and amount, payment options

If you can't support us financially, we would love to have your prayers.  A special thanks to everyone who has already partnered with us and has been praying for the success of this trip.  I have amazing people in my life and I am so thankful for that! 

Favorites of 2011

This is the time of the year where I get to reflect on my favorite things from the past year!  So, in no particular order, here you go...

Favorite Trips

1.) Nairobi, Kenya, Africa 

2.) New York City, New York 

3.) Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 

4.) Baltimore, Maryland 

5.) Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Favorite Albums

1.) The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow

2.) Parachute - The Way It Was

3.) Adele - 21

4.) Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

5.) Matt Nathanson - Modern Love

6.) Jonsi - Go

7.) Butch Walker and The Black Widows - The Spade

9.) Nathan Angelo - Follow Your Heart

10.) Ben Rector - Something Like This

Favorite Songs

1.) The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow

2.) Parachute  - Kiss Me Slowly

3.) Adele - Rolling in the Deep

4.) Foster the People - Pumped up Kicks

5.) Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On

6.) Lady Gaga - Edge of Glory

7.) Rihanna - We Found Love

8.) Beyonce - Countdown

9.) Gavin DeGraw - Not Over You

10.) Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Favorite Movies

1.) Crazy Stupid Love

2.) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

3.) The Help

4.) We Bought a Zoo

5.) Friends With Benefits

(Anyone see an Emma Stone connection here?)

Favorite Books (I've read this year)

1.) The Hunger Games

2.) Catching Fire

3.) The Help

4.) Water For Elephants

5.) New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance

(Plus, I read all the Harry Potter books for the first time this summer and loved them all!)

Update on Monica's Family

When I was in Africa in July, I met a lady named Monica.  She holds a special place in my heart for several reasons.  First of all, because it was the very first house I was welcomed into in Africa.  Second, because her story struck straight to my core and broke my heart.  She is HIV positive, and she’s raising her six children alone. 

All of Monica’s children have been sponsored through Jacaranda Kids except for Anthony, who goes to school outside of the slums and was already sponsored when I met her.  That means every single one of those sweet children is in school and getting an education.  It’s so amazing that in just a short amount of time, all God has been able to do. 

Brenda met Anthony  who was home from school when she went to visit.  She said that his wheelchair is too small for him and it’s causing sores under his arms and on his hips.  She said that he looked so sad and disheartened.  Please pray for Anthony. 

You can read about my visit with Monica here. 

Adoption Fundraiser

I have two very amazing friends from college who are adopting two children from the Congo. I have watched them step out in faith over and over since their calling to expand their family through adoption a year and a half ago.

They are having an adoption fundraiser next weekend. They are hoping that this will be their last fundraising event – They have a chance to raise $5000 with a matching grant and if they reach this goal, their adoption will be fully funded!

But here’s the amazing part. Most of the vendors have extended their offer of not only participating in the open house next weekend, but they are setting up online orders as well. Most of the online parties are already active, or will be shortly.

This is a great way to get an early start on Christmas gifts!
Check out more details on their blog here:
http://borderspatrol.blogspot.com/2011/11/matching-grant-opportunity.html

The vendors that will have their online shops open are listed below.
Thirty One Gifts:
http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E1210017&from=DIRECTLINK

Initials, Inc.
http://www.myinitials-inc.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E27291&from=MYEVENTS

Usborne Books
http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/hostess.asp?sid=P3244&gid=129015835&HID=HOS207709

Mary Kay Cosmetics (Specify "ADOPTION" somewhere in checkout)
http://www.marykay.com/hflannery/default.aspx

Orangepolkadots Creations
http://www.etsy.com/shop/amymthomas

First Steps

I hate asking for money.  I really do.  But I can't do this alone.  I need your help!

Please take a few minutes and check out the page and consider donating. Any amount at all is appreciated!

There are also other ways to donate if you aren't an online donations kind of person.  Just ask me how!  :)

http://www.gofundme.com/9qn4o