Haiti and a petition for prayers

Haiti haunts me. As I sit here, a barren woman, thinking of how easy I could give a couple of those children a home but how long and arduous the task is, it breaks my heart. I pray every day that God leads me to be at when it comes to helping children. When I left the group home I was working for several years ago, the last words my supervisor spoke to me at my farewell lunch was, "I hope I never see you doing anything other than working with children. It is what you are meant to do." Wow. Can you spell conviction? I can, and have, for the last several years as I have been doing anything but. If I ignore the problems, then I don't have to deal with them. *this is a good time to point out that this blog isn't about me being a strong Christian. It's about me being a real one..that is learning to be stronger through Him.*

Recently, I read a book called "Same Kind of Different as Me". It has rocked my world. Shattered my innocent veil I maintained. I want to help the people of Haiti. And I want to help the people down the block. As Rush said: "there is enough money in this country that no child should ever go to bed hungry. Ever." I believe this is true. Please join me in praying that God would point me towards whatever I am supposed to do with this that he has laid on my heart. My heart is heavy as I sit here in a comfortable place, getting ready to play cards with my husband, our bellies full and that of our puppies. People are bedding down on newspapers and around bonfires in trash cans. I can no longer shield my eyes. They have been opened. Now I need to figure out what to do with what I have seen.

I petition your prayers.
Love,
Courtney

My First Blog Award!!!!!!!!!

First, I would like to thank the Academy....Um....you weren't looking for an acceptance speech? Whew...I sure am glad because this was a surprise from my great friend Amber and I didn't even have one written! I am supposed to answer several questions...in one word...which we all know will be hard because I am nothing...NOTHING....NOTHING...if not wordy. Ahem.....Anyway...then I will nominate six people for the award myself and let them know so they can do the same! Happy reading...and nominating...

1. Where is your cell phone? Table

2. Your hair? Towel

3. Your mother? Mental

4. Your father? Distant

5. Your favorite food? Texas Sheet Cake

6. Your dream last night? Nonexistent

7. Your favorite drink? Cheerwine

8. Your dream/goal? Chantix (Don't judge me..I had to sum up quitting smoking in one word. Nothing screams quitting smoking like Chantix!)

9. What room are you in? Dining

10. Your hobby? Reading

11. Your fear? Failure

12. Where do you want to be in six years? ALittleOldLadyThatLivesInAShoe

(Amber I agree that it's my blog and I will cheat if I want to)

13. Where were you last night? Dinner

14. Something that you aren't? Athletic

15. Muffins? Tops?

16. Wish list item? House

17. Where did you grow up? NC

18. Last thing you did? Read

19. What are you wearing? PJ's

20. Your TV? On

21. Your pets? Spoiled

22. Friends? Funny

23. Your life? Entertaining

24. Your mood? Reflective

25. Missing someone? Yes.

26. Vehicle? SUV

27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? Target

29. Your favorite color? PinkRedBlueGreenYellowOrange

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Today (don't judge..I'm reading Karen Kingsbury)

32. Your best friend?(s) couple

33. One place that I could go over and over? mountains

34. One person who emails you regularly? Pop

35. Favorite place to eat? Chili's


Now for my nominations ......

First of all, I hope I can re-nominate people because there are not a lot of people that I converse with via blogs. Anyway...if I'm not supposed to re-nominate then I will once again break the rules.

1. Amber-www.strivingfor31.com
2. Sheyna-www.awidewildworld.blogspot.com
3. Amy Beth-www.ministrysofabulous.com
4. www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com
5. I would nominate my husband but he never blogs.
5. Ashley-www.picsandkickswiththetodds.blogspot.com (Although, she never blogs either!)
6. Kelly-www.kellyskornerblog.com

Let me know when you guys do the questions!

2010-or is it twenty-ten?

I know I haven't posted in forever..and in light of having computer and internet access all weekend I decided to make an effort at putting up a lame post. Now, I could inclued tons of pictures that would make it more interesting. However, I think that requires a little work. I am nothing if not lazy today. I did decided to introduce you to a new idea for my world for the new year...along with some resolutions that I really hope to do better at accomplishing than last year. So, without further ado..I present to you the most boring blog of the year.

1. My husband and I are planning to embark on a journey called the "Hallelujiah Acres" diet within the next month. We are going to the seminar at the beginning of February so we will make a more concentrated effort then. In essence, you eat only foods that grow from the ground. No meat. No dairy. No caffeine. I would feel the need to repeat those words for effect but I don't have the heart to retype them. No cheese????? What in the world will I do? We have committed to doing this for a year in order to get healthy and work out some health issues that I have. During the course of this year, we will be trying to get pregnant as well. I plan to chronicle the ugly truth (as well as all of the benefits I know I will get) from this diet throughout the next year. Think "Julie and Julia" meets Biggest Loser. HA! We will see how it goes. We have to quit smoking first so we will see if we both live through that! ;O)

2. I really want to work on being a better wife. I brought a lot of baggage into my marriage, which my husband knew about beforehand and willingly took on, but it isn't fair to him for me to not work on getting rid of it. He has offered to help and does everything he can to reassure me all the time. I need to break the bondage that the devil has me in and be free to be everything and more than he expects.

3. In an effort to be a better wife, I plan to wear make-up more often. It makes my husband really happy. (Ashley, think Chase raising his hand in church!) I tell him he only really notices and likes it b/c I don't do it often, but I want him to feel like I am giving him my best. Not just my pj's and baggage.

4. I want to strive to be a better friend. I love my friends, but there are times that I could be more attentive and thoughtful. I have friends that remember all of the small things. I tend to get overwhelmed and forget the small things and just look at the big picture. This can be good at times, but most of the time it isn't. If you are friends with me, and see me slipping, please tell me. In a loving way. ;o)

5. In working on number 4, I would like to practice being more of a "Mary" this year as opposed to a "Martha". There are many times I have missed stuff with my boys, family, or friends because I was too stressed out about there being a dirty dish in the sink. Or a dirty towel in the laundry basket. Or a blanket unfolded. Or I needed to get 450 things done before we could have Christmas dinner. I am missing the good times in life because I stress about all of the details. While I want my house to be clean and I want to create warm memories of holidays and family time for Olin, Seth, and I...I need to slow down and enjoy them WITH the other members of my family. I am missing too much of the good stuff.

6. I'll put in the obvious one of planning to blog more. I quit scrapbooking because I didn't have time (refer to number 5) so I plan to use this as my virtual scrapbook. I will have to blog more about Hallelujiah Acres anyway....so you will see and hear more from me! Promise!

Ok...that is it. I am going to return to my regularly scheduled reading of Karen Kingsbury and the championship game of baseball between Olin and Seth. I love lazy Saturdays! (This is officially the longest blog post....E.V.E.R. on my blog. Sorry!)

Talk to you guys soon! What are your plans, dreams, goals for 2010......or is it twenty-ten to you?