My Road Paved With Good Intentions

I forget that while I walk down my road paved with good intentions, that someone is waiting for me. That someone is counting on me. That someone is suffering as they wait for me. That someone is DYING waiting for me. How long will I make them wait? I don't like to look left or right as I walk along. My road is smooth and nice. Look HERE. Where is the Good Samaritan? Who will be the Good Samaritan on my road? Because it looks like I am not stoppin' to help.

Prayers Lately

There are some things I have been praying for lately, and I just wanted to share a few of them. Some things are personal, but some things need to be shared! Have any of you been reading the blog about sweet baby boy TRIPP? I love him so much and have been praying hard lately for him. If you haven't heard about this amazing little man, go HERE and read all about him. He is a fighter, he is a miracle, he is my example. I LOVE TRIPP! I have posted on facebook a few times links to THIS blog. I still remember when I first learned about Sudan and what was happening there. It is what first opened my eyes to the horrors that are taking place around the world, the injustice, the INHUMANITY! It was learning about the Sudan that I first learned about REAL apathy. Please read THIS blog and join me in praying even harder for the people in Darfur. Some posts, like THIS one, are so powerful, yet contain graphic images, so make sure you are reading them ALONE and not with little kids hanging over your shoulder. THIS family is amazing. They have adopted so many children, been on many mission trips, and are in the process of adopting two more kids. I know there is more to serving and loving than adopting and serving missions abroad, but for some reason, people who do those things really catch my attention. Anyway, the older daughter was dating this guy and he was going to pick her up for church and he got in a motorcycle wreck. I was DEVASTATED for them and have, for some reason, felt compelled to pray and pray for Karl. Isn't it funny how we can feel connected to people we have only "met" in the blog world? People for whom we can feel so deeply, and yet they may have no idea we exist? Well, anyway, if you want to read about this family, go HERE. This is another AMAZING family with a heart for orphans. They absolutely AMAZE me. Their son has been in the hospital and I am praying so hard for this sweet little boy. Read about him HERE. Those are a few of the prayers on my heart. What are you praying for these days? Won't you share, so we can join our prayers with yours?

Hey there, I'm Brytt! You want to read this post, I promise.

Hi! I am a member of Sixteen Small Stones and am also sister to that awesome girl, Breclyn. I'm that girl that has some good ideas, but never really knows how to follow through with them. You've heard of me, I know you have.

So, I recently learned of this sweet little Girl and her amazing Story.

What a precious selfless act for someone, ESPECIALLY a young girl, to do. Her parents must be so proud and I'm sure Rachael is as well. For Her 9th birthday, all that Rachael wanted, was to raise $300.00 to fund clean drinking water projects in developing nations.

An 8 year old wanted this.

Rachael made a very selfless decision in Heaven. She knew that She would come to this earth to help, to love, to teach, and to be an example, all in a short time.Last month Rachael was injured in an accident and was in critical condition. A few days later, She was taken off of life support and went back home to heaven, leaving such an amazing legacy behind. This precious girl had a goal, it was to raise $300.00. She has raised $758,386 and counting. She is in Heaven, and I know She is smiling. Because of Rachael and her wonderful heart, over 37,919 people have been served. Rachael has saved so many people and has taught us all so much. Rachael is an example to us. It is never to late to serve. It is never to late to love. It is never to late to just act. What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, remains and is immortal. ~anonymous donor. Please Donate to Rachael's Charity if you can. If you cannot, please pray for the people who are in need of clean water and help all over the world, and please be sure to pray for Rachael's family. This is the a link to Rachael's charity. Please go read it. http://mycharitywater.org/rachels9thbirthday *************

Sixteen Small Stones is a group of Volunteers that through small steps and small acts, are helping people all over the world. Rachael's story teaches us that it is never too late to act. Sixteen Small Stones wants to help many people all over the world, but without your actions, your help, it is very difficult.

Matthew 18:4 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

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And don't worry, I am still working on that "special surprise" Breclyn mentioned in the last post. I received some very sad and devastating news, and because of this, I am holding off on announcing anything until I get further information. But please remember SSS and every single person helping with us and those we are trying to help, in your prayers. With everyone's help, we can serve.

New Projects!!

As you all know, for a while (like, TWO MONTHS!), I have been thinking it is time for some Fuzzi Bunz around here :). Operation: Fuzzi Bunz was so wonderful last year that I really wanted to make it an annual project. I kept thinking, "I NEED to have another OPERATION: Fuzzi Bunz!" I had this feeling like some little buns needed some cozy covering. However, each time I thought, "Okay, I am going to announce the start of Operation: FB", I would have this feeling to wait. I couldn't figure out why, but I waited. I had a feeling there would be SOME diaper project, but I wasn't quite spot-on with Fuzzi Bunz. Just THIS WEEK, board member Bryttan (who also happens to be my lovely sister! HI, BRYTTAN!) found about about some very special kids with a VERY specific and desperate need. I will let her tell the story, but I wanted to give you a little "teaser" that something exciting is coming up! We are always discussing projects around here. Many are brought to the table each month, but VERY FEW are put in to motion. It is sad, really. Very sad. We know of many places that could use our help. My first reaction when I hear of a need is to say, "YES! We will do it!" But I don't want to make promises I can't keep. It breaks my heart, but I think it is worse to say SSS will fulfill a need and then not. Why don't we do them all? It all comes down to finances. Money...some say it's the "root of all evil". Sometimes, I feel like it is the root of all apparent apathy. Soooo...I just want to say that if you have been thinking to yourself, "Gosh, I have so many thousands of extra dollars taking up space in my wallet. =SIGH= I surely do wish I knew what to do with it!" we surely would be happy to spend it in a good way for you. :) And please remember, NO donations is "too small". I am serious!!!!!! Anyway, we have a couple (or maybe three?) projects on the table now that we might decided to work on, and we will certainly need your help and prayers! Are you ready for some fun? :) I know I am! Bring on the diapers! OOOPS! I almost spoiled the surprise!! :) OH! One last thing!!!!! And this is ONLY for adults! Please consider checking out THIS blog. It is a bit graphic, but can be eye-opening. If you are unable to look at this blog, will you please consider praying for the people of Sudan anyway, if you aren't already? Thanks. :)

Here is a little picture of some "Fuzzi Bunz" recipients from last year's project. :) SO CUTE, don't you think?! (Photo courtesy of Serving His Children . PHOTO COPYRIGHTED! )

Father's Day Silence

I didn't post on Father's Day. There was so much I wanted to say, but I am not good with words sometimes, and I couldn't figure out how to put in to words what I wanted to say. And I still can't. I can feel it in my heart, but it isn't coming out right. It has something to do with God being our first Father. It has to do with the amazing miracle of fatherly love from our Earthly fathers. It has to do with the fact that some kids have moms and not dads on this earth, but we ALL have a Father In Heaven, and how I WISH so badly I could preach that truth to EVERYONE! It has something to do with being a father to the fatherless, and the roll men play in our lives, and the way God has asked men to step forward, fathers to step forward and be fathers to the fatherless. It is a noble calling of God to be a father, a sacred calling. But I couldn't make sense of it all, so I didn't say anything. Can YOU see...no, can you FEEL how this somehow fits together for Father's Day?

Carpet!!

MORE CARPET! Some really NICE pieces of carpet are out of stock now down here at the carpet store...so my boss is sending me home with the samples! The one style is SO soft and squishy. It is one of my favourites. I have no idea if/how I will ever get all these carpet samples to China to use in the SSS orphanage, but if we are meant to have them there, God will figure out a way. :) (I would love to post pictures. You will just have to use your imagination:). )

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We are preparing for a major PARTY at our house! Lots of cleaning an chaos. In the midst of it all, I brought T. down to our room to have his nap and sat down to check facebook and blogs while I have a quiet moment. I read EXILE'S blog post earlier. It moved me. Shifted me. Shook me. Now, I just read THIS blog post. I felt like the ground had been pulled from under my feet. The foundation of the world moved, the earth groaning under the weight of this event. My heart started pounding and my legs became hot, the natural reactions, I later realized, of the body when in "flight or fight" mode. My body was naturally preparing to run. To run away from what I was reading! To run away from the horror before me. TO RUN! But I am human, and in that moment I had a choice between, well, "fight or flight". I chose fight. I chose to stay. I chose to read and have my eyes open so I can FIGHT for these children. To FIGHT for childhood that was robbed. To FIGHT for mental stability that was shattered. To FIGHT for God to intercede for these children. I read their horrific story...only "horrific" doesn't even begin to describe it. There are no words, simply no words, in the English language to describe it. I read their story and raised my heart in prayer to God. Pleading. Begging. For what, I didn't know for sure. For healing? For their lives to somehow to go back to how they were? For the fear and horror to stop? I didn't know WHAT to pray for...so, I prayed just for HIM! It is only through HIM that anything changing and positive can take place inside these traumatized, demoralized, horrified and petrified children. There is no way...NO. WAY. that anyone could come away from that, except through the blood of Christ. So, I prayed for Him. Because that is all I knew to pray for.