the first Christmas gift I'm buying

Ready or not, the Christmas season is on it's way. Every year I think I want to get my gift shopping done early...so I can enjoy the season. In the midst of all the selections of gifts to choose from I don't think about this:

It's true and it is NOT OK.

4500 kids die everyday from water related illnesses. Mamas are burying their children because they couldn't provide them the basic necessity of clean water.

Unfortunately I know the pain of losing a child. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Aidan's death couldn't be prevented. If there was something anyone could do to save Aidan's life, they would have done it.

However, these deaths CAN be prevented and YOU can do something.

So, today, November 13 let this be your first gift.

Ten dollars.

Ten dollars will provide one person in Africa with clean water for 10 years.

TEN YEARS.

Before you head out to the mall or toy store, consider this as your first gift of Christmas. It could very well be the best $10 you spend this holiday season. Spread the word.

Click here to be taken to the secure donation site. 100% of your donation will go to provide clean water. Click here to learn more about the First Gift campaign. Clink here to learn about the orgnization charity:water.

distracto-girl, that's me

Thanks for all the birthday wishes last week--I had a wonderful birthday weekend. You can read some highlights here. On then on Tuesday, hubby and I went to Denver for an overnight and to see Wicked. What a fun show--enjoyed every single minute of it!

Today, I am finding that distractions abound. For one...Lifeway is broadcasting from their woman's leadership conference here. I stumbled on it (thanks Rachel Anne!) and have already listened to Priscilla Shirer give a powerful talk and some chitter chatter from Travis Cottrell--love him. I turned it off for a while now...cause I am recognizing I could watch it all day!

ANYHOO--as I said, I'm distracto-girl today. I know why. I haven't had my diet coke yet! No, that's not the whole reason. The real reason is that I plan to spend a chunk of my day working on (read here: starting) a talk I am giving at church. I need your prayers! I am actually going to be giving the "sermon" (we don't call it a sermon cause we don't really do the women-preaching thing at our church but don't know what else to call it heehee) on December 13! In the first person. As Mary. I will likely regret saying yes at several points along the way...but I think God has told me a theme...and so here I go. Did I say I need your prayers?

I have spoken before. I have done drama before. It's still a bit (actually quite a bit) scary...and will have NO impact apart from God speaking through me...so please pray!

I need to run and focus...have a great weekend!

Linking up with the Company Girls at Home Sanctuary--my friday chat with bloggie friends.

Independence

I do miss the little hands in mine. I miss the innocent mispronunciations of a little one who has so much to say. I miss getting completely soaked by bubbly splashing as I bathe a wiggly one. I even miss detangling windblown hair, and braiding and pony-tailing and ribboning.

2004

But today I give three cheers for independence! At 13 and 9, my kiddos get up in the morning and get themselves ready for school. They have their own alarm clocks, shower on their own, they (almost always) choose their own clothes, brush their teeth, even make their own lunches most of the time!

I could be sad they don't need me to dress and wash them anymore. I choose to be thankful that they are appropriately learning to take care of themselves.

They still need me for plenty. Homework, meals, late night chats, snuggles, encouragement, advice and prayers. And so much more.

And every now and then a little help taming some wayward hair in the morning.

Linking up today with Emily at Chatting at the Sky and the weekly Tuesdays Unwrapped celebration.

Monday, Monday

Monday, you are here.

You follow Weekend. You follow Birthday Weekend. You follow Terrific Birthday Weekend.

Weekend brought me:

wBeautiful weather. Good to be outside weather.

wFriday lunch out at California Pizza Kitchen with my two moms...SO yummy and fun.

wFriday afternoon shopping in the afternoon with my mom-in-law.

wFriday night Groupies--my turn to tell my "story". Always good to reflect on God's faithfulness.

wBubba's last soccer game of the season--he had a BIG fan club. He played well and they won!

Bubba's fan club (minus me-the photographer)

wBubba's birthday party with his friends Saturday afternoon--crazyness! But it wasn't at our house and I didn't have to do much. He had a run-around-nuts good time.

Bubba's birthday party friends

wSaturday night cell phone shopping--birthday present from the fam. Got a great deal on a Samsung Rogue and I love it!

wSunday morning church. Love watching those kiddos enjoying learning about our God.

wSunday evening family celebration for Bubba and me. Yummy chinese food and wonderful gifts! (Pretty excited that my brother-in-law is going to redesign my blog as a gift to me!)

Weekend, you really came through for me.

So, Monday.

Here we are, Monday.

You bring me lots to do.

You bring me excitement about going away with hubby overnight tomorrow--can't wait! But that means more needs to be accomplished today.

You bring me board reports and meetings and projects that need attention at work.

You bring me laundry that is embarrassingly piled up after a weekend of not-touching-it.

You bring me a bedroom and bathroom that need cleaning before Nana and PopPop stay here in our room tomorrow.

You bring me details to work out.

You bring me Bible study homework.

You bring me a big knot in my yarn skein for my crocheting projects that I don't know how to remedy.

You bring me the realization that I'm likely too late for a seasonal flu shot.

You bring me the regular daily.

Monday, not to worry. I don't come to you empty-handed. I bring to you a heart of thanksgiving. I'm blessed. I'm loved. I bring to you confidence that all that is supposed to get done, will...and what doesn't, doesn't. I bring to you a refreshed person ready to hit it hard, with a getaway just a day away. I bring to you a heart of joy knowing that my life is full of good things. And it doesn't hurt that I'll be wearing a new sweater and carrying a nifty new phone.

It's OK, Monday. You and me--we're good.