Is it Worth It??............

Is the question I heard on the other end of the receiver as I was telling my mom about my mission trip to Uganda in September. It burned through my heart like fire..How could she ask me that? Does she not understand why I am going? Has she not seen what goes on there? It saddens my soul to know that so many go on about there daily lives unaffected by a hurting world around us and I too admit I was once one of those people, I was oblivious to the fact that I had so much and took so many things for granted, I too was a spoiled American. We so often forget that even the poorest American is considered “spoiled” in many parts of the world. And then I began to pray, I began to ask God to give me a heart like His, I wanted to see people the way He sees them, I wanted to care about the things He cared about, and He answered that prayer and my life will never be the same..

I can’t eat a meal or feed my children without seeing images and hearing cries of starving children in this world. I can't play with my children without thinking about the lonely orphans wishing they too had a family, I can’t lie in bed at night without images of a homeless people filling my mind wishing they too had a place to lay their head. I can’t buy a stick of gum without thinking to myself is it worth it? Is it worth it to waste this money on gum while a child somewhere hasn’t eaten for days? I am haunted by these images and so many more everyday, every second of my life, because I prayed to have a heart and eyes like my Daddy. There are times I wish I could just have my old eyes and heart back..But the other part of me knows it’s needed..Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross, He cried out in the Garden ..Father is their another way? He knew what was ahead of Him..The pain, the torment, but I think the hardest for Him was to know He was about to see the images and feel the pain in his heart..Images of our sin flashed before His eyes..And He saw what would become of us if He didn’t go through with the cross..And with a heavy heart He went.Through the mocking He heard..Is it worth it?...Is this beating worth it? Is this pain worth it? Through the spit and laughter..maybe just for a moment He did wonder and turned His head toward heaven and asked…Father is this worth it? And then His eyes met the ones who would choose Him ..And from the core of His being He whispered…Yes they are more than worth it…

And now He is asking us the same question..Are the orphans worth it? Are the homeless worth it ? Poverty and places like Uganda exist because God is waiting for His children to listen to His call to GO and be His hands, feet, heart, mouth, arms..His Body to a lost and dying world…I am aware of the things that could happen to me when I travel to Uganda..I learned a long time ago that to Live is to Live for Christ and to die is gain because I get to spend eternity with Christ..Either way I win;) Its in the orphans, the widows, the homeless, and the outcast that Jesus said, you want to find me?.. then come to me here..This is where I will be…waiting for you...I have looked into the eyes of an orphan and it was there that I seen the face Jesus and I can say with everything in me that IT IS WORTH IT!.......

" I am with you always" Matthew 28:20

This is a picture of Morgan's softball coach at their end of the season pool party, Morgan hugged him and this is the image that was left!! How awesome is that?!?! Jesus wanted some pool time fun too!! hehe;) this seriously made me cry!! and I hope it blesses you as well!!:)

Switching Gears;)

Take a hold of my hand as I lead you with me into the Fields of the Fatherless, hold on tight as my adventure with the Lord, isn’t one that is for the faint at heart, nope buckle your seatbelts kids, this is gonna be a wild ride! My journey starts back in September when I came across the Caroline’s Promise website, the overwhelming burning in my heart let me know I needed to contact her, little did I know what God had up His sleeve..Meeting Lisa was lifechanging, she had this passion for orphans that I had never seen before, and it was through her that God began to speak to my own heart, about His burden for the fatherless and asked me to join with Him in this journey. My first step in that journey was the Survivor Guatemala contest that Wbfj hosted, I prayed and allowed God to write my story, because honestly I had no idea what to write, this was God’s idea afterall;) And then I find out that I have made it to the top ten! My reply to God was ummmm ok God now what? Are you really going to send me on a mission trip? Seriously though…Me? Lol And in that still small voice of the Lord, I heard child do you trust me? And so my journey continued..

I didn’t win the contest but what God opened my eyes to through this contest, still blows me away..I wanted to know more about orphans and prayed that God would give me His heart and burden for them..and what He said to my heart forever opened my eyes..He said Amanda I can’t give you my heart and burden for them..because if I did it would overwhelm and consume you. I will give you just what you need to fulfill the purpose I have placed on your life.. And so He has…I have been disturbed by the Lord on this issue and my life will never be the same, My normal day to day activities are forever filled with images of those that have no home, no family, no HOPE…I have stared into the eyes of orphans, and what stared back at me will haunt me for the rest of my life. They are empty vessels where no joy, peace, or love reside there..just a cold empty shell, they have guarded their hearts from loving because it just hurts to much to feel…Can you hear their cries? Screams? Can you feel their loneliness? Abandonment? Pain? As Christians we don’t have to choice whether we hear the cry of the orphans. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27 God isn’t saying if you feel like hearing the cries of fatherless then you have the option to join with Him to take care of them, no He commands us as His children, those that bear His name to take care of those that are so close to His heart, He wants to give us His ears to hear their cries and His heart to feel their pain and through that He wants to use us to go bodly into the fields of the fatherless to bring them hope..His hope..hope that will forever change their lives..and yours..if you allow it..


I have fell before the throne of my King, and cried out to Him, telling him to send me wherever, that I was ready to go..and that leads me back to Guatemala..I continued on that journey because I felt that is where the Lord was leading..that is until last weekend..On April 24th I received a email from Lisa, stating that I needed half of my money for the trip by that Sunday, I was devastated as I surely thought the money was coming in, and I sent a message back to her asking her to pray because I wasn’t sure what God was doing..I crawled up in the lap of my Heavenly Father, asking why this wasn’t working out..I thought I was suppose to go..and through His warm embrace He whispered..my child its only Friday..Sunday is Coming;)…Oh how I was about to find out just what God meant through that simple yet powerful statement! On my way to my mission trip meeting Saturday evening, I prayed that God would show me if I was to continue on the journey to Guatemala or if wanted me to go somewhere else and that I surrendered my will to Him, that I didn’t want to go on any mission trip, I wanted to go where God was leading...And as I sat in that meeting, I felt so disconnected from the group..like I was there but I really wasn’t..and as they were all talking about their ideas..I had nothing to give..My heart cried out to God, where is my place here? Why do you need me in Guatemala? And I began to feel the lord closing the door to Guatemala and it broke my heart..I left there a mess and cried all the way home, I just couldn’t understand why all this was happening and what all of it meant.

It was then that God began to remind me of something I had read in the book called “Strength of Mercy” where the Lord sends this couple on an amazing journey into the fields of the fatherless where they find their baby girl..At first though He sends them a picture of one child and uses that child to prepare there hearts, to open their eyes and to allow them to learn to trust Him with their plans and to direct their steps, and when He closes that door on them adopting that child, He whispers to their soul, you can’t dwell on this, because I have showed you this child to prepare your heart for another one. And I felt the Lord reminding me of this and giving me peace, that Guatemala was my”first baby” It was what He used to open my eyes and light the fire inside for orphans..I sent Lisa a email explaining how I was feeling and how I felt the Lord was closing the door to Guatemala to open a new door…. Africa..And I just wanted her to pray that God would give me something to confirm it and give me peace..After I sent the email..I opened up my daily devotion that sits on my desk and God could'nt have spoken anymore clearly to my heart, so clear that it nearly knocked me out of my chair! This is what I read “ Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:19 WOW Loud and clear the Lord was saying Amanda I know you are disappointed and heartbroken that I have shut the door to Guatemala but you can’t dwell on the past, because I am doing a new thing Africa! It has already sprung up in your heart, can’t you already see it?? And I am already there paving a way in the desert and wasteland!! Just as the Lord had spoke to that couple in the book, He was speaking to me now! Ahhh when God speaks He speaks!;)

I have known for awhile that the Lord was going to send me to Africa..The Lord is pulling my heart towards there and it grows more unbearable as everyday passes, so much so that if the Lord were to say Amanda, pack up everything and move your family to Africa to be full time missionaries there we would and not look back! Just hearing the name Africa, my heart leaps and overflows with burden. Its not just that I want to go to Africa, its that I have to go or the fire inside my heart and soul for Africa will consume me. There is hidden treasures in Africa that the Lord is calling me there to find, and I am not sure if Africa needs me so much as I believe the Lord is calling me there because I need Africa. I received a email back from Lisa that Sunday night and she replied that she too felt the Lord was shutting the door to Guatemala, and let me know that Caroline’s Promise was going to Uganda….but that they were'nt planning there first mission trip there till the fall of 2010..I admit I was bummed as I am ready to go now..but surrendered my will once again to the Lord, and said if that’s when you want me to go then I will wait Lord..I submit to your plans. "We can gather our thoughts, but the LORD gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:1-3, "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps" Proverbs 16:9 I knew my plans what my plans were and I knew my motives were right in wanting to go on a mission trip..but until they were lined up with the Lords plan, I didn't want any part of it..

I was willing to wait and laid my hearts desire at His feet and asked ok Lord whats next.. And the Lord once again answered;)…I had a few weeks earlier requested a packet about starting a girls GEMS group, and well the packet had arrived in my mailbox..and what I found when I opened it, drew me to my knees! Tucked inside the folder just beaming at me, was a little African orphan girl..and James 1:27 written across the top and on the back in big bold letters was The call to Africa, there is so much waiting to be done! As I am reading the flyer..I noticed that they were building a school there for these orphans..and the name of it is The Esther school..ok your wondering whats the big deal? Well let me tell you;)…That very morning I felt intrigued to read the whole book of Esther as God has revealed to me that I resemble her..so off I went into the incredible journey of Esther and what an awesome book that is! And here I was reading the flyer that came out of the blue and clearly the school of Esther was staring back at me! And confirming in my soul that My God was up to something HUGE!

And so now my journey begins towards Africa..do I know exactly when I will be going? Nope..Do I know what exactly what I will be doing when I get there? Nope..But one thing I know for certain..My God is directing my steps and is there making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland..And I trust Him with everything I have.. and know that God is the one that has taken me on this journey into the fields of the fatherless and I fall before the King, surrendering my all and give Him my life to use however He wants. And as my friend reminded me yesterday in Philippians that Jesus was able to sleep during a storm because He had the perfect peace that His father was in control..I too can walk boldly in my calling even in the uncertain times because I know who is in control..He won’t guide me or lead me anywhere that He is'nt already there For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11...And so once again I crawl up in my Heavenly Daddy's lap and ask Him ..whats next daddy? And He whispered… my child..hold on and hold on tight..its gonna be a wild ride!!;)

Lapbooks;)

Me and the girls are having so much fun creating Lapbooks to go along with what we are learning and we just wanted to share with all our family and friends!;) The first one is our Lapbook to celebrate Earth Day;)

These two are Subtraction Facts and Phonic Rules!;)

Morgan is currently reading American Girl Josefina and we are going to do a Lapbook on her once she is finished!!;) Also we are so excited that God has led us back to My Father's World Curriculum and we will be starting the 3rd grade Adventures program the end of this summer and we are thrilled there are so many Lapbooks to make to go along with our lessons! So many fun things in store for us in our journey of Homeschooling with the Lord and we can't wait to share them with you all!!;)We hope you enjoy the pictures!! If you are interested in making your own Lapbooks you can find many resources here: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Lapbooks_at_HSS.php and feel free to contact me with any questions!! May the Lord Bless You!!

Amanda;)

IT CAME IT CAME!!

The blessing me and my kiddos have been waiting for finally arrived on our doorstep yesterday!! We were stoked!! And what a blessing it has already been! After much frustration over sight words and how they are simply a ridiculous way to teach children how to read..yes I am officially a sight word Nazi! ask anyone they will confirm it! ha ha;) I prayed and asked God to rewire my daughters brain, I seriously believe that sight words caused some if not all of her reading difficulties, and so I prayed that God would heal her from this and give me something that I could use to teach her PURE phonics(I say pure because this program was the only one I found on the market that does not include some type of sight words in with the phonics, I simply wanted a true phonetic program, because ALL words can be sounded out!!) and I wanted my daughter to learn how to really read and not memorize! And God so delivered! I came across ABC the Key while searching online for a phonics program and I knew it was the answer to my prayer, so I prayed about the purchase since it was a big one and I felt God nudge my heart to purchase it;) And what a true blessing it has been! We have only had this program in our home for a day and Maddie is learning all of her sounds, Even little Mason can tell you the sound A makes! he he;) Morgan is learning so much and she is having so many light bulb moments!;) and best of all she is learning how to read!! and really read! She looked at me and said mom this makes sense now, I understand how to sound out the words I don't know and I don't have to guess what it is! woohooo!!! I looked back at her with tears in my eyes and said yes love that's reading!! I am so grateful to the Lord for this blessing and just had to post about it!!;)


Here is some pics of my little ones enjoying their skittle dogs that came with the program;) The company was nice enough to send me two free extra dogs since I have three kiddos and they wanted them all to have one to teach;) and they have so enjoyed them! We so LOVE ABC the Key!!;)


Mason didn't get to be in the pic this time as he was enjoying his much needed nap;) he he;)








If you are interested in learning more about the program ABC the Key you can visit the website here;)

http://www.abcthekey.com/

Adventure in Homeschooling;)

I knew God was laying homeschooling on my heart again and so I pulled my daughter out of the Arts School she was attending mid year to homeschool her again, I admit I was nervous about the transition but when God calls He equips! And we are having so much fun and learning so much! I wouldn't trade it for anything! Homeschooling is such an incredible adventure and I am so blessed to ride it with the Lord and my children!;)


I wanted to allow our family and friends a peek into our world of homeschooling! We are having a BLAST!;)


My chefs;)





Homeschool Skateboarding;)



Maddie practicing her letters;)




Morgan and her Playdough creations;)




I will be updating and adding more pics, as we have lots of field trips planned! so keep your eye out for them!;)

I wanted to end this post with a cute video made by a homeschool mom that made me giggle!;) I will survive!!;) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!;)

*MAKE SURE TO MUTE THE MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE SO YOU CAN HEAR THE VIDEO;)*

May we choose to Love..

(Scroll to the bottom of my page first and mute the music so you can hear the video)





My sister showed this video to me and what an impact it had on my heart. It has always broken my heart how we as “followers of Christ” all to often choose to hate instead of love. We are called to love like Jesus and treat those as He would treat them. It is not our job to fix anyone, we are lead them to Jesus place their hands in His and allow Him to do the rest. My mind drifts to the story of the Forgiven Woman in Romans 8:31(” But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin.")

But how often do we think we have the right to point fingers? To give them the impression that God hates them..what if that was true? What if God hated those that did something outside of His word? Then friend that means there would be no hope for mankind, none us would be able to come to the Lord, we all have done things that are wrong, God said so Himself in His word, Romans 3:23 (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ) Sin is the same no matter what kind it is, and there is only one sin that will separate us from God and that is not accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, anything else in our lives that we are struggling or dealing with is not outside the grace of God.

Jesus came to die for the sinner, John 3:16 (" For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but recieve everlasting life") Jesus came to die for us all, so may we all see others through the eyes of Jesus and reach out with His heart and show others compassion and grace, so that God has the freedom to open the door to thier hearts to reveal who He truly is to them..