India anyone????

30 years ago I felt the Lord calling me to serve Him and teach school overseas in Asia....now all these years have gone by and finally I am heading there to do that very thing! I am going to India for a 13 day mission trip to work in The Good Samaritan School in New Delhi. I am going with Children's Hopechest which is an organization that seeks to serve orphans worldwide. I will be leaving in 35 days and I am thrilled to be able to take this trip. I am scared too. Children's Hopechest is an amazing organization and they do so much to eradicate the alarming situations that children worldwide find themselves in. Our trip will be a vision trip to observe the school and hopefully establish a type of ministry partnership. Part of the team will travel for several days to Mumbai on a fact finding trip to bring awareness to the sex-trafficking that plagues many places in our world. Those are the facts of my trip...now to share my heart...my story thus far....

I was reading on facebook one day when a friend posted " Photographers/videographers/Bloggers WANTED!!! HopeChest has a trip to INDIA planned June 20 - July 3. They'll be working with Delit Children (think Slumdog Millionaire) and possibly safe homes for victims rescued from trafficking. Will you come and share the story? Price approx $2500 incl airfare! Who's in??? Spread the word! via Children's HopeChest" and I thought to myself...I could do that and posted interest in the trip, tongue in cheek, that yeah, I would love to go, but $$$$? Then 2 days later he posted again, "India trip first deadline is April 25. Only the bold and brave need apply. Focus will be slum kids and trafficked women". In between my friend's two posts I casually said to David, "hey, I don't want you to say anything right now, but I want to tell you about something" to which he replies his standard answer..."oh no....what is it." So I mentioned the trip to him, how I heard about it and then asked him to pray about it. After my friend's second post I responded that I had asked David to pray about it and he and his precious wife responded that they would pray too. Well, 2 weeks went by and it was no small miracle, but I didn't say another word to David. Not a single word about the trip. I knew the money was huge...I knew the time was huge...I knew this was a huge thing, but it was still a desire God had placed on my heart, although I held out not much hope. I just thought...someday...someday I would like to go on a trip like that. On the deadline day...April 25th...I was talking with David in the kitchen and he said he needed to teach me some new things about the computer. I balked at this instruction. Any other technological illiterates out there who are happy in their ignorant bliss??? Well, I am. Computer stuff is just too hard for me to understand so I began to whine....at which point he responded, "well, how are you going to be an international blogger/photographer person without learning some of this stuff?" to which I replied, "WHAT??? YOU THINK I SHOULD GO ON THAT TRIP???" David is a man of few words and he calmly said, "if that is what you think God wants you to do you should". Then I said, "well, I don't know if He wants me to go or not....I just thought I could see myself on a trip like that." And then my sweet man said, "well, I could see you on a trip like that too." A few minutes later I was on the phone to my friends who work for Hopechest asking lots of questions and feeling so excited by all I was hearing. The next day in my time of prayer in a way I can't really explain...I heard the Lord say "I want you to go." and I thought...oh, I am just hearing things...that is my own thought....but the words "I want you to go" would not leave my mind. If you haven't heard God speak to your heart while you are just quiet then it is difficult...no impossible to explain...but I knew it was Him. I shared this with David and we began to make plans. So, I am going to India!

Some days I feel terrified and completely irresponsible....after all I have 3 children still at home that need their momma....what might I see there that will be too difficult to forget....will I be able to be gracious as I visit areas that will smell and eat food that I don't prefer....this is my first missions trip....who do I think I am to go traipsing across the world, after all I am almost 49 years old...that is so much money to spend....all of these thoughts and more have kept me awake nights and yet I cannot get away from the words God spoke to my heart, "I want you to go." I am not brave...I am no hero...I am a servant of the one true God and I am trusting Him to work in and through this lowly woman to touch the lives of children across the globe. His M.O. is doing the impossible so I think He's got me covered.

I would love for you to pray for our team as we prepare for this trip. There are about 12 of us traveling together...did I mention that I don't know a soul going...that God would knit us together and allow us to be His hands and feet to the people we come in contact with. After I agreed with God that I would go on this trip I heard a song I had heard many times before and it took on a new and more real meaning. If you want, you can listen to it here. So that's the story of my trip to India, with more to come. I leave in about a month. Oh, pray for my family here, too, would you? Thanks from the bottom of my heart. (p.s.I sure would love to hear what's going on in your world...)
Much love,
Jackie Sue
And these are just for fun...Ellie's Ballet Recital

Tis the Season.....of Birthdays

It has been a very very long time since I have recorded any of our family events. I am prompted to get back at it by some recent developments here at home...but that will come later. Right now in our household it is birthday season.
Davie Anne turned 7 in February. She remains a delightful girl who is according to her teacher, "a model student". Davie has had a big year and has decided to give competitive gymnastics a try. We are blessed with our "Shorty" girl.
Sarah,our precious 1st born turned 23 in March. Her life as an old married woman seems to suit her well. Every time I talk to her she is trying a new recipe! We are so proud of our girl and celebrate her happiness. We couldn't ask for a sweeter daughter!
The next birthday is Catherine's. She turned 14 this month. It has been a good year for her. I am thrilled with her spiritual and emotional development. We aren't through the hard years yet, but we are well on our way. So blessed to be Cat Jo's mom.
Eliana celebrated her 4th birthday today. What a hoot that girl is! Sarah called to wish her a happy birthday yesterday and said, "oh, you are getting so big" to which Ellie said in her precious way of talking, "no, I dut da dame." (translation: just the same) If I could just bottle her and sell her cute self...I'd be rich!
Matt and Chris celebrate their birthdays in May...whew! 6 birthdays in 4 months is a lot of celebrating!!! Hope you have lots to celebrate in your world.
Much love,
Jackie Sue

Our Christmas Tree

This is sorta silly and I don't ever want to make light of God's activity in my life or anyone else's. He is amazing, awesome and all powerful, but what I find so amazing is that He doesn't have to be intimate and personal with us, but He chooses to. One little thing this holiday season is our Christmas tree. Typically I go all out for just the right live tree. I tend to be rather extravagant when it comes to Christmas trees. David and I have had major fights on what to spend on a Christmas tree. This is serious. Well, last year I bought just the right tree and then felt horribly guilty because of the big deal I made over a tree and how the money I spent on a tree could have fed orphaned children for a month. Soooo, this year on our way to get our tree, God reminded me of last year. By the time we got to the place we normally go to buy the perfect tree they were closed so we headed over to Lowe's. Somewhere between the two I was committing to not spending as much as last year, but didn't have a set price in mind. When we got to Lowe's they were closing up too. I asked the guy if he would let me in if I picked a tree real quick and he allowed me in. He had to turn the lights back on for me and everything. We walked in, he held up a tree and I said, "ok, we will take it" wanting to be true to my word. It didn't look like much, but it was a tree. The remarkable thing was the transformation of my human extravagant heart...suddenly the tree was in its rightful place....it was just a tree....not a statement of my value or decorating ability, or a sign of our income or a prediction of the holiday experience....it was just a tree. We paid $30 for the tree and I was just thrilled. We brought it home and David put it in the tree stand and I said, "Well, it is not much of a tree...the best thing about it is the price...but, God could transform this tree like He did Charlie Brown's. He loves me that much." David just smiled and said, "yes, He does." I asked God to bless our skinny pitiful tree on my way to bed and woke up wondering if He had done that. On Saturday my sweet friend came to put lights on the tree for me (one of my favorite holiday traditions...and yes I know I am spoiled by her gift). Still, not much of a tree but the lights helped and we turned it a quarter way around and that was better, but still, the best thing about it was the price. Last night the little girls and Catherine began to put their ornaments on our tree. By the time they were done I looked at the tree again and said, "look at the tree...it is beautiful...look how full it is....God did it! He made our tree beautiful, just like Charlie Brown's" Of course everyone laughed, but no one could deny the transformation, nor could we account for it. Now, if you don't believe in Christmas tree miracles or that God cares about my tree one way or another, I would beg to differ. God cares that we can now sponsor another child for 2 months with the money we saved and He cares to teach my stubborn heart to trust Him and to watch with expectancy what He can do with my tiny steps of obedience. I am celebrating my tree this morning and the God who cares for me. Have a story to share? I'd love to hear it. With love, js

p.s. Another wonderful blessing of this season...we celebrated Davie Anne's 6th "I gotcha day" at Panda Express, her favorite restaurant. It was so fun. After that we headed next door to Chickfila where Matt was due to get off work and had some ice cream. It was a fun evening. All we were missing was Sarah and Chris :) Our other fun blessing is my Christmas present for the dog. Samwise Gamgee is now the proud owner of a Petsafe training collar and it has changed his life and ours. I can't believe we waited so long to be able to enjoy our dog. It is amazing!!!

"Scared" the book

I just finished reading this book. It is powerful. God has been getting my attention recently in many ways regarding our finances and how I use His money. I won't go into all the details, but I will tell you that I have been missing some passion in my life. I asked God just this week to give me a dream again...a passion...something to drive me to act for His kingdom in a way I did when I was pursuing the adoption of our daughters. I have a dream of another adoption...but at this time David doesn't feel called to that dream and I truly appreciate his wisdom in this matter. I needed a different dream...after finishing this book I believe God has given it to me. My new dream is to cover my fridge with photos of children all over the world sponsored by our family. It costs about $40 a month to sponsor a child...right now we sponsor two. I want to sacrifice and live so frugally that by the end of next year we have 5 photos on our fridge...3 new little lives we are affecting for the kingdom...and in 2011...3 more....If we can sponsor 3 more children a year for the next 5 years that would be 15 more children who have hope in life of medical care, education and a future in their homeland. What about you? Can you maybe sponsor 1 child today? Here are some links to consider...Compassion is one organization that I have a link to already...also, www.hopechest.org, is the organization Tom Davis works with. Won't you pray about this opportunity to be used by God? Adoption is also a wonderful option(couldn't help it, had to say it...you knew I would)Many blessings to you all...oh, and Happy Dreaming! love, jackie sue

Pictures for fun....cause we're still alive

It has been a crazy past few months. Our road trip to Iowa was so fun...except for the drive. Vacationing in Alabama was such fun. The wedding plans continued to grow along with my todo list. Our last family vacation was over Labor Day and it was just such fun. God has been so good to us...especially regarding the wedding. It was a lot of work, but the team of friends who worked with me made it so beautiful. I owe them such a debt of gratitude. I can't promise that I will blog anymore faithfully, but I will try to keep you updated a little bit on our family. Sarah now lives across town and I am making use of her room already. Thanksgiving is just around the corner...time flies too fast. Celebrated 30 years of being a high school graduate last weekend with folks who are so dear to me. There is something about being with people who knew you way back when and remember you skinny...what a fun fun weekend. Sure hope those of you reading this are well and maybe you might even leave me a comment so I can know you stopped by. This is a tough world we live in...hope you know The One in charge of it all(and I don't mean Obama). If I didn't, I think I would just quit. Until He returns for His own, I'm gonna keep plugging away, learning and applying new things and celebrating the future I have in Him. What a future that will be! Much love, js

David celebrates a birthday
Ellie and her "jupy"(juice please)
Our first grader...Davie Doo
Our lovely bride and her super cute bridesmaids
The beautiful bride and her adorable flower girls
Sarah Jacqueline Wimberly for one more day....
siblings
the happy couple...my soon to be son-in-law, Christopher




Just a funny face from a funny girl.

I 'm Still Alive

I received a blogger award today..."most boring hardly ever updated blog". Fits, don't you think? Well, there is a good reason for my absence. It is called-per my husband, "the blue screen of death". Yes, my computer died. Totally. Blue screen of death and all. I did mention to him that IT people are just a little bit dramatic. While my computer is officially dead, the rest of us are doing ok. Matt is on the mend, but will still go to the doctor tomorrow to try to get an official diagnosis for his recent illness. Sarah is moving on with wedding plans. Catherine has completed 7th grade...so far she has survived...we both have though it has been touch and go at times. Davie graduated kindergarten this last week and if I could I would absolutely without hesitation freeze Ellie right where she is for at least another 3 years. She is so stinkin'cute! I mean her little voice and the way that she leaves out lots of consonants when she talks is just adorable. Completely make you smile all the time adorable. At this very moment all my people are sitting in the dark watching Horton Hears a Who and laughing together at all the funny parts. David was just laughing really hard so someone must have been experiencing some major pain. :) Priceless. Just priceless...save this moment in a bottle priceless, so I'm gonna get off this machine and laugh at the movie with them. God Bless and keep you and your peeps safe and give you His peace. With love, Jackie Sue

Easter and Vacation in Reverse Order

The fam on Easter. (ignore the bright red shirt please...had to wear it for choir)

The little ones at Spring Fling. Don't you just love Davie's eyes in this!

Davie and Eliana at the Easter Egg hunt at our church's Spring Fling.

My mentor, Jo Moberg, and her namesake, CatJo(who turned 13 this month!(Lord help me!)When in the world did she turn into such a beauty???

More vacation photos: the end of the hike to Duke's Creek Falls

Dad of the year....for the 22nd year running! That's Davie on his shoulders!

Our three little girls. It was a beautiful hike that went really well. Nice memory.

The day we were leaving. We set up the camera and then smiled. I love this photo!!!