Hope's Gate

(photo by Jen Price)

Some friends of mine are arriving home today from being in India for 11 days. They went to minister to women who have been exploited and sold into slavery, and also visited with orphans while they were there. God gave my friend, Patty, a vision to start a jewelry project to help these exploited women who have been rescued from the streets, to have a means of income and a better life. This ministry is called "Hope's Gate. Here is the web address to the Hope's Gate blog: http://blog.hopesgate.org/
When you read it, your heart will break at the stories and things these women, some very young girls, have to endure, but you will also be encouraged by the hope these women and children have in the Lord. Just this simple thing, jewelry making, is helping to change their lives. Please check out this awesome ministry.

Spring Break Fun

We wanted to do something as a family this Spring Break, but we didn't want to break the bank on a vacation, so we decided to take a 2-day staycation instead. First we ventured over to Glen Rose to Fossil Rim and went on a little African safari Texas style. Aaron and I had gone before when we were newly married but never had taken our kiddos. Needless to say, they loved it. All these "wild" animals walked right up to our car in hopes of getting a little snack fed to them :)












With a little nap in between stops ....


We then headed over to Ennis to the Galaxy drive in movie theater. This was all of our favorite stops on our staycation. Did you know that in the U.S. there use to be over 4,000 drive-in movie theaters and now there are only 400 left? This is so sad, seeing how much fun this place was. And very economical compared to the big indoor theaters we are all use to now-a-days. For a grand total of $31.00 we got 4 tickets to see not one, but TWO 3-D movies, a Lg. popcorn, m&ms, 2 drinks, a hotdog and a pizza! $31.00 wouldn't even pay our way into the movie theater at our local theater;and don't even get me started on the robbing that takes place at the concession area :) We had so much fun! We laid out a big quilt, the girls had their pillow pets they laid on, and covered up with blankets, and we all enjoyed the movie outside in the perfect weather we have been getting. It was wonderful! We will defintely go do this again. Next time we will take the truck and some lawn chairs perhaps.




Our last stop the next day was Six Flags. We had a good time, but will NEVER go again during Spring break. It was so crowded we could barely walk through the mobs of people. Our girls, however, did get to ride their first tiny roller coaster. We stood in line for about an hour to get on it, but it was worth it just to hear those belly laughs.

Makeover

Oh how I love and am thankful for this man who is willing to put asside his masculinity for the sake of entertaining his daughters :)



Now please don't tell him I posted these or he will kill me ;)

Rescue The Perishing - Jackie Castro

This is just beautiful!

Some Good Medicine

In the midst of this hard week with the news of MOWA decreasing Ethiopian Adoptions by 90%, we thought we needed to take our minds off things and gather with a group of our friends and have some fun. These are the ones we can completely and totally always be ourselves around. We are like-minded with similar hearts, and everytime we come together it is a time of fun and refreshing. We are so thankful for the friends God has put in our lives....SO THANKFUL for you all.














"Everytime I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began a good work within you will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:3-8

Urgent need to pray!

Please everyone that reads our blog. There is an urgent need to pray for Ethiopia. I talked with a sweet woman on the phone yesterday about our son, and she reminded me that this is a battle. Satan HATES adoption, because it is the very picture of God's heart. We need to be battling for the children in Ethiopia. How do we do that? We pray. Please pass this information along. PLEASE read below:

I copied the below things to pray for from our agency's blog.


These prayer guidelines about the adoption program in Ethiopia come from
Tom Davis at Red Letters


1. For God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God is in control. For those of you who are facing being stuck, remember that God is in control.


2. For God to breakdown strongholds of the enemy.

Every child deserves the right to grow up in a health family, and adoptive families provide that for thousands of children each year. Pray that God would demolish the strongholds that are set up against adoption.


3. For God to fulfill His promises.

God defines Himself as the Father to the Fatherless. He declares He will set the lonely in families. He warns those who would interfere with His plan to bring justice and mercy that is due to them. Find the orphan scriptures, pray them to God, and ask Him to fulfill those promises to the children of Ethiopia now.


4. For the courts and judges and government officials making this decision.

Ask the Holy Spirit to permeate the courtroom and convict the hearts of the judges and other government officials. Bring the power of the Holy Spirit into these discussions and proceedings--not that we would get our way--but that God's perfect will would be fulfilled in these decisions.


5. For the children and families

That God would shorten their wait times. Fortunately, God is bigger than these obstacles. Pray that waiting children would receive comfort. And pray that waiting families would experience peace, grace, and love from those around them.

While things are uncertain, our best response today is prayer.

AMEN!!

Fun with Cousins!

Last weekend we had my sweet neices Avery and Emery stay the night with us. Our girls were so excited! Avery and Emery are their 2 favorite people in the entire world. The night consisted of bike riding outside til dark, tea parties, movie watching and cookie making.

All cozy on a bean bag pallet.

We decided to make rice crispies on a stick!

We dipped them in chocolate, caramel, sprinkles, m&ms, and coconut. They sure were messy......


but they sure were good :)