Putting on our Camo…

What is a girl to do when it’s camouflage day…and they say “no pink camo”…green only. I mean…some times a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! SOOO…Loo-bear and I got out the sewing machine and whipped out a little ditty…

How fun is that? And I wish I could take the design credit–but momma got THIS book for Christmas from Nana and me likey the EASY patterns and absolutely fun designs…You can buy one HERE on Amazon.

They sang “I’m in the Lord’s army” among other songs in the school musical, and I’ll have to share some of that action when I download the video. LOVE having these two just 14 months apart!

SOOOO…that was Tuesday night! (Oh by the way–if you buy the book we did add the additional sash to the skirt just for a little added somethin’:). So easy to make…and ALL the kids helped–even Frankie baby.

THEN last night—tornados came through the South–quite close to us but with most of the devestation taking place in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Being from Alabama and having so many friends and family in the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham area–I’ve seen pictures ALL day of the devestation of so many. I have heard heartbreaking stories of loss…of not only homes but also loved ones. PLEASE keep these families in your prayers as they put their lives back together.

David Platt’s church in Birmingham is busy organizing a relief effort. You can join the efforts of Church of Brook Hills by going HERE to learn more how to give or go. We have DEAR friends on staff with Navigators in Tuscaloosa. They were out of town, and they are safe–and I know in the weeks ahead they will be sharing with us opportunities to help those around them.

One thing times like these remind me of is that NEEDS ARE EVERYWHERE. And I love what Bob Goff says in one of his recent posts on getting engaged. “One of the ways that I make things matter to me is to move from merely learning about something to finding a way to engage it on my own terms. For example, if someone asks what I think about capital punishment, instead of reciting the party line and parroting someone else’s thoughts, I think of a teenager named Kevin in a prison accused of a capital crime. If the topic is same sex attraction, I think of a dear friend who is gay. Now, instead of talking about an issue, I’m talking about a person; someone who matters to me. I think that Jesus wired us that way so that we’d remember. And it’s not about just being politically correct, it’s about being just plain correct. We need to make our faith; our love story; our very own.”

In order to get ENGAGED not only in conversation…but ENGAGED in serving–we must make it our own and bring it home in our hearts. I think about the tornado in Alabama where so many friends and family live. My city–for some reason–was not touched by the tornado. Now, I can move on my merry way–OR I can ENGAGE by bringing it home. By thinking of dear friends and family and reaching out to anyone I know who knows specific areas of need…and ENGAGE because now it’s personal. AND…I must say for the record–it’s NOT ABOUT MAKING IT ABOUT US–BUT ABOUT GOING THERE WITH OTHERS AND DOING LIFE TOGETHER.

I got a comment on my blog earlier today regarding my earlier Zambia post. It came from a writer in California who does not KNOW me–who is not really engaged in my life. And by incredible technology commenters IP addresses are embedded in every comment you make on a blog–I can see he has only visited my blog ONCE–yet he felt compelled to make a pretty hurtful comment about our work in Zambia. A good friend, reminded me not to throw my pearls to the pigs–and this was MUCH needed Biblical advice to hear. We must stay our course to what we know in our hearts the Lord has called us to and not let others tear us down or discourage us while we follow Him.

BUT…for this instance, I dig what Bob Goff wrote in his post “How to Pick a Fight” post. (An incredible post about fighting for what God calls you to fight for–no matter what.) Now, I’m not going to pick a fight–because if YOU are a REGULAR reader and/or friend–you know that’s not me. BUT…I WILL stand up for orphans and widows–and no matter where they are…they are God’s children…and they DESERVE TO BE FOUGHT FOR!!!

I couldn’t say it better myself, so I’ll let Goff say it for me…”It’s easier to pick an opinion than it is to pick a fight. It’s also easier to pick an organization or a jersey and identify with that fight than it is to actually pick your own; commit to it; call it out and take a swing. Picking a fight isn’t neat either. It’s messy. It’s time consuming. It’s painful. It’s costly. Stated differently, it’s what many of us should be all about as followers of Jesus.”

The comment left said that I post what I post for my own sake. To bring glory to me–and that I make him sick that I go to Africa when there are thousands of kids here who need help.

YES–there are thousands of children here who also need help–and I am, ever so thankful for my precious friends who just picked up and moved to inner city Atlanta to not only SERVE but to also LIVE. Families like the Stanley family who we have the joy of doing life locally with who serve with Vision Atlanta. Or families in our fellowship group that have just picked up their families to move downtown themselves. I’m thankful to be a part of a church wtih a pastor allowing us to start a foster care ministry and challenge others to serve with us…the two years we have spent trying to start a foster care ministry in our local church. We each have different callings–and we must follow where the Lord leads us! This is NOT about us–and to tell you the truth…it’s not really about them either…but about HIM and bringing glory to Him by following HIM where ever He leads our family in ministry–whether it’s around the corner or around the world (and if it WERE about me–I can promise I wouldn’t go around the world to do ministry and leave my children to do it…but *I* don’t get to choose where *I* am called…and I’m so thankful it is NOT about me.)

For us–the Lord has led us to Zambia to serve. I write about it on my blog–not to receive the glory…because honestly I don’t do much these days other than chase my 4 babies and it’s TIME for me to return to where I believe the Lord called us to serve 4 years ago. I write about it–because this IS my life–and its personal–and through my writing many of my precious friends have learned about Wiphan and it’s become personal to them too. (It’s also my blog–so I guess if it’s about my life–I can write about my life…and I apologize to readers like “JOHN” who disapprove of where, how and who we serve…but really–it’s not ME he should be upset with–but I guess God…since it was His calling on our lives…we just go follow.) And just as children down town deserve to be loved and fought for–children in EVERY country deserve to be loved and fought for. AND this is one fight I will always pick.

Why did we adopt from Ethiopia? Because our son was there–God knew it…and He put Ethiopia on our hearts. Why do we serve in Zambia? Because there are 450 children there–that God loves and He knew our friends and family had gifts that He gave us to be used their for HIS glory. I truly believe the Lord has given each of us different gifts and different desires to be used for HIS glory–and those gifts and desires that align with His Word are part of the story He wrote just for us to live out.

Foster care or adoption. Domestic or international. Opening your home to the homeless or 10 little giggling girls that need to be loved on. Whatever He calls us to–we must follow with gusto and let the Lord be our strength. We should encourage other believers in our different callings–and be very careful not to be unkind to the calling GOD HAS GIVEN them. (When hurtful things are said–we can be pretty sure it’s not from a brother or sister in Christ–and once again see the reality how we do live in a hurting world.) We should expect hardship–and hurtful things to be said as we follow. I guess I’m just fortunate to not have hard things said so often–which tells me I probably need to listen a bit more and maybe more radically follow. That also being said, I just want to thank those of you who have been on this journey of life with us–and always leave words of kindness and encouragement. I welcome the other comments too…but just don’t be alarmed if I fight for things back that I feel are worth fighting for;).

Hope ya’ll have a great night…I’m down for the count in more ways than one tonight;)

Andrea