Rilyn's 1st Vacation

We got home last Sunday from our vacation, but I still feel in vacation mode. I didn't have the drive to do much of anything this week :)

Rilyn did GREAT on the drive down and back. Of course, she was very tired of her car seat by the end of the week, but she was a trooper.

Here are some pictures from the week:

E-Mealz actually came in really handy for our vacation. We had a very tight budget for this trip so we couldn't spend more than what we had. Before we left, I made an envelope for every day we were gone and put a specific amount in each. We could only spend what was in the envelope. So, we ended up making alot of our meals...using our favorites from past E-Mealz weeks. Dave Ramsey is so right when he says, "The best kind of vacation is the kind that doesn't follow you home (on the credit card bill)". We paid for everything completely in cash which allowed for us to truly enjoy our vacation!

Any end-of-the-summer plans for you out there?

Do You Have Beautiful Feet?

Last night, Matt and I watched the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". I have heard some good things about it before, but had never seen it. It was a good movie, but left me with a very heavy heart. My fear is that people will watch the movie and not think about how it is real life...it is not a set that someone created based off their imagination. But people actually live their lives in poverty such as this. They are forced into life situations based on their circumstances. I've seen it with my own eyes on many mission trips.

This is one of the many reasons why I am excited that we have not cancelled our trip to Juarez, Mexico. We leave in a few short weeks. I know so many have expressed concern, but I have excitement and anticipation. Our students will be exposed, probably for the first time, to what true poverty looks like. It is real, and we are called to do something about it, swine flu or not.

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" — when you now have it with you.

Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Romans 12:13
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

I read about situations like the cyclone in Bangladesh and my heart breaks for the children that were effected. It makes me proud to partner with organizations like Compassion International and Buckner. I am proud of our students who are meeting every week to pray for the city of Juarez, Mexico and the family we are building for. I am proud of the students we have going to Mexico and their excitement rubs off on us! I am proud of the ministries our church partners with, such as Rio Bravo.

Romans 10:15 says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

I hope that the day I meet God he tells me I have beautiful, well-worn feet that walked wherever God wanted me to go!

So, how are you responding to the call to help others? Where are you going to "walk"?

If you would like updates on our trip to Juarez, Mexico you can check out the blog: http://juarez09.blogspot.com/.

Missing Paris

On my drive to work yesterday it hit me hard -- I missed Paris! I miss hanging out with my friends Jen and Justin. I miss walking everywhere. I miss the wonderful food. I miss the people. I miss Paris! Its weird when memories suddenly flood your mind.

Windows Live Spaces

Back To Reality

We are back from a great weekend in Matt's hometown! It started off a little rocky with me puking in the car for the first hour of the trip in Chicago traffic...but got a lot better after that. :)

I am really excited because I just finished designing a CD cover for David Parker's next CD. Keeping busy!

BigStuf 2008

What a week! It was exhausting but incredible all at the same time. Here are some highlights:

• Matt's sister Haley went with us!
• 43 kids and 8 adults
• Long bus ride but great bus drivers (Yay Peoria Charter!)
• 9 rooms (4 of which were infested with cockroaches)
• 2 sessions a day full of awesome worship and great speakers
• All of this right on the beach!

Our students were really challenged and encouraged. Some of them dug through some things going on in their lives while others gained strength to take the next step in their life.

We Are Back From The Hearts At Home Cruise!

*Sigh* Just a few days ago I was relaxing on the deck of a ship in the middle of the ocean! It is wild to think about. We had a wonderful time! I would recommend cruises to everyone. It was so nice to be able to go to so many different places and only have to unpack once. Matt and I came home relaxed and rejuvenated!



Here are some highlights from the trip:

1. All of us were on five different flights because we booked our flights with points. You can read more about my dad's flight adventure on my mom's blog.
2. You have the same room attendant, waiter and assistant waiter all week.
3. They clean your room twice a day!
4. The boat was a little rocky. I could always feel slight movement but the second to last night was the worst!
5. Food! Food! Food! 24/7!
6. Did you know that sunscreen expires? I didn't! This is what happens when you use expired sunscreen. He wasn't smiling like this the next day when we were in pain!:
7. Grand Cayman was a little boring because we didn't do any excursions. But we were so burnt and tired that we slept most of the afternoon away!
8. Snorkeling in Cozumel was incredible! What a great experience!
9. We went to the Men are like waffles, Women are like spaghetti workshop. Matt really liked it!
10. Great time with the family!
    

Au Revoir!

Matt and I leave tomorrow for our cruise and I am very excited! I can't wait! Hopefully I will quickly get my sea legs. We get back on July 3.

My parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary yesterday! Congratulations Mom and Dad! My mom wrote a really cool post on everything she didn't know before she got married. I would encourage you to go read it! My dad also posted about their 25 years.

My brother sent me this video from his mission trip to Romania. Its quite a long video - but the second song that is played (starting at 4:20) is Evan singing - he has a gorgeous voice! Enjoy!

4 Days Until We Set Sail!

Matt and I are so excited because the Hearts at Home cruise is heading out on Saturday! We are flying down on Friday and I can't wait! This vacation has been two years in the making and its crazy to think its finally here!

Don't forget to join Compassion's Day of Prayer and Fasting tomorrow. We will honor the victims of the global food crisis and pray for them.

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Engagement Scrapbook

I have really enjoyed sharing my scrapbook pages with all of my blog friends! So I thought I would share some more...

I made an entire scrapbook for our engagement. Matt surprised me in Paris on the Eiffel Tower (I thought I was going to a party for friends). I had no idea that he was even in the country - I thought he was in an intensive week at school! He then got to spend 8 days with me!

Compassion International, El Salvador - Update #3

We are back! I came in on Friday absolutely exhausted! I slept 12 1/2 hours once I got home!

What a trip! I don't even know where to start and I am honestly a little overwhelmed trying to put my trip into words...even 4 days later! My mom and Megan have done a great job of telling some of their stories and I am sure that as the days go on my stories will continue to trickle out.

In the mean time, enjoy some of the pictures I took:

Compassion International - El Salvador

Update #2 (my last one from El Salvador)

There is so much I want to say and I am still trying to process it all. The one thing I will say for today's post, is you can 100% trust Compassion International with your money and what they are doing with it! I can guarantee that your money goes to your child!

One of the major misconceptions I had before coming was that I thought that my money hopefully went to my child but that's all. Compassion is so much more than that! THey have an entire program that the children apply to be a part of and it equips them to have a better future. They tutor the children and also teaches them how to take care of themselves, as well as other things to equip them to have a decent job!

One program had a beauty class, several had computer classes, sewing and other workshops were very common. One program also had a chicken farm where they taught the children how to take care of chickens but also how to create a business out of it. The children are truly in charge of the farm - all aspects including the selling of the chickens to local businesses!

All that to say - Compassion is Awesome! Matt and I have a child named Busualem (or Buzz as Matt likes to call her) in Africa. I am confident that she is well taken care of and is going to have a future!

I really want to sponsor more children now!

One last thing - if you have a compassion child - WRITE TO THEM! It means so much! When we visited a child's home he ran in and grabbed a letter that his sponsor had written to him. He was holding it as if it were going to break!

Below, the little girl on the right is named Annita. She was attached to me and I will be praying for her! She is a little preacher!

Compassion International - El Salvador

Update #1

I know I said I wouldn't be updating, but its hard not to! :)

What a trip! Its hard to put into words what we have experienced so far. We arrived safe and sound although mom and Erica's luggage along with several others was left in Houston. So they didn't get their luggage until late last night. But it arrived!

Yesterday we toured the Compassion El Salvador headquarters. The one thing I can say about Compassion is they are ORGANIZED! The best organization I have ever seen! All projects (Compassion Schools) are run the same organizationally. They all have a folder on each child with copies of their work and letters. They get audited twice a year. Everything is so organized!

Today, we visited two different projects as well as a child's home. Her name was Mariana. It was heart breaking to see a family of 5 live in a house the size of my king sized bed! NO EXAGGERATING! Even though they don't have materialistic things, many are full of joy because of Christ. So often I find myself discontent because I don't have matching furniture or don't have the latest kitchen utensils. The picture below is Mariana and her mother.

One little girl I met today was Tatiana. She was just excited that she could sit beside me and hug me. At each project they put on a program for us. They asked that we pray, so I closed my eyes and bowed my head. I heard Tatiana moving beside me and the next thing I knew a hand was on my head. Tatiana and all of the other children were laying their hands on us as we prayed! I wanted to say, "NO! I should be praying and laying my hands on you!" It was very humbling! Someone brought nail polish and painted her fingernails. She ran up to me to show me! It was really cool to have a connection, even though there is a language barrier.

Below is a picture of a volcanic lake! Beautiful!

Au Revoir!

This will probably be my last post before I leave for El Salvador! My plane leaves at 5:30 AM on Monday morning (yes that means I have to be at the airport at 3:30, which means I have to leave my house at 2:30!)

Please be praying for our team of people (most of which I don't know), especially my mom, sister and I!

I can't wait to update you when I get home if not while I am there! For sure, my mom will be posting at her blog.

Au Revoir! (Or however you say goodbye in Spanish!)

Deep Breath

It is gorgeous outside! As I was driving to work, I shut off the radio, rolled down the window and forced myself to take a deep breath just to take a mini break from all the chaos that is my life right now.

Last week, Erica and I painted, organized and rearranged Matt's office while he was gone. It was a surprise for him, so I couldn't blog about it last week. Every single night we were there until 1 am working hard trying to get it done before he got home. He now has an orange office that is organized and all the furniture is placed strategically so he can't stuff junk anywhere. :) I'll have to get a photo to post. It looks great!

Then, my company hosted an educational seminar on mortgages. It was really interesting, and we had around 100 people attend.

Saturday evening, we went out with 6 other youth pastors and their wives. It was prom, so we met at a church and prayed for our students and then went out to dinner. It was a lot of fun to hang out with them for the evening!

A week from today, I will be heading to El Salvador with my mom, sister and a few others from Hearts at Home with Compassion. I am very excited and God has provided all of the money for my trip! YAY! My mom will be blogging throughout the week, so you can check out her blog while I'm gone.

*another deep breath*

Off to another crazy week!

Sweet Sweet Vacation

We are back! We had a great time in Florida...I feel so rested! We had awesome weather all week and did nothing but soak up the sun! Here are a few highlights:

• Our flight out of Milwuakee was delayed because of weather so we almost missed our connecting flight in Atlanta, but luckily that was delayed as well.
• Almost didn't get a rental car because we didn't have printed out confirmation that we were flying out from that airport...got to the condo well past midnight.
• Relaxed on the beach with crystal clear water!
• Celebrating our one year anniversary
  
• This random (probably drunk) woman tried depantsing Matt on the trolly from our restaurant to the car...it was very funny!
• Watching Dolphins and Sea Turtles from the pier...so cool!
• Hanging out with some old/new friends
• Did I mention relaxing on the beach? :)

Las Vegas!

On Sunday I left for Las Vegas on a business trip and it was a whirlwind! It was a lot of fun! I had to work for most of the trip but my coworker Lynne and I got to walk around for a few hours Monday night. It was really neat to see all of the incredible and extravagant hotels! Here are some pictures from my trip:

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