Ashley's in Kenya

Ashley is at 2 1/2 weeks of her 4 week trip to Kenya. She is having an amazing time so far. She has worn several hats during this 2 1/2 weeks, but her main job on this trip was to teach praise dance as a form of worship to the young people. They had a week long camp where she taught them dances, then they shared what they learned at a crusade in a nearby refuge village this past weekend. She was excited because she said there were several of the girls that she could see in their eyes that they "got it". She could really tell that they saw how to use the dance to worship the Lord.

An unexpected and delightful opportunity Ashley has had while she was there was to spend a great deal of time with young teen and preteen girls (her calling), sharing with them, teaching them, and laughing and bonding with them. She spent 2 hours alone with some of them at the girls orphanage one afternoon, and she had THE best time. They fixed her hair.....lol.....I can't wait to see the pictures of that......asked her questions about America, asked her to sing and teach them worship songs, sang the ones they know to her, and shared. She is supposed to be teaching them a 6 day Bible study in the remaining time, and I hope that is worked out.

I've been blessed to be able to hear from her often enough to keep me from worrying (who me??) and to keep me from missing her so badly!, although, because of the drought, they now do not have electricity from 7-7 each day. We communicate on Facebook every few days, and I've been able to talk to her on the phone 3 times. I've also been able to get a few pictures, although, not as many lately. The internet access they have at the missionary's house is vvvveeeerrrryyyyyy slllllloooooowwwww.

For those of you who haven't seen them on FB, here are a few of the pictures.

At the Amsterdam airport~

Orbit School of the Cross

I've tried to rotate this next picture 3 times, so it's anyone's guess as to whether you'll see it right side up or not! This is a class at the school singing a welcome song.
Hey! It's right side up for now!

If you remember me posting a couple of months ago about our sponsor child and her tragic story, this is Ashley meeting Mokoi......her "Kenyan sister."

The medical clinic at Orbit. They are trying to raise funds to keep it open more. Right now it's just one day a week, since Mokoi's baby, Ashley, died. If the clinic had been able to be open, they probably could have saved baby Ashley's life.

Orbit Baptist Church

Ashley was able to attend with the missionary an American Women's Conference in Nairobi. There were women there from several countries, and their goal is to find ways to improve the lives of women in Kenya.

Esther, in the blue in the center, is our youngest sponsor child~ 12 years old. She and Ashley have had great bonding time this trip. So far, I haven't been able to get a photo of our 3rd sponsor child, Faith. Isn't Esther, and her smile, beautiful?

Ashley and Mokoi

I love this next picture~

One of the newer youngest residents of the little children's orphanage~

Ashley and Mokoi

Ashley's hand is on the bottom....so sweet.

Ashley teaching praise dance. The girl next to her is the missionary's daughter learning also. This is also a photo of the inside of the little Orbit Baptist Church.

Teaching Shout to the Lord

Teaching the little ones sign language to Jesus Loves Me~

The group sharing Shout to the Lord at the crusade

Ashley and Esther singing Shine Jesus Shine at the Crusade. Wow! Ashley has a gorgeous voice, but I can't believe *anyone* got her on stage to sing in public! : ) I am so proud of her!

Girls at "The Well", orphanage for young girls

Please pray for rain for Kenya. They are desperate for it.

July!

The "Year Of the Whirlwind" continues. : ) I have been absent so much lately, because, well....I've been absent from normal life. I'm really tired, and really ready to just stay at home for a while, without any drama. It has definitely been a month of drama!
Other than posting the HAIRSPRAY pictures, the last time I posted, I had been at Briana's opening night on June 25th, left on the 26th and gone home, turned around at midnight on the 27th, and gone back because Marissa, who had stayed there with my parents, was really sick. I had only planned on staying 2 nights to get her well, then come back. The day I was coming home was our 24th wedding anniversary. Well, things just didn't work out quite that way. That afternoon there was a crisis in my extended family, and in an hour's time, Marissa, Briana, and I had to leave. Briana was living with my parents, but we just packed up as much as we could. The three of us went to a hotel to figure out what we were going to do. The next morning, Briana and I decided that since she was planning to move into an apt. anyway, and because there was just too much emotion going on at the time, she would go ahead and find an apartment. I'll spare you all the details, but that day we found her an apt (me being SO thankful that James and I had done some preliminary searching!) Over the next 2 days, we got mattresses, the electric switched, and a WHOLE BUNCH of shopping for dishes, pots & pans, towels, sheets, the works. I ended up being here 6 nights, and it was an extremely stressful and emotional few days, because of the stress of the crisis and having to take care of all of this in a kind of emergency situation. But, the Lord gave me much peace and strength that I needed to get through the week. Troy (Briana's guy) was a big help bringing his dad's truck to pick up the mattress sets and helping us move them upstairs.
When I left her that week, the only thing she had here was kitchen stuff, 2 sets of mattresses and box springs lying on the floor, and towels. : ) It was also very difficult to leave her. She went overnight from being with family, even me coming to stay with her when my parents were out of town, to being in an apt. on her own. But, it was another place the Lord gave us peace, and we knew He had walked with us through it.
In spite of the stress and busyness of those few days, Briana, Marissa, and I had some fun times together. It was good for the 2 of them to spend time laughing and being silly together in the hotel, and it was just a good time for us in that respect. I think that time with the 3 of us together will always be special to me, because we bonded together, enjoying each others company and laughs, in the midst of chaos.
I went home for a week, then came back alone. I had already had tickets to go with Briana to see Troy in The Foreigner, so we did that, and did a lot more shopping here and the next town over. We were able to get her a dining set and a couch. I'm kind of getting my trips confused now, but I think that was when a few days later, James and the little girls came over for the day, and he brought her a great one year old washer/dryer set that we got for $300! After doing several loads that week at the laundromat, we quickly saw that it would pay for itself in 6 months, especially since water is included in the rent. Briana also bought herself a beautiful real wood sleigh bed at Big Lots for $300! It is queen size, and gorgeous.
Okay, let's see. I think I was at Bri's for 4 nights that time. I then went home and spent time with Ashley and helped her get ready for Kenya! She left on July 22nd! Tomorrow she will have been gone 2 weeks. She is having the time of her life, and I will post some pictures soon. Two more weeks to go, and I have a feeling she isn't going to want to leave. : ) When you see the pictures, you can see a pure joy and gleam in her eyes, that I'm not sure I've ever seen before.
I was home for almost 2 weeks, and, yep....I'm back at Briana's. With all the chaos of the first 2 weeks of the month here, I had to change my tickets to see her in HAIRSPRAY again, so those were Friday and Sat. I have also met and had dinner with Troy's parents and had lunch with his mom and some of her friends while I was here. James brought the little girls over Sunday night, and Monday afternoon they went to my parents' house to spend a few nights with them. James and I are headed home this afternoon, and will have a day and a half alone.
Well, for your sake, I will stop there. There is more. : ) But, those are the biggest events. There have been major lessons for us all this past month, and a lot of clinging to the Lord. I miss my younger girls, but the Lord has been taking care of that, too. They are learning things, too. I'm hoping to start blogging a little more often. I think I have just gotten out of the habit. I'll be popping around to your blogs catching up, too.

HAIRSPRAY

What a fun and fantastic show~ even if Briana wasn’t in it!  I’m going back for the 2nd time next Thursday, and I can’t wait. 
Good Morning Baltimore~
Briana is in the center in the beige trench coat…Don’t you love the wig?


Briana was one of the Nicest Kid’s in Town and a Counsel Member~which translated to she was in all almost all of the dances and was one of 8 that had the main dance parts. 
"Nicest Kids In Town"

Nicest Kids introducing themselves~ "Tammy"

With Corny Collins




"I Can Hear the Bells"
These girls popping up, ringing those bells, and the expressions on their faces is one of my favorite parts.  Briana is 2nd from the left in the back.


"Miss Baltimore Crabs"

"Run and Tell That"


The Sophomore Hair Hop

"The Madison"

"The Madison" ~ Feed the Monkey (Briana is on the far left.)

"It Takes Two"

"Welcome to the 60′s" 
Oh, my goodness.  These ladies have the most amazing voices!  And, the one on the left was a semi finalist in season 3 of American Idol.

"Welcome to the 60′s"
Briana is the tall one…different wig this scene.  You can’t really tell, but it is black and has a hot pink stripe across it. Those pink cateye glasses crack me up.


Scatter dodgeball scene.  Briana is on the right.


"Big Blonde and Beautiful"


"Big Blonde and Beautiful"  ~ Mother/Daughter dance

 
"Timeless to Me"


"I Know Where I’ve Been"
This was an amazing song.  It brought the house down opening night, and I think most performances.

"It’s Hairspray"  ~  Briana is on the left between the 2 guys…new dress, new, bigger wig! : )

"Cooties"

"You Can’t Stop the Beat" ~ Briana is toward the back in the center.  There were SO many people on stage in this song, we couldn’t get a good picture of her.


She’s in there somewhere!


Believe me, I really did restrain myself on the pictures!  LOL. 
Please pray for Ashley as she prepares to leave for Kenya on July 22nd! 

Our Family in Print

See a glimpse of our family's adoption story in the Summer Issue of TOS (The Old Schoolhouse) Magazine!!  It was fun to do.  Thank you Gena and Heidi!  Daniella says she's famous now. 

I have so much to update on!!!  This summer just keeps spinning.  I will post, I will post, I WILL post!!  I 'm dying to get the Hairspray pictures on here.  But, for now, I'm off to get ready.  I've been completely alone (except for the dogs and cat) all day today, and tonight I am going out to dinner with 2 friends. 

Trying Days With Joys Thrown In

Wow.  Where do I even start?  Last time I posted I was at my parents house on my birthday...June 15.  It is now June 28, and I have been back over here twice.  What a month....what a year. 
I did have a very good birthday cookout.  It only rained about 5 min., and we had fun.  It also gave us a chance to spend the afternoon with Troy and him with the whole family. 
Four and a half days after we got home from that visit, we went back to my parents'/ Briana's, which is a 2 hour drive.  James took pictures of Hairspray dress rehearsals (fun pictures coming soon!!) on Tues., and Wed. night.  Opening night was Thurs. night.  It was spectacular....and not just because my daughter was in it.  : )  On Wed., while Briana was in all day rehearsals, James and I went out and did some preleminary scouting for her an apt.  Mostly ruling some out based on location.   That is a little freaky.....finding my baby an apt. : )We were here that trip 3 nights.  My sister and 2 nieces from the other side of TN were also here visiting my parents, so we had a FULL house.  A 3 bedroom house with 11 people, 5 dogs, 2 cats, and an African Grey parrot.  Wow.  It was fun visiting, though.
We went back home Friday night.  Got home about 10:00!  Marissa stayed at my parents' to play with her cousins and stay to visit with her grandparents after they leave.  Well, the next night at 9:45, I hurriedly threw some things in the car, and unexpectedly set out once again to my parents' house, alone this time.  Marissa was running a high fever, had a sore throat, and was throwing up.  She needed her mama.  That was last night.  It was about 11:00 their time (midnight mine.....I changed time zones coming here)  when I got here, and she was back up and had just thrown up again.  It was  pretty long night, especially up until about 3:00 this morning.  She finally stopped throwing up then, but sleep was still fretful, since I was sleeping curled up in a living room chair.  Thankfully, I was able to take a nap today.  Marissa is doing better today, although still running a low grade temp.  I hope to be able to go home tomorrow afternoon (which will actually be today, I guess by the time I get this posted).  I guess she will still be staying here, which means James will still be making a trip to come back over here to pick her back up. 
I am currently still up because I am chapheroning Briana and Troy while they watch a movie. : )  Everyone else is in bed. 
I am hoping to make it home tomorrow because tomorrow....the 29th....James and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary.  I love him!!!  Our marriage gets so much better the further we go, and I am more in love with him than ever!
When I get back, guess what!  I will have 11 whole days to be at home before I come back.  Long story, but it's just a season.  I will be coming back alone again, and be here 9 days.  I think this season will slow down after Briana is in an apt. 
Okay.  I realized I didn't throw in the joys!  Spending time with Briana, spending time with Troy, spending time with my nieces,  a *wonderful* opening night for Briana (we laughed and had a ball), sitting beside the quiet lake in prayer and thought, seeing Briana so happy and doing what she loves, cleansing tears, good conversations and strengthening friendship with Ashley,  enjoying seeing Ashley prepare for all the exciting things coming up in her life and seeing her be blessed by people donating for her Kenya trip, a sweet time with Daniella before I had to leave last night, dancing to oldies in the car coming over here last night, and, yes, even holding Marissa's hair back and wiping her face down when she was sick last night.  The situation wasn't really a joy, but I felt so much love and pain for her.  I'm sure there are many others.  God has blessed me.
I also realized I didn't mention the greatest of the trying days, but that will have to wait for another post. 
I sure am hoping this movie is over soon!  : ) I'm not really chaperoning. Just up with them.

This and That

We are visiting our daughter Briana this week.  We came over on Friday, and Friday night James and I had dinner with her and Troy.  It was a really nice time.  On Sat. afternoon, I went alone to see them in Shenandoah.....which is where they met.  On Sunday,.....I went again  (sheepish grin) with Ashley.  Sunday was their final of 36 shows since it opened mid-March.  She was getting pretty tired of it these last few weeks, but was still, in some ways, sad it was over.  Of course, she is in full swing of Hairspray rehearsals.  She's 10 to 10 tomorrow, with an hour and a half break for lunch, and one for supper.  It's like that most of this week.
 
Troy and Briana in their Shenandoah costumes.

  Thankfully, she is off today.  She's off most Mondays unless it's tech week (next week).  Today is my birthday, so we're planning to go for a cookout this afternoon.  Unfortunately, there is a 50% chance of scattered storms this afternoon.  : (  I hope we don't get rained out!
   Ashley is still plugging away at her college history course, and she and I have been enjoying some fun times together.  It's funny how you can miss one so much, and yet be thankful for the opportunities it's giving you with another one.  Confusing emotions.  : ) 
Speaking of which, this letting go thing is just not easy.......learning to share them with others (especially a man! : ) ), and that they are spreading their wings in new, higher, different places, and learning from God what your new place in that is.........  I'm getting there....I think.....
I had hoped to go home Tues., which became Wed., which I find out now, is Thurs.  I enjoy visiting with Briana, but we're going to be seeing very little of her Tues.-Thurs. with her rehearsals.   And, we will be coming back 5 days later for James to take pictures at Hairspray dress rehearsals 2 nights, then the 3rd night we will go to the opening. 
Ashley is getting very excited about her Kenya trip.  If you are on Facebook, look up "Ashley's Going to Kenya!", and join her group to join us in prayer for the trip and team. 
The younger girls are doing good.  They are looking forward to coming back over next week again because 2 of their cousins will be here that week.  It's kind of a low key week for them this week.  Not much of their stuff here, their grandparents are out of town this week, we haven't been able to get swimming passes to the pool yet (hopefully today), and I've been gone a lot of the time we've been here.  They played Wii quite a while yesterday with their Daddy.  They're watching Animal Planet right now. We watch very little t.v., but I do let them watch some of the shows on there sometimes.  I tell you.....that little Daniella can remember every single detail about animals that she hears on that show.  Even when she has trouble comprehending and remembering other things, she can tell you word for word details about animals on a show she saw months ago.
Off to get pull everything together for our cookout.  Troy is joining us, and I'm looking forward to some fun family time.....please don't storm!

Changes

 Edit~ I am copying all of these old posts over from another blog site. This is quite entertaining. And, interesting to see where God has taken us since then......

Wow!  Where has the time gone?  The last couple of weeks have been full of changes, possible changes, discussions of changes, wondering about changes......   you get the picture.  Sending adult children off into the world is exciting, difficult, and full of all kinds of emotions.
Let's see.....I will start with Ashley, our 22 year old.  She is living at home still (YAY!!), and taking her courses in "Religion" online through Liberty Univ.  She's really struggling, and not having any peace about college right now.   She's praying for the Lord to fill her heart with HIS desires, and to show her whether it is good for her to continue, whether she should continue part time, or keep going like she is now.  She's not struggling with her classes.  So far, she's blown all of those away.   It's a struggle of whether this, at this time, is the right course for her life. 
Her mental plate (and, therefore, mine!) is full right now.  This week she is teaching music at our VBS, and loving it.  I don't know if I've said this here before, but she has been blessed this summer to fulfill a 11 or 12 year dream to go to Kenya.  The Lord really brought this whole trip together. She had been doing a lot of internet searching on what type of extended trip she wanted to do this summer, and nothing would ever come together or click.  Then, just like God, at the exact right moment, came this opportunity, and we knew it was time.  She will be going to Orbit, Kenya (20 or 30 min from Nairobi) for 3 weeks beginning July 28ish, with a missionary whom we have supported for about 11 years.  If you all remember the story I posted recently about her sponsor child there, who had been raped, had a baby girl whom she named Ashley, and then the baby recently died at one year old.......she will get to finally meet Mokoi this summer!  She is so very excited.  I think 1/2 the village is excited, too.  Because our family was the 2nd ones to ever sponsor a child in the village, the missionary, Cyndy, says that Ashley is literally a celebrity in the village.  ; )  So, this week, Ashley has been busy sending out fundraising letters, in between studying a monster U.S. History course (tons and tons and tons of reading) and VBS. 
Also, in the midst of this, the Lord has led us to check out some camp internships all across the U.S.  Ashley has a very strong desire to be a Christian Camp director, with the dream of one day owning her own camp, centered around horses.  We have dreamed together of lots of things it could include and expand upon, including church retreats, praise dance camps, hayrides, etc.  It has been fun to dream with her.  Somehow she stumbled upon an internship program in CA.  It is not the right one for her, but got us to thinking, praying, and researching.  I have a feeling that if not this winter, then definitely by next, she will be in one of these internships somewhere in the country.  The ones we have found are anywhere from 6 weeks to one or 2 years.  Six weeks is not near long enough, but she's not sure she's ready to move across country for a year, either.  So, we're just looking and praying for the one that is right for her.  I think it will be a tremendous opportunity for her, and very good for her. 
Next....Briana.   whew.  : )
If you remember I said about 3 or 4 weeks ago, that she and a guy friend of hers were going out as friends and seeing if there was anything stronger there.  Yep.  They are now officially a couple.  The Lord has given James and me great peace about their relationship, and we really like what we know about him so far.  Because they live 2 hours away, we had not been able to meet him, even though my parents had.  Yes, I've been dying to get back over there!!!  But, he has shown himself to be a friend and wonderful gentleman.  He's very artsy, which makes us smile.  Most of his life has been spent in Seattle, and he has lived in NYC for a while.  He is an actor, playwright, wonderful artist, singer, musician, comic...but, most of all a Christian, wants to serve God with his life, knows how to have serious and deep conversations, and did I mention, gentleman.  : )  Yesterday he (Troy) and Briana came over for the day to go to Dollywood...I had been able to get them free passes.   They had to come by the house to pick the tickets up.  Bless his heart!  I bet is was awfully overwhelming to be surrounded by the 6 of us!!  We only got to see them about 5 min., which was more than a little frustrating for me!  However, last night everyone was gone to VBS except me (the resident heathen. LOL) , and Troy and Briana, spur of the moment, came back over for supper before they headed back home.  It was so neat.  It was just the 3 of us, and they were here for almost 2 hours.  I loved getting to spend that quiet time with them.  So.....we shall see what the Lord has planned. 
We are going over to see Briana this Friday.  Shenandoah is in it's last week (36 shows total!), and Ashley and I are going to see the closing.  James and I are going out to dinner with Troy and Briana this weekend. 
Are you still with me??? 
A couple of weeks ago, we found out that Briana made Hairspay for the summer. YAY!!!  It's going to be fun, although, she's so tired right now.  If you've seen the show, she was cast as one of the 8 Counsel Members.  They are the main dancers on the Corny Collins show on the movie.  They dance up front and have extra parts, etc.  Today she told me that she is one of 5 of them who get to help out in the store during "Welcome to the 60's" when Tracy and Edna(?...the mom) are being all dressed up in their pink sparkly dresses.  I *cannot* wait to go see it.   Opening is June 25th, and we'll be there!!
Are you still with me????
Briana has also made the decision (with our blessing) that she is not coming back home after Hairspray ends Aug. 30, as originally planned.  She is going to be looking for a roommate/apt., possibly auditioning for the fall musical, depending on what it is, driving 45 min. to college and going part or full time  (depending on the musical) with a major in voice, and hopefully still taking one or 2 dance classes at the Playhouse. 
And, yes. This has all happened in the last 3 weeks.  Would you like to pray for me??!!  LOL.  One last thing, is that I am so incredibly thankful for my husband.  With all that has been going on, he has been such a blessing.  He has done most of anything that has been done with the younger girls the last couple of weeks.  My plate has been so full, and I am still struggling with not sleeping.  My body has become weary, and if he had not been here to pick up the slack, I'm not sure how I would have handled it. 
Hello????  is anyone still there?