I'm leaving on a jet plane

Today is the day the 2013 South Africa journey begins.

On Sunday evening we'll arrive at the Ten Thousand Homes property. I'm looking forward to hugging some necks!


Here are some blogs that have ties with Ten Thousand Homes.

KNOWN
Hearts For South Africa
i believe in love
A Journey of Hope

I suggest you check them out to learn more about what's happening in their neck of the woods.

What will I be doing there? I'll be working with the team at the feeding programs and teaching at the Compassion Discipleship School and whatever else comes up.

And, now, I'm trying to get excited about a really LOOOOOOONG flight or two.

What Prompts and Guides You To Serve Others?

I can't tell you exactly when Matthew 25 jumped out and grabbed me by the throat. I just know it did. It's a group of verses that, if you grew up in church, you've heard your entire life. But, for me, at some point it came alive. It stopped being just a group of verses found in the book of Matthew.


And, now that it has me by the throat, I'm not sure how anyone can casually read it, which is judgmental of me, I know.

If you want to see it in something besides the King's English:
"...I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me." The Message.

There are so many different ways to do the above. Even if you live in a remote place with only the internet to keep you company you can participate in doing some of the above. Compassion International is only a click away. Look at all of those faces needing someone to "feed" them. Compassion does a lot more beyond providing physical food.

If you are looking for something to do in the DFW area let me know. There are plenty of places and ways to help.

Another verse that is almost constantly on my mind is Micah 6:8. I love it so much I made my daughter marry a guy named Micah. Not really. She did that all on her own.

He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple:  Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.

Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly. I repeat that in my head...often. Especially the walk humbly part. Especially when those judgmental thoughts start pushing in.

Check out what prompts and guides others:

Prior to this I didn't know...

I stumbled across this amazing blog called Prior. It is soooo cool. And what really freaked me out was it is my cousin's blog. I didn't even know she had a blog! I love it! Her work is beautiful. I knew I was out of the loop on a lot of stuff, but apparently I didn't even know there was a loop. So, if you love really creative, fun, unique, one of a kind type of decorating, you will really like Lezlee's site.

Carmel Camels and Green Maggots

After three weeks needing to be away doing other things I was back out at Coventry on Thursday. It was delightful. As much as I love Coventry, I didn't miss it because I was exactly where I needed to be, doing what I needed to do. But, Wednesday I was chompin' at the bit to get there.

I guess being away made it easier to see how some of the Stars have grown over the past three weeks. The growth is subtle and being gone for almost a month made it really stand out to me. Sort of like when you don't notice how much your children have grown until you're away for a week. Not like the times they shoot up over night and you realize the shoes you just purchased for them last week will no longer fit.

It still amazes me how much they love and watch out for each other. They know what everyone is working on, such as focusing or sitting up straight in their wheel chair or strengthening the right side of their body and brain. Stuff like that. So they do a good job of gently reminding and cheering each other on. It is beautiful to watch.

Yesterday I hung out in glazing which was new for me. The staff is trying out new things, so everyone had different assignments and station arrangements. I loved being in glazing, but then again, I love anything I do out there. We renamed two of the glazes. One was Oriental Carmel. I thought it said Oriental Camel, which to me made more sense than Oriental Carmel. But, by the end of the day I was calling it Carmel Camel. Then there was Green Agate. Nelda accidentally called it Green Maggot. And it was all over. That is what it will be from now on.

I'm In Love

A couple of years ago my friend, Sherri, told me about Coventry and how amazing it is. I was intrigued, but not at a place where I could check it out.

A couple of weeks ago she called to tell me they were in need of volunteers and thought I would be a good fit. So, I made an appointment with Darlene for Tuesday and checked the place out while they checked me out.

I walked in and was immediately blown away by the atmosphere. Peace and love are palatable. Sherri said people say "God lives here." I believe it. The physical space is beautiful, soothing, and fun. I immediately relaxed physically and mentally. The Holy Spirit's presence engulfs Coventry. All that happened in a matter of seconds. No one had even had a chance to speak to me. People started speaking and it just got better. I drove away saying, "I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love."

Now, my dear couple of readers, I will try to explain Coventry. 'Cause I passed inspection and they're letting me volunteer! I feel so honored. Really, this place will blow your mind! It has mine.

Coventry's vision is to create a beautiful, Christ-centered community where adults with special needs can experience life to the fullest as long as they live.

Coventry's mission is to make a difference in the lives of adults with functional disabilities by providing life enrichment opportunities and encouraging them to use their God-given abilities as they work, learn and socialize in a safe and cheerful environment.

Coventry is a day program that provides life enrichment opportunities for adults with special needs. Activities and therapies are offered to promote and assist them in continuing to learn and stay active intellectually, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. We believe that adults with disabilities are capable of living a very full, active and productive life when provided with appropriate and consistent positive reinforcement and opportunity.

And, boy, do they pull it off! Love and respect oozes everywhere. There is laughter and learning all day.

Yesterday was my first day. Wow!

My new friend is Gretta. She is a lovely little lady five years my junior. Her frame is tiny. Jeffrey calls her "Little Angel" and is always checking to make sure she is doing okay. Even though she doesn't speak (yet), everyone includes her in their conversations. It is beautiful to watch. They make sure her legs are straight so the blood can flow properly and make her straighten them even when she doesn't want to, because they know it is best for her health. She is their princess, but they don't spoil her.

I get to help her through the day. Yesterday we glazed four star ornaments. Her body wants to be in a tight little ball, so she works hard on stretching out her limbs and hands. I assist her with hand over hand. We also made thirteen angel ornaments. It was exciting! She was able to reach out and grasp the mallet three times by herself! Her strength isn't where she can pound on the cookie cutter by herself (yet), but she tries. She was so happy about her thirteen angels. While we rested between each angel, Gretta would reach for my hand and tuck it in close to her body, then lean her elbow on my shoulder and gaze into my eyes. They said she was testing me to see if she could trust me. I think I passed. I would be heartbroken if I didn't.

The participants at Coventry love each other so much. They are kind and respectful to each other and have a deep interest in how everyone is doing. It forced me to be pro-actively polite. There is no doubt I'm going to be learning a lot from this remarkable group of people.

I told Darlene at the end of the day that I felt as if I had been in therapy. Really good, spirit lifting, Christ centered therapy. I'm so excited about next week. Can't wait!

23 Years Today

And we still like each other - most of the time.

...it seems like those closest to understanding the Kingdom of God are those that go unnoticed, unappreciated, and unapplauded

Aaron Ivey has posted a great blog today. And his photos are so crisp and clear. I find them captivating.

We buried my cousin yesterday

She had just turned 47. Feeling horrible from a headache, Tammy drove herself to the emergency room. Entering, she collapsed and died. It turns out that she had a heart defect that she was probably born with. The doctor said there would have been no symptoms. She left behind a husband, son, daughter, and granddaughter. And lots and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

We grew up in the same small East Texas town. The kind where everyone knows everybody. The funeral home was packed beyond capacity. Every possible space was used for overflow. My father's parents had 29 grandchildren. We have gone on to produce a huge number. Tammy was my oldest first cousin's first child. She beat her twin, Tim, by a few minutes. So the family took its fair share of the seats, but many classmates and townspeople filled the place. I saw people that I thought were old when I was a child.

This is the first time I have lost a cousin so close to my age. Maybe that is why it has been so hard. It has hung with me almost every minute since my sister called last Wednesday afternoon with the news. Tammy was a spitfire. She was more than happy to tell you exactly what she thought. She and her siblings were extremely close. Knowing that they were hurting and then witnessing it was horrific. My dad conducted the service. It wasn't his first time to bury a niece or nephew, but that doesn't make it any easier. He did a great job while displaying the sense of humor that keeps our huge family semi-sane.

At the viewing on Saturday night, my youngest son saw a boy and made the comment, "That boy in the green shirt looks suspiciously like me." I asked my mom who it was because he had walked further on and I couldn't see him well in the street light. The funeral home had been packed for the viewing and I hadn't noticed a kid in a green shirt. Mom said it was Tricia's (Tammy's sister) son. I told Clay that the reason they looked suspiciously alike was because they were cousins and it must be the Sapp genes flowing through them. What is weird is that they are fourth cousins and they do look alike.

So, our family will continue on. We will have more painful days. Many of us recognize Who is in control and that keeps us going. That makes our crazy family strong. That is why we can go for a long time and not see each other and yet take up where we left off as if we saw each other every day. Of course, many do still live in the small East Texas town or have found their way back over the years. They let us come back to visit from time to time and don't hold our desertion against us.

My cousin is gone, but she is remembered with love by a huge mess of people.

Brother, I'm Dying

Picked up the latest copy of Paste and found a review (by Desa Philadelphia) of Edwidge Danticat's new book, Brother, I'm Dying. It is the story of her uncle, a pastor, who was driven into hiding in Haiti because of police and gang battles and then died alone in a U.S. detention center. And it is the story of her father. Both men lovingly impacted her life.

I think I want to check it out. What about you?

So you've had a bad day...

going through the blogs I like to read everyday I came across this one. can you imagine dealing with these situations and people every day? i thought my stress level was stressed when I was teaching school. that was a walk in a big, beautiful national park compared to this. read her blog. and if you can, think of a way to help one or more of these children.