You wonder how God decides who goes where?  Why was I lucky enough to be born in the US instead of Africa?  Why did He choose hardworking intelligent parents for me?

Since my first trip to Africa 4 years ago, I have wondered about the privilege of birthplace.  Of course, since African people don’t know anything else, I am not sure that they feel unlucky.  There are lots of Americans who don’t realize how lucky they are since the have never seen how other countries live (and CNN doesn’t count!!!)

Now after visiting the home of my recent foster children, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be born to parents who don’t hold down jobs, or try to further their education.  Although I hope these little guys will have a life that is much better than what they have now; since their parents are continuing the cycle of poverty and neglect, I am not sure that they will be able to do much better.  I guess as long as they are happy with their life, who am I to judge!

The sad thing is that whether in Africa or right here in Texas, poverty exists, so I need to be grateful that God chose something different for me.  I guess I need to be more thankful for what I  have and to do my best to help my neighbors, near and far!!!

This weekend was so much fun–crazy but fun!!  We had our 3 foster boys, 2 1/2, 18 months, and 3 weeks as well as our friends 2 girls–4 years and 16 months!!  The big “aha moment” was when we realized how easy normal children are to be with and take care of; while children with lots of problems, like two of our foster children, are not real easy to take care of.  I thought that they were hard because we were old and a little more cranky but it turns out that our being old had nothing to do with how difficult these two guys were.

The beautiful part of the weekend was when we arrived early for church and all three of my terrific boys were right there with us!  A great mother’s day treat!!  Afterwards, Wray and I took all 8 children to eat at Uncle Julios!!  Good times, great food and even better company!

I am going to be a grandmother!!!  Josh and Mindy have been married for almost 6 years, and they finally decided to become parents!! Praise the Lord!!

I am going to be a really good good good grandmother!  But I am going to give everyone fair warning — I may be a little obnoxious about my grandbaby!!  I think I have the greatest boys in the world so I am sure they are going to give me the greatest grandbabies in the world!!!

Check out my grandbaby’s picture!!!!  There will be lots more to come!!

Baby Rives

I spent the weekend with over  200 women on a woman’s retreat with Irving Bible Church.  It’s been a looooong time since I have been on a retreat!  I had a great time with my friend Carolyn – we talked, laughed, shopped, ate, talked, laughed, prayed, ate, and then we talked, laughed and ate!!!  We met lots of really neat ladies!  Our friends Marcie & Gloria went with us until noon on Saturday, it was fun to get to spend time with them.  We met some terrific 21 year old girls–they included us in all they did which was nice (I am trying to get one for a daughter in law and I would like to hire the other for the preschool),

Our subject this weekend was being in community with God and with other friends.  We talked a lot about how in America we don’t really encourage intimacy with lots of people because of our life style.  We live in individual houses in neighborhoods that have walls, houses that have fences, where we usually go in our back door without seeing anyone.  In contrast to women in Africa who work, eat, and socialize together surrounded by their children in neighborhoods where everyone lives together.  Our modernization and mobility are deterrents to being involved and having deep relationships with not only friends but also family!

It’s time for me to change that in my life — I’m looking for friends who want to be open, honest, and real in my life!  Let’s do lunch and soon!

Okay so we did trap the raccoon!  The bad news is that he was able to get out of the trap—the good news is that he hasn’t come back!  He is one smart raccoon.  See I already knew that raccoons were smart because I am a huge fan of Where the Red Fern Grows!!  In the book and the movie the raccoons are really smart, and now I know personally that they are!

I guess I am really glad it got out.  I would hate to think that I was responsible for the execution of a hungry little raccoon, and I’m not sure that Wray wasn’t going to grab the cage and rush out into the woods with it!  We like to think of ourselves as wildlife relocators!!!

How sad that my life is consumed with capturing a raccoon!!  He is still on the loose, only visiting at night to finish off the dog food!  We got a trap from the city, but of course we couldn’t set it over the weekend, because they don’t pick up on the weekends and it would be cruel and unusual punishment to keep him in his cage for days before they take him to be euthanized!!!!!!!

Wray, camera ready, has tried to capture our new friend on film so I could  post his beautiful face for all to see, but it’s hard to get him to smile for the camera!  Tonight we are pulling out the stops – we are opening a new can of dog food to put in the cage instead of  just a little dry stuff — keep your fingers crossed!

Our dog, Charli, has been going nuts for the last couple of nights!!  We finally started locking her in the kitchen to keep her from running around at night or going crazy barking—okay so two nights ago, I awoke to hear barking and “something” growling at her!!!  I knew we had a new guest, but wasn’t exactly sure what our new friend was!  At 3 a.m. this morning the motion detector light went on, and I saw a very LARGE raccoon helping itself to Charli’s food!!  I banged on the window, but it really didn’t take it’s leave until Wray opened the door!

I am going to call animal control for a trap so we can try to get a good nights sleep here!!!

I was just wondering how God chose the people that He was going to give special needs children to?!?  I think He must have decided on those folks with tons of patience, love, determination, and perseverance!  I have been blessed by the presence of several parents of special needs children lately—oh how I admire them!

I know it seems like I have dropped off the face of the blogging earth, or perhaps after my post about my new foster kids you thought  I had finally lost my mind!  My two new guys are doing better — they still have a long way to go, but they are adjusting!  It’s tough when you go from no rules to a tyrants house–I feel like a tyrant because  I have to say” no” a lot!  They are both so cute and fun–it’s going to be great having little ones in the house for Easter!  Bring on the bunny!!!  I wish I could post pictures, but we are bound by that whole privacy thing.

They had a new baby sister born this week, but the judge decided that she would stay with her mother.  I don’t think I will ever understand the court system –and sometimes I wonder how judges who never meet these kids are able to make decisions concerning their future.  I understand they are listening to the evidence — but perhaps they should meet the kids before they dish out their decisions!  Maybe someday I will get the opportunity to ask one of them how they do it and still sleep at night.

In just 4 short months I will be on an airplane headed back to Zambia—YAHOO!!!!  I am going earlier this year than in the past because Josh and Mindy will be spending 8 weeks there and I want to be there when they are.  The best thing is that Mindy’s  mom is going this year — it will be so much fun with her!  She has never been to Zambia–I bet God has great things in store for her.

One of the great things I will be doing this year is going on a Father’s Heart trip!  I will get to go and visit the home  of the girl that I sponsor–sweet Miriam, and I’m going to go to Agness’ home also–the school sponsors her!  I can’t wait to see “my girls”!

The Tree of Life Village will have changed a lot too–the new school should be just about open and I can’t wait to see it!  I am hoping to take some supplies for the school!

There is still room for people to sign up–if you’ve ever wanted to go to Africa, this is the best and most awesome way to get there.  God is going to be doing great things in Zambia — don’t you want to join Him?!