Getting the Word Out

Someone in Texas is really promoting my blog. Thank you Dallas!! I admire your interest and appreciate your enthusiasm. This helps explain the 102 countries that have visited my blog.

p.s. thanks Holly for sending me the photo and for making your hubby turn around to snap it

Bienvenido a Malawi

Okay, okay so it’s not exactly the Welcome to Miami, Will Smith song, but it’s close right? It starts with an M and ends with an I.

On a serious note, looks like I am going to make a second trip to Malawi, Africa. I really hadn’t planned on it, but a few weeks ago (after the cut off deadline for the trip mind you), I felt that God was telling me to go and really laid it on my heart, heavy. I didn’t tell anyone immediately, as I thought it was more me than God thinking this way. After a few days of going to sleep and waking up thinking of Malawi, I decided to contact our mission man at church. He told me that it wasn’t too late and that they would love to have me. I still wasn’t exactly sure, so I went to the first meeting this past Sunday to get an idea of what the team would be doing. By the end of the meeting, I was turning over my first check for the trip.

The trip is scheduled for July 15-31. Which if you keep up with soccer at all, you may realize that this is going to be a challenge for our travel as the world cup will be held in South Africa this July. Last year, we stopped in South Africa and stayed the night but because travel is so expensive (thanks world cup) we will probably end up with a European leg, likely going through London or Rome. With the present situation of the volcano erupting, that too, could cause costs to sky rocket since the airlines have lost a lot of money by keeping flights grounded. All this to say, our team needs your prayers to ensure we get the best tickets that are not expensive. If tickets are too expensive by the time we purchase them, the trip may be cancelled.

This is a very important trip, as the team that is going is mostly comprised of teachers and educators. In November 2009, the government closed down the Adziwa school (the ministry that we work with while in Malawi) along with 550 other Malawian schools. They cited that various standards were not being met by these schools. Because of the funds provided through our church (The People’s Church) sponsorship program, the Adziwa school was able to reopen as they were able to hire certified teachers. Currently, Adziwa has 1 school block and that was one of the reasons the government let them reopen. Work will begin on another school block as well as construction of an administration/ learning center building. The members of Adziwa has asked our church to help them focus this year on the development of their school. The team going in July will have teachers on it to observe and work with the teachers there to assess their needs going forward. The plan is for our teachers to develop a foundation on how teachers here can help with the training going forward. As you can see this is a very important task and the timing is perfect as July is summer break for the educators.

You may be thinking, Stephanie is not a teacher. While I did substitute, I will not be part of the teachers. We are one team, but we are multi purposed. In the team meeting, the group I will be a part of was referred to as the “others” which if you are a Lost fan like me, you might find that funny. However, the “others” will be doing business as usual. The mornings will be filled with prayer walking, meeting the families in the Adziwa program, and possibly construction. (Last year I only did one day of this and I am okay if that doesn’t happen again :) After lunch, our afternoons consisted of helping out with the children’s program, much like VBS, but every day all year round. This is really the fun part and the highlight of the day. Nothing is sweeter than sitting down and your lap being filled by 3 little kids. We sing songs, tell them a bible story and do a craft. Then, it’s all fun and games.

This year, I am not really asking for financial support as I know this is my second time to go and with the economy the way it is, I don’t think that would be fair of me. God has been so good to us through Damien losing his job and we are so blessed that he found a job in the timing that he did. I know that God wants us to use our blessings to bless others. However, I am asking for your prayer support. This trip cannot happen and be successful without the prayers of the people. Please pray for travel arrangements, for the details leading up to our departure, for the team’s health before, during and after the trip, for cohesiveness amongst the team and just plain ole’ God’s will to be done. Can you do that?

I am excited to be able to experience this amazing journey again and I look forward to sharing it with you. If you didn’t visit my blog that I did for my team last year, check it out. www.hisfaceoflove.blogspot.com As well, I will begin to post things on my blog from time to time. www.weavs.blogspot.com

If you would like to make a finical contribution to the trip whether it be for me or for the team. Feel free to contact me and I will get the information for you so it can be tax deductible.

Not to mention, I can't wait to see sweet Mikey...

Tickling the Ivories

Maybe we have a little child prodigy on our hands....

Okay, maybe he's not that good, but he definitely has an interest in the piano. Most children get on and just bang on the keys, but he gently tapped them and tried all different notes. He would go from one end of the piano all they way to the other end, come back and play in the middle. All while his face was lit up with smiles.

Here Dylan doesn't look to happy to be sharing his bench with cousins Tyler and Braylyn

Damien and I want Dylan to learn a musical instrument. I know Damien would love for it to be the piano, as that's what he would go back and learn, but I, I could be a drums or guitar girl. Although, I happy with whatever he chooses.

Thank you Easter Bunny...bock

I love what easter represents, a risen King, and I cant' wait for the day that I can share the true meaning of easter with Dylan and him totally get it. I love hearing kids talk about things and how it relates to the bible and just their innocence. Yesterday, in celebration station, we were watching a video on the resurrection egg and the first one had a donkey in it. A kid shouted out "like the one from Shrek". It made me chuckle, but hey, he was paying attention.

This year was the first year we gave Dylan an easter basket. While it was fun to get him a few things, we don't go all out on decorating or making the basket all cute with grass and eggs. I guess I am not that mom, but at least he got stuff in a basket. That I can get credit for.

He got Toy Story and Toy Story 2, as he's gotten really fond of Woody and Buzz lately due to the plate and bowl set my mom got him for Christmas. He also got a Plex kite (whom he loves) and sidewalk chalk. (notice piggie from his collection came to see his basket too)

At church, there was a cute table and I took the advantage for a photo op, however I didn't have my good camera, so the pics are kind of grainy. His friend Cole jumped in on some pics.

Later we went to my Grandmother's for lunch and the egg hunt. Dylan had lots of fun finding eggs and even got a prize egg with some cash.

stashing the cash

We even got to see Tyler. He just turned 4 in March and recently was tested for aptitude. He tested at a first grade level and was told that if he started first grade that he would do great. He's so smart. I loved seeing him. He doesn't remember Damien and I in that way anymore (makes me sad), but I know that's a good thing in the end.

Dylan and his many hats

Well, he doesn't have a lot of hats. He has a few hats, but he's recently got into wearing them for real. After seeing our neighbor in a hat and picking it off the ground to wear it. I thought it was time for his first real big boy hat, so I bought one for him. He doesn't wear it that often but when he does, he's super cute. He's getting bigger and bigger every day, I can't believe that he's going to be 2 next month.

First Comes Love

I don't think that our neighbor E and Dylan will ever really get married, but how sweet would it be if they actually did and this could be a picture on their invitations.

I told them to get together for a picture and E grabbed Dylan's hand. To say they were toddler sweethearts would be the cutest things well beside the cute little babies they would have. They play so well together while her older brothers play ball or at the creek. It's so sweet to hear her call him Gillynn.

Good News and ATL

To start off, I want to say a big YEA GOD! Damien got a job! Damien was hired on with MARS petcare and started this past Monday. When Damien first lost his job, MARS was always at the forefront of the job search. Their petcare division (pedigree and nutro to name a few lines) is headquartered 20 minutes from our house. We've only heard great things about the company, so we checked their job postings quite frequently. With the help of one of our neighbors, Damien got in for an interview. (It seems now and days you almost have to have an in, to even get an interview.) After several interviews, Damien was offered the job. Throughout everything, the lay off, the waiting and the offer, we have seen God's hand all over this. We are so thankful for the blessings that He has given to us during this time, and we look forward to the journey that is ahead. We give Him all the glory. I have to say that I am kind of jealous. He can take Turbo and Sophie to work (they have a little fence in area/park for the dogs to play, and not to mention the free candy. Yummm....M&Ms, snickers, 3 musketeers...oh my! I am so proud of Damien and his faith throughout all this.

For a little celebration and mini vacation, we decided to go to Atlanta for a long weekend. Damien's sister and her family live there, so we wanted to see them as well. This trip, we decided to do a little of the touristy things and visit the a few sites like the zoo and the World of Coca Cola museum.

I was really excited about the zoo. Dylan loves animals and again, our nashville zoo membership paid off...half price admission. Score! It's so worth getting a membership I tell you. We got into Birmingham's zoo for free with it as well. I asked Dylan what animal he wanted to see and he said the tiger. When we got to the zoo, there was a sign that read "Tigers temporarily off exhibit until summer" Good thing that Dylan doesn't really remember or care, not yet at least. We did get to see some other cool animals that Nashville zoo doesn't have like the rhino, lions, gorilla and kangroos to name a few. I could sit and watch the primates all day. They are always my favorite. Dylan even enjoyed the flamingos. Here he is doing his imitation of one.

Daddy and Dylan playing at the zoo's play ground

The following day, we went to the World of Coca-Cola. Coke is by far my favorite carbonate beverage. It's such a classic. It's such a classic, that I call everything a coke. Well I guess that's because I am from the south and it's not pop or soda. It's coke, but I love Coca Cola coke. I think we would have enjoyed the museum a little more if Dylan would have cooperated and let us read things and see everything. Oh well! At least we got to enjoy the taste testing room where we tried products from around the world. Asia was probably my favorite, followed by Africa...least favorite Latin America. You supposedly have to try the Beverly drink but it's disgusting, I don't recommend it. Stupid Italian drink..yuck. I still gag thinking about it.

one of the stations

To finish our tour, we stopped off to say hi to the polar bear. I was wondering how Dylan would respond to him, it could go good or bad. It went great!

He even hugged the polar bear bye which is awesome since he wouldn't even get close to the gorilla at the zoo who was on the other side of the glass.

As we left the museum, we were heading to get lunch and came across a special unit swat team. I don't know what was going down, but we didn't need to be there. Why is Martin Luther King's street always so bad. I mean he stood for peace, not violence...come on people.

We ate lunch at Varsity (you may have seen it featured on the Travel channel for a must place to eat). I think we ordered the wrong things as I wasn't impressed. The onion rings were good, but I think we were suppose to order the chili dogs, whoops.

Dylan and me with our hats (that he loves to wear, we grabbed a few extra)

That night, we went to our niece's talent show. Luckily her part was the 4th act and then the last one, so we ran out and got dinner in between. Dylan couldn't sit through 2 and a half hours of dancing and singing. Her grade did Thriller for the finale and she did great.

Taryn, on the right, doing her dance to Umbrella -ella -ella a a

Lastly, we couldn't say bye to the ATL without a trip to IKEA. I love that store! Then a quick stop at a park to let Dylan play before the drive back.

Fun with the family...Dylan tickling cousin Taylor's belly button

Pile up with Uncle Troy and cousin Taylor