If You Have a Daughter...

.....then I highly recommend this book - "Women of the Bible" by Spangler/Syswerda. About a year ago, my 7 year old and I started this book together. Now, we are on our last few women, and I look back and realize what a blessing it has been - for both of us.


We read one woman at a time and discuss so many different things....what a vocabulary word meant (it's not designed for children, so I have to stop and discuss quite often!).....why many women in the Bible make bad decisions.....what Godly quality some women possess.....and it's been a refresher course for me, too.

I absolutely am challenged by the widow of Zaraphath - what rational mind would give away their last meal before death by poverty & starvation to a complete stranger? Unbelievable faith and the absolute mark of true obedience.

The widow with two coins. Again - a woman in utter poverty giving all she had out of obedience and faith - giving sacrificially, not just giving a sliver out of abundance.

And Dorcas, (yes, I, too, laughed along with Grace when I introduced that night's reading subject ; ) - a woman who lived a life for Christ. Doing the practical, helpful things she could while here on earth, until she one day would be with the Lord she served.

Obedient, sacrificial living....... shared with my first daughter.

I Hate to Say This....

....but sometimes you gotta know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em (Kenny Rogers, you were so right!).

I overestimated myself.

Having the "hobby" of furniture refinishing is one thing. Taking on being a dealer at Winnie & Tulula's....as wonderful as it is......is another. I'm sinking......sinking fast. 6 months ago, the spring was dwindling into summer. Free time galore for me. Lots of time to pick interesting items and refinish oodles of furniture....all was sold quickly (sometimes too quick!)....but I had the time to replenish.

I always wondered how I would do when "real school" began. Well, it's begun....and I've stunk. I haven't had time to refinish anything, much less shop for the interesting items to fill my space. My "presence" at my booth has been lackluster. I'm sad about it, but it also has helped me think deeper about the purpose of "Goin' with the Flo".

I haven't made any final decisions yet, but I know this....."Goin' with the Flo" began with humble aspirations of selling just one piece. It then transcended from selling that one piece to several pieces....then I had over 100 followers encouraging each piece finished. I love that. I don't want to quit that. But I do want to find the best way that I can do what I do, with the time that I have, with the capacity of the many roles I play (wife, mother, teacher) - and do it well.

These two precious pumpkins deserve that.

We'll see what comes of all this "thinkin".......

"My American Mother"

It's 5:15 am in Uganda. It's 9:30 pm here. Right about now, the Muslim call to worship would be sounding over the town speakers.....the roosters would be crowing.....a baby would be crying in one of the nearby slum villages. My friend, Emmanuel, just 15, would be waking in his children's home - the only home he's known. He would start his morning prayer and then get ready to ride in the back of an open truck to his school.

I know this because I saw it. I heard it. And from what my friend Emmanuel says, it's what he does everyday.....and has done everyday....since he came to live at Canaan Children's Home.

"Kisses from Katie" has stirred my mind. It's brought back the severe memories of poverty. Of dirt floored homes and babies with distended bellies. Of bare feet and fevered malaria. It also has brought to mind the beautiful smiles and gorgeous worship. Of reliance on God. Of the rawness that comes with no distractions.

It also has brought to mind "help the one in front of you." - which is Katie's motto, if you will.

Lately, I've messaged back and forth on, yes, Facebook, with Emmanuel a few, short times. I have NO idea how he found me, but he did. I have no idea how he has access to FB, but he does. And I have NO idea why he chooses to say things like, "God bless you" and "I am great you are my American mother thanks". (Bless me???) He's an amazing kid.....

I've also been thinking alot about Charlie. A baby boy at an American orphanage in Uganda. He's in the video below (in the yellow diaper and shoes!). A doll. I couldn't stand to leave him that day. I remember peeking into the window of the home, for one last look at him, before we left.....






I am longing to find the answers to my thoughts. They never end. Especially on weeks like this one, where, try my best, teaching just gets harder and harder. Not because of the kiddos, but because of the true lack of good parenting going on in our country. I'm not sure which is better - to be orphaned or to be raised in complete homelife disarray.

.......answers to the thoughts, please? I need to dive in the Word.

Red Dirt

I'm one chapter into this book by Katie Davis of Amazima Ministries and I'm spent. If any of you don't know, this young woman at the age of 18, took a trip to Uganda and it overhauled her life as she knew it. She now lives there permanently, with 14 adopted children of her own, and runs a feeding program that feeds thousands daily and sends hundreds to school.

I saw her while I was in Uganda. I was at the local internet cafe in Jinja.....taking an hour break from playing with children (much needed), and all the sudden, in she walks with one of her daughters. Fresh off a run (here I was scared to walk the streets and she was out for a jog...shame on me), she came in to visit some friends. Not wanting attention, she didn't stay long. I don't blame her. I was a little starstruck....

I watched as she got into her white, 16 passenger van and drove off like it was nothing. Not afraid of the crazy traffic. At ease in this country where I was so not-at-ease.....and then later, when we visited her feeding program. It seemed so simple.

Her book has already hit me with lines like,
"I am living in the midst of uncertainty and risk....because I am running from things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort and ignorance."
"My heart found its joy as I served the beautiful people the world calls 'poor' but who seemed so rich in love to me."
Already, as she reflects on her love for the 'red dirt' of Africa, I think about the red dirt that is still packed into the bottom of my shoes that I took. The red dirt of a place that I know little about, but forever impacted my heart. Will I walk the red dirt again.....this year? Next?
I don't know. But I do know God's call on Katie's life isn't too different from the call on ours.....to help and serve "the least of these".

This Is Fall ....

My favorite season.

My Sweet Girls Outside (not saying, "It's hhhooootttt.")

Decorating Their Pumkins.

The Friendly Scarecrow.

I love this time.