Finding some hope through WATER

I'll be the first to admit it (and my hubby would be the first to back me up) that I am sensitive.  You know those quizzes that help you determine your personality, yep every time.  So it is no wonder that my emotions are just to much when it come to the great hardships in our world: poverty, injustice, persecution and most of all sexual abuse.  They can overtake me if thinking of them to much, as in assume the fetal position, balling, begging Jesus to return to bring an end to it. It all seems so big, and I'm so small and feel so insignificant in making a difference in the world.  I don't want to be callous to it and yet I do need to function in the role that I'm called.  To be honest, I don't know how to live in this tension, much less model it for my littles and help them as they develop to understand this.

My precious 6-year-old, my mini me, also shares in this sensitive quality.  Her age and position in life has shielded her from most of the world's tragedies.  However, she came home one day from school sharing how she learned that 400 people die a day in Kenya from not having clean water.  She repeated this to me defeatedly SEVERAL times that night, clearly in shock and not knowing how to process it.  

What do you say to a little wondering soul as you sit around a table eating a hot meal and enjoying endless clean water that from a source that is just feet away.  I validated her, noting how hard it was, how blessed we were.  I explained how with the business we partnered with a company that provided clean water, and every time someone bought a mug, that also provided clean water for a year for someone in need.  I talked about how maybe, as a family, we could come up with something to help.  At that point, though, she couldn't hear any of, she was to broken and just keep repeating how they were dying.  And it is true, they were and my heart hurt too!

It was a few days later, when I could tell that she had been processing on her own, attempting to brainstorm ways that she could send clean water for her birthday.  I knew that she was then ready and wanting to do something, but what, what could she do, what could I do.  The Lord brought to mind a friend who's husband works for a non-profit out of Charleston, Water Mission, and after contacting them found that there was an easy way that she could raise money online.  We could even visit the facility in the future and see how they operate, which would be fantastic and help leave even more of an impact on my littles!

What an opportunity!  I'm not sure what the end results will look like, but I'm excited in the difference that this can make to some in need, as well as the impression it will hopefully leave on my Littles' hearts and grow even more to be outward focused and look for chances to be able to step in. If your able to even read this, you have been given much, can you look for ways to serve as well? (If you want to check out Zoe's water page the link is below.  We set an seemingly impossible goal...because that's what our God likes to do!)

Zoe's Water Missions Page

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:48

Ezra's BIG 3 Birthday Celebration!

I've been not feeling well....and the new meds I was trying were really kicking my bootie....so Ezra's birthday was pretty low key.  

The day before he loved being able to help make his own dessert!  With as much as I'm in the kitchen (as I make almost everything from scratch),  I rarely have the energy to make anything "special" anymore.

So he was beyond excited to be able to participate in this activity (all by himself as his sister's were at school).

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The next day, on his actually birthday, I had a few surprises.  The kids love food art, so I threw together this little number.

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Then after we dropped sister off (and mommy went back home to retrieve her forgotten phone), we headed off on a date!

Ezra had never been to HiWire and he was ecstatic!  The little kid morning time was perfect!

He loved to climb to the top and slide down....so busy most of my pictures are blurry.

His favorite were the foam blocks....climbing throughout them....he is still working on getting that last finger down to show that he is three!

Crazy hair don't care as we had a great time!

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Then it was off to Chic-fa-la for a little snack.

He was not thrilled that it was to hot...but changed his attitude after playing on the playground and allowing it to cool off!

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That night it was his requested meal = shrimp, macaroni and cheese & cucumbers!

And of course for desert the brownies that we made!

Even through the simplicity, it was a crowd pleaser!  (Mommy even had to sneak a bite - despite it not being gluten free).

Then it was time to open presents, a long anticipated event.  Having recently seen his cousin's, aunt's and sister's birthday it was hard for his little mind to understand not having any himself.

Zoe was excited to give him the gift she had gotten him ...

and the card she had made.

Even though it was just us, he had some gifts from friends...

which he was beyond thrilled to get!

Zoe was, also, excited to take pictures with Ezra throughout the evening...

and read him his card.

He was just as thrilled with his bike, as I knew he would be!  So thankful for that little face!

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When having dinner at Grammy's and Poppy's house that week, there was more celebration time.

Being the youngest of 5 cousins, and the only boy, he ate up the attention.

The black bean road brownies that aunt Lauren made were a hit!

He then got a few more things to open!

And thankfully some needed clothes!

Happy Big 3 Ez-e!  You are truly treasured and I can't imagine life without ya!

Shiloh's BIRTHday celebrations!

We had been counting down this day for sometime!  Shiloh's BIRTHday, complete with cinnamon roll candle for breakfast!

She adored the simple decorations I was able to put up the night before and the attention of being sung too.

I was able to come to her class to bring their snack for the day, homemade power bars that we made together!

Then Poppy came by and surprised them with a Frosty!

Her requested dinner: "Pizza", kale chips, cucumbers and strawberries.

After I read her birth story to her, it was time to open presents!

Zoe read her the cards, 

and was excited about the one that she gave her.

Zoe was beyond trilled for Shiloh to open her gift that she had bought her, a cute little light!  (When asked later that night about her favorite present, this was it!)

We had a couple of other random surprise that were a hit!

With perfect timing, a friend was giving away their hermit crabs and the girls couldn't be more thrilled in getting their own pets!

Grandma and Grandpa's singing frozen card was captivating!

Our big surprise (for all the kids) was a lemonade stand that was hiding at the roaster.  They had been talking about having a stand to sell lemonade (and coffee) for awhile now.

Beach's entrepreneurship spirit wanted to fulfill their dreams and found this adorable stand that would get some more love in this family!

Afterwords there was much discussion on the best way to proceed with the stand and what they needed.

The girls were so adorable in thinking through all the details.

It was a special day indeed celebrating our adorable middle!

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 We didn't have an official party (we are taking a trip again for all the kids birthdays) but did have treats and presents during our weekly visit to my parent's house.

  
Shiloh helped Aunt Lauren and Uncle William make the cupcakes earlier that day!

  I would say Ezra was a fan as well!

  

  Presents and card reading!

 Clearly dad was having a good time (I wonder where I get my animation from)!

 You sure are LOVED Shiloh Ann Loveland - my big 5-year-old!