Hmmmm....Life is so bazar. I have been thinking a lot about a quote from Joyce Meyers that Kim used to have up on the fridge. It said," you can be pitiful or you can be powerful but you can't be both." I keep trying to be both. The scared girl inside me wants to be pitiful and have Mark, friends, family, God...anyone really... save the day so I can feel rescued, pursued, and loved. But the Mom in me wants to be powerful so I can protect my children, so they feel safe and loved. I want to be a strong example to them and others. And I have a deep desire to help others.
God has been drawing my attention again and again to the little boy I support through Compassion International. We have supported him for 4 years now. His name is Samuel and he has several siblings. He is 9 and is in 3rd grade. His father has died and his mother works as an assistant Mason. He lives in Dire Dawa in Ethiopia. Most adults there earn only $10 a month! Where he lives 50% of people are Muslim and about 40% are dif. variations of Christian. 50% of men can read and only 35% if women. Most families live in houses with dirt floors and tin roofs. Only 11% of the rural population has decent drinking water. 23% of the population lives below $1 a day. 5 years agon 1 and a half million people there were infected with Aids.
Lately when things are hard I can not help but think of Samuels mother. I wonder how challenging life is for her. Mark and I are having a hard time with money for sure but when I see how little she makes and how if I try to be more disiplined the little I have could honestly change her familys life. I think how could I not do that!? How can I not help Samuels mother? If that were me I would want someone to say," I see you. I care about your hardships. I care about your children! I want to help you." I have been writing Samuel and I tell him to let his Mother know I pray for her. And the past 2 months I have been able to send their family additional support outside of my sponsorship. With the additional support (as little as $10 extra) it can make a huge difference. I hope it dosen't sound like I'm saying this to pat myself on the back because I don't mean that. The thing of it is...this is what makes me feel powerful. It gives me some encouragement to be a better Mom to the kids I have. It brings me joy and that makes me stronger.
Owen is trying very hard to crawl! I think we will be in the next 2 weeks. (but I could be wrong) He gets up on his hands and kness and can scoot forward and backwards.
He has started doing this funny tounge curl thing ALL the time!
The camera was dirty here. =) Sorry! This was his first rice cereal experience. He didn't like it to much but was curious enough to give it a try!
Here Owen is with his Uncle Jason and Uncle Noah. Jason, Noah, and Joey took Mal to see Bolt Saturday. Owen stayed with me but I was sure to get a picture. =)
