@donmilleris

"our culture tells us conflict is bad and not supposed to happen, but they do happen, they're supposed to happen and a beautiful story can not be told without it. people who avoid conflict do not live beautiful or meaningful stories." - donald miller.

last night i was able to go meet and hear one of my favorite authors speak. he takes a perspective on being a believer that i really appreciate. i'm not saying he's got it figured out because he doesn't but i love what he has to say and his ability to communicate about God, life and our story.

here are some words from last night that i was able to write down and definitely got me thinking:

conflict serves us. it makes a story beautiful.

God intends for you to feel things you don't want to feel.

man exists to find meaning in a story. when he can't find meaning he numbs himself with pleasure.

meaning trumps pleasure.

when we are telling stories with our lives we are showing people what is worth living for.
abundant life isn't pleasure. it's living a life of meaning.


i realize this doesn't do his story justice.. but it's a good glimpse at what he has to say. i'm excited about reading his newest book

some thoughts on halloween.

I'd like to propose something to ponder. Would it be so bad if we toned down Halloween just a bit? I love Halloween for kids. I like the candy... in moderation. I'm an advocate for pumpkins, hay rides and fall festivals. But, Ivy and I have pin pointed a few things that make Halloween our least favorite day of the year.

-It has monopolized orange and black. I might want to wear that color scheme other times than October 31.
-It brings out the factors of obesity and lack of appreciation. What happened to the good old trick or treat, one candy rule and thanks? These days kids ring the door bell obsessively and grab as much candy as one fist can hold. Then, run off before you can take a look at their cute costume (one of the few redeeming qualities of the holiday).
-It's a total beating to come up with a creative costume. At the end of the beating, I resort to pulling out the blue prom dress and being Cinderella one more year. Ivy resorts to pulling out the overalls and being the country girl one more year.

-Apparently, it's the one day that is appropriate to walk around in public as a sexy nurse, playboy bunny or a woman firefighter in a bustier.
-Males find their one opportunity to show off their hot bod in spandex. Come on, no one wants to see that.
-The excess of chocolate candy gives Ivy headaches and well we all know how I feel about chocolate..
-The fake cob webs, gigantic spiders and blow up goblins are not cute in any front yard.

But let's be honest, come Saturday you'll see me in my glass slippers and Ivy in her cowboy boots.

worthy of a top ten.

this weekend deserves a top ten list. so here we go:

1.friends being in town.
2. campisi's pizza
3. corner market bakery for breakfast and society bakery cupcakes for dessert
4. the texas state fair
5. good football (which doesn't necessarily guarantee a win)
6. fried fair food (the triple f)
7. the biggest ferris wheel in the world
8. banana grams (a game everyone should know how to play)
9. skyping with friends in Boston and Hong Kong
10. perfect weather

hope.

Here is the shoe warehouse in Guatemala City. Our shoes for this trip were stuck in customs after being sent in June.. but because of the stock here in Guatemala all of the kids were able to have shoes in their size.



Brynn and I with our wonderful friends and translators: Jenny, Melissa and Francisco.



Meet my friend, Danny. He lives at the baby home in Guatemala City and loved playing with my hair.




This is Alejandra. She has the sweetest personality and talked and played with my camera the whole time we were at the baby home. This is her self portrait.





This is Brittney and her daughter Leslie. Brittney is 15 and has quite the life story. She and Leslie live at the single moms' home and are doing great. Leslie goes around saying "hola" and giving besitos (kisses).



Here is our team at the Buckner office in Guatemala City.



This has been on of the most incredible weeks. I have loved every second of it.. I can't wait to come back and love on these kids.

Zacapa and some Xela

Here are some pictures from Zacapa today and Xela yesterday. Sorry they are mixed in..
the picture of the triple bunk beds is my friend Nata showing me how proud he is of where he sleeps and his room.

brynn and i warming our hands over the fire inside on our way back from xela.. i didn't think i would ever get cold on this trip.. but it is winter here.

again.. sorry for these being short and sweet. just wanted you to see some of my favorites

we are back in guatemala city tonight and will be visiting the kids in the transition home tomorrow along with our closing dinner. how is this week almost over?

Antigua y Xela

So, due to spotty internet and being completely exhausted I am going to fill you in on yesterdeay and today. Yesterday we were in Antigua, Guatemala which is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The pictures are from Manchen which is a girls home there. These girls are mostly between the ages of 12 and 16 and if they don't already have a baby they are pregnant. They absolutely love people and more importantly need love and attention themselves. The pictures are me and Brynn with several of the girls and then me "babysitting" while his mom got a new pair of shoes. You should read blog.itsyourmission.com for an incredible description of what we saw and experienced yesterday.

Today in Xela, we went to two different orphanages. The first one was filled with over 100 kids and they were the most well behaved, appreciiative kids. They were so precious. Every single one of them was so proud of what little they had and wanted to show it off. Several of them were siblings and were able to all be together. Nata was a little boy that quickly became my favorite. I have a picture on my camera but not where I can post it. We connected and were able to carry a conversation.

Next we went to a home more in the middle of Xela that was full of so many eager and excited kids. My favorite part of the day was hearing about one of the groups that didn't have enough shoes to go around because there were some new kids. A boy named Vincint who had already gotten a new pair took them off and gave them to the new kid without hesitation. We ended up having extras so Vincint did get a new pair of shoes too.

More later.. we have to get up at 4am tomorrow to drive to Zecapa. I'm exausted but having a blast and LOVING every minute of it.

Guatemala City

Here we are! Affectionately called B1 and B2, B's, the blonds.. etc. Guatemala has been a blast so far. Our team is great and we are getting to see and spend time with some precious kids. Here is Brynn and I holding babies at Naranjito in Guatemala City.

Let's just say I'm thankful for high school Spanish and I love Guatemalan coffee.

It's so cool to see the love of Christ in the eyes of these kids. More later..