Are U Ready 4 This?

I'M GOING TO CAMBODIA!!!

(Now's where you can picture me squealing like a little girl jumping up and down!)

I was talking to Trish about the trip the other night and I felt the anointing fall and I just knew I was supposed to go. I still asked people's opinions, but I was about 90% sure I was going. I talked to Aaron and he said I could go -- 95% sure now. I asked Brandon and he didn't have any objections -- 100% sure I'm going!! ;)

Last night we had our first meeting to talk about what we're going to do. Looks like we'll be building a fence -- not like our American fences either. This guy has 7 acres (I think) of land and he wants a security fence all the way around it. Now, we won't be responsible for building the whole thing, but that's what it looks like we'll be working on right now. This fence is a brick fence -- masonry work! But, that's ok with me. I'm not afraid to get dirty and I can surely learn how to do that.

There are some cultural things that I have to learn -- like you don't touch them on the head. How many kids do I touch on the head every week?! (If you've seen Grand Torino, that's in the movie.) It's just a habit! They did say that I'll probably lose 10 pounds while I'm over there -- BONUS! We are going to get to do some "touristy" things so it's not all work and no play. Right now, it's Wayne (from Fountaingate), Dr. J, Joel, Trish, & me. There's one more guy that might go. . . still waiting on the final word.

You can check out the website at Cambodian Hope Organization. Now it's time to sit back and let go of control of the details and let God work it all out.

I am so excited!!!

To Go or Not To Go?

I was invited this week to go on a mission trip to Cambodia in March. It would be March 15th through the 25th. I've been excited about this trip since I first heard about it, although I wasn't going to be allowed to go at first. They are building a fence for an orphanage and I wasn't "fence-building-worthy" or something.

Anyway last week, Joel called and invited me to go. I have never been out of the country. I have never been on a mission trip -- well, I went to St. Louis once to help build a church, but I don't necessarily consider that a "mission trip".

I can hardly sleep because I'm excited at the thought of going. I think about all of the things I could learn. I think about being able to get off of a plane in a different place -- a foreign place. I think about knowing that I made a difference to orphan boys and girls by the simple act of building a fence.

On the other hand, there's the $3000 it's going to take to go. Not a lot, really. . . I mean, in the grand scheme of things. I don't have $3000, but I'm learning that money is no object. The trip is 10 days, so there are kid issues -- who will take care of them? I'll miss Payton's birthday and our anniversary. . . again, in the grand scheme of things, not a big deal. I'm the only girl going at this point, which doesn't really bother me, but you know how that is. I'm just hoping that Trish gets to go, too.

So, now I'm just trying to decide if I'm supposed to go or not. . . that I'm not sure yet.

Friday was a bad day . . . not going in to it on here, but just a bad day. Until Aaron came home from work. I was repairing a dresser in Payton's room getting it ready for Craigslist. He came in and asked me what I was doing. I was a little frustrated by this point.

Then, I hear Aaron's phone ring and ring. He didn't answer. I couldn't figure out why. It rang again and again. Aaron came back in Payton's room in a hurry and he left again. This time, it rang twice before I looked up wondering why in the world Aaron would leave his phone in Payton's room. Then, I saw it:

AN IPHONE WITH A PINK COVER!!

Now, I'm usually not a tech-junkie. Got an ipod for Christmas last year and wasn't sure I would use it. (I do, by the way). But, I've been wanting one of these phones probably since soon after Aaron got his.

This thing has been so handy! My kids are mad because I don't want to put any games on it and I hate when they touch it. But, tonight I had to go to the store and buy green beans for a meal tomorrow and I'm supposed to bring 1 gallon of green beans. I get to the store and they are in 28 oz cans. So, how many ounces are in a gallon? I pulled out my handy iphone and was able to look it up online!! There are 128 ounces in a gallon (just in case you ever need to know).

Other good news is that I now have unlimited texting. Now you can send me all the "Merry Christmas" messages that you want! They're free!!

Don't I have the most amazing husband in the world?

No More Plan B

I've been reading the book "Always Enough" for the last month or so. I really can't put it down once I start reading, so I'm having to schedule reading time! ;) Anyway, it's about Heidi & Rolland Baker who are missionaries in Mozambique. Bethany N. recommended the book to me because she said it sounded like we had the same spirit. I think she was right.

I told God that I wanted to go over there and help. Then, I prayed that God would send me after my kids get older so that they don't have to experience the hunger and see those things. Then, I laughed. I told God that I wanted to meet her. I felt in worship one Sunday that God told me that I don't have to go to Mozambique to reach hungry kids. I'm already doing that right here where I am and I'm loving every minute of it.

So, I was talking to Joel & Trish the other day. Joel is going to Cambodia in March for a mission trip and he said, "You know, Rachel. Those guys over there have to hear God and be obedient. They don't have a Plan B." That statement has rang through my head over and over and over this week.

So many times, I hear God, but I always have a Plan B. . . if God doesn't come through, here's what I'm going to do. For example, if I'm believing God for a financial thing. I say I'm believing God, but in the back of my mind, I know people who have money. . . just in case He doesn't come through -- plan B.

Katianne bought me another Heidi Baker book for Christmas titled Compelled by Love: How to Change the World Through the Simple Power of LOVE IN ACTION. I just tuned the book over and on the back, there is this quote:

"If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work is hopeless. We have no backup plan. We have nothing but Him."

--- Heidi Baker

So, this year I've resolved to do away with Plan Bs. . . the "what-if" plans.

Bye Bye Bottle & Sleepless Nights!!

This week, I just decided to take the plunge. Since Katianne moved out, everything in our house is different -- different rooms, different places for things, etc. So, I decided it was time for Jaxon's bottle to go bye-bye.

Monday (1/5/09 for scrapbooking purposes), I told Katianne to just offer him his cup and see what he does. He went all day without it!! YAY!! He's been without it ever since!! He hasn't cried for his bottle one time! Now, if he sees it, he wants it until you give him the cup. I'm so glad!! Now, he is actually interested in eating food instead of relying on that bottle!! YAY!

Tuesday night, Jaxon got up in the middle of the night and I rocked him back to sleep. But, once I laid him down, he woke up.

We decided that now was the time for him to learn how to go back to sleep on his own at night. He goes to sleep on his own during his naps and when it's time for bed without a fuss, but in the middle of the night, he was waking up 2 sometimes 3 times a night! That's too many times for a 14 month old -- and for this mommy!

So, Wednesday night, we put him to bed and I just told him that I would see him in the morning. He got up just as he always has -- 1 am -- but I just let him cry it out. It probably only took about 15 minutes of him crying off and on, then he was OUT! Again, 4 am -- as always -- I heard him cry, but this time it was only for a few minutes and he was back asleep. He slept until 8 am!!

Last night, I put him to bed and told him that I would see him in the morning. HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT LONG!!! I would have heard him if he had gotten up, but I didn't hear a peep!!

So, today I had to decided on whether I should go buy one more can of formula to switch him to milk. I decided that since it was such a big can, we would just use what we had left and then do the switch. I've tried before and it really upset his stomach. He's had straight milk this evening, so we'll see what happens!!

I do have to admit that I'm a little sad. . . no more bottles? No more getting up in the middle of the night (when he's well, that is) to just rock him? Gosh. . . my baby's just growing up! I do like the sleeping all night, though! ;)

And. . . thanks to my awesome friend, Francesca, I got a Wii Fit last night!! Oh my gosh! I think I could work out on that thing for 8 hours straight!! Gosh! I love it. . . all except the weighing in and the wii fit age thing. . . but I'm killer at Hula Hooping!! ;)

The start of a new year . . .

January 1st Katianne moved out. She found a cute little duplex in Abilene. It isn't ideal, but it gets her on her own. I learned a lot while she was living with us. I learned how giving we are. I learned how selfish I can be. I learned that my house will fit 6 people, even though it's really cramped. Fitting 6 people in my house isn't ideal. I learned how to relate to a twenty-something girl. I learned that it takes a lot to let a 20-something girl move into my house. I learned that Katianne is human. I learned that you can give advice, but it's up to the other person to take it. Sometimes it's hard when they don't. I learned a little bit of what it will be like to parent a 20-something year old. I can wait for that day to get here. I learned what it would be like to have another girl in the house.

Since Katianne moved out, I feel like my house has doubled in size. She just took up one room, but I guess that is one room out of 3. We have been playing musical rooms this weekend. Payton got the new bed and is finally in his own room. He absolutely loves it -- and it's all clean!! He has a ton of space in his closet!!

Jaxon has moved in with Evan. Evan is actually excited about that. Evan finally gets to be the boss of someone -- those were his words. Even Evan & Jaxon have a ton of space in their closet! We threw away all of the toys except the cars, a few cowboy guns, the blocks, the train set, and the footballs. Gosh! They have so much room and surprisingly, their room is still clean!

My room now looks bare since Jaxon is out of it. But, I don't care. I would rather it look bare than him be in our room! ;) We have been cleaning and organizing and throwing stuff away all weekend!! It feels so nice!! I even found Monica's baby shower invitation!! My goodness!!

Now I'm getting ready to paint my living room, hallway, and kitchen. I scrapbooked all day on Luke's scrapbook so I can get it finished so I can have time to paint my house and really pull it together. It seems so bare -- like we just moved in! So, those are my plans for this year -- or this month at least! ;)