Continuing to pray with a heavy heart for the country, the people, the workers, the families. . . .

Senye,

Ala nou kontan

se pa nou k’ap kenbe ou

men se ou k’ap kenbe nou.

Lord,

How glad we are

that we don’t hold you,

but that you hold us.

I was with my friend Clint (aka @difted aka videographer extraordinaire ) last week in El Salvador.

We first met on a trip to Haiti in 2009 with Compassion.

Clint posted a video this morning ( from that trip in 2009)

that

is

breathtaking.

it so captures the beauty of Haiti and her people. . .

Continue to pray & give to Haiti

This was my 4th time there in a little over 6months!

And each time I leave, I go with a new & deeper love for that country!

This week was so refreshing. . .

beautiful scenery.

Breathtaking colors. . .

every door

wall

and window. . .

the excitement of the World Cup was everywhere

walking the streets and finding markets

or being serenaded in the street.

All of these things make my travels exciting but the thing that keeps me going are

these

little

faces.

spending time in their classes

walking in their neighborhoods

seeing what they see

visiting their homes

and meeting their families.

being there with them

And what keeps these little faces going. . .

their sponsors!

This trip I was so moved by the story of sponsors in lives of some of the kids I met

Meet Silvia

As soon as we arrived she had a hot pink journal with letters pouring out and pictures stuck to pages ( some stuck with gum)

Pictures like this one!

So hey there Teresa from Illinois!

Thank You.

Thank

You.

Silvia is bright, beautiful and dreams big dreams because of you!

I know you know this because I read your letters ( hope you dont mind) and

because Silvia told me she wants to be a teacher

just . like . you

And Angela. . .Hello!

I found tons of your family photos and sweet encouragements at Julia’s house in El Salvador

They covered the table

and there were 4 frames full of your pictures hanging on their walls

Julia and her mother were so proud to show them to me

each

and

every

one.

She thanks you for your encouragement in your letters and she loves getting postcards of the places you & your family visit.

She dreams of traveling one day too!

Hi. . .Mr. Soh in Korea,

I met sweet Milagro.

I love that when you heard her story ( in her letters) Her story of how she was in a fire as a baby and has had medical needs you didnt just read

You Lept!

Lept into action.

Milagro is doing amazing and is gaining strength with her new arm each day!

Did you know her name means

Miracle?

Yeah, its okay. . .

I cried at that too!

Our God is Amazing.

To my surprise one of the days I got to see Shaun‘s sponsor kiddo Yanci again!

I first met them on our Compassion Bloggers trip last fall

and I really cant put words into how awesome it was to see these two girls again!

Shaun. . .

The love Yanci and her sister Pamela have for you and your family is so BIG!!

And the gratefulness that Yanci’s dad has is overwhelming.

Did you know he is now a volunteer at their Compassion Project?

He thanks you for your encouragement!

They send Big Hugs.

Thankful.

Thought I’d give a little photo of the day today!

Tonight we have our annual Artist Appreciation dinner with Compassion.

Its A time to say ThAnKyOu to the artists that partner with us throughout the year… Taking time out of the concerts to let their audience know about the work we do and how they can sponsor a kiddo!

One of my favorite parts of tonight is getting to see friends. . . Friends that I have known forever, friends that I work with plus friends that I feel like I have known forever because we took a trip to “wherever” together. Its a fun night of getting to see some of my favorite people.

This year I took a handful of my images and changed them to black and white and enlarged them to use for decorations tonight.

I love getting to see my images printed rather than just on my computer screen. Sometimes I wish I could be all “old school”  and print off every photo, but I guess my hard drive would be sad oh and my wallet considering I take a whole lot of photos on a trip.

Anyways I wanted to share the image that made me do a little squeal. . .

Might be the story of her family

Might be the size ( its 2ft x3ft)

Might be seeing the image in Black & White

Whatever it is. . . it is making me happy everytime I look over at it.

A. I am from Texas and B. I heart Texas and C. I miss Texas well I could go all the way to Z with the reasons, but I’ll save that for another time.

I spent Easter in Texas with my family and one of my favorite events of the year was going on at the same time. . . imagine that!

The Round Top Antique Festival. Twice a year ( the spring and fall) a few hundred thousand people ( just a few!) come to the smallest town in the state to peruse the cow pastures for their next treasure.

And then on Thursday is the best party in all of Round Top/Warrenton Texas. . .The Junk O Rama Prom O Rama hosted by the Junk Gypsy girls!!

Live Music. . .Two-Steppin. . .vintage dresses. . .Boots. . .Sangria. . .lights. . .Cowboy Hats. . .Rhinestones and Turquoise. . .

Jolie and Amie are two of the sweetest most creative gals. . .I have yet to see a THING of theirs that I don’t Love! One of their latest projects was a total re-do of an airstream trailer for Country girl. . . Miranda Lambert.

I have always wanted an airstream and well now. . .phew! Don’t mind me I’ll be back going to search craiglist. . YET again!

Is that not the coolest? Just added “Own and re-do an airstream” to the list.

Oh and speaking of Miranda Lambert she was there hanging at the prom watching all of us enjoy her awesome new wine!! Red 55 winery, seriously ya’ll … great sangria… great Texas Wine!

Thanks Jolie and Amie for a great night. . .as always!

Easter Sunday before we had to leave the bluebonnets were calling our name. . .

They are calling your name too aren’t they??

Anyways a family photo in the flowers was a must. . .

ahhh love them. love them.

I feel the only appropriate ending to this post is to quote the amazing…you must start watching…best show on tv…Friday Night Lights!

“T E X A S  F O R E V E R”

Phew. . .its been a while since I have written! I have had a great week 1/2 just catching up from my travels! But now I am out again. . .

I am in Texas visiting family for Easter

as a friend of mine twittered to me “Welcome home! So fitting that you should spend Easter in the promise land of Texas!”

And did I tell you. . .

It’s Antique Week in Round Top!!

One of my favorite things of the year. . .

First may I just say the wildflowers ( bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush’s) are DIVINE!!!

And question would ya’ll still be my friend if I hung a cow on my wall? My husband said “No”.

Last night was the Junk Gypsy Junk O Rama Prom O Rama. . .the biggest and best party in Round Top. Great music, Great outfits, Great Junk and more. . .

It makes me want to move back to Texas EV-ER-Y -TIME!

Off to do more antique-ing today.

Good thing these boots are comfy. . .

An amazing story from a beautiful woman… with a huge heart!

Be a part of a childs story. . . click HERE for more info!

Donalds new book is all about STORY. Its based around what he learned while editing his life to be made into a movie. It’s funny and compelling in the “what in the world am I doing with my life, my story” kind of way.

It’s about remembering and telling your stories.

Like I said I am only ½ way through but gosh it is inspiring me. Here I sit in the Amsterdam Airport heading to Africa with 8 other bloggers to what?

Tell you a Story . . . tell you a LOT of Stories.

And stories can look different (Donald talks about YOUR story) but I was thinking about how I love that I can give you a glimpse into someone else’s story on the other side of the globe through a picture. And I love that we have some incredible writers with us on this trip that can tell you a story through their words.

And this week you will have stories about the kids and families we will meet in Kenya, but also stories from each of us as each one of us experiences Kenya and experiences Compassion in Kenya.

Are you following me? Am I already jetlag typing

Okay back to STORY.

I love a part of his book that talks about the story God has created

“I Like the part of the Bible that talks about God speaking the world into existence, as though everything we see and feel were sentences from his mouth, all the wet of the world His spit.”

I keep thinking about this and looking back at my travels and looking ahead and looking at my Story and the Stories I get to share with you. Thinking and excited to embrace those stories. . .

So think about your own Story and how maybe just maybe Our stories this week can become a part of your story.

That maybe we, and the people we tell you about can become characters in your story.

And you can become a character in a families story by sponsoring a child through Compassion.

Alright about to board for KENYA. . .

See you soon!

I went here ( you should too!) and downloaded his newest song!

As I scrolled down I saw that he wrote “The Story behind I’ve Got You”

and well . . .

You must read it!

and listen to this song!!

Its a beautiful song inspired by Kiran, an amazing girl we met in India.

And She has messed me up all over again today in the most beautiful way!

Have ya’ll decorated?

I tend to take photos of decorations at antique stores. . .flea markets. . .whatnot. . . you know to inspire!

Now if i could only find a feather tree with ornaments like those. ahhh.

Said amazing feather tree photo above was taken in Round Top Texas at the Antique Fair.

ooooo Maybe I will blow up the photo and put it on a tree stand.

Off to listen to Mindy Smiths Christmas Record. . .Have you listened?

Its the perfect soundtrack for your work day. . .decorating day or just tuesday.

Stop now and listen. . .you will thank me.

ohh and if you find a feather tree thats not a bagillion dollars holla.

and ohh ps: I do realize I am a wee bit behind on decorating. but I do have some things up.

and I have a beautiful christmas candle by nest that smells like a tree.

Here is a quick little video to tell you a bit more. . . .

I was reminded of what Photographer ( and creator of Help-Portrait) Jeremy Cowart said:

I love hearing the naysayers say things like ‘The last thing a homeless person needs is a picture.’ THEN I love seeing the reality. . . .

The realities I saw today:

• Four sweet girls from a local Ministry ,a ministry that provides hope and healing to young women battling issues such as: drug & alcohol addiction, depression, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancy, abuse or self harm. They sat laughing with each other as they got all glamed up with their girlfriends enjoying a break in their journey. Each struggle with self image and today I watched four beautiful girls see and feel beauty in an image.
• A joyful man, who seemed to know everyone there, shared how he ministers to other homeless men and women under the downtown bridge. He brings them to church and visits them throughout the week. He came by to see what we were up to and to “check in” on his friends. And as he held the framed portrait of he and his dog he smiled and said “Thank You”. He had never held a photo of himself.
• A man who told me the only time he had a photo taken was when he had been arrested. And he jokingly added “They dont let you keep those”  He never knew his mother and he told me about a woman at his church who has taken him in and has played such an important role in his life. And as we stood getting his photo framed he said with excitement. . . “THIS will be the perfect gift for her!”

And today, not only in Nashville but in hundreds of cities across the world there were thousands of realities. . .

As of just a moment ago the latest update came in

• 17,200+ pictures taken
• 1400+ photographers
• 2720+ volunteers

And this is with only 43% of locations reporting!!

What . A . Day!

Meals and clothes were passed out…moments and realities were captured…

Photos were Given.

Hope to see you join Help-Portrait!

Photographers, Volunteers, Make-Up Artists, Hair Stylists…see you in 2010!