So this happened

A few weeks ago I had my car broken into while eating at Max’s Wine Dive in the Montrose area.  I had parked on the street behind the building because I am too cheap to pay for valet. Haha. :)  Big mistake though because they smashed my back window in because they are assholes.

I walked to my car to find stuff in the driver’s seat and thought it was weird.  It took me a minute to realize that I didn’t leave anything in my seat (never do) so why would it be there?  Then I looked all around my car but didn’t see the smashed window until I walked to the other side (it was dark and my windows are tinted).  My entire window was on the ground.  It had been smashed but the tinting made it stay in one piece when they pulled it out.  They unlocked the front passenger door and rummaged inside.  Everything was out of console and glove box was strewn about the car, making my car look even messier.

My car is usually a mess inside because honestly 1.  I am just a messy person (stuff not trash) and 2.  I travel a lot.  I live on the East side of Houston, I work on the West side of Houston and I am in both the South side and North side of Houston frequently (North side more though).  I am always traveling to babysit for my niece or going out with friends so I leave a lot of stuff in my car because I need it and it isn’t always easy to go home to pick something up.

I know I need to put everything in the trunk but that’s messy too. LOL.  My trunk has my emergency car kit, my 72 hour bag, and a lawn chair.  I really just need to organize it and I am working on it this weekend. 

What did they take?  My (new) gym bag with my $200 running shoes, my favorite sports bra, workout clothes, and some of my favorite jewelry:  TWO pairs of Kendra Scott earrings plus this awesome beaded disco type necklace that I got so many compliments on (see this link for picture).  Sad day. :/

They also took a beautiful purple snake skin type leather bag that I got at a silent auction (I bid on it JUST for the bag) that had some papers and a Beth Moore bible study.  There were some Mary Kay cd’s in there too.  Just to make light of the situation (because you have to in dark days) I said “Well, they are either going to learn about Mary Kay from the cd’s or Jesus from the Bible, either way they are getting something great out of it”.  LOL.  God knows who will pick up that Bible study, either they will or someone else will when they discard of it.  

Luckily my friend who had gone out to eat with me had not driven too far when I got to my car had stayed with me while I called the cops.  The cops never came and couldn’t give an ETA as to when they would be coming so we just cancelled the call after about an hour of waiting.   They didn’t take anything of too much value so I didn’t file a police report.  I didn’t have electronics or anything in there, just some of my favorite things.  While we were waiting for the police we saw another car drive off with its window smashed too.  I guess the losers got multiple cars that night.

The next day I went to get my window fixed.  It cost about $90 plus about $25 for the window tinting.  I got it fixed at Uni Glass which was wonderful to work with!  I highly recommend them.

So moral of the story:  1. Thieves are assholes who need to get real jobs and contribute something to society.  2. I learned to not keep anything in my car.  3.  Don’t go back to Max’s Wine Dive even though it was a good place to eat.  I don’t want to take another chance of something happening because the area isn’t very safe.

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

Last week my friend from work, Delia, asked me if I wanted to go with her to Newk’s Eatery since it was now open for business.  I had tried Newk’s in Nacodoches and loved it (they were also a sponsor of the 2014 Driving Jacks Color Run 5K) so I already knew it would be good.

We got there and it was actually their “soft opening” where they were giving out free food to everyone to train their staff.  Score!  Delia and I both got the same thing and both agreed it was wonderful: Half Italian sandwich and half Crab and Lobster Bisque.  As we were leaving they told us that the first 50 people on Monday to show up will get free Newk’s for a Year!!!  Delia and I immediately went back to work and made a calendar appointment to take an early lunch on Monday. :)

When Monday rolled around Delia was sick and went home early. I could either not go or go by myself, iI chose to go by myself  because I had a work errand I needed to make anyway. I was planning on doing a drive by to see if there was a line, but there wasn’t so I got out of my car.  I got there about 10:03 am and was #50!!!  It was cold outside (Cold by Houston’s standards) so you could put your name down and then go back to sit in the car, so that is why there wasn’t a line.  Isn’t that AMAZING???!!!  God knew exactly what time I needed to leave the office to make it there on time.  God is good.

I got my food (pizza this time) and sat down.  Another winner had started talking to me so I moved to his table and talked to him.  His name was Steve and he said that he had heard about it through the paper and lived close enough that he would try and make it.  He got there at 8:15 am and he was 20 something in line.  I can’t believe that people got there that early!  Here I was just planning on being there around 10 am but everyone else had gotten there a lot earlier than me. It was a total God thing, I believe.

In the little black box you got a pair of sunglasses, a koozie, and a pen plus 52 vouchers for $10 in an entrée credit.  So fun!! I do not need to hoard them all!  You are allowed to share since they don’t have your name on them or anything. I gave one to Delia since she was sick and one to two of my co-workers so we can have a team lunch. 

So, THANK YOU NEWK’S EATERY for having this amazing opportunity for your fans!!!  I loved it before and loved it even more now because of my free food! Ha!

Happenings Lately-Holiday Edition

What I have been up to lately...Holiday Edition!

I made a chalk drawings with my mom and Kali in my parents back yard. :)

I attempted (along with lots of others) to break a Guinness World Record by reading to the most kids in a 24 hour period with Read Across the Globe.  Unfortunately, we didn't beat the record.  But I will say that the book we read was great!  I was like "who wants to read a book about farming?" (sorry, I'm a city girl) but once I read it I wanted to buy it for my children's book collection.  Check it out!

I sat in the live studio audience of Great Day Houston!

We decorated the Christmas tree and Kali decided that we needed 4 of the same ornaments on one branch.  It was too cute to move so we left it there. :)

 We built a gingerbread house and a certain 2 year old ate most of the decorations...

I took a 2 year old to the Woodland's Mall to see Santa and then to the playground inside.  She didn't want to leave.

I attended the FANTASTIC Christmas musical experience called Celebration at Houston's First Baptist Church with my friend Terrie, her mom (below) and granddaughter, Lila.  I bought the tickets back in November when they went on sale.  I actually went twice this year, once with Terrie and co. and the other with my Grandmother.  The show is amazing!

I bought a Christmas ornament with my niece and nephews name on it!

Jabba's 1 year Angel Birthday

Today marks one year that my dear baby boy went to Heaven to hang out with Jesus.  I am a little sad (OK, a lot!) but I know that he is having fun, eating a lot of catnip treats (without calories!), and hanging out on clouds.  It’s not fair to be sad when Angel birthdays are a good thing for those that get them, only us on Earth are sad.  I can celebrate with him in spirit though.

I am planning on going to my sister’s house on Sunday (Jabba is buried there) and bring cupcakes (for me and my nephews) and catnip treats for him and my sister’s cats.  Who doesn’t love a good party or a good cupcake?! 

I have been sad all year about him and other things that have happened to me but it is time for me to step out and be all that God created me to be.  I can’t live a small life anymore, I am destined for greatness.  I can choose to live in the past, future or my present.  I am going to live in the future.  Today I will release what has happened over the last few years and press on.  I think God knew that I would need some time to process what all has happened over the past few years (that hasn’t all made it to this blog) and has been preparing and clearing a path for me.

So, this weekend in honor of Jabba’s 1^st Angel birthday, will YOU please join me in stepping out of your comfort zone and being the person God wants you to be?  When you take control of your life and be who you are destined to be, God will bring you to places you never thought possible.  I’m excited for the journey!  You have no right to live small when you are meant for more.

 I can’t wait for Jabba to greet me at those gates (along with Jesus, my grandfather and many others I have and will lose before I get there) and jump in my arms to celebrate me living my life to the fullest.  We only get ONE life on this Earth.  Do you want to be sad and mope about what has happened to you or would you rather leap abundantly into your future that God created before you were born?  The choice is yours to make.

Happy Angel Birthday, Jabba!!! See you in Heaven.

The Penny - In God We Trust

I heard this story on a daily positive message recording I listen to and I  wanted to pass it on!  I am not sure who the original author is, but it is powerful!  I know that I will look at pennies or any other change on the ground with a new light! :)

The Penny - In God We Trust

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband’s employer’s home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband’s employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so she as enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny?

Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man’s face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before!

What was the point of this?

“Look at it.” He said. “Read what it says” 

She read the words “United States of America.”

“No, not that; read further.”

“One cent?” 

“No, keep reading.”

“In God we Trust?”

 “Yes!”

 “And?”

“And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God’s way of starting a conversation with me. God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, “In God We Trust,” and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!

And God is patient..

Rough Day

Last Monday was a rough day in my little world.  This happened:

It all started at 7 am when I woke up and took a shower.  The lights had started flickering while I was in the shower and even turned off completely at one point.  I got out of the shower thinking not much of the lights flickering because it had happened before and the maintenance said it was just a loose wire and easy to fix.  I figured I would call the maintenance later that day and tell them it was happening again.

So I was starting to heat up my breakfast of leftover chinese food (yes, I eat whatever leftovers I have for breakfast) and the microwave wouldn't turn on.  I checked to make sure it was plugged in (it was) but it wouldn't work.  About this time is when the washing machine started 'popping' with a power surge.  I ran to my neighbors house to see if anyone was home and when I got back the washing machine had started to smoke and you could see flames coming out of the bottom.

I called 911 and was told not to try to put out the fire myself and to get everyone out of the building.  I ran upstairs and was banging on my neighbors doors to get them out and everyone was coming out in the pajamas.   I had tried to call the apartment maintenance, but the line was disconnected when you try to call the emergency maintenance.  Luckily, my neighbor across the way works in the apartment office and was able to get the manager from the office.  The manager asked if everyone had been notified to get out of the apartment and I told her I got everyone out and she asked about the other side of the building.  OOPS!  I didn't even think about them.  Technically they are my neighbors and attached to my apartment, but for some reason they didn't even enter my brain to get them out.  I felt really bad, but luckily no one was hurt.

Firetrucks (about 3) and ambulances (1 or 2) started arriving.  They opened the windows and smoke started pouring out.  Luckily some very cute fireman were able to contain the damage to only the laundry room of my apartment.  There is smoke damage on my stuff, but nothing was damaged beyond repair.  Well, besides my washing machine.

On the bright side, no one was hurt and I got to see some hot fireman at 7:30 am. :)    I am just lucky that I was awake and at home during it or I wouldn't have an apartment.  I was going to stay at my parents house the night before, but decided to go home that day instead.  God kept me safe!  The fireman said that in about 10 minutes everything would have been gone.  Crazy!!!

After they got the washing machine out, they had to cut out sheet rock that was too hot.


My apartment complex is paying for the washing machine, so I didn't have to make a claim on my renters insurance.  I had to wash my clothes many times to get the smoke smell out.  The apartment complex also send someone over to clean my apartment.  I thought they were just going to clean out the soot and stuff from the laundry room and kitchen, but they cleaned the bathroom too!  Score!!!!

The important thing was that God knew what was going to happen and kept everyone safe.  I can replace stuff, but you can't replace people.  One of my biggest fears when I had Jabba was that something like this would happen and I wouldn't be home to save him.  I can't say 'luckily' that he had already passed and I didn't need to worry about him too, because oh how I miss him, but he is safe from flames in Heaven.

Final thoughts and IAA

Here are all the blog posts that I have written in relation to my Kenya trip so that anyone traveling over there won't miss anything!  Enjoy.

Countdown to Kenya Post
-Medications for Kenya
-What I am packing for Kenya-Snacks
-What I am bring to donate to the kids
-File Folder Games I brought to Kenya

While in Kenya

-Meet Jacob
-Day 1
-Day 2
-Day 3
-Day 4
-Day 5
-Day 6
-Day 7
-Day 8
-Day 9
-Day 10
-Day 11
-Traveling to and from Kenya

Final thoughts and IAA
I have been thinking how I can wrap up all my Kenya experiences in one post, but I don’t know that I can find the words!  It was a life changing trip and I feel like I got a lot out of it. Life in the USA is so different from life in Kenya.  I am sure if I go to other places outside my safety bubble of Houston, TX I will see that.  I am blessed to be an American, very, very blessed.  God made this great nation of ours blessed and most of us don’t realize it.  

I was taught to appreciate the things I have.  

Appreciate the variety in my daily choices.   I have a million options of where to shop for clothes or food.  I can watch tons of different channels on tv, I can surf the internet for hours.  Choices are everywhere here, but when you are on a very limited budget you don’t get the luxury of going to a huge grocery store and picking out what you want.  If you are from a nation like Kenya and don’t make tons of money you have your garden (if you are lucky) to eat from or the side of the road to shop from.

Appreciate that I have a say in my government.  I won’t be gunned down because I oppose the government and our judicial system.  In the US it is ok not to like the politics of the current leader (but you should still respect his position), but in Kenya it could be deadly to have an opposing view.

Appreciate that as a woman I have a voice in my community, whether I choose to or not.  Women throughout the world are property, just sold for 10 cows because they are of age.  In America I am free to choose my own husband, my own job, and where I live.  I can speak my mind and not be told to sit down because I am a woman.  I can do anything and be anyone that I choose to be.

Appreciate the fact that I have a wonderful job and make a good living.  The average middle class person makes $100 a month in Kenya and upper middle class makes $200.  I spend that much each month frivolously (trying to cut back though) on things I do not need, I cannot imagine living on that each month.

Appreciate the fact that I can see my family anytime I choose to.  I can hop in a car or plane at anytime and see them without having to beg for a ride or walk for two days to get to them.  I don’t have a job that keeps me stuck there for months until I save enough to get home.

Appreciate the fact that AIDS won’t wipe out an entire city (village) nearby.  AIDS is out of control throughout Africa and it is heartbreaking to hear the stories of little girls who have been raped by older men because they heard a rumor that if they have sex with a virgin then their AIDS will be cured.  Or another story that women believe that they can catch AIDS by cutting their husbands hair.  Rumors and mistruths run wild in Africa because they don’t have the education on how to prevent these diseases from spreading.

Appreciate the fact that I can turn on a faucet and drink from it without the threat of it being contaminated by Typhoid or another illness.  I can just go to the fridge and pull out a clean bottle of water and drink it.

Appreciate the fact that I don’t have to worry about my electricity going out at random times because electricity isn’t too reliable there (for the most part).  Even while we were shopping in a town the electricity went out at the power company! LOL.

Appreciate the fact that when I was a small child my parents were not killed by disease, government, another tribe, or each other.  There are orphans just living in the streets and in homes throughout Kenya that can be helped by places like Into Abba’sArms.  I also appreciate the fact that there are many US donors that donate to IAA to keep the children safe. 

Appreciate the fact that there are Americans like Jane who create children’s homes throughout the world to help the children of tomorrow.  These children will be the leaders of their countries one day in the not too distant future; do we want them to grow up educated, loved, and appreciated?  Or do we want them to grow up like they were thrown away and not cared for?  I want each child to know that they can have a better life, but until they are told that and shown the way, how will they understand?

I have learned more throughout my trip but these are the things I wanted to say the most. ^^^^That’s a lot of words! :)  I am very glad that I had the privilege to travel to Kenya for two week in April.  I am very honored to get to know the children and staff at Into Abba’s Arms and I hope to be able to go back soon and to bring many people with me to see what I saw. 

 

Kenya, Day 11

Saturday marked the last full day at Into Abba’s Arms and also the King’s Feast celebration.  I knew that the next day would be sad so I was determined to have a great day at the King’s Feast with the kids.  The day started with us icing the 20 cakes from the night before, and also adding the sprinkles!  Sprinkles just make life better, don’t you think?

The King’s Feast is in honor of King Lane who generously donated money when he passed away to set up the children’s scholarship fund.  He always wanted the children to have meat to eat, so IAA slaughters to sheep and a goat for the kids to eat at the feast.  <-- I did not partake in the viewing or slaughtering of the poor, innocent animals!  The kids loved it though and were eating the meat right off the grill.  Hearts, eyeballs, intestines, everything was fair game.  YUCK!

 Everyone was scheduled to arrive around 10 or 11 am for the start of the King’s Feast.  The first part of the feast was in the church where they sang and danced.  Then Jane had confetti poppers released and they had a big song dance party.  View the video below.  That part was really fun!

The kids from IAA also sang a song (the older kids danced) that I thought was so cute. (for some reason, it won't let me show the video on here.  Click the link for the YouTube video)

After they were done dancing, we went outside for the kids to eat.  The menu was Kenyan food (obviously) of rice, cole slaw mixture, beans, potatoes, and meat.  I stayed away from the meat but I did try the rice and cole slaw.  I didn’t eat too much though luckily because that night I was really sick! My stomach was just not used to Kenyan food since I wasn’t used to eating it. The kids each got a huge helping of food and two pieces of meat.  This was a feast that they did not go hungry at!  They also go a soda to drink.  The kids only get soda a few times a year, so it was a treat.

After lunch, we released the kids to play the different games.  They loved the box maze and they would stand in line over and over again.  Of course, Freddy and Jacob (the two youngest) would just walk up to the front of the line and go in again.  The other kids just shook their heads and said that they get to do whatever they want. LOL.  

Hopscotch was a kid favorite once they figured out how to play. I demonstrated how to jump in the squares a few times before they got it.  

The ball throw for points game was also a success, although they didn’t seem to keep score.

I also had found a bubble stick in the pile and had the best time watching the kids go and swat the bubbles away.

Three legged races were raced

Parachutes were played with

Cake was eaten

Everyone left around 5:30 pm and all was quiet.  Not!  It was still chaotic with the kids having all eaten sugar. Haha.  It was fun and that night we played with puzzles on my last night there.

Kenya, Day 9

Thursday was the day of the IDP camp visit.  They had told me that we were going to a refugee camp while we were there, but I didn’t really know what that meant until we got there.  The IDP camp is where a group of 5,000 people are forced to live on government land until they are given their own land.  12 years ago there was a tribal clash and the government seized the land.  They were nomads for awhile but would always get kicked out of the land they were on because they were ‘ruining’ it.  The government let them use the current land temporarily, but they cannot even build a garden on it.  They have been in the land for 12 years, and they don’t know when they will get the new land.  The government brings food about every 3 months, but it only lasts for about 2-3 weeks because they don’t bring enough for 5,000 people.  They rely on people like Jane and Tarin to bring them food when they visit and they get their drinking water from the side of a mountain.

We left around 9;45 for the IDP camp and stopped in the town of Muzumo to get maize and beans to feed the people at the camp.  We got to the camp and were able to see it from the road because all the trees around it were being torn down for development.  A hotel is being built on the land right above the camp because the area is full of wild elephants.

The road was closed due to construction and rain so we had to hike down to the camp.  On the way we saw a woman getting water out of the mountain, putting it in a barrel, and carrying it on her head.  It seemed like the women do all the work in the camp (that is my observation, but it might not be true).

We met with the leader of the camp, Gaid.  He had an ‘office’ set up with an old umbrella and a makeshift wooden table that he sat at all the time.  He reminded me of the old teddy bear from Toy Story 3 that led them through the daycare (before the bear turned mean.  Gaid was nice the entire time). 

Gaid gave an interview for the documentary and everyone in the camp sat around and listened.  The children loved coming up to us and shaking our hand, but some of the younger children were scared of us because they had never seen white people (muzungu’s).  IAA also supports a woman at the camp that developed epilepsy as an adult.  She was married but when she developed epilepsy her husband left her and the children.  One day, as she was cooking, she had a seizure and fell into the fire burning her body very badly.  IAA has paid for her surgeries and sends her money monthly for support. She was a very sweet woman and loves God. :)

There are about 5,000 people living in the camp consisting of 502 families and 700 school age children.  They live in 13x13 huts made from sticks and tarps.  They are very organized in the camp because the huts are made sectioned off A, B, C, D, E, and F.  ABCD have an average of 120 huts and E,F have an average of 80 huts.  There are not indoor bathrooms in the huts, but there are several places throughout the camp where Chos are.  Chos are basically a hole in the ground that you use the restroom with.  When the holes are full, they just put dirt on it and move the chos to another location.

The tops of some of the buildings have tarps on them that were donated by people at Jane’s church.  Last summer there was a flood that killed several people and had the streets flooded as well.  Jane’s church donated 500 tarps so the rain wouldn’t leak into their homes and ruin everything.  She came back to notice that a lot of them weren’t being used because they were waiting for them to get their new homes, then they would use them.  I would think that if you were stuck somewhere for 12 years, I wouldn’t rely on the government too much waiting for a new place to stay.

We walked down the camp to see how they lived.  They showed us the inside of their houses.  One side was a cooking area and the other side was a living area.  There were no windows in the house and it smelled really smoky in there because the fire is burning inside the house. 

We were almost done with our tour when we found a pool hall within the camp.  We walked in and they asked us to play.  Jane and Josh both played some pool with them while we were there.  So funny!

We walked back to the van to hand out the food and hats to the villagers.  Each family was allowed 6kg of maize (corn) and 2kg of beans.  The village secretary had a register that listed each family in it so there wouldn’t be mass chaos when they were getting the food.

While there we also had 700 hats to hand out to the kids.  A girl from the US had raised enough money for IAA to have 700 hats made to donate to the children.  While the families were getting food the kids were lined up and were given hats.  We had enough for all of the children, but the kids are so deprived that they were sneaking their way back over to get multiple hats.  They tried to control the kids and move them to another area, but even the parents were helping the kids get more than one hat.  It was a madhouse!  After we thought each child go one, we finally had to put the rest of the hats in the van.  When we left the people were giving us dirty looks because we didn’t leave the rest of the hats with them.

 

I was really upset that the kids were trying to take more than one and sneaking around us, but then someone mentioned survival of the fittest.  The kids are desperate for anything much less food and hats.  Of course they would want as much stuff as they can get.  Tarin told me a story about when she was there the last time putting a Women’s Conference on and handing out free Bibles that some of the women would get in line just to get a free Bible so that they could sell it later.  Tarin was upset about that but then she thought that God knew who would pick up that Bible after it had been sold several times over.  He had a plan for those Bibles and he has a plan for the extra hats that the kids took.  God knows what He is doing, we shouldn’t get caught up in the small details when He has them covered.