Ladybug sighting...Good Luck to You

Among the China adoption community, ladybug sightings are a lucky sign for a speedy referral. Those of you waiting, consider this your lucky day...

7 Randoms

I've been tagged by my sweet friend and China travel buddy Jen.

Seven weird/random things about myself...hmmm, that's tough, because I'm a bit of a bore.

1. I hiccup twice after a meal usually...as does my dad and my sister.
2. My sister and I always have the same ailments at the same time or within a few weeks of one another...we live in different states...but are somewhat cosmically connected...or at least our organs, ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc., are.
3. Lived in Salt Lake City during the Olympics. I went to no sporting events, but attended few music concerts for free, and was one of the crazy people that got up at 4:30 a.m. to be on the Today Show...you know the ones that flap their arms behind Al Roker during the weather...yeah, that was me.
4. Studied aboard for a semester at the University of Nottingham, England.
5. I'm a chocoholic.
6. I was a cheerleader for 4 years in high school...and don't know a thing about football...embarassing to admit...so keep that on the down low.
7. Saw Pope John Paul in person at the Vatican on Easter Sunday one year.

There you have it...seven things...that was not easy. Glad that's over!

Now I need to tag seven people.

1. Crystal
2. Amanda
3. Andrea
4. Kerry
5. Shawn
6. Maggie
7. And anyone else reading this blog post, consider yourself tagged!
   

Day 9 of the 29 Gifts Challenge

Okay, so how many of you signed up for the 29 Gifts Challenge? We're encouraged to blog about our progress. It's a little weird for me to write about what specific "gifts" I've given over the last 9 days...kind of like giving up chocolate for Lent and blurting out at a party, "I gave up chocolate" while you salivate over the dessert table. Anyway, I digress.

This is day 9 of the challenge, and I'm feeling that it is just that - a challenge. It's not as simple to do as one might think. Some things that I've observed from partaking in this challenge:

1). I've realized that I tend to hoard my time and energy instead of giving it freely.
2). I now spend a good portion of the day planning what gift can I give today, and tomorrow, etc. and wondering, "was that considered a gift or can I do more today?" The focus is off of self, and on to whom might be in need of my gift.
3). The challenge has pressed me to give when I most don't feel like giving. For example, at the end of the day, I am dog tired, but my husband's lunch for the next day is yet to be made. So, despite my preference to lie on the couch and veg out, I suck it up and help him make his lunch...and I don't complain.
4). The challenge has encouraged me to pray for discernment, so that I might be more intuitive of whom may be in need of a gift that day.

So this is my progress as of today. And I thought I'd throw in a little tid bit for those of you needing an idea of a gift to give. This week, I did give a gift of education to one of the children in Uganda, the project that Katie so beautifully writes about on her blog. If you've started this 29 gifts journey, it's a very worthy cause to support ;) Happy gift giving!

What 5 Bucks Can Do!

Please help send 106 kids in Uganda to school, provide medical care and fill their bellies. My challenge to you today is to make a difference in the lives of these children. Give them hope! Read here to find out more. You can sponsor a child for $300 a year. Give more. Give less. Just give.

Even five bucks goes a long way. It can do miraculous things.

"Give. Five dollars will cover the cost of a birthing kit. Five dollars will cover the cost of a new blanket for the scabies family or any other child. Five dollars will cover the cost of one bottle of lotion to treat the scabies, which will last a few days, we have already gone through three. Five dollars will feed the nineteen people living in my house for a day. Five dollars will cover the cost of firewood used to heat water for scabies treatment for 2 days. You could spend your five dollars on Starbucks this morning (and don't get me wrong, I love starbucks). You could spend your five dollars on a drive through car wash. Or you could spend your five dollars and really truly change a life, give someone life." - Kisses from Katie

Are you up for the 29 Gifts Challenge

As always, I'm inspired by my friend at Flourishing Mother. If you've not read her blog, hop over there right this minute for crying out loud. I'm planning to do the 29 Gifts Challenge. And thought, AHA! Those of you waiting parents, I thought this would be an EXCELLENT way to spend the next 29 days. Heck, how about the rest of the days you have left in your adoption waiting game. Wish I had. It would have been nice to have had a daily distraction, an act-of-kindness-scavenger-hunt of sorts, to keep my mind off my wait and, instead, focus on sending "gifts" out into the world.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34