Brief fund-raiser update

You know when you are waiting and waiting for something, like a child waits for Christmas, and then when it's here and gone you almost feel that strange sense of exhaustion?  I am feeling that.  Having our initial goal reached so quickly has left me exhausted.  It is a LOT to take in...so much trust and fulfilled hope.  And gratitude.  This much gratefulness can really be overwhelming, but in a wonderful way.

To say our first Holden Uganda fund-raiser was a success is an understatement.  We are blown away and humbled to announce that our 'nine wells in nine months' initial goal is already fulfilled!  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

We are not stopping here.  We feel the Lord has even bigger plans for HUF, and we are excited to be a part of it.  Sadly, we have an ever-growing list of Hope Babies we would like to honor with a well...and equally as sad, there are thousands of people who are still drinking fatal water (no other words to describe that nastiness) every single day. 

I will be posting photos of the fund-raiser and of the first wells SOON...but right now I am going to do something really strange for me, and get to bed before midnight.

August 28:  I was so crushed by His plans.  They bruised my soul.  Left me questioning His sovereignty and good. 
Every day for 4 1/2 months:  He reminds me His plans are mighty.  He heals my wounds.  He gives me more good than I deserve and knew possible. 
Thank you Jesus for allowing me to get a glimpse of your plan this weekend, even if it still hurts.

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.  Psalm 54:4

Please join us...

for a

HOLDEN UGANDA FUND-RAISER

Tomorrow, Saturday the 8th, at 10am-12pm

Colonial Hill Baptist Church, Snyder, TX

Young Adult Wing

Get some great products for an even greater cause:

31 Gifts (http://www.31gifts.com)
The Small Lunch Tote and Thermal Tote are on sale this month, so they are a GREAT way to contribute!  These make the best teacher gifts, kid gifts and gift for yourself!
Scentsy (http://www.scentsy.net/en-us/index.aspx)
Check out the new scents!  

Mary Kay (http://www.marykay.com/default.aspx)
If you are running low on something you already love and use, why not get it now; you'll get your favorite MK products, but also save lives!

The Pampered Chef (http://www.pamperedchef.com/)
If you spend $60 or more, you get to choose a FREE Square Baker or Loaf Pan this month!

Arbonne (http://www.arbonne.com)
Everyone who places an Arbonne order will go in a drawing for a FREE 7-Day Detox Cleanse and a Holden Uganda t-shirt.  Give yourself the gift of an all-natural, healthy cleanse and HUF shirt in 2011.

100% of commissions will go to Holden Uganda to build water wells.  You are not just getting amazing products, you are changing lives!

Please don't miss it!

We will also have the Holden Uganda t-shirts and bracelets!

If you live out away from Snyder, but still want to be a part of this opportunity to shop and save [lives that it], you can still place an order for any of the companies.  Just browse online and let me know what you would like (Sarah@holdenuganda.org).  We will have your products shipped directly to you, no hassle.  Thank you for being a part of this life-saving cause!!  Hope to see you there!

325-728-0159 for more information 

Cloning sheep

My random thought today:

We can clone sheep, send satellites to different galaxies and perform intricate brain surgery.

But for some reason we cannot prevent a perfectly healthy baby from dying? 

Stillbirths are on the rise.  (I have researched the data.)

These past four months, the amount of women who have had stillborn babies we've met through this journey is astounding and staggering.  My heart breaks over and over for each and every one of them.  40 years ago or last week; every single one has a hole in their heart and life for as long as they live on earth. 

No one should have to bury their child.  Period.

I am not trying to play God.  I know He is ultimately in control of life and death.  I just wonder...so preventable, it seems.

We do get joy from these wells in these precious babies' honor.  The hope is truly amazing...knowing our babies are making a difference in the world, even with their short lives.

But it doesn't take away the pain or fill the void.  It simply stinks not having a baby to talk about when others are talking about theirs.  (This is not in ANY way saying I don't want to hear about other babies...in fact the opposite is true.  I would be devastated if my friends didn't tell me about their babies and lives.  I think that would hurt worse!)  I suppose this pain is something that I will need to get used to in this season of my life.

On a brighter note:
I'm blessed with the best friends I have ever imagined having.  I thank the Lord for His purposeful and intentional ways of placing the most inspiring, precious, giving, loving, awesome friends in my life.  Who would have thought I would love living in Snyder, Texas three years ago?  Now I can't imagine living anywhere else...maybe one day...but not anytime soon.  

This evening, I actually enjoyed running and walking (seriously the truth).  It is probably because I went with three sweet friends, but at any rate I got home and thought, "That was fun!"  It also cleared my head a bit.  :)

I'm about to balance accounts....I think we are REALLY REALLY close to a 7th well.  YAY!!!

Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  

Psalm 115:1

Trust

This blog is a compilation of my random thoughts today.  Apologies now.  First off, I don't think anyone should ever train for a half-marathon, work full-time and start a non-profit foundation in the same month.  I seriously wonder about Chet and me...how are we THIS busy with no kids at home? :/  I used to believe I was had time management down.  I was mistaken.  

Chet has double-lung pneumonia, and has been in bed for two days.  We think this past month finally caught up to him.  His bronchitis turned into pneumonia two days ago, plus he has a nasty stomach bug on top of pneumonia.  All that means that my handsome Prince Charming had to make his very first trek to a doctor yesterday.  We are praying his health comes back very soon.  I am not used to him being like this...it makes me hurt for him.  Even all those prescriptions don't seem to be working very quickly.  :(

I have really been lax on my running.  I used to not mind running in the dark, but due to some recent experiences, I have decided it is not very safe, even in Snyder, to run in the dark.  I could only fit a single mile in before it was pitch dark today.  (I know, I know, that will not be getting me to 13 any time soon!)  I am disappointed with myself, and plan to figure something out...the problem for me is that it is dark at 4-5am and dark after 6pm when I am able to run...hmmm...any suggestions?  

Today was my first day back at work.  I have said it before, but I am so grateful for my job!  Of course I wish the break was a little longer, but I am very glad I drove up to a job I love today.

Chet and I have decided to simplify some Holden Uganda information.  Chet thought his wife's sanity was rare, dear and necessary, so he asked me to ask this:

We would prefer that ALL t-shirt, bracelet and well inquiries and orders be made through sarah@holdenuganda.org.  I am so sorry if this sounds rude at all!  It's not you...it's me.  I had about 100 inquiries this week, through texts/two different emails/in person/facebook wall/facebook messages/etc., so I am having a difficult time keeping track.  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!  I can't tell you how much I LOVE hearing from ALL OF YOU!  I just need it to be in one place so I don't miss anyone!  

That being said, if you are sitting there thinking I am ignoring you, I promise I am not!!  PLEASE email or call me and let me know that I haven't responded!

This evening I went grocery shopping.  I was stressed out, had a few (okay 20) other things I would rather be doing, and just plain not in the mood.  I actually used the words "loathe grocery shopping" on the phone with my sister.  But then God, in His oh-so-wonderful way, reminded me of the blogs I had read just this morning from Chelsea.  When I think about thousands of precious orphans scrounging for their food in a massive dump, I am slapped in the face with a new perspective.  When I think that their very existence depends upon waste, I am slapped upside the head with a better outlook.   

Right now I am feeling really blessed.  I may think I am stressed or having a tough day, but in all honesty, I am abundantly blessed. 

Remember that song you sang as a kid, "Trust and obey.  Trust and obey....For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey!"  (I realize I may be a rather isolated case in this, and maybe you don't even know the song.  Come to think of it, I am wondering if it is even a published song, or just something we sang?)

I thought about that song for the first time in years yesterday.  I don't even know why it popped in my head.  I was wrapping my mind around trust, and it came to me.  It had a catchy tune as a kid, and I suppose I just sang it 'because'.  Why did I sing it as a child?  Really, probably because I was told to sing it.  Because, at the time, there really was not a lot I could do but trust and obey.

I almost crave that blind childlike faith that believes all will end up happy and perfect in the world, if we simply trust and obey.  But it is not so easy to sing that song as an adult who puts her trust in a God who gives and takes life; the God who took her only child.

I thought about the past four months.  The times I have been the happiest are when I trust He has a bigger purpose and plan for our lives.  When my faith waivers (and it does!), I am faced with insurmountable pain.   When I trust, He replaces that pain with hope.

I have learned that our God does not make sense.  He doesn't promise us to make sense.  He just asks that we put our trust in Him.

Holden Uganda was built out of trusting and obeying.  He opened the doors and we walked right through them.  What joy we would have robbed ourselves of, if we had not been willing to trust and obey.

Tonight I sing, "Take my life and let it be.  Consecrated Lord to Thee...."

The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.  Psalm 32:10b

1.1.11

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"  And let the one who hears say, "Come!"  Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.  Revelation 22:17 (emphasis mine)

This past week has been such a whirlwind.  Hope, pain, hope, sadness, hope, exhaustion, hope.  More hope than pain.  I really intended to post on 1.1.11, but haven't had a chance to sit down and process my thoughts.

I have been so spacey lately, I am about to get checked out by a professional doctor (not really...but maybe I should).  The amount of sleep I've tallied this week is frighteningly low.  I don't like to think about it because it makes me tell myself I must have a headache or something.  I've felt really like a self-absorbed, terrible friend.  People may wonder if I am still alive.  I am...in case you are wondering. ;)

I just posted on the Holden Uganda blog.  Holden Uganda has literally exploded into the most perfect picture of beauty from ashes.  It has taken up more of my time than I realized it would, but in an awesome way!  I will gladly give up all sleep because of the joy and hope it brings me...and countless others!!

We celebrated Christmas, Holden's 4th month birthday in heaven, a year from the day we found out we were pregnant [and our life changed forever] on the 30th, PLUS New Year's this week.  That is a lot of emotions.  A lot of ups and downs.

I think we somewhat floated through this past month.  I was numb at times, and at other times I wished I was numb.

What a difference one year can make.  This day in 2010 I literally had already spent about 20 cumulative hours on babycenter.com, 3dpregnancy.com, thebump.com and every other baby website.  I was dreaming of names and imagining life with our baby.  We watched the Tech bowl game at the Johnson's home (with the Mebanes), and I was trying my best not to just burst with the news of our pregnancy.

I force myself to not think about a year ago...it hurts too much.  It was such an exciting time for us.

I have decided that 2011 will be a year of hope for our family.  Chet and I have prayed that and believe it.

As Paul said to the Corinthian church, I am filled with comfort.  I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. (2 Corinthians 7:4b)


Praying that your 2011 is truly blessed.