we're off to go camping

It has been an emotionally draining week. 

Without going into details, let's just say that I am ready to relax this weekend.

And what better way to spend the long weekend then CAMPING! :)

that my friends, is where you will find this family.

bring on the s'mores.

Our Sponsored Child

I don’t know if I told you guys this or not in a previous post ( I don’t think I have) but my husband and I decided back in February to sponsor a child through Compassion.

I have always wanted to do this. My passion to help a child started back when I was in elementary school. My neighbor sponsored numerous children & I would always see their pictures on the fridge and ask about them.  Then I started to see pictures of children in need on the back covers of various magazines. I would cut them out & paste them on the inside of my locker. My locker was filled with pictures of these faces. The faces of less fortunate kids that I had this overpowering want to help. I told anyone that would listen to me that I was going to sponsor and/or adopt as many children as I could when I grew up. Well I’m happy to say that I grew up. And Andy and I have sponsored our first child.

I began my search for a child and let me tell you that was one of the hardest things to do! In my heart I don’t feel that one child deserves something more than the next. Who am I to decide that?? And when you chose the child you “added him or her to cart”. Heart breaking. There were many tears through this process.

I had to do some soul searching. Think about what this meant for me. What it would mean for that child. I wish I could help them all. Realistically that isn’t possible for our family. So we will start with one.

I decided to make decisions based on my past. 

When I was in grade school I had a pen-pal named Noah from Tanzania. I actually still have his school picture that I was sent back in the day. There have been many times that I have caught myself wondering what and where he is in life today. We lost contact so long ago & I am not even sure I remember how it happened.

So with that I knew that I wanted to sponsor a child from Tanzania.  I also knew that I wanted to sponsor a child from an AIDS affected area. I felt that our contribution would go further with a child in that area and the school would be able to better educate the children about HIV and AIDS and hopefully save more than just one person from it.  Then I began my search. So many beautiful little faces popped up on my screen.

Then I found her. Halifa.

I knew I wanted to sponsor her the second I saw her. Heck, I would move her here and adopt her if I could. I just felt like I was being pulled to her. She looked so brave yet so young and scared. She is 4 years old & her daily responsibility is to run all of the family errands. I can’t imagine leaving Kennedy at age 4 for the day to take care of all the errands for us. What a fearless, brave child that must take. I quickly signed up to sponsor her & sent my husband an e-mail telling him that I made our decision. In my defense, he told me to choose whatever child I felt the strongest about sponsoring since it had been my idea. I think the e-mail subject read “meet our newest family addition. Sort of” And I attached her picture to it. And that was that.

I received my packet in the mail about a week later and literally ripped open the envelope, I was so excited.

I have written my 1^st letter to Halifa and am working on a care package to send to her. I can't wait to hear back from her. I know with her being 4 it is going to be either a drawing or a couple words, but that is the best part. Knowing that she is still just a child even with all the responsibility she carries.

I would love to go to Tanzania someday and meet her. 

Here’s to hoping and praying..

Stop and Smell the Roses Vlog

Guess who's back... back again. Jody's back... tell your friends.

Oh what's that you say?

There's already a rap like that?

Eminem sings it?

oh, my bad.

Ok so maybe I am not a successful rapper for a reason, but I get A for effort right?

Anyway it is another Wednesday and that means it is time to link up with Mandy and share once again with my dear friends (that would be you peeps) what I am thankful for this week.

Sometimes I like to talk about more serious things, and then there are days like today when I am thankful for not-so-serious stuff.

Ok so I may have regressed on the "public" speaking skills.

That reminds me... I'd like to add that I am also thankful that I can't hear you giggle at me and my awkwardness in front of a camera ;)

Happy Wednesday friends!

WE ARE MOVING!

See you later Marquette! I'll never forget the wonderful memories that you gave me, as this is where I met my husband and where we brought our first born home to.  I'll miss you.

Now you're probably curious as to where we are moving.

 Well... drumroll please.......

Negaunee Township.ha.

For those of you that are from around here, you know where I am talking about and for those of you who have no idea where I am talking about, it is about 7 miles from Marquette ;)

We aren't moving very far. Right now we live about 4 miles from the dealership (our work). When we move, we will live about 9 (the other direction). 

My parents live in Negaunee Township. And my in-laws live pretty much in Negaunee Township.  So it's only right that we too jump on the bandwagon and move there.

Who doesn't want easy access to free breakfast??

Now how we got to this conclusion you might be wondering. You see, my parents own a ton of land. 49 acres to be exact & we decided to get some of that land & build on the edge of the property. So we talked to my parents and figured out the logistics and voila! We will have 5 acres of land & we will build our forever home in the middle of an apple orchard.

Sounds amazeballs, right?  It is, trust me.

We are so excited. There is already a trail between my parents' house and where we will build because it is my mom's riding trail with the horses.  I told her I would put a tie-out out back so that she can ride over on the horses for coffee in the morning.

It has been really fast-moving actually. And I can't wait.

Ok so the deets.

We can't sell our house until August. boo.  When we bought our house 3 years ago, we qualified for the Government First-time Homebuyers Credit and of course took advantage of that. Well that means we have to be in our house for 3 years.  That will be in August. As soon as that sucker rolls around, I will be popping for sale signs everywhere. ;)  It will of course be bittersweet. This house has been so good to us, and it is right in the middle of town and it is where we brought Kenne home to.  But at the end of the day, Andy wants land. Our dogs want space to run. Jody wants her a bigger house to house guests and expand the fam.  So it will be a good move.

We are hoping to do this in steps. We are going to try to get the basement, septic, well & driveway in this year & then use that equity to give us a cushion next spring/summer to build the house!!
And if we sell our house this fall/winter, we do have a place that we will be able to stay in until the house is built, it will just be a little farther for us to drive in the morning, but hey it would be for like 6 months & the end result would be worth it.

So thats that. We are packing up and heading out of the city. (if you'd call it that).

Here's to hoping everything goes smoothly!

More to come.. :)

Chicago 2.0 in pictures.

Like I have said before, I could easily go on and on about how much I love Becky and her family and how I not-so-secretly hope that one day we could live in the same city but I'm sure you get the point.

Instead I shall show you the rest of our trip in pictures!

WARNING:: Picture Overload

 (photo taken by Becky)

 "I'm not touching you, not touching you"

MOM..SHES TOUCHING ME! :)

Ok, fine.. you do have toys.

beep beep

Kennedy.. get ready, I'll be over in five.

Shedd Aqaurium Time!

BFAFS.

best friends at first sight.

lovies.

baby swap!

elli totally cheesin'

get back here with the snacks!

How can you not melt looking at that face??

What a ham!

Beck & Elli

E: Wanna hold my hand?

K: Don't even think about it.

gangstas!

Kennedy & Auntie Becky having a very important conversation.

Hanging with the dads!

Checking out the city on our morning stroll.

loves.

the gorgeous tulips down on Michigan Avenue

Top of the John Hancock building.

Kenne and Mama

Checking out the city!

Adults Only Dinner outing!

Soooo much fun.

morning cuddles

This trip, my friends, was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

We will most definitely be doing this again.

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

xo



Fifty Shades of Grey.

If you are wondering where I have been lately. You can blame the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.  I have been nose deep in those books since I started reading them.

Yes parts of it are full of vulgar words and actions but when you really look at the story behind the book... it is amazing.

Such an intense relationship. So much love. So many emotions.  I.love.it.

It's real. There are people in the world that are kinky people. Plain and simple.

Those things exist. So it really isn't that far fetched.  I like that it doesn't just tell you about a love story. It tells you about all of the things that come along with real life. Things you can and can't control and things that make you who you are.

These things happen.  People are brought into this world in these scenarios. They experience horrible, scarring events.

But behind it all, it shows you that people really can overcome certain things. And people adapt.

Ahh.. ok. Back to work. Then home to finish book 2 so I can start the last one. :)

Then I promise I will be back to blog on a normal basis.

Happy Tuesday!