A Mad Tea Party

Once upon a time there was a girl named Robin who dreamed of living in a wonderland.
She waited until everyone thought she was too old for such a silly dream and surprise This year near her Birthday she found out she lived in wonderland already!
She was not too old and neither are you!
Last Sunday afternoon our house was turned into a crazy silly tea party, there was cake (my new favorite cake : Ice box cake!) and the dormouse's ginger scones, The March hares Ginger ale and a pool of tears tea. There was bright banners and pink flamingos and croquet and .... wonderful people to share it with.

Sorry... no one was proposed too , but in the theme of nonsense this tag made sense.

Here we have the brave croquet players we just didn't have porcupines or pink flamingo mallets ( or anyone screaming "off with your head!")

The Birthday Girl is in Blue ( of course). Mom was really stylin in her Orange and Black .I think she should where hats on a regular basis.

Tea cups galore!

So thank-you to everyone who helped ( April and Liz!) prepare and tear down. and thanks Lewis Carroll for writing such a crazy book. We all enjoy a little nonsense once in awhile ( cake doesn't hurt either.)

Hope in Swaziland

I made it home a couple of weeks ago and had to run to start up my life again. So I have wanted to update you on my trip but haven't gotten around to it. until .....Now.
This trip was amazing! the group I went with was great. It was a slice of all the ages of our church Men and Women I still can't really believe I've been to Africa.
It's too much to share in one blog ! we basically hung out every day with the cooks at one of the care points where they serve kids 2 meals a day.
we painted a mural and did VBS while some of the men started to build a house for a women named Grace ( she is enough for a seperate blog post!)

since my brain tends to be unclear and disorganized I like to make lists so here are some things I learned . (upon reflection I've thought of so many things but I will start with these.)
1.How important relationships are.
2. Your words will have power when you back them up with love in action.
3.In places that have no hope Jesus is the only way to find lasting hope.
4. Our possessions don't make us happier
5. Every child loves to be hugged and held
6. About the beauty of African songs.
7. How beautiful Swaziland is!
8. Obedience to God and the holy spirit is invigorating and exciting.( even though it's scary beforehand.)
9. Silence doesn't have to be awkward .It's okay to just sit with someone and wait for words.

10. God's word feeds the soul.
11. More money doesn't make you more generous.
12. It's hard (even on a missions trip) to have a servants heart and not try and get the praise . Lifting others up and not yourself.
13. When you need strength just ask. God will give it to you.
14. A lot of what I take for granted is just how I was raised and my culture. Not everyone in the world has the same assumptions.

Why was I born in America instead of Swaziland ?

My counterpart in Africa (Ntombi) was 25 and pregnant without a Father and without a Husband. She lived with her grandmother and was expecting in Sept. She didn't go to the Doctor anymore because it costs to much.
We found hope in Africa ,but it's only because of Faith in Jesus.

Grace.