New Hampshire - Part 1

As most of you who read my blog regularly know, my best friend Emily, along with her sweet family, moved to New Hampshire in July.  You can catch up on that story here.  It was a sad and tearful goodbye but it didn't take long before we began making plans for me to go for a visit.  Talk about the squeals and giggles!  And we were only picking the flight dates!  Her husband Bruce, graciously took off work to keep all of their kiddos and Russ agreed to handle things alone here in Florida.  We were ecstatic! A girls weekend!  In New Hampshire!  In the Fall!!!!  How good is God?  I mean seriously!?!  We would have NEVER even attempted to plan a trip like this if she were still living here in Florida.  Who knew that her moving would create a whole new dimension to our friendship - site seeing!

I left early on Thursday, Oct. 15.  My flight took off at 7 am so Marc came to pick me up at 4:30.  I made it through all the security checks and was sitting waiting to board my plane when Russ called to tell me that Anne woke up with a 101 temp.  Ugh!  I had a tinge of guilt for leaving but knew that Russ had everything under control.  Besides - I was committed.  I landed in Boston by 10 am and we hit the ground running!  So much to see and do!  We prayed that the Lord would make the weekend feel longer than it was and boy did He answer that prayer.  We had the absolute best time and we were able to do all that we set out to do.

Here's our weekend in photos:

Our first stop on Thursday was the town of Peterborough, NH.  Emily had heard of lots of fun and quaint little shops in this town so we set off to explore.  We did find lots of fun shops - and lots of Fall leaves!

On Friday, it was rainy so we postponed our trip to Boston.  We had breakfast at an awesome local restaurant called Parker's Maple Barn.  They have the best Pumpkin Pancakes ever!

 This covered bridge was just down the road from the restaurant and very close to Emily's house.  We pulled over and had a great photo op......

After breakfast, we took off to Deerfield, Massachusetts to the Original Yankee Candle Factory.  Emily had heard of this place and we thought we would try it out.  It was an hour and 45 minute drive - in the rain.  But sooooo totally worth it!!!!  We were under the impression that it was still the candle factory and we would get to see how all the candles are made.  You know - like a tour.  WRONG!!!!!!  We shopped for 5 hours!  This place is AWESOME!!!!  Each time we entered a new room we would giggle!  They even had a room full of Christmas trees and it snowed every 4 minutes!  There were, of course, candles but many other things as well.

 Inside the Black Forest - where it snowed!!!!

There is even a HUGE toy room and Santa is here year 'round

They had a huge room with clothes and fun stuff!  I couldn't walk away without this fun hat!!!!

As a matter a fact - we both bought hats!

Outside Yankee Candle

On Saturday, after the boys Soccer games, we took off for Boston.  Oh My Goodness!  These two Orange Park girls had a blast!!!  This was my first time ever to ride, maneuver a major subway, public transportation system.  Yes - laugh at me. It's okay.  I've never been to DC or New York.  I've ridden the subway in the Atlanta Airport - somehow I don't think that matters.  

We drove about 15 minutes from Emily's house and caught the bus into Boston.  It dropped us off at South Station which is the major hub for the buses, commuter trains and the Subway system.  We then managed to figure out how to get on the subway and to Boston Common.  We did it!  Not once did we feel afraid or nervous.  We tried very hard to look the part.  (I wanted to take lots of pictures but I knew that would definitely be a give away!) I'm sure some could tell we were newbies - but all I know is - we did it!!!!

To be continued........

Obedience and Divine Appointments

Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about the girl in my Bible Study whose mother is dying? 

Well, Brittany contacted me this week and we got together last night to chat.  3.5 hours later, we left Wendy's full of Frosty's and French Fries - but most importantly, full of love and joy and an awe for God's attention to the meticulous details in our lives.  Before the beginning of time he set this divine appointment for us.  We were both obedient and followed through.  We were both blessed beyond measure.

God is a God of details.  Noting happens by chance.  I went through the death of my mother so I could help her - along with MANY other reasons.  And she will endure her loss in order to bless someone else in the future.

It's so easy to think that everything is all about us.  The reality is - nothing is about us.  It's all about  God.  It's all about how we can enhance His reputation.  9 years ago I begged God not to waste what was going on in my life.  To use it - use it for His glory.  He is continuing to do that all these years later.  His grace and His mercy are astounding.

It was a joy to meet Brittany last night.  To REALLY meet her.  We have a lot in common - besides our mother's death.  This meeting was definitely a God thing.  I am looking forward to getting to know her better.  I see a special friendship in our future.

Take a moment and read from her blog

The Furnace of Affliction - (doesn't the title just draw you in?)


God is busy.........

Desires of My Heart

"Delight yourself in the Lord and 

He will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

Growing up it was easy to think that this verse meant that God would give you whatever your heart desired.  In reality it means that God puts the right desires in your heart.  You want what He wants.  When you delight yourself in Him, He will align your heart to His will.  How exciting this is when you experience it.

It's late - I was in bed.  For about an hour.  I have a crazy busy day tomorrow.  I should be asleep.  But this blog was circling in my head and I knew that I couldn't sleep until I typed it out of my system.  So, here I am.

I'm so excited about the things that unfolded today that I just had to share.  Like slap your mamma, pee your pants, giggly about what God has done, can't sleep excited.  You're dying to know, aren't you?  Well - I'm dying to tell you - obviously!  But let's get some background first.  Because I'm that kind of detailed person.

One year ago this week, Russell went to Haiti.  You can read about that in this post:

 

Russell's Trip To Haiti

 

I struggled a bit when he went because I couldn't go with him.  I didn't have the desire to go, but mostly I struggled because we had always done things like this together and I didn't want to miss out on what God was going to do in his life.  I wouldn't be there to experience it first hand with him.  I would have to wait and be told the stories when he returned.

 

God was more accommodating and gracious then I expected.  Russ came home and his trip touched my life deeply.  More than I could even understand at the time.

 

Even though I had not experienced the poverty and the devastation first hand, it affected me.  It affected the way I saw things around me.  When you have young children, you spend a lot of time looking down and close to you.  Now that they are older, it was like the Lord was lifting up my chin and saying, "Now, it's time for you to notice the big world around you."  

 

Only a few weeks after Russell came home and on a completely different subject (Thanksgiving, I think) through a friend on Facebook I was introduced to a blog by Heather Hendrick.  As I read further, I discovered that they were missionaries in Haiti.   I began to follow them daily as she completely fascinated me.  She is such a great writer and is so honest and real about life there and how God is working.  She can make you laugh, cry and feel convicted all in one post.  I definitely recommend you bookmark her - you won't be sorry!  I promise!

 

Anyway - I was doing some real soul searching at the time - about Christmas.  About how we, as Americans, spend our money at Christmas, etc.  In November, Heather posted this blog, Cereal Boxes = Hope 

 

I sat at my computer and wept.  This was it!  This is how I could help!  How easy was this?   This is making my Christmas money count for eternity!  Was all of this coincidence?  I know it is was not!  The events that happened next were a God thing.....

Before I knew it, I was emailing Shelley at ApParent Project asking for jewelry.  I was telling everyone about it.  I blogged about it - I put it on Facebook.  Russell even let me get up and tell the church about it.  The church began collecting cereal boxes to ship to Haiti.  Everyone got so excited!  Other friends were ordering boxes of jewelry and selling it.  People were contacting me to buy it from me.  It went crazy.  I researched the best way to ship the cereal boxes and people from all over were contacting me about it.

As Christmas came and went, the passion about this ministry only grew stronger.  Each piece of jewelry has a tag on it with a photo of the artisan who made it along with their story.  I began recognizing names and faces.  They were becoming real to me.  I followed Shelley on her Blog and on Facebook.  I prayed for each of them.  For her, for her family, for the artisans.  I continued to sell the jewelry and collect the cereal boxes.  I love to wear it and see the expression on people's face when I tell them it's made from recycled boxes.  And then I get to tell the whole story about how these necklaces are employing Haitians!  They are helping them to get out of the tents and into homes.  Helping them to pay for their children's schooling.  Helping them keep their children.  The majority of orphans in Haiti are not true orphans.  They have parents that desperately love them.  But they are poor and cannot feed them.  So in order to save their lives, they give them to an orphanage that promises them food and an education.  As a mother, I cannot even begin to comprehend having to make that choice.

So, here I sit.  Almost a year later - just as passionate about ApParent Project - if not more.  I know it's a God thing.  He has given me the desire to help this ministry.  He has placed that passion in my heart.  And the more I learn about it - the more I want to know.  I want to meet these people.  I want to see everything up close.  I want to experience it.  It's been on my brain for weeks.  But I haven't told anyone what I am thinking.  It's crazy, right?  I say that knowing the verse quoted above.  God is up to something.

Today, Russ and I shipped 5 more boxes of boxes (I like saying that) to Haiti.  These boxes are heavy and always get raised eyebrows from the postal people.  But - I got to share all about it again today with the lady behind the counter.  She lit up like a Christmas Tree!  I happened to be wearing a necklace so she could see first hand.  I was so excited!  I go to this particular post office all the time to mail my Calligraphy stuff.  They all know me in here.  I always try to avoid this lady because she has zero personality.  ZERO.  I've tried several times to strike up a conversation - be friendly.  NOPE.  All business.  Never smiles.  When I got her today, at first I was disappointed.  I wanted to talk to one of the other ladies.  But man!  ApParent Project did the trick!  I told Russ when we left that that was the most personality I had EVER seen from her.  He tried to convince me it was because he was with me but I know it was the jewelry!  How can you not get excited over it?  It's fascinating because it's made from cereal boxes and it's beautiful!

So, Russ and I get back in the van to finish our errands and we begin talking about Haiti, about ApParent Project - all of it.  How it's been a year and how much I have been involved.  How the Lord has allowed us to be a part of something so exciting.  And all of a sudden he says to me, "I think you need to go to Haiti - go to the artisan house - see what it is all about first hand." I was floored!  I told him I had been thinking about it but didn't want to just assume I could. He jokingly told me that if President Clinton or Donna Karan could just show up - so could I! HA! I am hardly of that caliber! All I know is that this is way out of my comfort zone - and that is when God does His biggest work. I knew I had to at least ask.

 

I continued to pray about it throughout the day and tonight when the guys went to Scouts, I sat down and wrote Shelley an email.  Explaining of course, that I didn't want to intrude and invite myself.  But wanted her honest opinion.

 

My heart skipped and I began to cry when I received her reply:

 

"Absolutely you can come! When were you thinking? We have lodging on site (in the artisan house).

Would love to meet you!  We are so grateful for all that you do for our artisans, it would be a pleasure to make the introduction!!"

Shelley

 

After a few more emails - we decided that February would be the perfect time for me to go visit.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Can you hear my excitement?  I want to squeal like a little girl!  Now do you understand my reason for not being able to sleep?  I get to go to Haiti in February!  I get to stay in the artisan house!  I get to meet all of these wonderful people and help out for a week.  I'm just giddy!  One year ago, I didn't really have the desire to go to Haiti.  It wasn't time.  God had a different plan for me.  February is my time.

Now, I also know that in most ways concerning this - I don't even have a clue as to what is going to happen to me.  I know that this will change me.  I know that there is a HUGE difference in seeing photos, reading blogs and being there first hand.  I have NEVER done anything like this before.  EVER. I know that I will come home different.  I know that God has an even bigger plan and purpose in this.  Part of it is terrifying.  God always does the most work when we get out of our comfort zone.  I am stepping out.  But I know it's okay. You know why?  Because God gave me the desires that are in my heart.  He has given me the great desire to go and that means He is up to something AWESOME!!!!!!  And I'm ready!!!!!

I cannot wait to tell you ALL about it!

A Little Bit of Everything

This has been a busy week!  Let's see if I can sum it up a bit......

For the last two Sunday's the Choir Room at our church has looked a little Christmasy (is that a word?)

I am soooo excited about the new items that ApParent Project has for Christmas!  I still have everything set up for this Sunday and then I will do it again in November and December during our Fellowship Lunches.  I already have two Fall Festivals set up where I will have a booth to sell it and I am thrilled!  Can't wait!  It's going to be sooo much fun to tell new people about this fabulous opportunity to help the artisans in Haiti.

I know I sold out of a few things - but I have more on the way!

Last Saturday, we surprised the kids and went to the Morocco Shrine Circus here in town.  We had a really nice time. 

      Enjoying some Cotton Candy!  That's a MUST at the circus!



We took Jarod to the Ringling Brother's Circus when he was 2 or 3.  Anne had never been so she was very excited.

She was a bit disappointed that there were not any elephants.  I think it was okay with me.  The two animal acts that they did have (trained dogs and monkeys) left me a bit uneasy.  Especially the monkeys.  While they were cute and all, I wanted to free them!  Free them all!


Wow - I really do have this new tender spot for animals.  All because of this one....

How cute is that?  But we can't free her - she is safer with us.  Remember those three kittens I blogged about a few weeks ago?  Well, we've only seen one of them again.  Two went missing.  I don't even want to think about what could have happened.  We put food out - but they didn't return.  A cat that doesn't return to regular food - ya - they are gone.  So thankful for Meg - she was just meant to be ours.

Besides - she does cool things like this -

 Those are some of Anne's old hair elastics.  Meggie's FAVORITE toy.  She loves to catch them.  I mean really catch them.  It's like she is a goalie - she will do whatever it takes - including jumping ridiculously high to catch it.  She doesn't let any get past her.  You can see the blue one in her mouth in the upper right photo.

She will sit and STARE at you until you get up and throw them for her.  We spent the evening getting these photos because Anne had a project for school.  She had to bring in photos of her pet and tell about their "trick" that they do.  It was fun trying to capture it all.

And Meg didn't mind - it's her favorite thing to do!


In other news this week, Russ and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary on Tuesday!  Because we took a later vacation this summer, we were not able to get away like we usually do, but we are already making plans for next year - 15!  Wow!  We had lunch and spent the day together before we had to get the kids from school.

I simply love this man.  No doubt about it.  God has truly blessed us and I am so very thankful.

Goodness - I guess I needed to catch up a bit!  Nothing major going on - just a little bit of everything.  I love our life. 

Well, I'm off to Bible Study this morning.  In the meantime, please take a moment and read about this little guy.  He's amazing and he needs a home.  Please pass this info along - He is being prayed for fervently and the Lord has a family out there for him.

He Sets the Orphans Free

Until next time.......

God Continues to Reveal His Purpose

I've returned to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) this year.  Having taken 2 years off from the in depth study and feeling the need to be refreshed by soaking up God's Word, I felt the Lord leading me back.  For years I attended the class on the Westside of Jacksonville.  I have many friends there and many wonderful relationships.  But there is a class that is literally a stone's throw from my house.  Silly to drive across town (we do enough of that going to and from the beaches) when one is right around the corner.

I'll be honest and say that I was looking forward to sneaking in, laying low and soaking up the Word without any expectations on me.  Many people from the other class know my testimony, know I'm a "Pastor's Wife", knew my mother, etc.  I wanted to just hide a bit.

I walked into class last Thursday and within the first Hymn, I was fighting back the tears.  I always know that that is the Holy Spirit overflowing inside me and letting me know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I had such a peace as we sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy".  My mind went back to my very first year in BSF.  I was about 22 years old and I went with my mother to the Women's Evening Class in Mandarin.  Mom was so excited that I was going.  She had been in BSF since we were little.  My brother went through the children's program.  Mom going to BSF was just normal for us.  Now I was joining her.

My first year was life changing for me.  We studied the "Life of Moses" and I learned about the holiness of God.  I was hooked!  And I've been studying the Bible with BSF ever since.  Only taking time off when the kids were born or these past two years as we stepped into a new direction in ministry.  So, I say all of that to let you know that with one verse of "Holy, Holy, Holy" I can only say that I felt like I was "home."  Even though I was surrounded by mostly strangers - I did find a half dozen or so women that I do know - I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be in that moment.

I left with my notes and my questions and God has allowed for a sweet quiet time with him every morning this past week.  Amazing how much quieter it is when your kids are in school!

BSF is known for its high application questions.  Personal questions that make you search deep and be honest with yourself and with others.  I was thinking about that all week and for some reason, thinking about my mom how my life and my walk with the Lord changed so drastically during her passing.  I realized for the first time that that no longer defines me.  Does that make sense?  I guess for the longest time I always felt like, "Hi, My name is Cami Franklin and my mom just died."  It will be 9 years this December but I realized in the last week that I am no longer that person.  The Lord has brought me through it and out of it.  Yes, I still have moments where I miss my mom - I always will.  But it no longer controls who I am - how I see the world.  I am still learning things from it and piecing things together - seeing God's sovereignty - His plan and purpose.  It has made me who I am today but I have new areas where God is growing me and stretching me.  When you have learned the lessons - God will move you on.  Wow.  It's been a long road but I feel such freedom.

So, I tell you all of this because today was my first day in my discussion group.  BSF divides you up into groups of your peers - no more than 15 women.  We discuss the answers to our questions that we worked on all week, get to know each other and share prayer requests.  Knowing that I wanted to come in and lay low, I just prayed that the Lord would put me in the right group of women.  That I could learn from them and that He would use me in their lives as well.

Well, the Lord answered my prayer in that I didn't know anyone in my group today.  During the end when our Discussion Leader is giving out prayer requests, she mentioned that one of the girls asked for prayer for wisdom as she is making decisions concerning her mom and Hospice.  I just shook my head.  Wow.  I looked at the girl - she was young.  I wondered what her story was.

I felt compelled to talk to her afterward but how weird is that?  We don't know each other.  I can't just walk up to a stranger and ask personal questions.  I went on to lecture and kept praying about it.  Walking up to someone like that is so NOT me.  I like to ease into a relationship.  But the urgency of it would not go away.  Then at the end of the lecture, the Teaching Leader said "We must be obedient in the small things in order to receive the next instructions" and she went on to say that "ALL of our experiences are used for God's purpose for us - to Glorify Him and to minister to others."

I know these things!  I say them myself!  But God works most when we get out of our comfort zone.  Walking up to a stranger and asking personal questions in totally out of my zone.

We prayed and I told the Lord that if I saw her as I was leaving, I would speak to her.  So - guess who I saw immediately as I turned around to leave.  God definitely has a sense of humor!

Anyway - I approached her and said something of the effect - "I know we just met - sort of - but your prayer request has really pricked my heart.  Tell me about your mom."  What an intro, right?  But, she was gracious and gave me her story.

I won't go into great detail but let's just say that her story is EXACTLY like mine.  I am NOT even joking.  In the few moments that we spoke, she told me what was going on and I felt as though I was looking in a mirror - or watching an old video of me 9 years ago.  The only difference is that instead of having ALS, her mom has the same exact cancer that Belinda had (Russell's sister who died a month after mom).  Same exact stuff.

It became so crazy that I even asked her how old she was.  32 - just like I was.  She has a 3 year old - just the age that Jarod was.  She does have another child who is younger and she said, "He is my salvation because I can't look at him and not be sad for long." Oh how I remember those days.

In our very brief conversation she also mentioned that she knew the Lord was working and that she was too attached to her mom - that the Lord was cutting the apron strings and she was learning to trust Him in new ways.

I sit here in tears - fully knowing all that she is going through and will continue to go through as her mom quickly declines.  I am also in awe at how the Lord brought us together this morning and thankful that I was obedient in talking to her.  I gave her my phone number - told her to call me.  I'll see her each week so I can follow up.

Please pray for her with me.  And pray for me to continue to be obedient.  To keep up with her - to encourage her as others encouraged me.  I am so very thankful in having talked to her today.  Even though my mothers death no longer defines me, God still continues to use it in my life and in the lives of those around me.  My mother's death is no longer about me and what I went through.  That had its time and place.  Now, it's about how I can help others. I want to share, I want to be open and real.  I want to encourage others coming behind me so that we can all enhance God's reputation.

He is a Great and Mighty and Personal God and He Loves Us - Oh!  How He Loves Us.  More than we can ever comprehend.

Not Again

Remember this adorable photo from last year?  This is the way Meggie would greet us each morning. 

So cute.
So innocent.

But there was an evil plan inside that adorable head of hers! 

And it worked!  She is now on the other side of that glass all nice and cozy. 

Cool in the summer.
Nice and warm in the winter.

She's a lucky little thing!  She doesn't know exactly how lucky she is!  But obviously she's been bragging to her friends.

Somehow.

Some way.

Because this was our view outside the same window last night.

THREE!!!! 

Yes - three little kittens have found their way to our back porch and once they spotted Meg - they didn't want to leave!

They know she has it good!

Please help!  (banging my head on table)

Does anyone want a kitten?

We think they are between 4 - 6 months old.

They are strays like Meg was.  There is obviously a cat problem in our neighborhood.
My heart has been softened once - but  NOT  for 3 more.  Not even for 1 more. Russ is going to take them to the shelter once we can rally them all up.  Unless someone else out there reading this would like to soften their heart as well.  It doesn't hurt - I promise!

They are very cute.  

Anyone?????

You're laughing at me, aren't you?????