Thanks be to God

It's Thanksgiving week.  I love this time of year.  It's beautiful outside with the fall colors, and I *love* traditional Thanksgiving foods!  Looking forward to some sweet potato casserole, honey ham, pecan pie... Yum!!  My parents and sister will be here with us this year for Thanksgiving at our house, and we already have our menu planned.

This morning, the Page crew was a little bit lacking in the Thanksgiving spirit.  We had a big Aggie's Arts sale at our church yesterday morning, so my van was still loaded down with stands and beads this morning.  There was a set of tall stands in between the back seats, and my girls had to crawl over to get in and out of the van.  Well.... Mattie made the mistake of complaining about it.  

I asked Mattie why those things were there.  Of course, she said Aggie's Arts.  I then went on about how the reason those things are in our van is so that mothers can feed their children.  So that our friends in Uganda can have a roof over their heads.  So that they can send their children to school.  So that in those schools, we can help provide cement for the floors... so that the children can have less bugs crawling into their feet!  So that those children will have desks to sit at and books to read.  

Schoolchildren dancing at one of the
schools supported by Kisoro Kids

Mattie was speechless.  There was no defense for whining when you put it in those terms.  I don't want to put a guilt trip on my kids.  Feeling guilty is not from the Lord.  I am reminded of something Aggie said to me when she was here last year.  I asked her what it was like being around all the wealth here in the US.  She replied, "God has truly blessed America.  Americans should be thankful.  They should not feel guilty for their wealth, they should just give God the glory... and use those blessings for His Glory."

Mattie, Ivy, Aggie, and Carley

I want my kids to know how blessed they are.  And I want them to know why we, as a family, do what we do with Aggie's Arts.  It is so important that we never lose sight of that.  

Aggie's Arts is truly making a difference in the lives of many in Uganda.  This is why 'I do Aggie's Arts'.  I continue in this ministry because I believe in it.  I know that I know that I know that God is using every necklace, every bracelet, every bead to make a difference.  And He is glorified.  He is glorified through every sale.  He is glorified through every donation.  To God be the Glory!

To learn more about Aggie's Arts visit our website: www.aggiesarts.org 

Running the Race... it ain't easy...

It's been a hard week for me.  I've had some difficult discussions with some people that I love.  My husband has had some difficult discussions with some people he loves.  We are spent.  I kind of feel like crawling in a hole (with Jason) and ignoring the world for a few days.  Being a grown-up ain't easy.  In case my kids read this, I'll point out that I'm using "the A word" for emphasis.  ;-)  Being a mom or a dad, an employee, a leader of a ministry, a manager of money... none of it's easy.

God didn't promise us easy.  And if you don't believe that, let me introduce you to some of my friends in Uganda.  When I have days like this, where I'm discouraged and drained, I look at my pictures and videos from Uganda.  I see the environment in which they live.  I see the mud huts that they live in.  I see the 'toilets' where they relieve themselves.  I see the tattered clothes that they wear and the beds that they share.  And I see their joy.  I see their peace.  The kind of joy that only God can give.  The joy of the Lord.  The peace of the Lord.  They are Running the Race.  And I'm here to tell you it ain't easy.

Today I am holding on to that joy and that peace.  And that endurance that only my God can give.  God, help me to Run the Race!

You can learn more about my friends in Uganda at www.aggiesarts.org