PhoDay

Eric and I found a restaurant that I can eat at safely.  It is Vietnamese food and has delicious pho (rhymes with la).  We met Isabel on a Friday and have since been back again on a Friday.  Eric and I now get very excited for Phoday.  Millie also loves it and even ate tripe out of Eric's pho.  

 It is clearly easier for Millie to drink the soup through a straw.

Our Homeless Experience

We live in a small town.  Our children's experience with homeless people is almost nonexistant.  When going into the city, we have the occasional traffic light beggar but they are not usually homeless.
When we put together bags to give to the homeless/needy, the girls were very excited to get to help someone.  We had three bags sitting in the front of the car ready to give to someone.  Me being nearly a hermit, caused us to not have the opportunity to give out a bag for almost a month.  The times we did leave the house, the girls were combing the streets and parking lots looking for someone/anyone to give a bag.  We should be praying to have no homeless people in the world, but begging for a homeless person to cross our path may have entered our prayers.  Then last Sunday, the moment happened!

We were on our way home from church and stopped at Walgreens.  Eric went in the store while we waited in the car.  I then spotted him.  He had his shirt pulled up and tucked into the top of his shirt.  This exposed his whole stomach.  My children consider this as naked.
I said, "Girls, I see someone in need.  I think he needs one of our bags."
Hattie chimed in, "I think he needs to pull down his shirt!"
I explained that it was quite hot outside and he was trying to cool off.
Lydda was extremely excited and wanted to give out the bag NOW.  I wanted to be safe and wait for Eric to come out of the store.  She was SCREAMING, "Give him a bag!  Open the door and give him a bag!"  As I'm sure you know, the car windows are not sound proof and the man could totally hear her.  He was directly in front of our car.
The dear man walked around towards the front of Walgreens.  Eric was taking forever, so I went ahead and took one to him.  He was very appreciative and told me, "I could really use these things.  Thank you and God bless you."
I returned to the car and replayed the whole conversation with the girls.  We discussed how it helped him and made our hearts feel good because that's what God wants us to do.  Doing what God wants makes Him happy.
The girls began discussing if they thought the man was homeless or just in need.  Lydda said, "He couldn't be homeless.  He was wearing clothes."

Go ahead and let that sink in and remember when handing out a needy bag to a true homeless person, avert your eyes and aim very high.

Helping Those in Need

We recently had a group of youths from the church over to fill bags with items homeless people or those in need could use.  The church members keep them in their cars and when we see someone on the street in need, we hand it to them.  We had a good time putting these together and it really got the kids thinking about the needs of others.  

I also took my girls to see the Compassion Project.  What a powerful way to show people real life examples of poverty.  Other than taking your children to a third world country to witness it, this is one of the best ways for them to grasp the magnitude of need.  Check to see if they will be coming to an area near you.

  Eric and I also impress upon them, the need here in the United States.  Nothing gets our blood boiling more, than people (children and adults) that feel they are deprived because they don't have the latest and greatest.  I hope no one ever thinks we are deprived because we choose not to "keep up with the Joneses."  If they feel that way, maybe our family's joy and happiness isn't showing through enough.  Our family has too much and we know it.  I pray my children continue to know that they are blessed beyond measure.  Our material things do not equal our blessings.