Can't Wait For You To See This!

But, you're gonna have to...just a bit longer. We didn't complete our 2nd Both Hands project at Shirley's today because it was such a big one. But the day was a.m.a.z.i.n.g, and thanks to the Muellers, we already have a video of it!

BUT...our amazing Team and church family NEED to see it first!

*Check back tomorrow* (sorry I'm so bad)

Coming soon~

Johnson/Lowden Both Hands Project Video

Our 2K Race

Is It Saturday Yet?

Not asking because we want to sleep in.

We can't wait for The Project!

Are you ready, Shirley? Cuz here we come!

Tomorrow we'll be moving all the tools and building supplies to the site.

Saturday we'll be rollin' up your drive about 7:45 to:

~ replace kitchen countertop, sink and faucet

~ replace bathroom countertop, sink and faucet

~ add outlets, light fixture and mirror to bathroom

~ paint garage door

~ replace/repair eves

~ install siding on gables

~ trim trees and remove brush

~ do some other things I can't remember :)

I can't wait for you to meet the two families driving in for the weekend! We get to work side by side on Saturday and worship side by side on Sunday.

*We hope to have the video uploaded Sunday too*

Lord, You are awesome!!!

Provision!

As we prepare for our second Lifesong/Both Hands project April 9, I wanted to share some of the things the Lord has done!

We are in awe!

There has been $3,771 contributed to our Lifesong account to help raise the ransom to bring our Treasures home. We know some of the funds will come in after the project, and there's room for the Lord to show up big time! In doing the math today, we still need around $19,000. That's a mountain for us ~ but it's not even a small hill for the Lord!

Just yesterday we received a $200 check in the mail from a family we don't even know. The Lord has touched their hearts for two children who need to come home! Today we learned a young couple we know sent $1,000 to our Lifesong account to bring our girls home...rather than take their vacation to Hawaii. Seriously! It makes me wonder ~ would I do the same? Would I give up something beautiful for something else beautiful?

There is testimony after testimony of hearts bent to treasures stored up in heaven, and we are so touched by folks around the world helping us run this race to our girls! It humbles us and brings us to tears most days. To Him be the glory!

And the Lord has provided in other ways too. My sister-in-law will be traveling to China with us! We've been praying about how we'd manage this trip since Mr. Greenthumb will be tending the sweet corn crop for the July harvest. Once again, the Lord has provided!

Stay tuned for our April 9th project! We are currently ordering siding, formica, kitchen and bathroom sinks and faucets...and of course sharpening those well-used chainsaws :) So far all the electrical supplies and paint have been donated. And it'll be worth the day's work just for the two meals being provided by a family in our church! They are preparing pulled pork for lunch and burgers for dinner, with all the fixins'! The Lord is good!

Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Can you imagine seeing this Krew (and a whole bunch more) coming up your driveway at 7:45 a.m.? Look out, Leona, here we come!

I can't believe our Both Hands project #1 is tomorrow! Have I mentioned how excited we are?

It's gonna be awesome because we serve an awesome God, and He's all over this deal!

Some people will do anything to get out of a little work. Kolton and his wether goat will leave for the youth expo tomorrow morning.

Kuyler also leaves college tomorrow for an evangelism conference.

So we're missing two of our best hands (but don't tell them).

Hopefully, the next time you hear from me we'll have the project video uploaded!

Please pray for my two biggest boys, Leona, our team and the Lifesong/Both Hands ministry.

It's gonna be awesome!

Great Start to a Good Week!

Since Kooper accepted Jesus last week he wanted to be baptized Sunday!

What an amazing answer to prayer!

Sunday afternoon we had a Both Hands team meeting to prepare for our first project this Saturday. We are SO excited! We hope to have the project video loaded by Monday.

I can't wait to share what God is doing as far as supplies and food donors!

And since this is such a random post, in other news, we took Kinley for another post-op visit today, and Dr. Miller is very pleased.

Remember my prayer journal? If you're in there, I have NOT forgotten you. Even if you don't know you're in there, you are still being lifted up. Some of the requests have already been answered, but some have not. If you'd like to update me, please leave a comment or email, and I'll continue to pray!

In further randomness, I am 29 days from completing the Bible, maps to concordance! I have loved reading it this way, in BIG chunks at a time!

And finally, some oh-so-sad news regarding the squeaky shoes. They are gone. History. Outa here! We decided to donate the 50+ remaining pairs to another adoptive family in hopes they could raise travel funds. It was fun while it lasted though, wasn't it?!?

Oh, The Cookie!

I had some time today, and our first Both Hands project is next Saturday! So I thought I'd make some cookies to bribe encourage the team next week.

Just don't tell my kids or they may never make it to the freezer!

BUSTED!!!

I seriously can't believe we will spend next Saturday in the company of so many people who love the Lord, doing some things for a beautiful woman who loves the Lord! Our local grocer has donated most of the food we need for the meal so this week we are seeking a few donors for some construction items and the rest of the food.

It's gonna be awesome!

In The Mail!

Our Both Hands project is in full swing!

Yesterday our Team gathered to stuff envelopes, and tomorrow there will be nearly 600 letters hit the mail!

What exactly is the Lifesong/Both Hands project?

It's an incredible Scriptural concept to extend a hand to the widow and the orphan, based on James 1:27.

The family (us) selects a widow (the project) to lend a hand to. In our case, we have two widows (meaning two projects!).

Then we recruit a Team. We have 12 Team families.

The Team commits to do 2 things ~

1) Send letters asking friends and family members to sponsor them as they work on the project. It's sort of like a charity golf tourney or a walk for the cure, except our project is extending one hand to the widow and one to the orphan, as Scripture commands us to do.

2) Spend one full day working on each project.

How does this benefit the family?

All funds raised go into our account at Lifesong, to be disbursed as we need them for the adoption of our two Treasures, Kasidi and Kennah.

What does our project consist of?

We will spend a day at the home of each widow. There is an extensive list of tasks, all coordinated by our project foreman, Brad. We will trim trees, landscape, plant grass, replace a garage door, replace eves, replace two sinks and counter tops, build a patio cover, install a porch swing...among other things. It's going to be amazing, and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to extend a hand to two beautiful women who love the Lord!

In the sidebar of our blog you will find a "Donate" button. If the Lord leads you to give to this project, you may use the Donate button which places your tax deductible contribution directly into our account at Lifesong.

Our team, which includes two elementary students and a teenager who are sending their own support letters! This picture represents at least one member of each team family, except two who had scheduling conflicts (we missed you!)
To Him be the glory!!!