It's Fair Time In Washington!

Derek and I had a special treat last week...

We went to the fair!

Fall always reminds me of one thing in particular...the fair! Oh how I miss the Washington Parish Fair...just the feel of cool crisp air and I can already smell the aroma....Since we can't get to our hometown fair, we got the chance to go to another local fair...the Puyallup (pronounced Pew-all-up) Fair. Our friends Laura and Moises were going so we decided to join them and my goodness, did we have fun!

And then there was the food...oh boy...the food...

I won't even begin to tell you the junk that we put into our bodies, I will only say that the fair happens once a year and it just smells so temptingly good, that I allowed myself to become weak...very weak. =)

One thing that I heard was a "must try" at the Puyallup Fair were Elephant Ears, yes you heard me, Elephant Ears. What are Elephant Ears, well just look below to find out...

Now, don't you want one too??


Here's my very first Elephant Ear! I have to say that I looked like a four-year-old mess by the time I finished it...Derek looked at me and informed me that I had cinnamon-sugar all in my hair, ha! But when there's sugar on your fingers, and the wind blows your hair in your face, how else are you supposed to move your hair?? =)


Then we found this booth...they had a very interesting menu...


As interesting as it was, I did NOT order anything =)

Now, onto the main reason we were there...

There was a concert with this guy...Jeremy Camp


And this band...Mercy Me!

We had a fabulous time worshiping with Jeremy Camp and Mercy Me!


Laura and Moises had a good time =)


And we sure enjoyed it too!


Here's my favorite picture from the concert...I just love the words on the screen.

Then, this lady came out, you probably don't recognize her face, but I'll bet you'd recognize her voice...

...it's Delilah...you know, from the night time radio show...De-Li-Lah (insert the tune here)
Why was she here? Well she is far more than just a voice on the radio...she's an incredible Christian lady with an incredible mission!


She runs a charity for children in Ghana, West Africa, and also in America called Point Hope. Everything she shared with us that night just blew me away. For example, there are currently 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system, the majority of whom will never, ever have a "forever home."

In Ghana, the United Nations will be closing an orphanage in December of this year that serves as a home to 360 children. These children will have nowhere to go when their orphanage closes. Point Hope is doing everything they can to save these children. Ghana has been close to my heart for a while now...it's where the Compassion International child we sponsor lives. It's just a heartbreaking situation.

This charity is living out James 1:27...

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

Their vision is "to be a voice for forgotten children." I love it! It goes right along with one of my favorite verses:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8

Since that night, I can feel God stirring in me...stirring me to do what, I'm not quite sure yet, but whatever it is, I'll do it! Maybe it's to get involved with this charity, maybe it's to prepare my heart for something bigger, maybe it's just to be aware or raise awareness for a problem that goes unnoticed by the majority. I've been reading the book of James quite a lot recently, and if there's one thing I know about the teaching of James, it's that faith without action is dead faith, and I want a living faith! For now, until God gives me further direction, I am pleading with Him on behalf of these orphans...because I am quite convinced now that if we don't plead for them...the pleading won't get done.

It was definitely a fair day I'll never forget =)

There's No Place Like Home

All right, I'm probably going to sound a little whiny through this post...but today I wish I had a pair of these...



I woke up today just wishing so badly that I could see my family...well, I can see them in pictures...what I really want is to give them all great big hugs.

I can't figure out what triggers these types of days, I'm guessing that maybe I had a dream that I don't remember. Or maybe it was spending yesterday at the Puyallup Fair and remembering all of the fun times at the Washington Parish Fair...or maybe it's because we saw Mercy Me in concert last night and I keep singing the lyrics to "Homesick" in my head...or maybe it's because a dear friend from Bogalusa is in town visiting her family and we got to have lunch together this week...or maybe it was because I've been pricing airline tickets home for Christmas and outside of a Christmas miracle, we just can't afford what they're asking for those golden airplane seats...who knows?

What I do know is that there are 2,639 miles between me and my family.

Here's the map to prove it.

Here's what else I know...if this is the greatest of my problems, then I am doing just fine. I also know, without a doubt, that living here in Washington is where God has called me to serve Him and live my life. I also believe Psalm 84:10 "A single day in your courts is better than a thousand days anywhere else!" and add to that Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you..."

So what am I going to do to get out of this funk when all I want to do is lay around and mope?? I am going to finish this blog post, find my quiet spot, take my Bible with me, and pray. I'm going to thank God that I have a family that I love so much and miss so much it hurts. And I'm going to think of every single blessing that I've been given and be thankful...and maybe, just maybe I'm going to ask for a pair of ruby red slippers =)

September at a Very Quick Glance =)

Yep, I know I've been a terrible blogger lately. It's been a busy month...a fabulous month, but a very busy one. Here are just a few things that have been going on with us =)


I started teaching pre-school two days a week at the Rubber Room...doesn't it look like a fun place to learn? I absolutely love this job...I have the most adorable 2 & 3 year olds, great parents, and fabulous co-workers...and I get paid on top of all of that!


We got to say "Good-bye" or "Good Riddance" rather to our old dinosaur dishwasher!!


And we gladly welcomed our new dishwasher...definitely one of the perks of apartment living...it didn't cost us a dime, just a phone call to the manager. =)


Then I got have a super fun girls lunch at one of my favorite places, Panera! I know you're probably wondering why I took a picture of my food instead of my friends...well, this particular meal is a milestone for me. Why? Because I ordered a salad!! And until very recently, I have always hated salad, namely lettuce. What I have discovered is that it is only iceberg lettuce that I hate...I love other kinds of lettuce and raspberry dressing especially! I have been a salad eating fool lately, I guess because it's like discovering a brand new food. Derek said he never thought he'd see the day that I cleaned my salad plate. But I think 3-year-old Kade said it best when he said "Lissa's growing up on us." =)


Went to a baby shower for our friend Dawn, who is expecting baby #2 (it's a girl!) I just adore the decorations!


Just look at that cake! My friend Kristy made that oh-so-adorable cake...you might remember her fabulous cake decorating skills from her baby girl Ainsley's first birthday party. My party contributions: I picked up the balloons, ha! I am one talented balloon picker upper, but hey, every little bit helps, right?


Then today, we got to meet that sweet baby girl. Delaney Grace Kitley made her entrance at 9:23 a.m. this very morning! She is just perfect and I love her to pieces already. Congratulations Chuck and Dawn!!

So that's been our September so far, and of course there are lots of little in between events that go uncaptured on camera. What I do wish I had a picture of is the crowd at Life Church last night! Derek and I were taking care of the kiddos and we had 14...all age 4 and down...and the best head count inside the coffee shop was 46...that means we had 62 people at Life Church!! It was a standing room only crowd...how exciting!! We love seeing God at work in DuPont, can't wait to see what He has next in store =)