I think my hardest b1day to date was my 25th because I thought a quarter of a century how old! But now that I'm just a few years from a half of a century...being a quarter of one doesn't sound half bad. (catch the play on words, half-bad half century

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I am glad your friend came over. Becky.
So Kara, it's a plan, you'll arrive with paint brush in hand right? The kids have been embarrassed before of our house because I can't do all of the things I want to do physically and we can't afford to pay for someone else to do it. But after Lyd came back from Nicaragua and met a lady named Esther who had lived in the dump for 40 years, raised several children there, she hasn't complained as much about the house and if she does it doesn't take her long to realize how blessed we really are. One of my favorite things she has said since coming back is about her trip to the dump. When they first arrived, the sight, smells and sounds were overwhelming and she thought to herself, how could anybody find God in a place like this. Then they visited Esther and she wanted to pray for the kids. Lydia was taken back, this lady who had practically nothing wanted to pray for her. Her who had a roof over her head, her who never worried about going hungry, her who bought new clothes and electronics. HER! Esther never asked for anything for herself except one thing... she wanted a photo of the group so when they left she could look at it and pray for these kids. In that moment, standing in the middle of the dump, with bugs buzzing about, with the sun shining down, with the smell of putrid garbage all around, Lydia looked into Esther's eyes and there she saw God the most she has ever seen in her life.
And if she will let me use it, that just may be my challenge story this week. Though she gets protective of her stories, I wanted to tell them before and she asked me not too but perhaps I can fictionalize it.
Oooh fictionalize that's a great scrabble word. Ever since starting this tournament that Amy set up, I keep seeing words and think oohh that would make a great scrabble word!