left leftover friday

it's been an emotionally exhausting few weeks and i couldn't bring myself to write. trying to grasp what is happening to my dear friend is so very hard. watching her fight through this debilitating disease, i have no words, only tears. no one can truly know the toll, the depravity, sadness, fear, anger and doubt she is struggling with, but we do know her heart. And as her husband said "although she is feeling all of these emotions, there is love and laughter present. she also knows and trusts that her true hope is found in our suffering, dying and resurrected King Jesus."
every day tasks are almost nonexistent for her now. since we have come home from nebraska she is  on a breathing tube as well as getting one for nutrition. as i find myself struggling through the why, i am in awe of her strength, beauty and grace that pour out of her.

if you want to watch the video i made of us giving our van to them click here

we want to thank everyone again for giving big! how faithful is our God.

here's a few more pics of our time in nebraska

came downstairs one morning to find nana and my girls like this :)

our brother in law makes these really cool custom cigar box guitars and we gave one to papa as a full time retirement gift.

my dad received the teacher of the year award at the university of nebraska at the college of dentistry and we went to celebrate

helping my giant

homegirls homeschool (even at nanaandpapashouse)

the chip gains of magnolia started the chipstarter campaign last year to help people who have big dreams and i decided to enter into this years contest.

our dream is to start a nonprofit. 

after years of serving, helping and providing dozens of vehicles for others, we are diving in.

The Salvage Yard-rescuing and repairing vehicles for good.

our mission is to provide dependable vehicles to serve people in times of crisis and need.

we have been funding this all on our own. giving away almost half of our income. we have outgrown our space and our resources. and we are in need of a garage/shop.

i filmed our entry into the contest as a sweaty mess and if you want to take a look at it click here

we were not finalists.

i admit i was bummed. 

watching and witnessing believers around us making foolish choices and not kingdom choices, it breaks my heart. we are called to do the hard and it's so easy to be looking to the left and to the right. i am reminded my eyes need to only look up.

i found encouragement in 2 corinthians 4:16-18

"so we do not lose heart. though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

and as john piper said "devoting a life to material comforts and thrills is like throwing money down a rat hole. but investing a life in the labor of love yields dividends of joy unsurpassed and unending."

homegirl quotes:

juno- "i can't be brave right now, but i can be brave when i'm an adult."

juno- "there's a tall girl over there pipi, wanna go meet her? i sink you should."

juno- "mommy i need me a planaid."
me-   "whats a planaid?"
imogen- "oh come on, its a bandaid, but planned."

me-   "all plates should be in the sink."
mira- "i already put by blank in the think and the no's in the no pile."

mira- "don't worry mommy, i'll be careful in the high cheels."

juno- "doesn't my owie look like a yummy popsicle?"


our giant has been working really late every night on our friend's truck and will be working on it again tonight and tomorrow, mira's first soccer game (if it doesn't get rained out) is in the morning, cheering on the huskers {in the big house} and on sunday we have our first meeting about the salvage yard with our cpa.
happy weekend!