I have never had a desire to go outside of the country. I don’t like change. I’m quite content where I’m at thankyouverymuch.

{Read more at She Seeks today} and if you don’t mind, leave me a comment there.

Dear Alarm Clock,

You have been by my bedside for 20+ years. When I think back through the years with you, I get teary. The early mornings of band before school started. The college classes. My first real job. My wedding day. Getting Doodle up for school.

Of course we would sleep in as many Saturdays as we could. You’d play music softly for me each night as I drift off to sleep. You’d wake me up with the same soft music playing. You were never rude with that annoying buzzing sound. Sorry for those mornings when I hit your snooze button a little too hard. You know I’m not a morning person.

You have been an amazing friend for me for many years. I doubt other alarm clocks could work as hard as you did for so long. I’ll totally forgive you for the one day you failed me. Even though it made me miss half my massage I finally scheduled from my Christmas gift. I won’t hold on to any resentment.

So, rest in peace my dear alarm clock. I know I will never be able to replace you.

Much love and sleep,

Lisa

It started in the ’80s. Maybe the ’90s. My memory has left me to early in life. But you know what I’m talking about. The commercials. The ones showing kids in other countries with just skin on their bones. Oh, and the flies flying around their faces. You remember. Don’t you?

I grew to hate those commercials.

Every time one would come on, I’d close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears and sing “la-la-la” as loud as I could. This was before the days of remote controls. Yes, I’m that old.

I’m a fixer. I want to fix things.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a fixer or because my heart literally hurts when I see someone hurting, but those commercials broke my heart. I was overwhelmed. They’d throw out big numbers — so many children needing food and medical supplies. I never could fix it for all of them.

So I continued to close my eyes and change the channel.

At my first She Speaks 2 years ago, there was a Compassion booth setup. I refused to look at any of the pictures. I was not going to let my heart break or feel the pain of these children around the world that I couldn’t help. My buddy Robin heard Compassion was going to send some bloggers to India, and she wanted to go. Not me. I wouldn’t even walk at to the table with her to support her. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I have never in my life had a desire to go outside the country. Ok, maybe a few times in French class I’d dream of Paris, but really? I’m a good ol’ country girl who would rather go to vacation in the mountains here than across the ocean. But this wasn’t a vacation. This was a trip to see kids who are sponsored through Compassion, kids who aren’t sponsored and how Compassion works through the local people there to share Jesus.

Technically Robin didn’t make me do it, but inspired me to do it.

Around my birthday last year, after reading about Robin’s experiences in India, I decided to sponsor a child. I sort of peeked through one half-open eye. Fingers still in my ears. I figured I did my part. I’m sponsoring a child. But really? I didn’t want to get attached. I don’t want my heart broken. Pretty selfish huh?

Fast forward to this year’s She Speaks. Same Compassion table, just a few down from the She Seeks table where I sat with my buddies. Except this time, I didn’t really have a choice but to go by the table. Our She Seeks team met with Shawna and Laura and talked about how we could help inform others about Compassion. There were only 2 thoughts that crossed my mind — one, I did not want to admit that I had sponsored a child about a year and a half ago and never written her a letter. Two, I did not want to go on a trip.

This week one of my She Seeks buddies, Shannon, and Shawna are in Columbia. Please pray for them on their trip and also check out Shannon’s blog. She’s writing stories every day. But most importantly, pray about sponsoring a child. And if you do sponsor a child? Sit down and right them a letter — TODAY. I mailed mine Friday.

Sponsor a Child

And she rested.

This is my 3rd year attending She Speaks and each year has been a huge blessing in its own special way. I had signed up for sessions, but I didn’t go to any. By the time the actual conference rolled around, I was already brain-dead. I found though I was always in the place I needed to be in. I sat at the She Seeks table and helped ladies find where they were going or get them information. I had many God-conversations in the hallways where I got to meet new friends, hear their stories, and tell them part of my story. When I got home, I found I was actually energized to write again. I don’t think I’m called to write a book, an article or a poem. I am called to write online.

One of many special moments had to do with my She Seeks team. Last year before She Speaks, I agreed to work on the She Seeks website to set it up. That was essentially how I got myself and Especially Heather to the She Speaks conference.

At the time I thought I was just going to setup the site, do a little training, and then turn it over. Little did I know the plans God had for me in working on the site. I post everything that goes up — I setup the inspirational entry for Monday. Then we added a vlog every Thursday. I moderate comments and make other changes as necessary. In the beginning, I didn’t have much interest in the site because it was for 20-something women, and well, I’m not 20-something Haven’t been in quite awhile!

But the inspirational entries continued to touch my heart anyway. There is no age limit on what was written or shared in the vlogs. I got to know the other ladies on the team, and at She Speaks last weekend, I got to hang out a lot with them all.

Our team leader, Lisa Whittle, gathered us in her room and gave each one of us a present. I had the honor of going first, so I cautiously opened the box she handed me. When I opened it, there was a beautiful necklace with a silver plate (don’t know exactly what you call them but I know you’ve seen them!) with exodus 17:10-13 imprinted on it. She began to tell me a little about the verse and why she chose the verse for me. Oh did I want to bawl and I’m not a crier ya’ll!

¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. ¹² But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³ So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

During a time where I’ve been praying for God to use my talents, gifts and abilities where He would like to see them used, Lisa told me that I was their Aaron — I am their support. I hold their hands up so they can do the work God’s called them to do.

Confirmation I am right where God wants me to be.

“What we have here, is a failure to communicate.” – Cool Hand Luke

This pretty much sums up how I’ve felt the past 2 months. Good grief. I just logged in here and it was exactly 2 months yesterday the last time I posted here.

Mom must be mad with me because she hasn’t even called to see if I’m still alive. This blog was her way of keeping up with what was going on in my life.

The truth is, I haven’t felt compelled to write here. Whether it’s Satan attacking me (no one reads your blog any more) or just too much softball (never being at home), I just haven’t written here.

I have been keeping busy lately helping some of my favorite Proverbs 31 Ministries ladies out with different techie issues. Did you know Lysa TerKeurst moved her site to WordPress? It’s beautiful with a capital B! I didn’t design it but I’m helping maintain it and handling hosting issues and such. I helped LeAnn launch She Cooks which is totally hilarious to me because I’m the Queen of Drive Thrus. There are others I’ve been helping and another site I’m trying to get up and running before next week. Because next week … is She Speaks.

Ya’ll. I can’t believe it. Seven days from now I’ll be in Concord helping behind the scenes to get prepared for She Speaks. I just ordered my business cards. Oh yeah, that reminds me. I’ve got another site to get up and running before next week – mine.

In preparation for next week though, I figured I’d better log in here and write something no matter how much choppy it is

There’s some stuff I want to share with my She Speaks buddies for next week but instead of rewriting stuff, I’m just going to link to my old posts. Still good info

Maybe you click. Maybe you don’t.

She Speaks Tips

This could be the most important one you read. If this is your first time at She Speaks, DO NOT MISS the Prayer Room!

I’ve started a She Speaks 2010 page for you to link up your blog and your Twitter profile if you are going to be at She Speaks next week. This will help you get to know some of the other gals going and possibly make some connections beforehand.

If you’re there, come visit me at the She Seeks table or find me. If I look like a deer caught in headlights, just give me a hug and say “bless your heart.” Give me a minute to process what you say — especially if you talk fast. I’m a true southerner … slow brain and all!