The Making of M.O.M.

If you've read my blog for any amount of time you know how much I love and adore our close friends Chris and Lindy. They are the brains and obedient hands behind Only Servants Ministries. Seriously people, I could go on and on for hours telling you how fabulous this couple is and what an impact they are making on the people of Kenya. But, you can see all that for yourself by clicking here and checking out their ministry blog for yourself.

The reason I'm bringing them to your attention once more is for non-ministry related stuff. These two twenty*coughsnortthirty*somethings are in the process of adopting two sweet children from Rwanda.

I could go on and on and on about what fabulous, God centered parents they will be. But I'm going to keep this post as light and airy as possible. And if I start telling y'all about Lindy's mothering instincts or Chris' whole-hearted desire to father and lead a family I'll just start bawling. And these days, once I open that can-o-worms very little slow that train down.

Let me just say that no sooner than 45 seconds after their children are placed in their arms will Luke and I be calling them for parenting advice. Oh who am I kidding? We already ask them for parenting advice.

Anyway, Chris and Lindy will be flying back to the United States in the very near future. With them they are bringing ALL KINDS OF KENYAN GOODIES. With Christmas just around the corner, wouldn't your holiday be brighter getting that special little girl in your life one of these:

Or how about that special woman in your life some of these (and you can be your own special woman if you wanna be. I mean, treat yourself ladies!)?

Maybe you aren't into jewelry or dolls? Well, who wouldn't want these in their house for some interesting conversation starters, or even a reminder that Kenyans think that Mzungus (white people) are chubby?

Don't need reminding that you are chubby? Yeah, me neither. Therefore, if it were me (and this is) I'd opt for the opposite of a reminder of chubbiness and go for something that says "Stuff your face and think of Africa." I'd choose these adorable little napkin rings...

Oh wait. We were talking about Christmas presents weren't we? Thaaaaat's right. So ex-nay on the getting this stuff for yourself. Get those skinny African things for your skinny friends. Get the napkin rings for yourself. At least that's what I would do.

But in keeping with Christmas, there are several nativity sets. They come in many variations, but I like this one:

Or these amazing angels, straight from the hands of Kenyans:

Whatever your fancy, this is just the tip of the Ya Ya iceberg. All items are custom made by authentic, actual Kenyans. That's right people, real people who were born and bred in Africa. Pretty gosh darn cool if you ask me.

Chris and Lindy will be having a Ya Ya Market right here in our hometown! If you know me IRL, this won't be a problem because you can stroll downtown and see what all Chris and Lindy brought back and purchase them for yourself.

If you don't know me IRL (in real life) and are interested in these items please contact me at beaverbunch (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll see what I can do. All proceeds from the Ya Ya Market benefit Chris and Lindy's adoption fund.

Here are the specs for you locals:

Ya Ya Market
When? November 20th, 5-8pm
November 21st 2-4pm
(during the Christmas parade)

Where? That funky little coffee shop on Main Street
(you know the M*cough*'s Brew)

Sorry to be vague, but lately I've been a little paranoid about publishing our living location to the world. If you DO live locally and want to attend but have no idea where I'm talking about, then email me at the above email address and I'll hook you up!

Some of you who know me IRL (in real life) may already know this. But whether you know me IRL or only virtually, I have something to tell you.

I can't listen to secular music.

Notice I didn't say I shouldn't, or that I don't want to. It's just that I can't.

It's not because I think that secular music is un-Christian. In fact, I love me some Carrie Underwood (at least her first album after her American Idol win). And, that Apple Bottom song is pretty good too (Plus, Luke will drop-it-like-its-hot to that song. And this youtube clip of that red-headed kid dancing to it just CRACKS me up.).

And just the other night we turned on the radio in our living room and all 7 of us had a super fun dance party. We rocked it out to some Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and even some new, funky music that I'm sure all the hip teenagers are listening to these days.

So, it's not that I think Christians shouldn't listen to secular music. It's just that I can't.

You see, before I married my husband I made choices about my life that didn't involve God or prayer or guidance from Godly counsel.

Some of those were good choices, like my decision that a wallet with a chain should probably be eliminated from my wardrobe. Yeah, I'm serious.

Some of those were bad choices. Like the choice to give my body to the guys I dated. Choices to live for the moment and not think about my future husband.

In high school, I really believed that I was going to marry the guys I dated. I really believed that if I was going to marry them anyway, why not go ahead and do the things married people do?

In college I enjoyed the good time I had with whoever I could have it with. The thoughts of how it would effect me, my marriage and even my children 10 years later never even occurred to me. I mean, whoever I married would have baggage too, right?

And isn't that what the world leads us to believe? I was watching a late night show the other night and one of the (female) guests said that she thought that people should just have sex before they ever went on their first date. That way, if the sex was bad, they wouldn't waste their time dating. She thought this was an excellent idea for everyone, except her two teenage daughters.

I wonder why her views changed when she thought of her own children? Perhaps she too knows why I can't listen to secular music.

For me scanning the radio dial is dangerous territory. Since it's been quite a while since I've listened to anything other than my iPod or Christian radio, I know very few new songs. So you'd think that the general radio would be safe, huh?

Notsomuch.

You see, it wasn't too long ago that I thought I could give the radio a try. I turned it on to our local New Music station and began listening. The first few songs were okay.

Then it happened. They played an oldie-but-goodie.

At first I was like, "Oh! I like this song!" But then, I remembered. I remember who he was and how I felt about him. I remembered what he smelled like and how I gave myself to him.

He was not husband. Thoughts and memories came back to me that I had thought I had forgotten. I snap back to reality when one of my children calls for me from the back of the van. The rest of the day I spend fighting off thoughts of him and what we did.

I'm totally serious. It's that bad and it doesn't bring blessings and warm fuzzies to my marriage.

I do have fond memories too that are evoked by songs. Sweet Home Alabama will always make me giggle and want to stand on a chair (500 points to the first person who knows why and can say so TACTFULLY in the comment section). Brown Eyed Girl will never be sung the same and will always have my sorority's twist on it. And the Dixie Chicks' first album will forever remind me of my first semester in college and the freedom I felt being on my own. Plus, Salt-n-Peppa will forever make me wanna Shoop.

So maybe it's dramatic for me to seclude my self from the secular music world. I'm sure there are many other secular songs that would evoke fond memories of my past. But in all honesty, it just too dangerous.

Why would I risk having a mental affair with someone I should have never been involved with in the first place? Why would I want to risk lowering my husband in my eyes because of a "good" memory (that is probably skewed) with another man?

I can't find a single reason why. Hopefully, your past is less tainted than mine. Hopefully the radio doesn't send you into a tailspin of emotion from years past.

But for me, my past killed my ability to freely listen to the radio. It has killed my ability to be hip and cool and know the newest Black Eyed Peas song. But I'm guessing that even if I knew the lyrics, I wouldn't be that cool anyway.