Savannah-Hope in her "heart" outfit playing with her baby.
Here is a picture of Mrs. Miller holding Savannah-Hope. Savannah-Hope knows her as "Grammy Sheila"
Here is Savannah-Hope being silly with a washcloth on her head.
Here is a poll for you....it is tied in with a "Top 20" I've been working on:
In the past 24 hours have you?
- Turned on a faucet and had water come out?
- Taken a shower with water coming out of the shower head?
- Flipped a light switch and had the lights come on?
- Made dinner using gas/electric appliances such as microwave, stove, oven, electric can opener...?
- Slept in a room without lizards on the walls and ceiling?
- Slept in a room without hearing rats running above you or smelling dead rats?
- Picked up the phone to call your family and not have it cost $50 every two days?
- Used hi-speed Internet?
- Fastened your child safely in a car-seat?
- Got into your car and driven yourself where you wanted to go and when you wanted to go?
- Have you driven down a paved road?
- Have you stopped at a red light? and then waited till it turned green before you went?
- Shopped at a grocery store without cockroaches running up and down the aisles?
- Paid for something without using a calculator to convert currency?
- Spent less than $8 for a gallon of gas?
- Walked down the road and not been approached by children and elderly people dressed in rags begging for food?
- Have you eaten something in the car and not passed by someone who was starving to death?
- Have you spoken with someone who is dying of something that could easily be cured?
- Rolled over in bed and saw your husband laying their next to you sound a sleep?
- Have you kissed all of your children goodnight?
Okay please leave a comment and tell me how many questions you were able to answer "yes". And if you have any ideas on what to title this "top twenty .......", let me know.
22 comments:
I can say "yes" to everyone of these except the ones that pertain to children, as I don't have any.'
I think the title should be "Top 20things we take advantage of in the US"
Wow-more powerful things to think about. For me it would be Top 20 things we take for granted also and Top twenty things we often do not count as truly a blessing. You are still in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing all the pictures. Samantha is adorable. Maybe you can return next time to Africia as a nurse on a medical mission trip.-Love Sabrina
MRs. Crystal, I am getting ready to leave for Prom. I have been visiting your blog often. It has really been eye opening for me. Sending my love and prayers-Jenny
Okay Crystal...I'm in tears because I can answer yes to every one of those questions. The sad thing is that for most of them I don't even think twice about how blessed I am to be able to do all 20 of those things. I think you should name your list... "20 Reasons To Count Your Blessings Not Your Burdens". Thank you for opening my eyes a little wider. Your trip has touched my heart. Sitting here I wish I could help these people. Its difficult to believe this goes on every day for them. Its not fair that we can do all of those things so easily and some of them will never be able to. They probably can't even imagine the life we live because they've never lived it. You must want to give them everything you have including the shirt off your back. Oh...I guess you wouldn't get thru customs without that...heehee. Keep your shirt on...okay! :) Seriously, I would probably come home with nothing but the clothes on my back. You have been such a trooper! Thank you for taking time in such a difficult situation to share with us!
Top Twenty Reasons we are called to serve one another!!!
Crystal....You amaze and bless each one of us who have journeyed along with you....I try to envision, I try to understand...and as I began to read the Top Twenty reasons I am reminded by each one how each of us is asked to be His Hands and Feet...that of all the Commandments given to us, the greatest was that of Love One Another....I am still overwhelmed as how to begin doing that OR I should say I was at first when joining your journey....but, I realize as with anything that takes great Strength in life we must go before God in order to get it done...so, thank you for bringing all of us these Top 20.....it helps us to know how, who and why we need to be bringing God's Kingdom together....still praying here for you, Savannah Hope and her birth country that has united so many of us with you and Savannah Hope....I continue to smile whenever I type her sweet little name...Hope is truly what makes me smile!!!!
BIG, BIG HUGS....you are almost there, sweet girls...almost home!!!
Diane...
OK, so the BBL girls are about to meet for drinks/whatever at Chevy's in Carmel Mountain. I'm having myself a BIG Margarita..sorry if this makes you jealous..we're gonna drink a toast to all who can't make it, like Marci, Steph and you, of course... hopefully we won't be too rowdy and make national news...lol
all 20 top ten.. terrible....
so glad you are getting some good news and hopefully be 7 in the airport soon...
we can continue to help the others... don't worry.... it's a drop in the bucket to what we waste money on... every day.
Can't wait to see a pic of the entire family together...
Love
Marci
Hey, hoping for great travel news this week.
Love ya!
Well I guess I should not complain that gas is almost $4.00 a gallon. Once again thanks for reminding us of all the blessing we have in America. Love the the cute photos of Savannah.
We all had a great time last night; and got very drunk (well, some of us anyway...lol); wishing you were there, but getting savannah is way more important;
I'm also hoping for good travel news this week.
Yes to all of them. You are certainly going to come back from Malawi a changed person, and the changes in you will change those around you -- you'll be like the pebble dropped into the pond.
I certainly hope your appointment on Tuesday brings you the news you desire so that you can come home and be reunited with your family (and so they can finally meet Savannah Hope).
God bless you all!
All "yeses" for me, too. It is TRULY amazing how many small blessings we overlook and take for granted. Crystal, your blog is one of the ways God answers my daily prayer, "for all of our blessings, may we be truly thankful."
I can say yes to all of those. And I think the list should be titled top 20 things we take for granted in America.
Your journey has been such an inspiration and reality check for so many of us.
crystal we have been thinking of you and the baby. we would have e-mailed sooner, but karen just showed me how to do it. you have been in our prayers and still are. hope everything works and we can see you and the baby next saturday. Jerry and Jeanie
Wow Crystal, I'd have to say yes to all those. I wanted to let you know that our home group prayed for you tonight; we are praying you home safely and quickly. Love your blogs and love you & Savannah-Hope.
April 20,2008
My Dear Sweet Girl,
The Top 20 Things Your Precious Child has to say NO too and it is such a big GOD thing. I know God has used your journey to grow my strength and my faith in Jesus. As a mother you want to always be where you can fix everything for your children (age doesn’t matter). I have seen you walk out on faith on this adventure more times now than I can count. I am now a changed person for this has been eye opener for me. You know I like the security of knowing what will happen next and like you I like to be in charge of what is happening to me and my family. This may have been you trip but lives have been changed here in America just by your stories. I love to see your faith and trust in God so clearly. When I hear your calm voice on the phone and know how far you are from home with only God by your side I just have to thank God for giving to me a DAUGHTER that trust and loves him so much. You are my heart and right now it is bubbling over with joy. You are truly an amazing and strong young lady.
How much does Clifford need to put his 2 nephews in the private school where he would like to put them? Maybe they might be a service project for our group. Also how much is the cost of the bibles for the village church?
See you soon Hugs and Kisses
Mom
XXXOOOXXX
Thank you for going through this time with such a great attitude, every time I read about the conditions there it really makes me appreciate having water and electricity at the same time...thanks for bringing some world awareness and perspective my way.
God Bless!!!
I am just now catching up on your latest post, I have been out of town this weekend. Let us know if Clifford needs more money, or if you do!
Looking forward to seeing Bella tonight at dance, I am so glad her burns are healing.
Hope to see you this week!!
Shannon
i have 19 of the 20 ... love ya sis ... can feel the you on the homestretch ...
20 things I take for granted...I've done 19 of 20 in the past 24 hrs, not the grocery store, though, simply because there is nothing I need. Another name could be "20 things Crystal desperately WANTS to do!"
Praying you get to do all of these things and so many more very soon!
Blessings-Andie
The only one I can't say "yes" to is the one about the car seat. Only because mine buckle themselves in seatbelts.
These lists are incredible. I can't even imagine how badly you want to be home.
Crystal. I just arrived back home this weekend from a missions trip to Mexico. We were there 8 days in simular conditions. I thought about you very often, especially when I started to miss my family. We are usually able to call daily, but went to a different place this time, and I only got to talk to them for about 3 minutes on Tuesday, and again on Friday night. I prayed for you each time God brought you to mind. I've got to catch up on your blog updates, but I wanted to take a moment to let you know I was still praying for you. God bless.
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