RUNNING FOR A CAUSE!!!

How did I find Ordinary Hero…? Well- a God thing, for sure. See, for months my sister-in-law had been telling me about “some lady” who was starting “some organization” that she was going to do “some backpack thing” for. She kept saying it was my kind of thing. But I had a 6 month old and a busy life and never checked out the website. But during this time in my life, the Lord was really pulling at my heart- for orphans. I have always had a deep compassion for orphans. When I was 17 I went on my first mission trip to Ukraine and worked in orphanages and it was there that my heart became so burdened for orphans. And now- 10 years later- it seemed everywhere I turned there was something about orphans. I had shared this with my sister-in-law and been praying that God would show me where He wanted me to get involved, but my life, again, seemed “too” busy. So one Wednesday night I was at church and the pastor called a random lady, unprepared I could tell, and her husband, to come down front and give their testimony about what God was doing in their lives. Being caught off guard, her story was short and I honestly do not remember exactly what she shared, but I do remembered feeling a tug at my heart when she spoke. Afterward, on the way home, as I spoke to my husband about her, about her compassion for others and how she was doing something about it, I found myself moved to tears. The very next day, not coincidentally (as is God’s way), my sister-in-law called me again. It had been several weeks since she’d mentioned “that organization” at all, but this day she told me she just felt like God was telling her to call and invite me to a meeting that night about the backpack ministry. I already had plans but I distinctly remember knowing that I needed to go---so I cancelled, and went. And again, not by a coincidence, I found myself less than 24 hours later in the living room of “that woman” whose testimony had touched my heart so much at church that night before. Kelly Putty. A true Ordinary Hero. Long story short (ok…LONG!) it was actually the first ever meeting for this new organization that God was moving about strongly. She shared her story. Her dreams. And said she was planning a trip to Ethiopia. I signed up that night and by July I was THERE, in Ethiopia, with Kelly and the first team of Ordinary Heros. That’s how my story with Ordinary Hero began. I can only say this organization is truly God centered and made of ordinary people, just like me, who just want to be His hands and feet to those in need. So this Saturday, April 28th, I will be taking these “feet” and putting them to pavement for some thirteen miles-to raise money for this wonderful cause. I am excited to be running in the Country Music Marathon on the OH team this year and would ask, if you are so compelled and able, to SPONSOR MY RUN at any amount. 100% of funds raised go directly to children in need. Check out the OH website www.ordinaryhero.org to find out more about all of the wonderful things they are doing…and then go to my personal webpage www.grouprev.com/danaandrews to sponsor me. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL---how about $1 for every mile I will run…only $13?! And say a prayer for me if you remember on Saturday morning---13 miles is a long way when you’re running! Thank you, in advance, for being and Ordinary Hero!!!!

ALIVE

We had a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating our RISEN SAVIOR!! I've had an old tune on my heart that I think I have known since I was born...:)

I serve a RISEN Savior
He's in the world today
I know that He is LIVING
Whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy
I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him
He's always near

He LIVES, He LIVES
Christ Jesus LIVES today
He walks with me and talk with me
Along life's narrow way
He LIVES, He LIVES
Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He LIVES?
He LIVES within my heart!

I love that song. Such a sweet reminder that He did die, but more importantly that He AROSE so that He can live in my heart...and yours! I cannot imagine my life without Jesus...

To celebrate this joyous occasion, we did all kinds of things and had more FUN ourselves watching Easter through the eyes of our children. All of it. Jesus. The Resurrection story we read. Dyeing eggs. Egg hunts. Seeing the Easter bunny. We celebrated in so many ways...

So here are some pics, captured "moments" to always remind me of this Easter and how ALIVE I am able to feel, because HE IS ALIVE!

We started our festivities at the zoo last week with Ash and Cash...Jadey's favorite animals at the zoo are on the carousel! :) She, of course, picked a rabbit this week!

Next stop was our first egg hunt of the season at my sweet friend (from high school!) Chrisie's house...so blessed that we are raising girls together, now! Here Abby and Jadeybug are counting their candy eggs!
The sweetest faces in the world to me...
I had so much fun dyeing eggs for the first time with Shaelyn Jade. This is a tradition we did every single year of my life so I wanted to continue it with her...and she loved it too! It was fun to have Rich's fam in on it for their first time too!
Bedtime on Easter Eve, proud as a peach of her new PJ's Non and Pop got her for Easter! She wanted to be sure the Easter bunny knew she LOVES rabbits so she collected every rabbit in the house to sleep with her... but then made sure I understood NOT to let him come in her room! :) Little unsure of the ole guy, still... :)
We usually have Easter lunch at the Watson's house with large and crazy crew of egg hunters. Check out those two Lankford boys in their bowties...SPIFFY! Cy man was PROUD! And the Calmus clan proved to be, as you might have expected, fierce competitors on the green! :)
My favorite Easter picture this year...my two favorite guys looking rather dapper, I must say...and it was like Jude knew right when to squeal with delight at his FIRST easter egg find as I snapped the picture! :) My toothless little "wabbit"....
Our best Easter treat this year was having Emily come in from San Francisco to spend her Spring Break with us. It seems like YESTERDAY she was only a tad bigger than Jadey is now and I was helping her. She is such a sweet cousin to her "mini me"...
And oh how THANKFUL we are, this Easter, that these two precious souls are here with us! Hadley Katelyn is the sweetest little girl that I am really starting to fall for and amazed that she was perfectly MADE for our family...she even LOOKS like her Daddy! And as if I didn't love Hosanna from the first second I laid eyes on her little 9 year old face (now almost 7 years ago!!!)...I am over the moon that I get to "hang" with her lots these days. She is a blessing to know- a resilient and "wise-beyond-her-years" gal that never ceases to amaze me by her strength and beautiful smile. I am so excited that my kids will be close to her, too- we love us some Hosanna around here!

What's Missing?

So here's our handsome little man this morning...


...the "morning after"!
Here he is a little closer-


Anyone see anything missing?
How about...


...THIS!

That's right, folks! We lost our first tooth in the Andrew's house last night--- and not exactly in the ideal "fall out in an apple when you're 6" fashion. No...how about not-quite-11-months?! Little brother bear took a tumble from his dinner chair onto the dinner table last night...and that big ole tooth literally FELL out onto the floor! Lots of blood but just a few tears thankfully...and a rather quick and painless trip to Vandy to make sure all else remains in tact.
Reminded us all of another very special little lady that spent nearly her first decade without two teeth after an early fall like this one...

(Briley holding jude when she came home to visit last summer...see how pretty those teeth came back in???)
We're sure gonna miss that cute little tooth, but oh so thankful because like one of my favorite children's books reminds me: "COULD BE WORSE!"