Here I am...Send Me!

I will have to post about my birthday soon, but this is my birthday wish- for everyone to read this, and pray for me and this trip!!! :)

Dear Family and Friends,

Several years ago, Patrick and I felt called to adopt.  We went through the process of praying about it, thinking about it, talking about it and then decided to take a step.  We decided we would adopt domestically through DFCS.  We went to classes for months, we filled out gazillions of papers, had medical tests, had a home study, and got to a point where we were ready.  We had three kids already and people thought we were crazy, especially because we were considering an African American boy.  It was an incredibly emotional and exhausting time.  A few days before our social worker finished our file, I found out I was pregnant.  We called the social worker and told her to pull our paperwork, we were being blessed with another child.

Two years passed and we made the decision that if there were to be more Hartigan children, they would come a bit later, and they would be adopted.  We decided to take the first step by “adopting” in Africa through an amazing organization we knew about through Liberty Hill Church.  SERV International sponsors an orphanage in Kenya called House of Hope, we went on their site, saw James’ picture and we were sold.  We send our monthly payment to provide his shelter, food, education, medical care, and needs at the orphanage. We send packages when teams travel to Kenya.  We send letters and cards for his birthday and Christmas.  But this all seems so small knowing we’d love to bring him “home” to us. 

The Kenyan government makes it very difficult to adopt Kenyan children.  So our dream of bringing James home is just that, a dream.  We wish the rules would change, we wish there were another answer, but the answer we have now is “go to him”.   How?  When?  Teams from our church go to Kenya several times a year and I had always felt pulled, but how does a mom of four, wife, friend, daughter, sister, teacher find time and money to go to Africa?? And should she even go?  These were the questions that ran through my head for months.  But then doors just started opening.   Through a time of fasting and prayer, I asked God to let me know if I should go… and why?  Just to see James?  When he answered, he made it very clear.   A trip to Kenya was in the process of being planned.  It wouldn’t interfere with school, and it was a group of students that needed another female adult.  The students?  Kids from our youth group, most of whom I am privileged to have taught and watch grow into young adulthood.  All I could think was, “this is my trip.  This is what I do”.    A trip where I will not only get to meet James, get to visit villages, feed people, build houses, but to have the opportunity for me and some of these kids to act out our faith together.   When I came back to the questions, I felt God asking me, “What better example of being a servant can you give your children than by going where I send you?”   So I signed up. 

How am I going to do it?  That’s God’s part- I am just taking the step, the step of faith to commit to a trip of which I’m terrified.   I am asking you to pray for our team, for me, my husband, and my kids as we’ll be gone for nearly 10 days.  Pray for overseas flights, motion sickness and lots of shots!!  I am also asking you to help support me and my team of incredible students as we raise funds to pay for airfare, shelter, food, and the necessary expenses.  If you would consider supporting me financially, I would be humbled and honored.  I know God will place this letter in the right hands and the funds will be provided.  It is the only way we will find the money to take 9 college students to Africa, as the cost of the trip is nearly $4000 a person.  If you choose to donate, please use the enclosed slip and we will send you statement you can use for tax purposes. 

I know at the end of the day, I know this trip is about so much more than just meeting James.  I am getting the opportunity to “lead” a group of young adults where we will truly be the hands and feet of Christ as we honor God’s calling to go to “the ends of the earth”. 

With Love,

*Please mail donations to me at Ginny Hartigan, 104 Twilight Overlook, Canton GA 30114.  Please make checks out to “SERV Ministries”. 

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something”  Mother Teresa

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”     Isaiah 6:8

Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays.  I know it’s all cheese and Hallmark, but I love the old fashioned idea of handing over that homemade valentine to the one you love.  It is innocent and lost among today’s generation of texters and twitterers. 

I love the colors, I love the flowers and the chocolates, I love the three foot teddy bears being bestowed on every pretty girl at school. It is a time when people go out of their way to make the day special.  I like that.   Valentine’s Day at our house is a big deal.  We make our own valentines, I decorate the kitchen with garlands, balloons, and trinkets, we usually have a cake or cupcakes, and we plan special “dates” with the kids. 

This Valentine’s Day was a bummer.  I worked all afternoon Sunday baking and crafting to get things ready for the big day and I woke up Monday morning with a stomach virus.  With Monday completely lost, I had to scramble that evening to get the stuff ready for school and decorate the kitchen. I collapsed half heartedly smiling at the 2 dozen roses my husband brought in to cheer me up.

Valentine’s Day itself was ok, I was weak and tired, and in no condition to consume chocolate.  The high school was loaded down with flowers, candy, treats, and stuffed animals.  I had a few funny notes left from students, but I was so ready to come home because I felt so awful.  We had a family dinner and then went through their valentines and ate cupcakes.

I cannot get over the amount of stuff my kids bring home, I am overwhelmed with pencils, erasers, mini slinkys, candy, and cards, and it seems the junk multiplies and the cards get smaller and crappier every year.  Patrick makes fun of me for being an “overachieving mom” and making our valentines, but I feel like it’s part of the experience, call me crazy. 

This year we made lollypop flowers for Claire’s class, bags of “bursting” friendship starburst for Matthew’s class, and Valentine s’mores for Katie’s class.  They all came out so cute. 

Despite the sickness and the mountains of crap I must contend with, I stand firm…. I love Valentine’s Day.  It gives me another excuse to spoil the ones I love and who wouldn’t love this face?? 

My "tied for second favorite" month!

It is finally February!  My "tied for second favorite" month!! :)  So happy and excited for all to be celebrated this month!  Today brings so many things, so many people who need support and love (and celebrating!).

The first thing that came to mind this morning was Megan.  I have shared her story and her blog with many.  She is a friend of mine at work who is 17 weeks pregnant and has cervial cancer.  She had to have her cervix amputated today with hopes of saving her and her baby's life.  She has been such a witness for God during this whole ordeal- never giving up on His plan and clinging to hope. I had been praying for her all day and just thanking God that I have gotten to know her in the little time I spent with her at work. And tonight I am thankful to know a walking miracle.  Megan's tumor was 100% removed and she and baby are HEALTHY!!!  She probably won't even need radiation or chemotherapy after they deliver the baby.  This is nothing short of God working a miracle in her life.  As I sit back tonight and think about her situation, I am humbled and my faith is challenged.  I don't know that if five different doctors told me I had to terminate the pregnancy to save my life that I would keep seeking.  Megan never took no for an answer when it came to saving her baby's life.  She leaned "not on her own understanding" but on God alone.  She quoted scripture and prayed without ceasing.  I am in awe and so thankful for her witness in my life.   All praise be to God!!

The second thing that came to mind this morning was what Beth would think when she walked into her room and saw this:

I am thankful for all the friends at work I have been blessed to find.  Beth is a great teacher, a blast to hang out with, and has a huge heart for what she does.  And because I am obsessed with birthdays, this was a necessary decoration to her room. ;)  She was showered with food, balloons and gifts from her students and I made these fun little Harry Potter cupcakes.  I think she's in a sugar coma now!

Sorting hats, lightning bolts, and quidditch brooms!  All out of fondant.  Red and gold sprinkles for Gryffindor!!

In the flurry of the facebooking of Beth's birthday, I saw that it was also Savannah Kinkaid's birthday today.  Savannah was a girl in our youth group who was killed in a terrible riptide accident this past September.  The shock and sadness of losing Savannah was one of the hardest times in the life of our church.  Today, I remember the quiet, beautiful soul who spent her life serving others.  I always think of that Band Perry song, "funny when you're dead people start listening".  That was Savannah....such a sweet quiet spirit, yet she affected so many lives.  Praying for her mom and dad today, and the rest of the family.  Words can't begin to describe their anguish.  So thankful they are believers and can rest on the fact that we will all be dancing with Savannah some day. 

So February begins, with some amazing people brought to light.  I will celebrate with another cupcake and by going to bed early to catch up on sleep- snuggling my babies tight.