A short documentary about a place I love dearly....Addis Ababa

The City of Addis - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Stories of Faith - Christine Caine

If you are a Cape G person this is the weekend to visit LaCroix church if you are not already going. Christine Caine will be here from Australia to speak about the injustices of sex trafficking in the world. I heard her speak at the Global Leadership Summit and hands down, the best, most passionate speaker there in my opinion. And there was some serious competition in that arena.
Become aware of what is happening in the world around us. I love being a part of a church that stand for those who need a voice! If you are a local, consider LaCroix. Amazing things are happening there and God is in all of it!
Her story in the video above...and what a story.

Change

Today we remember Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to sit down and have a conversation with him? Why was he so committed to the cause? What made him take action when so many people looked the other way? Even people who hated what was happening...What made him stand so firm for what he believed in? Guts? Yep, but so much more than that. A passion for justice and equality? Yep, but more than that also. I personally believe it was his deep relationship with God and his unfailing desire to see change....SEE CHANGE.
How crazy the stuff we fill our lives with...Do these boots match this dress? -CHANGE- Should I buy some more stuff? Wow, I feel terrible that I have missed so many days at the gym. I should really get my butt back there. -CHANGE- I will do it..Tomorrow. I am just tired today and too busy with all of my other distractions. -CHANGE-Who are my friends? Real friends, Who can I trust? Are my kids happy? Am I a good mom?-CHANGE ALREADY!- Wow, I am kind of wandering around aimlessly today, better go to Target and get some more stuff. When I am not sure what to do Target is always the answer. _COME ON!-The days and weeks just seem to slip by and it is like I am not even in the moment. I am so DISTRACTED...I AM SO VAIN....I AM SO RIDICULOUS.
Really? Yes, it is me from time to time. Weight is something I don't spend time stressing about-but I know a lot of you can add that to your list. I have so so many more for the list, that I am not willing to post.
All of these useless distractions we focus on as time passes us by....People are dying, hurting, sad, starving, and lonely...and we worry about this stuff.
I have my own dream also...I don't want distractions to rule my life. I want to take MORE action and I WILL. Join me and let's agree to open our eyes to what is happening in the world-even with the pain, & stop focusing on our stuff. WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD...What is holding you back?
Random Thoughts and All-

Be Merry and Bright!

Wow, I am on a real role here! Have so missed blogging but life has taken on some BIG changes for the Becking crew! First, let me say to the three readers still following us....MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Second, GOD IS HUGE!
I know I have said that many times before, but at a whole new level I have seen God work in our family's lives over the past 4-6 months. I don't think I ever try to give the impression that my life is perfect! ha ha Anyone who knows me at all knows that! Like any family, husband and wife, partnership, team- there are always issues that without being dealt with-can take you out...Like completely out. I am guilty...of not dealing with my junk. Anyone know where I am coming from here?
Well, God has had another plan in mind for me....So over the past 4-6 months, we have been slowly, surely, fearfully facing tough stuff in life...
Sometimes simple choices I have made as a mom, a wife, a friend...Has been to NOT face me stuff.
God's plan- like I said, was different for me...He had a plan to force me into a new place. God brought some new people into our lives as a family...I think honestly, people I had been praying for without knowing it for years.
It has been awesome, scary, miserable, REAL, and pretty much every other emotion available at times!
But, here we are in a new place, yet again watching God carry us through!
So much has happened since I last blogged....like God has done some crazy awesome things-not without some pain.

Bianca turned FOUR! She is truly just unbelievable. She blows my mind with some of the stuff she says.
She prays at dinner and not too long ago...totally out of the blue, and at a pivotal moment for me...She started her little prayer and said this...."God, thank you for THIS LIFE."
Ughhh. hit me like a ton of bricks. This LIFE...This one...The life we get to live RIGHT NOW...AS IS....without all of the changes we are moving toward...Even in the middle of the funk.





Wow, she teaches me stuff every day.

Then there is Solie....The little rocker. That kid has a glow about her that rocks my world. She is happy happy joy joy...Unless you cross her...So, just don't...It's not worth it! A determined blissful little girl with a huge heart for love- That is Sol in a nutshell. I cannot believe how quickly time has passed since she has been home.




I have started to work again! I know-Can you believe it? We have had an awesome mentor come into our lives and over time we decided to start a company together. It is very exciting and just so right in general. I will post more about it at some point. So, I am working a few days a week while the little crew goes to their little kid school. I have missed using my business mind, and slowly but surely I am getting back in the swing of things! What an awesome thing that is happening.

Eric and I have committed to really work on making a better life for our family. This includes dealing with our "baggage" in life. And while it has been a tough road....and we continue on it- I am thankful God brought us to this place. The NEXT 14 years of marriage will be even better. We are learning to better communicate and to just be better for ourselves and each other. It is freeing! I am not going into any more details here because this is our story and we want to keep it that way. But we are happy to have each other and thankful God has given us THIS LIFE.

I have been a part of a new and kinda life changing small group...We just completed the book Radical by David Platt....And wow, have I been knocked out by it. I am ready to get back to travel this year, and waiting to see where God takes me.

Awesome, Awesome stuff happening through our church. Last weekend over 2000 volunteers helped pack over 500,000 meals for Feed My Starving Children....AND NO THAT IS NOT A TYPO---500,0000 meals for people in desperate need.
If you live in our small town and do not have a church that blows your mind...YOU NEED LaCROIX! Please come and be a part of what God is doing there. I have never had such a deep love for a church in my life and so thankful God put us there!

On the missions thing...I have not totally understood it, but God had plans for me to be grounded for the last couple of years. I have so so missed being able to go to Africa and really soak in my passion. Lately, I feel a bit of a release from that. And I am open and ready to see where God leads me. Also, on the same note, I have other passions in life that I have realized or should I say re-ignited and am LOVING it!

I have good people in my life....Like really good people. Man, I do. Unlikely friends from all walks of life...It feels right. How great it is to have peeps you can totally count on and love. You know who you are...BIG BIG LOVE to you guys.

Pretty humbled over the past months as I realize God is really ALWAYS here for me and He shows up in many many different forms and faces.
I am going to post a few more things on the book Radical also...If you have not read it and you are ready to step out there...way out there-GO FOR IT!

Happy-deeply happy to see so many people in our lives choosing adoption. Friends are bringing home their kids, getting referrals, making the decision to move forward on their dreams! Wow, you have no idea what is in store-happy for you.

Okay, and of course what you are all waiting for...Pics of the girls!!!! (Thank you Cheri for shooting our fam for the holidays. Love you_)






HALLOWEEN! Bianca the winning costume extraordinaire! LEMONADE STAND!!! All her idea! Solie the little Rocker!

Summer Fun with Little Peeps we Love

At long last! Momma found the camera cord! So here a just a few pics of our summer!
FAMILY TIME AT THE POOL!!! LOVE IT!

Okay, you really have no idea how long it took to get this quality photo! The girls hanging with some of their favorite dudes at Aunt Candy and Uncle Mark's house. We had a ball with them.

You might wonder if Bianca is wearing makeup here...Why yes, yes, she is...Thanks to Auntie Candy...Bianca went downstairs to hang with her while I was getting ready, then the next thing I knew there was this tiny grown up at my feet claiming to be my kid! Just hurt me to see her like this...sob, sob! Lookin way too grown up!


Bianca's first BIG EVENT! Mae Mae invited Bianca to go see Dora at the Show-Me Center. This was their big day! What a hoot! They were pumped!



I hope everyone who reads my blog had an awesome summer with the people you love. Life is short, so always GO BIG! Take in the sunshine, roll your window down and soak in the pure bliss of summer!

Future Olympian, Bianca Becking!

Here is a little of what we have been up to this summer....Okay, A LOT of what we have been doing! Bianca has become a total rockstar swimmer. She is three and can dominate the swimming pool without floaties!!!! Love it. Awesome goal achieved! We still use the little life savers on occasion but so great to see her swim all on her own! This kid is driven. When I asked her a few weeks ago if she wanted to jump off the diving board without her floaties, she said, NO. I said, "okay, no biggie. We will try it some other time." In two more seconds, she responds-" Actually (one of her fave words) I am going to choose...and I can change my mind. I want to do it!" And that was the beginning of a whole new world for her. Once she did it once, she had to do it over and over and over again...Can you imagine? And of course daddy was there with his near worshipped iphone to capture it.