Kristin's Day 41-It's been real, it's been fun, and now we're done!

Well, I broke my fast at 6:30pm. I got word that Kelly, Dallas, and the boys landed in Charlotte!! I hope that their first night as a family is FANTASTIC! What a beautiful family. God is SO good.

Before I ate a normal dinner, I went out with my YL friend, Jordan. We had a great afternoon chatting and shopping thanks to my mom for watching the kids. Life is so busy, but I live spending time with family. I got to eat my first dinner with my sister and her kids.

I am still spending time on my knees for YL and our camp trip this year. That will never stop 😉

It's been quite a journey. It has been awesome. It's been real. Peace love and hugs - me

Kristin's Days 39 & 40 - Green Grass Dreams and Shattered Screens...

This is it. Only 24ish hours remain. What a journey this has been!

Yesterday, I went with my YL friend, Amanda, to Starbucks. They have a new line of products called Evolution. It features all natural cold pressed juices and freeze dried fruit/veggies. I was amazed that I could get something other than hot tea, so I tried the green juice out...

It tasted TERRIBLE. Like straight up grass with a hint of lemon. If you dig that kinda stuff, great, but at $6 a bottle???? I took it home. I hope to use it as a base for a smoothie. Yuck.

So...at club last night...this happened.

Someone stepped on it during a skit. It was a complete accident. This tablet is less than six months old. Here's the thing. I was not the least bit mad or upset. Like...not at all. I LOVE how God reminds us we're His and that he's changing us from the inside by things such as this.

Let me explain. Three years ago-this would've made me upset. Five years ago-this would've made me mad. (I used to cry hard core when Tally puked on our white carpets). Ten years ago-this would've made me unglued. I'm not the same person anymore. God is changing me.

I still have a LONG way to go. It's gonna take my whole life.

There's a song I used to sing as a kid

He's still working on me
To make me what I ought to be
It took him a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
A line I can't remeber
He's still working on me

Kristin's Day 38 - Slim pickin's

I did not go vegan shopping this weekend because...I will not continue to eat like this for long. I have some canned Hominy, spinach, 1/2 can of refried beans, bean threads, and some other stuff to get me through to Thursday evening when Kelly, Dallas, and the boys land.

I do not like what I'm eating. It does not taste good. It is not appealing.

I am tired of making everyone else's food and then my food. I am sick of seeing everyone enjoy food that I love. Then I get on Facebook and see this...

Eh ok...ok. It's worth it. I will shield my eyes from that bag of Starburst, ahem.

Kristin's Day 37 - I will Vegan journey on...

Kelly and I started this journey on March 1st...37 days ago. We stripped our lives of most food for the single purpose of pressing into God. We stood together during some hungry frustrating times over the last 37 days. We were pressing into God because we were believing and praying for things - things only God can do - to happen

Kelly and Dallas left today so they can bring their sons home! It's a miracle. This adoption process seemed like it would never end. There was one unexplained roadblock after another. We stripped our lives of most food and pressed into God to bring them home.

I am still believing God for miracles for many of my friends in YL. Despite my fast, I have gone on YL dates to Panera, Sweet Frog, Starbucks, Chipotle, Chinese, Pure and Simple, Friendly's and more. I even had a sleepover with yummy food, lol! It is possible to do a ministry such as YL during a fast. It was NOT easy, but it's possible. I have met with more girls during this fast than I have the entire semester. I don't think that's a coincidence. I am still believing God to fill our camp slots for Lake Champion this year. I still want to take 24 girls. So far, six are signed up. We stripped our lives of most food and pressed into God to change the lives of WASHS students. I am still believing this will happen.

I will continue on. Pray for me as I journey alone for the next few days...unless you'd like to join me?

Made it through six "TO DO" lists in four days~Kelly's Last Beyond Vegan Day

It's been a long week.

Some days I forgot to eat breakfast.

Some days I forgot to eat breakfast AND lunch.

One day I basically ate an entire bag of chips for dinner.

I have no idea what my family ate or who fed them, except on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Caroline fed Darby.

That much, I know.

It all began on Monday. Our boys went down to Port-Au-Prince to the US Embassy for their Visa appointment. I have no idea how that went. Maybe I can ask the boys when we get there, but Monday afternoon, we got "the call." We were told that we had travel dates of April 7-10. Yeah...ONE WEEK, FOLKS! I can't even tell you how quickly I snapped into scramble mode and still haven't come out. If I rattled off everything I've done today, you'd never believe me. It was supernatural strength and power. Not of me. All credit goes to the One whose timing is perfect.

In more Hills family news...you can go ahead and nominate me for "Mom-of-the-Year" award. Because, as I prepared to bring two MORE children into my home, I neglected the ONE who was home with me that day. You can guess which one felt the need to bathe her Barbie dolls. Hint: It's the one who is not yet in school full day. Life goes on, folks...even when you're in hyperdrive.
It goes on.

So, at some point, tickets were purchased, boys were added to our health insurance...tick, tock, tick, tock...my house was cleaned, clothes were purchased, twenty meals were made...tick, tock...two soccer practices, two gymnastics practices, agility training and two soccer games that were two hours away were attended...tick, tock, tick, tock...a yard was mowed, a garage was purged, bags were packed, plans were made for the kids, a rare phone call was answered, laundry was caught up...tick...tock...and it's Saturday night. I've been up since 5:30am. I'm beat, but I'm finished...and as ready as anyone could ever be who is planning to travel to the third world with one week's notice.

Things I did NOT get done include:
Yoga.
Dog grooming (as it turns out, they don't take expired rabies vaccinations...whatev.)
Rug purchasing (I guess I needed more than 10 minutes to pick out a rug for the dining room.

This means they're coming home, folks.
Things you can pray for:
~Transitions for our sons-out of the orphanage and into the guest house with us on Monday.
~Our time at God's Littlest Angels Orphanage~that we would ask the questions of the nannies etc that will help us know our sons better at home.
~That our flights would not be delayed on Thursday coming home, and that our trip through Immigration wouldn't be too painstakingly long.
~For our children that we're leaving stateside, and the families who have stepped up to care for them: The Whites, The Draholas, The Doughertys, and the Kleins
~That everyone would be WELL while we're gone!

Then, of course, there was my breakdown in the ethnic haircare aisle. I've since calmed down about it...a LOT. Turns out, it's really no biggie, and some things I'm going to try and like, and some things I'm going to try and not like, but MAN! Am I ever thankful for my friends who chimed in with tips!

There was my phone call with Tamera that led to this list-for Thursday alone. Thankful for organized people to help me think through things!

And, there was my 4 page dissertation to the caregivers for my children and dog.

And, there were all THESE lists...
...let's just say that I was a maniac list maker, and The Pixie decided to add to my "TO DO."
I think the list on the left says, "Get the Barbies and soap out of your tub, and you might want to turn the water off."

I know y'all have been praying for me this week. There is no other way I could have gone from 6am to 11pm every night and blown through my entire list of TO DOs in one week.

As humbly as I can say this, I'm so thankful that my fast will end tomorrow. I'm MORE thankful that Kristin has decided to stay the course until we all come home. I don't even know what to say about that. Entirely humbled.

Anyhow, we will have intermittent power (at best) while we're down there, I'm sure. That's how it all went down last time, but I will do my best to at least post short FB status updates, so y'all can follow there.

For the last time as a "Beyond Vegan"...
Grace and Peace!
~k

147,000,000-2~Kelly's Day 34

I ran from sun up to well after sundown every day last week. Yesterday, I woke up at 3:30am wondering why malls weren't open 24/7...that way I could get more done Friday. 

I didn't have time for breakfast, but I made time to scarf down a burrito bowl from Chipotle in record time. 

I also are 3/4 of a bag of Kettle Chips for dinner while I composed a four page dissertation detailing my children's agenda, contact information and medical details for my team of professionals that rallied around us to make this trip happen. I couldn't be more thankful or humbled that everyone just stepped up to make this happen. We are truly blessed.

Right now, we are heading down for two soccer games, and then it's home to pack and wash sheets! I can't believe the day is FINALLY here! Our boys will be home Thursday evening! When we step off the plane in Miami, our boys will be American citizens!

There are 147,000,000 orphans in this world. In America, we are separated from this staggering statistic because we don't consider the Foster System to be full of orphans, but the reality is that every night, all over the world, there are little children going to sleep each night with no bedtime story, no prayers or blessings. No Mommy or Daddy to tuck them in. Monday morning, there will be two less.

A Father to the Fatherless is God in his Holy Dwelling! 

Though it tarries, wait for it. It will SURELY come to pass!

Amen.

Kristin's Day 34 - A sports injury?? I don't play sports...

I subbed at the high school on Tuesday. Then it was the track meet, then made dinner for the family and guests, then club. Crazy day.

Wednesday, I went to the doctor. I found out two things about myself.

1. I have lost approximately 5lbs. WHAT?

• I look thinner. At least I thought I did.
• All of my before being pregnant clothes fit
• No - I have not gained muscle.

I'm sorry. I thought I would've lost SO much more. Humph. It's just a number. My clothes fit. I need to get over it. WHATEVER. I mean...I have lost almost 30lbs in the last six months. Why are we so obsessed with that number????? Dude.

2. I have tennis elbow in my right elbow

• I do NOT play tennis
• I thought this was a sports injury. Sports and I have a mutual agreement...we are not friends.
• This has been bothering me for two months. When will this get better?

Again. Like seriously? I got a brochure on tennis elbow. It says that this is a sports injury, but you can also get it from having weak muscles. AWESOME. Ugh, I signed up for Body Pump today.

My energy levels have been pretty decent during the fast this time. If I have a full day, I find that my back/shoulders ache with exhaustion, but I am doing so much more this time versus two years ago when we did this fast. Does your body just adjust or remember stuff like this? It's amazing.

I got this new book. I probably should've bought it about 40 days ago, but hey...I'm not a planner lately.

Word of caution - if you don't handle cursing well - don't get this book. BUT, it's FULL of recommendations of great swap outs for those going vegan. Did you know that they make vegan chicken wings with nonGMO ingredients? There is so much that I have not discovered, but that's ok. This fast is more about seeking God for big things.

God is so good. Kelly's boys are coming home. I'm still believing for 24 girls to sign up for camp. We currently have 3. Good thing I don't focus on the numbers in this case (I know, I know - it's not transferring the weight number yet). God's got this. I'm praying and trusting.

Scramble mode-Kelly's day...I don't even care what day, I'm in scramble mode

I'm in scramble mode.

...I am not in Haiti yet. 

...I have not come up for air since Monday.

...I'm exhausted.

Ps-I forgot to eat breakfast and lunch today.

Pps-The Man brought me Thai Cucumbers for dinner.

...he's a good man.

The hair care aisle~Kelly's day 33

I'm not sure my focus is on the exact right thing right now, but I have Easter baskets for five kiddos, curtains for my bedroom, sheers for Naomi and the Pixie's rooms, a dining table bench on order, and picture frames for the kids' school pictures. I'm in hyperdrive, and I'm not even drinking coffee or energy drinks! This is the worst case of nesting I've ever been through, although thankfully, someone else did the cleaning his time!

Rewind to earlier in my day, would ya?

I'm in Target looking for Easter stuff and some way to organize five kids' toothbrushes and toothpastes in one small bathroom when I remembered that I'm out of shampoo which then prompted me to buy toothbrushes and toothpastes for my new sons. Can I just stop here and tell you how incredibly difficult every single decision is when it's crunch time and you're trying to figure out things like "ShouId I really get an electric toothbrush? With all these new things, do they really need a vibrating sensation in their mouths? Oh, please, Jesus, give them an adventurous spirit!" And, then I remembered that I need specific hair care and skin care for their beautiful chocolate skin...and, WHOA. I had a flashback to watching Chris Rock's documentary entitled "Good Hair," and as I strolled into the ethnic hair are aisle, I heard that silly man's voice echoing through my brain, rattling, if you will, "the African-American hair care industry accounts for 80% of spending on hair in America every year." Friends, I walked down hat aisle, and every insecurity I have regarding being a white mother of young black men in America came boiling to the surface. I was paralyzed and couldn't even ask the two women in that aisle for help. I wanted to cry, scream, and/or vomit all at the same time, so I texted and facebooked my beautiful friend, LaTonya, in a frenzy. I should have you know, I also called her he other day when I was shopping for the boys-just to make sure I was buying colors that would look good on them. Thankfully, I have some Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ who I happen to be comfortable enough to humble myself and ask these "white mom" questions to. I cannot tell you how very thankful that God has put so many amazing African-American women In my life who I can call on to ask these questions. Trust me, this has been an uncomfortable and completely humbly naked place for me. Thankful doesn't even begin to explain what I feel for LaTonya, Leah, TK...my respect and love for them is abundant. Back to the hair care aisle...I left empty handed. I was THAT stressed out, but I think I know what to do now.  I had friends of all color, shape and sizes giving me hair care advice! So thankful! And, if all else fails, at least I have curtains for my bedroom, right (I'm shaking my head at myself right now)? 

This "hair stress," as I've coined the term, stems from my adamant mindset that I will NOT allow my boys to have bad hair and ashy skin. 

After I spent too much of my morning staring at the hair care products, I realized I didn't really have enough time to do the other important things (like buying three picture frames), and I called my friend, Caroline in a slight to moderate panic, "Are we still on for a play date after school?" She was, and then humility had to kick in again. "Would you be willing to pick Darby up, and I'll meet you at the park?" She was, and she even took Darby's lunch order. 

If you don't know me very well, you are not aware that I am the absolute WORST at asking for help! In fact, I think I've asked for help more times in the last two days than I've asked in the last 1-5 years. It's humbling to the extreme for me. 

I can tell you that God has worked more "stuff" out of me and truly humbled me more in the last 33 days than He has in the last ten years. If you like uncomfortable places such as the Refiner's fire, you should adopt. The process of adopting ushers you through tons of biblical lessons whether or not you want to or are ready to learn them. It's ugly and beautiful and peaceful and stressful, and God will show you His mighty hand in action over and over, and when you get to the end of your rope, He will lift you up. I know this because I've burned through so many frayed ends of long ropes in the last three years, and each time, He has proven Himself faithful. He has shown me that I am not alone, that He keeps his promises and that what He begins...He carries out to completion.

Twenty-four hours~Kelly's Day 32

Twenty-four hours ago, I was in a cerebral scramble. I didn't know where to start, who to ask, how things would piece together to make our trip to Haiti happen, who would watch the dog whose vaccinations expired roughly five years ago, how I would get my house clean, how I would get all he garage sale stuff out of my dining room..the list goes on and on, and those were just the concerns that would enable us to leave Lake Wylie.

Today, one friend is watching two of my kids. Another friend is watching the Pixie-pray for her. Her name is Britta. She's German. She can handle the redhead. Another friend is carting Tate to and from soccer. Yet another friend is carting Naomi to art lessons and to her school chorus concert next Tuesday (which we just found out about today). This friend is going to sit through not one, but TWO second grade concerts that night..AND, she's watching our old lady dog. That saved me a last minute trip to he vet. Another friend is sending her son over to pick up all the stuff in my dining room to sell at his youth group's yard sale fundraiser for their missions trip to Honduras. I called the cleaning people to come do a hard core cleaning tomorrow. Our tickets are booked, and I made and froze twenty meals today.

Kristin called today, and we had a pretty quick but humbling and inspiring conversation. A few people have asked me if this fast was for Lent. My answer has even confused me. "No."  I have not had an answer as to why we began before Ash Wednesday and will finish before Easter. It's just how God worked it out. For some reason, when Kristin and I hashed out when to begin, there was no real method to the starting line. However, as the adoption stuff ironed out, we both saw that God was bringing our boys home on the first day after we break fast. She asked me today when we were going to finish up, and I told her that I was going to end my fast April 6th because God will have answered and honored my fast. My plan from the beginning was to fast for forty days OR when we go to pick the boys up. It would essentially be impossible to continue this fast in Haiti since last time I was in Haiti, I had no fruit or vegetables the entire time I was there. 

Here's the kicker.

Kristin is finishing this fast on April 10th. 

She said she will continue on until she gets a text from me telling her that our boys are home.

HOME.

She is going to pray us home.

Humbled doesn't even begin, folks...

God created us to be in relationship. He says, "rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn." He says two are better than one. If one falls, the other will pick him up. He says, "a rope with three strands is not easily broken." We are meant to do life together. I'm blessed to have people near and far that I felt comfortable asking to watch my kids, cart them around town and watch my dog (although, I'm considering not ever picking the dog up). I'm doubly blessed to see how clearly God has pieced this all together at the end. I'm blown away at how perfectly this all timed out! I know That God allowed me to clearly see His timing so that I will remember His faithfulness when things get hard. 

'Tis Grace that brought me safe this far...and Grace will lead (them) home.