Sometimes one just needs to label a big box of unrelated things as “miscellaneous.” It’s a bit freeing, this overly broad term that tells you nothing.

Here is some “misc” for you today. ;)

• Homeschool started today – AG loved it, although she politely told me it wasn’t as fun as she had expected. I asked her why, and she told me she was hoping to do more math! Ha! I’m glad that she seems to have inherited her mother’s love of science and math!

As I have been running low on writing time [for those of you who have been faithfully following One Summer, One Story - my sincere apologies! We really will finish this eventually. Hopefully it won't become one YEAR one story!], here are some great links for your perusal:

• Why I renounce Islam and Choose Christ – powerful stuff.
• World Help reached and exceeded their goal of raising $120,000 to send 6 shipping containers full of 5 million life-saving meals to the horn of Africa! The work continues, and the needs (especially for food and medication) are great. Learn more about what has been happening and how you can get involved here.

I’d also strongly encourage you to watch this video to get a better sense of the scope of the situation.

Somalia Refugee Camp from World Help on Vimeo.

• Mrs. Adulteress – my friend Julie Sanders shares excellent “Marriage Mondays” posts each week, and this is a great one.
• Julie’s post reminded me of this song, which has been playing in my head this week.

Hope you are having a great week – whatever the “miscellaneous box” holds for you. :)

This is one of the most powerful things I’ve seen in a long time. Definitely worth watching – with a kleenex.

This was grace – short film from Andrew Laparra on Vimeo.

Sorry for the silence… again… on the blog this week. I’ve been writing elsewhere and pulling out fall clothes from the attic and reorganizing drawers and doing laundry- it’s all very, very exciting. :)

News. It’s sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

• GOOD NEWS: Scripture Dig is relaunching today with a brand new look! Come check out the new “digs!” :)

• NOT SO GOOD NEWS: Things in Somalia and the surrounding regions devastated by famine are not going well. In this report from Vernon Brewer of World Help, he shares the sobering report that more than 3.2 million Somalis (2 million of whom are children) will die in the next few weeks if they do not receive adequate food, water, and medical care.

• GOOD NEWS: much is being done in the name of Jesus that will make a real and tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals. World Help is nearing their goal of raising $120,000 to ship almost 5 million meals to desperate areas. Every $1 you donate will feed 40 people! Samaritan’s Purse is also actively working in Kenya among those who are struggling to survive. Click here to see the work of Samaritan’s Purse captured in some powerful pictures, as well as in the video below.

If you have not already done so, please consider how God might have you to give. Will you join us for Somalia on Saturdays – the SOS Project – tomorrow?

• MORE GOOD NEWS: {especially if you like to shop}-

Yesterday I visited the Women at Risk International store in Rockford, Michigan with my mom and sister. It’s been a few months since I’ve been to the WAR store, and they have some beautiful new things!

If you’ve read this blog long you know that I love WAR’s ministry, giving voice and income to those who have been rescued out of human trafficking around the world, or empowering those who are at high risk of being victimized and giving them protection and care. They sell absolutely gorgeous handmade items from these women, with 90% of your purchase price going directly to the individual or safe house who provided them! If you can’t visit one of their stores in Naperville, IL, Rockford, MI, or Wyoming, MI, their online store is well worth looking at, especially as you may begin thinking ahead to Christmas shopping. {Yes, I’m already doing Christmas shopping!!}

Just to inspire you, here are some pictures of some of my new favorites… it doesn’t have to cost a lot to make a real difference in someone’s life and also give a beautiful gift!

SO BEAUTIFUL - $19.08!!

Love these fun crystal stretch bracelets - $12.72!

LOVE THIS black pearl stretch bracelet - $8.48!!

This is my sister's favorite scarf {and she has GREAT taste} :) - $19.08

This picture doesn't do it justice... stunning necklace! $23.32!

Love these 6-strand paper bead necklace! Each bead is hand made in Uganda out of strips of paper! $25.44!

Alright, alright, I’ll stop tempting you. But seriously… you should check out all of their amazing stuff and make a difference in the life of a precious woman – victimized by mankind but loved by God. It’s so great to purchase one of these items and think of the difference it is making in her life – and then pray for her each time you pull it out! :)

Now, let’s go give, pray, serve, even shop with purpose!

This week, as you may have noticed, I haven’t had a tremendous amount of time to write. This weekend my very dear friend is flying in from Texas, and we’ll be spending much of next week together! This weekend I am leading a women’s ministry training at our church that I desperately need to prepare for. And today – record high temps are calling me to be creative to keep our kids engaged and cool! …I’m thinking about constructing some angry birds-type structures with plastic cups and blocks and launching wet sponge balls at them. ;)

Important things all around. :)

So, all that to say – I’ve decided to take a brief “blog-abbatical” until the end of next week. We’ll pick back up with the Israelites in One Summer, One Story then! {And don’t forget about our ‘got milk?’ project – we’re up to $360! Praise the Lord!!!”}