okay, okay "TOMS" ~ ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES

Thanks "TOMS" or should I say "Tomorrow" since that was the original naming intended. The Young man who started "TOMS" four years ago had a vision and now four years later inspired many to join him as a humanitarian! Way to GO!!!!

Well this mama of five girls took the plunge with the "baby" of our family. For only heaven knows if it could be me some day. See, it started out two nights before with a blister then on

the 8th of April it was beginning - very cold! Yes it was crazy because we had to have our drainage pipes cleaned out at home and I ended up stepping in it without realizing it! YIKES!!!

Then Hadassah and I stepped outside and the cement was still cold. we got a few pictures of that. I thought this is going to be FUN!

Later . . . when my wonderful husband called and said, "the car is ready to be picked up from the garage" I began to wonder about the realm of children, teens, adult, and seniors who don't get to "choose" to barefoot it for a day because it is a challenge. They go WITHOUT because they have to, stepping in things that are less than healthy. When we got to the garage (out in the country where there is large rocks to help the dirt road that just weeks ago was mud) it hit me, I stepped out of the car while Kent went to pay for it and it HURT! My very tender feet were challenged again, sending my mind racing!

Racing as to how I could take this a step further, by challenging some of the people I am around and proposing something. A DAY with out shoes to provide for those in our own "backyard". We are going to go barefoot, then we are going to give shoes to children who don't have them here in our community. It doesn't just take place in the "other side of the world" but here also. I am excited because where I am it would mean "Choring, farming, etc." without shoes. Let's see how it goes. I am scared with excitement to see what takes place. So "TOMS" - CEO THANK YOU for your Entrepreneur vision and for leading a charge for the global community - because this country living gal . . . desires to follow through in another small way in my community!

Barefoot

Today I am going barefoot for a cause. I would like to challenge those of you who may read this today to take the challenge also.

I'll try and tell you about it in detail later. Already it has been difficult because it is cold here.

Our temps this morning were 34 degrees when we awake and right now it is finally 50 but feels chilly when there are no soles on you feet.

Here is why I am BAREFOOTIN' it today! JOIN ME . . . I'll tell you the results tonight!

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/index.php

sweet thought

Today was the beginning of sweet thoughts of our blossoming family. As the devotional time brought me to think of how special the Creator truly is it made me realize that with each passing moment what if he did ask, "what are you willing to give, Ana? It may be your last. Will it be sweet?"

Hummmmm . . . . good question.

A few sisters have had prayer requests for healing. They all were precious. The sweet thought through it as is the reflection on how there was peace. Sorrow, yes, but peace still the same. Hank P. March 27, Millard G. April 1, Per T. April 4 and Shaneil P. April 6. All healed completely - in HEAVEN. Now that is sweet thoughts but the pain for the families are still very real. The loss of the here and now and not seeing them, difficult but I have noticed a peace. All these special gifts from the creator have been BATHED in prayer. He gave each of them a little "longer than expected" and brought people together and introduced prayer to many. Sweet thought of each one of them is that they all had smiles on their lives that reflected in their face. Each of these precious people were incredible servants through their sicknesses. My heart heavy for the families as they grieve, the ones who sought out PRAYER WARRIORS on their behalf. I saw all four of their lives bring many together on their behalf. As well as many others who have need of prayers and its' sweet peace and the Holy Spirit interceding on their behalf ~ sweet, sweet, sweet fiery thought.

Sweet thoughts of peace have left for me are the smiles that came through each individuals lives as people LOVED them and sat beside them in prayer, calls, letters, visits, benefits, auctions, meals as each day the melodic memories of their life's thread unrolled to be weaved into the tapestry of other individuals life's canvases.

Their thread: The adult men who lived with servants hearts, the two children who smiled through each unknown moment but brought hope to others. That is sweet like the fragrant aromas that emanated out of their hearts and souls ~ ahhhhh sweet thoughts. Ecclesiastics reflects on the seasons of time . . . and it is sweet to my thoughts.

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven: . . .

. . .

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;"

Ecc. 3:1-14

Shoes

Have you ever thought what it would be like to go WITHOUT shoes?

I never really thought about it really. Until challenged to take a step or a few more than that without them on April 8, 2010. So I thought, "Okay, how hard can that be since I ENJOY going barefoot." Then I thought about it some more and then realized that maybe, just maybe I could take it a step further. How about challenging our mission outreach team to consider this feet to suggest others to "try it."

Try It I did today, or really I should say "tonight" when we went on our walk. At first I thought let's work "into" the notion. Take it easy, slow, safe. The thought crossed my mind to first go without socks while still sporting my tennis shoes. That was okay for a part of the exercise routine but it began to slightly hurt, rub the wrong way and a small blister, or was it? Yes that skin rubbed against the layer and a slight discomfort on the heal area was apparent. So for the last two blocks, "let's try it barefoot - Ana. It can't be all that bad can it?"

Can and it did. Tiny blister, tender feet and ever watchful eyes. This definitely made me visualize the reality - I've grown soft. Emily said, "Mom, why are you taking off your shoes? Your gonna walk the rest of the way home like that?" "Yes" was my reply. "How come?" Emily questioned intrigued. "well, I have a blister that has formed and it is beginning to hurt. Also . . . I just am working on something." She simply smiled and helped be my eyes so that I didn't "step on anything and hurt the bottom of my feet" while she kicked twigs, small rocks and other cement debris out of my foots path. I came back home, looked for the date of the big events challenge. I researched and thought Thanks "TOMS" for setting aside a time to make a difference in a global effort. If one purchases a T shirt "TOMS" will purchase a pair of shoes for a child - An effort of "ONE FOR ONE". How can We make a difference? I am going to walk the 8 April and go barefoot in honor of the effort. THEN take another step to make another MOVE to reach out and touch in another way later before the END of the July this summer.

So where are your shoes? "This little Piggy went to Market, This little Piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, and this little piggy had none ANNNNND this little Piggy went weeeeeeeeee all the way home." So where are your shoes? Are they staying on for the day or are you willing to take a BIG STEP and walk it BARE FOOT on _________________(and follow through) then put it towards a need for another person without shoes?!!!

Run

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." Proverbs 23:4

But RUN after the Greatest RICHES and a new LIFE by yielding your entire Life to Jesus Christ.

Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday this Sunday!