Family Night: Extending our Reach

We've been out of the habit of planned Family Nights lately and I've really missed it. I think my girls have too ... of course we've spent time together as a family, but the time was not as intentionally planned. I really do want to get back to this!

This week, my idea sort of just fell from Heaven! Have you been following Ann's trip to Guatemala with Compassion? I can't get enough of the pictures and stories she has been sharing and have found myself in tears more than one time.

Sometimes I get so focused on laundry and dishes and child training that I can easily forget the rest of the world out there.

But, I don't want to forget. I don't want to lose touch with how God can use and touch me through these things. I want to train my children in the importance of reaching out beyond ourselves.

And, this week - God moved our hearts.

We've been sponsors through Compassion for more than a decade. And, I am thankful that God has been willing to do this through us.

While perusing the Compassion site this week - I noticed a post about writing your sponsor child on the second Friday of each month. This fell last Friday and I instantly knew what we would do for our Family Night together.

Our Christele's birthday is coming up - so this was a great opportunity for us to make birthday cards and greetings to send her! My girls had such a good time doing this! We had a hard time getting all the stickers and card making supplies picked up! It was so sweet and special to watch the care and love and beauty they put into their creations.

Then, we circled around the computer and I showed them the photos on Ann's blog. We talked about how there are so many who live in a house the size of the room we were sitting in. We looked at their kitchens, their beds, their walls that did not meet the ceiling.

Next, we visited the Compassion site and with one precious girl on each side of me, we prayed for who God would have us to reach out to next. They sweetly looked at the children waiting for sponsors and both pointed to a little boy in a yellow shirt.

"Him!" they both exclaimed ... we pressed a little button that would forever connect our hearts with his. Brayan. We will pray for him, write to him and love him.

Now we were looking for a little girl - feeling so thankful for the privilege of partnering with three precious children just like our own three children. Emily knew just which one was next - Alondra.

Oh, the moments were precious! As we read about these new extended members of our family. I told them what these little ones liked to do and what their chores were.

We love them already...

We pointed out where they live on the globe. I encouraged them to pray for these children as they are laying in bed at night.

We did not physically leave home tonight. But it felt like our hearts traveled a long way and reached out to hug a sweet little child tonight. Something big happened in our home Friday night. Something that impacts eternity!

Would you consider sponsoring a child and joining us on this blessed journey?