Judy Hopps is my Soul Sister

I know that we're a little late to the game, but on Friday night my family and I finally watched Zootopia. A movie about a determined bunny, rookie cop named Judy Hopps and her unlikely partner, a con artist fox named Nicholas Wilde, who work to uncover a conspiracy ailing the city of Zootopia.

As a parent, I loved this movie for my kids. Of course it was cute, funny, and full of teachable moments, but more than anything it was inspiring. It showed humanity in the form of animals, and was incredibly honest. The movie ends with Judy saying, "Life's a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you."

And this I love.

There are two major themes I took away from this movie.

The first...

I want my kids to know that yes, they may only be one person, but they have a voice and it should be used for good. They should speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8), and never forget that they have to power to be courageous. We live in a world that is full of negativity and evilness, but yet in spite of that there are still good things here. Still beautiful moments and people and experiences, and we each have the opportunity to be a light in the darkness...to embrace who we are and soar.

(It's honestly a little difficult to believe the words above in light of this weekend's events in Orlando, Florida. On Friday, a beautiful, young, talented singer named Christina Grimmie was murdered after performing at her concert, and then on Sunday morning 50 innocent lives were stolen at the hands of an Islamic terrorist. It's unfathomable how so much harm was done in such a short amount of time, especially all in the same city! I'm absolutely sick over these vicious attacks...I just don't understand. I know that my God is bigger than this evilness and the only thing I find peace in is knowing that He is in control, and He is a just God, and those responsible for these horrific acts will face justice one way or another.)   

The second...

Another theme in this movie is sweet Judy and her "I can be anything!" attitude. Now, as someone that tries and fails often, I admired seeing a character so determined and full of gumption. (For the record, this may be my favorite word, as it literally means "shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness", and that my friend is me in a nutshell. Gumption doesn't mean you always succeed, but it means you try.)

Anyway, while Judy is determined to become a cop (the first bunny cop!), her parents have a different way of looking at things.

In case you didn't watch the video, here's the just of it:

Bonnie Hopps: Of course, it is okay to have dreams.

Stu Hopps: Just as long as you don't believe too much in them.

While Stu and Bonnie Hopps mean well, they are straight up dream killers. It's perfectly fine to be realistic and share your concerns with someone, but to spew negativity stating how you just know something will not work out, or that it's definitely not a good idea is just foolish. Because here's the thing -- these people don't know how things will turn out. Just because they don't believe it can happen doesn't mean it can't.

I know many people just like Judy's parents who eagerly share how awful my plan/dreams/goals sounds. And considering that I have many interests and goals and sometimes go overboard in executing them, I somewhat understand the concern...but why not offer support or encouragement? Why not have faith and believe in that person, or why not simply keep your lips zipped?

I don't know what my future holds, but I know that if animated movies like Zootopia give me goosebumps and inspire me to keep going, then that's enough for me. I'm so thankful for movies like Zootopia and hope that my children grow up to be as determined and persistent as sweet Judy Hopps. 

It Never Fails

Life with Arabella has been sweetened like I would have never imagined. This precious baby girl is simply amazing. She's an easy baby, just like her brother was. She sleeps and nurses well, and so far our only difficulty has been figuring out what I'm eating that makes her puke. all. over. me. :) When I think about my daughter and how much I love her, I feel like my heart could literally burst. I felt (and still feel) this exact way about Gavin, and I never imagined that my love could multiply. But it did. And there isn't anything that I could possible say that would accurately describe my thankfulness.

 Our sweet girl

After Gavin was born, I experienced an overwhelming increase in my protective instinct, but also in the sensitivity of my heart for the motherless. On my first Mother's Day, I experienced true heartbreak for children in the Philippines. And it's happening all over again. My heart breaks a little each time I hold my babies, as I sit there thinking of the children in this world who aren't held enough. The children who have to go without. Without food. Without shelter. Without outstretched arms. Without love. Without someone to protect them. The pain that I felt with Gavin is one that I am feeling again with Arabella, and I know that God is breaking my heart and preparing me for something bigger than myself.

Keith and I have always had a heart for children, and after having our own we see the need to live out Proverbs 31:8-9. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." For us, that means becoming a voice for children locally and and internationally. It means giving back. It means being His hands and feet.

God has specifically broken my heart for children in the Philippines and Nicaragua, and I will continue praying for clear direction for ways to help these precious babies. Keith has a heart for evangelism and feels that wherever we go or whoever we encounter, he can perform God's Will. And while having two little ones under the age of 2 is a huge responsibility, we also know that we want to adopt. And sooner than later. 

Parenthood has definitely rocked our world, and through this role God is breaking our hearts, and using this brokenness for ministry. And I for one am eager to see where He leads us.

Remembering Jen

Today I stumbled upon a story that absolutely wrecked my soul. It's about a beautiful 36 year old named Jen. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2011 and sadly, she passed away on 10/12/12. 

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This beautiful woman left countless loved ones behind, including two sons who are only 6 and 9. While this story is undeniably sad, it isn't one that I haven't heard before. My dear aunt, Carleen, passed away six years ago from pancreatic cancer, leaving behind her 3 year old son. :'(

As a new mom, my biggest fear is that something will happen to my son, my husband, or me. I have faith that my God holds all of us in His hands, so no matter what happens everything will be okay. But I'm also human and I have this fear. Cancer is an ugly, despicable illness that has no prejudice. It can happen to anyone. Through Jen's story, I learned that a yearly Pap smear will not detect ovarian cancer. It can detect cervical cancer, but there is no regular check-up that can give women warning. This is really shocking to me, as I have always thought that an annual check-up could detect any type of female reproductive cancer.

What most disturbs me about this newly learned fact is that because there is no way to detect through regular exams and often has common symptoms, ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed at stage 3 or 4. Here are a few facts about this type of cancer regarding survival expectations.

• About 3 out of 4 women with ovarian cancer survive 1 year after diagnosis.
• Nearly half of women live longer than 5 years after diagnosis.
• If diagnosis is made early in the disease and treatment is received before the cancer spreads outside the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is very high

These statistics are completely heartbreaking. Additionally, there is not a standard screening. There is a test that can be performed for women who are high risk to detect BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These particular genes are linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. If a person has these genes, they can have a hysterectomy to attempt to reduce  their risk of these types of cancer. 

So, what are we, the women, to do? For starters, we need to listen to our bodies. There have been a few dominate symptoms linked to ovarian cancer. They are:

1. Severe and frequent bloating/ Increased abdominal size

2. Severe and spastic cramping–similar to menstrual pains but more intense

3. Lower abdominal and back pain

4. Loss of appetite/Feeling full quickly

5. Weight loss

6. Extreme fatigue/Lack of energy

7. Night sweats

I did not know Jen, and I do not know anyone with ovarian cancer. I just feel a really strong conviction to write this post. Maybe someone needs to read it, maybe it'll pop up on a Google search years from now. if you or someone you know are experiencing the symptoms above, do not ignore them. You may have nothing, but you may also have reproductive cancer. For ovarian cancer, the sooner it is caught, the higher the survival rate. Do not ignore it. Do not succumb to it.

Jen, you beautiful soul. Your story has touched my heart and I will keep your sweet family in my prayers. May you dance with the angels at the throne of our King. 

***If you would like to donate to Jen's family, please click here***

Fill in the Blank Friday!

Click here to play along!

1. I am tired. Very, very tired. Gav is only waking up once a night and I get anywhere from 6-8 hours of sleep, but I'm just exhausted. I don't sleep during the day when he does, and I've never seen the underneath of my eyes look so dark! Any advice for some good eye cream?

2. I have always liked writing, although I never thought I was good at it (I'm definitely my worst critic). In second grade, I wrote a story about a talking leaf on one of President Clinton's jogs, and I won an award at my elementary school for it. That was the first time I felt good enough and it was awesome. :)

3. I hope to accomplish everything that is on my 30 Before 30 List with my family.

4. I can finally announce that my brother and sister-in-law are pregnant!!! Stephen and Ivey are some of our best friends and we could not be happier for them! Gav will be 11 months older than their little one and we just can't wait to raise our kids together! :)

5. I dream of changing the world. I know it's cliche, but I sincerely want to do my best to impact this world that we live in. I am only one person, but since when did that stop anyone? Specifically, I want to help lower the number of children currently living on the street in the Philippines (well, that and stop human trafficking and poverty). There are more than 250,000 currently living there, but my God is a BIG God, and I can do all through Him.

6. The way to my heart is with quality time and having a positive attitude. 

7. I am passionate about fighting injustices. When I changed my major 2 years ago to Criminal Justice, I wondered if I'd made a mistake. But honestly, this was the best decision I could have made. I love learning about the justice system and I know that this is where I'm called to be. I'm often extremely conflicted by news stories and am excited to one day become a part of this field.

Mickey Shunick, Missing from Lafayette, LA

Mickey Shunick, a girl from my hometown, vanished without a trace on Saturday night. Please take a moment to read the flyer and look at her face. Have you seen her??? It doesn't matter what part of the country or world you live in. If someone has taken her, then she could be anywhere. If you have any information at all, please call 337-291-8633. I do not personally know Mickey or her family, but if you mess with one Cajun then you mess with us all. Beware.

Clarity, Part 2

It's been over a month since I've written Clarity, Part 1 and I am finally ready to sit down and put part 2 of this amazing journey into words. (If you missed the first half,  click here) I ended part 1 with this statement -- "You guys are never going to believe what happened next in this insanely wonderful journey that has only just begun." Talk about a cliffhanger, eh? (Sorry about that!)  

After I felt the Lord telling me that human trafficking is to be my main focus (besides motherhood and being a wife), I began to pray about what I should do to get involved. There are numerous organizations that help rescue, stop and bring awareness to this awful issue, but which area should I contribute to? In the past, I have partnered with the Not For Sale organization and helped to raise awareness. I know how important it is to bring awareness to this subject, but speaking for myself, this wasn't enough for me. I have always wanted to do more. 

So, I prayed. I read my Bible and I asked God to show me what to do. One night, I had the most realistic dream that Keith and I had moved to the Philippines and became full-time missionaries. It was marvelous! I awoke the next morning sadden that it was only a dream, and began to spill the details to my husband. Lol he was a little surprised because this was so out of left field, but he just smiled and told me that my dream was awesome. For the next few days I could not shake this dream from my mind. I never had the desire to be a full-time missionary, so why would this dream have such a hold on me? 

It was from there that I realized that maybe this dream wasn't "telling" me to become a full-time missionary, but was leading me to an area of focus -- the Philippines. After this realization, my OCD was back in full force! While I continued to pray and dive deeper in His word, I also began reading about the Philippines and their history with human trafficking. This is what I found:

The Philippines is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The number of Philippine and foreign child victims in the Philippines range from 20,000 to 100,000. Foreign tourists, particularly other Asians, sexually exploit women and children in the Philippines. via

The more I read, the more I lost myself to this country's problem. Once I knew the severity of trafficking, the next question was still the first -- "How do I help???" From this point, I felt that the way to meet the need was not from the comfort of my own home, but there. In the Philippines.

To be continued...

(picture from here)

Clarity, Part 1

Last month I spilled my heart out on a topic that left me at a crossroads in my life. Long story short, I was trying to determine who I wanted to be other than a mother and a wife. Which one of my big dreams did I want to focus on and accomplish, instead of always yearning for the next project. 

I am happy to report that things have been going amazing, and I have not been sitting around making lists and analyzing the pros and cons to each dream. (This in itself is a miracle!) Instead, I have been given the clarity I so desperately wanted, and have been studying and preparing myself for what's next.

So what is it? 

Well, as I've written about before, my heart absolutely breaks when it comes to human trafficking. The fact that more people are enslaved today than during the African slave trade completely baffles me. And what's worse? Most people in today's society have no idea it is even happening. Furthermore, if they do know about it, they think it happens in places like "the Sudan", not here in America. (Someone actually told me that) 

So, as I was praying and seeking guidance from the One who holds me in His hands, different news stories, organizations, and facts were placed in front of me that completely grabbed all of my attention. These weren't things I'd never read about before, but this time when I read them my whole being ached. I was literally falling apart every time a new story was placed in front of me. It was through this that I felt God calling me to leave my other goals and dreams (Seeing the world, moving my family to Italy, getting my pilots license) behind and focus on this one.

So should I choose the path that leads me to lawyerhood and fight trafficking that way? I don't know yet. Should I become a full-time missionary and rescue girls out of slavery? I don't know yet. And you know what? I don't have to know these things yet. Here I sit, pointed in the right direction, learning and growing in Him and learning more and more about myself. The one thing I do know is that I am called to a specific area, and am preparing myself to be His hands and feet there.

You guys are never going to believe what happened next in this insanely wonderful journey that has only just begun.

To be continued...

(picture via here)

Insulted? Pray.

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I have written about this many times before, but I seriously think that Pastor Rick Warren is stalking me. Okay, maybe not really, but God is definitely using his daily email devotionals to open my eyes and awaken my heart. 

I received a devotional not too long ago from Pastor Warren's church. It was written by a teaching pastor by the name of Tom Holladay and focused on the scripture "Pray for those who insult you." (Luke 6:28) The opening of the devotional went something like this:

"When it comes to being insulted, there is something Jesus said in Matthew 5 that can make us scratch our heads. "If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also" (Matthew 5:39 NCV). Huh?"

This absolutely got my attention, because it's always something that I have had a hard time understanding. My husband and I talk about this a lot. He is a 100% compassion-for-all-I-can-see-your-side kind of guy. (And I absolutely love this about him.) I am a face-the-consequences-where's-the-justice?-oh-no-you-didn't kind of girl. (Talk about balancing each other out, eh?) I do have a heart full of compassion, but when when it comes to being insulted, witnessing an injustice, or just plain knowing what's right and what's wrong, I have a hard time "turning the other cheek." 

Reading this devotional helped me to truly understand what it means to turn the other check. It also helped me to realize that there is difference between injustice and insulted. I sincerely hope that when future situations arise, I will be able to pray for those who have insulted/offended/hurt me, and also that I will choose my battles wisely.

I hope you enjoy these wise words. :)

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When You Are Insulted, Choose to Pray

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When it comes to being insulted, there is something Jesus said in Matthew 5 that can make us scratch our heads. "If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also" (Matthew 5:39 NCV). Huh?

In order to understand this verse, we need to understand the culture of that day. In biblical times, a slap was not an act of violence. It was a backhanded slap indicating an insult. When you slapped someone on the cheek, you were insulting that person. Many times the person would slap back with another insult.

People insult you to gain control. If they can get you to insult them back, you've given them the higher ground and it puts them in control. What Jesus was saying in Matthew 5 is to just let it go. Don't play their game. Give the situation to God.

It takes a lot of strength not to insult someone in return. So how do you do it?

• Remember what God says about you. No matter what negative thing that person says, remember that God says he loves you. God made you, and he has a plan and purpose for your life. God's opinion is more important than any other person's opinion.
• Instead of retaliating, God wants us to break the cycle in a different way. "Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it" (1 Peter 3:9 NLT). 

How do you return an insult with a blessing? Pray. "Pray for those who insult you" (Luke 6:28 GWT).

How do you pray for somebody who has hurt you? King David, a man after God's own heart, prayed for people who insulted and rejected him. You can find many of those prayers in the book of Psalms. What I love about his prayers is that he begins many of them by telling God his honest feelings about the people who hurt him. 

 

That's how our prayers should start. Don't pretend to be pious; God knows what is on your mind anyway. Tell God how you honestly feel. Admit you are struggling to pray for the other person, but then ask God to bless him or her. Honest and humble prayers have the power to make a difference in this world.

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Happiness on a Friday

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• One of my dear friends, Kori, gave me a CD for Christmas called Freedom. This CD was produced by the International Justice Mission and proceeds support IJM's fight against modern day slavery. To sum it up, this CD is absolutely AMAZING. Everyone from Natalie Grant, Sanctus Real,  TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North, MercyMe,  and Jars of Clay are on the CD! There are so many encouraging songs and they speak to the soul. My favorite has to be "Arise" by Third Day.

This song is now officially my anthem. :)

I sit alone and think about the world and all the people without freedom

Without justice

And then I wonder if there’s any more that I can do to help the broken

To help the hopeless

And Lord you know I can’t do this without you

God I need you now

Help me to make a move

Arise oh God, life up your hand
Bring freedom and forgiveness

Arise oh God, help us to stand

For mercy and for justice

• On to something way less important, but nonetheless exciting. I have been back on SparkPeople for 10 days, and I have lost 4 pounds!!! I've been following my nutrition and fitness plan and am feeling great. Besides the fact that my pants are fitting amazing, I have more energy and I just feel better. YAY! 

•  Is it just me, or is Ryan Gosling one of the best in Hollywood? From The Notebook to Fracture to Murder by Numbers, I just admire his acting style and the way he carries himself. Not to mention he's seriously funny (and handsome). I saw this clip of him  on Jimmy Kimmel and couldn't help but share it. I can't wait to see Blue Valentine! :)

Happy Friday lovelies! Enjoy yourselves this weekend! 

Disturbing News

Last night I read an article that made my heart hurt greatly. And while I understand that the media can twist the facts, there is much truth to what I read. Please know that I never intentionally want to be a Debbie Downer, but this is where my passion lies, and this not a "rainbows and sunshine" kind of post.

The article I read was about a 20/20 episode that focused on the Peace Corps, and featured a young woman named Kate Puzey. Kate was a volunteer serving in West Africa where she taught English at a local school.

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Upon being informed that a fellow teacher and Peace Corps volunteer was sexually assaulting students, she sent an email to the local Peace Corps office notifying them of his actions. She requested that her identity remain anonymous so that she would stay protected.

Not long after, Kate was found murdered.

Local police held a suspect in custody -- the man Kate emailed the Peace Corps office about. This man was recently terminated from his job at the school as a direct result of Kate's email. The police and her family believe that her murder was absolutely linked to the breach of confidentiality by the Peace Corps. This beautiful girl was murder in March of 2009 and almost two years later the Peace Corps has yet to come forth with any responsibility or information for the family.

The 20/20 episode went on to tell the story of the women who have come away with their lives, but who have been raped while serving in the Peace Corps. While it was disturbing to listen to their stories, what was even more disturbing was that the Peace Corps practically discarded these women. They encouraged false stories to cover up the rapes, and also did nothing to help these women recover offered only a few counseling sessions to help the women cope. To make matters worse, the girls were told that they must have done something wrong to have been raped.

The only word that comes to mind when I think of the way the Peace Corps has handled these situations is pathetic. I highly doubt that this is what President Kennedy envisioned when he created the Peace Corps. I am well aware that we live in a fallen world and things like rape and murder happen, but it is the responsibility of the Peace Corps to protect their volunteers instead of failing those who have been abused.

I am not writing this post to point fingers and scream judgment. I know that the Peace Corps has done amazing things in this world, and I believe that a few bad apples shouldn't ruin the whole barrel. This 20/20 program focused on the murder of Kate and the rapes/cover ups of other volunteers. I'm sure that they could have easily produced a show that highlighted all of the wonderful things the Peace Corps has done. I don't know all of the facts, and I'm sure 20/20 does not know all of the facts. However, certain things remain true:

Kate Puzey was murdered.

Volunteers have been raped, and feel betrayed.

I believe that the 20/20 story has shed a vast amount of light on what is going on within the walls of the Peace Corps, and I can only hope that the government will step up and make things right with those who are victims, and protect those currently serving.

*****

It is stories like these that push me to go further when I feel like quitting. It's this type of injustice that boils my blood and drives me to continue on this path that I have been called to. God willing, I will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice in May 2012, and will enroll in law school in August 2012. The day where I can stop dreaming of helping and start fighting for what I believe is right will be a powerful day, indeed.

(To watch the 20/20 story click here)



Spread the Word

I typically do not post twice in one day, but I feel that I must. Please head over to Sarah's blog, Bon Mot and watch the video, and read her post.

She wrote about something that rocks me to the core. This "something" is sex slavery. Not only is it happening all over the world, but in our own backyard.

It amazes me that most people don't even know that slavery still exists. I am well aware that sexual slavery and human trafficking is happening, but I had no idea that Atlanta, Georgia is 10th in the world for child sex trafficking.

If you want to know more, check out Sarah's blog, or visit the websites below.

Not For Sale

Stop the Candy Shop

Transitions Global

Please get involved and spread the word.

Enough is enough.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
For the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
Defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9