Teen Mom House Tidbits

photo credit:  Joanna Howard

I was trying to get all of this information in one post.  I failed.  Argh.

For those of you who are emailing friends, setting up garage sales, and getting crazy excited about caring for our teen moms, here are a few things you might want to know:

1. We added a chip in meter to the right side of this blog and to the teen mom's blog.  This will make giving easier.  Every last penny will go to the teen mom's home.  You'll also get a tax receipt when you give through the chip in meter.  Remember:  every dollar counts.  You can give any amount and it will be a sweet blessing to these girls and to this project.

2.  We'll try to keep everyone updated on what rooms get adopted and which ones still need to be adopted.

3.  If you go shopping as a group, be sure to send me pictures.  I'd love to include them in posts where we show how your giving transformed a room in the teen mom house.  We want you to be in this with us and to feel a part of what God is doing through you and through Heartline.

4. Will you help us spread the word about this opportunity to give?  If so, you can link to the post below.  I've included all the information from this post in that one.

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Sunday before last we had a time of prayer for the children in our church.  It was a special time for parents to pray over their children, to ask God for wisdom in raising them, to thank God for the gift that children are in this world.  We prayed God would protect them, that He would save them, and that they would grow up to be men and women who love God and make Him known in this world.

Aaron and I held our sons close and prayed over their lives.  I was a mess.  A snotty, crying blob.  Praying for my crazy kids always wrecks me and leaves me wondering how that much liquid can come out of a person's face.  While I was praying for my sons I turned and saw the teen moms standing next to me, holding their babies.  Beth was nearby crying as she prayed over these moms and their children.  I held Djenie close...practically smothered Kenny...bawling and praying...broken beyond belief at the thought of God's grace and goodness in their lives.

In that moment it was terrifying to think of where Djenie would be if God had not grafted her into Heartline's family.  Would she even be alive in City Soleil right now?  Would she have survived the violence?  Would she be raped?  Pregnant again?  Would she have died of cholera?  I didn't have to wonder about Kenny.  I wept and wept at how this fat, funny, precious baby who is in love with his mother would have never made it if it had not been for what God did through Heartline to rescue him.

Grace.  The gift of it fell on me heavy that day as I held Djenie in my arms, close to my chest, and thanked God for His mercy.

Thank you for giving to Heartline.  God is using your gifts to change lives.  To give life.