I’ve got some sweet little kiddos from Uganda on my mind tonight, but it’s midnight, so I can’t possibly write everything about them that I want to. How about a sneak preview?

First of all though, THANK YOU for all the Cambodia Photo Card orders! I got more pictures printed and bought the rest of the cards Ollie’s had in stock (and more double-stick tape), so keep the orders coming!

It may seem like a silly thing to do since we only make about $1.50 per set (after shipping/paypal fees/supplies) BUT. You know what? I love, love, LOVE that I’m getting to share Cambodia with so many of you. And hopefully you’ll turn right around and share Cambodia with friends who could use an encouraging note.

You can’t put a price tag on that.

Now, on to Watoto! (I’ll do at least one more post with lots of details. This’ll just skim the surface.)

The concert was amazing. These kiddos have been rescued from some horrific stuff. And they love Jesus like CRAZY. They live in homes with 7 other kiddos and a Mom. And they all get together for church and school and play and all that.

Here they are singing their hearts out. This picture’s not blurry because they were standing still.

Here they are in motion. I had to laugh at all our blurry pics (this one isn’t bad). They dance so fast!

This is Ronnie. That boy can SING. We had the awesome privilege of taking him in our mini-van from the church to Gabe’s parents’ house. And the more we talked, the more I literally just shook my head back and forth at God’s crazy-perfect-divine whatever-it-is-He-does.

Turns out Ronnie loves, loves, LOVES to write (he’s a journalist). And he updates web sites. And has a HUGE heart for children. And loves Facebook.

And last, but not least, sneak peek at the kiddos when we turned them loose in my in-laws’ basement. I love, love, love that kids are kids no matter what corner of the globe they hail from. My heart SOARED watching all these cuties laugh and run around and beat each other with pool noodles.

Have a great weekend, friends! Reminder that tomorrow’s the last day to order totes from 31!

If you joined us for the Radical Read-Along you might have heard a little story about a belt. You can read the longer, better version here, but in a nutshell, Amy, a Radical Reader-Along, bought a cute little belt at Anthropologie for $28. She was tickled pink over her shiny belt, but as she sat down to write her Radical post for that week, conviction washed over her. With the poor all around her, she had spent money on something she’d probably wear just a handful of times.

And she knew what she had to do. What she wanted to do.

She decided to sell the belt for $28 and give the money to blood:water mission so that 28 Africans could have clean water for a year. Her friend Dani immediately offered to buy it. But it didn’t end there. God gave them an idea to pass this shiny little belt from sister to sister all over the country.

And the Sisterhood of the Traveling Belt was born.

You get the belt, you wear the belt, you write in a journal, you give $28 to blood: water mission, you send the belt to the next sister on the list. It’s so simple.

To date, 48 women have signed up to join the blood:water belt sisterhood. If my calculator’s correct, that’s $1344.00 given so that 1344 of God’s children in Africa can have clean water to drink for a year.

Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP!!!

Here’s me in the belt. If you know me at all, you know that wearing a belt is WAY, and I mean WAY, out of my comfort zone. I put it on for the picture and then off it came.

The “Blessed” shirt I’m wearing was a gift from my friend Jackie, owner of Dress Blessed. She donated some beautiful items to help us raise money for Cambodia last summer and then sent me a couple goodies of my very own. Jackie donates part of her proceeds to feeding hungry kiddos. Man, I love these women’s hearts!

And if you want to see the darlingest little preggo ever (who happens to be related to me) sporting the belt, click here.

Looking for a small step you can take to make a difference? Join the Sisterhood of the Traveling Belt!

And for you guys, I totally apologize. If you’re feeling left out, maybe you should start your own little band of brothers. The Brotherhood of the Traveling Ball Cap? Suspenders? Coffee Mug?

p.s. Please keep praying for Joanne. And for her sweet Audrey and Emma who start back to school today. Thank you!!

If you read Radical with us (or without us) and made it to the end, you’re familiar with the “Radical Experiment.” Author David Platt encourages those who are serious about taking back their faith from the American Dream to commit to five specific things for one whole year.

1.) Pray for the entire world. 2.) Read through the entire Word. 3.) Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. 4.) Spend your time in another context. 5.) Commit your life to a multiplying community.

Why am I bringing all this up again? Because a few hours after I wrote this post, I had a revelation. I’m going to sit on it a little, pray about it some more, but I feel pretty darn sure God gave it to me.

This afternoon as I was thinking through what I’m most most MOST passionate about, it hit me. It ALL fits under those 5 categories. (Well, when I told Gabe, he said, “what about your writing?” And I stared at him for a few seconds and then said, “I know how I can make it fit.” See #3 below.)

I promised a 400-word post today, so SHOW ON THE ROAD.

1. Pray for the entire world.

Before they go to bed, the girls and I pray for 1-2 countries using this book as a guide. We also find the countries on the globe, so as a bonus, I’m working toward my lifelong goal of knowing where everything is in the world. So far, we’ve prayed for Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, and Antigua and Barbuda.

We also each pray for a kiddo in our orphanage in Cambodia and some of our other friends over there.

And since my friends (online and off) and family are part of the world, I’m praying more for them too.

2.) Read through the entire Word.

I made it 90% of the way through my pocket-sized ESV Bible last year, so I’m finishing that up in January, and then reading The Message Bible. Right now I’m reading a book called The Invitation by Eugene Peterson which basically gives an overview of the whole Bible and then book by book (which you can actually find IN the Message Bible).

I’m also memorizing 2 verses a month with 6,000+ other women on Beth Moore’s blog. All 24 verses are going to be about caring for the poor.

And Gabe is reading through the Bible this year on his phone. And the girls are reading too. Even Nina.

3.) Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose.

Here’s where the writing comes in. I haven’t had a book published in two years. That wasn’t my plan, but it sure as heck didn’t surprise God any. I have two book projects I’m working on right this minute. I’m very, very excited about them.

And since God and I made a deal about where any money I make would go, a book contract would mean getting to Cambodia that much faster. Faster than selling Scrabble magnets, that’s for sure.

My new motto: I write books to support my missions habit.

4.) Spend your time in another context.

I won’t belabor this point. I want to take my family to Cambodia this summer. Anything that helps make this a reality fits here.

5.) Commit your life to a multiplying community.

I’ve mentioned that Gabe and I (and the girls) are helping our friends Rich and Shalla as they plant a multi-ethnic church just a few minutes down the street from us. I have lots more to say about this, but I LOVE how the timing of this coincided with me reading Radical. We’ve only had three services so far (we’re meeting once a month for a few months and going to our old church the rest of the time), but we’ve gotten more involved in our city/community in these three months than we have in the four years we’ve lived here.

Shoot. 650 words. Forgive me?

Like I said, I’m going to sit on this a bit, pray about it, stuff like that. And I realize that I didn’t specifically address investing in key relationships like my husband, kiddos, extended family, and friends, so I’ll work on that. But I also know that my family is 100% involved in each one of these 5 things with me. And #5 encompasses all my local peeps. And I’ll find a place for all of you too.

And now I’m rambling. Thanks for being so awesome! And really, just putting up with me in general. Have a great weekend!

Congratulations, friends! We made it. We did it. We read Radical and SURVIVED! And now it’s time to CELEBRATE!! And since I can’t exactly have you all over to my house today for cake and punch, how about we just party right here (and fight each other for prizes)?

And in the spirit of the season, you are more than welcome to join our celebration EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T READ ALONG.

There are 12 prizes, so your odds of winning are fairly good. And the harder you work, the better your chances. I’ll show you the prizes first and then tell you how to (try to) win.

Prize #1: One of four copies of Radical. (great to pass along to a friend or read yourself if you didn’t join us)

Prize #2: A copy of Soul Healing AND the Soul Healing Forever Study Guide (good, good stuff written by my friend and pastor’s wife, Tammy Smith)

Prize #3: The Happy Hubby Combo (Blushing Bride and Is That He Thinks About?)

Prize #4: The New Mama Combo (Expecting and Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time)

Prize #5: Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff (FUNNY).

Prize #6: The Forgotten God by Francis Chan (I really, really like Francis Chan.)

Prize #7: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (LOVE this book.)

Prize #8: 4-pack of One Diaper at a Time.

Prize #9: 4-pack of Blushing Bride. (Perfect for Christmas gifts or starting a winter book club.)

You can enter to win up to 3 times 1.) answer question #1. 2.) answer question #2. and 3.) post a link to the Radical CELEBRATION on Facebook OR Twitter OR remind 2 of your fellow readers-along of today’s party. (Each time you enter, make sure you tell me the # of the book(s) you’d like to win.)

Question #1: How is your life different because of reading Radical? (Tell me something cool God is doing/has done.)

Question #2: How can we pray for you as look forward to 2011 and living radically?

And you absolutely don’t have to stick to the questions. We’d love to hear anything you have to share! Thank you SO much, friends. It’s been a joy to journey with you through this book and through life! Much love to you all!

p.s. Drawing ends at 11:59pm Thursday. I’ll announce the winners Friday. (U.S. addresses only)

p.p.s. NEXT READ-ALONG announcement TOMORROW!

Well, would you looky here? I promised a Radical Follow-Up post today and SURE ENOUGH! So many times I feel like the dude in the Bible who said he was going to do something and didn’t do it, and Jesus said it’s way better not to say anything at all if you’re not going to follow through. (Boo to being that guy.)

So, my birthday money. Let me say upfront that I’ve already prayed over this post, prayed that my heart is in the right place and that I’m sharing something that I hope will ENCOURAGE you, not toot my own dumb horn in any way.

First of all, WOOHOO for EIGHTY-TWO birthday gifts!! I also got two physical birthday gifts–a Kids Love Ohio book from my friend Jamie and a Vintage Scrabble Jr. game from my friend Ali–and then $85 from three different people who love me. And my mom and dad watched the girls overnight so Gabe and I could have 24 kiddo-free hours together.

I spent $9 on a journal at Target and $3 on (ahem) Scrabble letters at an antique store. Which left $73 and a world of possibilities. I decided to sit on the money in case something really fabulous came up.

And then our van broke down, and whoosh went our Cambodia Fund.

But I still had that delicious $73 in my desk drawer.

And then Panha’s dad’s tuk-tuk got stolen. And as I sent out e-mails and facebook messages imploring people to help, I thought to myself, “This stinks. After that van repair bill, we don’t have a dollar to spare. I wish so badly I had something to give to Panha’s family.”

You do, said a voice. You have your birthday money.

Oh for crying out loud, I thought. My van breaks. My Cambodia Fund is gone. And you want to take the ONE PIECE OF JOY I have left right now? (insert fingers in ears, start loud humming)

Give your birthday money to Panha’s family.

(Big deep sigh.) Please tell me this isn’t your voice I’m hearing, God. It’s just the guilt talking, right? Really? My birthday money??

Give your birthday money to Panha’s family.

Oh my word. Enough of the voices!! Okay, okay, how about 20 bucks? Then I can say I helped, but I’ll still have $53 to spend on something I want.

Give ALL of your birthday money to Panha’s family.

(Stunned silence, stomach churning, not a pretty moment.)

I’m waiting.

And so I cringed and winced and sent $73 via paypal to help buy an $1100 tuk-tuk. For someone who has nothing. While I sit here with virtually everything.

I’ll be honest. IT HURT. I’m ashamed to admit how much it hurt, because come on. If I thought that was painful, what would I do with some real pain? I went up to my bed and begged God to make it not hurt, to turn me into a cheerful giver, to make me into someone who can’t help but give, who wants so desperately to give. Not a stingy birthday-money hoarder.

The hurt didn’t magically disappear. But it did sloooowly fade away. And by the time all the money was raised for the tuk-tuk (and then some), I was so thrilled that I had been able to play a small part in it all. What if I hadn’t given? I wouldn’t have “owned” part of this beautiful story. I can’t even imagine.

And then. THEN. Panha’s dad gave his life to Jesus. And HELLO. Seventy-three stinking dollars is NOTHING to “pay” for someone’s SOUL. There is nothing on earth that would have been worth buying in place of THAT.

And that’s when the true joy came. It came barreling over me and caught me off guard and made me cry. And I realized that God had answered my prayer and made me the cheerful giver I had begged him to make me. It just took a little while.

Fast forward two weeks. Gabe called me from work yesterday with some amazing news. A Christmas bonus. The first one he’s ever gotten in his life. He gave me a chunk of it to put back in the Cambodia Fund, bless his sweet heart. And $40 to go buy a belated birthday gift.

I sit here in awe of the God who loves me very, very much.