EDIT (12:26pm): Here’s a beautiful video (it’s short!) of the kids at the Cambodia orphanage. It was taken right before Christmas. I’ve seen it so many times, and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Really? All you have to do is make up a story about buying your underwear at the thrift store, and you gain instant notoriety? Really?? I wish I’d known that years ago.

Oh, I jest. I do buy them there, and as much as I hate to gross out my dear, darling friends (and a few apparent nemeses), I have no intentions of stopping. I tried to tell you I was an anomaly. A popular nerd. The cool author chick who wears hand-me-down underwear (and I’ve borrowed bathing suits from people too, now that I think about it).

Bottom line–I’m not ashamed, folks. Money’s tight, and I spend very little–especially on myself. When God provides (sometimes new, sometimes not, NEVER stained) Victoria’s Secret undies in my size for 40-90 cents a pair, I’m all over it. Only in America can we afford to be so picky. I look at this as preparation for the trips I hope to make to Cambodia in the future to visit our church’s orphanage over there. I already eat food I’ve dropped on the floor. I’m so ahead of the game.

A big thanks to those of you who love and support me even if you strongly disagree with my choice. And in my (last stab at) defense, I keep a big box of, um, liners in my top dresser drawer. Believe it or not, I like hygiene, and I use one of those puppies 365 days a year. So, there’s a layer of protection between me and all the imaginary germs.

And with that, the last of the menfolk have exited my blog and unsubscribed for life. It was nice knowing you!

Thanks for sharing your own hilarious odd behaviors! I loved them. Maybe some of you will find yourselves starring in a future post…

BUT ENOUGH OF THAT.

I want to talk about some beautiful children in Cambodia who were rescued off the streets, saved from a life of certain poverty, violation, and unspeakable evil and given HOPE and a new life in a clean, comfortable, loving home. Filled with love and joy and peace and JESUS CHRIST.

Last year, our church partnered with Asia’s Hope to establish this orphanage. In October, our friend, Jen Morgan left everything she knew and loved in Ohio to live with these precious kiddos. We started attending Vista right before Jen left, so I barely knew her. Since then, I’ve gotten to know and love her through her blog. I’ve seen tons of pictures and videos of these kids–and fallen in love. Some of my friends just got back from the orphanage, and I’ve hung on every word of their stories. These 16 kids have totally captured my heart. Did I say that already? And if I’m not mistaken, there’s room for 9 more in the orphanage–they just need the money to support them.

Some days I just want to drop everything and go live there. That’s not feasible at the moment, but I’m certainly not ruling it out. There’s so much I want to do for them, but I feel kind of strapped. I’m praying for God to open up big doors, but in the meantime, here are the little things I’m doing.

1. Praying for Jen, for the kids, for the orphanage directors, for the folks going on missions trips to the orphanage in the next few months (okay, so prayer isn’t a “little thing”)

2. Collecting paperback picture books to send over with my friend Cindy to help the kids learn English–shapes, colors, numbers. Nina and I are going to the Infamous Thrift Store to look for the perfect books tomorrow–can’t beat 25 cents a book. (If you have books you could donate, let me know, and I’ll get you details!)

3. Talking to our girlies about the kids in Cambodia every chance I get. They love these kids too!

And some of you might be able to help me with this last one. I’d like to do some sacrificial giving–as in give some of my personal money to the orphanage each month. But, here’s the thing. The only income I have is from book sales (and occasional speaking events). And I did some depressing calculations today. Do you want to know how much profit I make when people buy books from my website? Well, it depends which book(s) they buy. After you subtract the cost of the book (50% author discount), paypal fee, shipping fee, and mailer, I make anywhere from -73 cents to $1.15 per book. Is That All? went up in price in January, so I’ve been losing 73 cents each time a sell a copy.

I’m a savvy businesswoman, let me tell you.

So, here’s the scoop: Gabe is changing some of the pricing on my books as I type. Blushing–$6 (today only, then $10), Is That All?–$12, Diapers–$11, First-3-books combo–$22, Expecting–$13.

And I’m humbly asking you to buy a book (or 3). I know a majority of you already have them. But if you don’t, and you’ve been thinking about getting them, TODAY is a perfect day. Maybe you have a pregnant friend. Or know someone who just got engaged. Or a new mom. Or someone who wants to spice up her marriage.

I’m going to donate every single penny of today’s book profits to our orphanage in Cambodia. I’ll let you know tomorrow how much that is. Tell your blog readers. Tell your facebook friends. Just don’t tell them I wear used underwear until AFTER they’ve ordered the books.

Happy Tuesday, friends!