Show and Tell!

Remember Show and Tell from when you were younger? We had it every Friday when I was in Kindergarten and I looked forward to it all week. I couldn't wait to show off whatever it was that I thought was cool that week and tell all about it! Too bad we don't have Show and Tell at work every Friday. How fun would that be?!? Well I may not be able to Show and Tell at work, but I most certainly can here! And the best part is that no one can one up me! :)

So here is what I have for show and tell this week! Oh, and I am aware it's not Friday, but it's my blog and I can do what I want to!
Show:

Tell:

My sister in law and I are always saying we have nowhere to put all of the wedding invitations, bridal and baby shower invites, and Christmas cards we get through out the year. We have both searched high and low/ near and far and we have not found anything we liked to display our invites( and let me just say that I like having them on display so that I have a constant reminder of the showers and weddings to come or they might just slip my mind). Anyways, I decided to take matters into my own hands and just make the darn thing myself. First, I went to an Antique store and found and old window payne that I liked. Then I came home and busted the glass out( I did this by taping the glass with duct tape before I knocked it out so that there wouldnt be a mess, but there is probably an easier way to do this). Next, I gave the window payne a fresh coat of pretty paint. I gave the paint some time to dry and then I attacked it so that it would look distressed. Once I was satisfied with my destruction I got some chicken wire and attached it to the frame (I needed the wire so that I would have something to attach my invitations to). After the wire was secured to the window I was ready to put some invitations on display. So, I grabbed some paper clips and hung some invites and Waa Laa my project was complete! Yay! I'm so happy with the result! It's exactly what I wanted and needed wooo hooo!

Here is a closer look of my little project

This is the one I made for my Sister in Law

And a close up of hers

Well that's all I have for Show and Tell this week! I hope you enjoyed it!

XOXO,

 Allison

Footprints

I have loved this poem since I was a little girl. My Grandmother had a sand dollar with this poem written on it and I always thought it was so pretty...maybe because I gave it to her as souvenir from our beach trip when I was six! :) Either way I still love this poem!

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

At some point in your life you may feel mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually exhausted. During these times seek the Lord's strength! For while we are weak, he is strong and he loves us and will always be there for us. Sometimes it is at our weakest that our relationship with the Lord gets stronger. During the hard times when you  feel defeated know we are never defeated in Christ.  If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31. So, if you're feeling weak or defeated then pray for the Lord's strength. With God on your side you can get through anything!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Happy Monday!
Allison

Honduras Mission Trip

The Lord has really blessed Dusty and I with some amazing friends!! We are so thankful for all of them!!! One of the couples we are extremely thankful for would be Trey and Heather Powell. They are such a great couple and wonderful friends! We always enjoy our time with these two!! Plus, our dog Nash and their dog Delta are B.F.F., so we have lots of fun when we get together! Dusty met Trey during their first year of medical school and really hit it off! In fact, Trey was a groomsmen in our wedding. Heather and I soon became friends as well and I love spending time with her! She is such a sweet person and a GREAT cook! ( As long as she doesn't make something with green peas) :) Heather just recently graduated from medical school at UAMS and will be starting her residency soon! A little over a week ago she went on a medical mission trip to Honduras. Dusty and I have been praying over this trip since we found out she was going to go. I had actually planned on posting about her trip and asking everyone who reads this blog to pray for them as well. Then I was going to have her guest blog about her time in Honduras. If you read this blog then you know this obviously didnt happen and I. Feel. TERRIBLE about it! Seriously! I feel like the worst friend ever!! Luckily for me Heather is a sweet sweet friend and still wanted to share her trip with everyone who reads this blog, Did I mention she is really sweet? ok. Anyways, ya'll welcome my first guest blogger Heather Powell....

Greetings! I am so excited to share a summary of my experiences on my recent mission trip to Honduras!The trip was truly a blessing for our team members. We arrived safely in San Pedro Sula on Saturday, May 28th and began our 7 hour drive to the small coastal village of Limon. We had to stop in La Ceiba to buy groceries for the entire week as it was a 4 hour drive to the nearest grocery store from where we stayed in Limon. Upon arrival we unloaded the medications to replenish the supply in the pharmacy at the clinic. One of the unique characteristics of the clinic we worked in is that it operates perpetually. Different teams from the states come throughout the year. For instance, we were leaving on a Friday, and another team of physicians was arriving on Sunday to work the following week. This clinic is able to provide year round care! When patients run out of their medications, they simply come back to the clinic, see a doctor, and get their refill.

Having just graduated from medical school one week before, this trip was especially meaningful for me. One of my desires when I entered medical school was to be able to use my skills as a physician in the Lord’s service through medical missions. Finally after 4 years of medical training, I was able to serve in the mission field as a physician. The joy that I felt on the first day of clinic as I ministered to the people of Honduras by treating their physical ailments is indescribable. I had the overwhelming feeling that I was exactly where God wanted me to be at that moment, and I knew that I was there only because of His provision in my life in all of the experiences that brought me to this place.




My first day in clinic as a "real doctor"


Throughout the week, we treated many of the illnesses that we see in the United States: Diabetes, Hypertension, Ear Infections, Gastritis, Reflux, etc. However, there are other medical issues that we rarely see in our society. The city of Limon is on the “Mosquito Coast” of Honduras so this leads to a high prevalence of Malaria. Also, due to the extreme poverty and lack of a public sewer system, there are issues with sanitation and potable water sources. Many of the people, especially the children are infected with parasites and amoebas as a result of sanitation problems. Due to lack of access to nutritious foods, we saw children who were anemic and malnourished. In spite of all these things, the people were joyful and grateful for our presence.

The children were so sweet. The kiddos in the states always scream when I try to look in their ears, but the little ones in Honduras sat perfectly still and never complained.

This sweet lady put on her Sunday best to come see the doctors.

We had the opportunity to go and have clinic in two local villages. One of these villages was an hour away, and the terrain was rugged, requiring a truck to get there. Unfortunately, even with most of our team riding in the truck bed, we only had access to two trucks which was not enough to transport our team of 22, including missionaries and interpreters. We prayed that God would provide a way for us to go to the village of La Fortuna. One night as we were eating dinner, there was a frantic knocking on the door of the mission house. There was a lady having chest pain and shortness of breath. She thought she was having a heart attack. She was brought in to the clinic and we discovered that she had recently stopped taking her blood pressure medication. She was found to be extremely hypertensive and she was very anxious as a result. We calmed her down, gave her medications to lower her blood pressure, and within the hour she was feeling much better. As the docs treated this lady, our mission leader was visiting with her husband, who happened to be the Mayor of Limon, who also happened to own a truck. He was so thankful that our team had helped his wife that he graciously agreed to let our team borrow his truck so that we would be able to make the journey to La Fortuna. This story is just one example of how God provided for our team through the week. We are so thankful for all of the people we had back home, partnering with us in prayer.

Riding in the back of trucks to the clinic at La Fortuna

The roads in the mountains were pretty bumpy

Our team of physicians! (Left to Right) Hunter, Heather, Kris, Clyde and Lloyene.

In summarizing our trip, I have to mention the orphanage in Limon called “Leonarda’s Home of Hope.” The Carolina Honduras Foundation which runs the clinic where we worked during the week partners with this orphanage to provide resources and funding. All 47 of the children who live at the orphanage are orphans from AIDS. However, all of the children are HIV negative. Though the living conditions at the orphanage are primitive, the children’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs are provided for. Through an abundance of financial contributions for the trip, our team was able to purchase tables and chairs for the orphanage. Prior to this purchase, there were around ten old rickety chairs and two tables at the orphanage. As a result most of the children simply sat on concrete floor to eat their meals. Now they can each enjoy their own chair as they sit at a table and eat their meals. Visiting “Leonarda’s Home of Hope” made our whole team aware of the simple blessings in life that we take for granted. For more information about the orphanage visit http://www.leonardashomeofhope.org/.

One of the kids at Leonarda's Home of Hope sitting in a NEW chair

Some of our team at the orphanage

Thanks to Allison for letting me share my experiences as a guest blogger and for her prayers and support for the trip. If you would like more information or if you would like to join the team next year, send me an e-mail at hlpowell85@gmail.com. I'd love to chat with you about future mission opportunities. And, if you are reading this, please send up a quick prayer for all the sweet children at Leonarda's Home of Hope.

Cupcakes and Cocktails!

Hello! Hello! It's been awhile since I posted. I have been super busy and just havent had the time.....sad! Even though it has been almost two weeks since my Mother's birthday I wanted to do a post on the little birthday happy hour we threw for her. 

So I decided I wanted to throw my mom a party when I found out my Aunt Patti and my Grandmother would be coming from Mississippi to join us for Memorial weekend. My mom's birthday was on the Thursday before so I thought it would be so fun to have a big birthday bash Saturday night with friends and family. After talking to a few of my mom's friends I quickly realized that a birthday party on Memorial weekend was NOT going to happen! I mean what was I thinking?!?!? It's such a busy time with cookouts, golf tournaments, lake trips, etc. It also didnt help that I decided to throw this party on the Monday before which gave me only a week to send out an invitation! Even though my dreams of throwing a big party were crushed, I still wanted to do something nice for my sweet Mom. So I came up with the idea of having a surprise Cupcakes and Cocktails happy hour at 5:00 on the Friday after her birthday. It was such a great idea if I do say so myself! It was a nice way to kick off a weekend of activities and I mean who doesn't love a Happy Hour!?!

I had originally planned on purchasing cupcakes from one of our fabulous cupcake bakeries in Little Rock. Then I stumbled across recipes for peach bellini and strawberry daiquiri cupcakes and decided I just had to make those instead. Since I only had a few days to prepare and it was a happy hour I really wanted to keep things simple. For food I decided on just serving cupcakes with few salty snacks to balance things. For my cocktails I did a "Tickled Pink" champagne cocktail and wine.  Then just decorated with a few flower arrangements.  I think it all turned out pretty cute! Plus, we were able to surprise my Mother which is nearly impossible to do, and everyone had a great time! Success!!!



Tickled Pink Cocktails



Some of the "bar food" I served in giant martini glasses





Extreme close up of one of the arrangements



Chilling the wine



I COULD NOT get this picture to rotate correctly, but I wanted a picture of one of the arrangements. So imagine it right side up or cock your head to the right. :)

 



Surprise!



Birthday hugs!



The birthday girl showing some of her guests some love!





Me and Sweet Shawna- Thank you sooooo much for all of your help!!!





Because every Birthday Girl needs to make a wish and blow out candles, I crammed some candles into a cupcake....Delightfully Tacky!!



Make a wish!



Cheers!

  It was such a fun time! Thank you to everyone who came and showed my Mother some Birthday Love! Also, a special thanks to my Aunt Patti who kept my Mother busy all day and to Shawna Young for all her help! I could not have pulled this off without you two!

* I realize there are not any pictures of cupcakes in my Cupcake and Cocktail post. The reason for that is I could not get them to load. It was drving me CrAzY!!!!!! So I gave up trying for today, but will try to get some up soon!