Recently, a storm passed over my house. It was one of those loud storms that shakes the house with thunder’s rumbles.

Being alone isn’t fun. It’s always better with more. The world we live in today is a lot different than it was 50 years ago.

Each year, at the Hope House we put on a Princess Party for the girls. It is a huge, blow-out event, and we go all in for it since it is our biggest event of the year!

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the song “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan. I was at a youth camp, and the speaker was coming to the end of his sermon as the song began to play. Before the altar call could even be given, hundreds of teenagers started flooding the altar.

Once I met an older gentleman who told me his hobby was People-watching. He would sit in the busy mall and watch people interact, busy moms shop, girlfriends gather and gossip, other men wait patiently or not so patiently for their wives, little children play and run away from their parents and lovers hold hands having nothing to do and no where to go but enjoying the presence of each other.

If there is one thing I have learned over the last two years with the girls in the Hope House, it’s that you can always expect the unexpected.  Each girl is unique, with her own strengths, interests, and personality. 

Once again, Christmas has come and gone so very quickly. For some, too quickly - and perhaps for others, the hustle and bustle of this season didn't go quickly enough. For me, I love this time of year and all that it means, so I think it went by way too fast!

I was recently reading in Luke 2 the story about when Jesus was a little boy and he disappeared for three days and they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers. What really stuck out to me in this story was in verse 47 “and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

The 60 Hope House girls never cease to amaze me! The other day, I noticed some of the girls washing their clothes by hand.

The holidays are drawing near, and if your house is anything like mine was growing up, then that means Hallmark movies with a warm fire in the fireplace and maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two... or three.

Foundations are messy things. They are filled with stones, mud, sweat, and cement.

Just the other day I had this long conversation with one of my kids about my childhood.  It was a bit interesting trying to explain what life was like before computers, internet, cell phones and Wi-Fi.  “How did you watch movies?” “How did you look up stuff?” “What did you do?” 

Each year, our town of Sucúa puts on a massive all day running event, which includes a 3K, a 5K, and a 10K race. Nearly everyone in town (children included) runs or watches the races each year, and there is always a lot of excitement around the day. 

Recently, I came across a new song released by Lauren Alaina titled “Getting Good.”

In this song she talks about all of the different things that sometimes we begin to think that “once we have it, maybe that's when life starts getting good.”

Tonight as I was getting ready to put the girls to bed I heard my name being called for another room. I walked in to girls asking if I could play music because it was of of the other girls 15th birthday. Of course I said yes.

Over the last two weeks, our new girls have been settling into the Hope House for the new year. This year, we have more little girls than before. Having a large number of children in the house brings joy and an unexpected playfulness.

The school year here in Ecuador just ended, which brought with it celebrations, school events, graduations, and award season.  There were many things our girls at Ecuador Hope House accomplished this year, but two, in particular, stood out to me.

“My dream is to finish my studies and become a missionary.”

Day ends eventually, night will come, but for now, light is still here.

They always say, “Life isn’t all fun and games,” but I beg to differ. Life, my friend, is what you make it! 

Recently, I have noticed the incredible role music, particularly singing, plays in the lives of the girls at the Hope House.

Most days, life at the Hope House is ordinary. It is full of household tasks such as folding laundry (The washing machines run all day, 7 days a week, to keep clothes clean for our 50 girls), cooking food, doing homework, playing fútbol, and cleaning floors.