On Yesterday.

WE LOVED THE MOVIE. Invictus that is. Vernon and I both have been fascinated with the story of racial reconciliation in South African history for years. We have marveled at what took place in that land and what is still coming to pass. This movie was such a great example of preferring something/someone you don't necessarily like for the good of all involved. There were about a hundred one liners from the movie on forgiveness, perseverance and social justice. It was a great film. Epic if you ask me.

My friend Maux did an excellent review on it HERE.

And I love my hair! Vernon's step-sister Katie is my hair stylist here. If you are in STL area and need one...SHE IS FANTASTIC. For those who were worried, I didn't cut it all off...yet. Only 2 inches with some layers, high and low lights. (but not dramatic)

We head out tomorrow for my brother's wedding festivities. Hope you all have a great New Year!

Long Over Due.

Well December 8th post may have been a bit misleading. I only THOUGHT we were getting into the swing of things and settling in. So here I am 21 days later posting yet ANOTHER 'catch up' entry. (and to be honest I had to look at my twitter feed to even remember all that went on!)

Titus started his new school the week of the 7th. It was a fairly smooth transition with a few bumps that first week: they already write in cursive (isnt that crazy) and all the kids have their own little friend groups. We were aware that both of these things were going to be bumps so we walked him through it encouraging him along....and then....he got strep throat. So he was out of school 4 out of the 5 days of his second week of school. This was good in that he was around the house and I could work with him on cursive and talk to him a lot about making new friends. But, being the new kid it set him back in getting to know the kids in his class.

The following week Titus' school only met on Monday and Tuesday with Tuesday being a Christmas Party half day. So out of Titus' first month at his new school he only got to go to 8 1/2 days! With all of this he is actually doing pretty well. He is FINALLY feeling better, he ended up getting strep a second time! (0r the meds didn't work one of the two).

Class for Titus got out Tuesday. My brother and his fiance' came that evening to stay with us on there way to Louisville to get ready for their wedding this coming weekend! They left Wednesday morning and we drove into the airport to pick up our friend Robin who would be visiting for the next 5 days. Vernon's sister, Phyllis, and her family also came in that evening. The five of them, Vernon's mom and Robin stayed with us the next 3 days! (remember we have a small 2 bedroom rent home for now!) It was soo fun!

Christmas was a great day. We made great memories and had loads of fun. I feel like I could post three post just on Christmas Eve and Christmas day but I will spare you!

The Daniel's family left Saturday night and Vernon's mom drove home as well. Vernon preached on Sunday (and the Sunday previous as well but I missed saying that!) and we spent the day marveling at the explosion that had happened in our house! haha! No it wasn't that bad and was fairly easy to recover from. Monday Allison Richomond and Amy Kuntz came over and we had the best time! We took Robin to the airport and said goodbye. Allison and Amy both leave for there respective homes in the next few days so Monday was full of goodbyes.

So here we are Tuesday. A low key day I suppose. We leave on Thursday morning for my brothers wedding weekend. I am getting my hair cut today and V and the boys are going to hangout with V's step mom Robyne. Tonight Vernon and I are going on a little date to see Invictus. This movie includes two of my husbands favorite things: Rugby and Africa's history. We are excited.

Though it has been a busy season, full of family and friends, celebrating our return to Missouri, we have found ourselves missing our dear friends in Texas quite a bit. We are excited about the transition here to Missouri, our home state, but Texas got our heart when we weren't looking! We miss all of you and would love to hear from you!

I hope to check in soon after the weekend with pics of the wedding and such. If you don't already follow me on twitter (or facebook), I keep that updated because I can do it from my phone.

Hope you have a GREAT new year!

We Made It!

Most of you know this already...we made it to MO. We arrived Monday night late and our belongings arrived Thursday around 12:30; it was an adventure for us, "camping out" in our house. The boys did great! Titus started school yesterday and LOVED it. Thank you for all the prayers. It was very hard on me though. We have to drop them off, we are not allowed to walk them to class...and I am SO "that" mom...so lets just say my morning was rough.
We have almost EVERYTHING unpacked and pictures hung...even the Christmas decorations out! My mom drove down from north MO and helped me with the boys while I unpacked and arranged everything. Vernon's mom has been out a couple times helping as well. I went to a women's brunch on Saturday and was able to meet a lot of fun women from our new church. We had our first official day at our new church, The Summit. It was great! I visited a gym this morning that we are thinking about joining and of course we have all the nearby Starbucks plotted out. Sooo, life is shaping up!

I have had some rough days missing my sweet friends in Texas, but I have loved having FB, twitter and blogs to keep up. (and phones of course) Our biggest adjustment so far is figuring out how to get out the door in a timely fashion with coats, gloves, hats, shoes and socks on ALL four of us. This is not an easy task and I am open for helpful suggestions!! Also, our moving budget got pushed to the max because we had to buy all of the aforementioned items to stay warm! ha!

I will hopefully get back to blogging as our routine falls into place. Thanks for all the prayers and support during this transtion! Love to all!

Head'em up and Move'em Out

In 7 hours the boys and I will do just that, head'em up and move'em out. We have had a sweet last week here in Texas full of memories, friends and family. We can not say with words how much we love each of you dearly and will miss you more than we are ever able to communicate. We are excited about what is ahead and all that the Lord is doing. Thanks for all the love and fun this week!

Now....come visit.

His Voice for Sudan and The Advent Conspiracy

His Voice For Sudan Advent Conspiracy Video from Amber Burger on Vimeo.

I made this little video up last night to go along with The Advent Conspiracy. If you, your small group, your family or your Church are looking for a avenue to give to children around the world, we would love for you to consider our sweet friends in Sudan.

For more info on what the needs are visit our website's Partner Page or CLICK HERE for a document that has goals you could set for your group.

THANKS!

If you are not aware of what The Advent Conspiracy is, PLEASE take time to watch this 2 1/2 min video that AC put out as well::

Long Over Due

I have been meaning to write this post for over a month now.

My family is about to open a new chapter in our lives. We are moving. We are moving back to Missouri. St. Louis will be our new city, O'fallon, MO to be exact. Our hearts are thrilled yet we are so sad to leave all our great friends here in Texas. Houston, Midland and Fort Worth are the places we have called home in our journey here in Texas and behind us we will be leaving a wake of the dearest friends anyone could ask for. I must add Irving, although we never lived there, our church family does. They have become our closest of kin, leaving them will be like leaving our family when we moved away from MO to TX.

Vernon accepted the position of "Teaching Pastor" at The Summit Community Church in O'fallon, MO. For years now we have praying very specific prayers about a job that Vernon could use his giftings to the utmost, while continuing the work of His Voice for Sudan. When the Summit sent us the job description, we could not deny this was the place for us. It had every aspect of the job we prayed for!! We are so excited for this opportunity!

We are trying to sale our home and have been for a couple months. If we have no buyer by Thanksgiving, we will move Nov. 30th. (we are trying to find a rental home there in the mean time) If we get a buyer we will stay until we close and buy a home there. Obviously the latter is what we hope for. Please pray toward that with us!

We have learned so much through this process, so much that I wish I would have blogged. Maybe the blogs will come once we are there! Who knows.

To our Texas friends, you have have seen our family grow, cared for us in every way, struggled with us, rejoiced with us, morned with us, sang with us, gave to us, shared with us and become part of us. Although we are saying good bye physically, you have impacted our family for ever. For this we could never thank each of you enough.

Don't Give Up

yall.
i am alive.
please dont give up on me.
will blog soon.

-ab

All Dressed Up

I really didn't get many pics of us all dressed up but here are a few. I only had my phone so the pictures are not the greatest but it was so fun!

Not sure why, but this picture is soo funny to me! Justus as a "Runaway iPhone!"
This is Titus in his costume contest. I don't have any pics of Justus being in his but he got third place! fun!

Happy Reformation Day!



Pictures to come!! but here is one I snapped yesterday when J's outfit was complete.
Vernon wanted to go as himself, so Justus is his iPhone and I am his laptop! Titus, of course, is a transformer.

In Case You Were Wondering...

they are definitely brothers.

Titus November 2005 (almost 17 months)

Justus October 2009 (almost 17 months)

The Pumpkin Patch

We had a great time on Saturday going to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. Amy and Erin came in town from Houston for the weekend so they joined us. Eric and Andrea met us there as well! When we arrived we realized everyone else in DFW thought that day was a great day for the Pumpkin Patch....seriously yall, it was insane...people EVERYWHERE. I was proud of my husband who doesn't generally fare well with crowds. He found us a quaint little corner with a hay bale and some pumpkins; it was far enough to the edge that the crowds were not as noticeable. Then Titus asked to go in the hay maze (which was in the MIDDLE of crowds of people) and he happily volunteered to take him! GO VERN! Anyway, I tried not to be that mom who doesn't enjoy the fun because she is trying to get some good pics, so I only took a handful. Then it was play time!!
Enjoy!

Distorted Perception of Beauty

I resisted watching this just because SOO many people were posting it with a title "EVERY TEENAGE GIRL AND ALL WOMEN SHOULD WATCH THIS." I know my childhood stubbornness aka PRIDE told me to resist what I was told to do. Well finally I gave in today when I realized it was only 1min and 16 sec. I pressed play and I am glad I did. This video corresponds so well with a couple chapters of different books I've been reading lately. So good to be reminded.

Titus' First Day of Kindergarten!



Just as we suspected, TITUS LOVES SCHOOL. He is doing great. His teacher pulled me aside yesterday and so I thought maybe he had a bad day since he was so tired from all our travel. I thought she would say he had done something. NOPE, she went on and on about how sweet he was and was so thoughtful and kind! I was sorta shocked, honestly. (dont get me wrong, Titus is sweet and I would like to think he would obey and be kind, but i don't want to be THAT mom who thinks her kid hung the moon) Anyway, the first day of school she told us that during the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, he kept whispering, "There is going to be enough, Jesus does it!" with excitement and anticipation. Then at the end he said, "Mrs. Write, that is a Miracle." She said that was right, to which he responded, "I hope I get to see a miracle." She continue to explain that we see miracles everyday and gave them some examples and she said it made Titus' entire day. haha! He still gets up every school day and says, "Can we go to school now?" Sooo, the Lord knew, through all our wavering on schooling, just exactly where Titus needed to be. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Video Recap

California!!!! from Amber Burger on Vimeo.

Song on Video:: Oh! Gravity by Switchfoot

We had so much fun! This is just a little taste of what all we did in our short 40hours in Southern Cali. No video or cameras allowed at the show...so no footage of the main event but plenty of the rest! I will write all about the show when my mind is working a little better :) !

Is This REALLY Happening?

Tomorrow morning I board a plane to Santa Ana, CA to fulfill one of the many things I have always wanted to do but NEVER thought I actually would. Since 1998 when I was first introduced to the music of Switchfoot, I have wanted to see them live in concert in there home town, San Diego. Never in my wildest dreams, although I always said I would do it before I was 30, did I imagine it happening! My sweet friend Erin call in early spring and told me that Switchfoot would be playing a show with Dave Matthews in Chula Vista, CA and that she was buying us tickets and we were GOING! We talked to some of our other girlfriends who share the same love for Switchfoot and they all considered long and hard and Amy decided to join us!!! So the three of us are meeting in OC tomorrow, staying with some friends of Amy's, driving up the coast Saturday into San Diego, hanging out in the city and ending the day in Chula Vista at the show!!! (we fly out at 620am Sunday morning but who needs sleep!)

Now, let it be known that I am not a Swtichfoot stalker or creeper, but I do greatly love their music. When the new album comes out I often feel like I have opened my journal and Jon and the guys have put amazing lyrics and music to the thoughts of my heart. I am grateful to the Lord for the many moments He has used their songs to minister to my soul, to convict, to comfort, to encourage.

****it has come to my attention that I should revise the give away...you can try the below, but if you cant do it, just leave your fav song and why***

I was thinking that in honor of us going I would do a little give away, my first on this blog actually! I am going to list 6 stanzas from various Switchfoot songs, that over the years the Lord has used. If you can, without googling them, tell me what songs they are from, I will put all the people who got the correct answers (or who give it a good shot) in a drawing. Whoever wins, I will get them something at the show!!!

Also include your favorite Switchfoot song and why!

Okay here goes:

1) These carbon shells
These fragile dusty frames
House canvases of souls
We are bruised and broken masterpieces
But we did not paint ourselves

2) Hope has given himself to the worst
Is this fiction or divine comedy?
Where the last of the last finish first

3)I give You my apathy
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

4)They're taking pictures of
The man who's lost all of his
Masks of pretension
He's got two faces left
His is the one that he hides
On the left behind that smile
Hiding tears and fear
That burn like an engine
It drives him away
From the ones that he loves

5)I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And You're raising the dead in me

6) And all I see It could never make me happy
And all my sand castles
Spend their time collapsing

Okay...HAVE FUN!!!

The Night Before Kindergarten

We asked Titus if we could make a quick movie of the night before Kindergarten, happily he obliged and this is what came of it...

The Night Before Kindergarten- Titus from Amber Burger on Vimeo.

His Voice For Sudan NEW BLOG!

We just went live with our new His Voice for Sudan blog! Come and join us. Vernon, Justin, Heath and I will be writing entries of all kinds. I think you will really enjoy it.

CLICK HERE to visit us!

A Reprieve

We have been in and out all summer and we have a week home! We thought Titus would be starting school by this week, but his school is building a new section and it is not finished yet so they are not starting until after labor day. So this leaves us with very little planned! Our clothes are in our closets and drawers (well those that are not in the washer!) and not in our suitcases!
This week, so far, has been wonderful. It started with Sunday, not just any Sunday, but the Sunday that all the college students are back! I love this week every year. They are all full life from the summer and excited about what God is going to do in the coming year...it just gets me soo excited! That evening some friends from church, Nate and Natalie came over and stayed the night. We had the best time! We are believing God with them for Nate's dad's healing. We are grieving with them as they walk through the pain of seeing his dad so sick. Tuesday we went out to dinner with The Bleecker's and then to worship with Hillsong. It was an amazing night and so refreshing. Nate and Natalie were there along with ALL of the FBCI worship team. I was so blessed to stand together with our team and sing, without set lists, without instruments, just sing our hearts our to our LORD together. "we stand with arms high and hearts surrendered." I can not say enough how blessed I am to be apart of our team. To serve with these sweet friends is something I will forever be grateful for.

The very next morning we had the privilege of leading worship at DBU's chapel. It was such an encouragement. It was packed out, standing room only...crazy. I love seeing what God is doing in the lives of the students at DBU. I was richly blessed to be there and sing with them. That evening we went to church and had a great night fellowshipping with our sweet family there.

That brings us to today. We have nothing...its kinda cool...but right before I started writing this, I thought to myself, "We should see if some of the students want to come over for dinner, I'll have Vernon text Chris and Galvan." haha. We just LOVE having people in our home. As for now the boys are napping so I am catching up on all the HisVoice websiting and contacts. Working on configuring email addresses for some new HisVoice employees and periodically stopping to switch out the laundry...and updating this silly blog.

I think I will end this post with this little video. It is currently my favorite worship song. I have listened to the new Faith+Hope+Love Album by Hillsong a quadrillion times and have tried hard not to be bias towards Jill but this is for real an AMAZING song and the LORD has used it in my life this last month. AMEN!

Down for the Count


Well most of you know via Twitter and Facebook that our family has had the stomach bug. All four of us :( but I think we might be on the mend. Today Sarah sent me all the pictures from Titus photo shoot and this was one of them. I thought it was only fitting to post it. Thanks for stopping by even though I haven't been posting much!

My Sweet New Niece!

CLAIRE ELLISE DANIELS
7lbs 11oz 20.5inch long
10:02 am August 6, 2009

Random Pics of The Summer Part I : Grandma Downey's Party

So I haven't loaded my pics from my sony cyershot but here are some fun ones from my Canon.

My Grandma throws the best parties. They are always themed and always centered around the kids having fun. This summer's party had a Cowboy theme complete with sack races, stick horse races and cowgirl/cowboy photo opp. (oh and of course a pinata)



Random Pics of The Summer Part II: Friends and Fun!

we got to spend 15 days in St. Louis and really I came away with hardly any pictures. In fact, I haven't taken many pictures at all this summer. I was enjoying myself and forgot I guess. Here are few that I did snag.

Happy Anniversary To Us

For the next couple of days, THIS is where you will find us.

Vernon surprised me with a two night get away to a ranch just out side DFW. I am so excited! He even made all the childcare arrangements and everything!

Its been an amazing six years. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

My Dearest Chongs


If you have known me in the last 7 years of life, you have known my dearest Chongs very well. Seven years ago I got these beauties out of my cousins closet and we did a shoe trade. I traded him a pair of thrift store tennis shoes for my dear Chongs. He had worn said Chongs for two years already so they were nice and broke in. Perfect for me. I had a pair of Chacos already but the wonder of getting a chaco and a flip flop in one....nothing could compare. Seven long years I wore and loved my Chongs and when I say wore I mean WORE. I literally wore them with everything. EVERYTHING. Dresses, shorts, pants, t-shirts and dress shirts. I broke all the rules of fashion and did not care a lic. They even made it through both pregnancies and multiple trips to Africa. And besides a running shoes and some mandatory heels for a wedding or two I haven't even bought any other shoes. Some say this is not very feminine of me but I just need to say that if I had it my way I would be barefoot. I just cant fathom paying money for that many pairs of shoes...when one pair is just fine. (although I have contemplated many pairs along the way and the only ones that have ALMOST won are Toms and that is because some child will also get shoes)...I know I think too much.
Anyway, let it be known after a life of 9 years on July 13, 2009 my Chongs broke. Deep down I knew the day would come but I have been in denial. Now the great thing about Chaco's is that they have a life time warranty. Sooo...I am sending them in. The only issue I have with this is... What if they send me the Zongs?
Zongs are the predecessor of The Chongs. Chongs are no longer made by Chaco they were retired 5 years ago and just last year they finally came out with its match...the Zong. And I will say in my opinion do not hold a candle to the Chong...just sayin. Now, all that said I will be grateful for the Zong if they send them my way but am hoping that they just strap my Chongs. I will keep you posted. In the mean time, you can find me barefoot!
(jk, Vernon bought me some great Keenes and Simples last year at the REI super clearane sale)

A Sneak Peek and a Short Explanation

Hey! The Crazies are about to end we are back in TX with only a few trips to go. This is my explanation for not blogging in forever. Then...TITUS STARTS KINDERGARTEN. so crazy. We are home this week so I asked Sarah Barnes to take Titus' 5 year old pics. She sent me a sneek peak last night....here are some....

Urgent Prayer PRAISE!!

Y'all....THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING. We just got an email from Bishop saying that 8 have recovered! They will be monitored a bit but have stopped having "running stomach" as they say...they will be hydrating them and they will be back to there normal routine. The other 3 are still sick but they are hopeful that they will also recover.

AMEN... God did a mighty work at Lura!

Please continue to pray:

The 8 continue to hold down food and hydration.
The 3 stop having "running stomach" and begin holding down food and water.
Pray as they all morn the loss of one of their friends.
Pray for the mother of this sweet child as she morns the loss of her baby.

THANKS!

URGENT PRAYER

Today we received and email from Bishop Taban (the Sudanese pastor over all of the ministry we do in Sudan). Some of the children at the Lura orphanage are VERY sick. One child (although not an orphan but a child of one of the employed cooks) has died from the virus. Currently, 11 children are sick. They think they have the virus contained, but please pray.

Pray for our children as they are sick and needing to be brought back to health.
Pray for the nurses and health staff as they care for them.
Pray for the sweet mom who lost her child.
Pray for all the children and family as they morn the loss of this child.

Here is the email we received this morning, we will hopefully get more info asap,

Dear brethren;

The children at Lura Orphanage has been attacked by running stomach 11are on sick bed right now and one child dead today. We closed our Yei town clinic because all the staff are to attend to the situation in Lura. Though the child who dead is not an official registered child but the mother was employed two months back as a cook and she could not leave the child behind; one problem that mighty have caused the death is that the mother gave the child local medicine before reporting to the nurse. According to our health staff the situation has been brought under control.Thank you for your prayers.

Love.
Bishop Elias Taban

A Good Laugh

Tonight Vernon and I were talking about dancing and I was trying to explain to him the difference between square dancing and country dancing. Trying to get him to understand I said, "you know like CMT." This was followed by a blank stare from Vernon. I knew I need to clarify "country music television," I said. At this Vernon began to laugh and says, "I have never heard of that, so is that kinda like BET." This remark was followed by a blank stare from me, I had no idea what BET was. He laughed harder as he clarified, "black entertainment television."

We both laughed hard...we grew up in different worlds! haha!

Alive.

I am still alive. I promise.

Titus' Birthday Party In Pictures
Titus and two of his best friends, Ben and Toby, all turn five around the same time so the families decided to come together and have one BIG party...and it was SOO fun! Each boy had there own table decor of choice (titus' was transformers of course!) We rented a blow up water slide and brought the rest of the water games from home. It was a great morning!

Titus and Toby with the Optimus Prime masks.

Ella, not to be left out, looked so cute in hers!

Justus slept in our friends van with the doors open almost the entire party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW TITUS!