Merida and Louboutins...

Processing every experience that we had while in Merida, Mexico has been so daunting. God's hands were all over this trip. I saw my children have compassion for those less fortunate than us or probably anyone they've ever met before. I saw my five-year old make friends with a little girl that we spent time with despite the language barrier. Love transcends everything! I wanted to share an experience that I had while there.

My 30th birthday is quickly approaching and unlike most of my friends I actually LOVE my birthday!! I can not wait to turn 30; the whole idea excites me. I had been hinting around about a certain pair of black patent pumps with those signature red lacquer bottoms. And, knowing my husband, I actually would've gotten them! Anyway, it's hot, like 115* with 90% humidity hot, and we're at a building site where a house was starting to take shape. A family of five was going to have the opportunity to live in their very first home. Until this time, they had been living with several relatives. They are young parents with 3 small children. This house was roughly the size of our dining room. They visited the site the day that we were there and the mother was so grateful that she was crying and thanking us. Earlier we had been talking with a great guy that we met named Tim and he was talking to me about clean water and how wells there could be built (do you built a well? or access?) for roughly $300 dollars. So, there we are, sweating, raking rocks around to make a foundation and I felt convicted immediately about these shoes. Running the numbers in my head as I did a sad price comparison made me feel so ashamed. I would wear 4 times the cost of a well in Mexico...on my feet. I knew at once that I wasn't going to get the shoes because I didn't want them. Wayne and I have been praying and praying about being good stewards over what God has given us. And something as subtle as a birthday present had ended up with a good, long reevaluation of myself. Those shoes are still at Neiman Marcus, where they belong. But that money, it's sponsoring orphans and missionaries just like He planned. God can use anything in your life in order to help you grow and I'm so glad that He's not finished with me, yet.