At the beginning of this year my Mom surprised my sister in-laws and myself with a girls trip to Waco, Texas. Destination the Silos!! It was such an amazing trip spent with beautiful people not to mention the warm weather and sunshine. It is definitely a place I would visit again!

Thought I would share with you some of the highlights of the Magnolia must sees and a few tips if you ever find yourself in Waco.

Magnolia Market
There is so much to see and take in from the silos, the market to the perfectly arranged planter boxes and landscaping. This was our first stop once arriving in Waco and we also went back the following day. Both days we hit it at a good time late afternoon around 4:00 which gave us enough time before closing while still being able to avoid the large crowds. We also went on a weekday which made it nice being able to go through everything at a leisurely pace and not being shoulder to shoulder with the person next to you.

Tucked in the back corner is Magnolia Seed and Supply, which is an inspiring little shop for anyone with a green thumb. They also had a cute little cart full of succulents for sale, which I would have loved to pick up if we weren’t flying. In addition to the buildings there are also food trucks, lawn games, seating and picnic tables to relax and enjoy the warm Texas sun.

Silos Baking Co.
When we first were planning our trip we thought the bakery would be something we hit up bright and early in the morning for a little bite for breakfast. Instead we decided to stop in on our first day for a late afternoon snack and it worked out perfect, because the baked goods found in this little shop would probably give one a sugar overload first thing in the morning. The cupcakes are not only beautiful in presentation, but the most delicious. We enjoyed trying Pumpkin, S’mores and Lemon Lavender. The line looks intimidating, but it moves very quickly. A sweet treat for a mid-morning or afternoon snack!

Magnolia Table
A delicious stop for lunch with all of Joanna’s favorite recipes some that are found in the Magnolia Table cookbook. The Table is much more than a restaurant there is a beautiful outside seating area with a coffee shop to sit, chat and enjoy a beverage while waiting for your table. There is also a little Take Away shop with gifts, food and souvenirs. Not to mention the grounds are beautiful.

We were told in advance that the wait time can be lengthy, but I was a little surprised when they said 2 1/2 hours. You receive a text notification when your table is ready, so you are allowed to leave the property during your wait as long as you are back 30 minutes before your given time. We found a large antique store that easily passed the time for us.

Magnolia Market at Night
On our last night in Waco we were driving back to our hotel after dinner when out of the corner of my eye I spotted the Silos all lit up. We quickly detoured to enjoy the site of all the lights. A must stop, the Silos at night.

A big shout out to Aaron for holding down the fort while taking care of all four kiddos. I never leave the house without a kid along, so it was nice to be able to get away for a few days but boy did I miss them like crazy. I could hardly handle the 20 minute flight delay and could not wait to give everyone big bear hugs upon return.

Thanks Mom for such an amazing trip!!

In the past few months I have had some really difficult phone conversations with birth family members in Ghana. Ones where I had to fight back the tears as I felt my heart sink and my jaw quiver. Conversations that left my heart broken, shattered. Left with the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Even now to think back my eyes instantly fill up.

I have seen poverty more than once in my life. In high school and college I went on multiple mission trips to Guatemala to work among those most in need. I lived in Ghana for two weeks as we finalized our sons adoptions. I have walked among the impoverished, seen it and touched it. Still I have never lived it.

I have never been left wondering when the next time I could feed my family, I have never been so hungry that I have tried to eat chalk or dirt in desperation to ease the pain. I have never wondered if I could afford to send my child to school. When I wake up in the morning I know that my family will be fed, clothed and provided for. I do not have to spend my entire day wondering how I can make it reality, rather I far too often complain about making dinner.

Not only do I just have clean water for drinking, washing and watering my flowers I also have hot water. We have sewage disposal and do not have to walk through waste and contamination causing us to be at risk for diseases. When one of my children are sick I can rely on modern medicine to help fight a bacteria.

I know that when I am pregnant I can go to a hospital equipped with well trained medical staff and interventions to safely deliver my baby. If a crisis arises during delivery or my baby comes prematurely I know that the advances in medicine that we take for granted will literally save my little one’s life. While in other parts of the world most women cannot afford to give birth in a hospital. In desperation many will lay on the ground in front of the hospital when they go into labor in hopes that if something goes wrong perhaps medical staff will bring them inside and care for them.

How can people who live in such moments of desperation have joy or hope. How can they have faith so strong when day in and day out they are met with such hardship. Will the cycle of poverty ever be broken. Why is it so easy for me to see poverty and then turn my eye and go back to my comfort of living.

How can a good God allow so many of his children to go hungry every single day. I struggle with the thought as I complain about my house being too small, the water not being the right temp or having to go grocery shopping. I am left without answers and my heart shaken as my own sons whisper prayers for their birth-families to have enough food today. Poverty is not foreign to them and no longer to me.

While we were in Ghana we were introduced to an amazing ministry and organization, really just one woman’s love and total self-sacrifice to care for those among her. The Fern House is a crisis pregnancy center and children’s home, which started with a woman caring for pregnant mothers by taking them into her home. Soon her selflessness flourished needing to move into a permanent facility allowing for more women. In addition they began to take in orphaned children in need of food and education.

The Fern House provides shelter, food and education to mother, babies and orphaned children. In addition it helps mothers learn how to care and provide for their babies. Most recent a young 15 year girl who has suffered years of abuse was brought to the Fern House. She is pregnant with her baby due in December. She came to the Fern House very malnourished and broken. She is being fed, loved, prayed over, and cared for. Her baby is growing and her joy is returning. The Fern House is in need of a sponsor for her delivery so she can safely have the baby at a hospital. If things go without complications the cost for a delivery is $300. In addition she also needs a monthly food sponsorship which is $40, which will continue to help her and her baby develop.

The Fern House also has several children in need of both food, $40 and education, $70 sponsorship. Please let me know if you or someone you know have interest in sponsorship. In addition to your monthly donation there are also opportunities throughout the year to send clothing, shoes, basic necessities to your sponsored child along with letters and pictures. You will receive pictures of your sponsored child with your care packages.

The Fern House and those who help run and setup sponsorship is a very grassroots organization, a lot of loving hearts just trying to feed God’s children. So there isn’t a fancy website or development team, just you and I striving to care for the least among us.

“Christ has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”  St. Teresa of Avila