Good grief!!!

That has been the headline for this week.

I have successfully completed my painting class and I am so relieved.  Friday was the last day for class, and  all three of our final projects were due. (btw, what's the point in calling it a final if it isn't the final thing you do? Stupid.) The last day was a struggle. I had been up all the previous night finishing my projects. Fueled only by angst and Taco Bell, I survived the trial by fire.  I didn't even bother to change my outfit on the way out the door, I was so tired.

That might sound gross, until you wear the same dress every day for a month, it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

Speaking of gross, isn't being sick just AWFUL?

I know a lot of people are sick right now. Tis the season. So you will all empathize when I tell you that our contact is still on the mend. Rocking sick orphans in your arms can take its toll.  Keep her in your prayers as you go throughout your day, pray for her restored health and strength. We need her! The kids and the workers need her too.

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven". James 5:15


My computer is slow this evening so I will upload the past few days outfits tomorrow. Sorry! :/

Nighty-night,

-Lindsey

Day 23 and an almost lovable beagle

23 days, and still going strong.

So, guess how long I've been wearing the dress? Ok, I'm sure all of you cheated and looked above, but that's right! 23 days! I realized today that I had no idea how long it'd been since I first put it on.  I thought, "Gee, if I don't even know how long it's been, no one else probably knows either!" So I thought I'd let you know. 23 DAYS. 

Really, the dress will probably have a harder time hanging in there than I will.  My mother seemed to think so too.  She bought me a bottle of Woolite to use especially for the dress. (Thanks, Mom!) It worked wonderfully.

But, an unexpected challenge facing the Dress? A 20 pound beagle. Now, Benny is the most cuddly, lovable dog ever, but he jumps up on me, (even though he knows better) and he has some sharp little claws! We need to get them trimmed.  Also, he feels some irresistible urge to sit on my lap at all times, or otherwise be near me. 

I think it must be the same kind of unignorable urge that draws baby sea turtles to the ocean, or tells birds when to fly south. This very same urge speaks to Benny's south end and tells it to sit as near to mine as possible.

Awww! Nick saw us this morning and

decided it was too cute not to photograph.

Besides his bad manners and sharp claws, Benny often forces me to my knees, picking up after his many messes. He does this weird thing where he somehow throws his dog food all over the place when he eats. Does anybody else's dog eat like this? What is happening here that is causing his kibble to explode from his mouth and all over the kitchen floor???

This doesn't even do it justice. His mealtimes assault

a good ten foot radius of our home each day.

For all of his antics, however, he is still the best cuddle buddy in the world. I shall just have to use my Woolite religiously, and learn to laugh about the rest. 

By the way, six  hundred dollars raised and we're not even a month in! Praise God! Thanks so much to everyone who has donated.  You have extended a life line to these children. Please help spread the word about this project and keep the good things happening! 

Love, 

-Lindsey & Benny :3

A Life Across the Ocean

A different angle

Hello, all!

I hope you all enjoyed reading my better half's take on the project in the last post. And in keeping with the spirit of hearing others' views, my contact at the orphanages wanted to write a bit about herself for people to get to know her.  She has to keep her identity a secret, but at the same time she doesn't want to be a stranger.  She has a very interesting story.  And here it is....

Hello dear readers of the Little Black Dress Blog! If you are here reading this now… you. are. awesome.

First of all, the fact that you are interested in what's going on around the world is outstanding. I applaud you for daring to look outside yourself and your comfort zone, for being willing to open your heart to realities that might possibly change you forever. Those of us who have grown up in civilized countries are blessed people. We say it, but yet sometimes we don't really understand it. Until we read about stuff that's in this blog. And then we understand.

I thought I’d tell you a little about myself, just so you feel like you know me a tad bit better. That way I’ll seem more like a real person to you, as apposed to just some random overseas correspondent :) 

The majority of my younger years I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska (where I met Lindsey). I had the typical American childhood filled with Girl Scouts, honor society, high school band, cheerleading, and volleyball. When I was a preteen I attended a church camp that changed my life forever. The adults and pastors were up front praying over us students- that God would speak to us and fill us with power. I went up front to receive prayer, and before I knew it I was laying on the floor, knocked over by the power of God. I definitely did not expect this to happen- what 11 year old would? 

It was then that I heard God’s voice speak to me audibly. He told me that I was going to be a missionary, and I saw visions of world maps and poor orphans. I woke up a changed person that night. For the rest of my junior high and high school years, I had no doubt in my mind about my future. While many of my friends struggled with what career or college they would choose, I just shrugged my shoulders and replied, “God told me I’m going to be a missionary, so I guess that’s what I’m doing with my life!” 

Some days were harder than others to remember this calling in my life. I remember one day in junior high the school counselor came to our class to talk about careers. She handed out a paper listing and array of job choices along with their respective salaries. All my friends started looking for the highest paying careers, so I felt that I should do the same. I decided that a pharmacist made a decent amount of money and didn’t require as much schooling as a doctor, so that must be the job for me. I came home and told my mom about it, without much thought. Later that night my dad came into my room and said he’d overheard my job choice. He reminded me that what we do with our lives shouldn’t have anything to do with making lots of money, but rather with what we’re called to do and love doing. I felt like I was hit with a brick in that moment. I was reminded not to let money or selfish ambition get in the way of God’s plans for my life. 

During my junior and senior high years I traveled to several different countries and fell in love with every single place. By the time I arrived at college, I was more than ready to begin my missionary studies. My senior year I fell in love with my husband and we were happily married a year later. We both knew we were called to live overseas serving amongst the poor, and we couldn’t wait to start our lives together on this journey!

So here we are after 4 ½ years of marriage with our 2 year old daughter, living our dream life overseas. When I say “dream life”, I really mean “God’s dream for our lives”. You see, any life spent serving “self” will not be a happy life at all. When we lay down our rights, our selfish ambitions and pride, and when we say “yes” to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His plans for our lives, we experience true joy.

Some days are good, and some days are hard.  Many nights I lay in bed with tears streaming down my face as I think about beloved family and friends back in America that we miss so dearly. Often I find myself dreaming of what life would be like raising my daughter in the states where she can run on green grass and play on clean playgrounds. Where we can drive to Starbucks, walk around Target, or flip through books at Barnes and Noble. 

But at the end of the day, I have no doubt in my mind that we are where we are supposed to be. Every minute I hold an orphan in my arms and give them love and care they so desperately need, I am reminded that this is where God has placed me. I know He has me here for a reason.  

So I will end this post with an encouraging quote I heard in chapel my senior year of Bible College.

“If your focus is Jesus Christ, it’s impossible to miss your destiny.”

What is the purpose of life? To know Jesus and make Him known. Thank you for helping make Jesus Christ known in Central Asia!

Does she not sound like the coolest person ever?  Well I hope you enjoyed learning more about the moving forces that make this project possible! My love to all. 

A simple pink shirt over the dress. :)

Layers. 

Bring on the weather, Nebraska!

-Lindsey

Thoughts from Lindsey's husband...so you are really wearing that for a YEAR!?!?!

Manville, population 1

Myself and our first born, well, adopted...Bennie

Hi, my name is Nick Tabor and I thought I would help bring a touch of variety today and give Lindsey a break on the daily blog.  The number one question I get, ESPECIALLY from men, is "so your wife is really gonna wear that dress a year?....won't you get tired of seeing it?"

Will I get tired of seeing that dress?  Well yes and no...and I'm sure I'll have a different answer for all of you a couple months down the road.  However I am definitely 100% for this project, and here are some simple bullets (not to perpetuate any stereotypes, but men love lists) on why.

1.) It is for a GREAT cause.  Yes, there are children in need everywhere, including America (supporting the homeless and impoverished in our country is indeed a nobel task).  However, some situations are so dire that to me, they take precedent.  There is a lot that we take for granted here in our wonderful country.  Our country has basic social programs that aid the needy, places like the Open Door Mission that offer free food, rides to the location, shelter, programs, and a store where everything is free - including furniture, clothes, toys, etc.  In some of these Central Asian countries, the very lowest rungs on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs aren't met.  The workers in the orphanages are told not to touch the infants to keep them from getting attached.   Food is slim.  They are understaffed.  There is little to no medicine. The simple developmental need of attention and touch is not met.

I'll gladly see my wife in 1 dress for a year to do anything - big or small - to help.

2.) On a lighter note, I get to make her do odd poses - like.....wait for it......

The Thriller, sort of ;)

and....my favorite....I forced her to play the guitar.....she has an amazing voice

playing a 62' Silvertone, just like Cat Power

3.) She is so cute I don't really care what she wears.

4.) If the cuteness wears off (which it WON'T) - she is still super creative on top of it, so the outfit usually looks interesting and fresh regardless.

5.) Men listen up, almost NO $$$$ is required for her clothing budget.  This opens up more money in the budget for the luxuries, like Laffy Taffy  and Big League Chew ;)

and finally...

6.) I never have to answer the question, "does this make my butt look big?" because she wears the same thing every single day.   And it isn't big anyway.  And if it was, I'm still cool with it.

So as you can see, there are many benefits to this project - chiefly (I know it sounds cliche) the children.  Once we get past our culture's obsession with looks, there are plenty of wonderful benefits to be had.  Unlike like my wife, I am a shameless self promoter, so feel free to make a donation ;) 100% goes to our contact.  And if you do not feel moved in a monetary way, which is ok, please keep up with Lindsey's posts and get lots of insight into a different part of the globe we call home.  Spread the Word.

Oh, and before I forget - yesterday's outfit

V-Day

I realized the other day that Valentine's Day came and went without me hardly saying a word about it. All I told you was that I made donut holes. I felt like Snow White or something, cooking in my fancy dress. It was fun though. Nick took me out to eat at Qudoba's (spelling?). You got one item free if you kissed someone at the cash register. 


I would kiss the guy behind me in line for free food.


Or the girl. Haha! But seriously, it was good food. I'd never been there before. It was like a mexican Subway, where you choose everything that goes on your burrito/nachos/etc. My husband and I enjoyed a simple evening of food and each other's company. It was lovely.


And also, I made Valentine cards! 

I love making cards. Someone should hire me!

I think it's great to have a holiday that celebrates love, whether it's romantic or otherwise. If you have the joy of sharing your heart with anyone, be thankful. 

Switching gears now. I am on the hunt for some statistics on the orphanages or facts or other articles about similar places in the Central Asian area. I want to paint a picture here. So keep checking the blog for more updates, and keep the orphanages in your prayers!

-Lindsey

Trifles

yesterday

Valentines Day. I made donut holes!

So, as most of you know, I have recently recovered from being sick. It was a frustration, an inconvinience. I was irritated that I had missed class, and that also, I would be sick for the news interview. When I was finally feeling well enough to get out of bed and check my email, I had a new update from my contact at the orphanages that broke my heart.


We get sick for many reason over here on this side of the world. We get stomach pains from yucky tummy bugs, we get stuffy noses and headaches from mold buildup in the bathroom (the ventilation system in bathrooms here isn't properly installed, therefore we have to scrub the ceiling and walls with bleach), and we catch the usual colds and such from friends and coworkers. Living in a foreign country can do a number on your body... and the foreign germs can cause quite a bit of sickness.

But this weekend I got sick for a different reason.

When I went to the orphanage a few days ago, the majority of the children were sick. Their faces were sullen, their bodies warm with fever, and their noses constantly dripping. One little boy was quarantined to his crib all alone in another room for having some other kind of sickness the workers didn't want spreading. My heart broke as I heard his quiet cries in the other room, knowing he was longing to play with all the other children.

One little girl who is about my daughter's age looked especially down. She always has "sad eyes" but today her eyes were even more so. She just sat there with her eyes glazed over staring at nothing. I could tell she didn't feel well as she was warm to the touch, and her hair was plastered to her face with dried mucus. I cuddled her in my arms and stroked her head, gently playing with her to keep her occupied and stimulated. The orphanage doctor was giving the children medicine, but from the same spoon for all of them. *shudder*

All of a sudden a lady came into the room screaming at one of the workers. She was wearing a special coat and holding an official looking clipboard, so I am assuming she was a manager. She yelled back and forth with this particular worker, and the only words I could make out amidst their spitfire argument were diapers, sick, and clean.

After the ladies stopped screaming, the children immediately became distressed. They all started crying, fighting over toys, and acting out. I have no doubt in my mind that the children picked up on the tension in the room.

For the rest of the morning, we battled getting the children fed, cleaned up, and ready for bed. They screamed, cried, and seemed unsettled. All I did was say Father's name under my breath over and over asking Him to bring us His peace.

When all the children were put in their cribs and it was time for us volunteers to go, I gently put my hand on each worker. I looked them in the eye individually and asked them if it had been a hard day. They nodded yes. I went on to tell them that they were doing a great job with the children, and I know it was a difficult day for all of us. They didn't know how to take the encouragement- they almost laughed it off. (I later asked one of my friends who's lived here for 9 years about this and she said in this culture, you generally don't tell workers they are doing a good job.)
Well, I have no doubt in my mind that even though they are not supposed to be encouraged, I'm sure deep down inside they crave it, and need it.

When we walked out the door they smiled brightly and asked us to please come again soon. That's what I like to hear :)

About two days later I started to feel faint and tired. As the day wore on I felt more and more sick. By evening I was feverish. Today is Valentine's Day and I am still sick to my stomach and achy. But do I regret holding my little angels in the orphanage who were sick? Absolutely not. I can't imagine how a small toddler feels when they are sick and have no one to cuddle them and rock them to sleep. Here I sit in a warm snuggly house with a husband to wait on me hand and foot, and a beautiful little girl who brings me blankets and tissues when I need them.

I'd hold a sick orphan any day. It was absolutely worth it.

*Note: This picture was taken at the disabilities orphanage, not the baby house. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to take pictures of the babies.


And suddenly, everything I was worrying about seemed trivial. Vain, even.


I have a family who loves me and cares about me.


I have an AMAZING husband who took super good care of me while I was sick.


I have access to competent doctors and any number of pharmacies.


I am blessed far beyond my deserving. 




I don't know why some people are born with so much and others, so little. We live in a fallen world. Things don't always make sense to us here. 
I cried all morning and I pray that God would bring his peace to the workers and the children and for their health to be restored. 
Thank you to everyone who is praying and who is reading this. Thank you to those who have given out of their own pockets for these kids. You guys are all awesome! A million times, thanks.


--Lindsey

Well! It is good to be back in the land of the living! 
And just in time for Valentine's Day! 


The day after my last post, I literally wore the exact same thing, so I won't waste a picture on it. I was still sick and gross looking. The only thing I had the energy to change was my socks. :'(


Did you see the Little Black Dress Project news story on channel 6 WOWT ?



An Omaha Woman's Little Black Dress Project
www.wowt.com


Didn't the news people do such a nice job? Thank you for helping get the word out, Channel 6!


Yesterday this was what I wore.

Me and Nick enjoying the fine cuisine of Taco Bell

It was so nice outside that I didn't even need leggings! Just the sweater underneath. Now, I have received a couple of new updates on the orphanages since I've been sick and I've decided to put one up today and another tomorrow. 

Orphanage workers. You don't really think much about them do you? Sure, you hear stories about orphanages and the children and whatnot, but rarely would you consider what their lives are like. 

 They work long hours, are understaffed, underpaid, and have little to no training.

Orphanages in this country are not fully funded. At the baby house I volunteer at, the workers pool their own money together to buy plastic covers for the diapers. They make a little over $100 a month. Hardly enough to live by, don't you think? (And the cost of living is not cheap here.)

At the disabilities orphanage (pictures above) the workers are dealing with special needs children. It is a difficult job, I will admit. How many of you personally know a precious angel with a disability? All of us do. In developed countries these little blessings are given the chance for therapy and special schooling. Not these children. Parents don't want them. Maybe they are ashamed, maybe they don't have the finances, who knows.

I was told that oftentimes some children at this orphanage have MILD problems like epilepsy. The parents take them to the doctor to get a "note" that states the child is severely handicapped and needs to live in this orphanage. Therefore, these almost completely normal children are living in a disabilities home and all they need is some simple epilepsy medicine! Outrageous! My heart aches at the thought.

A group of us here are raising money to buy presents for the orphanage workers. Remember my last post about the baby house? If we can bless the workers, they in turn will hopefully have more love and compassion for the children they take care of. They are the ones basically "raising" these children! We volunteers only put in a few hours every week when we are allowed in. They, in a way, are the "mammas".

We will be selling baked goods for Valentines Day. Then we will take the money to buy nice gifts like perfume, soap, and chocolate for the ladies.

Will you pray with us? That we make a good amount of money, that we buy presents that will truly bless the workers, and that they in turn would love and bless the orphans?

Oh how I long for the day when our Father returns and there will be no more tears or pain. He will wipe every tear from the eyes of the orphans of this world.

We have received our very first donation. I'm going to start updating the total amount donated off to the side as they are given. Please, if you feel your heart moved, would you give? Thanks to our very first donor!

More tomorrow,

--Lindsey

Today I am ill.


As you can see, I am still wearing the dress.
But I lacked the creativity to come up with much of an outfit. :(


I caught cold from my nephew, whom I babysit in the afternoons. I knew he was sick but he was just SO CUTE!! I had to steal his kisses anyways. Rats. 


Does anybody out there watch Seinfeld? I was watching that show last night, which I haven't watched in forever, and I remembered the episode about the girl who wears the same dress over and over again. It drives Jerry crazy! Anybody remember that one? 

Hahaha! I wonder if people who don't know what I'm doing wonder the same things about me?
Well, time to rest up!


yours fluly, I mean truly..
--Lindsey

For those of you who've been counting, today was officially day 9 of the Dress Wearing. 


For those of you who have been paying attention, I know, I fail. Two days without a post! BUT I have been taking pictures of it, and wearing it, I promise. (Ask my husband.) :)

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

I do have some exciting news! And it's gonna be IN the news! Channel 6 News is going to do a story about the Little Black Dress Project. Can you believe it? I am kind of nervous, actually, because I'm not sure how well I will translate to film. 

Have you ever heard your own voice recorded and played back to you and think, "Is that really what I sound like? That doesn't sound anything like me..."

I'm just hoping the face doesn't play the same nasty trick. 

My big sister says that everybody has a different mental image of themselves, and I suppose she's right. However, this is all vanity causing me to worry and I need to remember, this isn't about me at all. Time to find some scripture on pride, yes?

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom".  --Proverbs 11:2

"Pride goes before destruction,

 a haughty spirit before a fall". --Proverbs 16:18

"A fool's mouth lashes out with pride,

but the lips of the wise protect them." --Proverbs 14:3

"In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him;

in all his thoughts there is no room for God". --Proverbs 10:4

A book of wisdom. If you are in need of counsel chances are Proverbs has your answer. It's a great place to start! 

Sweet dreams,

--Lindsey

Cake and Orphans

I don't even care that yesterday was rainy/snowy and gray. It was such a fun day! We slept in and had a late breakfast at Bliss/Aroma's downtown. 

I would've taken a picture of the food, but it was too good and we ate it really fast. :P

See?

And, as promised I have an update on the orphanage trips. I'm warning you, this one will break your heart...

I saw all my precious little baby munchkins at the orphanage again today. I wait with anticipation every week for this. Sometimes I lay awake at night thinking of the children, wondering if they are sleeping soundly or if they are scared and feeling alone. I pray that Father would send angels to comfort and console them each night. I can hardly wait for my visits there so I can scoop them all up and love them to pieces.

Today I tried even harder to connect with the local workers. I spent about 20 minutes talking to an older lady about her life outside the orphanage. Her daughters are all grown up- one works as a doctor and the other a university professor (take note that doctors and teachers here do not make the kind of money like in Western countries...) She told me they make a little over 100 manat ($120) a month working at the orphanage. That's not much folks. I told her that we really appreciate their hard work taking care of the children, and that I was sorry they didn't make much money. Her eyes sparkled and she thanked me for the kind words. I wonder if they get a pat on the back very often in appreciation? Probably not. One other volunteer brought all the workers cinnamon rolls, and they were delighted! And you know what? I noticed the workers treating the children very kindly all day. A little bit goes a long way- and that's what we're trying to accomplish.

My favorite little baby. Oh how I adore her. You've heard me talk about her before (I thought she was a boy at first, remember?) We'll call her "Baby K".

She always takes to me very quickly and doesn't want me to put her down. She cries until I put her back on my lap and then she happily plays with her toys. One of the workers gently commanded, "Please can you not hold the children? Sit them on the floor to play with the toys. Or else they end up crying." She means basically, the more we hold them, the more they want to be held, and when they can't be held (namely, when us volunteers are gone), they cry. How can you not hold a baby at an orphanage? It's every woman's instinct I'm sure! So we would sneak a child on our lap here or there hoping they wouldn't notice. It was gloriously disobedient. I loved it.

Baby K was quietly playing on the floor when all of a sudden a toddler walked past with their toy dangling in the air. As they walked by the toy smacked her precious little head and she started to cry. My mother instinct propelled me to automatically pull her close, rock her, and tell her everything was going to be okay (Oops, I held her! There I go again...) She snuggled into my arms and quietly said, "Mamma. Mamma."

My heart stopped. What did she just call me?

Yes. I had heard her correctly.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. All I could do was sit in shock. How would she even know to say that? I certainly never hear the workers saying "Mamma" for any reason at all.

Oh Baby K, how I wish I was your Mamma.

When it was nap time, I bent down low beside her crib (not sure if I was supposed to be in the room in the first place...) and sang softly to console her cries. Her eyes glimmered and a smile formed on her lips. I looked up and noticed that a few of the other children in their cribs sat up to listen to me singing. They all smiled with wide eyes, and didn't make a peep. As the local worker put each child into their crib she frankly remarked, "Bye bye!" (in English, which is odd) and was off to collect the next child. How I wish I could have stopped at every crib to sing every one of them to sleep individually while gently stroking their heads. It took every last inch of me to finally drag myself out of the room, as it was time for us to leave.

There are so many memories to share of my time with the children this morning. I could write about the little boy who pulled a caterpillar ABC singing toy around constantly for two hours straight, or the girl who wanted me to chase her around the room while she giggled endlessly, or the boy with only one arm who is perfectly capable of using his small stump to hold a toy while he inspects it with his only hand, or about the brand new walkers and highchairs we volunteers purchased and delivered to the orphanage today, which evoked laughter and smiles from the children and workers. I could go on and on and on...

It's only been eleven hours since I came home from the baby house today, and I am already counting down the hours until I can see all my angels once again.

Will you please pray for these children? For the workers? For us volunteers? And if you feel led to give financially, every dollar will go directly to helping these children with very practical needs (like bananas and new bibs!)

All I could do today when I came home was snuggle my daughter. She spent the morning with her fun Daddy while I was gone, but she was elated to have her Mommy back home. She was supposed to have been babysat this evening, but I couldn't bare it. I decided to bring her with us to our planned event. I just had to hold her after my morning at the orphanage. My mother heart yearned to nurture all day long.

Baby K called me Mamma, and now she's all I can think about.

 "People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." 

Luke 18:15-16

-Lindsey

Questions and Answers

                                            This is me getting too close to your face.




Yesterday I fielded some interesting questions from my sister-in-law, Sara. Today I thought I would relay that little Q & A. Thank you, Sara, for your interesting commentary. :)


Q: When you wash the dress, do you have to be naked until it's done?


A: No. I wear my p.j.'s. That would be incredibly awkward, especially since we do laundry at my parents'. It is not an all-or-nothing kind of a deal.


Q: Do you sleep in the dress?


A: No, I don't sleep in it. I only wear it during the day. There are a handful of other activities in which the dress would not participate, such as swimming, working out, etc. But I do wear it every day, usually all day, since I don't swim or work out.


Q: Most girls shave their legs if they're gonna wear a dress/skirt. Do you shave your legs every day?!


A: Well, I certainly shave them more often than I normally would in the winter. But let me just say that God invented leggings for a reason. 


So for anyone else who was wondering, there you have it! I will have updates about our correspondent's trips to the orphanage in my next post.


Don't miss out!


-Lindsey

The Fiasco

Ok. First I would like to start off by apologizing for not getting a post up yesterday. 


Secondly, I would like to tell you why.


So, when you wear a dress every day you need to work in some regular washes, right? Well, yesterday was going on day 3 and I needed to freshen The Dress. Because my husband and I do not yet own a washing machine and dryer, and also because we never have quarters, we go and bum off of my parents washer and dryer. (They are cool, and do not mind). 


As it so happened, there was much laundry to be done, besides my Dress and it took quite a while. By the time all the laundry was finished it was late, and being a bit absent minded, we left my parents' place without my main piece of clothing. It had been hang drying in the wash room. I grabbed it and went upstairs, set it down, put on my coat, and grabbed my purse. Then, we left. The whole ride home I was pestered by the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something. 


>.<


Doh!


My dress!!!


I only remembered, naturally, after we were all settled in for the night. It was too late to go back for it. Unfortunately I hadn't yet taken the picture of my day 3 outfit. There was no other alternative but to wait until morning. Then, I would call my father, who would graciously proceed to bring me my uniform between his bus routes, so I wouldn't have to sit all day in my pajamas. (We are down to one car right now, and it's a stick shift, which I have not yet learned to drive. Nick takes it to work).


Some days it is fun to spend all day in your pajamas, but not when you've made a mission out of getting dressed in the mornings. So, there you have it, people--my Official Statement of Excuse.


Wasn't that a riveting trip into the mundane?


At least I didn't try to say the dog ate my dress. 

day 3

day 4

Thanks for reading,


-Lindsey

Day Two

(dis is me)

Ok, so it is officially day 2 and we are in the middle of a blizzard here! I was seriously wishing that sweatpants were cool enough to wear under this dress. I may not have been warm but at least I looked cute. Here is another pic where you can better see the pattern of the shirt I layered on top of the dress. 

Lace. Pretty. :) 

I had to force my beagle, Benny, out into the elements today to do his business. Given his way, on days like this he'll go potty in the house and take the scolding rather than squat in the snow. 

Naughty, but lovable.

I took this picture of Benny today. This is his 'I'm in trouble, aren't I?' face. He is usually getting into things he shouldn't be. It's his favorite. So naturally, he needs a way to disarm the owner of said forbidden things. Let's analyze this face again, shall we? 

Head tilt and ear orientation: I know I'm bad. I'm really really sorry.

Body language: Submissive.

Giant google eyes: I'm so cute. Don't yell at me!

What Benny has not discovered is that the power of his puppy dog eyes (figuratively speaking) weakens every time I have to clean up a turd. 

I am almost totally immune. 

No news from the orphanages today. Keep praying. Go tell everybody you know about the mission!

-Lindsey