I WANT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR BY BUILDING ANOTHER FRESH WATER WELL!!

After a recent stint in an ICU for 7 days and coming way too close to the finish line.... I had a really eye opening experience that I hope will stick with me forever.

I was taking it easy at our cabin in the mountains but not feeling well. It was Sunday so I drove by a little hospital and got checked out. Immediately I was life flighted to a larger Ashville hospital due to loosing a lot of blood through my stomach, I had intense headaches, was shaking to a bad reaction to the blood they were giving me, had a 104 degree fever, and my mouth was soo dry I couldn't talk. In as much pain and fear I was feeling in that moment.... ALL I could think about was how dry my mouth was. All I craved was for the nurse to give me some ice chips to wet my mouth and quench my thirst. I had never experienced TRUE thirst before this moment. It was excruciating, and I just couldn't imagine facing this every day.

Some friends and I went to document the water crisis in Mozambique,
Africa last summer and drill wells. We found mothers and families walking 5 to 10 miles a day to fill their yellow jerry cans from wells that dripped slowly and sometimes dripped not at all. Some had no wells and went to local infested streams to bathe, feed animals and collect their water to drink and cook. Ever since leaving, I have made it a life goal to help solve this problem any way I can. The frustrating part is that its such a simple solution. Drill a well in their village that gives them easy access to clean water and make the well self sustainable. Charity Water does this and 100% goes directly to pay for the well. They even google map the well. Wherever this well ends up being I will take a film crew to document the experience for those of you who want to keep up. If you donate; YOUR NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE CREDITS :)

I would love for you to celebrate my birthday with me by donating to this well. Those of you that thought you might have lost me recently....just think we can celebrate by giving life sustaining water to families in need and you no longer have to show up to my funeral - I will be around a long time... so in lieu of flowers / WATER! :)

These are tough times for all of us so if its not possible for you right now just say a big prayer OUT LOUD... that we reach our goal. Nothing could be a better gift.

OH, and Charity Water gives the idea to ask your friends for $1 for each year you are celebrating. I am celebrating 37 years. I am happy with any amount at all....seriously. I just want my friends to experience the joy of being a part of a village across the globe....seeing them pump pure, fresh water for the first time....knowing that you are part of leaving that legacy changes your life. So it is really a gift to you :)

Proverbs 11:25
The generous will prosper;those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.