What I (Matt) remember about the "REAL" Hip Hop

In Case You Did Not Know....

We are pregnant again! And it will be a boy...confirmed.

Here are the names in the drawing:
1) Mercer
2) Marlon
3) Milam
4) Mylon

Which do you like best?

Words of Wisdom

The Humor of Merrae

Last night I (Matt) was putting Merrae to bed. She asked, "what's tomorrow?" I told her "church." She asked "what's after church?" I said "I dunno." She said "a belly button contest." I laughed out loud.

Another time Meredith was driving fast, and Merrae yelled out in the car, "hold on to your belly buttons!"

Over the last many months Meredith and I have been jokingly using her brothers random slang...such has his most favorite saying..."yeah dawg!" So anytime we see something that is cool or fun, we say "yeah dawg!" Well, Merrae has picked up on it, and totally gotten the point of the saying. So the other day she was coming into the house in her wet bathing suit, and on the floor Meredith put an old 70's looking towel, very retro looking. Merrae stopped, looked at it and asked "Momma is that a 'yeah dawg!' towel?" Meredith said "Yes. It is a 'yeah dawg!' towel."

She keeps us on our toes, as well as our ears peeled. We love that girl.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a busy time of year for us....birthdays, holidays....lots of good family times! Matthis is getting so big. He is definitely a boy. He is much different than Merrae. Lately he has been blowing kisses, and when he tries to give other kids hugs, he ends up tackling them. Merrae is still singing and dancing all over the house. We need to post some video of her. She loves to have dance parties. Even Matthis has been getting into it. He just turns around in circles. Both are still the best things in our lives.

We can't wait to get away and relax, and see more family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Cambodia: Raid was a success!

The raid went as planned. 13 out of 17 girls were rescued, and 2 out of 3 pimps were arrested. This is such a relief.

Before we left, we stopped by the IJM office to say one last goodbye. The office director told us that the investigators told him that our being apart of the operation helped them close the case quicker. He said it helped their credibility for us to be there because it looked like they were bringing in rich American clients. Enabling them to get to know the Mama-San better.

It is not over though. From here, the girls will be questioned and detained. It it typical for the pimps to tell the girls that when the police raid, they will arrest the girls and punish them, and threatened their families. Basically the pimps scare the girls into not confessing to anything. Also, most of the girls are the primary bread winners for their families, and they feel obligated to "work". Leaving them wanting to go to another brothel to "work". That is why it is so important for IJM to get in there and make the girls feel comfortable and secure. I should know something in the next few days if any of the girls we met were rescued.

Continue to pray for the girls. Pray that they will willingly go into an aftercare program.

Cambodia: Brothel Raid

Good News!!!! A brothel will be raided sometime Sunday night. (Texas time) Please pray that they find Ahn, Special Apple and the other girls and get them to safety. Thanks.

We will be heading out in the morning for a loooonnnnggggg journey back. Can't wait to see wife and kids!

Thanks again!