Things are going good. I am now 14 weeks along, and still feeling pretty sick all day, every day. (This is probably the #1 reason for the lack of posts lately. Just trying to get the basics done.) But I am glad everything else is going well. I was sick the whole nine months with Harrison’s pregnancy, and was hoping it would be better this time around, but it’s not looking promising.

Oh well…just six more months. I can do this. I CAN do this.

Kelly went on a trip with church to Guatemala a few weeks ago and had a great trip. It was good to have him back after being gone for 9 days. My mom and dad were here, and that helped tremendously.

Not much else going on. Harrison is keeping us on our toes as usual. He is so excited about the baby and keeps saying he’s going to have a little sister. Our top names right now are Serenity, Peace and Tranquility.

Just kidding.

But we do know that Harrison has lived up to the meaning of his name, which is “adventurer” and “home-ruler”, so we’re going to seriously consider a more tranquil name for this next one. Just sayin’.

Think that’s about it for now. Hopefully will be able to post more frequently soon. And get some recent pictures on here!

Harrison ha a secret he’d like to share!

Originally uploaded by kellygubser06

Baby Gubser due September 4, 2010. Harrison says it’s going to be a
girl. We feel very blessed!

Numbers (as of Dec. 31, 2009):

In the 14 months that Water For Christmas has been in existence, the total of money raised is $275,000.

Which amounts to $650 dollars a day for 14 months.

In just November and December of 2009: $175,000.

That is equal to 55 community wells.

The total that can and will solve very close to 1% of Liberia’s water crisis. (that’s more amazing than it sounds. Yes, we still have work to do…)

And these are my favorite:

That’s 13,750 people.

32 people a day for the last 14 months have received the life-changing gift of clean water.

How did this happen?

Because you all acted. You all allowed your heart to break and your hands to move. You raised your voices with us. You held your resources in generous, open hands. You rallied your friends and family. You spoke. You gave. You changed the world for 13,750 people.

This is amazing. We thank God for allowing us to be a part of His heart.

And more than ever, I feel like we are only at the tip of the iceberg. That it goes to show that we do not need titles or positions or large resources to do something. That we can come together to dream dreams of compassion. We can collectively raise our voice, combine our efforts. We can join together as mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in America to fight and change the reality for mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters across the ocean. There is power not in celebrity and economic status and prestige…but in passion. You have taught me that.

And I cannot wait to see where 2010 takes us.

It’s funny because I was talking to a friend about needing to get myself some marketable skills. I was thinking perhaps at some point I would need to get a paying job and I’m not exactly sure what skills I have. This friend suggested, “Well, you could do fundraising.”

My response: “Oh my gosh, NO! I would HATE that. That is probably the job I would dislike most in the world.”

Her response: “Oh. Isn’t that what you do now? What you spend 40 hours a week doing already?”

Me: “Um. No….Um. I guess. Geez.”

I have never thought about it that way. Honestly never occurred to me in the last 14 months that we were ‘fundraising’. It has always been about clean water. About wanting to see that mothers around the world do not bury their children due to contaminated water when clean water waits beneath the surface. And it just so happens the way to help them is to fund the drilling of wells. That is what they needed. And that’s what we do.

It’s not about fundraising.

It’s about water.

It’s about making right what is wrong.

And I can tell you… I feel this one burning in my bones.

I hope you do too.

We’re just getting started…

This is what Harrison did with his underwear when I gave them to him
to put on. He is quite the character these days. Makes us laugh
every day.

Harrison and I were on our way home today & he fell asleep in the
car. He must have been tired because he stayed asleep while I carried
him in, took off his coat & laid him ontge chair. And he has slept
for over two hours! It’s been a productive afternoon.

We had a chance to play in the snow this afternoon. Harrison had a
blast. I think it is now kindvif sleeting, and we’re expecting
another 6-10 inches tonight! Then the really cold temps come
through! It is winter in Iowa!

Each day this week Jody is having a Coffee and Water Raffle.  There are some great prizes.  All you need to do is make a $5 donation for every ‘virtual’ ticket you would like to buy, leave a comment on her post for the day (here’s Monday’s) and say how many tickets you bought.  Then each night she will draw a name and will send you the whole box of stuff!  So much fun!

You could get a basket worth a lot of money for $5!

Liberia, 2009. from Water for Christmas on Vimeo.

And the naps? Where did the naps go to?? I kid.

Kelly and I sometimes feel like we are getting our butts kicked by this little three year old. He is challenging us so much these days. But, oh, how we love him. We love all of his little being…good and bad. And it really is teaching us some things. Maybe that’s what God intended.

He is saying some pretty funny things lately, too. The other day he felt Kelly’s cheek and says, “Honey, you need to shave.” We all started laughing so hard. Harrison knew he was saying something funny! Too cute.

Just reminiscing a little tonight, and excited for what is to come.