Good morning! Today I'm linking up with Ashley and Neely again for the Sunday Social. I've started really looking forward to these Sunday posts, how about you? :)

1. What is the most difficult thing you've ever been through? I've been incredibly blessed to not have to go through too many difficult things in my life so far. I don't want to jinx it! So I'm going to say finishing the half-marathon for Compassion. It was definitely the most physically difficult thing I've ever done!

2. What was your best birthday? Oh dear, I do not like this question. I feel like my birthdays are so often disappointing! But I had some great parties as a kid. One year all my friends got super dress up and we had a fancy shmancy tea party! It was pretty awesome.

3. What has been your favorite thing you've done in your own city? I'm going to say OKC instead of our small town we live in for this one. And it isn't actually something I really did, for the past two years James has participated in the OKC Memorial Stair Climb. I've gone and taken pictures, and it is incredibly moving to watch these firefighters suit up in full gear and make the slow walk to the First National Bank building where they will climb 110 stairs in honor of the firefighters who perished on 9/11. While they were climbing, James's family and I walked through the OKC bombing memorial (if you live in OK, you should go). I know that's sort of a depressing thing to say, but it's made a bigger impact on me than any Thunder game or concert.

4. What is your idea of the perfect date night? Is it lame to say dinner and a movie? We so rarely do it, it's a total treat when we do!

5. Have you been to a blogging conference? If so, which one? If not, do you want to? I signed up for one a few years ago, but ended up selling my ticket. I would love to go to a blogging conference, I have a few in mind, but it'll have to be in 2015. (Any suggestions on which one I should choose?)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Today's Throwback Thursday post was originally published on May 25, 2011. I wrote this post around the time I was preparing to run the Rock n Roll Half Marathon to raise money for Compassion International. The little girl I mention, Jasmeet, is the child that I still sponsor through this wonderful organization. I just recently received a letter from her with new pictures! This post was written a couple years ago, but I still stand by every word. I believe Compassion changes lives.

Two weeks ago I heard the story of Jey Mbiro. I was sitting in my cushy seat at Catalyst Dallas and we were being asked to consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International. I was only half listening because I already sponsor a little girl (Jasmeet – she was my Valentine this year!). But then a young man stepped up to the microphone and shared his story. A story that reminded me why I sponsor Jasmeet, and why I am running for Compassion.

Jey was born in Mathare, Kenya. In one of the largest slums in the world. This is a place where families don’t ask if the newborn is a boy or a girl. They ask if it’s a thief or a prostitute. Families rarely have enough food to go around, and definitely have no money for medical care or education. Jey’s family was no different. He had eight brothers and sisters, and his family was unable to provide for them.

At only nine years old he was arrested for theft. Like most kids he grew up with, theft wasn’t seen as a crime. It was a necessity. It was the only way to survive.

But Compassion International stepped in and changed his life.

Jey was chosen by a sponsor. Someone who decided to commit $38 a month to Compassion. Such a small amount changed his life forever. He no longer needed to steal to avoid starvation. Through Compassion and his sponsor, he received meals, medical care, and something most kids he grew up with could never have: an education.

Now Jey lives in Atlanta, Georgia working as a Christian music DJ. He was at Catalyst Dallas to tell his story. To remind us that sponsorships matter. They truly change lives. Most of the people Jey grew up with are either dead or in prison. But thanks to Compassion, Jey has a different story.

Are you willing to change someone’s story?

To sponsor a child like Jey, go to the Compassion International site.

Sunday Social #7

TBT: Thief or Prostitute