As we quickly enter into the Christmas season, decorating our homes, celebrating with friends and family, and buying those final gifts, I frequently find myself thinking about the Girasoles boys living in our 7 homes for abandoned boys.

We love these children and do everything that we can to show them how much God loves them. Christmas is a difficult time of the year for the boys in our homes. It is a holiday centered around celebrating the birth of Christ and like in the States, is a holiday celebrated with family. You have heard the stories about the backgrounds of our boys. Coming from broken, abusive homes and neglected by their own parents, this is a time of year when many are constantly reminded that they don’t have a family with which to share the holiday.

We take our responsibility for caring and nurturing these children very seriously. We are their family. The Christmas season is an excellent time to share how we can be redeemed from our sins through the gift of salvation that God freely extends to each of us.

In addition to sharing the priceless gift of redemption, we also want to show the kids that we love them and value them. I ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with us to make this happen. A gift and a Christmas dinner for these kids is a tangible way that we can show them how much we love and value each of them, and even more importantly, how much Jesus values them.

Across the country of Peru we currently have more than 280 boys in our care. If you want to help make this Christmas season something special for these children, then I encourage you to read the following letter from our Director of International Relations, Billy Clark.

Click here to download and read the letter.
(You will need Adobe Reader to view the document.)

If you wish to help us in this endeavor, you will find information about sending a donation in the letter. After making the donation please send me an email to confirm that the money has been received. If you have any questions, of course feel free to email me.

Thank you so much for your continued partnership in this ministry. And, I cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers. I ask that you please remember to keep all of these boys in your prayers this Christmas season.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,

Kate

Boys from Girasoles Ica anxiously waiting to open their presents.

Girasoles Christmas Request is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

Randy designed the cover of the worship bulletin and a special photograph insert with photos from my past trips to Peru.

Commissioning Sunday is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

It was such a beautiful day, my mom and I had to take advantage of a free afternoon, warm and sunny weather and the Tigers-White Sox game at Comerica Park. I’m a hundred percent sure it’s possible that baseball has absolutely nothing to do with Easter, but it was a beautiful afternoon and Tigers games are loads of fun!

Cabrera and Scherzer in the field.

After the game, which they won 3-0!

Happy Easter is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

After cleaning and accomplishing the list of things to do around the house, we spent the rainy afternoon going bowling and making cupcakes!

More photos from our bowling and cupcake afternoon, and more photos from other “three little girl” adventures are on Flickr.

We bowl upside down.

8., originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We wear colorful leggings and velcro bowling shoes.

Shoes, originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We watch our bowling ball go down the alley.

5 & 8., originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We decorate cupcakes with delicious buttercreme icing.

5 & 9., originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We love colorful sprinkles for our cupcakes.

5., originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We love to eat cupcakes.

9., originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

We make beautiful cupcakes.

Cupcakes, originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

More photos from our bowling and cupcake afternoon, and more photos from other “three little girl” adventures are on Flickr.

Bowling & Cupcakes. is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

Happy Day After Opening Day at Comerica Park!

Despite the unpredicted chilly, cloudy weather and the disappointing loss to the Kansas City Royals, it was a great way to kick off the 2011 season! 

Detroit Tigers is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

Taking advantage of the Detroit Restaurant Week, we dined tonight at Matt Prentice's Coach Insignia, high atop the GM RenCen. Detroit Restaurant Week is 2 for 2 with tonight's glorious dinner 73 floors above the city of Detroit.

The view of Detroit, Belle Isle and Canada from our table.

DRW: Coach Insignia is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

Read how Rob Bell, Bible Study Fellowship and a conversation called my name and gave me inspiration for my Wednesday Night Lenten message from earlier tonight here.

An excerpt from tonight’s message:

These three short paragraphs stopped me in my tracks, and I feel might also resonate with others as well. How many times do we go to bed at night thinking, “oh, I forgot to email so-and-so” or “I wish I had more time for – - -.”? Maybe you can’t even think of things like this because you are so exhausted from running around all day that as soon as your head hits the pillow you’re fast asleep. Or, do you ever feel like your to-do list is magically growing by itself? As soon as you check one thing off, three more are mysteriously added? Are you sitting here right now making a mental note of what you need to get at the grocery store later tonight or what you need to do tomorrow?

And whatever we don’t finish during the week, getting rolled into the weekends. Errands can fill our Saturdays and Sundays, and before we know it, the weekend is gone and it’s back to work or school on Monday.

Download the complete text here.

Unplug. Relax. Reflect. is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

This week is Detroit Restaurant Week downtown. It's a glorious week where Metro Detroiters are able to enjoy a hearty three-course meal at 18 fine restaurants around the city for $28. This year's spring edition of Detroit Restaurant Week is the fourth time the promotion has been offered since the fall of 2009. Many cities have something simliar to this, and I definitely recommend you check it out where you live.

Tonight, I took advantage of the promotion to check out the Westin Book Cadillac's 24grille with Katie, Kathryn, and Rachel, a friend of theirs from Wayne State.

It was an excellent meal and evening with friends at the beautiful 24grille. This Friday we're heading to Coach Insignia, in the GM Renaissance Center.

DRW: 24 Grille is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

I first heard about Etsy a few years ago and fell in love with the idea of a place online where artists and crafters could come together to share & sell their designs. It’s the perfect solution to the artist who wants to sell their work to an international audience. And for me, who is creative but lacking supplies, time or talent to do some of these things – it gives me the opportunity to still own a piece of work (and glean ideas for possible future projects).

A few weeks ago, while waiting for the three little girls at the bus stop, I made the fateful decision to check out what was new on Etsy and this is when it went downhill. While clicking through pages and pages of listings of photographs and jewelry, and everything in between, I discovered the Etsy Treasuries. In the treasuries, I found collection upon collection of the 16 newest, hippest, coolest listings created by other Etsy users. There were collections based on color themes, seasonal weather, locations, sports teams, and since our proximity to the holiday, many, many red-inspired Valentine’s Day gift items.

I was soon lost in the world of Etsy treasuries and quickly filling up my favorites lists.

The next day, again while waiting for the three little girls, I made the mistake of opening my Etsy tab and checking out the newest treasury listings. Before I realized it, I had three little girls chattering in the back seat of my car, reading the listings on my computer screen, and pointing to their favorite things. I had brought three new converts over to the wonderful world of Etsy. That afternoon, we tackled the homework, learned the spelling words and rewarded ourselves with new treasuries and creative ideas. The oldest and youngest quickly lost interest, but the middle stayed right on my lap, intently scanning each new page for her favorites.

Here are a few things that both Stella and I liked, from my very full favorites lists:

I definitely could do this – supplies: computer, design software, & a great printer or local print shop.

I didn’t even know you could sandblast text into stones or think a little bird could be so cute…

Silver earrings & ring, with a common heart theme for Valentine’s Day.

Handmade & hand printed journals & a print dripping with Michigan pride.

Want to see the listings for these items, and many more? Find them on my Etsy favorites.

Handmade is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

As I enter into another year of life, I have many things to look forward to over the next 12 months, both here in Michigan and eventually, when I start working in Peru. So, to continue on with the fun, here are just a few things I want to do while I’m 25:

- Contribute/get published in a magazine or newspaper.
- Send “just because” packages to friends.
- Buy something off of Etsy.
- List some of my photographs on my Etsy store.
- For 1 week, go to bed at 8 and read until 10.
- Host a movie night.
- Visit a new state.
- Learn how to prepare more meals.
- Write letters to friends.
- Finally decide on a Masters program and apply for it.
- Watch 10 documentaries.
- Spend a weekend with Alma friends before moving to Peru.
- Read at least 12 books during the year.
- Rent a car and drive from Lima to Kusi through the Andes. (I’m not entirely sure this is possible, but I so want to do it!)
- Visit Puno & Lake Titicaca.

Here’s to another great year.

25 is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.