The tradition passed on

Since I was a child I absolutely loved dying Easter Eggs the night before Easter and then hiding then Easter Sunday after Sunday lunch at my Mamaws and finding them. This is a tradition I will always have fond memories of and was so excited to pass on to Ainsley. She seemed to enjoy dying the eggs and though we did not "hide" the eggs she enjoyed picking the eggs up that were in the yard and putting them in her basket.

Playdough, fun since 1956

Ainsley got to experience playdough for the first time recently. She loved it, especially since her cousin participated with her. Sydney or (seed) as Ainsley calls her and Ainsley love each other to death. They had a great time playing playdough and I even allowed them to mix the colors. Yes that is right folks, me Jadey Burke, Ms Type A allowed my child to mix the playdough.

Cute Little Eskimo

I'm doing some catch up on blog posts, but better late than never. Ainsley had been given a snow suit for her birthday. I was for sure she would not be able to use it this winter, but I was wrong. She was bundled from head to toe and she had a blast in her first big snow of.

Tour For Freedom

Friends,

I am writing you today to bring awareness to worldwide atrocity, to a crisis that has gone on for far too long. Unfortunately where there is poverty or famine, there are people who exploit, enslave, and abuse those who are looking to better themselves and their families.

I am specifically talking about the global sex slave trade. While it is an embarrassing topic to discuss, it needs to be addressed and the situation rectified. To bring awareness to this cause I have partnered with Freedom 4/24 a non-profit organization determined to shed light on this epidemic and to provide support to those who have been taken advantage of. At its core Freedom 4/24 sends individuals over to distant lands such as Thailand to go into the “bars” where western European and American men buy women for the night. Representatives of Freedom 4/24 go into the bars and pay the "bar tab" to give these women freedom for one night from their prostitution and abuse. They are taken to a safe house, pampered and shown the respect that every woman deserves. They are also given the opportunity to leave the industry, given basic care, and shown the love of Jesus Christ.

As the father of a daughter my heart breaks for these women who are sold by their own families into this lifestyle only to sell their bodies for money to send back home to help pay for basic necessities. You and I would never think of selling our bodies for life’s basic necessities however for the 300,000 women in Thailand this has become the norm. Many of these women are very young, some as young as 12-14 when they are exploited and forced into this way of life. This practice is happening in more places other than Thailand and I ask you to log on to www.freedom424.org to find out more.

To bring focus to this issue, I have banded together with 9 other guys to be a part of the first ever “Tour for Freedom”. This ride will take place on 6/30/12 and we will cycle the 75 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Waynesboro to Lynchburg, VA. We will draw our strength from Psalm 82:3-4 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. (4) Rescue the weak and the needy: deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

I am asking you to partner with me to raise funds to help Freedom 4/24’s mission and to free the oppressed and triumph over the wicked. Feel free to pledge an amount per mile or to donate a flat sum of money. I promise your money will be used efficiently and effectively. I am asking that all donations be sent by June 1^st. Please make your check payable to Freedom 4/24; however please send it to my address so that I may attribute the funds to the “Tour for Freedom” ride.

Thank you,

Josh

1021 Clearview Avenue

Fredericksburg VA 22405

Step Aerobics

I am always on a quest to find something athletic that will keep me active, but that I also enjoy. I tried running and completed my first 5k last year, barely but I finished. I have decided I hate running. I loathe running. I do not enjoy it at all. I like the idea of running, but then once I get started I immediately think, "why am I doing this?" So we recently joined the YMCA by our house and I decided I would take a step class. I immediately fell in love. I sweat just as much as I do when I run and I feel just as tired, but I really enjoy doing it. I am not very coordinated so that poses a challenge at times, but overall I love it. I am slowly but surely getting back in to shape and I often laugh at myself during the classes when I see a 9 month pregnant lady straight killing the routine and me huffing and puffing to keep up. Oh well I will get there one day. One day at a time, but as long as I am mobile and able to walk self sufficiently I want to be active. Thank you Lord.

Six Years

October 22, 2011 Josh and I celebrated 6 years of marriage. We count this as a true blessing. There are so many people who have encouraged, coached and prayed for us and we are grateful. We are thankful God has gotten us this far and we look forward to six more years.

Holidays 2011

It has been way too long since my last post. So the way I can best think to sum up the past three months is to highlight the holidays.

October: This would be Ainsley's second Halloween, however it was quite cold so we opted to stay home. Quite the opposite of when we visited the Pumpkin Patch. It was so hot we all were sweating, but Ainsley had soo much fun. We got to hang out with our friends Judy and Mark and their suggestion of the very remote cut your own pumpkin patch in Leesburg was a winner.

November: Ainsley's second Thanksgiving, this year she actually got to eat her own plate of food. She was a huge fan of the Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, but not so much a fan of the cole slaw! The day after Thanksgiving is Burke family Christmas tree hunt day. We did not stick to our usual schedule of going to Sneeds Farm early in the morning, but the late in the day venture proved successful also. Honestly, I think Josh planned it that way. My selection was on a time limit due to the sun going down, I could not spend my usual hour (exaggerating) to pick the "perfect" tree.

December: I can't believe we are almost through with December. Time flies. This is Ainsley's first Christmas that she can actually respond to the decorations etc. She loves the Christmas tree, she often stands in front of it squealing. We took our first trip to NYC during the holidays. Whoa is all I can say. It is beautiful, but soo crowded. May not happen again until Ainsley is big enough to walk by herself. Nonetheless it was a good experience, I recommend staying at the Homewood Suites in NJ and taking the ferry into the city. It was much more cost effective, the hotel was nice, very attentive staff and a complementary shuttle service from the hotel to the ferry. I also got to stop by "Carlos'" bakery (Cake Boss), I wanted a Canoli, soo bad but was not willing to stand in the rather long line. Maybe next time.