Faith

Noun. Confidence, Belief, Christian religion.
1: unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence
2: unquestioning belief in God
3: a religion or a system of religious beliefs
4: full of faith, esp. religious faith- the faithful- true believers, the loyal adherents or supporters

Today we received good news and bad news. Oh, how I wish I could share the details with all of you... please pray that the Lord directs our steps as we pick up the pieces and move forward once again. Please pray that the goal of getting the kids home isn't too far in sight and that our heavenly Father continues to comfort the Liberian children (and us!) while we endure this wait.

Thank you for all the emails, posts & especially the prayers. We are grateful for all of you!

Invisibly shaken

Not earth shattering- but definitely troublesome news. We continue to trust in the Lord's leading...

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4: 12-13

God speaks?

Do any of you think that God speaks just at that moment when you don't expect Him to? Do you think He shows Himself in the little things- maybe just to see if He'll get your attention?

If you haven't noticed by now, I love to explain things in 'story' form. Maybe this comes from my grandpa, who used to tell everything in a story. Sometimes a very long story... Anyway, this is what happened tonight.

I've encountered quite a few people today, who when I tell about where we are with the adoptions, they say, "You know, God has a perfect time." I agree and have told each one of these people today that I realize there is a perfect plan and that we're praying and trying to be patient. Looking back at today, I think I had 4 or 5 encounters with this same phrase.

Here's a confession thrown into this 'story': I always walk through the office, jiggle the mouse & check for new emails. I don't know why- maybe I feel like the computer is my link to the outside world. I'm not expecting anything important so I really don't know what I'm looking for. Hubby laughs at me and gives me a hard time because I will route myself through the office just to do 'the jiggle.'

Tonight, on one of my passes past the computer- the screen saver was on the monitor. I've had this same screen saver for about a year- it has beautiful landscape pictures with scriptures/Christian sayings. Just as I was about to do 'the jiggle,' I saw a phrase that I have never before seen on my screen saver- in the entire year I've had it on my computer! This is what it said:

"NEVER THINK THAT GOD'S DELAYS ARE GOD'S DENIALS."

Hmmmmm, a sign? Maybe. If so, thanks God- I'll remember that. You have a perfect time and you're not denying your promise to us. We're just being delayed a bit until everything falls into place....

That's my story for the night- sleep tight!

Tiny tidbit

I just wanted to post quickly this morning with a few things...
I just got off the phone with Dear Son #1 again & he told me a 'tiny tidbit' of reassuring information regarding himself. Unfortunately, I can't disclose it here but this 'tiny tidbit' really helps Hubby and I breathe easier as we all wait for the adoptions to come to a close. Any positive 'tidbit' at this point, is like a breath of fresh air...

As I called Hubby to tell him about DS#1- we were remembering our home study agency & their response to us when we asked to adopt 3 children- and then went back and asked to also adopt our eldest son. We love these people & have a great 'working' relationship with them. Hubby and I were laughing about how they must talk about us, possibly laugh and shake their heads at "those crazy people from ****, Arkansas." I say all this in light-hearted fun... after all, they are the ones that saw potential in us and gave us the go ahead. Anyway, as I was laughing with Hubby about the home study folks- I was reminded that God is in this & has been from the very beginning.

I can only imagine that it seemed absurd to the home study agency- our request to them. It could have only been God- and the prompting of the Holy Spirit- for such a request to not only be heard, but accepted. So, in the midst of all that's going on I don't want to forget that God is in this race- moment by moment.

Thank you, Father for having the patience with us as we try to control what it is you're trying to do. Please give us the wisdom to step back & continue to trust in you.

2 down...

Ok... please pray with us! We now have 2 Liberian children who are 'sick.' I really don't know details or how sick- 'sick' really is. What does sickness mean there & in that environment? Anyway, the second child now requires medical attention (she must leave the orphanage and go to a hospital)- so 'sick' must mean-- SICK!

My sense of urgency is working overtime and I feel like a mama tiger on a short chain. However short the chain, it sure is stretched tight! SHEESH!

From a mama's point of view, I would really feel much more comfortable with all the children here where they can be evaluated and I can watch them and care for them. I'm afraid I'm in the middle of learning a valuable lesson in trusting God with my ENTIRE being. Wait & pray are the words of the day...

Here are the lyrics to another song that's speaking to me today:
IF YOU WERE MINE- FERNANDO ORTEGA
When my heart is troubled and I am weighed down,
Then I like to think of how this lonesome world would be
If I could see your face, or hold you in my arms
If you were mine, if you were mine.

If you had a bad dream I would jump inside it,
And I would fight for you with all the strength that I could find.
I would lead you home by your tiny hand
If you were mine, if you were mine.

I would sing of love on the blackest night.
I would sing of God, and how His goodness fills our lives.
I would sing to you, til the morning light
If you were mine, if you were mine.

Much better....

I forgot I had these scroll-candle things...I'm sure there's a much more pretty name for them but my vocabulary escapes me at the moment. **SCONCES** Someone commented on the story of the wall hanging but I'm afraid I don't have much of a story. I'm sure this is a print from some great painting somewhere- but it actually just caught my eye when we were out buying fabric. Dear daughter #3 wanted an African lappa (wrap skirt) for her birthday and wanted her friends and cousin to have matching lappas (for when we went on vacation). I spent the week before we left sewing and packing so I could bring 6 lappas along. Anyway, when we were looking at fabrics I saw this quilt block and thought it would be pretty hanging on our wall. So, here it is...

I also wanted to share the lyrics to a song that are really speaking to me today. I've had it for a long time on my itunes & listen to it every now & again. Have a great day!

I AM YOURS
Father here I am in this place again
I know that You're no stranger to pain
To loneliness

Father here I come, lay my burdens down
Knowing that You'll take me as I am
So I come with freedom as Your child
And I run to Your arms

My heart is aching for my Father
My eyes they long to see my God
This world has nothing I desire
You are what I'm looking for
Hide me underneath Your shelter
Cover me and I will say
I am Yours, surely I am Yours

Have you lost your song?

I've had many people ask me how we can be so happy all of the time? How can we be so filled with faith during so many trials and how can we keep such a positive attitude towards life when we're thrown curve-balls. I just want to talk a little about that today.

God has put a well of joy inside of each of us. If we can just learn to tap into that joy, we can be happy in spite of what comes against us. Ephesians 5: 18 says to continually be filled with the Spirit. Continually doesn't mean that we should be filled just once, but always. How do we do this? Verses 19 and 20 tell us, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The way to stay full is by keeping a song of praise in our heart. This could take on many forms: having a grateful attitude, humming, whistling, singing (out loud or even in the shower!). Under your breath are you giving praise to God? How many times are you thanking the Father in a given day? When you continually give praise to God, He is replenishing your joy, your strength and your peace. He is filling you back up.

God has put a song in everyone of our hearts- it would do us all good to start the day making a melody in our hearts...singing a song of praise. Make a point to get your song back, don't sit and dwell on the negative. If you stop dwelling on the negative things that come against you and thank God for His goodness, you can start to see all the things that are right in your life. Meditate on His promises.

You'll enjoy life more and see things change, in your favor. The Lord wants to bless you! Don't let anything take your song, make a melody unto the Lord and keep a song of praise in your heart. It's a decision you must make, develop a habit of:
#1~ Smile on purpose! Smile by faith or 'fake it until you make it.' Smile and then the joy will come. Smiling sends a message to your body that everything is ok...Your smile is a million dollar asset. God is concerned about your countenance, it is mentioned 53 times in the scriptures. When you smile, it's a good witness to others. Be pleasant to be around.

GET YOUR SONG BACK!

Don't allow your problems, circumstances or other people to steal your joy. Make others want what you have- bless the Lord at all times. While on our vacation, I got news that Dear Son #1 had been diagnosed with Malaria. My immediate reaction was to become overwhelmed and weap in desperation. Instead, I went upstairs and started to sing. I sang over and over again, "I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed." I had the baby strapped to me in the baby carrier and before long, she was moving and 'singing' with me. It wasn't long before the spirit of fear, frustration & desperation was completely gone. I had given it over to the Lord and will continue to pray for our son that the meds do their job and he will get better soon.

God wants us to have victory! Romans 8: 37 says, "In all things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." In the middle of adversity, we can enjoy our lives! Bless God in the good times and the bad.

Develop a habit of:
#2~ Check your posture. You are a child of the Most High God, hold your head high & put your shoulders back. Not in arrogance, but in quiet confidence. We are not supposed to go around feeling weak or defeated. The scriptures say we are Ambassadors of Christ. You represent Almighty God, you are to be communicating strength, determination and confidence. Subconsciously, are you proud of who you are? You were made in the image of God and you are the apple of His eye!

So much of communication is non-verbal. Learn to walk tall, we represent the Most High God. Scripture also says our joy should overflow... inspire others! When you're around other people, are you always taking and not giving to the relationship? Have you lost your song? You may have to develop new habits and make a melody in your own heart. Fill yourself up, don't dwell on your problems~ shake it off, dig your heels in and praise God. Know He is still in control. Hebrews 13: 15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess his name."

You can chose what kind of song you are going to have. Talk to yourselves the right way and declare today is going to be a good day! Thank you Lord for your strength, thank you Lord for my health!

GET YOUR SONG BACK!

Vacuuming, doing dishes, driving in traffic, changing a diaper, or mowing the lawn can prove perfect opportunities to offer a prayer of thanks to the Lord. Every time we do that, He is filing us with His joy, His peace, His strength, His victory & His favor. We are being filled. Get your song back if you're missing it & keep that in your heart throughout the day.

Praise the Lord!

Wall hanging

I finally finished the wall hanging, nothing fancy~ just simple & beautiful (in my mind!).

I'm still trying to decide what to do on either side, there's enough room to fit something.... but for my over-analytic mind, it has to be just perfect. I'm trying to keep in mind that I will want to add pics of Liberia (from hubby's trip) after he returns home and new pics of our ENTIRE family. I love doing stuff like this, which makes me so happy I finally painted the living room! It's been like Christmas dragging all of our 'old' decorations out. Fun, fun...

Have a good weekend!

Self-help & SUCCESS!

For those of you who have been waiting patiently- the toy room is done! 5 hours of work, 2 days and 2 headaches later- I'm completely satisfied with the room. Here are the results:

While going through every toy in this room, I was thinking about how & why we allow our lives to be cluttered. I could have doing so many other things in the 5 hours it took me to overhaul this room! That being said, I ran across this info on decluttering and 'the basics of tossing.' Would you all believe that I used to be a pack-rat? I used to keep EVERYTHING and every piece of paper that might be linked to a memory. I am a pack-rat in recovery, 10 years sober! :) Today I am grateful that my headache is gone and one room in our house is in order!

Have a great week!

The Basics of Tossing:

At times, all of us spend money on items that we don't end up using. Most of us spend a lot of money on these things. For some of us, it is exercise equipment; for others it might be clothes, toys, kitchen gadgets or tools. We keep them because we would feel guilty if we got rid of them. "I mean, Do you know how much that is worth?" or "What if I get rid of it only to discover that I need it?"

Why are you punishing yourself by keeping something that is cluttering your life? Stress is one of the biggest problems that Americans face today and disorganization and clutter are among the biggest causes of stress. If you bought something you don't use, face it. You made a mistake. Don't make an even bigger one by keeping it. Get rid of it and move on. Donate it to someone who can use it and relieve you and your family of the stress of living with it. Learn from your mistakes and try to evaluate better whether you actually need something before you spend money.

If you are saying, "...but that might be worth something", why don't you find out. If you are afraid to lose out on a financial windfall, sell it on Ebay or put it out for a garage sale. If you make big bucks, put it in the bank! If that item doesn't get $5.00 on Ebay, you probably overestimated its value. Toss it!

But what if you get rid of it and later find out that you do need it? Most of us save all sorts of things that we might use one day. Very few of us will ever use more than one thing in twenty that we keep "just in case".

Think about this: If you sell the things that will put money in the bank, give the useful things you don't need to other people or a thrift store and toss the rest, you can't really lose. When you find out later that you needed that extra toolbox, take the money you made selling all the other stuff you never ended up needing and buy it! Almost everyone will be way ahead financially doing this because we will never need most of it. Not only that, but doing this will also eliminate the stress and expense of storing and moving it.

Oh and if it's trash but you feel guilty about separating yourself emotionally from it, just put it in the trash. Don't make the thrift store do it. Say a prayer over it if it makes you feel better and let it go.

I'VE HAD IT!

Ok- don't get scared...just put on your 'funny cap!'
I promise this really is adoption related, I'll explain below. I'm about to share something very personal, it's not often I admit something of this magnitude...if you know me and my many quirks- you know that I am: borderline obsessive/compulsive (maybe I'm really over the 'line'), very organized (I actually dream about how to organize things better & make them more functional), and I have great attention to detail. Well, if all this is true- how did our play room get to look like this?


What you can't see here is the two stains on the carpet from chocolate milk & a couple of old sippy cups that were stuck under the recliner. Ok, so I know you are laughing now- I would be. I'm thinking of all my friends, and even my sister, who have commented on this very problem. Kid toys & stuff. Come on ya'll (there's my southern slang!), there's got to be a better way. Why are we letting ourselves be so stressed out by all this stuff?

I've been threatening for years that we would buy one of those old dressers at a yard sale (the kind with 6 big drawers) & let each child have 1 or 2 drawers for ALL their 'stuff.' I've been overwhelmed with toys since our first child was born. Everything seems to be in excess- and the kids don't even play with anything! I know I'm not preaching to the choir here...I hear this kind of problem all the time from moms.

So this is what I've done- I've torn every toy out of every corner and made a HUGE pile in the middle of the floor. I went to Walmart tonight and purchased 9 matching rubbermaid bins. The lovely built in bookshelves we have in the toy room will house all 9 bins and all of our children's books. There will be 7 bins (one for every day of the week) that will hold toys, activities, dress up clothes, etc. for DD#3 & DS #3. They (besides the baby) will be the youngest children and are still young enough to play with toys. Each bin will hold things for DD#3 & DS#3, divided equally. On the corresponding day (ex. Monday), they will only be allowed to open that particular bin and play with it's contents for the ENTIRE day. Technically, by the end of the day only the toys that fit in the bin will need to be picked up. Seems like a good idea doesn't it? The other two bins will be for #1: Baby toys (that DD#4 will have access to every day- but they all have to fit in the ONE bin) & #2: Angelina Ballerina and accessories. Angelina will be accessible to DD#3 every day because DS#3 has his trucks, dumptrucks, etc. available in his bedroom closet.

I am about to head upstairs and sneak into the toy room to do the night-time purging and sorting into the bins. I'll attach pictures of the room when I'm done.

How this relates to the adoptions:
I have been preparing the house for our 4 Liberian children for over a year now. It has come in many stages: painting, rearranging rooms, purchasing furniture, fixing and refinishing donated furniture, planning out the best way to function with 9 people in this house (laundry, eating, school, bathrooms/showers, etc.) I am still tweaking and am not done yet. I've been in this 'nesting phase' for a LONG time now. Just when I think I'm doing ok, I think of another thing to go through and organize. I still have a long way to go, but you have to understand that if I had it my way- every cabinet would be labeled in this entire house! Really, I'm serious!

Among all of this, I'm still trying to repaint the interior of our entire house and decorate (a process that we started 2 years ago when we moved in). Every surface in this house needed attention- ceilings, trim, walls, carpet, etc. With being pregnant when we moved here (and now) having 3 children among all my other responsibilities- it's really been baby steps. But...we are preparing and getting ready for the Liberian children.

Have you ever thought about how you might go about preparing to add 4 children to your life/home? Think about what you need for 1 baby. Think of all the things one receives at a baby shower to 'ready' themselves for the coming of a child. How may areas in one's life need to be thought about when adding 4 children who have interests, desires, personalities, likes/dislikes & teenage (or preteen) emotions/hormones!

Yea, it could get overwhelming- especially for the obsessive/compulsive mind... On that note, wish me luck as I sneak upstairs to the toy room. More pictures to come!

A Mother's Legacy

As I was reading in Psalms this morning, I came across this devotional- can any of you relate?

"Often people have asked me what has been my greatest fear as a mother. My answer is too private to share with anyone except God. Yet with all the vigor of my heart, I want to proclaim to the world that God does carry a mother through such a firestorm of agony. He proves himself to be what he promised- a shield, a refuge, a comforter, a restorer of the soul. He defangs the monster of fear.
Moses stands as a monument to his mother's courage against staggering opposition. Jochebed's dilemma seemed impossible, but with God's help, she solved it. Her example encourages me as I keep coming back to the Lord, morning after morning. And he is there, available to me and to any mother who seeks him. He performs what he promises, and that assurance overcomes my fears. Perhaps his words to Joshua best summarize what I've learned over the years: 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go' (Joshua 1:9).
*To read about the birth of Moses, look at Exodus 2: 1-10

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'" Matthew 8: 26-7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1: 7

Conveniences

I've been thinking a lot about the conveniences that we have- that our Liberian children don't have. I'm wondering what will be amazing to them- and what will be overwhelming...

Here's the things I have accomplished so far today (by 11am) with running water:
~ran dishwasher
~ ran 3 loads of clothes in the washing machine
~scrubbed kitchen floor
~flushed toilets (many times since 6am)
~watered the chickens/rabbit/dogs/cats *and washed my hands afterwards
~showered & brushed my teeth
~older children brushed their teeth and washed faces
~I cleaned the 1 year old after a breakfast with syrup (you can imagine!!)
~filled my glass with ice & water
~made a pitcher of juice and a pitcher of crystal light
~watered (with the water hose) the wild flowers/herb garden/vegetable garden
~cleaned paint brushes and roller

What have you done today with the convenience of running water? Do you ever think about doing these chores after hauling a bucket of water to your house? What about if you had to walk in 90-100 degree weather for miles to bring that precious water back to your house- would you be so fast to 'waste' water? How many times would you have to re-fill your bucket to accomplish all your chores?

Today I am grateful for:
Running water

You know you're the mom of young children when...

I had to laugh at myself this morning! I made a big breakfast & when the kids were 'contained' I thought to myself, "what can I do?"

I loaded the dishwasher, started a load of clothes to wash & scrubbed the kitchen floor- all while the kids were eating and the baby was strapped in the high chair!

Estimated amount of time to accomplish these tasks: 10 minutes

Now, that's multi-tasking at its finest!

THANK YOU!

An 'anonymous reader' just sent me the lyrics to the song I was referring to- enjoy!

Father wears his Sunday best
Mothers tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sisters sighing in her sleep
Brothers got a date to keep
He cant hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And its usually quite loud
Our mum shes so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Something tells you that you've got to get away from it

Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss
Shes the one they're going to miss
In lots of ways

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

I remember way back then when everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time such a fine time
Such a happy time
And I remember how wed play simply waste the day away
Then wed say nothing would come between us two dreamers

Father wears his Sunday best
Mothers tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sisters sighing in her sleep
Brothers got a date to keep
He cant hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

Our house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our home

Isn't there a song that talks about "our house?" I would probably embarrass myself if I tried to remember the lyrics- was it an 80's song? Anyway, today I am grateful for our home.

I am grateful that we have a home of our own, in which I can allow my creativity to flow....thus painting the living rooms walls a shade of rust red.

I am grateful for the doors that lock and keep us safe and sound. I'm grateful for my sewing machine and the skills my grandmother taught me that has allowed me to sew lace curtains for those beautiful, strong doors.

I am grateful for more than one bedroom, in which our children have their own beds and a comfortable space to sleep each night.

I am grateful for the animals we have chosen to join our family, who also call this place their home.

I am grateful for the running water and electricity that come into this home- our African children don't know this pleasure, yet.

I am grateful for the way we live our life, because we chose to live this way. There is no one governing the way we speak, the way we worship or the way we raise our children.

I am grateful for a soft pillow and warm blankets to cover me as I dream sweet dreams each night.

All of these things take place in- our home.

For Dear Son #1

Written on May 30, 2007

Today God showed me a precious piece of your heart. I am blessed to have a front row seat as I watch God direct you on this road called life. As you explained to me all you have been doing, what you have been teaching and how you are approaching every day- I was truly humbled and found myself so proud. I had a moment when the rest of the world disappeared- all I could hear was your voice on the other end of the telephone. I realized that even though you are half-a-world away, we have the extreme privilege to begin building our relationship as mother and son before you even arrive home.

I am so proud of you. I am beaming with joy! You are a precious gem that God has sent our way and I am so overwhelmed with the young man you have already become. I am so overwhelmed that God has given ME the privilege to be your mother and that I can love you until the end of eternity. You are a precious, precious boy and your heart is so pure. I anxiously wait for the day you come home and we can continue growing our relationship here in this place. I am overcome with excitement & anticipation to see what God will do with your precious life here on earth!

I love you my precious son!
Love, Mom

What do YOU do?

So- what do you do when someone says something to intentionally hurt you? How about when someone says something to intentionally hurt your child? How do you react? Are you a 'mama bear' and stop at nothing to protect your child or do you allow him/her to endure the momentary pain of the moment and use it as a teaching tool?

I am experiencing this today, with one of our Liberian children. At the moment, I feel so helpless and I so want to be the 'momma bear' that swoops in and protects in the face of it all. I cannot- I would, but it isn't even possible. It feels so insignificant when I say, "You know those statements are not true, sweetheart, that person is lying and trying to hurt your heart." What do you say when your child is absolutely broken hearted? I couldn't say anything...I cried. I could only say, "I am so sorry you have to endure this- I am so sorry!" It was the first time I have shown any 'weakness' to our Liberian children, I think our son was taken by surprise.

I remind myself of all the promises God has made- and even at times like these, He is ultimately in control. I also remind myself there is a time and a season for all things. My human side surfaces and I say to God, "Haven't these children suffered enough? Give me their suffering- spare them!" I know there is a reason for everything and God has His plan for this situation... my flesh is so weak today and I struggle and weep at the thought of being without our Liberian children even one more day. My mother's heart aches...

Through all this, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and this blessing of motherhood he has bestowed upon me. I am grateful that I have the heart for these children and that even though it is painful, I can feel their sorrows. These feelings help me to understand just a hint of what our children have endured over the last 10 years and helps me to pray even more fervently for them.

You are someone's miracle

Have you ever stopped to think you may be someone's miracle? If it was raining, would you give someone your umbrella? If you were behind someone in the check-out line and they were short $5, would you give it to them? Do you go out of your way to look for people to bless, every day?

God said to Abram (Genesis 12:2), "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." God promised to bless Abram and make him great, but there was one condition. Abram had to do what God wanted him to do. This meant leaving his home and friends and traveling to a new land where God promised to build a great nation from Abram's family. Abram obeyed, walking away from his home for God's promise of even greater blessings in the future. God may be trying to lead you to a place of greater service and usefulness for him. Don't let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God's plan for you.

We all seem to be willing to receive, are we willing to give? To what extent? If we do something for someone who cannot pay us back, we are lending to the Lord. We are doing God a favor. Do you know that God will repay us? He will bless us more than what we gave in the first place! We have the opportunity every day to be someone's miracle. It doesn't have to be big things- maybe you don't have $$ to lend, but you do have your time. Spending time with someone and giving them the gift of your time can mean even more than your money.

What about good and positive gestures? Do you hold the door for people out in public? Have you ever considered taking someone's cart for them after they've loaded their car? Do you stop when you see a new mother with her newborn? What about bringing your neighbor a loaf of fresh bread or a home cooked meal? Have you ever considered adopting a widow or helping out a single mother by watching her children one night so she can have a break?

Life involves both risk and opportunity. Because life has no guarantees, we must be prepared. In Ecclesiastes 11:1 it says, "Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again." This means that life has opportunities and we must seize them, not merely play it safe. We need a spirit of trust and adventure, facing life's risks and opportunities with God-directed enthusiasm and faith.

Proverbs 19:17 says, "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." Here God identifies with the poor as Jesus does in Matthew 25:31-46. As our Creator, God values all of us, whether we are poor or rich. When we help the poor, we honor both the Creator and his creation. God accepts our help as if we had offered it directly to him.

You may be praying for a miracle today. The first step is to look for someone to bless, become someone's miracle and yours will surely be on its way. God has such wonderful plans for our lives, lets be a blessing to others and put a smile on His face! When we strive to bless others, the Lord will not only provide all of our needs but provide in abundance. You cannot out-give God!

Today I am thankful for:
~The miracle God worked in our lives this week through a business transaction that went through. We must have been someone's miracle because God sent us one on Friday! Thank you, Father- we praise your holy name!

It's the little things

Today I am grateful for:
~coffee
~cartoons to occupy the children while I wake up and start breakfast
~enough eggs to cook breakfast
~a washing machine that will clean the clothes for me
~a warm shower
~warm weather & sunshine
~the vacuum cleaner, to clean up after my 1 year old
~the camera, to capture what it is she did
~extra tools so Kaleb can work with daddy and do "man stuff"
~dish soap
~a riding lawn mower
~my yummy smelling lavender plants
~fresh bread
~wild flowers
~the ability to identify poison ivy!!
~library cards
~mail that is delivered to the end of our driveway
~running water to wash my tired but happy children
~toothbrushes
~kitty cats
~ceiling fans
~a comfy bed & warm blankets
~good dreams

Little Glimpses

Do you believe in coincidence? Do you believe in luck or fate? I used to believe that I was a very 'unlucky' person because I never won any prize, never seemed to win any $$ off the occasional scratch-off lottery ticket purchased, etc. I thought, "Man, I just can't catch a break!"

Then, I came to believe there is no such thing as coincidence or luck. My new saying became, "Coincidence...I think not!" I began to understand that God is working behind the scenes of my life- no matter if I see Him or not. I began to learn and understand what it means to have faith during those 'dry seasons' when I just don't see anything happening. I now understand that He is a God of purpose and THE God of the universe- thus aligning my life and yours for His purpose. In knowing this, why would I ever worry again?

We know with absolute certainty that God has brought these 4 Liberian children to us for His specific purpose. We feel like a broken record when people ask us about the paperwork and when we think they're coming home. Truthfully, we just don't have any idea. During this journey, the past year, we've come to learn even more that we are not in control of this situation. We seem to be learning this truth over and over again-at different levels. Just about the time we think we can determine how things will work out- something happens to throw our thinking to the wind.

Also during this time, God has given us little glimpses that He is in control. He has sent us people, words of encouragement during difficult times, specific scripture verses & many other little glimpses that He is working behind the scenes.

What does the word confirmation mean to you?

There can be many meanings...but when it pertains to our Lord, to me it means that God has sent me a glimpse that He is working and hasn't forgotten me. To me, it means that He sees my every tear, feels my every frustration and walks along side of me even when I think I am alone.

I've also come to learn that when I believe and have faith, I release His power. I don't want to tie His hands by my unbelief. I want Him to fully bring forth His plan & His blessings for my life. Therefore, I am learning every day how to gain a new level of faith.

Just last night I found confirmation in the very first Psalm, verses 2-3. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

Today I have gratitude for:
~a Lord who guides me and looks out for me, especially during the times I struggle to put one foot in front of the other
~the glimpses, no matter how small they seem, that lets me know He is still working
~the family & life He has given me, to enjoy every moment of every day