Another hat for the sweet baby

A little crocheted hat for the beautiful Ethiopian princess. And hurray, it fits and there is one less ball of scrap yarn in the save pile!

And God said...

Sharing a conversation I had tonight with God...sharing it in hopes it encourages and build YOU up too...

We have been going on vacation with some friends, to the same camp for the past 3 years. We stay in a large house together, equipped with a beautiful wrap around porch that overlooks the mountain, that the huge old house rests upon. On the porch was an old glider.

I loved the glider, because I would rise early before most of the camp and sit with God on this glider. I would sing to God, pray to God, question God and the best best part, was I clearly heard God's voice upon this old old glider.

The people we went with knew my love of this glider and my time with God upon it. I had shared often of my time with Him and how I longed for my time there with God each new morning. Vacation was really about this glider for me.

This year at camp was no different. Though the old glider was not in place when we arrived, my girlfriend's husband went about setting it up for us.

Then my vacation ended and the people who ran *camp* threw it out. My friends saw it and asked if they could have it. They stripped it down and drove it home, they showed it to me on their porch. I nearly cried. I *was* happy for them. As it was a wonderful couch and certainly would be put to excellent use with their family and their newly renovated porch. But something inside of me began weeping. Bitterness began to grow, as I so loved this old rocker. I asked God why He didn't give *me* the glider...we had been there too. Why didn't He let me bring it home, why wait 2 days after I left to heave it to the curb?

I even began sharing this with some close friends, as my heart was very heavy about the *loss* of the swinging sofa. They told me 'I didn't need the couch, as I heard from God all the time.' I knew they were right, but still I had *loved* this old couch and looked forward to those sunrises upon it, with God right there beside me.

Knowing it would never be again, made my heart ache. I found myself tearing up just thinking about it. I confessed I didn't want to go back to camp now.

Tonight as I sat on my porch and again thought about how I'd never have this couch again, God spoke to me.

He said, 'Do you love the couch more than me?' My eyes filled with tears and I answered in my heart, 'No Lord, you know I love you more.'

He said, 'I have given you other gifts' and this wasn't for me, though He knew I had loved it (because of Him).

He then asked me, 'Do you want my Presence or an old metal couch once a year?'

I told Him of course it was Him.

How foolish I am. It wasn't about the couch ever, it was about God's Presence. Somehow I had attached it to the couch...as it was something tangible that I could hold, when His Presence is something I have found to be fleeting in my life. I thought if I could *have* that couch all year, that maybe I could hear Him clearer, have more time with Him...when TRULY all He wants is for me to *want Him, to ask Him and to make the time for Him.*

And He wants the same for you...let's 'burn our couches' (like the explorers would do to their ships, so they wouldn't be tempted to go back to the familiar) and let us seek His Presence like never before.

I am wiping my tears and waiting expectantly for Him.

My crocheted hat for Mercy

I don't know what has come over me. I have become quite the addict to creating things these last few months. I have had the knitting needles going making mittens, the crochet hooks out making hats (well, the first started out as a handbag...but went very wrong, so hat it became) and not to mention the sewing projects I have going at the same time.

I love how this hat came out. It has a *Rasta* look that I love. Can I make it again? Hmm, that remains to be seen, as I was teaching myself as I went. The hat took 2 evenings to finish and the GREAT thing is I have been losing pounds in the process. Hard to eat chips and salsa while your hands are busy *creating.*

Presently, I am working on a pair of knitted baby pants in a sweet moss green color. A little slow going for my liking, but it is the first pattern that I have been able to work my way through without getting *stuck*. Praising God for that, as I just haven't ever been able to understand patterns. Perhaps I am growing up (finally!)?

Off to work on the pants, kids are napping and the house is currently so quiet. Hope you find a time of quiet today too.

Prayer Request Sunday

Would you like prayer? I'd love to pray with you,

leave me a love note and we'll hop to it!

Sharing time:

Yesterday I was sitting on our deck and a teeny-tiny really shiny blackish-blue beetle, landed on my arm. I had never seen such a pretty little beetle, so I sat motionless watching it. As I did, I noticed that it was rushing about in so many directions, climbing, turning, rerouting itself.

The Spirit began to speak to me and I began to see *us* in this little bug. How we go about in busyness, oft times not getting anything accomplished, except wearing ourselves out.

I watched the bug for a few minutes and thought, how can I keep from living my life like this insect? The difference of course is prayer. If I set my eyes and heart on God and seek Him truly for each breath and where that breath will carry me that day, then instead of idle motion-we get Spirit led motion.

I watched the bug sit down finally (who knew a bug could sit?) but sit he did. As he rested, he remembered that he could fly. The resting helped him. Prayer is God's rest for us too. As we speak to Him in prayer, with a heart full of confession and worship, we enter into His perfect rest. When we are rested, we are then ready to get up, follow Him and allow Him to pour us out along the path.

Praying you will find time to sit before Him~ To soak in His goodness, His Love, His faithfulness, to get yourself refilled and refueled to go about serving Him with your life.

When you sit with Him, you will remember you have God given wings. Wings that allow you to soar to new heights in Him, that allow you to see victory in your life. Let's stop walking over mountains that God never intended for us, let's not loose sight of the path God wants for us. A narrow path that we so easily walk off of.

Father, give us time to sit before you today, help us to seek Your face and Your heart for our lives. Help us to find those wings You have given us, and let us use them for Your glory. We ask it in Jesus' name, amen.

Isaiah 40:31

Yet those who wait (rest) on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not become weary.

It broke...what should I do?

Sweet Baby Mercy licked them for the last time.

My hand beater (I think that is what it is called) kicked the bucket. Actually, one beater kicked the bucket, the other still wants to go...but gets stuck in the *non-team playing beater.*

So what should I do? I have a KitchenAid stand mixer that me mum bought me when we moved here. I don't keep it out on the counter, though it is a lovely vintage green, as it just takes up too much space. I use it occasionally,but it was always second fiddle to the lighter hand model I am afraid. All about *fast* for me I guess.

Should I go buy another hand blender?

If the answer is 'Yes' to the new blender...what kind would you recommend (as my pictured one was at least 10 years old.)

Honestly, I use it for cakes and frosting-which with 7 kids happens often enough...but is it worth it to get another and have it eat up so much of my kitchen drawer space.

Such hard decisions...;-)

Funny, I never knew it was a *Spatula Smart*...

what does that mean anyway??

How we enjoy the nearest public school

This is the stuff childhood memories are made of, a day with friends, sunny skies and a huge hill to roll down. Oh what fun it is to be a child. School is out here, so the hill at the local public elementary school is for our taking...

Come and join our tumbling!

Some good preaching...

If only His Church would wake up. I know not *all* are called to adopt...but there has to be MORE than there is NOW!

Too many excuses Church...there are orphans to whom God commanded us to care for. You KNOW He adopts us...He is the Spirit of Adoption...

Seek Him, ask Him, don't wait, don't make any excuses, don't say *soon* or maybe in a few years, there is a child right now who needs you.

Won't you step out as His hands and feet and love a child who wants and desperately is praying for a family?

Waiting until October...when we have passed our required 9 months post our last Ethiopian adoption...to jump back in and bring another of our *family* home.


*This is a comment that I left on my friend Amy's blog...thought you might like to read it too. Her post stirred my heart and reignited the passion God has given me for the Church to wake up to James 1:27 ~ caring for His orphans!*

Prayer Request Sunday

Happy Sunday~ Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

Do you need prayer, would you like prayer, will you trust me with your prayer requests? I'd love to come alongside of you in prayer.

Our God is BIG and all that is on our heart is important to Him. Let's go together to Him, through Jesus our mediator and tell Him what is on our heart.

When you are adopted into His family and serve Him with all of your heart~ we can take confidence and great joy in prayer.

Prayer doesn't mean just seeking an answer, ultimately it means we are seeking HIM!

Psalm 27:8

Your face Lord, do I seek.

1 John 3:23

We receive from Him whatever we ask for, because we (watchfully) obey His commands (orders) and (purposely) practice what is pleasing to Him.

Raising Godly Children

If you happened to read my last post, this post will make a little more sense...

As I spent some time seeking God on what I needed to do, He led me to Psalm 128. It happens to be a verse that is a *family* life verse (one spoken over my Knight and I for our family).

I went back into the verse, but God gave me an interesting tidbit that I didn't know.

Psalm 128

So what *light* went on as I read?

Well, did you know that an olive shoot takes 16-18 years before it bears any fruit? Lots and lots of time is invested into these shoots (children). You would expect 16-18 years of cultivating, labor, weeding, careful tending, before you would see one ounce of *olive* (fruit).

How like raising children is that. Graciously, God often allows us to see fruit in our children before their 18th year of life. How thankful I am today for that, especially after the awful behavior. A Glimmering of *fruit* on occasion really does help with the journey.

I have to go back to cultivating my shoots children. Some days there is more *weeding* to be done...hopefully once my Knight and I get them pulled out and continue on the path of farming parenting, we will get glimpses of the men and women of God that we are training up.

Parenting sure is 24/7 for real. I am thankful to have a God who speaks and one who loves my children even MORE than we do.

Thanks for your prayers...it was like a refreshing rain on my spirit.

Parenting stuff

This is a picture of a 'nest' ~a home~ if you will. Most days I imagine it so peaceful, protected from the elements by a little roof overhang and the cool of the brick wall. The parents seem to have not been the neatest nest builders, but I could hear that their babes were chirping and happy.

However...

at times home must be not so nice, not so peaceful and not so filled with song. Like the times the bell goes off to let the kids know that recess is over and it is back to their classrooms. Can you imagine those moments?

The past few days have been hard for me. I have spent a lot of time disciplining, a lot of time running from place to place and commitments. Honestly, this morning I was fighting back tears, as I am having such a struggle with 2 of my children. I know they are young, but they have been *choosing* to do wrong for too long, too many days piling up upon each other. They know what is right, but sometimes once a door is closed, they seem not to care about *what is right.*

I am tired, weary . It became 3 children yesterday afternoon , 3 who put me over the edge.

I have walked this road of parenting for awhile, so I know what I need to do: seek God for wisdom, pray with a listening ear, continue to parent, discipline as needed, remove privileges as necessary,runaway

...Just a bummer when in my mind summer means relax, enjoy, HAVE Fun.

If you have a moment...I'd love prayer.

Hope you are having a better day...summer is too short.

Whatcha got there son?

I can't say it is a boy thing, as my 4 oldest girls were very fond of some of the same things...

One of the many creatures God made. Amazing isn't it?

How often do you and I as *grown-ups* go through our days in a whiz...never seeing all the amazing things that God has for our eyes to behold.

Hope you find a moment today to capture a moment or two of the wonder of God.

Knitting Mittens...check!

I am in love with knitting. These mittens took 2 days to complete. Soon we will be overtaken with mittens, as I am pretty sure I am a mitten addict.

This yarn is so soft and has a lovely sheen (Patons Shetland Chunky, color 68046)- to my surprise it is 75% acrylic and 25% wool. I am not an acrylic fan, something about the feel for me.

We've got a little yarn shop down the street from us, need to go check it out, as I bet Priscilla (the owner) has some groovin' yarn. I have a pattern for toddler socks and one for *baby bell bottoms*-hoping I can read the patterns and get a few more knitting projects checked off my to do list.

How about you, doing anything challenging this summer?

Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

God bless you dear friends.

Can I pray for you today and through this week? I count it a privilege to stand before God's throne with you and your need. Leave me a love note and we'll get busy, okay?

Adoption and Bonding-the how to's.

God never ceases to amaze me in our adoption journey.

My Knight and I are so thankful for how God has taken us and blessed us with bonding with Princess Mercy. Not only are her parents head over heals in love with her, but each of her siblings are totally and utterly in love. We are blown away by how God has worked out this detail, above and beyond anything we could ask or think.

If you are having issues with bonding, I'd be happy to pray for you. Honestly, God has all our answers and He is our help in time of need.

I'd love to see Him working in your family too!

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...

Sewing Seeds Project 2009-Costa Rica!

Randi's Sewing Seeds Ministry

I asked Princess Mercy if she would like to help show all the beautiful skirts and shorts that came via packages from all over the world. She said, "Uh-huh!"

We won't show all of them...but let me tell you each of them were beautiful and certainly will be a blessing to a wee one in Costa Rica.

My friend Randi's Sewing Seed Project was a fabulous success!

We gathered from around the globe, 176 skirts and 53 pairs of shorts for boys. What an awesome blessing they will be in Costa Rica, on my sweet Bella's mission trip (July 7-17th).

Thank you all for joining in on this ministry. What beautiful hearts you have. I am sure many children will be greatly blessed. Last I heard they will be going to some Nicaraguan refuges, that the Costa Rican team will be ministering to during their 10 days.

Would you like to follow along on the trip?

Mergeahead.com

Thanks again...your generosity really brought tears to my eyes.

May the windows of heaven be open over your lives sweet friends.