Sometimes you just need to look back

Did I mention that I love adoption?  I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't been willing to step out and follow God into adoption. 

Have you considered adoption?  There are 143 million orphans in the world who need a family to call their own.  I double dog dare you to ask God if He'd open the door of your heart to adoption.  *I am already asking Him about another adoption post sweet Princess Sweetness...so why don't you join me?

We are so excited about our Ethiopian teen coming home...

tomorrow I will share some more pictures we got over the weekend of our beautiful 13 year old daughter. 

Have a great day friends!

Talking from my Heart

Thinking about church. 

How it is supposed to be. 

How God desires for us to meet together and to love one another.

I am praying about it.  Heavily. 

I am a church goer, I passionately love my God.  However, sometimes

I find that church can be hard.  It can hurt. 

As I praying and thinking, this verse popped into my mind.  It was about 3 a.m. when it came to me.  When I got up I went to the Bible (the one I use online...Blue Letter Bible).  I looked up the verse and began thinking about the love God is talking about. 

John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

He's not talking about any old love, but the kind Jesus gave himself to us.  The kind of love that is sacrificial and puts off self.

I must admit I am lacking in this kind of love very often. 

When I read the definition of this love Jesus was speaking of I realized how short I fall.

Love:  Greek-agapao;

1) of person

                                       a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

 2) of things (like church)

                                        a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing

                      I need to continue to pray.  Past disappointment. Past hurt.  Looking to Him and looking hard at my own Love walk. I am sure that this  is where I will find my answers, healing and peace.  I want contentment and I want to experience Love. 

        For He calls us to gather together and asks us to Love one another; just the same way, as He loved us. Worship and church should  be a reflection of His agape Love. 

                              Lord, let it begin with me. 

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi Friends,

so glad you've come by to say, "Hi!"  We'd love to pray for you, just leave us a comment (or send me a private email) and we'll get to praying!

From my Heart:

If you read yesterday's post, you know we are praising God about getting an Embassy date in Ethiopia. (Which also means our girl passed her Tb test.)  

This morning, as I sat in church and listened as my Pastor shared about remembering Christmas, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.  How each of these days shows us God's great Love for us.  I began thinking about Jesus and how He asked me to be open to an another adoption.  How the Holy Spirit spoke that we'd know who and where by Oct. of last year, how He prepared our hearts to look upon our daughter and to *know* that she was that dear *who.*  How He has brought you to us and has had you join us financially in this calling.

Then I started thinking more about the preparations of us leaving to *go* to her in Ethiopia.  The details of leaving 7 children home and preparing to meet our newest.  I began to think of all the things I should gather to bring with us, really wondering hard about what those things should be.  What is necessary?  Really, what?

I found myself crying, realizing how inadequate I am.  Feeling overwhelmed with the reality of this call to bring home an older child. 

Part of my feeling comes from having our trip fall on our homeschool convention.  The convention that I've gone to every year for the past 10 years or more.  The convention that I pray and fast, seeking God to what He would have us use (curriculum) for each child.  This year He is adding a older child to our family.  One who I don't know, I am unsure of how to teach and I am feeling undone as of late.  One who I had planned to buy some books for.  Never mind the others who I also need to gather for. 

 It is a special time I look forward to every year, I love, love, love this convention. It refreshes me and renews my vision for our call to homeschooling all of our children.  It feeds my soul and renews my passion for it. This year God said, "No." I am having a hard time understanding why.

Don't feel sorry for me, because I do know that God has picked me.  I do know that this is His will.  His perfect will for me, for Princess Sweetness and for my family.  I know that where He calls, He enables you.  I know this, really I do.  But there is a part of me that forgets.  A part of me that fights back tears, asking God why He couldn't have chosen another date.  One that would have allowed me to go gather our books for next year. 

I cried to God that I am inadequate for this job.  I don't know what to do or what to bring.  What to say to her besides that I love her.  I will hold and hold her, but what when I finally have to let go.  What then.  I am inadequate, its just what I feel today.

But you know what.  God reminded me that He called me.  That He is preparing her heart and mine.  That the smile we saw in the few new pictures is proof positive of His working in her heart for us. He is indeed at work!

I went up for prayer after service.  I stood near the altar and told God that I am really inadequate for what happens next.

I bowed my head and heart and then just waited before Him.  Tears were seeping from my eyes.

A woman on the prayer team came over.  She didn't say a word that I understood, but she held my head firmly.  She said God had told her to give me something.  She cleared the hair off my forehead and she kissed me.  She said Jesus told her to, then she walked away and left me standing there.  She didn't know, but my Jesus did.  That kiss said, "I know you are inadequate.  I know you are afraid, but I called you to this.  I picked you and I picked her.  I know and you can trust me.  The kiss was to remind me of how much He loves me and how adequate He is. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Ethiopian Embassy Date-Adoption!

Our Embassy date in Ethiopia...April 22, 2010

Time to buy our plane tickets!

Would you pray, as we are trying to use a friend's American Express Points for our tickets. 
(this would be sweet if we can work it out).

This is a new picture we got today...isn't she just beautiful!  And I just have to say that this is the first time we've seen her really, REALLY smile.  Thank you God!

And the Giveaway Winner Is...

And now with much adieu and great fanfare; using my fancy Victorian hat as our container of choice...we will now announce the winner of the giveaway!

The Picker!

AND...Princess Sunshine (who begged to be the name picker) says...

(after she opened her eyes...)

Congratulations Kristine! 

 I know you will find a great purpose for your new enamalware containers.

And as Kristine has a house full of beautiful little girls (and a brand new baby girl)...pink is just perfect!

In Love with Milk

Think the Milk People need a new spokesperson?

Hey, don't forget to leave a comment on my giveaway...tomorrow we draw our winner!

Enjoying Our Warm Evenings

Gladly answering a few questions:

Yes, this is our Christmas tree...

Yes, it is March 25th according to my calendar...

Yes, it is a real tree....

Yes, we put it out on our deck in January...

Yes, we did cut it down in November...

Yes, it is still alive...

Yes, I do know the kind of tree it is...it is called a concolor fir...

No, it isn't dropping any needles yet...

Yes, I do think it is rather a miracle of sorts...

We are hoping that it will still be standing when our Ethiopian daughter
comes home in a few weeks from Ethiopia!

Wouldn't that be cool? 

Praying that no birds try to nest in it before then!

don't forget to put your name down for my giveaway...time is running out!

Melting Things...Homeschool Art

Homemade Shrinky-Type Art

I would only recommend doing this in a well ventilated area.  The plastic smell was minimal, but still let's be safe!

Sometimes creativity grabs me and causes me to try something new.

It happened with said tomato box and with a plastic milk jug.  I cut it into shapes, took a hole punch and made a hole in said shape.  Took permanent markers and decorated said shapes and presto...shrinky dink wanna-be's. 

Okay, the oven was at 350 degrees.  Yes, my knobs are rather yucky looking, but I figured you can handle it right? 

We placed the decorated pendants on a piece of cardboard, not touching each other and put them in watching them to look for curling and or color change.  It was between 2-4 minutes for ours to be done and ready to come out to cool. 

*We did not step away from the oven, as plastic in a hot oven is not to be left unattended!

On a cookie sheet in the preheated oven.

This was our first attempt using the tomatoe box carton.

The tomato box turns opaque when it is done.

These two are from a milk jug.  Try to use the flat areas.

As soon as your artwork comes out of the oven, use something flat to keep the pendant flat.  Allow to cool for several minutes before removing.  (I used a casserole dish cover).

King Meemers attempt

This flag (milk carton) stayed in close to 4 minutes and was *overdone.*

The finish product...and several happy children.  Plus it didn't cost anything-well besides just running the oven for a bit. 

 Happy creating friends!

And don't forget to sign up for my giveaway!  Time is running out!

Answered Prayer...Rejoicing!

Prayer works!  I want to share with you a prayer that I made less than 10 days ago, one that opened the windows of heaven over my life and blessed me.

Ten days ago, I asked God for an exercise bike.  I am no longer able to go to the gym, or even manage to fit in regular walking time.  As you know life with a baby changes so many things.  I knew we didn't have extra money laying around to go buy one, so I took my request to God and asked Him if he could give me one.

I began to pray and shared my heart with my handsome Knight and a few of my closest girlfriends.  They mainly just smiled, but I was waiting expectantly...they may have been thinking "she will never find time to ride one" or perhaps some were kind and thought I didn't need it, "as I look just fine." (that is why I love them.)  Regardless, I kept taking it to my Father. 

Saturday, my Knight went out to support a friend of his, who was having a tag sale, in order to clean out some space for a new business opportunity.  After a few hours he came home with...if you're guessing a bike...well, you are so right!  Not only a bike, but the kind we use to use at our gym.  The kind that had the wheel covered, I praise God for this, as I hadn't even thought that it could be a danger to my sweet baby's fingers...but my loving Father had.  The bike and everything was given to my sweet Knight!  You got it FREE!  Each thing that was brought home was something we needed, or something wished for and definitely a blessing to all who received.

This morning I went 8 miles on my blessing. There was some huffing and puffing, but much rejoicing!!   You can be sure I made phone calls to my friends and as I peddled I was thanking my Father for His lovely answer to my heart's desire.

He is so good to me.  I must say the bike has made my legs feel rather like rubber, but that just speaks of the sad condition of things.  Funny, I feel like I am more active than several years ago, but I guess the thighs don't lie.

  I just wanted you to know...and share how He even cares about the little not so important things in our lives.  He also gave me a tape recorder that I had wanted to use for Princess Sweetness.  It came unused, in its original box.  I wanted to be able to read stories to her and let her follow along in the particular book.  Our old one got thrown away, as the record button was broken.  I know there are more modern means, but this was simple and kid friendly-my other children had loved the stories that they got to enjoy. God must of thought it was good too, as it marched in with all of the blessings on Saturday.

What are you bringing before Him lately?

And yes, for now my *Matilda* is sitting smack dab in the living room.  She and I are going to waltz away the quiet moments together.  She seems to like it, as I think I heard her purr her contentment that she found me.

;-)

Sometimes You Just Need a Hat

Yup, my children have some issues.

  Our Little Beauty is a Goldfish addict, besides being a basket wearer.  Currently, we are out of Goldfish; our cupboard is bare. Oh, how she loves her Goldfish snack!

 I am sure she will later ask for 'go fish."  I will explain that we ate them all  (or that SHE ate them all).  There will be tears, big crocodile tears.  Someone will go to the grocery to buy go-fish. 

And my best guess would be me.  While I am there, do you need anything that will help you through your day?

Prayer Request Sunday-Giveaway Reminder

Short and Sweet:

Need prayer?  Want prayer?  Love prayer?

Leave me a comment, with your prayer requests and we will get busy taking it together before our Father.

*only 6 more days to sign up for my giveaway...

remember, this would make a sweet gift to someone you love (if not for you)!

A Bit of Restoration for Kimmie

I have to admit that I came across a new blog two weeks ago, one that made me feeling rather blue.  All that I saw was a girl I used to be.  She was a girl with a Bohemian swing to her.  She was creative, so colorful and fun in her personal style.  Upon meeting her, I realized that something of me had become lost.  I actually found myself crying about it.  And the truth was, I wasn't even hormonal. 

My girlfriend, Beth came over, and I found myself actually crying telling her.  Beth has known me for awhile, she knew me when I used to be, well more like me.  I realized that after the last two adoptions, somehow I had taken a major back burner.  With good reason, as my last two adoptions were major transitions for all of us.  One doubled us in size and one was a major battleground with the enemy of our souls.

One adoption, we thought we were only babysitting for 10 days (respite care for 3 children in foster care) and one where we began in Guatemala and ended in Ethiopia after a 3 year battle.  Both brought us beautiful children, but both came with an element of surprise and spiritual attack.

I think in the weariness I became lost.  My focus was on children, on motherhood, on healing them.  As it should be. But that doesn't mean that I have to forfeit me.  I know because I asked God.  And I know that what I am saying isn't selfishness.  God made me to have more dimension!

I have brought it to God and He is beginning to work on restoration.  God cares.  He made me and knows.  I am going to spend a little time on me, God said I could.  And in truth, it will make me a better tool in His belt; as I will be functioning from who God made me to be.  I am excited, as it will make me a little fuller in my dimension as a person.  Afterall, Kimmie is not just a mother, not just a girl called to adoption, but a girl who has many other facets too.  God is polishing me, He is going to let me see His hand upon me in restoration.

 sigh. 

I am glad.

The Prayers of the Righteous

Last night my youngest son spoke the blessing before dinner.  I heard him say in the most sincere voice,

"Lord, thank you for our fund-raiser. That was great.  Father, we still need a little more money, okay?"   He also asked that God watch over our Ethiopian daughter and protect her until we can bring her home to our house.  He closed his most sincere prayer with, "in Jesus' name, amen!"

It looks like 4 weeks until we will need the rest of the $23,000 to bring our sweet girl home.  We continue to bend our knees and hearts toward God, who is able to answer our prayers.

*remember my giveaway!

A Letter from Ethiopia- Older Child Adoption

Sharing word for word, our first letter from our daughter, we got it last week.  I share it, because it testifies to God's goodness and His faithfulness to all of us.  Thank you for helping us bring her home!

Letter to my family

How are you my family and my love brothers and sisters?  I am fine.  When I wake up, when I sleep, that is, all the time I remember you.  What about you.  As I think you also remember me and you wish to see me.  I think I remember you all the time.  When I see you and live  with you?  If I see you soon I become very happy.  As I think you think so.  I write this letter for you because of I love all of you.  Are you love me?  All the time I pray to the Lord Jesus for you.  You also pray for me.

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? 

My hope is in you."  Psalm 39:7

From

*name* (we call her Princess Sweetness)

All my friends love my sister *G*.  So when you come, come with my sister *G*.

I LOVE MY FAMILY.

she then writes in what I think is Amharic (she also speaks Garage) and translates it:

Jesus is Lord

Jesus is King

Jesus is strong.

She drew some flowers and on the stems she wrote

...I love you my family.

then:

Love is milk

but don't drink my family. (this cracks us up!)

Then she drew another flower...

The flower is the symbol of love.

My family is sweet ok!

then:

Jesus is coming you ready?

My family come to Ethiopia

Jesus come. My family come.

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi my sweet friends!  How are you?  Did you have a good week?  *For my American friends...are you ready for some spring? 

We got slammed with some sickness here last week, not sure where it came from, but the Knight is still feeling a bit dizzy this morning.  It was so nice to have several warm days, we threw open the windows and spent many afternoons sitting on the deck with our reading books in tow.  Fresh air is good for the soul! How wonderful to hear the birds singing and fluttering over our heads, on their way to our bird feeders.

Could you use some prayer this week?  Please leave me a note and we take it together before our Father in heaven.  Remember, He loves to hear from you (even more than I do...and I LOVE to hear from all of you).  There is nothing too big or too small to lay before Him. 

Things are going well here in regards to our adoption...thank you Jenny and Rebecca, for your sweet donations toward our adoption fund.  We are thankful for you joining us in the last leg of this particular race.  How rich I am in friendship!

Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Psalm 126:3

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Celebration Giveaway!

Spring is just around the corner and it is the perfect time to set things in order with a bit of spring cleaning.  As we prepare to add another precious child to our household through adoption, I have found myself nesting for the past few weeks.  Closets, drawers and children's bedrooms have been sifted through, oh how I love things when they are neat and clean!  We are just about ready for our Ethiopian daughter to come home! Oh what a glorious celebration that is to be!

As I was pondering arranging our bedrooms and wishing we could brighten up our existing sleeping quarters; it set me to looking over at some great kids bedding.  So bright, so colorful, so lovely to behold.  A girl has got to dream while she is waiting, right? Who wouldn't love shopping here to put together such bright and cheery spaces?

I ventured on to my cupboards and set about dreaming of some new lovelies to spruce up my kitchen.  I began to poke about on here and saw many wonderful things that made my heart pitter-patter!   I really loved this (we just love Paula here!) and this and this!  All of the colours make me think spring!  How fun to be able to shop from home and be able to pick from so many useful kitchen items. 

How about something a little pink for this giveaway...you know we are expecting a girl this adoption! 

This giveaway is courtesy of the kind folks over at http://www.cookware.com/-  who offered to throw this little celebration of sorts.  Just pop over to their site and tell me which of their items makes your heart sing with songs of spring! 

• 
  
   Leave me a comment and let me know what you love. (worth 1 entry)

• 
  
  If you decide to play and already are a reader of my blog...I will put you in for being such a *good friend!* (worth 2 entries!)

• 
  
  If you link to this post from your blog, helping me spread the giveaway~ you will get an 2 extra chances to win (value 2 entries)

• 
  
  and if you decide to become a reader of my blog...Hey, I will give you another chance at winning this dandy set of pink storage goodness! (value one entry)

Please let me know how many tickets I should put your name into the drawing for...this will be so much fun!  We will randomly draw the lucky winner on Saturday, March 27th -12 a.m. EST!  The winner will be notified by email, so please give me an email where you can be currently found.  The blessed winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize. If I don't hear from you within those 2 days, we will have to pick someone else to celebrate with. *This giveaway will be open to my Canadian and U.S. readers-I am sorry this doesn't include all of my friends.

And if pink isn't your bag of tricks...you could always bless someone else with this nice enameled set of storage dishes.  It's so fun to bless others!

Let the celebration giveaway begin!

Homemaking Skills Revisited

Things around here have been crazy busy lately. We are moving at top speed.  Well, we were and then we got slammed by some *germs!*

 We have moved bedrooms recently, as the additional bedroom space was finished. Our two biggest moved to the new space, thus freeing up their old room for the younger girls to occupy.  Princess Sunshine (11) and Princess Giggles (8) moved into their bigger sisters old room.  It needed a little revamping, as they are girly-girls and wanted it to reflect their love of dolls and such.

Suddenly we needed new curtains!  The old British flags, that adorned the big girls room vanished with their mass exodus to higher ground.

We began with prayer and then ran to our local thrift shops.  Savers (a huge thrift shop chain) was having a sale a few weeks back and I scooped up a quilt for Princess Sweetness' top bunk.  I happened to find matching curtains in a different aisle...personally, I believe in the power of prayer. The little girls at our house were thrilled, as they had butterflies on them.  I spent a total of $15 dollars on the lot of bedroom goods. The Mama was very happy.

A little scrub in the tub, a run through the dryer and they were ready for a rumba with the much neglected iron.  Sweet Princess Sunshine was happy to iron them to perfection. She is happy to have a relationship with that iron, so unlike her Mama. 

They are excited on being in a new room and getting it ready for her coming Ethiopian sister! The baby's new phrase is, " (New sister's name) come, come!"

Oh homemaking bliss!

Friendship, Blogs and Blankets

My sweet friend Tammy, at Garden Glimpses, sent me a wonderful surprise in the mail. 

 A few weeks prior she asked me what my *favorite colours* were. A rather strange question I thought, but I gladly said, "Cobalt blue and black."  A short time later, a large parcel arrived in the mailbox!

When I opened that box, let me just tell you tears of joy ran free.  Enclosed was a love note from dear Tammy, saying she just wanted to do something for our adoption.  How blessed we are to have such a wonderful, kind and generous friend. She was such a huge supporter of our last adoption to Ethiopia too...the girl has the gift of encouragement down something serious!

 Who would ever think that blogging could lead to such beautiful and real relationships. 

We read the long love letter, honestly both my Knight and I were crying.  Tammy told us we could sell the gift at our fund-raiser, if we wanted. 

I couldn't part with such a gift from the heart.  A gift that surely was stitched with much love and prayer.  The first gift sent for her.  Sent from a precious blogging friend. 

We quickly put it on her new bed...as you can see we are lovers of blankets.  Each of my children has their special ones that they sleep with (see if you can spy the stacks on the lower bunk).  Our Ethiopian Princess didn't have any yet.  I had looked, but couldn't find anything that seemed right.  Why?  Well, because God put it on Tammy's heart to make one;  piece by piece with love.

Can't wait to have her crawl into bed with it.  Thank you Tammy, we love it and we love you too!

Tammy's beautiful handmade quilt!