Should Anyone Be Allowed ...

Should anyone be allowed

...to have...

...this much...

 

...fun...

 

...with...

 

SCISSORS!  

Mama let her, though she is 2, use a pair of tiny scissors to cut paper snowflakes to decorate our home.  Sweet Princess Mercy was beside herself in absolute delight.  Can you tell she is a little bit happy about being included in this Christmas craft?

 

By the way, this is the only kind of snow I like.  It is much easier to clean up, looks charming draped around the house on red ribbon and also is a breeze to sweep up after.  Unlike the snow that was dumped upon us outside today.  

Tomorrow we are taking our newest Ethiopian daughter on her first sledding trip.  I will be sure to capture it in pictures, so I can share it with all of you!  Princess Sweetness is praying Jesus comes back before this sledding adventure, she is not to sure of snow or sleds.  Yet, anyway.

A New Year...

A New Year is coming...quickly!  

If you were to sort through your life (or house)
what things would you like to see different in 2011?

 2011
wow, really?

Merry Christmas to all my Friends!

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas. 

Thank you for being my friends, you have enriched my year greatly
and I pray the blessings you have poured out to me
and my family are poured back with great increase over your life.

 

Santa Won't Be Coming...

As I was reading my Bible this morning I read this verse...

Psalm 106:21

They forgot the God who saved them...

It reminded me of why we choose not to celebrate Santa at our house. 

I really like what my daughter 

had to say about Santa and Christmas.

 

Glittery Christmas Craft Idea

A little of this (like white glue) 

and a little of that (like glitter and foam craft paper)

and count yourself decorated.

Maybe in more than window adornment, as it seems my whole entire life has been bedazzled by tiny pieces of glitter.  On the plus side, it deters your eyes from the not so clean areas that normally might attract your eyes. 

Why didn't I come up with the glitter treatment earlier in my parenting career?

And...it looks really pretty with the lights down low

...sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!

Potty Training Trouble

Why you should never let the baby

have sticky lollipops while trying to potty train her... 

 

   I hear from the kitchen...

"Mama, mama, MAMA!"

 

 Seems she ran out of toilet paper and began to help herself to the extra in the drawer...

OH MY!

and pardon the mess, 

but we were sorting laundry when our tiniest Ethiopian Princess got stuck to the toilet paper.   

Never a dull moment at our house, lots of laughs for sure!

Isn't she just too cute?

Adoption, Fear and How to Overcome it to Move with His Spirit

If you have been following along over the past few weeks, you know that God is calling us into another adoption. Now if you know nothing about adoption, but have a curious heart to learn more, stick to this post and I will share something 

that will strengthen OUR faith.

This morning I called a prayer meeting, my Knight had already departed to the office for the day, but all the children and I gathered together in the living room.  I explained that we needed to seek God together (which we have done), but that I sensed a new level of urgency, as the parents are weary. 

Together we bowed our hearts before God and asked Him to guide our steps. Each child prayed, from our homemade 19 year old, down to the 2 year old who tapped me during prayer to ask if she could pray too. (Yes, be still my worried heart!)

The mother and father here are weary.  We have had a busy and hard two years. We have had some need of attitude adjustments and training that has plum wore us out.  Financially we have been stretched, during a very difficult financial time here in America.  My husband's business is doing well, but things are not what they used to be, saying this to say that as we have begun to look at agencies and fees...our hearts have been heavy. Everything has made an increase, not in tiny numbers, but in large leaps to figures that make us doubt this road.

However, this morning God reminded me in particular, through the tears, that He has been faithful.  He is faithful and everything in this world is under His control.  We just need to come to Him with faith and ask Him for what we need, believing that He will show us, fill us, lead us and truly finance this adoption!  

He has sold a cattle on a thousand hills to bring the children He desired into our family in the past adoptions.  He reminded me gently that He will make a way, past the numbers that are looking to be near to $30,000 dollars.  My Knight and I looked at those numbers with eyes that do not see as the Lord does.  We had grown weak in the knees, we had trembled in fear instead of standing confident in faith.  

We need to be forgiven, as doubt is fear and it casts out faith.  

Fear keeps God from working in our lives, it restricts the flow of His Spirit.  

But now I see.  I can share with my Knight tonight what God has shown me and what He has spoken to me through my childrens' prayers this morning.  As each carried our burdens before God, tears flowed from not only my eyes.  God is moving our hearts to greater faith, to mightier acts of service for His Glory.  

I will share some of the verses that helped me in this journey for today
...indeed nothing is too hard for MY God!


Jeremiah 32:27
 “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. 
Is anything too hard for me"

Psalm 25: 9, 14  (NIV)

 

9.  He guides the humble in what is right
   and teaches them his way. 

 14.  The LORD confides in those who fear him;
   he makes his covenant (promises) known to them.

John 15: 7

  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Colossians 3: 15,17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Friends...okay Adoption Ideas?

Hi Friends...

Wondering if any of you want to point us to an adoption agency.  We have been praying, but haven't found the right fit yet.  

We want to adopt an African American infant...gender...girl.  

We'd love connections and certainly your prayers.

We are home study ready, but may have to apply to our state for an additional waiver.  Seems that they think 6 children should be a family limit- our social worker has told us that the waiver form is in the mail and that it looks complicated and hard. sigh.

We KNOW that God sets the lonely in families
and that He is asking us to open our hearts once again.  

Psalms 68:5-6

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in His holy dwelling, God sets the lonely in families . . .”

When Fear and Doubt Try to Win

 

I have to confess that I have been fighting fear and doubt as of late.  

What could make this be?  

Certainly not me, a woman who has seen the hand of God move in such incredible ways to form her family.

But alas, in truth I have to admit that I have believed the one who is King of the Liars.  The evil one has been telling me to quit, to walk away from this current call of God on my life.  He is telling me I am too tired for the battle, that this adoption will take too much time and effort.  He is telling me to just take a look at how long it has taken us to be paper ready for this adoption.  He is telling me that much needs to be done around our home, things that will cost money that we just don't have, especially with needing to finance another adoption. He is whispering over and over to quit and to chase after the things of this world.  

Can you believe for a minute that I would buy his bag of lies, that I would even ponder not obeying God and following Him into another blessing?

This morning I bowed my heart before God, He spoke to me through His Word.

Psalm 91-1

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 46:10a

Be still and know that I am God!

Silly, silly girl. 

Out fear, out doubt and come anew Holy Spirit and help me to trust You with my paths. 

Your Word says that you lead us down paths of righteousness (right-ness) for your Namesake. 

So come Lord and have your way.

Reminding Myself of a Few Things

This picture speaks to my heart in many ways:

It reminds me of my love for bunnies...

during some of my darkest days with infertility, God sent me a tiny baby rabbit to dropper feed.  That little bunny helped me to not lose hope.  As I dropper fed it through the wee hours of the night, I remember God answered my prayers to have something small and baby-like to nurture.  God even had my chocolate labrador bring me this answer to prayer- Poppy found the bunny nest, as I gardened near it she carefully mouthed the baby and dropped it at my feet. Sometimes God answers your prayers in ways that are not expected, but bring joy and peace to you in the midst of the battle.

It reminds me to take a good look around.  

Sometimes I just need to sit back and gather my thoughts.  So many things go on in the hours of my day, sometimes I just need to find a good leaning post to rest and ponder at. This has been a hard year, I could use a bit more refreshing from His hand. (I am sure we all could, right?)

It reminds me of the fact that winter is coming. 

BRRRRrrr...I am no lover of the white stuff.

It reminds me that I am pondering this Bible verse...

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? 

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.”  (Hosea 14:8)

  It is one that I never read before, or that didn't speak to my heart back then like it is now.

It reminds me to listen more than I speak.  

(LOOK at that bunnies big ears and quiet spirit!)

It reminds me for my love for God's creation and my love of the woods.

It reminds me that there is so much all around us that we miss,

because we are too busy, or may I be bold enough to say too *self absorbed* to notice.  

Oh Lord, give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that understands.

Christmas Greetings

Christmas is a time for greetings one to another:

Luke 1: 41-44

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

In a loud voice she exclaimed,"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bring into this world. BUT why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby (John the Baptist) in my womb leaped for joy."

Let's make time to greet each other and bless each other with our words and deeds today!

Prayer Request Sunday

Hope you are well today.
Can I pray with you this week about anything?

Christmas at our Heart

THE LAST CHAPTER!!

 Friendship for Grown-ups ~by Lisa Whelchel

 Chapter 12

From Head to Heart

First I want to say this last post is bittersweet for me.  It seems like so long ago that my sweet girlfriend Michele came and introduced me to this book, while sitting on my couch this summer.  So much has happened in my life since I began this book. 

I'd love to tell you that reconciliation happened for me with a friendship that became broken, but it didn't.  However, I am now sleeping normally, no longer crying and have surrendered this friendship into His loving hands. 

I think this chapter reminded me of my part in friendships.  It is so easy to blame others for our lack of connections, harder to look within and see the things that need to be corrected.   Many times within conversations I find myself drifting, not staying present for my friends.  I need to work on this, as it is a gift to our friends when we can remain present for them. What a gift listening can be.  Perhaps one thing I understand more clearly is that listening is much more important that the words I can give.  I am now slower to speak, quicker to listen.  I still have much work to do of course.

As Lisa discussed what keeps us from asking our friends for help, it made me again realize that I have a strong fear of both fear and possibly commitment.  Fear of rejection, but perhaps slathered over with a fear of commitment, which keeps my little ole heart strongly wrapped and protected for what I see as possible potential dangerous situations.  None of this sounds like Jesus to me.  Ouch.  

I am not much of a performer, but perhaps I am.  Perhaps deep down I think I have to do something, or say something, or look like something-in order to get others to like me~  Instead of resting and being who I am.   This book has helped me to see areas that need some of God's Light shown into them, areas that need a thorough cleaning and dusting.  I am willing, God has been given my life to do with it as He will.  I have exposed these past 11 weeks, areas of my heart that had been hurting, areas that are badly broken and crushed and the areas that remain shadowy to say the best.

I wonder what aspect of this study has helped you the most?  

I thank you for joining me in this book study and thank you for encouraging me not to enter the cave of gloom, in order to sort myself out.  I have gone instead, to my prayer closet, where I can fall to my knees and listen to His heart for me in all of this.  The closet is only cozy enough for me to remain for short increments of my day, the door always remaining a way back into life, accessing people once again.

I'd like to close us in prayer-OKAY?

Father;

 We thank you for your constant love and friendship.  We thank you that no matter how we behave, that you love us and want us.  I thank you that in the words that Lisa has put down, that you can minister to us and bring us into greater faith in You.  Please Lord help us to cling to You. Help us desire a friendship with You above all others.  And Lord, if you are willing-and it is Your will, please bring us into an intimate friendship like our hearts desire.  

We ask that You bless Lisa Whelchel for blessing us with these words from her heart, continue to grow her (and us) into the people you want us to become.  

We ask and believe all of this in Jesus' matchless name.  Amen and amen.