Swinging ~Mihret's first ride!

Mihret (Meh-heh-ret) -Ethiopian means Mercy

How thankful we are for God's Mercy in bringing Princess Mercy into our family through adoption and for His tender Mercy in allowing winter to fade into a blue sky spring day.

Wise words Monday

Welcome to Wise words Monday!

As I was pondering what to share with you to begin this week...well it came on my heart to share how to better use our words. We need our spoken words to line up with God's Word...a mistake many make is to try to make His Word line up with theirs.

As a mama to 7, and as a child of the most High God-I need to be wise in how I use my mouth. Words have power. There is life and death in our words.

So today, I challenge you to listen to what you are saying. Not only listen, but with your heart (and the discernment the Holy Spirit will give you, if you ask Him) listen to how your words sound...are they kind, loving, gentle, controlled or are they ugly, angry, hurtful, hateful and just plain mean?

I am going to bow my head and ask God to lead us, will you join me?

Father, We thank you for today and all that You have for us in this new day. We thank you for Your Spirit that fills us and leads us this day. Lord, would you come and help us to apply your Word to our speech. Will you give us a sensitivity to hear what we are saying and how it is that we are saying these words. Help, us Lord to use our words wisely, help us to encourage and build up, not tear down or destroy with our tongues. We give You freedom to move in our midst, begin to transform our words to line up with You. We ask it in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 12:34

"out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"

Prayer Request Sunday

Happy rainy Sunday!

Today was a very busy day, so my post is a bit late, but as the day is not over...can I pray for anything for you this week?

Just leave me a comment or send me an email and I'll be happy to pray!

Little Beauty in her knit dress from Anna

I am amazed at how God has blessed me with friendships through blogging.

Anna surprised us with this sweet hand knit dress...the perfect color and the perfect fit for 'her Highness', as Anna likes to say. Such a thoughtful gift; as I know that Anna was also praying as she knit this lovely little dress for our coming babe. Not only did Anna bless us with this sweet adoption welcoming home gift, but she offered me advice on how to care for our new baby's hair, to which I am so very thankful.

Anna inspires me.

So many of you do too...

I have learned so much through your sharing your lives with me. Thank you, for taking the time to make my world a little sunnier the past two years. I have gleaned so much wisdom from you. I only wish that it was face to face, that we could get together and enjoy each other within squeezing distance. Someday, we will be in glory together...until then or unless He brings our paths within that lovely 'holding' distance...

May God bless you my friends and may he deepen our love for each other. Life is so short, it is so much richer when we love one another.

And Anna, thank you for all the time it took to knit our beautiful dress...we love it and love the heart behind all of those delicate stitches.

xoxoxoxox

Hearts of Worship

I am raising Worshipers...given an opportunity they would jump at the chance at singing, playing their instruments and bowing their head to their loving Father. Over the past 2 years they have spent thousands of hours doing just this. We honestly were amazed at the time that was spent without a parents nudge with these beginner instruments.

We were in the middle of homeschooling, when suddenly it dawned on me that King Meemer and his siblings had been working hard on a lullaby for Baby Mercy.

I am sure that Jesus was smiling as he heard the lyrics to their song.

Oh Lord, that you would continue this passion for worship in my children, that they would one day stand before who ever you chose and lead them in worship of You. Give them songs Lord, let them write new songs that will stir your Church, Father you have put the gift within, refine it Oh Lord and bring yourself Glory.

Welcome to the heart of my home...

Sing our Lullaby...sure!

Singing our love for our newest sister... King Bonkey (age 5)

A lullaby by King Meemer (age 6)

Princess Giggles (age 7)

Sweet gentle Princess Sunshine (age 10)...ready to rock it out.

The oldest play instruments too...they just weren't part of this writing session. And yes, the Mama and Papa have no musical talent whatsoever!

Spiderman and hat hair

too cute

You King Meemer are such a beautiful boy, even with hat hair.

A good Word I am pondering

Isaiah 41:13

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not: I will help you.

Prayer Request Sunday

A new day, a new week, could you use prayer? I'd love to go to my Father in prayer, with your needs. If you send me an email or leave a comment here in this post; I will happily and joyfully pray for you.

Friends let's have a 'Kingdom' filled week, look for opportunities to touch those around you for God's Kingdom here on earth. I also would challenge you to offer to pray with someone whom God puts along your path this week. Be sensitive to His Spirits promptings, I know you will be blessed as you do. Rarely when asked, will a person say no to prayer, it doesn't matter whether they believe in God or not, they will say 'yes' to prayer.

I'll be doing the same, stepping out of that box that I keep finding myself back in. Continually I press on toward more and more of Him and less and less of Kimmie. I still have a long way to go, but knowing that my life can be an influence for His Kingdom really motivates me to action. I hope you find yourself feeling the same.

In the ordinary of our daily lives, let's decide to reach out to God and ask Him to use our ordinary for His purposes, trusting and believing that He is just waiting for the invitation.

Crying...often and a lot

First I will say, man...I so didn't want to change gears from yesterdays post. Those spaghetti pictures with Princess Mercy crack my family up and send us to our knees in Thanksgiving to our Father. (I think I took at least 30 of her amid her feast!)

But I am feeling the Holy Spirit press me, so I will move on to another subject.

Some of you know I have a HUGE and ever growing passion for orphans. God has had me praying for the past 3-4 years for the Church in regards to orphans.

God asked me to sew dolls...orphan dolls...to begin the call to His Church to get serious with his mandate to take care of orphans, His orphans.

I sewed both dolls. I battled to do so. Sickness, commitments, life, just plain exhaustion, kept me from the sewing machine many a day. But as of Wednesday night, they are both completed. A girl orphan and a boy orphan, one side light tan and the other side brown...so each doll is two dolls. Two 'colored' girls and two sweet 'colored' boys. Hopefully soon the rest of the steps in launching them out in ministry will be tackled and we will see what God does!!!!

But the whole of the deal and this post is that:

*** God has my heart****...

I find myself weeping at the most odd times. I am overcome with what He has placed on my heart. I am constantly praying and more often than not, lately crying; physically crying because God you see is breaking my heart.

I have to tell you, I asked Him to do it. I invited the Holy Spirit to come and break my heart for the things that break His. I know ORPHANS break his heart, and so mine is entwined deeply with His and I find myself in a pool of salty tears, standing in the gap, until He wakes up his sleepy Church (people who call themselves Christians, Christ followers, or Believers....

for you who don't know what I mean by Church with a capital C).

But the good news ...well there is much. But as of this moment I have been blessed with knowing He is working.

Last week, I spoke with one of my best girlfriend's husband...by the end of the week they decided to adopt through foster care. The cool thing is I never saw it coming...the husband is NOT YET a believer. As we spoke of the huge need and pain/suffering of the orphans in our state foster care system, his heart was moved. I saw the tears in his eyes and knew that God had his number...I will stand firmly in prayer for this family...for salvation for my sweet girlfriend's husband and for the rescue of a hurting child. Two other families from my church met with my Knight and I on Saturday. Both of these families have known that God had given them a heart for adoption, for years they have brought it up with us. I offered a meeting, to pray and answer any questions (as we have lived it out...through foster care and internationally). Both families are going to adopt, one through the legal risk program in our state (foster care) and the other through our agency (All God's Children-ACGI) (they have Nepal on their hearts!).

Can you imagine my joy?

'Oh, Lord continue the good work you have begun. Reduce me to a puddle of salty tears if you must. But your Word tells us we need to be Salty and what good is it if we have lost our Saltiness. Have your way Lord, my life is in your trustworthy Hands.'

Spaghetti and the Ethiopian Princess

Princess Mercy and her first Italian feast. I only wish I had taken off the clothes sooner...her socks will never be the same.

But oh, the simple joy of eating tomato sauce covered noodles with your hands!

Forcing forsythias

Come the end of January, many of us New Englander's are desperate for spring. We are sick of the long, dark, cold days and deeply ache for signs of spring. I spotted robins in town shortly after Princess Mercy arrived home...surely it was a sign that winter was soon to end.

While visiting me mum on her little patch of heaven, she graciously offered me some of her forsythia branches that grew in the field near the cows pasture. Her grandbabies all ran outside, happy for the visit to the cow pasture, to see some of their favorite cow friends. I grabbed my camera and shot a few moments of outside, as they are rare for me here in winter. (brrrrr)

Me mum clipped a good armful and then I carted them home in Katrinka our tank. I placed them into a vase filled with fresh water and patiently awaited their lovely yellow show that they'd soon offer us. Every few days I refreshed their water and then brilliantly their show began.

I guess I am sharing this because 3 of my girlfriends came over, they were all surprised that they were 'REAL' forsythias in full bloom. None of them knew you could cut them, bring them in, and force them to bloom. Silly me, I thought all mums taught such things. I forget that not everyones mum is a Master Gardener.

So, give it a try...you can force other spring blooming branches too, some require a longer wait, but apple blossoms and crab apple blossoms can really display their beauty magnificently too. I haven't tried my pink weigela, but that might be worth the go, while I wait for them to come into bloom outdoors.

Only 3 more days until spring officially arrives...awwhhh, I am going to SHouT for JOY!

The Princess and her family

Some of her subjects show their adoration

Me mum sharing the family jewels

The Princess giving the Pirate sister lessons in face making (at its finest)

Princess Mercy waiting for someone to kiss her

Sweet baby; that we love, working the room...

and boy can she work it!