Faithful Daddies. . .

Remember that post I put a while back about my Samuel? I told you all that he was very slow to trust, but VERY loyal once his heart had been won. I also told you about how his daddy has won his heart. It is so exciting for me to sit and watch the two of them, they are so alike in such wonderful ways. I am a blessed woman. All that to say, this evening I had another moment of learning about the Father from the men in my life. John got out the mower to take it for a spin or two around the yard with the boys. Since Benjamin was older and since he asked first, he got to ride around the yard with daddy first. Let me explain something at this point. Usually, Samuel comes running inside when the mower is on and tells me it's "too loud." We have learned how to cover our ears with our hands and wait until it passes by and then it's "not too loud." When Benjamin and John decided to go for a ride I didn't even think Samuel would want to and by the time I realized he wasn't afraid anymore, I had already told Benjamin he could ride first. All that to say, Samuel had to wait his turn.

We sat and sat on the back porch, munching on the leftover dinner waiting our turn with Daddy. After a few minutes, John came back, dropped off Benjamin and picked up Samuel. It occurred to me at that moment that Samuel's earthly daddy was teaching him an amazing facet of God the Father. He was teaching him about faithfulness. Daddy was faithful to do what he says, and God is faithful too. He will do what he says. He will keep his word, keep his promises, and follow through. Even at 2 years old, Samuel can learn that Daddies do what they say. Both now and forevermore.

Secondly, I saw a fear in my son disappear that usually rises to the surface. When Daddy was on the mower, no matter how loud and in charge, it wasn't frightening. It wasn't scary because there was safety in his Father's arms. The Lord is so much bigger than we are. He has so much more knowledge about what is happening in our lives, he knows how to control the mower even when we feel like it is loud, out of control, and moving along despite all our attempts to slow it down. It's okay.

I have found myself lately feeling a little out of control and it was such a necessary reminder that the Lord is faithful not to leave me standing on the porch outside his heart. AND that He is the safest place I can be, no matter how much it feels like I may be spinning out of control. Amen and amen!


Matthew 11:28 - 30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Fun times in KY

So, there are tons of thoughts from this past weekend, but the highlight was definitely the $2.32 purchase of a 50 foot sheet of plastic. And yes, I said, 50 feet. Imagine this. . . . a slightly dramatic hill, water, dish soap, and loads of fun! There were a few tears shed, but overall the fun far outweighed the tears.

P.S. If you are interested in such an activity for your little ones, let me share some very important lessons, learned no less at the expense of our oldest children. (sorry kids)

1. Always wear a shirt (boys) and shorts (girls). The grass hurts when you hit it hard and fast. The front of my son's chest is a sad testimony to this lesson.

2. Soap is crucial for speed, or even going at all. I thought that the soap would be unnecessary if there was enough water- I was mistaken. It doesn't go well at all.

3. You MUST have a catcher at the bottom of the plastic. I don't know if you can tell well enough, but most of the pain of the first experience happened as the kids slid off the bottom and into the grass. On Day 2, we had a daddy at the top and at the bottom. Worked beautifully!!

Besides that, have a blast and know that your kids will love you all the more for all the fun they are having!







Good job Daddy! We love you!

The new beds. . .

Okay, so I thought all who know my boys would appreciate the joy coming forth from the little blue bedroom. The first pic is of Samuel asleep in his big boy bed for the first time! The second is the whole caboodle. . . .

Addendum to the previous post.

Romans 8:23-24 23 "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all."

So I found an addendum to the last post. I guess this is the reason I have connected so powerfully to the adoption of little ones. I want to know more about what adoption is. As it says in Romans, our hope is in our new bodies at the end of time, when Jesus comes back and we are seated as ADOPTED sons (and daughters) forever in the kingdom of the Lord on Earth. Really, is there anything cooler? To have an even greater understanding into what it means to be adopted, by adopting others, can only increase my own heart to see my adoption into my Father's family finalized on the day he returns. Wow. It's pretty cool.

Adoption. . . . so the story continues (or begins, depending on your view)

So we have had a week of firsts. We are praying about this thing called adoption, and it has suddenly become elevated in our hearts. We met this past week with an Adoption Consultant- one who can help us through the process, create a profile of our family, and point us toward the right social worker for the home study, and finally connect us with agencies around the nation that desire to find Christian families for babies that are available. Then, we went to a dinner put on by the Zoe Foundation- created by a family here in KC to help others more affordably adopt. They are really cool people and have an amazing call from the Lord on their lives. Through it all, I hear the still small voice of the Lord speaking to me. It's really amazing, because at this stage in our lives it's really crazy, we have these two little boys, and we sure DON'T have an extra $25,000 sitting around. And yet, the Lord is speaking so clearly to us on this one. Here's a snippit:

1. I was praying tonight at bible study for this whole situation, particularly the baby and the money. We have to have $3000 to start the process, and are praying for the Lord to lead us to people right now who have the same heart. As I was asking the Lord to provide for this little one, he told me that we were fighting for her- by raising money. I know, it sounds a bit odd, but when you are pregnant, you are going to the doctor, cutting back on caffeine, taking your vitamins, and praying fervently over the one inside you. It is the means of fighting for her from the start. When they are born, you will fight for them at the drop of a hat if ever crossed. The Lord spoke so clearly to me tonight that I cannot do those things this time, but he is calling me to fight for her (we think it might be a little girl somewhere out there). As I talk to people and begin this adventure of fundraising, this is the means that I can fight for her. She is in a womb right now where she is unwanted, I am praying constantly for her heart, but by raising money to bring her into my home, I am fighting for her little life. Just as I would if she were in my womb.

2. My child is unwanted somewhere. I know there is a ton of conversation about when and what babies can know in the womb, but there is a pregnant mother who knows that the child growing inside her would be better off with another family. It is the most noble of decisions. Anyone who has sat in a hospital after holding the newborn you have just birthed, knows the heart connection that happens immediately. For that mother to know it is best to give her to me is honorable at least, noble and sacrificial at best. I have and will continue to pray that she will know she is created, known from the start, and LOVED wholly by a family in Kansas City, and created by a God who was willing to send his son to die for her. There is no greater calling. There is no greater love, than to lay down his life. . . .

Pray with us. It's about to get crazy over here!

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress"