Convicted

"Let me use a different example. If you read in a newspaper about hundreds of children dying of malnutrition in a famine in Africa, you might pause for a moment of genuine sadness--but wouldn't you finally turn the page, read the sports section, check the TV listings, and go about your daily routine? But imagine for a moment that you somehow discovered one of these starving African children dying on your front doorstep the very next morning as you left for Church. Would you not stop everything, pick up the child, and rush her to the emergency room, offering to pay whatever it might cost to save her life? You would almost certainly respond with urgency as one human being to another, and that faraway famine you had read about the night before would very suddenly become intensely personal. You see, our problem is that the plight of suffering children in a far-off land simply hasn't gotten personal for us. We may hear about them with sorrow, but we haven't really been able to look at them as if they were our own children. If we could, then we would surely grieve more deeply in our spirits. We would weep for their parents, and we would respond with far greater urgency" Excerpt from The Hole in Our Gospel

I've been absorbing a book recently...contemplating it, and crying through it. I was told, "Do NOT read this book if you don't want to be convicted."

This book is called called "A Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. The title alone made me shake my head and think, "Excuse me!"

The Gospel...the Bible...does NOT have a hole in it.

Fortunately, I found out that this book wasn't talking about THE gospel, but the one that we allow ourselves to internalize...avoiding what we don't want to see. This book is about seeing the WHOLE gospel, the Bible, in it's entirety. There are so many things we don't want to see because they are not pretty. They are convicting and we just may have to do something about it.

If you are ready to be convicted and ready to see what you don't want to see, you need to read "A Hole in Our Gospel". It's not for the faint of heart. It's for those that want to see beyond what is easy.

When adopting Bekah and we drove through the beauty of Ethiopia we felt like we were rolling in the joy of the people there. Yet, as we drove down the streets, we watched litter after litter carrying the bodies of those who death had latched on to...more orphans made, more needless death. We heard stories of diseases, easily curable in the U.S., decimating the countryside. We watched human skeletons hobbling down the road or lying in ditches.

The reality is that if you make over $50,000 a year, 99% of the world makes less than you. The reality is that one of six of these precious children, we handed candy to so casually, will not make it past their fifth birthday. The reality is that one in seven of the children strapped to their mother's backs will die by the age of one. "One out of four children in developing countries is underweight, and some 350 to 400 million children are hungry. Worse, it is estimated that a child dies every five seconds from hunger-related causes." How many children have died while you were reading this.?

It is so easy for us to feel so detached, giving money, but not reaching out to those in the greatest need. We are all guilty of this. When reading 2 Corinthians, I came upon this next passage. A passage that reminded me of what I want said about us.

"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able , and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own. They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." 2 Corinthians 8:2-4

You can't say that about us yet...I hope someday you can. In the meantime, I'm going to get my shovel out and try to fill the hole in our gospel.... in an effort to see the Bible, THE Gospel as a whole.

I want to encourage you to read this book. God used this book in my life. I sit here convicted.
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You can purchase "A Hole in Our Gospel" here.

To read more blogs about the needs of orphans around the world and the passion and conviction my husband and I share. Please read the following
My Child
Let Me Tell You About Jesus
The Effect of Economy on Orphans
I Choose to be Blessed

Here is a recent article on the reality of poverty.

MUST READ BLOG and Update on Prayer Requests

You all have been such wonderful prayer warriors for my niece, the Riggs family, and so many more. I wanted to give you a quick update and share with you a blog that had tears filling my eyes.

My niece, Sofia, is doing really well. The doctor says that everything is continuing to look good and there doesn't look to be a late brain bleed after the fall she and my brother suffered. She's pretty banged up and I told my brother that he needs to teach her to say, "You should see the other guy!". Thank you for continued prayers for a few days!

The members of the Riggs family, that were in the car accident yesterday, seems to be out of the woods. You can read their update here. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. They will still have a long road to recovery.

For those of you that don't know (more at a later date) I've been delving into a book called "A Hole in Our Gospel". The title threw me off, but we had it recommended by a wise member of a Church we've been visiting. It's not about a hole in THE gospel, but how we neglect things in the word of God and make a hole in ours. I really started this book about two nights ago and will probably finish it today. I will share with you what was told to us, "Do NOT read this if you don't want to be convicted."

That said, God has been convicting us and convicting us. We are resting in prayer and living just to hear Him speak. I have been in tears off and on for these couple of days, good tears. It's painful, but oh so good.

During these couple of days and this intense convicting, God reiterated His working on us in two different ways. We received and invitation we didn't expect and He spoke to us through a beautiful blog we are following. If you have a moment, please read this blog called Joining the Journey.

Whenever we've seen God move like this in our lives, one after another, big things have happened. Please pray God continues to guide us as we wait in anticipation of what journey lies ahead.

EMERGENCY PRAYER NEEDED!!!!

Many of you may remember our prayer request for several little girls with Leukemia (Abby, Tatum, and Elke).
Four year old Abby has been in and out of the hospital this season and on Morphine for inter-cranial pressure caused by Chemo (of which she has almost a year left to go). Tonight her 17 year old brother Garrett was in a car accident with his aunt , Micalah, and uncle, Mike. This family is going through so much and is now facing so much more. Please send your prayers to God tonight for this family.

You can find updates here.

Our Sweet Niece-Prayer Needed

Yesterday very cool brother (don't tell him I said that, I'll deny it), my gorgeous sister-in-law, and amazing niece Sofia (can you tell we love them?!) were walking the dogs when my brother and Sofia suffered a fall on the asphalt. When my sister-in-law looked back they were both still and in shock. Though scraped up, for 30 minutes everything seemed ok... until my niece threw up and started acting oddly. After a call to 911 and a ct scan, it looks as if it's just a concussion (I don't say that lightly, but in comparison to what it could have been...).

Rarely a bleed can occur later and we are all praying that she continues to just recover normally. It looks like she's doing just that :)! Woo Hoo! She has been acting great (though my bro says slightly grumpy) and threw up once this morning as well.

Please pray for our niece's complete healing. She's a precious and sweet little girl that is such a blessing to all that surround her. Aunt Kat and Uncle Thomas love you Sofia! Get better soon!!!!!

This one is for you Sofia!

Whatever You Did To Me Last Night, Don't Ever Do It to Me Again

Seventeen years ago I met the most insane person in my life. That first Christmas, only weeks after we started "going out", he told me he had a present for me outside... in the cold. I stepped out of my apartment and he drenched me with a Super Soaker, emptying it, before handing it to me and saying, "Merry Christmas honey". I knew it was love.

Sixteen years ago I walked down the aisle (to very non-traditional music), with giant bear slippers under my wedding gown. The funny thing is that it wasn't about the wedding. I just wanted to be married to my best friend. The marriage was WAY more important than the wedding.

Sixteen years later, God has given me every desire of my heart. I am still madly in love with my best friend. We have five children and seven by the end of next year. He's still as nuts as when I married Him. God is good...so amazingly, wonderfully, good.

Thomas, thank you for loving me, cherishing me, and helping me to become closer to our Heavenly Father. You are not only my "Mr. Right" and the missing piece to my puzzle, but you are my brother, best friend, father to our children, and so much more. After God, you are it for me.

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering about the title of this blog. My husband woke up after our first honeymoon night COMPLETELY sick and throwing up. He turned to me, as we were snuggling in bed, and said, "Honey, whatever you did to me last night, don't EVER do it again."

Mary Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Luke 2:6-20 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-5 (NIV)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Luke 1:26-56 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 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 bear! 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 in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary's Song

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Christmas with Meaning

Early Sunday morning, just as the sun rose, we headed off for an hour and a half drive to my Mother-in-law and Step Father-in-law's Church and to their home to celebrate the first of three Christmas celebrations with family. We were surrounded by laughter...usually caused by my husband. The kids at least thought so, as he had them laughing...again.


We love being with family. Our nieces just make this world a more glorious place. They are blessings from God that we cherish every moment with. You can see the family resemblance. Our niece is in the white colorful shirt and our daughter Anna is in the black colorful one. They look more like sisters. Our oldest niece, Misty, is carrying our sweet Bekah on her back and subjecting herself to a vigorous hair brushing.







We are obviously amazingly blessed. Yet something was missing from today. He was there with us. We celebrated Him at Church, but He wasn't the focus...the way He should have been...of our first family Christmas.

God, Jesus...He's it for me, yet I left Him out of a celebration that should be just for Him...His birthday, the birthday of our Salvation.

It's amazing how quickly we lose focus. I wonder how I'm to teach my children, when I (at times) forget.

Tomorrow is another day, another day that I will NOT forget. I will remember...every second...the reason we celebrate Christ. He is my salvation, my life, my all.

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PRAYER REQUESTS:
As CHRISTmas time is upon us, there are some families hurting...struggling.
There are three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby is in the hospital right now with VERY low numbers and breathing issues, please pray hard for a fast and complete recovery and healing.

Please also pray for our dear friend's sister Jane. She just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Everything looked good and then Jane had problems breathing. She is at the hospital on a respirator. They have found a clot in her heart and heart damage. Please petition our father for her healing.

Another friend's sister, Kathy, just had a stroke. Please pray for her complete healing.

Droplets of Blessing~Abby

I've been realizing that my mark has been off a little bit lately. God has given Thomas and I a passion, orphans, yet the passion is instilled in us by God. Everything, every waking moment is about Him. Though I will continue to write about the overflowing need of the little children, I will be writing even more about the overflowing love of God.

This season we celebrate the foundation, the beginning, of our Salvation. Yet our salvation actually started long ago, before the birth of man. You see God created man knowing they would sin, yet still loving us. He created man knowing the sacrifice He would make. He knew! Yet He still created us. This is mind blowing!

Tonight, as I attempt to see the magnitude of God's salvation, I look out a the clear night sky. The stars scattered like powerful beacons of light. God's power reflects off every one. I've realized that we are mere drops of blessing here on this earth. God is so big and the drops are so small.

I want to share with you today. About a precious droplet from Heaven. Salvation came in the form of a baby for such a precious blessing as this. Her name is Abby Riggs. She is four years old and has an amazing spirit. She also has a interloper, an invader to her precious body, Leukemia. Little Abby is in a war. If anyone can fight this battle, she can. She is a little warrior. She doesn't have to fight this battle alone though. This is why Jesus came...He is with her.

Right now she is in the hospital. Her parents are much more eloquent in sharing her need. You can read their blog here . She needs all her fellow warriors to petition God on her behalf and on her families behalf. We not only pray for her to heal in only this situation, but for complete healing.

It's hard to fathom what this crystal clear droplet is going through, but she is a sweet droplet, a droplet of pure blessing.

During this time, let us focus on the Great Healer. Let us focus on the infant born to die, not for himself...but for us. Let us remember that we are on this earth to glorify Him and to live in obedience to Him.

Droplets are many, but they are also as unique as every snowflake, every fingerprint, and every breath. Please pray for this little one, as well as two more little ones with leukemia, Tatum and Elke. Let us remember the reason why we are here, why we are saved, and why we take every breath...God.

Thank you Lord for your salvation through Jesus Christ and thank you for the opportunity to come to you on behalf of Abby. We place all our circumstances in your hands. May we bring you glory.

The Music of My Heart

A couple of my favorite Christmas songs...songs that make me realize, just a little bit more, of what Our Heavenly Father sacrificed....

He Placed the Greatest Love

We have a few sweet friends that have or are traveling down the road of fostering children. This is something that I believe is such an amazing blessing. My heart swells knowing I have friends stepping forward in this sometimes, no often, difficult journey. Yet, I think of these children. Much of the time they are taken out of their home without warning. Much of the time they have witnessed or been subjected to horrible things. Many children come to recognize that a social worker is coming to take them again and they just get their bags and are ready to go.

It concerns me that a system would have so many repeated reunification plans that eventually the child’s best welfare is lost. Yet I do believe in family reunification…I do believe in second chances….just not to the detriment of the child. There are no right answers, just a lot of questions and prayers over the best way.

Something occurred to me recently though. The parallel between fostering and Christ’s coming to this earth. Mary and Joseph, on a far off night in a manger, celebrated the birth of their son Jesus….God’s son Jesus. They cared for Him and loved Him. They raised Him, yet He knew who His Father was….His Father in Heaven. He knew that their was a reunification plan….a very painful one. He knew that His Heavenly Father loved Him and didn’t do anything wrong. Yet here He was on earth…because of what we have done. Kinda backwards, isn’t it?

Our Father in Heaven’s son, whom He WILLINGLY gave, sacrificed, parted with because of His love for others.

This is where I think of the foster parents. This is where I am reminded of what they give daily. They pour their hearts into these children. They love them. Yet, they know in the end they have to do something that may be painful to the children and that may cause them more harm (at times) than good. They often have to give them back to someone who may or may not have changed. This can be an amazingly beautiful thing, when successful or this can be an amazingly hard thing when a child, scarred with more trauma than when they left, returns. These parents are amazing. They want what is best for their children.

They want what’s best for their children…just as God did. He loved us so much that He knew what was best for us. He chose to give it to us in the most painful way, for Him and for His Son. He chose to have Jesus walk among us, the sinners. He sent His child into the homes of those in the most downtrodden of situations.

Instead of a child going from a bad situation, to a good one…it happened in exactly the opposite way. How much must He love us to watch His precious Son be born to die for us?

Celebration of His Heavenly Plan coming to fruition? Yes. Knowing that He came to earth to die? Yes.

Whenever I look at these hurt children around the world, I remember our Savior who wasn’t a hurt child….until He came to earth for us.

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to lay witness to God’s blessings around the world. I thank God for the opportunity to live in a family with love. And finally, I thank God that He placed the greatest love on earth for His children so that we could learn what it is to be truly loved.

Yes, I Did That...

This is a thought that was shared with me in an email by someone I love very much. It made me think (even more) at this time of year, of what Jesus was born to do.

"Jesus died THE most painful way. We all look at one another and we’d never want to have someone else’s sin on us – yet He took it all. Imagine having to take whatever anyone ever did and say “yes, I did that”…in a way, that’s what He had to do."

How Could Heaven's Heart Not Break on the Day That You Came?

There is a thought that has run around my mind leaving little marks everywhere. I’m not sure I can put the thoughts in writing, but I am going to give it a try.

This Christmas we’re waiting (and we’re missing) two sweet little blessings that we don’t know and have yet to be referred. Our twins in Ethiopia leave a small void this Christmas, a void just big enough for four little feet. Yet, in one way, I’m thankful they are not here yet.

That was difficult to write, as I long for them so badly. I am though...thankful that is.

You see, we are coming up on the time of year that we celebrate the time Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby…ready to give so much to us. God knew what He was sending His son here for. He knew his son was being born to die. Though Jesus was and is part of Him, the close union they shared in Heaven had to be different…from my human perspective at least. It seems like there would be celebrating as God’s plan came to fruition, yet also mourning at what Christ, the Son of God, was born to bear.

Knowing I can’t do these thoughts justice, knowing this is not going to be written or come out as eloquently as I intend, the void I feel longing for my children, this void is nothing. The absence of God’s Son in the Heavenly Realms had to be beyond what our imagination can foster. What God sacrificed for us is more than the death of His Son, He sacrificed His loss as well. He subjected not just His Son, but Himself because of His love for us.

I know, as a human, I didn’t say this right. Yet, I know, as a human, I can only understand a glimpse of the sacrifice given for me. This Christmas season, as I miss our children, I can understand…..just a tiny speck of an inkling….what our God must have felt sending His Son to this earth. Just a passing glimpse of an idea of what our Father felt.

Yet, I know our children will come home. I guess God did too. He knew He would come home through death, in a most painful way, on the cross.

So you see why I’m glad. If I can understand this pain on any, even the remotest level, I praise Him for what He is doing in my life.

The words from Mercy Me’s song “Gloria” comes to mind….

How could Heaven's heart not break
On the day, the day that You came?
Salvation's reason to celebrate
On the day, the day that You came

Wisdom from C.S. Lewis

"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." C.S. Lewis

It Wasn't Me....

The core foundation of our belief is centered around God’s word, the Bible. It is no less important than the core of the human body, the heart, pumping blood to all the organs. The nervous system, or prayer, transforms our life through communication with our Heavenly Father. Attaching us altogether is fellowship or the muscles and tendons. The body’s movement, or service, is when all is working together.

This body is God’s body, belonging to Him. Do we fight Him for it or do we surrender it? Do we build fences around the temple of the Holy Spirit that prevent the total surrender and peace that God intended for us? Do we block communication? Action? The flowing blood of Christ in our lives when we accept Salvation?

Fences, those lovely fences, beautiful and ornate, seductive and tempting….

I think one of the biggest challenges is the invisible fence. Sometimes I think it is more like a chameleon, changing to mimic it’s surroundings so we don’t notice it. It’s the fences we don’t see. As a Christian one of my biggest fears is that I , our culture, and our upbringing have built fences preventing the closeness with our Father in Heaven that He has planned for us…has waiting for us. These invisible fences are so deceptive and insidious that often we find that they have always been a part of our thinking. It is like they are a part of our very being and creation.

I have witnessed events that have caused division because individuals see things as a matter of Salvation or Biblical principles, instead of what they really are, a matter of comfort instead of the Bible. You see, we haven’t been very comfortable lately. We’ve been visiting two Churches that make us very uncomfortable for two very different reasons.

One Church is very modern in a way we’ve never experienced before and totally thinks outside the box. Another Church is SO challenging in it’s teaching that it’s almost painful and refuses to let us sit down and be comfortable. Both these Churches follow the Bible. Neither is seeking to go against God’s word. They are very different and they both take us out of our comfort zones. You see, we had these fences up that God has been slowly tearing down so that we can see Him more clearly and purely, based on His word.

Yet we continue to build fences, not being willing to give up little joys or comforts that we label as "acceptable", because we enjoy them or they are especially comfortable. We make rules based on nothing but what we want. Marinating in the power of our choices (or lack of). We don’t ask or seek God about these rules, instead we base them on what we are comfortable with, what we’ve always been told is appropriate, or what the world (which is one of the scariest as Christians) is putting out there.

All these fences preventing us from a closer walk with God.

This has been eating at me for days. I’m still chewing on it. It’s meaty and solid and the gristle is getting stuck between my teeth. The Pharisees, in John Chapter 9, actually had the gall to tell Jesus that He shouldn’t heal a blind man on the Sabbath….Jesus! Jesus made mud by spitting on the ground and placing it on the blind man’s eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam…and you know what hard work that is (yes, I am being a little sarcastic). This mud Jesus made was from the same earth that He set as the foundations of the beginning of creation. He also made man from this very same dust, breathing into him the breath of life. How appropriate that Jesus shows His power. This was same earth was the earth that God cursed because of man’s sin. Yet, in this moment, it was not cursed because Jesus is able to purify and correct what is wrong with the earth. He’s also able to make us correct through the blood he shed for us. Yet they made rules, man made rules, forgetting the substance or reason for not working on the Sabbath, adding, and adding, and adding to God’s word. These thoughts have literally been feeding on me. What am I adding that is not there, not Biblical? Is it my taste in entertainment or is it that I’m watching television at all instead of spending that same time in prayer, with family, or at least edifying in some way? What am I clinging to with tenacity? What am I devouring as a false god, holding back from the one REAL God? It hurts and it challenges.

In this challenge God has presented me, I am trying to find the areas I need to take to Him in prayer….the things I’ve really avoided asking Him. Actually, the fence I’ve been praying about and discussing with my husband, I believe is coming into focus? As that fence is coming into focus, I can feel the nibbling of another one? I hope this never stops. I long for the fences to tremble, that prevent me from seeing God clearer that I ever have before. I want them shredded! I long for them be torn asunder! Just as the curtain at the temple was.... the day the Lord shed His blood....the day the earth shook because of how violent love rocked the world to the foundation. Our Maker died, sacrificed himself for our blindness...sin. So do we, who build fences today, think we are really able to stand in His way?

God is so much better than what I’ve been giving Him. He is so much better than anything we could give Him. Doesn’t He deserve our best? Are you giving Him your best?

Me, not so much. So until I am, I will covet the celebration of each fence laying at my feet in ruins. I will stand in victory, stomping on the squalid remains, and I will raise my arms in celebration to my Heavenly Father, because who really tore down those fences? It wasn’t me…..

Prayers for Missionaries in Kenya

Information from a missionary couple in Kenya that we have come to know and cherish....

The Nairobi Church of Christ is at this moment undergoing persecution. Land grabbers (They’ve been told they are operating with money from outside Kenya) have come by force and razed the squatter village outside the church’s main gate.

They brought in heavy digging equipment by night, and proceeded to excavate right up to their perimeter wall, undermining it and destroying the natural drainage. At one point they blocked their right-of-way.

They have managed to get a temporary injunction to sort out the environmental issues, although the grabbers are trying to intimidate them into giving up. Corrupt officials have “visited” them to apply pressure. We’d ask you to pray with us that they act only within God’s will and that God’s will be done.

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This couple has been an inspiration to Thomas and I. Please pray for them as we know things work so different there. Please pray as well for God's hand of protection on them. Thank you.

Pot of Gold

"You may want the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I want the one who created the rainbow."

Jubilee

Many of you have read our prayer requests for some sweet children around the world (click here to read about them if you haven't). Governments have to move to bring these little ones home. Yesterday our list shortened and our Heavenly Father moved. Jubilee is in the arms of her mommy. PRAISE GOD! You can read about it on their blog.

Something I Needed to Read

While reading "I Dared To Call Him Father" I read the following (she felt spoken softly to her heart), "The results are not your problem. All you have to worry about is obedience. Seek My presence, not results."

Family Christmas Letter/Blog

The dramatic music has been cued. The stage has been set. This is what you’ve been waiting for…NOT!

Ok, it’s just our Family Christmas newsletter/blog, but it sounded so much better with a touch of drama (with four girls in the house, that’s easy to do).

This “Blog” is a book too, so get comfortable J.

So on with the show…letter…insanity.

If we could use two words to describe this year, it would be “life altering”. It’s totally in a good way, but “life altering” none the less. God has had us stretching beyond our boundaries and though, at times, the stretching is a tad uncomfortable, it is also jump up and down, clean house, world filled with chocolate, WONDERFUL!

When we wrote last year’s letter we already knew things were going to change, but we also knew we hadn’t been released to share it yet. After a year of prayer, intense prayer, God led us to start the adoption of our twins in Ethiopia. We call them “our twins” because that’s exactly what they are, our children across the world that we have yet to meet Many of you know this news, but for those that don’t, we have placed the links to our “how this came about” story below.

The Second big change for us was the knowledge that we were to become a 100% home school family. Yep, little insane. Yep, a lot of blessing. We are active at our teaching co-op and our oldest two take some classes down there (Yes, some high school classes make our brains leak out of our ears, thus classes taught by someone else were a must!). For the FIRST time ALL the kids are happy with school, have a ton of friends, and can’t wait to learn. We have to tell you though, marinating the kids in God’s love all day ROCKS!

The third change was a rough one. In seeking to follow our God, our Lord, we started praying that He lead us to where we can bring Him the most glory. We LOVED all those at our previous Church, but God had other plans for us. We have been visiting a few Churches around here and are praying diligently that God shows us where He wants us.
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Ok, now what you’ve all been waiting for (we’re sure on pins and needles)…it’s time for the awards!

THE FUNNIEST MOMENT GOES TO (DRUM ROLL PLEASE) Thomas for his weird dreams.
I had brought Bekah (who was coughing with the latest virus) to our bed, putting her fru fru purple pillow between both Thomas and I and snuggling her in. It took about 45 minutes for Bekah to settle down to slumber. It took me about an hour before she started to doze off. That was before I sensed movement and cracked open my eyes. Thomas (half setting up in bed) had his hands on both corners of Bekah’s purple pillow. As I watched he YANKED it out from under her head. I knew there was something to this and said, “Ummm, honey…what are you doing?” He looked at me and quite calmly stated, “One of these pillows has AT&T on it.” I started laughing. He looked at me disgusted and said in an irritated voice, “THE PASSWORDS!!!”. I gave up at that point and died in laughter. Thomas cuddled with a fru fru purple pillow for the rest of the night. What you didn’t see was Bekah, looking at daddy all confused. Etched across her face was, “Daddy, why did you take my pillow?”

THE MOST TRUMPING MOMENT GOES TO…..Max for TOTALLY squashing Sarah and I in a game of Eye Spy. We never even came close.

THE GOOFIEST MOMENT GOES TO….Tom for his rendition of Hamlet using a doll head as the skull. Though we must admit that Thomas’s rendition of Hamlet using Arnold Schwarzenegger voice was pretty entertaining too.

THE MOST BRAIN HICCUP MOMENT GOES TO (oh, like you’re going to be surprised at this one)….ME for when I said nicely to Max, “Stop talking with your mouth open.”

THE BEST MOMENT THAT YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO AS A PARENT GOES TO…Anna for her reason for not telling us the whole story. “But mommy, I didn’t want him to get into trouble.”

THE MOST RANDOM MOMENT GOES TO….Sarah for trying to figure out what the initials L.O.A. meant (Love One Another) and she looked at me and said, “Apples”.

THE BEST AND MOST WONDERFUL MOMENT OF THE YEAR GOES TO….Bekah. Bekah was singing at the top of her lungs in the back of the car. “Are you singing Bekah?” Mommy asked. “Yes, I’m singing WITH God.” She wasn’t sing to Him, at Him, or about him. She was singing WITH Him…wow.

So that’s our Year End Review. Long…yes, but crazy and just like our family.

As we close this year I would like to share with you something. It is something that Sarah said to us. “Normally at the end of the year, it’s exciting and all, but we don’t want to hurry it. There’s nothing so important that we’re eager for break to pass. This year it’s different though. This next year the twins will come home. I can’t wait until next year!” That’s us, we cherish the time we have celebrating Christ and the beginning of our Salvation. Yet we know, instead of wishing we were still on break, we will celebrate being one step closer to our babies. God is our breath, our life, our all…that He is blessing us, yet again, which drives us to our knees.

We thank God for the blessing of each of you and are thankful that God has placed you in our lives. May His hand rest on you all through this wonderful journey we call life. .

HERE ARE OUR YEAR’S PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES!

We know this may seem like a long list, but if you would consider taking the time to pray for these, even once…it will (and has) made such a difference to SO many lives! Many have asked us to pray very personal prayer requests that are not on the list, just know friends, we are praying.

PRAISES!!!
God has brought us a long way in this adoption. He’s touched hearts and supplied funds in ways we didn’t think possible! We are now waiting!
God moved governments to bring a little girl named Jubilee home to her family from China.
The Thomas family has a new little one (as of last night!)
The Briola family (as well as many others) are legal parents to many wonderful children around the world.

OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS:
Two of Kat’s Aunts are having serious health issues.
Kat’s grandma needs to go through radiation to treat cancer (looks SO good though!)
Thomas step-father has been having health issues with his back and sleep apnea.
Friends, the Stewarts, mom has cancer. It’s serious and they need your prayers.
We also have friends that are going through a really rough time, facing many adoption obstacles locally in their adoption. To insure their privacy, we won't name any names, but could you please keep this family in your prayers...God knows who they are :).
Please pray for a few little ones that I've come to pray for with leukemia. Abby is a sweet little girl that currently is suffering inter-cranial pressure as a result of chemo. Ilke is another sweet little one that needs prayers. Please pray for little Tatum as well who, as of right now, is in the hospital with a fever (the numbers desperately need to come up).

IMMEDIATE ADOPTION PROCESS PRAYER REQUESTS:
*That the funds pour in like water in a surge of blessing and that God blesses us with the funds to accept the referral and travel when the time comes.
*That God has His hand on this adoption, guiding us, smoothing the way, and bringing peace.
*That our twins may be gathered into our family with a quickness and speed only blessed by God.

ALL ADOPTION PRAYER REQUESTS:
Please Pray…..
*For these little ones God has chosen to place in our family…for their physical and emotional health in a difficult place.
*For their biological family…that God has His hand on them and brings them peace in whatever they must face and the choices they will be making. Also, please pray that they come to know Christ and the peace only He can give.
*Last, though it may seem a bit premature, please specifically pray that once we are referred our little ones, that they come home quickly and pass court the first time (many are starting to have multiple court dates and a LONG wait until travel).

We also pray that hearts are convicted daily to open their families and lives to orphans around the world.
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Also, please join us in prayers for three beautiful Christian families and five sweet children who are facing obstacles above and beyond what a adoption process usually looks like. Governments will literally have to move for these older and special needs children to come home.

Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)-I would like to ask your prayers for a little sweet young girl in Ethiopia named Olivia Mame. There are some very immense road blocks, serious ones, that have to be conquered in order to finish the adoption of this precious young lady.

Daniel (Liberia)-A little one with hydrocephaly awaits his family. Please pray that Daniel does not deteriorate farther and that people in authority to move this case feel the passion to see this through quickly. They also have two more blessings that they are adopting.

Ronaldo and Julia (Guatemala)-For years this family has been trying to get their beautiful future children out of Guatemala. Every time it seems close there is another glitch. Please pray with us. Please pray that EVERY problem is resolved and every piece of paper has the perfection only God can give.

We also ask that, if you have a moment, please pray for the governments to open their hearts and countries (many have closed down) so that children may find their families instead of languishing in orphanages.

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ALL ABOUT OUR ADOPTION, ADOPTION QUESTIONS, AND ADOPTION TIMELINE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING

To see our announcement blog explains how we started this process and will answer many of your questions.you can look here.

This is the link to our blog that explains the timeline. Just click here.

If you have not seen the videos of Max and Bekah’s adoption, you can click on the following links.
To see Max's video, click
here.
To see Bekah's video, click
here.

From "Missing" to "Celebrating"

Two months ago today our endless paperwork chase ended. Today, two months ago, we began waiting for the precious and cherished new additions to our family. I thought the wait wouldn’t be hard this time. Busyness keeps us from dwelling on it too much, but one thing that I didn’t factor into the equation…Christmas time.

It’s getting a little chilly here as winter rolls in. We scrambled to get a jacket for our oldest daughter, as it seems that many stores want girls to be fashionable instead of warm (smile). Hands may be blue, but they LOOK GOOD!

We put up the Christmas tree to decorate for our celebration of Christ’s birth. The heater was FINALLY turned on. Yet, at the end of last week, a package came. Our Christmas Ornament that we order every year from
OrnamentShop.com. It’s the only one we pay more than a very few dollars for. We can’t afford much this year. God is amazingly good to us, but we have to be wise with the gifts He’s given. As with everyone around us, it seems, we are very tight financially.

This ornament warmed my heart and made things so real. It made me long to hold our little ones in my arms as we celebrate the the Birth of Salvation, our Savior. It made me yearn to snuggle them in my arms as the cold night falls and sing to them of Jesus’ love. Waiting is not as easy as I thought it would be this time. Pieces are still missing to our family.

As we celebrate this season I realize on a greater level what God gave to us. Our children are part of our very core. They are impressions on our hearts. As we wait to hold our little ones, I thank God for the chance to understand, even just a smidgen more, of the love God had for His Son and for us.

I long for the days that the “missing” will be concluded and the “celebrating” will begin. I’m not just talking about our little ones here.

I’m talking about bowing down before our Savior, no more missing and longing….pure celebration.

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" Luke 2:13-14

And the Winner Is.....

Bekah picked this month’s winner (the little Ethiopian princess in the front of the picture)! And the winner is (drum roll please) CHRISTINA! I will get your copy in the mail this week!

Check back at this blog around the 1st of next month and we hope to be able to offer a very cool adoption t-shirt giveaway. The sixth day of each month marks another month on the wait list for our family’s referral of twins from Ethiopia! What better way to celebrate than offer a giveaway of a neat adoption book or product!

Two months down!

Look back here again next month for the next giveaway!

An AMAZING Blessing!

She’s gonna be ten pounds? There is NO way. Ok, induce.
Little pills? How bad can that be?
A lovely nurse then entered and told me this excruciating pain was caused by the pills and not labor…nice.
After hours of labor later (oh wait, it wasn’t labor) a SEVEN pound FOURTEEN ounce little one came silently into the world.

My husband looked slightly worried when he asked the doctor, “Why isn’t she crying?”
The doctor (looking mystified) stuttered, “I don’t know. Maybe because SHE’S LIFTING HER HEAD UP LOOKING AROUND.”
No Joke, that’s how Anna came into our world, full of wonder.

At two weeks old she would make the sounds of “I love you.” Yes, we have witnesses.

She’s passionate, loving, loves mud and bugs, dramatic, and spiritual. She’s our Anna. We thank God every day for her. She is our Anna and there’s no one like her. She’s our Anna and an amazing blessing from God.

We love you our daughter. May your passion for God ignite the world around you.