A lot of "food"...

I was reading Psalm 37 this morning & wanted to share some things from it. It's a long psalm so I am not going to type it all out now but I would encourage you to read the entire psalm sometime. It has a lot in it.

"Do not worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord & do good.
Then you will live safely in the land & prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, & he will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him & he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
& the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
& wait patiently for him to act.
Do not worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry! Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper-it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land."
Psalm 37:1-9

"It is better to be godly & have little than to be evil & rich."
verse 16

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand." verses 23-24

"Turn from evil & do good, & you will live in the land forever.
For the Lord loves justice, & he will never abandon the godly." verses 27-28

"The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.
They have made God's law their own, so they will never slip from his path." verses 30-31

"Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed." verse 34

"The Lord rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them, & they find shelter in him." verses 39-40

How much longer???

I pray that everyone had a very blessed & joy filled Christmas. I will be posting a Christmas in review post soon but I just had to share this first. I think this devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah will speak to a lot of you. I know it spoke to me as I wait for the miracle in Shakira to be manifested & as I reflect on the waiting for children to come home that has come full circle.

How Long?
And coming in that instant [Anna] gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:38

Recommended Reading
Psalm 52:8-9

After several hours of packing, the family is finally on the road. After driving for no more than ten minutes, the littlest voice from the back seat asks the inevitable: "Are we almost there?"

That's what the games, snacks, and music are for, right? Long trips aren't easy for little people, so they have to learn patience. And Christians have a long trip to complete as well: the trip to our heavenly home. Sometimes the road seems long and bumpy, but we need to stay focused on the destination. That's what characterized the life of the prophetess, Anna, who had spent eighty-four years of her life in the temple praying and worshipping. The day she saw the baby Jesus she knew the trip of a lifetime was complete. Her focus on the promises of God was consummated by the appearance of the promised One.

If you are wondering "How long?" before God brings you through--be faithful and focused on the One who came and will come again.

Children's Christmas Program...

The Children's Christmas program at our church was Sunday evening. Phoebe was so excited because this year she got to play the part of Mary. Shakira was an angel & Samara & Caleb were lambs. I was afraid that Shakira would just stand there the whole time holding her neck because that's what she tends to do & what she had been doing during all the practices. I should have never prayed for her not to do that during the program! Because what she did instead was to take someone's oversized green purse, throw it on her shoulder, go skipping down the aisle & up to the altar, she then started clapping, hip shaking, & swinging the purse around. I have a hard time imagining the angel that appeared on Christmas doing that! And of course that distracted everyone else & Joseph & Mary had to work very hard to stop giggling. Other than that...it went very well.

One Life...

Stocking joy!

Randy & I hung up the stockings over the weekend. When Shakira, Samara, & Caleb saw them for the first time they thought they were very pretty but didn't "get" what they were for. The next day there was something in each of the stockings. I told them, "Jesus was here", & with that Phoebe took off running to the stockings while the other 3 just sat there. I said, "You may want to go with her," so they did & when they saw her pulling something out of her stocking, they immediately went to theirs & looked inside of it. They were so excited! These pictures are of them playing with their stocking gifts.

Waiting patiently...

I think is one of the hardest things to do, no matter what the situation is. I will say that out of all of the waiting I've done so far...and there is one thing I'm still waiting for & it's been 21 years...that waiting for my children to come home from Haiti was the hardest. I know that there are many of you out there in that situation right now. You've been waiting a long time, you're tired of waiting, tired of missing smiles, kisses, hugs, & milestones. Tired of hearing "tomorrow" & tomorrow turns into days, weeks, months, & even years.

I also know that the waiting gets more difficult at Christmas. It just does. Another Christmas without your little one(s) next to you. It's almost too much bare some days. I want to encourage all of you who are in this place right now to, "not give up", hang on tightly to the one who is holding you...and your precious ones in His hands.

Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave & courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

My footnote from The Life Application Study Bible says this, "Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that he isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in & wait for the Lord because often God uses times of waiting to refresh, renew, & teach us. Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them."

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, & he turned to me & heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud & the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground & steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done & be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3

Random Pictures...

Christmas Tree...

We put our Christmas tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. I think the "Haitian Trio" was mesmerized by the experience. Samara really enjoyed helping put ornaments on the tree.

Trials, Attitude, & a Shepherd...

As I was reading my Bible this morning & praying, I felt impressed to share some things. The first thing is about trials. Everyone goes through them at some point in our lives. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes our prayers help us to avoid them & sometimes they do not. It's the attitude we have when we go through them that is important. Things tend to turn out badly if we are filled with anger & bitterness, or complain & blame God. But if we go through our trials with thankfulness & praise to God, he will bring good out of them. The Bible says, "to count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" James 1:2-3. Let God lead you through whatever trial you may be going through today.

"You have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, & glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7

"Cast your burden on the Lord, & He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

"As for me, I will call upon God, & the Lord shall save me. Evening & morning & at noon I will pray, & cry aloud, & He shall hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me." Psalm 55:16-18

"You, who have shown me great & severe troubles, shall revive me again, & bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, & comfort me on every side." Psalm 71:20-21

The second thing comes from Psalm 23. I have read this psalm many, many times so far in my life...it's my favorite...but I never really thought about this before when I read it. Verse 2& 3 say this: "He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." NLT

The footnote from my Life Application Study Bible, NLT, says this:
"When we allow God, our shepherd, to guide us, we have contentment. When we choose to sin & go our own way, however, we cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our shepherd knows the "green meadows" & "peaceful streams" that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against our own best interests. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than the shepherd's way."

We can say that we are following God but if we are not living out the characteristics of God which are love, truth, humility, peace, & wisdom, we're just "trash talking" to cover up our real motives & selfishness. Let God, the "Good Shepherd" lead you today.

The road to confusion...

My maternal Grandmother was a very spunky & independent lady when I was growing up. As her oldest grandchild, I am blessed to have seen her in "her prime." My cousins however, have not been that fortunate. My Grandma as well as my Grandpa(who passed away last March) had retired & started having health problems by the time my Uncle Charles' children were born & growing up. They got to see the frail, grumpy side of my Grandparents. I want them to know...that they weren't always like that. They once were very vibrant, passionate people...who loved(s) them dearly.

My Grandma started having memory problems about 15 years ago, with pretty significant memory problems starting about 3 years ago. It got even worse after my Grandpa died in March. The past 3 months have been really concerning to the family as she continues to live by herself & doesn't think she has a problem. To compound that, she can hardly see anymore but insists that she is able to drive. She hasn't been driving for the past month or so & she has been very unhappy about it. Over the past weekend she did some very concerning things...including hitting people. Division of Family Services is now in the process of having her committed to a hospital for evaluation & treatment.

Please pray for my family, especially my mother, Uncle Charles & Aunt Nancy who have to make the major decisions regarding my Grandmother's care. Pray that they will have wisdom & discernment regarding this, & that they will be filled with the peace that passes all human understanding. Please pray that I will be as helpful & supportive as I can "from a distance." Thanks!

My Friends...

I am so very thankful for all the friends that God has blessed me with! I had thought about doing some detailed thank you's but realized that would be like writing a very long book. So I'm going to shorten it & give a sincere, heart felt "Thank You" to all of my friends...you know who you are! Thank you for sharing in my joy & sorrow, laughter & tears, chocolate & sushi! Thank you for loving me as I am!

Drum roll please...................................

Yeah, I finally "gave in" & joined Facebook. Now that doesn't mean I'll be on there a lot...especially since I have no clue what I'm doing...but it's a start to at least join :o)

Polished & Protected...

Before kids, I rarely went more than a day not having my fingernails painted. Now I'm lucky if I get them painted once every month or so. My nails are brittle & if I don't have nail polish on them when they are getting long, they break off. As long as I have nail polish on them they do really well until the polish either wears off or I take it off & do not apply new polish.

So it is with prayer & Bible reading. As long as I stay in the Word & pray daily, I am protected. No matter what comes my way, I am able to stand strong in the Lord through his Word & through communication with him through prayer. As soon as I stop doing those things, no matter what the reason...sickness, overslept, etc., I am like an unpolished nail...brittle & prone to breakage. I am going to use my nails as a reminder to me to continually stay in the Word & pray.

"He guards the path of the just & protects those who are faithful to him." Prov.2:8
"May the Lord bless you & protect you." Numbers 6:24

Moo...

I am so thankful for my mother...aka: Moo to me & Moo Moo to the kids. My mom had the difficult task of raising me by herself. Although some of her ways were a little unorthodox...I know did she did the best with what she had at the time. No matter what we were going through...and there were some pretty difficult times...I always knew that she loved me. I am thankful for her love, kindness, & gentleness. I love you very much Moo!

The Gambler...

I still have more "thankful" posts to write but this just came out of "no where" tonight & I had to post it. I started humming the tune to a song...a secular song that I haven't heard in many years...it's an old song. I was a teenager when I watched the movie with my mom. As I was thinking about this song, it dawned on me that even though it's definitely not a Christian song it has some simple advice in it that we all should heed.

Caleb...

I am very thankful that God blessed us with this "little man." At times I find him odd...but that's because I'm use to girls. I am female...I know how to relate to me...most of the time :o) I don't have any brothers so I didn't get any "education" that way. Everyone said that little boys are very different from little girls...and they "ain't" lying! Other than that thing that they have down there that they are afraid to let go of, they just think so much differently. It's really quite mind boggling. I'm sure I'll get use to it someday :o)

Randy thought we were totally done with adopting after we committed to adopting Samara & Shakira. Logically it made sense to me but my heart was telling me different. It kept telling me that a third child (in the process) was yet to come. God then told me that we were going to get the little boy that we had been wanting. I must admit that I had mixed reactions. I was thrilled...but also somewhat concerned because that meant we would be adopting 3 children at one time...not to mention one of them being special needs. Are you sure God? This is really how it's suppose to happen? And of course we all know the answer to that question by now. Yes...yes it is!

Even my hard to convince husband had a hard time "rationalizing" away Caleb's name...the name we had on hold for a little boy for 6 years. Then came the dreams & visions from friends. Yep...it was pretty clear. I am so thankful that he was not even born when we started the process with the girls because that gave us some extra time...meaning he was still developing in the womb & not growing up without us at the orphanage. He had just turned 2 months old when we said our first "Good bye" to him in Haiti. I am thankful for those baby moments with him then, & also at 7 months, 12 months with his Daddy to celebrate his birthday, 13 months which was totally not planned but necessary due to Shakira's foot injury, at 21 months & then to be brought home by Daddy 10 days before his second birthday.

Caleb has one of the best smiles I have ever seen...which of course will concern me greatly when he's a teenager :o) He also has the greatest giggle. I could listen to it for hours. He does have a sweet, tender side. He cracks me up when he thanks me for "everything"...and I mean everything except for discipline of course :o) He likes to take my hand & just hold it...for long periods of time. It's really sweet. In the past couple of weeks he has made huge strides in his English. We can actually understand a lot of what he's saying now. He has fully bonded with "Daddy" now & doesn't have to be with me all the time.

Emergency HBWD!!!

Okay...you must stop whatever you are doing right now & do a HBWD (Happy "Bottom" Wiggle Dance for those of you who don't know :o)!
Yesterday Shakira came home from school with a wet pull up. I was very frustrated because her potty training as literally went to "the pot" the past couple of weeks. She had been really doing well at school but she was even now having accidents at school on a regular basis.

It must have been a God thing because what I did next didn't make a whole lot of sense. I cleaned her up & then put a pair of underwear on her...the first time she has ever worn them. At the end of the evening...before bed...she was still dry. Praise God! I told her that I was going to put a pull up on her for night time but that she could wear her pretty underwear to school the next day.

This morning she put on a pretty pair of underwear & I sent an extra change of clothes in her back pack with a note to the teacher explaining what was going on. I didn't know if she would come home dry...I actually had my doubts but I prayed that she would.

And guess what? She did!!! She's been wearing "big girl" underwear all day! So that calls for a HBWD!!! I danced...she got sour spray...both of us are extremely happy!

Shakira...

I am thankful for our third child...who happens to be our oldest by date of birth...but currently is not that age developmentally...but she will some day...I just know it.

Shakira is an amazing girl. She was known as the "orphange greeter" in Haiti & is now the "school greeter." She's joy filled most of the time. She can smile from ear to ear. She also has an "interesting" pout that she has developed when things aren't going her way.

Shakira can bring out the best in me...and the worst in me. God is definetely using her to refine me...and vice versa. She has grown a lot in the past 6 months...not just physically but also socially, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually. She is now listening to devotions & Bible story time...and actually paying attention. Whenever she hears the word "pray", she folds her hand & bows her head.

I have no idea what the future holds for Shakira but God does...and I know that He is going to use her mightily. I am thankful that her birth mother loves her so much & took her to the orphanage instead of dumping her off somewhere to die, which unfortunately is the fate of a lot of special needs children in Haiti.

Samara...

I am so thankful for our second child. I know she's not the second in line age wise...she's actually the 3rd but she was the second child God chose to be a part of our family. She was 2 years old when we started the adoption process with her. The picture on the orphanage website just stopped me in my tracks. She looked just like Phoebe at 2...from the chin up anyway :o) She was also wearing a shirt that was just like Phoebe had at one time. I was hooked...I had to read her information. Are you kidding me? The same birthday as Phoebe except a year younger & she liked to do all the things that Phoebe liked to do.

Of course the true confirmation to us adopting her was when Randy picked her...not knowing that she was the one I had picked...and if you know us well enough...we don't always agree on things :o)

Sweet Samara...has a very tender & gentle spirit & gets her feelings hurt easily. She has adjusted well to being a part of our family. Her & Phoebe are true sisters. They either totally love each other...or not so much :o) Most of the time they get along really well & are very good for each other.

Samara has an amazing smile that can light up an entire room. I sometimes stare at her just so she'll start laughing & I can watch her smiling face & hear her sweet giggle. She loves to be loved on & is quite the snuggle bug...another trait shared by Phoebe :o)

Phoebe...

I am so thankful for my daughter Phoebe. Phoebe is not our oldest child by year of birth but she is our first child. Phoebe came to us after 14 years of marriage...at time when we didn't know if we would be blessed with children or not. I am thankful that God chose us to be her parents. I still remember the day we brought her home...just like it was yesterday.

I am thankful for her cheery personality & her amazing smile. I am thankful for all the gifts that God has blessed her with at such a young age. I am thankful for her sincere heart & sweet spirit...the one that sometimes hides behind her independent & strong willed self. I am thankful for her generousity to others as well as a desire to help whenever she can. I am thankful for her playfullness, her eagerness to learn, & willingness to try new things. I am thankful that she has adjusted well from going to an only child to having two sisters & a brother. I am thankful that she doesn't mind sharing her room with her two sisters. I am thankful for her sweet kisses & hug like a bear hugs. Thank you Phoebe...for being you!

My husband...

I am thankful for my wonderful husband who puts up with me when I'm nice...and when I'm not! I am thankful to God for the 20 years of married life that he has blessed us with thus far. I am thankful that after all of these years he can still lift me up higher than anyone (other than God of course) when I'm feeling down. I am thankful for when he says I'm beautiful when I'm totally convinced that I'm not. I am thankful that he has learned to let me rant & rave about something & then politely say, "What can I do to help?" I am thankful that he is a good provider for our family & an amazing father to our children. I am thankful that he is a Godly man & a good person. Thank you Randy...for being my better half!

For waiting adoptive parents...

For the last couple of weeks, the Lord has laid upon my heart the cries of my friends who are still waiting to bring their adoptive children home. I have been lifting them up in prayer & fighting in the spirit on their behalf. Yesterday was a wonderful day for our family as we celebrated our first Thanksgiving together but in my thoughts & heart, were the old feelings of empty, bittersweetness that we experience while we waited for our children to come home. I know that many of you out there are in that place right now. Some of you may have children at home & desperately want to enjoy the moment with them but are stuck in an adoption time warp & can't do that because of the piece(s) of your heart that are still in far away lands. Please know that I do care...and that I am praying for you & your families.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our family has much to be thankful for today...and every day. I am thankful first & foremost to Jesus, for pulling me out of the miry clay & washing me clean with His blood that was shed for me...and you.

I will spend the next few days expressing my thankfulness regarding family & friends in detail but today I wanted to focus on my overall thankfulness to God for everything I have.

Five years ago today, we walked into a church for its Thanksgiving service. We had only moved to IN two weeks prior & was looking for a church home. We had a list & this church was the second one on our list. We had went to the first one the Sunday prior but wasn't feeling that it was where we were suppose to be.

The second church was different. We felt like we were "home" as soon as we walked in. We sat through the service...which we totally "connected with"...and then was welcomed by many of the people there, as well as the Pastor. We've been at this church ever since. The Pastor & the people are a huge blessing to me & my family. They are a part of our family...and for that...we are very thankful!

TKD...

We know many people who started their children in dance, gymnastics, soccer, or whatever else when they were 3 years old. And that's great for them but we didn't think it was right for Phoebe. She likes to do a lot of things but that doesn't mean that she'll want to do them on a regular basis for long term. Not to mention the effect on family time & the pocket book when you're children are involved in too many things at one time.

Phoebe really likes to swim. She took her first swimming lessons when she was 6 months old. I think she's part fish :o) She really enjoys being in the water. Last year at this time, they had a swim clinic for her age group. It was for a week or so & then at the end of it you could decide if you wanted your child to join the local competitive swim team.

Phoebe wanted to do the clinic so I signed her up. At the end of the week they sat all the parents down & went over how much the swim team cost & everything else that was involved in it. My heart sank as I knew I was going to have to tell Phoebe she could not join. One it was too expensive & they wanted all the money up front...plus you had travel expenses on top of that...and two, it was a huge time commitment.

So as thoughts whirled around my head as I tried to figure out how Randy & I were going to tell her that she could not join, she came up to me & said, "This has been good Mom, but it's a lot of work. All they want to do is race & I want to just swim & have fun." Whew...what a relief! She was content to take swim lessons at the YMCA during the winter & go to the local pool (almost) every day in the summer.

During her kindergarten year she did participate in Daisy Girl Scouts & Upwards Cheerleading, which she really liked & is doing them again this year. Both of those activities are a good fit for her & our family. The Upwards Cheerleading is only for 3 months of the year which leaves the rest of the year other than swimming in the summer as an "active activity." Phoebe really likes music & dancing but she's not what I would call a "girly" dancer. I couldn't see her grabbing ballet shoes & going to dance class every week. The same for gymnastics & other activities that her friends are in. So I kept praying about it. I prayed that God would show me what Phoebe should do & when she should do it...and he did :o)

I kept sensing that she should take some sort of martial arts class although I had always been set against it. A couple people mentioned to me that they thought that would be good for Phoebe & then I got a coupon to try a TKD free for 6 classes. Hmmm, looks like this is the direction we should be going :o) So Phoebe started TKD (Tae Kwon Doe) four weeks ago & she really likes it. She has one more free class & then she will officially join.

Somewhere down the road, we may have all the children in it. Shakira & Samara both sit beside me as we watch Phoebe & they throw the punches right on time as the instructor calls them out. And it might help Caleb to "man up" a little :o) but he has to wait at least until he's 3 to join the "Tiny Tigers."

Traveling Man...

You may have read this story before but I think it's worth re-reading.

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day. As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.
We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind.

We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car.

Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.' Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.

I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.

"Looking for the pastor?", I asked.

"Not really," he replied, "just resting."

"Have you eaten today?"

"Oh, I ate something early this morning."

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

"Do you have some work I could do for you?"

"No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch."

"Sure," he replied with a smile.

As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. "Where are you headed?"

"St. Louis"

"Where you from?"

"Oh, all over; mostly Florida."

"How long you been walking?"

"Fourteen years," came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaur ant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story.'

Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.

He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God.

"Nothing's been the same since," he said, "I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."

"Ever think of stopping?", I asked.

"Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads."

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless... He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: "What's it like?"

"What?"

"To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?"

"Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me."

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said, "Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."

I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could you use another Bible?", I asked.

He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through it 14 times," he said.

"I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see." I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.

"Where are you headed from here?", I asked.

"Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon."

"Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"

"No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next."

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.

"Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages from folks I meet."

I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope."

"Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you."

"I know," I said, "I love you, too. The Lord is good!"

"Yes, He is."

"How long has it been since someone hugged you?", I asked.

"A long time," he replied.

And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in the New Jerusalem."

"I'll be there!", was my reply.

He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

"You bet," I shouted back, "God bless!"

"God bless." And that was the last I saw of him.

Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: "If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. "See you in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...

Leaf Fun!

Never mind the strict instructions from mommy to daddy about not having Phoebe & Samara in the leaf piles due to asthma/allergies & a vivid reminder from mommy to Phoebe & Samara about what happens when Phoebe gets in leaf piles.

Phone...

Yeah, I've been on a roll this week, haven't I? :o) I'm sure this daily posting won't last much longer but I've just felt compelled to write a lot this week. This post is a pretty random post about my cell phone.

I got a new cell phone the other day because 1) I was eligible for a free upgrade & 2) my phone was having some major issues such as not holding it's charge, dropping calls, & doing strange things with voice mails (which reminds me, if you left me a voice mail in the past week & I didn't respond to it, please call again).

Now I know getting a new cell phone is not a major newsflash...this is where the randomness comes in :o)...but seriously...when did a phone stop being a phone? I grew up with a home phone that had a party line. Anyone out there know what a party line is? My guess is if you're 30 or under, you have no clue.

So fast forward to today where you have phones that not only call people, but you can text them, surf the net, check your E mail, fax things, use it as a daily planner, play games, listen to music, & take pictures. It's kind of absurd really.

So I am on the old fashioned side. I like my phone to be a phone. I don't need a bunch of fancy features, just a way to call people & for them to call me. Compared to most people these days I have a pretty basic phone but it still does more than I need it to: I can take pictures, & if I pay for it, I can have working bluetooth, navigator, & music "apps". No thank you, I'll just stick to making phone calls...without a star trek looking thingy in my ear :o)

Guidelines for living a blameless life...

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives & do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
& honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
& keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who lend money without charging interest,
& who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.
Psalm 15 NLT

Forgiveness...

Okay...so if you're not a Dr. David Jeremiah fan, I apologize, but I really like his devotions. This one today really spoke to my heart as there are some people in my "circle" that are really struggling with this right now. I want to share it with them & you. We all need forgiveness...first & foremost God's, that is available to us through Jesus Christ...and secondly from our family, friends, & anyone else we can think of. We need to forgive...and to be forgiven.

800 Pacos

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 44:22 NIV
Recommended Reading Luke 15:11-32

A Spanish father and son had a falling out, and the son ran away. The father set off to find him, and after months of looking to no avail, he finally put an ad in the Madrid newspaper. It read: "Dear Paco, meet in front of the newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father." 800 Pacos showed up to the newspaper office that Saturday, all looking for love and forgiveness from their fathers.

Forgiveness is a difficult concept. Our main point of reference on the subject is how hard it is to forgive someone who has hurt us or a loved one. And because we struggle with forgiving others, we sometimes have a hard time accepting God's forgiveness. But regardless of how we view God's willingness and ability to forgive, He sees us in purity through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, rather than in the filth of our sin.

When we feel like running away from God because our sin is just too great, we have to remember that all is forgiven, He loves us, and He is waiting for us with open arms.

Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, He reaches out in kindness and says, "I can clean that if you want." Max Lucado

2 & 1/2!

Happy 2 & 1/2 birthday "little man"!

PIP Sneek Peak

Transparent...not perfect...

The Random House dictionary defines the word transparent as follows: "showing through", "Having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies sitiuated beyond or behind, can be distinctly seen." "Easily seen through, recognized, or detected." That which is transparent allows objects to be seen clearly through it. That which is translucent allows light to pass through, diffusing it however, so that objects beyond it are not distinctly seen. It then goes on to define opaque which means "shaded" & is the opposite of transparent. "Not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through." "not shining or bright; dark; dull", "hard to understand; not clear or lucid."

I have been told by several people that I have the "gift" of being transparent. Some people really do see it as a gift, a blessing; but there are some people who see it as a curse. Why is that?

In my Christ Care group we are currently going through a very powerful dvd study called "H20 A Journey of Faith" (I highly recommend doing this study...it's by "City on a Hill Productions"). The second sesssion we watched was titled "Polluted". In the reflection section of the study it listed several "pollutants" of the church & asked which one bothers you the most. My answer was "the hypocrisy of those who claim to be following Him".

To be honest, that particular pollutant drives me close to insanity. Not because I think that all Christians should be perfect. Quite the contrary, I know we are not perfect...and neither is anyone else except for Jesus. But as followers of Christ, we should strive to be like him. We should do the best we can with the power of the Holy Spirit. We should confess our sins, repent & ask for forgiveness. We should then accept God's forgiveness & strive to "go & sin no more." We should stop hiding behind church curtains, padded pews, clerical collars, a bunch of initials behind our names, &/or a long list of the "great things we have done for God" because none of this truly matters to Jesus if we do not have his love inside of us &/or do not let it shine outward to others.

In the "Polluted" study, it goes on to say that the Bible tells us not to blindly trust people, especially those who claim to be communicating messages from God. Why?
Because people will let us down. People will intentionally mislead. People are polluted by sin (the whole reason we need Jesus to begin with).
"My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh & examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world." 1 John 4:1 The Message

The church's hypocrisy has done a lot to decrease the witness of Jesus. We have made it opaque & not transparent. Jesus is calling us to be transparent so his light can show through clearly & He can be seen for who he truly is...the pure, living water...what we all need.

No Room...

Don't you just love it when you're going through a certain situation in your life, & you really need some direction & encouragement, & someone sends you a devotional or inspirational story that speaks directly to what you're going through? I thank God that He talks to us in these ways. The following devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah was sent to me recently during such a time. Both Phoebe & I have been dealing with "bullies" for the past 3 weeks. It can be very draining & distract you from the work God has called you to do. I am thankful for the God given encouragement we have been given during this difficult time & I want to encourage others to not give into bullying & it's destructive force but to stand on the Word of God & be empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives us strength.

No Room for Bullies
For an overseer, as God's manager, must be blameless... not a bully....
Titus 1:7 (HCSB)

Recommended Reading
James 4:6-7

There's a long list of bullies in the Bible: The brothers who bedeviled Joseph, the Pharaoh who bullied Moses, those foreign invaders who threatened Judah, Haman who hated Mordecai, Jezebel who threw Elijah into fits, the Pharisees who tried to intimidate Jesus, and Alexander the coppersmith who did harm to Paul. Bullies can show up anywhere, even at home or church. At some point, we have to take a stand in the name of Christ and resist bullying.

Bullies don't always come in human form. The devil sends doubts, fears, and worries to browbeat us. James said that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us—as bullies usually do. Let's think of ourselves as children whose older brother stands at our side. Because of Him we are more than conquerors.

The Bible says, "Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul.... Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in His hands (Matthew 10:28, the Message).

"The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears... This is the secret of Christian courage and boldness." Sinclair B. Ferguson

All sorts of anniversaries!

Well, it's anniversary time in our house. No, not wedding anniverary...that was in August :o) October 30th marked 5 years as me being a stay at home mom. Wow! 5 years! I have to confess that in the planning of "my life", I never thought I would be a stay at home mom. When we were planning to move to IN, Randy & I both felt God calling me to stay at home with Phoebe. We had no idea how long I would be able to do it but knew that I needed to do it for awhile after our move. "Awhile" has now been 5 years & I am so thankful to God for Him giving me this opportunity. It is still the hardest job that I have had so far, but I am cherishing every day that I can do it.

This past Monday, Nov. 9th, was the 6th month anniversary of our children coming home from Haiti. I can't believe it's been 6 months! This time last year we were still stuck in "no man's land" between Parquet & MOI, & had no idea when we would get into MOI. The first of the year brought news that we were in & we just sat back & watched God beautifully orchestrate His plan in having Phoebe & I visit in Feb. so she could meet her siblings & then to forever bond with them at home three months later, the day before Mother's Day.

We are still running the marathon. Some days we are in awe of how much growth has happened in our children since they came home & other days we just shake our heads & say to ourselves, "Come on, you should know this by now." But either way, we are so thankful for our precious gifts from God!

Tomorrow will mark our 5 year anniversary of moving to Indiana. When we moved here we knew we were following God's will but at the time really had no idea what His plan was in having us move here. Five years later, His plan is pretty clear. We have no idea how long we are to stay here, but as with everything else...we will trust in His plan & timing.

On Nov. 19th, "little man" will turn 2 & 1/2. Wow! I am so thankful that God allowed him to come before his 2nd birthday & allow me to parent at least a little bit of "baby" left in him. He's talking a mile a minute...however, none of us can truly understand what he is saying :o) I'm hoping that will improve soon :o)

The picture is a picture we took on Monday evening after we had our 6 month celebration dinner. I think it does a good job in capturing who we are right now as a family.

Circle of Love...