Little Bit Longer....

I am reminded that the Lord's plans are mysterious and that often we can't begin to understand His ways.

We arrived here for my grandmother's funeral late last week and have just finished two days of celebrating her life and legacy. It was a truly remarkable time to sit and listen to all of the ways she has touched people's lives.

I pray that I will never forget these days. As hard as they have been, I can't help but be grateful for all that I have been given in my Godly grandparents.

Unfortunately, on Saturday night (as we prepared for my grandmother's viewing the next day), we received a call that Donn's grandmother had just had a massive heart attack and had passed away. Donn's parents live just 30 minutes away so we jumped in the car and arrived at the hospital to be with his family.

Needless to say, we're tired, emotional and yet grateful for the fact that we were actually here for once. So often, we have missed out on these times because we have always lived so far away.

And so, we will stay here for a bit longer and prepare to celebrate Donn's Nana's life on Wednesday.

I can't pretend to always understand all of God's ways but I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are perfect. He knows.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. They are so appreciated.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has sent their sweet prayers and messages to us.

We are now in NY celebrating my wonderful Nana's life and legacy with family and friends.

I am so grateful for all of the years I was blessed with Nana and I appreciate all of your prayers!

The Race Well Run...

Today my Nana ran the final lap of a race well run.

It was a final lap that was slow and peaceful and well earned.

It was a lap that led her straight into her Savior's arms where she has longed to be her entire life.

If was a lap that left behind an amazing Godly husband of 68 years and a family that is devestated with their loss...yet it was a lap that she earned with all of her heart.

I cry to think of her standing before our Lord right now - dancing with Jesus with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye.

We love you Nana. You are already missed more than you'll ever understand and yet I am rejoicing to know that you are in your real home now.

You have run the race well.

"Well done thy good and faithful servant."

Crazy Busy Day!

I'm heading out the door to go help at a fundraiser for the adoption agency that blessed us with Elle.

Crazy busy day ahead with tons of "shuffling of kids" and I realized that it's likely I will not have time to get back to blogging.

Just wanted you all to know that I'm not dead. I can't imagine the emails I'd get if I missed two days in a row of blogging (gasp!) :)

Have a great weekend my bloggy friends!!

Compassion by Rough Draft

This is my new favorite song!

Oh my goodness - it's calling me out in a major way!

First Day of School - In LIBERIA!!!

I've just gotta send you over to our little Prince's blog today....

We got new pictures of his first day of school and they're just adorable!

We're using his blog as a way to journal our thoughts and prayers for him while we wait. It's about the best way I can think of to try to keep connected to him. It's not as if we expect him to really ever see our blog while he's in Liberia, but it helps us to know that we are recording this time so that he can one day look back on it and know how much we long for him.

Of course, what kind of Mom would I be if I didn't beg you to look at the adorable pictures of my boy! :) Now go do it! Seriously...I might come stalk you if you don't! :)

http://www.ourprincewillcome.blogspot.com

Shave Your Legs Mentalities...

Let me just say it...we should crave studying God's Word.

We should.

But most of the time I'll admit that I don't look at it that way.

Sometimes I take the "shaving my legs attitude" when reading the Bible.

Track with me here...

As women, we know that we are forced to shave our legs.

Sure, sometimes we miss a day here or there (or maybe a bit more - shhh) but ultimately, we finally pick up the razor and shave away all the stubble.

It's nothing that we enjoy doing but when it comes down to it we will eventually give in and reach for the razor.

Sometimes that's how I approach my time with God. I'm not particularly excited about opening up my bible and quieting myself in front of my Father, but ultimately I realize I need Him and I'll buckle down and reach for my Bible.

At least that's how it's been until recently.

You see, up until this past summer, I was really in a funk with God. Sure, I was still reading and I was certainly praying, but I had lost my passion. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I realized what was happening I hit my knees and began praying for God to let me see the world through His eyes.

About that same time in my life, I was introduced to the book 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan. Many of you may have seen it in my sidebar for a while now. This book has called me on like no other book ever has (short of the Bible).

It has rejuvinated my spirit and reminded me of what life is really about.

This morning I was blessed to sit with some of the best ladies in the world and study this amazing book as we relate it to our lives and our calling as Godly women.

After an incredible study, I then came home and found the following devotional in my inbox (from Proverbs 31 writer, Tracie Miles). Click here for devotional.

God is moving here ladies. God is moving in a big way!

How are you living for Christ? Are you living "recklessly" and "Crazy In Love" or are you living with a "shave your legs" mentality.

Let's reclaim the joy and beauty of being Women of God!

Mother of the Year.....NOT!

So, the "Mother of the Year Crew" stopped by my house again today and deemed me unworthy of ANY awards!

SIGH.

You see, I woke up this morning to the sound of my oldest son choking back tears as he stood by my bedside and said, "Mom....the toothfairy didn't come last night! I think she forgot me!"

Uggh...

Clearly, adrenaline is better than any caffeine out there because my body shot into alert mode and I sat straight up in bed trying to collect my thoughts and give my little boy an excuse.

"Umm...Ayden, I'm sure she didn't forget you! Maybe she had a really busy night...maybe her wings are in the repair shop...maybe...."

"Oh no Mom! Maybe it's because my tooth is too yellow!!!" He said between sobs. "Does the tooth fairy reject the yellow teeth?"

This is the point in the story where you insert the knife into my chest and twist it around 4 times.

And then my brilliance kicked in.

"I KNOW AYDEN!! It's not because your tooth was too yellow or because the tooth fairy forgot! It's just beacause of Labor Day!"

"What??" Ayden said as he looked at me through his tear stained little brown eyes.

"Labor Day! You know! Remember how the garbage was supposed to be picked up yesterday but they didn't pick it up because they're a day behind schedule from the Labor Day Holiday? It's just like that!! The tooth fairy must have taken Monday off also and now she's a day behind schedule!"

And with that my little brown eyed toothless boy said, "Oh yea...that makes perfect sense!"

He then walked out of the room mumbling, "I sure hope I get paid extra for having to wait a day longer."

Double Sigh....

This dumb toothfairy thing is getting really tricky. We're only on tooth 6.

How many teeth do kids have in their mouths?!

Is there some subsription service you can sign up for to be sure you actually remember to have the tooth fairy stop by at night!

Lord have mercy.

It All Began With Organized Kaos...

So, many of you from my current life, may not realize that back when I was in high school my friends and I had a really compelling show on the cable station called "Organized Kaos" (yes, it was spelled that way).

Let me just say that this was high quality stuff with some amazing acting and a real-live call-in audience.

Quality I tell you...qual-li-ty!!

Granted, I think I was only allowed to appear on camera for about 1 episode before my parents became too afraid of what I might say in front of a live audience and told me I had to stay off-camera....go figure...my parents afraid of what I might say!! (Ha ha...."ALWAYS TALKING!)

So anyway, after college I graduated with a degree in Film Communications (another little-known fact) but then God led me away from tv and film and into the Marketing arena.

However, one of my best friend's in highschool (okay, he was my boyfriend) actually pursued a film degree and even went on to use his degree!

And can you believe it?!! He's actually the host of this new gameshow on Nickelodeon! What a trip!

Ahh yes...and it all began with a little "Organized Kaos"....hmm...might have to pull out those old VHS's and give them a gander...wonder if I could sell them on ebay once Jeff makes it big! :)

Way to go Jeff! The Organized Kaos gang is proud of you!

First Day!

And so, it's official. My baby boy went off to his first day of pre-school today and Mommy sat home in a house with just a little girl and tons of quiet!

I hardly knew what to do with myself. Luckily, I had a meeting that kept me busy for part of the morning and then I decided to do what any mom would do when she is left with just one child...

I cleaned out the minivan.

Hmm....something about that just doesn't seem right.

Alas, that was my morning as I transition into this new chapter of life.

Brekyn was thrilled to finally be a "school kid" and he came home all smiles today as he talked a mile a minute about all he did.

Happy days!


Brekyn's New Teacher!

Proof...

And here's the proof I needed.

You see, my neighbor prides herself (yes, you know who you are) on being able to do my daughter's hair without Elle screaming.

For months I've listened to her "bragging" but deep down I figured she was lying.

Yesterday, I was actually around when my neighbor walked in and noticed that Elle's locks were less than attractive (after what was apparently a rather viscious nap).

And it's true!

For some unknown reason Elle DOES NOT scream when my sweet friend does her hair!

It makes no sense to me because she is just as "aggressive" as we have to be with these crazy curls, but the plain and simple fact is that my little girl doesn't scream for my neighbor.

HOWEVER....

Take a good look at this picture!

Sure, maybe she doesn't scream but I can hardly say that she looks like she's enjoying herself!

Sooo, na-na-na-na-poo-poo to my sweet neighbor friend!

Looks like you're not as "good" as you think you are! :)

Thrilling Post...

Fall weather has been here for a few days (though I think it's scheduled to return to ugghhh heat anytime now).

Nevertheless, in the meantime, Donn and I have declared today, "Get everything done that was on the summer list and we never got around to all summer" Day.

It's a very thrilling day of yard work, tree trimming, mailbox post painting and wood repairing.

I know you're all exhilerated to read about my exciting day.

Trust me; I thought about just not posting since I know that this is less than thrilling material, but then I thought of all the comments I would get about being a slack blogger. :)

And so, with the utmost of honesty I can say that I truly hope you are all having a more exciting Friday than I am! :)

Enjoy your long weekend!

My Cup Overflows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at the joy I just found in my inbox!

It's new pictures of our sweet little Prince in Liberia!

Obviously, we had heard that he has recovered from his traumatic yellow fever illness, but I had not seen pictures since that last horrible one was taken with his yellow eyes.

Look at my sweet Prince now!!!! Praise GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He just makes my heart sing and my day brighter! We have been told that he is having a great time in his new foster home and that he talks of us often. I feel like I could explode right now!!

My face is just beaming!

Oh Lord, you created the Heavens and the Earth - you can do anything! Please be sure this little boy knows how much his Mommy and Daddy love him in America! Give him a supernatural hug from us right now and please bring him home SOON!

Shuffle Diaper...

Brekyn has invented a new game....

As I was taking care of some office work today I noticed that he had taken the broom out...

Now, being that I'm a smart Mom (ha!) I allow my kids to play with the broom as much as they want!

Hey, if I can teach a kid to sweep a floor I figure it's one less thing for me.

Nevertheless, I was a bit shocked when I heard him scream out, "Yay! Shuffle diaper is sooo much fun!"

Leave it to my kids to come up with a game called "Shuffle Diaper!"

Could any mom be more proud?:)

Waking Up...

A few months ago I realized something very difficult.

I had lost my passion.

I had lost my ability to wake every day and say, "Lord use me today."

I had lost my desire to proclaim God to others.

I had lost my fire.

It's a really tough thing to admit that when you're in ministry you've struggled in this way.

Nevertheless, I have committed to live my life transparently and to be honest with everyone around me.

In reality, this is a very real part of life as a Christian. Being a Christian does not mean that you are promised a life of happiness, perfect conditions and no rain.

In fact - as Christians we are actually told that rain will come. It's not so much a matter of if but when.

The question becomes, when the rain falls, what do you do in response?

When I realized the shift in my attitude I hit my knees and began to pray a very specific prayer.

"Lord, let me see the people as you see them. Let my eyes be opened...let me be filled with such compassion that it hurts."

Lesson number one: Don't pray a prayer like that unless you really mean it.

Uggh....it has hurt.

The past few months have been filled with lesson upon lesson as God has opened my eyes to the world He sees each day. The world that is starving, lost, selfish, dishonest, cruel and suffering.

It has been painful - it has stretched me - I have been humbled as I've seen my weaknesses thrown in my face.

But in the midst of it all, I have also been embraced by God...held tight...comforted...reminded whose child I really am.

I felt like today was the day to share this journey with you because I woke up this morning and realized that I was finally looking at the world through God's eyes!

I am finally looking around at the needs of others instead of worrying about what ambitions I have for myself or my family.

I woke up and realized that my heart is finally breaking as I think of the lost.

I woke up and realized that for the first time in a long time, I cry just to think of those who are lost in this world and how it must feel to be so hopeless and alone.

I'm praising God that today is the day I woke up.

I'm praising God that His mercies are new each morning and that today I am receiving the grace that He gives to rejuvinate a heart and to save the lost (starting right with me).