Our family in gingerbread!

Christmas morning!!! Now that the kids are old enough to fully enjoy the gift opening experience and all that it entails, it was really exciting to watch and enjoy it all through their eyes! Madelynn had just turned one last year and the difference is like night and day. Where last year she was just starting to get it, this year she took delight in EVERYTHING. Such a little lady :)





Noah...I must say how PROUD I am of this little man. He is at that age where everyday he would list all the things he would like for Christmas (and he sure made them known). Christmas is such an amazing, blessed, season. We really wanted to take this opportunity to teach our children about giving and how JOYFUL it can be, but not just with our words. We wanted them to LIVE it with us. This year we sponsored two children who are orphans in China through Operation Giggle.Noah played a huge part as he helped pick out the toys for the kids. Here is what blessed my socks off...for one boy he picked out the very thing he himself was wanting for Christmas. Knowing that he was not going to get to keep it. It did this Mama heart good to see him EXCITED to give to these precious kiddos. It amazes me how God moves on these little hearts!

Oh and yes...that oh so special Christmas gift that Noah gave, did make an appearance for him under the tree ;)

As much fun as Christmas morning was, among the smiles and giggles, there was a little piece of my heart that ached...and wondered. I wonder where my Selah is today? Is she warm? Is she hungry? Is someone giving her the love and care she deserves? Oh I wish she could be here now. Will this be the last Christmas that we wont KNOW her face? Next Christmas will we as least have a picture maybe even be close to bringing her home?!? "Lord, be with my girl today. May she know your love. Help us to get to her."

The next day though that ache was met with soothing balm of hope and joy. God is so amazing that He is willing to met us just where we are at and minister to us in the exact way that we are needing. While we were all out running errands I passed by the Christmas clearance section and it was there of all places that my heart found some peace.

You see Christmas time brings about family traditions. One of ours is every year we get a picture ornament and we add it to the tree so we can watch our family grow. Our family is also represented another way on our tree......in GINERBREAD MEN!!




This is Mommy and Daddy








Noah

and Madelynn

The kids LOVE these and I must admit...I do too :) When we had found them a year or two ago these were the only ones they had. I thought " How perfect, our family in gingerbread!" So imagine my surprise when I glanced down and found this little cutie all by herself...

I will or will not admit if I got teary eyed ;) Noah asked what I had and I said " It's a gingerbread girl for Selah, just like you and Madelynn." He said
"OOOOOOOOOH, can I hold it!!" When we got home he went straight for the tree :)

In some small way it felt like a sign of hope and encouragement (which we could use all that we can get). Encouraging us along our way. Not too long now...oh what will 2011 hold ?

The WONDER of it all !

"But this king was a new kind of King. Though he was the Prince of Heaven, he had become poor. Though He was the Mighty God, He had become a helpless baby. This King hadn't came to be the boss, He had come to be a servant." The Jesus storybook Bible


My heart cannot contain it! The WONDER of it all! Oh how He loves us!

I can't seem to get the message from a couple Sunday's ago out of my head, heart and soul. It has left my cup overflowing, so in wonder and awe of his great love for us. A reminder of God's heart, how HE sees things and chooses to do things. All I can say is Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Luke2:8-12

And there were shepherd's living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”


How many times have I read this and missed it. When digging deeper you would find out that shepherd's in this time we a very lowly people. They were looked down upon by all and were considered "unclean" people. Therefore not being allowed to participate in temple ceremonies, which meant, no atonement for their sins. It is believed by many that these particular shepherd's were temple shepherds . Temple sheep were unblemished sheep and were to kept separate, from the other sheep. Therefore the shepherds did not bring them in and go home for the night. The temple shepherds watched over the sheep day and night.

Imagine that. The atonement of your sins stands just feet away from you (gnawing on some grass) and yet it is the same as if it were a MILLION miles away. You tended these sheep whom others would find their atonement. But it would never be for you. Imagine how despairing.

YET GOD.....in His great love chooses of ALL people on earth these shepherds to be the FIRST to know the good news, that His son was born! 

Look at it again....

"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 that will cause great joy for all the people.

But here's the kicker!!


Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Oh wow.....to you....TO YOU! I can imagine only their thoughts..." A Savior has been born for me? For ME!

I am sure that is when God said "Cue the choir!" Because that is exactly what must have been taking place in their hearts!

Luke 2:13-20


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

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those 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."

They left those stupid sheep in the field! They had a Savior born for them. They responded to the message by receiving it, going and seeing, and telling others. No one would ever be the same. They returned glorifying and praising God!

Praying this Christmas you too will know and experience the JOY found in the Lord.
Hallelujah, What a Savior!!!

Merry Christmas!

The Lord is near!

Today was a BIG day for me. I made the call I had been dreading for a while. I have been praying, being anxious( tisk tisk) and praying some more over this call. To be honest it had me shaking in my boots so many times that I did not make it. I have just waited and held my breath...until today!

Who was this call to and why was I letting it have this affect on me? It was to our agency, which normally does not leave me a ball of nerves. However the questions I would ask today, the request I would make , depending on her response *could* have a major impact on the direction of our adoption.

Up until this point I have laid request after request at the Lord's feet ( a pretty good place don't ya say?) but what perplexed me was at what point do I need to put these requests to action? Many times I have asked God "Show me! Speak to me!" Many times He has answered. So much so that that I am in disbelief over it! Go figure that one out.

One thing God has made very clear HE IS WITH US! This journey thus far has been amazing, it's ups and downs and I am writting it ALL down, each "finger print of God" moment and one day I will be able to look back and see how this road lead us to our Selah.

Today, will be a day that is written down. I have not only laid it at God's feet but I put my feet to action and asked those very important questions that could very well change our lives. The response.....POSITIVE! I can BREATH knowing this is in GOD'S HANDS! Holding dearly onto these very precious verses:

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7


Please continue to keep us in your prayers. As we continue on this journey I can take confidence in knowing that GOD knows WHO our Selah is and WHEN it will all come together. I can put my confidence in HIM as His peace guides us as we lay all things at his feet through prayer. So thankful that His will, will be done!

Signs of Love

Meet my dear friends Daniel and Jessie Fox :)



I must say, my family has been TRULY blessed by this amazing couple. We are privileged to have spent this time growing in community with them. They have been such a beautiful example of pure love for God and His people. They are willing giving up their careers, selling and giving away what they own to follow God's call on their lives. They serve others selflessly, no motive other than love and for God's glory. That is why I want to take the time to advocate for my dear friends and the journey they are about to embark on.


In February Jessie will be leaving for Honduras (Daniel will join her in March) for at least two years to work with an organization Signs of Love. Jessie will be working in the local school for special needs students and also providing literacy training for the Deaf leaders. Dainel reinventing their current micro enterprise. Together they will be filming for a native sign language program on a local television station, facilitating camps and retreats, mentoring young deaf, and implementing community development programs.

In case you are still scratching your head and thinking WHY??? Why would a young couple with their lives ahead of them give up great careers (which they love)leave family and friends and the comfort of all things that is home to go to another country to love on people they don't know. These numbers will explain their passion:


250,000,000 deaf or hard of hearing people in the world.

115,000 deaf in Honduras

200 deaf believers in Honduras


(As a whole the 4th largest unreached people group in the world!)

But we are more than just numbers...

...if you have a relationship with Christ Isaiah 43:1 says "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine!"

Christ died so He could claim every person as His and call them by name.

"How then will they call on Him who have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear [or see] with out a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" (Romans 10:14-15)

In this case I would say how beautiful are their HANDS as well :)






Would you please consider being a partner in all things BEAUTIFUL! My friends will need people to support them with prayer, one-time donations or monthly financial commitments. Please pray about how God might have you be a part of His mission among the deaf in Honduras!

Please check out their blog at

http://signsoflovefox.wordpress.com/

Thank you and God bless :)

Hallelujua! What a Savior!

Did you know the word HALLELUJAH is only used 3 times in the new testament? I was so blessed by this morning message. Until this morning I "thought" I always knew what the word ment. There is so much more to it! If you have the opportunity I encourage you to have a listen when it is posted:

http://www.austinstone.org/



I snapped some "Christmas Pictures" while the kids were dressed and ready to go for church this morning. One of these days I should do a post like my friend Amy did where she just posted the out-takes! HA! For now I will leave you with the giggling/hand holding version of my kiddos ;) Hope you enjoy :)

A messy but thankful heart.

I am sorry it has been so long that I have posted. I have had a bit of a messy heart lately and have not been able to get myself to a place to writing. How do I come here and describe to y'all what is going on inside of me? I want nothing more than to be real. This road I am on is changing me. For good in some ways, but in others like the other week I wonder if only time will heal or if I will ever be the same.

I was sitting at dinner with my family . Taking in the scene, my kids were happy, giggling, nibbling away on their food. My beloved was sitting across from me...the source of where the kids giggles were coming from. Taking it all in my heart *seemingly* full...then it hit, PAIN. My heart felt as if it was crumbling. SHATTERING PAIN! My ears tuned in on the worship song playing in the background. Hoping that would comfort my aching heart. No... that just made it worse! I could not ignore it, or run from it, "Oh Lord, she should be here with us!" I cried out, inside my now braking heart. As I looked around that table I could just see her with us. Sitting in her chair, sharing fries with Madelynn, crawling all over Nathan, making Noah laugh. I could not hold back the tears and they started pouring down my face. Nathan was taken a little back at first...LOL! Poor guy! But all I had to do was mutter "Selah" and he smiled and nodded as he usually does. I love that he gets me. Messy heart and all. I was able to pull myself together but this ache of mine does not just go away. It lays low and resurfaces at any given moment. Like when putting up and decorating the Christmas tree for example. It was bitter sweet.



The thing is, it just doesn't end there. Selah is not just my little one who I wait for. She represents all the waiting children in the world. My heart hurts for these children who deserve a family. I look around at the joys my children get to experience and I then I think of the precious faces who don't have a family to experience these things with. To have some one tuck them in at night. To hold them after they have had a nightmare. To celebrate every birthday and every Christmas with them. To teach them about Jesus! This is why I think my heart will never be the same. Even after Selah is home. I will continue to advocate and be a voice for those that don't have one.

Psalm 68:5
A father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows, is God in his Holy dwelling.

This is the very heart beat of God. As messy as it is for us. As heart braking as it is, his holy dwelling is found in the heart brake! We sing worship songs "brake my heart for what brakes yours" but do we really mean it? We pray things like "Give me your heart oh God." Do we REALLY mean it? Are we ready for what that might mean in our lives?

Needless to say... yes, I have a messy broken heart. Maybe it is not ment to be healed. Maybe I will never be the same. Maybe that is a GOOD thing. I want to be close to His heart.


As you all know our Pillow Pets fundraiser has come to an end. Thank you to all who participated! Our sales totaled $353.86 of which we will get 30%.Which means $106.15 will go twords our adoption fund !


Through this fundraiser we were able to meet a wonderful lady Sara Fleeman who has a big heart for adoption and God laid it upon her heart to support us in our adoption fundraising. She has graciously offered 10% of all her sales through her new boutique Snuggle Bunny boutique. How AMAZING is that??? Please check out her ADORABLE items here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Richmond-TX/Snuggle-Bunny-Boutique/121649164562603




also

my very sweet friend Jacqui has offered from now until the end of Dec to give 10% of all sales made in our name, to our adoption from her vinyl designs business! You can check her things out here:

http://www.myrefineddesign.com/



SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I just love it when we can come together with our gifts and talents to do great things! Thank you Jesus, may you be glorified!






In closing I would like to leave you with this music video. Be sure to hit PAUSE on the music at the bottom of the page if you are going to watch! It's such a beautiful song. I can't watch it with out crying. It speaks to the very pain within me. Yet it reminds me, beauty is coming. :)