gathering peeps...

one thing.

i've been known to be over zealous.

to say things like "everyone should adopt".

to spout stats like: if 7% of people who call themselves christians would adopt, there would be no more orphans (and that is true - just in case you needed that nudge...)

but, the truth is, not everyone is called to adopt or is supposed to adopt.  i get that.

but, every christian can do something to love orphans.  something.

hope for orphans has a wonderful download that lists "ten things every christian can do to care for the orphan and waiting child"  i LOVE this list and we have printed this and given it to the families at our church.  

it's been SUCH a blessing to watch individuals and families find their one thing (or more than one thing!).  

today, i was the recipient of one thing.  actually, our family has been the recipient of love from this one particular family multiple times...  

see - i have this friend.  she's very involved with my children through daily connections.  she has known our family since we started this adoption/orphan care adventure almost 8 years ago.  she has given hugs to my kids while i was in china, cared for some in the nursery (with a little extra TLC), given small gifts and reminders of prayers, intentionally created opportunities to do fun things for them and today...  well, today she called and said "i want to take your kids for the afternoon so you can pack for vacation".

isn't that a blessing?!  not to ask "can i?" but to say "i want to...".  how can i say "no"?

they went on adventure with her (and her hubby joined in later) and enjoyed playing and a movie and ice cream and mcdonald's happy meals (such a treat!).  they had a blast!  and i?  i got last minute shopping done, laundry washed, suitcases and boxes packed and even enjoyed a peanut butter cup (or two!).

i'm sharing this because i want to honor my friend - who has blessed our family, but i also want to share it to encourage you to do one thing.  read that list of "ten things..." and pick one.  maybe god is calling you to adopt...  but, maybe he's asking you to babysit or support an orphan care ministry or donate to an adoption fund or visit the orphan on a ministry trip.  

whatever it is, ask god to show you and give you the faith to obey.

Starting to pack :-)

Finally starting to pack today! It's about time!

soon!

soon, i'll be waking up to this again:

i am so excited!

i am not the only one!  six kids can't stop talking about the beach!  chris has a binder with a cover - all to hold maps and print outs (he just upped his geek factor a LOT!).

it was almost 3 years ago that we first visited the gulf.  abe was only 2 1/2!  he was so little!

we leave in two days and i haven't really started packing yet.  YIKES!!!

but, really...  we only need swimsuits, sunscreen, the kuerig and the blender, right???

;-)

my heart

i am pretty mama bear.

don't mess with my kids.

but, this little boy?  he brings out the mama bear more than any other child.

i think i knew when i met him that he had a very complex story.  it was one i would never know for sure, but over the past 3 1/2 years, we have logically pieced some of it together.

two other children - around the same age - came home right around the same time as abe.

they have both also struggled exactly like abe.

i talked to one of the other moms the other day.  i asked her "can you even imagine what happened that caused these children to hurt so deeply?"  we can't.

all three have sensory challenges.  all three have develomental delays.  all three have speech delays.

it's hard to trust people with my baby.  i don't want anyone else to hurt him.  

this week has been such a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to this little man...

i started the week off with the deep desire to focus on just how much he has grown in the past year!  i wanted to celebrate abraham.  

and almost immediately, i felt like i was kicking into mama bear mode for him.  someone's unkind words...  my heart hurt.  i was angry.  i believed the lies that satan was throwing my direction about his heart and his progress and his future.

and then, an amazing thing happened.

god reminded me that HE IS STRONGER.

he reminded me that he is redeemer.

the rest of this week has been filled with words of 

hope,

encouragement,

praise 

and celebration

for abraham's accomplishments and growth.

and every one of them is true.

i'm claiming abe's verse on his behalf today:

john 9:3

why???

"so that the works of GOD might be displayed in him."

so thankful that god chose us to be front row observers of these works of his hands in abraham's life!

(thanks, amanda, for the awesome pic of me and my baby!) 

promotions

we had two pretty special little ones promote to the next grade yesterday...

abraham promoted to kindergarten and anna promoted to first grade.

my mommy-heart kinda ached when i sent them off to school this year.  it was the first time for both of them that they weren't with me.  we have known both of their teachers for awhile, so we knew they were in very capable hands and with godly women who truly see their calling to teach as a ministry.

mrs. s was absolutely amazing with abraham this year.  he loves her so much and trusts her.  she provided him a safe place to learn and explore and grow.  i am so thankful for her and for the love she has for my littlest man...

mrs. b was equally awesome for anna!  anna was happy to learn and grow in kindergarten because of the creative spirit mrs. b has.  my anna is a momma's girl and there were several emails and phone calls of "anna misses her mommy today"...  heartbreaking to me, but mrs. b handled it so well!

i'm thankful to have both of these precious kids home for the summer - along with the others!  august can wait!

ashleigh, austin and aubrie

the older three kids had their 2 programs (ashleigh's high school and then a 5-8 program) the 3rd and the 10th.  

this year, ashleigh was only allowed to take one music - either band OR choir.  she chose band this year (but is taking both next year!  yay!).  austin is in both choir and band.  aubrie was only in the choir during her first semester at school - but hopefully will start private lessons this summer and join the band next year!

they were lovely programs...

Happiness is a choice...

Today, I choose HAPPY!!!

my mother's day...

i cried LOTS of tears.

happy tears for a friend's long awaited news.

happy tears for the dedication of another couple's fourth adopted child being dedicated.

broken and redeemed tears of gratitude for the gospel.

scared tears when austin got hit in the eye with a baseball and we had to take a break in our day to visit the ER.  (he's ok, though.  BIG shiner, but still has vision!  PTL!  i'll show it later!)

and tears when i found this to be the best of 20 pictures chris took of me and my peeps this morning: 

just kidding.

i laughed. 

and i love it.

and i love them.

today

they will start waking up soon.

six voices, saying "mom" or "momma" or "mommy".

i am thankful for these days.

all these days...

the easy days, when i just get to relax.

the hard days, when tears overwhelm.  theirs and mine.

i will never understand why i get to be the one.  i will never fully comprehend why so much pain had to happen in order for me to be their mother.

and that makes me even more thankful...

it's not a plan that a my heart could even dream,

but the sovereign plan of creator god...

(zao photography)

Field day

Micro-blogging from my phone may be the best way to get both blog posts AND pictures these days!

Friday was Field Day at school. It was the conclusion to one of the longest weeks ever ;-)

Here's our awesome team!!!

It was only like 95 degrees!