God's AMAZING provision ALWAYS!

Good Morning Friends!  I have the most amazing story of God's faithfulness! 

In this broken world it is SO good and SO IMPORTANT to recall the faithfulness of God through the little and BIG moments of life. 

Whether it is recalling…

The times that he walked us through challenging circumstances in each adoption journey…

Or the time he literally moved in my heart to contact a complete stranger, our embryo donor mom, with the strangest question of all… “Would you consider our family for your embryos?” And then came Levi… and some most precious relationships to my heart….

Or the time he literally moved a stranger’s family all the way from Sweden… because He knew it would be the family that we “needed” to help walk along side our broken hearts as we begun to heal after losing our sweet Samuel.

Or the time we arrived at our new home here to find the refrigerator stocked upon our past midnight arrival… Breakfast for 9 coming right up after we woke up exhausted after literally dodging tornadoes in the van and moving truck on the move up to Illinois…

Time and time again I can recall His incredible faithfulness to protect and provide for us… and this past fall and Christmas has been no different…

The adoption journey is a stretch for most people… It is costly, both emotionally and financially… 

With each adoption we have opened that door saying, “ Yes Lord, we are willing to open our hearts and home to another precious child to love… Move if it is your will…”  And move He has…  At times I look back and am amazed at the fact that He multiplied our finances to allow us to adopt Hope, Isaiah, and do Levi’s embryo adoption all within 4 years… It should have been impossible on a pastor’s salary… But that is always when God moves…

And moving mountains is exactly what God has been doing behind the scenes as of late.  Let me explain our recent car situation… We have a big van that carries all of us, a small car that gets good gas mileage, and a vintage 1993 jeep that came to us at a steal of a price from church members that were moving.  (Caleb did recently purchase his own car that is up on blocks in the garage providing the perfect bonding opportunity for Greg and him as they work to fix it up)

This past fall, on my way to work I literally phoned a friend asking to borrow their moped… The car I was driving was making me deaf (muffler troubleJ) and almost had me asphyxiated by the time I got to work… It just so happened that our cars were having trouble all at the same time and we only had one working car… And with Greg’s job, me working very part time for FMSC, 2 teens with jobs, a busy houseful… it just wasn’t cutting it on a daily basis while Greg worked to get the cars repaired.  These friends were so very gracious to loan us a car till we had ours up and running again. 

We knew we had to do something because all of the cars were getting high in miles and replacing them all at the same time wouldn’t be feasible for us financially… So Greg began to look at different options for replacing our smaller vehicle… After a few months of looking we did find a good deal on a car with good gas mileage… We were so grateful that now we could have one newer very reliable car.

That brings me to the present… On the 23^rd of December Greg, most of the kids and I, and a close friend went down to the city to give a Christmas party for about 30 kids at an inner city school.  We arrived home and right before dinner our head pastor called and asked that we all bundle up and meet him up by the front of church in 10 minutes.

We all got ready and headed up to church across the snowy parking lot… When we got up to church we were greeted by the head pastor’s family, a few more close friends, the church communications director, and a gal that works for a Lutheran Charity organization near by…

The kids were all asking what was up... and I told them I felt like there must be members coming to Christmas carol to us or something...

They had us all lined up by the door…

And up drove a brand new 2017 Ford Transit van…with a huge red bow on it...

There before us was a gift for our family from a very generous donor… a gift from God… a new van…

 It has so many things on it that I would never think we would have in a car… It is beyond my wildest dream of what I would think we could ever own…

We were absolutely floored! It took Greg 5 minutes to pick his jaw up off the floor… I was in tears as well as a few of the kids…

I was just totally blown away… How could someone be so very generous?  Why would someone do this?  We are so undeserving of this amazing gift…

And just like that God knocks our socks off with His continued provision for us… And as usual, it isn’t just a van that works, but He goes above and beyond to give us so much more than we thought possible…

I spoke with the donor last week and the wife said, “We have been so blessed!  It is from God, our money is your money.”  And she meant it… She knows that their financial security is a gift from God and they wanted to share with us what really has come from HIM… Wow, it seriously reminds me of the early church where everyone shared what they had with those in need... That doesn't happen that often anymore... and most have a very different view of their own money certainly being their own... I was blown away by their amazing view on their finances, their kindness, and their tremendous generosity to us!!! 

So I share this not at all to boast about this gift, that couldn't be further from my heart... I share rather to encourage your hearts…

Don’t ever underestimate the power of God to do whatever it is that you need him to do… If you feel Him leading you to do something... GO FOR IT!  Take that leap of faith... I know HE will be faithful to you, just as I have seen his faithfulness time and time again.  

Early on January 1st, I was reflecting on all the ways He has taken care of us and all that He is to me… He has taken me from broken hearted and redeemed my shattered life... 

He is my healer, my comfort, my salvation, my rock, my daily provider. 

He will do the same for you…

Save you…

Comfort you…

Heal you…

Be your joy and rock…

And be your PROVIDER!!!

Things certainly don’t always come to pass as we would think or hope that they might.  His ways are certainly not our ways… but His ways are best for sure…

Rest in the promises of His love for you… and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt He wants to take care of you… Never does He leave or forsake us… and so often He will blow us away with the amazing ways that He takes care of us in the best ways possible for us…

His way… 

Life

Currently Life is full of...

Beautiful tender moments..

Big brothers helping out...

Packing operation Christmas child boxes...

Concerts...

And more concerts... (LANY, need to breathe, and Mat Kearney were AMAZING!!!)

Special thanksgiving tea with sisters and daughters...

Huge bonfires and worship with loved ones...

And tired Black Friday shoppers...

Greg just returned from a week in Haiti and has spent the whole day sick in bed...

Honestly, I am a bit tired from a week alone with the 8 kids amidst traveling, school, and Christmas decorating... But yet, I am so thankful for the full days and the people and things that fill them up!

Every single day is a gift to have the chance to live... 

What a difference a YEAR makes... and then there was JOY...

 A year ago we posted these photos sharing that we were hoping to expand our family through adoption... We were waiting to be matched...

Little did we know that a mama had already contacted our agency after seeking out alternatives to carrying her baby full term... but it was too costly for her to end her pregnancy... She had now decided to seek out to make an adoption plan...

Little did we know what the Lord had already put in place and that just a mere 3 1/2 weeks later we would get a call that we had been chosen by this sweet mama to raise her baby...

Little did we know that in less than 3 months we would hold that babygirl in our arms...

All we knew that day was that we had opened up the door for the Lord to work...

We were just going to step forward in faith waiting on God's plans to unfold and His will to be done...

(Truth be told when we first had started to pursue finding an agency to do our Illinois homestudy, I was flat out told that "NO ONE would pick our family with 7 other kids in the house" 

Truth be told, I was discouraged that day... but within minutes of that really downer conversation, our case worker from Isaiah's adoption agency had called to talk to me about something new their agency was going to possibly try in a different area of adoptions... 

God knew I needed to talk with her and my heart was immediately encouraged in what I already knew but needed to be reminded of... It was all in His perfect hands... The BEST place for it to be...

Little did I know that He was already working much out behind the scenes... 

And work He did... and fast!  

And just like that (with a whole lot of added drama, a birthmom changing her mind on Christmas day, an extended 5 week stay in Arizona to get paperwork through... ) She was in our arms!!!

Kaliyah Joy, is just that! Filled with JOY!  She is such a little sweet heart! 

She has become a bit more serious as of late and she checks out people who aren't family with a little more intensity than normal:)

But she knows her family... She knows loads of attention... Loads of hugs, holding, kisses, snuggles, laughs, and LOVE!  

We can't get enough of her and her sweet squishy self! 

God knew she needed us...

And more importantly, God knew we needed her just as much!  

She is a perfect fit for our family! 

Adoption isn't ever easy... but worth every penny, sacrifice, heartbreak, stretching, and beautiful moment along the journey! (I have a story of God's incredible faithfulness to provide that I will share soon! We are blown away!) 

We are BLOWN away by the gift of this sweet sweet baby girl...

BLOWN away that He chose us for her...

And that just like we have adopted her and taken her as our own...

God does the same for us...

adopts us as HIS children...

Just like we love her... He loves us a million times more!

Just like God saw sweet Kaliyah so close to not ever having a chance to live a full life outside her birthmom... 

God saw us with out any chance of living a full life in eternity and He redeemed us through His son...

She is ours... and we are HIS...

My heart is full... 

My heart is overflowing...

Just a year later... What a difference HE can make in our lives... 

Our boy... Louie

Growing up and finding the path God has for you can be hard...
Especially when maybe you aren't following the typical path for a person your age...
(Let me tell you as a home school mom... I feel the pressure....and I am sure Louis has as well...)

But God is mapping out a wonderful path for our son Louis... at this point it isn't exactly typical...
But beautiful and inspiring none the less...

Louis began his job with Feed My Starving Children (AMAZING ORGANIZATION!!!) in their mobile pack division just a couple of weeks ago...

He is no longer just working at the Feed My Starving Children site, he is taking a gap year and working with their mobile pack division as a Team Leader traveling around the US helping at different mobile pack events.

Depending on the event, they may be packing anywhere from 100,000 meals to a 5.5 million meal packing event in May that will be in Virginia... 

Talk about amazing!  Can you imagine helping thousands of Volunteers pack over 5.5 million meals for starving children around the world?  

He works really hard when he is out of town and comes home exhausted... He comes home having made a difference in the lives of 1,000s of volunteers and 1,000's of kids around the world.  

We are so thankful that the Lord brought Louis to Feed My Starving Children... 

It is a perfect fit for him... 

He is able to use the gifts God has given him to serve, love, help kids in needs, share the love of Jesus with volunteers, and in turn to help heal kids all around the world who are struggling with malnutrition and starvation... All in the name of Jesus...

Above is Louis leading an orientation for volunteers at a FEED the NEED event in Indiana just last weekend...

And below... the team and volunteers are praying over the boxes that have been packed... Food packed with a lot of Love and Jesus...

Nothing better to heal God's precious kids in need...

Oh the journey of parenting the kids God gives you.... For me there are many moments I wonder, I worry, and I maybe even doubt that we have given them everything they will need for the journey God has ahead of them... There are so many different places, ideas, and people clamoring for the attention and devotion of our kids... 

While myself and every single one of my kids is so flawed... It has been so special to watch Louis find this niche... Never in a million years at his age would I have been comfortable getting up in front of hundreds of people to speak and share Feed My Starving Children's mission.  He does it boldly and does a GREAT JOB!  You can tell he is passionate about it and loves it! So often people are shocked that he is only 18... Put him in certain situations like wrestling with his brothers and he is like any other 18 year old...  (or 10 year old LOL!! ) 

But put him in at FMSC and leading and he shines.  I am really proud of him.  

It is a gift to watch the Lord open doors (maybe not even the ones you were expecting HIM to open) for your children...

And it is even more of a gift to watch your kids kick those doors open and walk right through with excitement in their heart... Right into the spot the Lord can use them with the gifts He has already equipped them with... 

We are thrilled for Louis and the exciting things that God will show him, teach him, and use him for in the coming year... 

We would love you to pray for him and all the other Mobile pack workers... There is much travel and many long days... Pray they will serve and lead with Joy and the light and love of Jesus shining through them each step of the way...

Longing...

Tomorrow will be a month that we have been here in Arizona staying with friends...
In just a few days it will be 5 weeks since I have left my home...

We have been blessed while we have been here to be able to worship on Sundays at a great church, preaching right now from the book of Judges (I remember that being a previous favorite sermon series at our church before we left for the seminary)  This has been no different.... so good!

This past Sunday I was over come...
Over come with emotion over so many things...

This past week I think I knew of 4 people close to me that were experiencing the death of loved ones... My heart was breaking for these people who were experiencing great loss...

A friend of mine finding out about the death of her grand baby... a baby her daughter delivered today still... (my heart breaking for this sweet mama who is just embarking on a grief journey I know all too well)

My Oklahoma mother, my kids Oklahoma grandma, who was a lifeline to me in my days of grief after Samuel died... I will never forget going to her home for the first time in Oklahoma, I had heard of her, but never had met her... She is one of the most hospitable people I have ever met... She welcomed me with open arms and that first night told me of her daughter that had passed away years before just a few months after her daughter's own wedding... (A bond was immediately formed and greatly strengthened over the months that passed) I remember helping her move out of that house, and how carefully her daughters beautiful wedding dress was still packaged up...
Just last week she lost another daughter... Burying more than one child... a grief so hard to bear... I can hardly imagine... my heart hurts for her...

Stories of lives that seemed to be cut short... yet lives that God knew the exact number of days even before time began...

My sweet precious Samuel... not long after his spirit left the warmth of my womb and went right to his Heavenly home... the first face he ever saw was the face of His heavenly father...

Oh dear Elisha, one of the gems at The Gem Foundation in Africa... A smile that just lit up the room... He knew how loved and precious he was... He passed away just a few days after celebrating the wedding of the orphanage founder while she was on her honeymoon... Sweet Elisha with the broken body... now made perfectly whole... no more wheelchair needed in Heaven for this beautiful boy...

My sweet niece Ella and her Grandpa... my sister in Love's dad who in one short week will be gone for a whole year... He too had been paralyzed the last few years of his life... I can just picture him running and jumping around Heaven... I know how hard those anniversary days can be... 

As we were worshiping on Sunday... singing...

Jesus Paid it all, 

All to HIM I owe,

Sin had left a crimson stain, 

He washed it white as snow.

O Praise the one who paid my debt, 

And raised this life up from the dead...

Immediately my heart was filled with an undeniable longing for Heaven... I must admit, of course my longing for Heaven has increased greatly since Samuel died... But on Sunday it was literally at my fingertips... I was filled with a literal ache for my heavenly home... 

This life is filled with so many beautiful things... yet so much trouble, stress, loss... and at times great sorrow... We hurt big because we love BIG!  

I was once again at a loss for the amazing work of Jesus on the cross for me... a miserable sinner... 

I do...

I owe it all to HIM...

My sin, your sin, my kids sin, my husbands sin... all leaving a terrible crimson, blood red stain...

Yet, He washes us white as snow... His red blood shed to make us white as snow... he removes those sins as far as the east is from the west... 

And then... He makes Heaven possible... for you and me one day... 

Already for my son Samuel... for Elisha ... for Deena's 2 daughters, for Katy's dad, for that precious little baby boy born still just tonight... 

They are already there in glory... Right now... With perfect bodies... experiencing the fullness of the Lord... right before their very eyes... 

Oh the hope of heaven... I can not tell you the peace and joy it brings to my heart... When I look around and see the hurt, and as I hurt with people... my heart cries... how much longer Lord?  Come now Jesus... Come quickly...

And then I am reminded simply that He knows the perfect time... I can fully trust in His goodness amidst all the hard things to know He already knows when that time will be and in the mean time...

He is stronger... 

He wants to carry those burdens... 

He wants us to lay them down...

He wants us to fully embrace this life...

He wants us to live in light of eternity...

What a gift it is... a free gift... one that won't ever get old for me...

 I owe Him big time, yet it is debt I could never repay... 

Couldn't ever come close to repaying... 

And he doesn't even want us to try... 

We have a little news.... REJOICE WITH US:):)

One of my favorite photos pre- ISAIAH:)

2nd set of paperwork finally getting mailed out...

Foster care approval to take on ZERO additional children... (not exactly what we wanted or needed:)

Foster care approval to take on ONE additional child... WAHOO!!!!

Oh the run around to get that accomplished...

All that to say...

 (I know you may need to blow that one up:):)

LOVE MAKES A FAMILY...

and we are ...

Waiting to be matched:)  

We are adopting again... 

Many many prayers for God's guidance...

Hours and hours to complete mountains of paperwork...
Loads  of meetings and home reviews with our social worker...

Loads of interviews and reference letters sent in...

Lots of resources spent joyfully...

Many fingerprints and background checks completed...

And we are praising God that the door is FINALLY open to bringing another child into our home...

Our hearts are ready and waiting... And are filled with REJOICING!!!

We are stepping out in faith and now we wait on God's perfect plans to unfold for our family...

We have more love to give and if there is a child needing that love we are ready to welcome him/her with open arms!!

When we talked with the kids... EVERY SINGLE ONE said, "YES... please let's adopt again!" 

Rejoice with us and we'd love your prayers as we walk down the adoption journey again...

Oh the amazing miracles that have unfolded to bring home HOPE, LEVI, and ISAIAH... 

But I ALWAYS tell people adoption is not for the faint of heart...  

Almost every adoption journey is filled with hurt, pain, and lots of times very rough beginnings.  

We cover your prayers 

* for the Lords protection over the little one or little ones He may bring to our family...

*for the precious mom who is carrying that little one, that she may be drawn somehow to know our Savior through this difficult time and that she would know how loved she is... BY US AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS

*if that child is older that the Lord will have protected him/her in a miraculous way before bringing them to our family

*for patience and full trust in the Lords plans and timing for our family...

*for clear guidance  and leading from God as our profile is shown to many different mamas.

Our family is thrilled!  Join with us rejoicing and in prayer as we wait to be matched with the baby/child that is 

Already so loved...

Already so wanted.. 

And will be...

GOD's answer to many prayers...

THANK YOU FRIENDS!

Full heart... full schedule...

I honestly feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe...

I don't even think I have had a chance to mention here that I took job teaching part time preschool at our church school...

So yes... now my mornings are filled with 28 preschoolers!  Goodnight, I NEVER knew that 3 and 4 year olds could wear you out like they do me... For those that know me, the last 2 nights I have been in bed early for me, but I literally couldn't keep my eyes open another minute.

I have kids that have no idea how to line up in a line, or follow a simple direction... Then I have kids that read fluently... It is kind of a challenge to plan fun activities for all of them.  But we get through each day with a lot of laughs, hugs, way less tears than 2 weeks ago (PRAISE GOD!!!!) and loads of fun! And I have 2 of the most amazing aides that help me during the week.  I could not do it with out them for sure.

Levi and Isaiah are able to come with me... I am so thankful for that and really couldn't have done it if I could not have them in there. Levi is doing great... Isaiah... is having a ball but it is gonna take take some training for sure:)

Anna and Jojo are doing so well with getting work done while I am gone... They get up early and I get them going with English and Math, they do all their individual things while I am gone and we finish up with History and Science when I return.  I am really proud of them.

And the big boys are starting some college prep things next week.  They have put in a lot of extra hours at work, have company coming this week, and then it will be off to the races with getting down to the real work for them this semester.

Some of the biggest things I have learned so far this year...

Live for an audience of One... The only one we really have to please is our Savior Jesus!  I can't wait to share more and more with these precious kiddos about the God who created them and loves them so very much!

My personal family is trying our best to make family devotions a priority... It seems like as the kids get older, are more involved in different things that we are even more desperately needing that grounding in the only firm foundation we have... Our faith in our risen Savior Jesus!

There is so much more to share about things happening with our crew... Hope to find some time real soon to share:)

The love for him just grows bigger...

I don't think I could be any more thankful for this sweet lady below... Levi's biological mom.  Not a day goes by that I am not overwhelmed with thankfulness for this precious little miracle God gave us and the sacrifice that was made on her part for us to have Levi in our lives! 

 A couple of weeks ago we met her family and Levi's biological grandma and cousin in the city to spend the day at the zoo... It was also the same day as the air show... Wow... what a show we got to see!  It was an absolutely beautiful day!

I think this is one of my favorite pictures... a little blurry... But two moms who love this boy so deeply!

Levi with his biological brother and sister.  Anna is actually a pen pal with Levi's bio sister.  They all have such a sweet time together... So much love for this little guy... Can you ever have too much love for your child?

Levi and Jojo at Lincoln Park Zoo in front of part of the city skyline!

Crack me up!  Levi with Hopie and his biological cousin!  She is a hoot!~

All of the girls!

The whole crew!  It was such a special day for us!

We even got to see the Blue Angels!  That was seriously like nothing I have ever seen... It was crazy amazing, so loud and so thrilling!

We are in awe of the handiwork of God to work a miracle in our lives through embryo adoption... but also when we see the beautiful creations he works everyday!

Why Heaven will be my eternal bora bora...

I've had a lot of time to think this summer...

In MANY ways my life (as well as some of yours) may  not be what you would have anticipated it being... and then again there are many ways it is more than I dreamed it could possibly be...

I never would have dreamed my life would include...

Losing a child...
Moving so many times...
Moving my children so many times...
Being married to a pastor...
Spending so much time away from my husband or my husband away from me...
Running an infant loss support group...

It can be easy to become discontent... or disappointed at times...

In our crazy social media driven society today, especially with facebook, instagram, and twitter blasting every one's "perfect and happy life" right in your face, it is easy to compare your life to others and become disappointed... discontent... and even disconnected...

Did you know that there have actually been studies that have confirmed that there is an association between Facebook use and depressive symptoms. (Not depression in the debilitating clinical sense, but a milder manifestation)  An article reported in TIME magazine showed the results of a scientific study where scientists studied 600 people who logged time on the social network and discovered that one felt worse after visiting the site- especially if they viewed vacation photos.   

On those days where you are still in your Jammie's at noon, when the kids are arguing,  where there have been tubs of juice spilled, multiple pairs of underwear to clean up (yay for potty training), you feel like you haven't had a shower or adult conversation in days... it can be easy to feel that maybe the grass could possibly be greener...

Or maybe it is one of those days where you missed a deadline at work, you had to waste hours of time in city traffic, you possibly lost a job, or you realized that friend you thought was a true friend, really maybe isn't... 

It is easy to long for something more... something better... maybe what some one else has or has done... dreaming for that to become your reality too...

(In all honesty,What they portray probably isn't completely their reality anyways... )

Whenever I feel that bitter little bugger of discontentment, rearing it's ugly head...
I think of Heaven...

(That is one thing that Samuel's life has given me... an eternal perspective... I am so so very grateful for that beautiful blessing amidst the pain of losing him... He has me longing for Heaven in a way that I had never experienced before)

Truly, I do... I think of Heaven... and  no matter what it is that maybe I feel I am missing out on... I focus on Heaven...

This world is like the tiniest of beginnings... while it feels like life might move slowly some days... This life is just the tiniest of dots, the start of the entire line of eternity... going on and on... FOREVER...

ALL THE THINGS WE LONG FOR OR WISH WERE DIFFERENT IN OUR LIVES... THEY PALE SO GROSSLY IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY...

That  beautiful trip to Tahiti...
Really I will have eternity in somewhere FAR MORE beautiful than Tahiti... Forever there...  It will be like waking up every single day in a place that is so much more beautiful and perfect than the best tropical paradise vacation  I can even imagine:)

That perfect body... Thank you Jesus, that we will be given new bodies in Heaven... perfect bodies... FOREVER... (on a personal note...for me, there will be...  no more kidney stones, pink eye, etc....:)  Yay!!!

That perfect marriage... (Who really has that anyways... two sinners married to one another... Ha!)
We will have that perfect Heavenly marriage... Christ married to the church... His followers... FOREVER... for all eternity...

The perfect chore helpers...(While I am sooooooo very thankful for all 7 of my kids, and so thankful for all of our possessions... With 9 of us... no matter what... we create a decent sized mess.) And sometimes the exhaustion sets in... But in Heaven, I hardly think the tedious job of  changing out seasonal clothing for the kids will be happening... nor the loads and loads of laundry... It will be a permanent vacation from the jobs that sadly take me away from my kids at times.  Can you imagine just worshipping Jesus and sitting at His feet... that being your only real job:):)

That perfect family relationship... Heaven... worshiping our Savior for all eternity... I have a feeling relationships in the sense that we have them now, will be a thing of the past...

That perfect HOME and manicured yard... I can not wait to see the mansion the Lord is preparing for me... Maybe Samuel will be the first one to show me around... CAN NOT WAIT!  That mansion is going to blow doors on any wonderful home or kitchen I could ever dream up here on earth!

That heart that is no longer hurting... He says in His word that He will wipe every tear from our eyes... Tears... no longer a thing to even worry about in Heaven... Can you imagine all the physical, emotional pain, and turmoil we feel in this life... NEVER AGAIN... Wow... just WOW!

Please hear me loud and clear... If your life contains great trips to Bora Bora every year... a beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. home... A near perfect marriage... I am not saying that is a bad thing... I am not saying anyone should not experience such wonderful things here on earth...    Truly I am happy for you...

What a special gift and blessing God has blessed with you with in this life.


 I am only saying for me... in this life...

There are many days that focusing on Heaven gives me just the perspective I need to put my heart back where it NEEDS to be...

I am only speaking from my heart...

I know that anything my heart may potentially be longing for here on earth... That Heaven is going to just blow it all out of the water...  times 100!  Have a blessed day friends!

A great summer read... You wont' be disappointed...

Hello friends from rainy Chicago...

When I think of the nature of our family and all that make up who we are and what we are passionate about... I think of all of the people and things that have contributed to and all that God has used to mold us in to who we are... and who we will continue to grow into in the future...

 I think of....

So many different members of our dear family...

So many different precious friends...

So many different difficult moves...

So many different crazy life experiences...

And so many tough times thrown in among the beautiful times... 

When I think of our passion for missions and caring for the orphans... I think of our sweet and amazing friends, Dwight and Linny,  the Saunders!  They are the founders of IVO (International Voice of the Orphan)  It is the group we have traveled with to Uganda over the past 4 years... dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.  

They break the mold when it comes to laying it down to care for the orphans in our world... 

Whether it means adding those kids to their own family, feeding them in the streets of Uganda, or watching their daughter give up her American life to start a special needs orphanage... it is all an integral part of who they are!

  I admire and look up to them... still opening up their home to another treasure from China while most their age are nearing an empty nest and retirement... 

Are they perfect?  No... but they are the real deal... sold out to walk their faith in action... And it is beautiful to watch... 

I am super excited for the release of my friend Linny's book Rescuing Ruby.  I believe it will be available from  Amazon in a week or so... It tells the story of their precious daughter Ruby and the amazing journey they have been on since she was basically left for dead in a field in Uganda... The transformation in this precious girl's life is REMARKABLE... 

My heart can not be shaken and amazed at the work of our gracious God... This photo taken of Emma the day they found Ruby at the orphanage and a year later after she had come home to their family... It doesn't even resemble in the slightest bit the same child... What a healing work God has done and continues to do daily in Ruby's life... 

Check out her book, Rescuing Ruby... you won't be disappointed... It will be perfect summer reading and I know will challenge you, stretch you, and renew your faith in our miracle working God!  

Here is Linny's blogpost announcing that the book is finally finished... 

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2015/06/eeeeeek.html

In just a few weeks their  family will be touring the US and we will be blessed to spend a couple of days with them here... We are thrilled... They were so gracious to house us 2 years ago when we RV'd to California... And now it is our turn... YAY!!! :)

We will be hosting a dessert night while they present their story of Ruby, IVO, and the Gem Foundation (the orphanage their daughter Emma started in Uganda...  www.thegemfoundation.com 

Look for more information, but put the 9th of July on your calendar if you are in our area...

We would LOVE to have you join us!

Sunday mornings...

Sunday mornings as a pastor's wife with 7 don't always go as smoothly as we would like:)

Even when we live right across the parking lot from church...
(Trust me I consider it a HUGE BLESSING to be so close to church:)

But if the truth be told, most times there is either a blow out diaper, a big spill, lost shoes, some last minute teeth brushing or hair braiding that has to be done...

Last week I caught these cuties on our walk to church...

Is he handsome or what?  Serious love this munchin so very much!

The brothas!  They are the best little buddies and I am so grateful God gave them to us... Isaiah is gaining on Levi in height and I think has him taken in the weight department... So different, yet love each other so so much!

Don't ask me how Isaiah knows "fierce"... The kid is hysterical and on the move like our Hopie girl 24/7:)  Having Hopie prepared me for the curious, into everything, busy nature of Isaiah... 

Regardless of how tired these 2 make me some days, I know I will miss the craziness someday:)  I wouldn't trade it for a minute...  They are both such gifts and are loved so deeply!

My biggest Sunday morning helper, my Anna... 

And... this is how we looked on the way home last week... We picked up just a few extra:) 

Our friends have kids nearly the same age as each of our last five and it is a joy to have them hang out with us:)

What an amazing story...

I have been following this sweet young mama's story for the last few months...
It absolutely screams... "Dont take a thing for granted in this life!"  and it encourages my heart...

Please take the time to check out her story of loss, faith and miracles...
It is a beautiful story...


http://kfor.com/2015/05/07/a-mothers-faith-why-this-widowed-mother-believes-in-miracles/

The Human video...

update:
The link to the video isn't working because the church decided to edit it a bit... I will repost it when I hear that it is up:)

Here is a copy of the human video that the St. Pauls youth kids did last Sunday that I posted about yesterday...

Still so touched and grateful for those precious people...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CuW8vCLeBH8

1000th post

Just by happenstance I noticed that this is my 1000th post...

The Lord has taught me so much since we started this blog back in 2007 to keep friends and family updated on our move to the Seminary...

I never could have imagined all that we would walk through in the following 8 years...

How God walked us through moving our family away from such a precious community of friends at the seminary to our first congregation...

How God somehow sustained and carried us through the very lonely and devastating loss of our son Samuel...

How God wove into our hearts new passions and desires for adoption and serving the orphans in Uganda and Haiti...

How God  knocked our socks off by His amazing faithfulness and provision ALWAYS...

And how He  knew exactly what we need in moving our now family of 9 across the country again...

Don't ever for a moment think that He can't provide for you and move mountains to bring beauty from your ashes...

So I thought I would share 10 things today that the Lord has taught me since I started this blog 8 years ago...

And just so you know... I know that I won't ever be finished learning till I reach my heavenly home... What a work in progress I am... But I am so VERY thankful for His gentleness in teaching me new things...

So here we go... 10 bits of advice or lessons learned from the Lord by this busy, frazzled, grateful mama...

1.  Stop comparing... I think the comparison trap is one of most used tactics of the devil... "My car isn't as nice, my kids aren't as well behaved, my marriage isn't as fulfilling, my house is so much smaller, I wish I was smaller like her..."  Comparing ourselves with others breeds discontentment in our lives.  In this day and age with social media the draw to compare is even more present... I challenge you to step away from the comparison trap and begin working towards being thankful in all things... And remember, things aren't always as they appear... It is pretty easy now to portray a certain image to people who don't really know you in real life... Rest in the knowledge that God has plans all designed for you... specifically you... that no one else could fulfill.

2.  Trust that no matter the hardship He WILL bring beauty from your ashes   It is as if he can take and plant the shattered pieces of a broken heart and bring a new beautiful life forth from all the hurt that you experienced.  It possibly won't look like the life you had before... but it will be a new life with a richness that you didn't know before...
Know that no matter how alone you feel... HE IS ALWAYS THERE... Even in the darkest of times or when the Lord seems to be silent... Cling to the promises of His word.  Our feelings can come and go but His word is always true!    Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you...

3.  Have fun and enjoy your kids.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed by all we want to teach our children.  We want to instill our values and faith, we want to fill them up with all of the best experiences so that they can be the best that God has for them to be.  It is easy to get consumed with all the world promotes as most important when it comes to raising kids...the world's view of success... But ultimately, it is so important to relax at times and to spend time having fun, not taking life or yourself too seriously and enjoying the precious children that God gave you... Time passes far too quickly and I don't want to look back realizing that I missed out on the best and most fun part of raising kids that God had available to me.

4.  Realize that when you have fun and enjoy your children, you are tying heart strings with them.  These have to be in place to be able to do the hard parts of parenting... the disciplining and training.  That way there is a firm foundation of love in place when the training times have to come along.

5.  Live for an audience of one... the ONE!!!  The easier we lay down our desires and hopes to measure up to what everyone else thinks the sooner we will experience TRUE JOY!  We are living for an audience of ONE... As long as we are doing truly what we feel God leading us to do... we don't have to aim to please man...  Living for Him is a far better place to be than striving to please the masses:)


6.  Stop judging and start loving.  Try to see others as he Lord sees them... a perfect 10!  Really we have no place judging till we ourselves are perfect... (and that will NEVER happen:) We need to try to take the plank out of our own eye before we attempt to take the speck out of someone else's eyes... We need to put on different glasses and stop looking through judgmental eyes, but rather with loving eyes...  Reaching out and loving our friends and neighbors is what we need to be about...

7.  Serve someone... A lot of times when we are struggling with the challenges of this life our eyes can be so self focused... Who am I kidding?  I think as humans our eyes are more often on ourselves than not... But when you put your focus on others and look for ways to serve someone else, usually our challenges seem to be put back into perspective...

8.  Be compassionate to others... Realize that almost everyone is struggling with something and we may not know the morning they might be having... Again, Love... Love... Love...

9.  Step out of your comfort zone and open your heart to things that stretch you or things you never thought possible... Taking that leap and step of faith will enrich your life far more than the worry or fear that might be holding you back...  Just go for it... He will be walking with you every single step of the way...

10.  Do not let your age... no matter young or old to hinder you from following the call you feel the Lord has put on your heart. I remember on my first trip to Uganda we visited one special needs home that had been started by two 19 year old girls and then the next day we visited an orphanage started by a woman in her 60's. God does not call the equipped... He equips the called and don't let anyone tell you that you are too young or too old to do anything that God has put on your heart!

I am constantly in awe and amazed at all the Lord teaches me and how much I yet have to learn... I would love to hear about some of the things the Lord has taught you lately... Keep resting in HIM friends!

Cousin blessings... And answered prayers...

Off to Sam's, the crew and I went this morning to pick up Jojo's birthday cake... 

A first for the family, a store bought cake for one of the kids... 

The Sam's cookie cake is always what I ask for on my birthday... this after Greg's infamous lemon pudding cake he attempted for me probably our 3 year of marriage... When the recipe calls for 1/2 cup water, adding 1 1/2 cups will leave your cake a bit moist... I really appreciated the effort though:):)  

Right away we ran into a sweet congregation member who asked if he could treat the kids to ICEES? They were thrilled and definitely was a treat for them all... 

I was so blessed by this sweet man's kindness to us, especially with the extra 5 kids this week...

It is sometimes the  little things like this that go such a long way to bless my heart!

Then there are the big things that God does that sort of knock your socks off...

I have been praying for one of my sweet friends since the day we met almost 4 years ago...

God knows the hidden prayers in my heart for her for so many things and for so many reasons...

This precious friend has been through a lot and today I realized many of my prayers for her were answered.

Oh how my heart leaped for joy as I literally had to run into the laundry room to let the tears fall and gain composure before I ran back upstairs... My hearts cry for her has been answered if even in a somewhat small way for now... That I don't mind... This small answered prayer will go such a long way in surrendering to God's will and trusting in His plan for you... And I am so thankful... 

Oh how He teaches me new things and reminds me of His faithfulness, goodness and amazing love and plans for us... I am so grateful for the beautiful little things that bring a smile to my face and the wonderful answer to prayers today... Thank you Jesus!