Halloween Fun

It's always fun to see the creativity come out in our group as they dress up for the candy collecting, sugar fest, referred to as Halloween.

Katherine and Jeremy... best buds. The fact that they are cousins makes him the perfect escort!

Elizabeth and her friend, Patience, were having a good time.

Nathaniel was the BEST old man.  He stayed in character all night.  One of our friends asked him, "Have you seen Beth?" and without hesitating he responded, "Yes, I have had a bath!"

Abigail was a "nerdy schoolgirl".  I think the skirt hiked up above her waist was about the only "nerdy" part.  She's just too cute.

Ava was Cinderella. And precious.

 

Annette and I... stylin' Mamas.  That's right.

Dressing up + friends and family + massive amounts of candy = FUN!

Daddy's Little Girl

This little beauty loves spending time with her Daddy. 

Even if that means hanging out in the garage.

She loves "helping" Daddy work.

He lovingly and patiently teaches her.  Happy that she enjoys spending time with him.

He encourages her as she trys her hand at a newly learned skill.  Never rushing her.

Always near, lending a hand, guiding.

He is not worried that the job may not be done "perfectly".

He is only concerned that her character is built... that she becomes more like Jesus in her serving.  In her living.

He wants her to know how much he, and He, loves her.

She is one happy little daughter.  Hanging out with her daddy.

And she is a better person for the time spent in his presence.

Her daddy's example is a loving witness in our home of our heavenly Father's love for us.

"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." Psalm 145:8

PW Cooks

If you haven't visited the "Pioneer Woman" blog, you are missing out... big time.

Her new cookbook arrived in my mailbox today and I spent the evening reading through it.  Good stuff.

It's just the kind of cookbook I love... LOTS of pictures and detailed step by step instructions.

I need instructions. In more areas than cooking, but that's off subject.

 

It features the down-home, yummy, country style cookin' that I grew up on. 

mmm... sweet memories. 

She also throws in some more refined delicacies along with some great photos and stories of cowboy life.  I just love cowboys. 

So... go on... check it out!  I don't want you to miss out on the goodness!

Wanting...

I have no news to share on our adoption.  Nothing.

I feel such frustration and sorrow that my children (and several of my friends children too) are going through each day... Lonely. Waiting.  Hoping.

I want to be able to encourage them that God has a plan for their lives and that they are His precious children.

I want to wrap my arms around them and hold them so they know they are safe and loved.

I want to listen to their dreams and help them accomplish whatever God has for them.

I want to comfort them when they are afraid and unsure.

I want to show them their closets with their clothes hanging neatly in rows waiting for them.

I want to hear their sweet laughter mingle with the laughter that fills our home.

I want to watch their beautiful faces light up as they experience new things and make new discoveries.

I want to tuck them in at night in their new beds, under their freshly washed blankets, and pray with them and kiss their foreheads and remind them how much God loves them.

I want them.

But... instead... I will trust in the Lord to take care of them.  I will trust His perfect timing in bringing them home.  I will trust His good and perfect plan.

Because He loves them more than I do.

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.  For Who is God besides the LORD?  And who is the Rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."  Psalm 18:30-32

and... I will keep repeating this over and over to myself!

Friends

It's a beautiful thing...

when siblings are friends.

I am SO ready to have some more siblings home!

Mighty Warriors

As my girls were dancing, at a festival this weekend, to the song "Mighty Warrior"...

I envisioned them being in battle.

The truth is... as Christians, Christ followers, Believers, we ARE in a battle... a spiritual battle... every day.

The question is...

Are we prepared for battle?

If we are not drawing near to Him...

If we do not know the Word...

If our prayers are not fervent and effective...

How will we stand?  How will we win?

What will keep us from falling away when the battle is difficult?

We ARE mighty warriors in the army of the Lord.

We must be prepared...

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."  Ephesians 6:11

Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

His Answer

All across the world people are crying out in desperation to God.  The widow, the orphan, the sick, the hungry and hopeless are crying out for help.  Millions of prayers lifted up to God pleading for help.

As believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we are His answer.  We must listen to His voice and be faithful to answering His call.

We are His answer.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus.

If we, as His followers, do not answer when He calls us to care for the least of these... who will?

Katie is the answer to the crys of hundreds of starving children in Uganda.

My friend, Mindy, is the answer to a little girls prayer for "a family".

Jen and Amanda are the answer to the rock quarry women's crys for "God to rescue them".

Many of my church body have answered the call to save a childs life by sponsorship through CLM.

Our family is the answer to Aunt Eveline's prayers, "God, please send help".

We are His answer.

The cry of our hearts must be "Lord, here I am. Send me!"

We must be willing for God to use us to be His answer.  We are His body.

I whole heartedly agree with Richard Stearns when he says, "I believe that we really can alter the world, but we can only do it one person at a time.  And when enough people choose to do this, even a crisis on a global scale can change."

We are His answer.

At this very moment someone is praying, pleading with God to send help, to rescue them from their distress.  Right now, He is calling His followers to act on His behalf.

Will you be His answer?

Our son, Daniel

called me today...

because he wanted "to hear my voice".  How precious is that!

My heart is so filled with joy at the blessing this young man is to our family.

I am still amazed and so thankful that God had us meet him while we were visiting Uganda this past January.  Daniel is a faithful young man, who loves the Lord with all his heart.  He faithfully prays for our family and everytime we communicate he shares the Word with us.

The Lord has knitted our hearts with his.  He is our son.  We are his family.  We don't have an official document that says so, but in our hearts... it's true.  I would have never believed that I could feel love and concern, responsibility and pride, and all the emotions that go with being a parent for someone that I met less than a year ago.  That my friends... is God's heart!  That's His love.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing Daniel and his family into our lives!

"I will not...

leave you as orphans, I will come to you."  John 14:18 

HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

My sweet friend and her family are faithfully answering the Lord's call to "care for the orphan" by bringing this precious child into their family.

I am beyond excited for them!!  And since she doesn't blog (but gave me permission to share her news!)... I just had to tell you about this exciting, amazing, wonderful news!!

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." James 2:24

Congratulations my friend!!  I am so blessed to be on this amazing journey with you!!

Ava's Photo Shoot...