Start YOUR engine

When we view a problem, a situation, an issue, as "too big" or "too overwhelming" for our personal effort to make an impact... we end up doing nothing.

We each have something unique to offer in service to our King.  We each in our own way can make an impact... whether small or large.  Too often we underestimate our value, our abilities, our worth,  so that when it comes to the actual doing of a thing... we stop.  We park our cars, turn off our engines and wait... and wonder. 

We wait for a "sign"... for "clear direction"... our burning bush experience. All the while, the Word tells us plainly what is expected of those who follow Jesus.

Sometimes we may know what we have to offer and our only obstacle is that we don't know how to go about the actual work of getting the job done.  So... we watch.

I am so guilty of watching... of waiting... of wondering what my effort could possibly add to a situation.  ~ God forgive me ~

In "A Hole in Our Gospel" (which I highly recommend!) a quote from pastor, Earl Palmer, says it well.  He says, "God can't steer a parked car."  Richard Stearns goes on to add, "If we sit in the parking lot with our engines turned off, just waiting for a voice from the sky, we'll never get anywhere in our quest to solve the world's problems.  We need to at least 'start our engines'."

We can not follow Jesus if we are sitting in a parked car.  "Whoever serves Me must follow Me..."

"We may not be clear on just how God wants to use us.  But that's no excuse for doing nothing."

Let's not sit in the parking lot... let's not watch as specatators... "...let us throw off everything that hinders... and let us run with preserverance the race marked out for us."  Hebrews 12:1

Pointe

Elizabeth is ready to go up on Pointe!

We went this week to get her pointe shoes.

She is very excited...

and we are so proud of her!!

Congratulations Lizard!

"Light Up the World"

OFFICIAL-Light Up the World Music Video from Desperation Band on Vimeo.

Help Haiti

"We never know how God might use our efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem to us, to influence important issues and needs in our world."

Visit Compassion

or World Vision

to learn how you can help!

Update

Thank you for asking me about our adoption.  It really does mean so much to have you ask and to hear that you are praying for us.  I do appreciate you!

So... although there has been n o t h i n g to report for so long... I am happy to tell you... we have made progress!

While we were in Uganda several weeks ago, we were finally able to get all the necessary information for our lawyer to compile our guardianship "application".  This is a GIANT step! This is the application that we need in order to go before the judge.  Our lawyer is hopeful to have a court date sometime in February. 

I am beyond excited at the possibility that we may FINALLY be able to move forward in the process of bringing our beauties home!  At the same time... I have a certain amount of reservation... since we have been disappointed so many times before.

PLEASE pray with us!  Pray for a February court date.  Pray for favor with the judge.  Pray that things will go smoothly and quickly for us to be able to bring our children home soon.

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we started this process.  It's frustrating to find out that things do NOT need to move as slowly as we were initially led to believe.   It's heartbreaking that so many families still wait... at the mercy of an agency.

Thank you for your loving support of this journey the Lord has us on.  Thank you for your faithful prayers!

We are trusting the One that set all this into motion, trusting Him to bring it to completion in His perfect timing.  Hoping that we are nearing the end of the waiting and stand at the edge of a new beginning!

The BIG 5 0

My darling husband turned 50 while we were in Uganda...

He got to spend his birthday in one of his favorite places on earth... CLM orphan village...

loving on his daughters...

and his sons...

Then we celebrated the evening with dinner...

and this beautiful cake ...

that our adopted son, Daniel, had made for him.

I don't think he would have wanted to celebrate any other way! It was pretty much the BEST way ever to celebrate FIFTY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

To my amazing husband...

my closest friend...

the love of my life!!

Chicken Update

To ALL who donated for the chicken project...

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

I am so excited to have the opportunity to join with you and be a part of such a tangible project to help improve the diet of the orphans at CLM's orphan village!

When we arrived in Uganda the project looked like this...

A week later it looked like this...

and this...

The children are SO excited!

Your donation has made a HUGE difference in the lives of the orphans at CLM.

THANK YOU for loving these precious children!

May you be blessed abundantly!!