Changing the World One Little Heartbeat At A Time

What happened in Haiti on January 12 is unimaginable. The images are devastating and no words can possibly express the magnitude of what this country is going through. The fear and desperation that they are feeling on a day-to-day basis breaks my heart!! But, I do know that God is good. Yes, even during these tragedies, He is faithful and good!! Out of the ashes He brings beauty. It occurred to me today, after I received an email from someone, that since this tragedy three individuals have contacted me about adoption in the last week. These people are not necessarily considering adopting from Haiti or internationally, but rather praying for God to reveal His will to them regarding adoption. Whether the Haiti tragedy had any influence on their desire to look into adoption or not, I do not know nor does it really matter. What matters is that they are feeling the possible call to adopt! Unfortunately, it has taken a tragedy for the topic of "adoption" and "orphans" to be front and center in the media these last 16 days. But, how wonderful that God could use a tragedy as devastating as the Haiti earthquake to touch the lives of people and orphans around the world. Awareness is what it is all about. Whether you choose to adopt, support those trying to adopt, give your time to organizations that support orphanages, or pray, all of these means are changing the life of a child. As Steven Curtis Chapman puts it so eloquently "You are changing the world one little heartbeat at a time".

Membership: Free

Everything else may be out of control around here lately, but one thing has remained consistent and that is that the "Cocoa Club" has met nearly every weekday morning (give or take a two or three days) for the last 4 weeks!! I don't remember when I posted about my quest to do my daily bible study and I can't find it in my anywhere in my archives. So, it must have been awhile ago... But, getting up to do my quiet time before the house begins buzzing has always been a struggle for me. That is until the Cocoa Club formed. What is the Cocoa Club? Two individuals that strive to be in the Word everyday and who meet every morning at 6 am at the kitchen table with a warm cup of hot chocolate/cocoa (skim milk, of course). I will tell you one thing that will keep you accountable - Being accountable to your child. Morgan is my cocoa buddy and what a great feeling it is to be growing in the Word alongside your child!! We strongly encourage you join in! If you join in, a special treat will arrive at your doorstep or in your mailbox to help get you started!! Membership is free and the rewards are priceless!!

From the Pulpit - Or, the Basement Stairs

This is going on behind me as I write... I was doing other work on the computer and heard this going on behind me and just had to dash to blogger to get it written down.

Ryan came in asking for help getting a toy out of another toy (one wooden scoop of ice cream from one set stuck in a plastic scoop of ice cream from another set) stuck - I must do this for them 10 times a day (exaggeration, but it is a lot). So, I did it once and he jammed it in there again two seconds later. This time, I told him he needed to fix it. Well, Rylee intervened and this is what I have been frantically trying to record - Didn't quite get it all, but have to admit I got quite a bit of the conversation:

Rylee: "Let's pray. We are suppose to ask God for help. God, please help Ryan get this toy out."
Ryan tries to get it out and it doesn't work.
Rylee: "You pray this time. God can do anything!"
Ryan starts mumbling.
Rylee: "No, say 'Dear God, please help me get this ice cream out!' "
Ryan repeats what she says and moans and groans trying to get it out.
Rylee: "Okay, do it!"
Ryan: "Okay, God do it!"
Rylee: "He lives in our heart. You need to get a bigger heart. Then, he can live in there. He loves us and we worship Him."
Ryan prays: "Please, please help me. Don't be mad, be happy."
Rylee: "God is always always happy. In the day, at night, in the middle of the night, all the time. He doesn't go to sleep, He doesn't take a nap. He never goes to sleep - He always stays awake!"

Ryan: "I can't hear God."
Rylee: "When we open up the Bible, He talks to us. We don't really hearrr(KY drawl) Him. He lives up in heaven."
Ryan: "He is far, far away?"
Rylee: "He is up in the sky - Not a little down."

Takes Ryan to the door to look outside. Mumbled conversation
Rylee: "You can't see Him, it's very far away."
Ryan: "How is He going to put Him down?"
Rylee: "He doesn't go down, He always stays up there."
Ryan: "There are stop signs up there?"
Rylee: "No, only in the world."
Ryan: "Only, far, far away?"
Rylee: "Yep. God always helps you. He is bigger than us. Bigger than mommies and daddies, grandmas and grandpas..."

I feel so blessed when I am able to hear these types of interactions and for God's reassurance that we are instilling a faith foundation. To hear it from a child's heart...Nothing could be sweeter. I don't know all of the plans that God has for our children, but I hope that they will grow to be as bold and outspoken in their faith as adults. I pray that they will take the time as they grow older to ask God for guidance and direction in even the smallest tasks like fixing a toy!! I pray that they will have faith the size of a mustard seed. I know without a shadow of doubt that He has big plans for their lives! Oooh... I can't wait to see the story unfold further!!

Sunflowers Baby!

There is excitement in the air. We have our first batch of sunflowers. We planted them right after our big family vacation and we have watched them grow all summer long. It was perfect timing as the first one bloomed yesterday, the 1st day of school. The Littles were so excited to see that precious flower and constantly go and visit the pots.

Today, after waving goodbye to the boys, we checked the sunflowers and another one had bloomed. I think God might have been whispering to me this morning as I noticed that the two flowers that had opened were both facing the morning sun. A few of them have leaves that have been attacked by some sort of bug, but despite the fact these sunflowers are standing proudly. It made me think that if we get up in the morning and face the Son, despite all the things that attempt to attack us throughout the day, we can stand firmly and proudly. Yes, we might have "blemishes", but God can draw attention away from that to the beauty that He creates within us! There you go, kiddos - A few thoughts from Mom via God's whispers!

Pure JOY!

I am not sure why, but since we read from James 1 in class two weeks ago at church this verse keeps popping up. It was in my daily bible study book and it was on another blog that I linked to today about a family that has hit a brick wall in their pursuit to adopt a child from Ethiopia. I believe this scripture came up at least one other time prior to these two examples, but I had not yet made the connection. I've finally gotten it, but what now? I am not sure if I am suppose to pass along this scripture to someone else that I know or don't know that might be reading our blog, or if this is God's way of making sure that I memorize this passage, or if I am suppose to reflect upon it... As I am writing this, I believe that it is probably a combination of it all! Do I consider it "pure joy" when I face trials? Ummm... No! Should I? Yes! The word "pure" is the key word here as it is 100% joy - authentic joy - untainted joy. Okay, that is difficult to achieve alone, but to do in the midst of trials - Whew! I do know that when our faith is testing people are watching and watching closely - How we react and behave is truly a reflection of who we are and what we believe. "Pure Joy" something to strive for in all circumstances and can't be done apart from God!!

I received this picture yesterday from another mom that recently adopted a little girl from Ryan's orphanage in Ch*n*. I think the staff must have taken the picture on her roll of film so that it would be passed along to us as the staff knew that we had connected. The timing of it is pretty funny based upon yesterday's post and the fact that they used our orphanage donation to create/redesign/furnish (not exactly sure what was done) the "Medical, Rehabilitation, and Psychological Consulting Room". As part of the adoption expenses for Ch**a, families are required to donate a large sum of money to the orphanages where the children are adopted. It basically helps with the expenses for raising the children during the time they were there. You typically pay the fee (in crisp, uncirculated cash), but have no idea how it was used. You have to obey and trust and just hope that it is used for it's intended purpose. After we are finished with doing what we have been called to do, it is totally out of our hands and up to the receiver to do what he/she is called to do. Hmm...seeing any parallels there? I am realizing the parallels as I write...When God calls us to do something, we must trust and obey and leave the rest up to Him! Sometimes, we will see the fruits of our obedience and often times we will not. We were so thrilled to see how our gift was used at Ryan's orphanage.

Note: The last name has been blurred for internet purposes.