What is she thinking??

Spring Break 09

It's been so long since I have been able to post some pictures that I am probably getting a little carried away!?

We tried a new camping spot this spring. We went to Prizer Point in Cadiz. It was nice. We had a great time. Lots of fishing and bike riding. Some stormy weather came along that cut our trip a little short (I didn't want to ride out a thunder/hail storm in a pop up), but we had a wonderful few days.

Sydney's 10!!

I can't believe she is 10! We had a great party!! We swam, ate homemade ice cream (Butterfinger of course.....her favorite) and lots of cake. Here are a few pics to capture the night!!

If you could only see my mailbox.....

If my silly cord worked and I could plug in my camera and show you the picture of my mailbox right now you would see that the flag is up, meaning that I need my mail lady to come and take the contents. Any other day this would be no big deal. Maybe some bills or a card. Today it is a VERY BIG DEAL!! The contents in my mailbox consist of an envelope addressed to All God's Children Adoption Agency. There is an adoption application in the packet, a $300 check, and two pictures of my family. I stood at my front door for several minutes before I turned the handle to walk down my sidewalk to the mailbox. Is this for real?? Are we really doing this?? Yes we are!!!

Before I started this post I paused to read the previous one. How could I have ever imagined what was to come in a few short weeks. Adoption is something that Jody and I have talked about over the past few years. You know those conversations you have in the car on your way home from a trip (when the kids are not clowning around of fussing). But over the past several months those conversations have become very real. They have turned from "what if" to "let's pray". I felt the restlessness, the longing, the aching fade away. We prayed that we would be allowed to be a part of something only God could do. That our hearts would change. That we would be conformed to His image. I told a dear friend last night (at the baseball park while we were dodging crazy foul ball and trying to watch our 2 year olds) that only God could allow this much uncertainty and yet total peace.

We decided several months ago that we wanted another child. We have had months of trying to conceive (which is very odd for us) and one miscarriage in the spring. As each month has gone by God confirmed our desire for more children. Just not in the way we first assumed. Doesn't that sound like Him?? But, I believe that if it had not been for these experiences we might not have gotten to the decision to adopt.

So, as of now, I see a trip to Africa in our future (unless He has other plans). We are being very open with our possibilities. We would love a son. Another little boy would be fantastic. But, I don't want to shut any doors. I have spent countless hours reading, blogging, praying, and reading more. Anything I can get my hands on regarding orphans in Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Did you know that in Ethiopia:

1 in 3 people are HIV positive (with no access/education on American drugs that could save them)

1 in 10 children die before their 1st birthday

1 in 6 die before their 5th birthday

720,000 children have been orphaned due to AIDs

5 million orphans live in a country less than twice the size of Texas

My eyes have been opened to the terrible conditions, the effects of genocide, poverty, child prostitution/sex trade, HIV. As a Christian I can't turn away. I feel like I am just beginning to truly learn that my life is not my own. As we take this step, I feel like we are relinquishing all control and may never get it back?!?

Hold on to Me

"I try to be good enough, but I am nothing without your love, Savior please, keep saving me....." As I set to type this post, this song is playing on the ipod. It seems fitting. I seem to be on the verge of tears most days. Not because I feel stressed or worried. Not because I am tired (even though I am). But because I want something more....something I don't even know yet. My heart literally aches. I long for a more genuine, true, uninhabited faith that holds nothing back. Did you know that there are 143 million children in the world with no parents? People under our own noses that are in need, desperate need. Families are falling apart. Our teenagers are held to such low expectations....if they don't do drugs, get pregnant, or try to commit suicide than we're doing OK??? And you turn on the news, and all you hear is the newest stats on Swine Flu or the ups n downs of the stock market.

How's that for some doom and gloom? Maybe I shouldn't have turned on the computer. Sorry!! I pray for us, that we will be mighty warriors, bold, wherever He should take us and in His name!

Let's Try This Again

I have missed blogging! I want to do this so badly, but other things just get in the way. For example, Jody is out of town on business and this is a recount of my last several hours: Harper will not leave her diaper on and has peed in the floor 3 times, Carson spilt a glass of ice water all over Syd's homework, Syd spilt a Diet Coke can out of the refrigerator, Hudson threw up (gagged while coughing) and Murray (the dog) threw up 4 times because Harper had been feeding him scrambled eggs. This is one to many messes, especially when the cloud of pregnancy nausea is hovering over!!

Oh well, another day around here!! So, I am going to have to work in this blog. I soooo want to preserve this journey for my kids (not to mention it is a great way to keep long distance family and friends plugged into our lives). So for all of my blog fans (all 2 of you), hold my feet to the fire on this!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Following is a quote from Mother Theresa:



"I feel the greatest destroyer of today is abortion because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that the mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell people not to kill one another? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we must remind ourselves that love means being willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His own life to love us.... By abortion the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion."