Goodbye/hello

Well, it's the last day of 2008. We are ending on a good note. We have spent the last 4 days skiing on the continental divide. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, and no one got hurt. Most importantly, I definitely earned most improved skier award. Each day that I ski I usually experience what I call a "spectacular fall". Not only did I not fall AT ALL today, I skied on blue runs and held my own with the kids when we all ran together. WOOHOO!!!

If we are ending on a good note, that must mean that we are beginning on a good note. As I look to the new year, I see God's plan laid out before us. On Friday the 2nd, we find out if Biruk and Hana passed court. Even if they haven't passed yet, we know that God has chosen these 2 children to join our family. What a blessing. We begin the second half of our first homeschooling year. I think the kids are learning, we are teaching, and we are becoming a stronger family. We are trying out a new church home and it seems like a nice fit. I feel that I don't have to look hard to see God's blessings raining down upon us. Does this mean that we don't have troubles? No. We have plenty of troubles, but I have chosen to set my eyes on Christ, The author of my life.

I pray that this year, through the good and the bad, you keep your eyes on the Heavenly Father who loves you.

I Thesselonians 5:23

Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self- spirit, soul, and body, be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the one who calls you to do that for you.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from my little friends

God's adventure

By request (shout out to my sil Cindy), the movie we made after Mel came home.

Enjoy.

I'm in the club!

Well, it's happened. I have officially become one of "those" people. You know the ones. Those crazy people who have more than 3 kids. And 3 is pushing it. Not to say that Biruk and Hana are officially ours yet. Just that I have received "the look" and the comments that accompany it. "You can stop now." Really? Did God talk to you about me lately? He told you I was to stop? I've filled my quota?
That's not what I heard. When I read the bible, I realize I am never supposed to stop. What ever God tells me to do, I am supposed to do it. I have never read about a time frame. John chapter 2 tells the story about the first miracle Jesus did- turning water into wine. I love what Mary tells the servants in verse 5. She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it."

WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU, DO IT.


Of course we've heard this from Mary before. She embodies the spirit we are supposed to have. Back when the angel told her she was to be the mother of Jesus. "Let it be to me as you have said." What ever God tells her to do, she will do it. In this case she was talking to servants. Well, if you are a Christian, you are a servant of Jesus, and she's talking to you too.

What does Paul have to say?
Galatians 1:10 Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

WHAT EVER HE TELLS YOU, DO IT.

It is so liberating. I don't care how people look at me. I only care how Jesus looks at me. Am I pleasing him? Am I serving him? I am his servant.

I have been given the privilege of serving him by taking care of his orphaned children. I get to be their mom.

Oh dear Jesus, bring it on. My arms are open, my heart is yours. What ever you tell me to do, give me the ability to do it.

I am proud to be in the club!

Excitement

We received great news today and I just have to share.
We now know our court date for Biruk and Hana. It is December 26th. There are many variables that effect if this will be the final court date or not, but we have faith in our Heavenly Father that all will happen in His perfect timing. I hope that the 26th is His time!!!! I pray that I will be faithful in what ever happens.
Hang on kiddos, Mom and Dad are coming for you!!

Stumbled upon

My brother has a favorite tool on his web browser. I think it's called "stumbled upon" or something like that. Anyway, the idea is that if you stumble upon something on the web that you wish to share with someone else, you can use this button and forward the entire page you are looking at to your friend. (At least that is what I think he told me it does.)
Well, as I like to get to know the people who read my blog, I take a look at what they are writing about on their blogs, as well as look at the blogs they follow. I stumble upon all kinds of funny, interesting and insightful things. I gleaned a doosie from Audrey's blog. (thank you Audrey)From my reading, I surmise that it is okay for me to forward this on to any and all who would read and come away with a purpose.
I believe this is necessary reading for anyone who calls themselves a Christian and seeks to live life according to God's purpose. If you've been waiting for God to send you a "calling", guess what I just stumbled upon? That's right, your calling.
Read this and CONSIDER YOURSELF CALLED!!!
http://doctordavid.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/courage/

I don't feel so good

I realize I have done a disservice to my dear husband Scott. The few of you who don't know him have only seen him as the fish man. So here he is as of 10 minutes ago. More on him later.

I am a sickie this week. Did anyone else get more than a couple of extra pounds this holiday? I did. It started with a stomach bug and blossomed into a fantastic head cold/sinus infection. I don't quite get the progression. I was in bed most of Monday and all of Tuesday. feeling better on Wednesday. Now, once I get moving, I'm okay during the day, but around 7 I really start to tank. (that's more info than anyone really needs, but hey, I'm a giver)

When I am sick, it really becomes evident just how wonderful my sweet Scott is. He is the same person he always is, but when I have to slow down, his gentle character really shines. Even though he got into bed at 2 am, he gets up and makes sure everyone has breakfast and gets Mel on the bus. He got out all of the Christmas decorations and he and the kids decorated. If I had not been sick, I would have directed how everything should look. This way, the children got to use all of the decorations I am too lazy to put out. When there was no more space to decorate, he put all of the bins away. He didn't pressure me to "get better". (I always do that to him) He made sure I had enough blankets, brought me tea, took the kids to the village Christmas party, made sure chores got done, at least some school work got done, and the house does not look like a bomb went off. On top of all of that, there is still anxiety over the "12 pound turkey incident" and he is there to advise and comfort those who need it. While I would be stressed and anxious and pushing him to get over it, he gives me all the time I need.

When I have to slow down, I am shamed by my attitude toward him most of the time. I do not support him the way I should. I poke fun at him and he just smiles, I am bossy and he doesn't get flustered. He constantly shows me love, even when I can't stand my self.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives and be gentle with them.

I don't know anyone who embodies this verse more than Scott does. While I have been known to rag on an on about him, Scott has always been gentle with me. He has consistently shown me love and consideration in spite of how I have behaved. Does he have trouble finishing a task? Sure. Is he easily distracted? Most definitely. Do I doubt his love for me? Not in a million years, because he loves me and is gentle with me.

Even though he is a cuddlebug and I am a porcupine, he loves me.

When I am all better, I will have to reread this post. Maybe print it out and use it as a book mark in my Bible so I don't forget.

He LOVES me.

picked up a tag

I picked up a tag off from another blog. Because I am new, I have never been tagged. It was more of a "if you've never been tagged, you're it" kind of a thing, but that's ok. So forth file, fourth picture.

This is a picture of flat Stanley going to Ethiopia with my friend Sue and I. He was experiencing a little air sickness. If you aren't familiar with Flat Stanley, it is a story about a boy who had a billboard fall on him while he slept. He was flat after that, so his parents sent him everywhere in an envelope. It has become quite a project to have students mail him to someone and they write a story about what Stanley did while he was with them. Instead of mailing Andy's flat Stanley to anyone, we took him to Ethiopia with us. He helped us deliver donations to AHOPE, watch the babies and just ended up in some really fun pictures.