Saturday, February 26, 2011

Time to take your medicine

By request, I have videoed Dasha taking her medicine. She takes Zerit, Kaletra, and Epivir. I realize that people may hate me after watching this because Kaletra is nortiously vile and it doesn't seem to phase Dasha in the least. On top of that, the 3rd med she takes is a pill that most people swallow. She chews it. I had to bite one in half once, it is really bad too. This is HIV management at our house. We do this twice a day.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Prayer Requests

I have been thinking a lot about prayer. About what we pray about. I have noticed a theme that has convicted me recently.

Think about the following prayer:

Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for your love and forgiveness. Thank you for loving me and giving me eternal life. Help me to honor and glorify you in my life.
Lord, I pray you keep us safe as we travel tonight. Watch over us and suround us with your hedge of protection. I pray that "xxx's" upcoming surgery is smooth and he has a rapid recovery with minimum pain...

Do you see it?

Safety. Keep us safe. Protect us.

So what's wrong with that?

Well, I don't think we are really praying for safety. If we are His children, the sheep of His pasture, what safer place could we be in than in the palm of his hand? After all, "... no one will snatch them out of My hand." John 10:28
So what are we praying for then?

I think we are praying for comfort. Lord, keep me comfortable. I want to honor and glorify You with my life as long as I am not too hot or too cold or in pain or experiencing some extended illness. I don't want any part of that but I want to honor and glorify You. Really I do...

Really?

What if an accident on the way home is going to glorify Him? What if experiencing extended illness will glorify Him? What if loosing everything glorifies Him? What if adopting a child with severe emotional issues glorifies Him?
What if...
What if...
What if...

"Keep us safe, Lord," really means protect my comfort, doesn't it?

"I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world." John 16:33

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Romans 8:15


I submit that this is not who we are supposed to be. We are to be strong and courageous. This specific command is heard over and over in the Bible.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Is there something you are supposed to be strong and courageous about today?
What are you staring down the barrel of?
Asking protection from?
I challenge you to remember who your Father is and change your perspective.
Stop focusing on safety and start committing to the honoring and glorifying.
Lest you feel judged, the above was my prayer, remember.
I challenge myself to do the same.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Help Mickey help Addison! Help Mickey help Addison!

Ok, so it sounds better when Tom Cruise says it that other way. So I'll try it. Help me help you! Help me help you...
make a difference for Addison.

Just look at this little stinker. She is clearly vibrant and full of life. In spite of the fact that she has lived her whole life as an orphan with HIV and a cleft palet. She faces imminent transfer if the her family doesn't get there soon. They heard the Holy Spirit's call and have answered with a resounding YES!
Now it's your turn. Your turn to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. I think he is saying, "Help her. Help me help you help her!"
How, you might ask?
Her family realizes that money is tight for everyone but they would really appreciate your financial help. So they have begun clearing out the house of every concievable item that is unnecessary. They have listed furnature on Craig's list. On top of that, they are offering a giveaway. Every $5 received between now and 2/28/11 will earn one entry into the giveaway for an exclusive figurine from the Walt Disney Classics Collection. It is the membership only millennium piece. Who wouldn't want that? Birthdays are coming, Mother's day is coming, St. Patrick's Day is coming. Here is your chance to get a bargain gift worth substancially more than $5. Not to say that you are limited to giving Only $5. Feel free to be as generous as possible.

Click on this link to donate. You can change the world, one child at a time.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day

It has been a while since you've seen "the Dash" in action so enjoy this snippet of Dasha singing me a song.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Home schooling opportunity

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

I'm looking into some additional work for my children to do and this was an excellent opportunity to try something for free!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Burried

We are buried under snow.
The children are delighted. Even though we home school, I gave a snow day. Someone needs to shovel and last time I did, my back was in spasm for days.

I had another blizzard of sorts yesterday.

I received pictures of 7 orphaned children.

A blizzard of need.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of blizzard that is easy for most to ignore.

When is the last time you heard about orphans if you weren't looking for the information? Did you hear about it in church? On the news? Read it in the news paper?
Nope.
It is the invisible blizzard. In fact if you, like me, carry a shovel and try to do anything about it, people look at you like you are crazy. What do you mean, orphan blizzard? Why do you want more kids? You don't need any more kids.

Mean while, 147 million orphans are burried.
Forgotten.
Unknown and unloved.

I can't live with that.

So I rail against the storm of apathy.
These children exist. They belong to God. If we are his hands and feet, we must make a difference for them.

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Punish those who hurt others. Help orphans. Stand up for the rights of widows.

James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Proverbs 24:12 If you say, "We don't know anything about this," God, who knows what's in your mind, will notice. He is watching you, and he will know. He will reward each person for what he has done.