Hotdogs for breakfast

Mommy, me three hot dog....


Hmmm, having to regulate the amount of hotdogs eaten in any given day was a new experience for me.


Other things have been very much the same, in any culture or any language.


"Mommy, lookameeeee!" is Vilnis' number one useful English expression. Jumping in the pool 100 times in a row without ever losing the desire to have each jump be celebrated and noticed.


"Mommy, me pretty?", nine year old Natalija wonders. "Yes, Natalija. You are very pretty."
"Me hair?"
"Yes, I like your hair-do. I think it's cute and spunky."
"Me too."


Thank you, God, for a normal day of normal things.
Thank you, Grandmama and Granddaddy for loving on Laurel and Brennan at sailing camp this week. Three kids now seems like a breeze.
Perspective.

Psalm 121

"Run for the hills" was the advice given to my husband by a well-meaning Christian friend...a male friend...a pastor friend, when venting about the anger management issues we have been dealing with.


To which, this verse popped into my head in defense: Psalm 121:1-3, 7


I lift my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip-
He who watches over you will not slumber....
He will watch over your life


Safety is not in self-preservation, but in obedience to the loving hands of God, our Father.


This may be an obedience journey in the beginning, but I can already see so many blessings that may come, not just for them, but for us all.


Sweet hugs, smiles, thank yous, and a safe place to grow up and learn of the one who LOVES them.


May our love not grow tired and weary.
May our compassions never fail, the very way that you love us.
May faithfulness never leave us.


God, only You can love like that.
Please teach us.

237 times

My name "Mama, Mommy, mamu, MOM!!!! was called 237 times today. Two hundred and thirty-seven times that I counted. I reached a desperate point around mid-day...not sure that I can do this.

Tears at bedtime (not mine).
Smiles and hugs.
Stories shared.
Swimming in the pool.
Playdough swept off the floor.
Bone weary.

Why is five exponentially harder than three?

Psalm 55:22a, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” (NLT)

John 13:35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (NLT)

a safe place

Psalm 84:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
      and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
   at a place near your altar,
      O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

Birds often make a nest at the top of our back porch columns.
They are a reminder to me of the safe haven "near God's altar"

Yesterday I met with my third younger friend this year. The third friend who would sit on my couch and confide in the me the hurt they had suffered from sexual abuse and neglect as a child. As the tears poured down, and Scriptures were shared, and God's presence comforted... I understood that we have been given a mission. My personal anxiety melted. This is not about me, my family, and my comfort and ability to control.


I do not know what N and V have suffered. I do not know what hurts they may have buried deep within. Hurts that may not even surface until some distant time in the future, taking everyone by surprise.


It is not my job to heal, but to participate with God in providing a safe place close to Him where they may find healing.

Healing Begins lyrics, Tenth Avenue North

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside

So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear


So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LartL77Nuqs&feature=related

I am here

Caffeinated. High Strung.
Tears welling up in my eyes as I pour out my heart.
You are the lifter of my head.
I feel your arms around me. Lifting my chin.


"I love you, and you can do this.
                 I am here."




You're blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow His directions,
doing your best to find Him.
That's right - you don't go off on your own;
You walk straight along the road He set.


Psalm 119:1-3 MSG

The flagstone path to the koi pond in our first home. This was one of my favorite quiet spots to meet with God.

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head (Psalm 3:3).

Be at rest O my soul

Be at rest, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:7


I said to myself, Relax and  REST. God has showered you with blessings. (Message)

June has been a whirlwind.
Family trip to the beach.
Vacation Bible School
Baseball camp for Brennan and Camp KidJam (away church camp) for Laurel
Filling out homestudy and dossier paperwork, doctor's appointments, birth certificates, marriage license copies, insurance papers, financial papers, travel papers
Landscaping our swampland
Girls with Pearls
Planning an American Girl/Pool Party/Sleepover for Laurel's 10th birthday


I spoke with my very pregnant friend, just days away from delivery:
I had always thought that all the weird stuff you do, like waking up at 4:00 in the morning, cleaning out closets, shopping and planning and organizing was hormonal. During my three pregnancies, I went through intense "nesting". Now, just days away from meeting Natalija and Vilnis for the first time, I'm nesting again. Up at 4. Lists, shopping, mind whirling. Anticipating, Worrying over having to get a hotel in Atlanta instead of being able to bring them straight home. EXPECTANT.


Be at rest, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.


God is gracious. It is He who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, He saved me. (vs. 6 MSG)

Mary Jayne's welcome banner

It is amazing to me that the Lord can grow such a love in my heart for two children that I have never met. We have a picture. We have a very short bio. We've had a conversation with someone who has hosted them before. And yet, God has birthed a LOVE in my heart that can only be explained by Himself, and His great love for us. We did nothing to deserve love, and yet, He chose to love us. When we were born, we did nothing to make our parents love us, and yet they did. Loved us enough to sacrifice time and money, and freedom, and sleep and ambitions for us. Amazing love that never quits.


God, thank you, for adopting us into your family. Thank you for having a heart so big to have room for each of us. Thank you for the enthusiasm our family has shown in taking two children in to be a part of us.


The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:23)
This is God's work. We rub our eyes- we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted- let's celebrate and be festive! (MSG)


He has bathed us in light. (27)

Dawn and Dusk

Dawn and dusk take turns calling, 
"Come and worship."
Psalm 65:8, Message