Children of God

Remember to turn off the music at the bottom and take a 5 minutes out to watch.  You will be blessed for it.  We are all His adopted children.

In just one week...

Reflecting on the past week, I am amazed at how much I have seen, felt, and shared in just 7 days.  Some of the moments I have pictures to share and some of them will be engraved in the memory of my heart,  mind and soul.  

 

One week ago, I was able to celebrate my husband's birthday with most of our family, minus one special son.  Nathan has been working out of town and we miss seeing him and will celebrate his birthday late when he finally returns. This is the first time he hasn't been able to celebrate along with his daddy in 21 years and we sure did miss it!

On Monday, I shared in the joy and heartbreak with a sweet mom as she prepared to adopt a little boy, knowing this was the best thing for him, yet sad for the birthmom unable to care for him.  What bittersweet emotions!

On Tuesday, I had the awesome opportunity to share my testimony and our journey of faith with the local women's club about how God has led us to share in the lives of children around the world and to adopt our two girls. Then as I put my sweet baby girl to bed she told me, "Mommy, I love you," on her own without me saying it first.  What an absolute joy to hear her say those sweet words!

On Wednesday, I shared in the joys and fears with a friend as she watched her sister give birth to her precious pre-term baby girl at only 25 weeks, weighing only 1.10 pounds.  Please pray that God will continue to strengthen this family in the months ahead as this sweet baby matures on her long road ahead. 

On Thursday, I visited with a sweet friend as she travels on the hard road that this nasty disease called cancer causes so many of us to walk down.  Praying God gives her direction and wisdom to make the proper decisions.

And today, I watched, as most of you did, the devastation caused by earthquakes and tsunamis around the world.  My heart breaks as I think of the families lives that will be changed forever and I am reminded, yet again, at how fragile and precious life truly is. 

Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Pain, Relief, Hurt, Praise....so many emotions we experience but ONE GOD that loves us and has already walked this journey, knowing exactly what we will face and which people we need to lift us up as we travel the pathways of life.  I love you sweet friends and am praying for many of you now!

Be still and listen

After a VERY long day at school one day this week, I came home more than ready to relax.  Since the weather was beautiful, Lia and I took a walk and talked about all of the beautiful sounds of nature and sights that God has given us.  We stopped to look and listen to the birds singing as we walked, so stopping me to get my attention wasn't really a big deal.  The following conversation, though, was what really caught my attention:

"Mommy, could you stop please?"
 "Ok, why?"
"Cause I hear Jesus talking."
"What's He saying?"
 "He saying He loves you,""you have to be still and listen."

With big tears in my eyes, I said, "Yes, we have to be still to hear God don't we."

He knows just what we need and when we need to hear it and it couldn't have sounded any sweeter!