French fries

Yes, you read the title correctly.

It was that one greasy french fry that caused me to forget where my mind was 

originally focused when I awoke this morning.  

See, some of you have been such an inspiration to me for so many different reasons.  

People like my friends at  
Psalm51ministeries,
who are participating in a 21 day corporate fast,
and my dear friend, 
 Rebecca, at Our Journey.
who spends 24/7 ministering to children far from her home and family. 
Then there is Amy at Building the Blocks, 
whose family is leaving to go into full-time mission work.

 Yesterday, one of those inspirations came from
Emma, at Emonamission,
as she wrote about the orphans that burdened her heart.  She was fasting and praying today for the God of heaven to pave the way for the adoptions of the least of these.  I chose to join her, to fast and pray and cry out to God for hearts to be softened for these precious babies. My focus had remained throughout the breakfast and lunch hours and up until my sweet Lia came into my classroom with that greasy french fry and ever so sweetly offered me one. I began to eat a couple before I ever remembered my focus for the day.  

As I thought about what had just happened, I realized just how quickly Satan can cause us to loose our focus on whatever God desires for us. It takes so little to cause our mind to forget whatever it is that we desire to do for the One who gave His life for us.  I could have said, "Oh well, my fast is blown and over now," or I could choose to set my eyes on Him again.  Really, no one else knew anyway and why did it matter?  It mattered because God knew and He and I are the very best of friends.  I wasn't doing it for me, my family, friends or anyone else but The One who truly mattered. So, I walked away from the fries and asked the Lord to be my strength in my weakness and to raise up people who will have a desire to provide a forever home to little girls like Lia's dear friend who LWB is advocating for today. 

I am so glad this little girl is finally on a list to possibly find her family.  Lia has asked me many times when I tell her it took us a long time to find her, "Why you take so long?"  I told her we were waiting for the call to go get her.  I have some sweet pictures of the two of them together and ask that you join me in praying for her family to hear the call.

Love them like Jesus

I just added two songs to my music list at the bottom of my page. One of them I was looking for because I love the message, "There are no Orphans of God", and the other I found accidentally, "Love them Like Jesus, by Casting Crowns." This last song, however, I know was no accident, as there are no accidents with God. The lyrics are beautiful and I hope you will take time to listen. It really spoke to my heart because it seems lately, that I have had a lot of questions and very few answers. This timing of our adoption has become a big concern and I have to continually pray that God KNOWS the perfect timing and He alone will work out all of the details. The longer we wait the closer we get to prom, graduation and all of the activites that go with a senior in high school. However, all we have been called to do is follow Him and that means I must "LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS" and allow Him to handle the details. I know that God knows the desires of our heart and He will work it all out. Your prayers for the perfect timing and for my anxiety are greatly appreciated.

How can you love a child so much and yet you have never met them? I was blessed beyond measure this week to visit a yahoo group that I am apart of and see pictures of our baby girl at her orphanage with her friends. Another mom that recently adopted an older child had some pictures posted. I scanned EVERY single picture carefully trying to see if our little one was in any of them. It didn't take long to pick her out in a crowd.

(She's in the top right hand corner, holding up her little hands)

The funny part though was the next picture. The other mom asked me if it was ours little girl and I said "no," because the one in the picture was too old. Come to find out, that was the other mom's child and our little one is sitting right beside her. This picture was taken a couple of years ago. Aren't they both precious?

(Thank you, Suzanne, for a glimpse into my baby girl's life. So glad she shared it with such a sweet girl!)

I can't believe I missed her, but I thought it was a current picture and it was really a few years old. As each of us in the family studied the picture, the first thing we each noticed was the tear in her eye. It brought tears to my heart wondering if anyone was there during those years to dry her tears. My heart breaks for the orphans of the world that will never know the love of a family. That certainly doesn't mean our family is perfect and we aren't always overflowing with a sugary coated love, but we are there for each other through thick and thin and there is always someone with whom we can share our laughter and tears.

What a joy to know that there are no orphans with God! Do you love them like Jesus? We are each called to do just that. I am amazed at how many scriptures in the Word command us to love the fatherless and orphans. How are you doing that? It isn't a suggestion in the Word, but a command. Does that mean everyone has to adopt? No, but if we follow His command, we all must LOVE them in some way or another. What does that look like for you?

I will leave you with a few of the moments we have shared recently.

Fun in the snow

Lest I forget to share, my beautiful son/daughter dressed for a student fundraiser
benefiting, SADD. We shared many laughs that night!Like father, like son! Happy birthday to some of my favorite guys!

This is the smile that has been capturing my heart for 23 years!

Nannie, Mimi and Claire, from the oldest girl in the family to the youngest.Tia with her beautiful dresses waiting to share with her little sister
Thanks to Mimi!

Pray for these...

As I ponder the blessings of Mother's Day in my own family I can't help but think of all the little boys and girls without anyone to call Mommy. My own little girl whom I will someday wrap my arms around, may be sitting in an orphanage right now without the love of a family although I am confident that God's arms are wrapped aroud her even now. This video and song is such a reminder that there are no orphans in God's eyes. What a blessing that He loves us and has adopted us as His own.