Multi-Tasking Husband!

My husband wears many hats on Sundays! He helps with the Security Team, the Connections Team and the Check-In Kiosk Team.

Today... he multi-tasked in a fantastic way! He was working Security and while sitting there, took some time to feed one of the babies. I am so thankful that my hubby joins me in ministry each week... he is a wonderful blessing to me!

(This little one belongs to my sweet friend Staci Rowenhorst. Danica is a cutie!)

It's Arrived!

Our Home Study Paperwork has arrived! We will now begin diving into the 13 Documents!

We are getting closer to our Ethiopian Blessing!

Blog Stalking

My sweet friend Alece has a blog that I stalk each evening. In the last year, God has used her constantly to teach me more about His love, more about His character and more about His faithfulness.

Yesterday she had a beautiful post about Women and their Fellas... take a gander.

www.gritandglory.com/2009/11/05/listen-up-guys/

Not Prisons

I dearly love my mentor and friend, Susan Blount. Her passion for Jesus is contagious and I just love her heart for others. God has chosen to always allow our lives to journey on similar paths. She shared this on facebook yesterday and I thought many of you would get something from reading it... I did.

• All of us face tests everyday. Some are seemingly inconsequential, but others shape the rest of our lives. The challenge is to learn to see these tests from God's perspective. Our times of pain and confusion aren't meant to be prisons that keep us from enjoying life. Instead God wants to use them as classrooms to ...teach us the most valuable lessons we can ever learn. - Scott Wilson "The Next Level"

Journal/Scrapbook/Scribblings

I want our child to know the journey of how God united her with our family. So, today I began a journal/scrapbook/scribblings of our thoughts, events and beauty of God joining us with our little Ethiopian blessing!

I hope she will enjoy it one day!

Parent Pondering

Warning before you read this post: I am NOT a parent... these are just thoughts. Don't get aggravated and send me mean emails.

I had a fantastic conversation today with a great friend (and a great parent) that made me think... and has made me ponder parenting thoughts...

She said that she heard a sermon recently that said (paraphrased), "The way a child turns out is not a report card or reflection of how the parent did in parenting them... The parent pours into that child and disciples them. The child will have choices to make in their life. Those choices will be between that child and Jesus in how they live."

My friend said... we parents really take ownership so deeply if our child fails or succeeds. If the child succeeds, "Yay! I've done a great job"... or if the child makes a choice I don't like, "I'm sad, I've failed as a parent".

That's a lot of pressure on a parent... and one that I'm not sure is quite accurate.

I began thinking about this... and then thought:

When WE choose to be disobedient, it is not a reflection of God's faithfulness or unfaithfulness... He doesn't change, His love is consistent... it's OUR choice to walk a different path. So when I sin... that doesn't mean God has failed me or He is now unfaithful... it means I sinned... and I made a bad choice... not a reflection on my Heavenly Father.

Parents pour into their kids... discipling them... molding them... then, it's up to the Holy Spirit and the child... a child's poor choice doesn't mean mom and dad are poor parents... it means they are learning and growing and God is going to use each moment to draw them closer to Himself.

As I said... I am not a parent... I'm just thinking out loud. When I do become a parent I will probably look back at this post and think, "What was I thinking?"

Tis the Season!

The beauty of the little red cups have arrived... tis the season for holiday goodness! Staci and I enjoyed the yumminess during lunch today! Why is it when you see these red cups you just know the holidays are upon us? Bring on the turkey...

Home Study Application Accepted!

We got a call this afternoon... our application to our Home Study Agency was accepted! American World Adoption will be the Agency to do our Home Study. The lead social worker called today to confirm that she is looking forward to working with us!

Next Step?
The 1Million pieces of paper for the Home Study should arrive in the mail in the next two days.

... and the journey continues...

Tweets on Tuesday

I'm on Twitter... and I read Tweets on my Crackberry. Here are some this week that have made me think, reflect and pray...

1. @toddgaston "My joy is not determined by what happens to me. But what Christ is doing in me and through me." Steven Furtick
2. @nationsone 90% of all ministers worldwide are concentrating on 2% of the world's population We're overly evangelizing where the gospel is well planted
3. @tedegly Instead of complaining & being critical today...what if you told 3 to 5 people how much you appreciate them.
4. @patsyclairmont: Marty in medically induced coma, feverish, and requiring 65% oxygen. Lord rescue our son
5. @Rowenhorsts There is so much hurt in the world. Lord, let me see seasons of peace as nothing less than a miraculous gift straight from your hands.

Journey of Justice

Yesterday IJM came and spoke at The Mount. They did an incredible job in portraying God's heart for those that are oppressed and our responsibility to be a part of the answer.

It was very incredible to hear the response from the great people in this body of believers. To read their Facebook status and Tweets last night was moving. God is at work... and the beautiful part is that He allows us to be a part of the work.

Last night our small group watched the IJM Documentary, "At The End of Slavery". So powerful. All small groups will have the opportunity to view it in the next two weeks. I am excited to see this journey of justice that He is about to take The Mount and it's people on.