Josie, Our Joy

As I read over the last two blog posts and thought about all that has happened in the last year, I am overwhelmed.  We welcomed Josie home one year ago today.  I can hardly believe it has already been a year, even though I can barely remember life without her.  

This is a picture of our sweet Josie in China.  Do you notice anything missing?  I do.  This picture is so precious, but it always reminds me of a painful reality, we were not there.  Tyson and I did not travel to China to get Josie.  Of course that was not our choice.  We had no control over the situation.  But we did travel to get Ren, which makes me even more aware of what we missed.  We had very few pictures of Josie in China and very few of her time with her travel group.  My heart ached to know more and fill in the missing pieces.  So, I did what any good, (slighty psychotic) mom would do, I turned to YAHOO.  Yes, if you travel among the adoption community, you know what I am talking about.  A few weeks or so after Josie came home, I joined a Yahoo group for families that had adopted from the Zhejiang province in China.  I wrote a simple post stating something like, "We had adopted our daughter through a dissolved adoption.  We did not travel to China to get her.  Any info about her province would be appreciated."  Time passed and I had heard nothing.  Then one day I had an email from the Zhejiang travel group.  I was totally unprepared for what I read.  The email was from a lady who was in Josie's travel group!  She had all kinds of pictures of Josie and sweet stories of their time in China.  That one email set off a chain of events that I can barely wrap my heart around, much less, write down.

These pictures were taken at our pool on Memorial Day this year.  To the passerby, the pictures would be a normal group of friends.  Anyone looking in would see moms, dads and kids, (lots of kids).  But these pictures represent so much more. They tell a story of God's promises fulfilled and the enormity of His unmatchless love.
In Josie's China Travel group, there were a total of five families including Josie's first family.  Three of the families spent Memorial Day with us.  Did I mention one family drove all the way from Texas and another from Missouri? I was a little worried about having all the families over.  I mean we didn't really know each other.  Wouldn't it be weird?  Just like the rest of Josie's story, I can't explain that day.  It was so easy, so joyful.  These families have prayed for us and given us the link to Josie's past that we would have otherwise not had.
One other family was not able to make it Memorial Day but guess who I ran into at the Orphan Summit? None other than the mom from that family!!

The one other thing that I totally had no clue about was Josie's Chinese town and the orphanage that she came from.  Even though Josie was in China with these other families, she was the only one adopted from her orphanage.  The Lord knew my heart and that I desired to know all I could, but I thought that finding out anything else was unlikely......of course until I got another email from the Zhejiang group.  This time it was an email from a precious lady in the NETHERLANDS!  She was able to tell me about Josie's town and her orphanage.  And guess what else?  Her son and Josie were in the orphanage together!

I could not make all of this up if I tried.  This is just the cliff note version of our story.  There are so many other miracles. It just overwhelms me that the Lord has provided so much for me, but more importantly for Josie.  As she grows up, she may, like a lot of adopted children, struggle with identity or feelings of abandonment.  As she hears her story, there is one thing she has to know:  The Lord, our creator, our savior, loved her and had plans for her.

We celebrated today.  Josie's Forever Family Day.  We went to see Planes at the movies.  We ate at Shogun, (Japanese food, I know:), with one of the dear families from her travel group.  We went to Target and she picked out a Tinkerbell doll.  But the best thing about today was Josie, pointing to herself, telling everybody, very proudly, "MY DAY".

To my Josie:  You are a joy and why the Lord has given me the privilege to be your mother, I will never know.  I love you!

To Josie's travel group:  Thank you for loving our girl, loving our family, and filling the gaps for us!

To my Lord:  I praise you Lord God, the God of Israel, who ALONE does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to your glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with your glory, Psalm 72:18,19.

6 Months Later

Six months ago, Miss Josie became a member of our family.  When I think back on that day, it is almost humorous.  It wasn't anything like any of our other additions.  We knew for 9 months that Ty and Henry were  each on their way.  We prepared for Ren for over five years.  With all three of them there was the usual fan fare, excitement, showers, visits to the hospital, trip to China, the usual, right?  But Josie.......the whole process took about three weeks.  Our social worker pulled up in her minivan and delivered Josie.  Our boys were extremely confused.  They didn't understand why we weren't packing for China.  The day was so.....uneventful, I guess is the only way to describe it.  But let me reassure you, life since that day has been anything but.....and not because things have been difficult;  absolutely, the opposite.  Life with Josie can be described with one word, MIRACULOUS. She is kind and gentle,  loving and joyful, smart and endearing.  She has grown tremendously in her speech and in her overall development.  She is amazing.

And on to another miraculous turn, Josie's adoption fees were $15,000.  And of course, we had no money.  We haven't had much of a chance to rebuild our savings since our last adoption.  Right off the bat we received three grants that totaled a little over $6000!  We only needed $8600.  By December, we still did not have the money, though I have to say, I wasn't really worried.  I mean my Lord brought my Chinese daughter TO me, I knew He could take care of the fees.  And He did!!!  Our adoption Agency, Bethany Christian Services, has amazing donors.  They had approached one of their donors concerning Josie's adoption fees.  By the end of the conversation, they had committed to paying off Josie's entire adoption!!!  As if that weren't enough, our agency shared with us that the donors were the same donors that had given a $4000 grant to our family to begin Ren's adoption over 7 years ago.  We are not allowed to know personal information about our donors, but I know this; because of their obedience to the Lord, their hearts for orphans, and their selfless giving, I have two beautiful little girls that have forever changed my life.

As I lay in bed and think on all the Lord has done, I marvel at how good He is and how much He loves the orphan.  He calls people to adopt.  He calls people to pray.  He calls people to serve.  He calls people to give.  It is amazing to see how He has so woven our story together with so many of His servants. I hope you will be encouraged by Josie's story.  I hope you can see the hand of the Lord, but also see that He has a plan for you to do your part to "bring justice to the fatherless", Isaiah 1:17.

Here's a video of our precious girl!  You might have to pause the playlist to hear the video:)

Josie's Journey Home

 

It has been so long since my last blog post.  Isn't is amazing that my last post was about the loss of a child and this one is about the addition of one?  The latest addition to our family has raised many questions.  It has taken me a few weeks to get to a point where I can blog about what has taken place in our lives.  So here goes my very poor attempt to explain the unexplainable.

About a year ago, Ren and I began praying for a Chinese baby sister.  A friend of mine, Gwen, made the comment about her adopted children and that she adopted in pairs, two from China, two from Uganda, so that her children had someone that shared their history.  That comment confirmed in my heart that another little Chinese girl would complete our family.  However, Tyson was not so sure.  When I found out I was pregnant in January I thought, "Well, this is not exactly what I prayed for and if this baby comes out looking Chinese, I will have a lot of explaining to do!"  HA!  But then of course, our pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

I took a couple of months to heal and then began again thinking and praying about adding to our family through adoption.  All the while, Ren and I prayed for a Chinese baby sister and Tyson continued to not be so sure because we did not have the money to adopt from China and it would be impossible to go China and leave all our children behind.  So I prayed for a Chinese baby that we wouldn't have to go to China to get.  As you know, I am a planner.  We started taking foster care classes.  On the foster care paperwork I wrote "ASIAN " ,(and others as well), in the blank that said , "Race".  However, there is not an abundance of Asian children in foster care, (shocking I know).  I checked out Hawaii's foster care page, I mean Hawaiian children are practically Asian, right??  Keep in mind that though we did take foster care classes, we were not "officially" in the adoption process, especially not international adoption.

So in July I received a phone call from Amy Scott who is our social worker.  She walked us through our adoption with Ren.  When Amy calls my heart almost always stops because that means something is usually up.  She told me of a situation where a family had adopted a little girl from China and due to her special needs, (cleft palate), they wanted to dissolve the adoption.  She told us to pray and she would call us in a week or so.  We met with the couple and they indeed decided to dissolve the adoption.  We were asked to be the adoptive family.  As we prayed about what to do, Tyson said, "It is ludicrous to think that this might not be our child.  Of course she is.  She is exactly what you prayed for!"  And the rest is history.


So on August 10, 2012, Miss Josie Jiang Griffin joined her forever family. Amy brought her to our house.  My boys were so confused.  They wanted to pack their bags.  They thought we were getting on a plane to China, I mean that is where MOST Chinese baby sisters come from, just not our Josie.  We chose the name Josie because it is Tyson's grandma's name and when I looked up the meaning in Hebrew it means, "The Lord has added".  And He definitely has!


I know what most people are thinking right now.  What is a dissolved adoption?  It is where adoptive parents come to the decision that they are not able to parent their adopted child and they legally surrender all rights to the child.  Even as I type this my heart hurts.  I have been very angry towards this family but I have come to a place where all I feel towards them is thankfulness and compassion.  I am thankful because they brought my daughter home and they sought out a family for her.  I have compassion for them because I know they are hurting people.  It is not for me to debate whether or not they did the right thing.  It is not for me to understand.  Believe me, I have had a million thoughts and questions in my head.  How could they?  But each night when I am rocking my baby girl to sleep, she looks up at me with those beautiful eyes and I think, "How could they not?"  This sweet little girl is my daughter, she is home.

While we're rocking we listen to music.  Each night we listen to "Love Me Anyway" by Sidewalk Prophets.  It's the first song on my playlist.  I love that song because it talks about how the Lord loves me even though I am so not worthy.  It says "I am the the thorn in His crown.  I am the sweat from His brow.  I am Judas's kiss."  You know that is exactly what I am but He loves me anyway!  And to think about how the Lord of the universe heard my prayer and because of His love, answered my prayer and gave me such a special gift, it is more than I can comprehend.

⁸ Isaiah 40:28  Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

I love this verse!  I have been guilty of thinking, "I can't believe the Lord heard my prayer and He actually answered it!"  This verse is like the Lord looking at me and saying, "DUH!"  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  He is the everlasting God! He is the creator of the ends of the earth! And He is able to bring my Chinese daughter home from right down the road!

His mercies in disguise....

Proverbs 16:9  The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

I posted this verse with a picture of my positive pregnancy test to Facebook on January 27, 2012.  I am posting it again tonight followed by these brief words, my pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, but I know the Lord is good and I know He establishes our steps.

Back in January I began to feel a little sick.  I faintly remember feeling that way one time before.  I felt the same thing when I was pregnant with Henry.  Though we were definitely not trying to have a baby, I thought I should take a test, just in case.  The positive sign literally knocked the breath out of me.  The tears began to flow, (not of joy, I might add).  I mean, I am almost 36, I have three children already, and not mention I had begun filling out papers for our next adoption.  And did I mention I was supposed to board a plane bound for Uganda, Africa, on March 30?? I had my plan!!!!

So, I went to the doctor.  Told the world I was pregnant.  Canceled my trip to Uganda, (doctor's orders), and began to fall in love with the baby growing inside.  Though all the while I had a feeling that something wasn't right.

I went in for my 8 week appointment and begged to have an ultrasound.  I remember walking down that hall to the ultrasound room.  I could not wait to hear that "woosh, woosh" of my baby's heart beat.  I have had several ultrasounds so I knew what to look for.  I laid there on the table staring expectantly at the screen, but there was nothing.  A gaping black hole......no heartbeat, no baby, not my plan.

I went in the next week for a follow up ultrasound.....nothing.  I walked out and had to sit in a waiting room.  Everywhere I looked were pregnant people.  This is not very pretty, but it is very honest.  I started to look around me and think "Why?"  Why is her baby fine?  "Look at her, she can't be more that 16 years old!"  "Look at her, look at all her tatoos!"  I have to say, I am not proud of all the thoughts I had.  When I got home I was looking in the mirror and getting ready, the thoughts came again.  And then the tears began to flow as the Lord began to reveal to me how wrong I was to judge anyone's worth or their worthiness to be a mom by how they looked or the horror of my own circumstances, (that were not my plan).

I ended up having a D and C.  I have to say it was one of the worst days of my life.  The tears would just not stop.  This was not my plan!

I had a plan, but the Lord established my steps.  And you know what?  I am thankful.  Why did I get pregnant?  I didn't want to be pregnant.  And just when I started to get excited about our new baby.....miscarriage.  I do not know the answer.  But I do know that the Lord loves me.  I am thankful for the children He has blessed me with.  My children amaze me.  I am not a teen mom.  I am not covered in tatoos.  But I AM the one who is not worthy of the gifts the Lord has given me.  So, am I ok?  Yes!!!  I am walking in thankfulness and trusting that , like the first song on my playlist, "Blessings", by Laura Story, says His mercies are in disguise

By the way, I know everyone wants to ask, but is too afraid to.  Will there be any more Griffin children in the future?  Tyson would probably answer, 'NO"!  But remember, the Lord establishes our steps AND I have a plan!!  HA!

Happy Gotcha Day/Forever Family Day!

I can not believe it has been a year since Ren was placed in my arms and she forever joined our family.  Though I have watched the following videos many, many times, I found myself thinking today...who was it that placed her in my arms.  For a few brief seconds I couldn't remember if it was her care giver or another staff person from the orphanage.  While I was thinking about that today, I was almost panicked that I couldn't think of who it was that handed me my daughter.  Then a small, still voice whispered to my heart, it was the Lord.  He handed me my daughter, His creation, His treasure, to call my own.

* Don't forget to pause that playlist!

Moments before getting Ren........

Moments after meeting Ren....

Free Day?

We arrived in Beijing On Monday, August 23, 2010 around 11:00pm.  The next day was a free day.  Tyson and I slept most of the day.  When we got up we went walking around Beijing.  We went to a local grocery store that was a few blocks from our hotel.  I remember thinking, "Wow. We really stick out"!  I guess I thought Beijing would be like large cities in the US, lots of diversity.  Nope!  Beijing is lots of Chinese people and then me and Tyson. 

A year ago?

It is hard to believe that a year ago Tyson and I boarded a plane and headed to China to pick up our daughter, Ren.  I have been looking at pictures, watching videos, and reading emails from our China trip and I stand amazed.  I wanted to share some "unseen" and  "seen" footage from our time in China.  The video on today's post is from the Atlanta airport on Sunday, August 22, 2010.  It is crazy to me how I explain we are going to get Ren as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.  When I think back to those days, I am still completely shocked at how calm I was.  I can honestly say the Lord guarded my heart from anxiety and fear and blessed me with peace and assurance.

Here's the first video in the "Returning to Our Road to Ren" series!
* Don't forget to scroll down to pause the playlist before watching the video.

Not yet!

I can not believe Ty is a first grader!  I have a confession to make.  When I was a homeroom teacher I would always get frustrated with parents who walked their kids in to their class EVERY DAY.  I mean, really, they can get to their room by themselves.  Cut the apron strings people!  Well, that was until "my baby" came to school.  I walk him to his class EVERY day.  He wants me to.  He holds my hand.  The other day he said, "Mommy, you are so beautiful"!  I just wanted to cry because I am painfully aware that there is a day coming when he will not want me to walk him to his class.  He will not want to hold  my hand in front of everybody and he certainly won't think I'm beautiful.  But....not yet!

So.....About the garden

Genesis 3:18-20

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

 

Well, I have to say planting a garden was something I thought I would never do!  It was a very rewarding experience.  We planted about 40, YES 40, tomato plants, 9 cucumber plants, peppers, okra, watermelon, squash, sunflowers, and some herbs.  I was showing the garden to my friend Jennifer.  She discovered the first tiny little squash.  I squealed and got a little teary eyed.  Jenny laughed and said, "I didn't see you get that excited when your kids were born!"  I have to say it was an emotional experience.  I also have to say, "note to self, 40 tomato plants and 9 cucumber plants was a little much".  So, I don't know if I will continue to eat my food by the sweat of brow until I return to the ground, but this was definitely the first of many gardens.



An Even Happier Day

Oh Happy Day...... After the pastor announced, "I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Griffin"... applause.....we walked down the aisle to "Oh Happy Day".  And it was a happy day.  In my mind, it was the happiest day ever.  At that time, I couldn't imagine a happier day.  I was even slightly depressed thinking nothing would ever compare to this day.  It couldn't get any better.  I had no idea. 

Our wedding day wasn't the culminating event to our loooooonnnngggg dating relationship, it was just the beginning of an amazing journey.  Tyson and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary.  Including the 6 1/2 years of dating, (the reason our song is "At Last"),we have been together for almost 17 years! 

We met at Dalton College.  I was 18.  Tyson was 19.  It was the second semester of our freshman year.  We had almost every class together.  We even had ping pong class together.  Let me say, he acted so crazy in that class.  Diving and turning flips just to return a ping pong ball?  Well, he had me!  And that is how it all began.

The last 17 years of my life have been amazing, not because they have been perfect, but because I have spent them with my best friend.  We have laughed, cried, yelled, had children/gotten children, traveled the world, and just done nothing together.  For our anniversary we took a trip to Punta Cana, Domincan Republic, (no children allowed).  I have to say, I love my kids, and I love to go places with them, but there is nothing like being with my husband and actually talking to him.  Sometimes I think our culture tries to make us moms feel guilty for leaving our children.  How could we leave our children for that long?  How could we be that far away from them?  To anyone who feels that way, let me assure you, it is one of the best things we have ever done for our marriage and for our children. 

To my husband, my best friend, Tyson, I always tell you that you are the man of my dreams, but that isn't true.  I never dreamed I would be married to a man like you.  You love me, which is amazing in itself.  You support me and applaud me.  I love to watch you with our kids.  The crazy loud wrestling with the boys, and now a little more gentle side with our daughter.   More than anything, I am so secure with you because you are so secure in the Lord.   Thank you for leading our family to the Lord.  I can not wait to see where the Lord takes us next!




Ten years Later....



Our Little Firecrackers!!

Family Vacation

 We are so blessed to have friends like Mark and Greta Beckler.  They invited us to join them at their lake house for vacation.  It was a great week.  There are few friends in life that you can spend a week with and love them even more.  Our kids even get along great! 

To  my friend Greta, you are a rare find!  I appreciate your desire to follow the Lord, your heart for holiness, and the way you "put it all out there"!  You are real and I am honored to be called your friend.  I am so excited to see how the Lord works in our lives.

Family Pics

We had our first "official" family pics taken in May.  I  made a little video with my favorites!

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

My sweet Ty is an amazing boy.  It is hard to believe that he is already finished with kindergarten and will be a first grader soon.  He is a thinker and a dreamer.  He is always planning something, building something, or dreaming about something.  I am always telling him, "I love your brain".  His thoughts amaze me.

Several months ago, Ty began asking me some tough "life" questions.  He wanted to know "does everyone die"?  Being in the ministry, the funeral home is something fairly familiar to my kids.  I know some people do not think children should be exposed to funeral homes and death at an early age.  We do take our kids and I think it's good.  I want them to know that death is part of life, (always sad, sometimes tragic, but certain).  When Ty asked this I didn't want to say, "Yep, part of life".  Instead I said, "No.  If you know Jesus, you never die.  Your old yucky body goes to the grave and you will be with Jesus".  Well, that just stirred up more questions.  This went on for months. 

Ty's next big question, "Does everyone go to Heaven?"  Tough question.  Tough answer.  Based on what Jesus taught I said, "No Ty, not everyone goes to Heaven, only the people who have trusted Jesus as their savior".  He said, "Well I trust Jesus.  I want to go to Heaven".  So I did what every good woman who is married to pastor does, I said "Talk to your daddy"!

When Tyson came home, he had a long talk with Ty.  After all, he is only six.  I didn't want to push him.  Tyson talked with Ty.  A tearful Ty admitted that he had sinned, (he didn't listen to his mom), and that He wanted Jesus to be his savior. 

Not only is Ty my precious first born, he is now my brother, adopted by the Lord, Himself, to be part of the family of God. 

Several weeks later, on Father's Day, Ty was was baptized by his daddy.  It was an unbelievable day!

                                                      

Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and The HAIR Fairy

What???  You have never heard of the Hair Fairy.  Well, grab a cup of coffee and read the "true"story of The Hair Fairy.

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, (Tunnel Hill, GA to be exact), there lived a mom who rarely fixed her hair, (me), and her roots were in desperate need of being dyed back to their "natural" color.  She was totally unaware of her condition and was relying on the sun to bleach those roots.  While going along merrily in her daily life, the young prince, (Ty), made a profound declaration.  He said, "Mommy, your hair is changing.  It used to be blonde and now it's brown on top!"  The poor mom was astonished at this proclamation.  She began to share this predicament with her friends.  Not wanting to spend money on her hair, the mom determined in her heart to allow the sun to work it's magic.  Little did she know that The Hair Fairy was taking notes.  Then early one Saturday morning, she received an unbelievable text stating that she needed to report to Julie at Lux Salon.  There her hair would be transformed and best of all, it was paid for in full!!!  The mom was astounded at the kindness and generousity that had been bestowed on her by The Hair Fairy!  The mom went to Lux Salon and was changed into a queen.  And from that day forward, the mom felt like a queen because her once dreary, two-toned locks were now back to their dazzling, "natural" color!

This is a very true story!  I changed the names in the story to protect the privacy of the parties involved!  HA!.. In all seriousness, I do have a Hair Fairy.  Her name is Paige Buckner.  She really did pay for me to have my hair done.  And yes, Ty really did say that about my hair. 

To my friend, Paige, you will never know how much your gift meant to me.  Throughout this last year you have been my Hair Fairy, my faithful blog follower, my encourager, and above all, my friend.  Thank you for all are!  I love you sister!  Thank you for being my friend and I appreciate your advice, (especially concerning my hair)!

Psalm 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

Before

 



After
My roots have been rescued by The Hair Fairy, AKA Paige Buckner!



Things I Thought I Would Never Do!!!

I was talking with my dad the other day and saying I have done things since I have turned 35 that I thought I would never do!  He asked what those things were.  So here is what I told him:

1.  Plant a garden!  ( I have never been a fan of bugs, dirt, or sweat).

2.  Run a 5K and my 10K is coming up!  (Again, never been a fan of sweating or exercising).

3.  The craziest of all, taking part in an American Idol Home Town Parade! (Not big on mass hysteria).

To which my dad responded, "Don't forget, adopting a child from China!"  I just laughed and said that was the most logical and easy to believe thing that I had done! 

The picture above was taken before the American Idol Parade for Lauren Alaina.  We were invited to be in the parade to represent The Good Stuff, by my friend Christy McCain.  She is an amazing woman.  She is a Christian, wife, mother, writer, entrepreneur, and much more.  She submitted an article to the Chattanoogan.com online paper and featured me and the girls in her article!  Here is the link to the article.  It also contains a link to her website.  She has an awesome product line that features wonderful gift items.  The candles and bath salts are my favorite.

http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_201390.asp



As for the garden and the running a 10K, if I live through it, I will tell you how it goes!

Here are a couple of pics of Lauren singing at LFO high school.  Go Lauren Alaina!

She is always near...

My friend Tracy Jennings brought her sweet daughter Mia home from China last spring.  On Mother's Day last year she planted a rose bush in honor of Mia's birth mom.  I thought that was a beautiful idea.  So, this year we planted a rose bush in honor of Ren's birth mom.  I always want to hold her in high regard.  After all, she carried my daughter for me.  She chose to give Ren life.  She chose to leave her in a place where she knew she would be found and cared for.  She is always near to my heart.  People often ask me if we know anything about Ren's biological parents.  The answer is no, we know nothing for certain.  We do have a hand-written note that was attached to Ren's clothing when she was found.  I am sure her birth mom wrote it.  It gives her date and time of birth and then says, "Please kind person, save this baby".  The one thing I believe to be true about Ren's birth mom is that she loved her.  So on Mother's Day and everyday, I remember and honor the precious Chinese woman who chose life for my daughter Ren.

Happy Mother's Day!

I can not think of anything better than being a mom.  I asked my mom the other day, "Do you remember when I said I was NEVER having kids?"  She laughed.  Can you believe it?  Back in the day, when I was completely all about myself, my plan was to move to Atlanta and work for some big corporation.  I thought I might get married, but kids were not part of the equation!  When I think back on that, I first have to laugh.  But my next thought is, "Thank you Lord".  I am so thankful that He saved me, well, from me.  Don't get me wrong, there are days when I think I will loose my mind if I have to change one more diaper, clean up one more toddler mess, or hear "I don't want to go to bed", followed by stomps and deafening crys!  But, in the few seconds of quiet, when I look in on my sleeping children, two from my womb, one from the inner city of Chicago, and one from an orphanage in China, I just want to hit my knees in worship.  I want to worship the Lord for His plan and His deliverance and for allowing me to be a mother to children that ultimately belong to Him! 

My hope is that I would follow what the Lord says.

 Deuteronomy 11:18-19  Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. Teach them to your children!

Easter 2011

Here are some of my favorite pics from Easter!