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!

Good Friday?

Isn't it weird that the day Jesus was crucified is referred to as "Good Friday"?  My husband shared a very stirring message about Easter with our youth this past Wednesday.  He began with the following video clip.

*Remember to scroll down and pause the playlist before playing the video*

Isaiah 53:3-10

3 He was despised and rejected—

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins!

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him

the sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

8 Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.[b]

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.[c]

But he was struck down

for the rebellion of my people.

9 He had done no wrong

and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

**Maybe today is called "Good"  Friday because Isaiah 53:10 says that it was the Lord's good plan to crush Him....to crush Jesus....a perfect man.....part of the trinity....His Son.  It was his good plan to crush Jesus for a sinner.  It was His good plan to crush Jesus for me, chief of sinners, helpless and hopeless.  Because He crushed His son and made a bridge for me I now walk in freedom.  How good is that??

Praise you Jesus! \

Henry P. Turned 3

It is hard to believe that my baby boy has turned 3! 

He had a  "Despicable Me" cake.  We have only watched that movie approximately 200 times!! The sad thing was that he was just getting over a terrible virus and didn't eat a bite of his cake.  But he was well enough to tear in to his presents.

For those of you who don't know, Henry was our "surprise" from the Lord.  When Ty was one, we started the adoption process.  When we found out that the wait time for China had turned into years, we decided to try to get pregnant again.  After a year of trying, no baby.  So, we thought we should stop trying.  After all, we would be adopting soon; or so we thought.  Well about a year later, I was all of a sudden deathly ill.  I was weak, dizzy, and so sick.  That was the beginning of Henry P!!!  For me to say that he is a joy would be an understatement.  All of my children are a gift from the Lord but my sweet Henry is our special surprise.  He loves the outdoors.  He dreams of tractors and mud. He is so stinkin' cute and he knows how to work his mommy.  He always says, "I just want to snuggle you", and "I just love you".  And honestly, he "just" grips my heart and reminds me of the Lord's goodness.  I am so thankful that though Henry wasn't "planned", he was always God's plan for our family.

Proverbs 16:9 A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.

You Go Mac!!!

100,000 children in the US waiting to be adopted.  300,000 churches in the US.............

"I am not one of those people that says adoption is for everybody, but I think it's for more people that aren't doing it", Mac Powell, Third Day.

Watch this video of Mac Powell speaking candidly about adoption.

Finally! Our princess has pig-tails!