Check out a great shop!!

My friend Sarah just started her own Etsy shop. She is making beautiful necklaces. Some of them are designated Down Syndrome awareness fundraiser items. I really encourage you to check out Sarah's Treasure Box by clicking here.

Also, just a quick Happy 2 year Gotcha Day - Sarah and Chris were given the precious gift of Jaxson two years ago today! Another example of the beautiful face of adoption.

Act "as if?"

I often hear hear this phrase. It has come up several times during our adoption journey. We should act as if we have a child, act as if our adoption WILL happen - think and act positive. In fact, one individual indicated that this is really the key to success. That we should never consider the possibililty that it won't happen.

To be honest, I struggle with that. It feels arrogant to me to act "as if" our adoption is a given. Yes, my heart longs to have a child, to share the joys and challenges of parenting with the hubby that I love so much. Sometimes, when I watch young children with their parents, my eyes tear up and I wonder if we will ever have that experience. I trust that God has a plan for us. But, is it right to assume that God's plan involves Mark and I having a family of our own? That's where my other struggle comes in...

I know that God is faithful in all things. But, sometimes His plan for our lives is different than what our plan is. Proverbs 16:9 says, "In his heart, a man plans his course. But, the Lord determines his steps." Seven years ago, I had a pretty clear picture of where I thought my life was headed. Boy... was I WRONG! God had different plans for me - a life that was much different than anything I could possibly have imagined.  I want to be open to whatever God has in store for my life. I hope that includes adoption. I eagerly look for waiting children, hoping that God will say "Yes - this is your child (or these are your children)." But, I haven't heard that voice yet. Sometimes, I make inquiries about a child - only to hear God say, "No."  So then I wonder why I should act "as if." What if God has different plans for Mark and I? I am afraid that if I am too confident and positive about our plans, that I would be heartbroken if God said, "No - adoption is not in my plans for you - you heard me wrong." I want to believe that I am trying to be open to whatever God has in store for me instead of acting as if adoption is the only acceptable outcome. Or am I not trusting Him completely? I'm not sure.

I would love to hear your insight, opinions, and/or experience in this area - not just related to adoption, but life in general. 

saturday

I did some yard work today. spray for weeds, plant some seeds with Melanie, did more work getting the motorhome ready for a new roof. I hope to get the roof done sunday.

Thankful Thursday

Surgery was 2 weeks ago and I am feeling pretty good. Still not 100%, but definitely improving every day. The prayers and wishes of friends, family, our church family, and co-workers have been so appreciated. My friend Kari drove down from Minneapolis to see me on Tuesday and we took a leisurely stroll around the small zoo which is just a few miles from here. They have a "petting zoo" as well and one of the little goats got out of it's pen. Watching the staff chase him (or her) around was funny!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful this week!  Warm, sunny days - cool nights, good sleeping weather. After the winter that seemed like it would never end, this is such a wonderful gift. We even have apricots on the two trees in our back yard. Hopefully, the squirrels will leave them alone so that I can make some apricot jam or jelly this year!

Tomorrow is Friday and I get to spend the weekend with my hubby!

There's so much to be thankful for - what's on your list today?

Sad news

You may have noticed the button I put on the right side of the blog, "Pray for Chrissie." This is a little girl that I first noticed on RR last year. Her picture just touched me, such a precious face and smile. Chrissie had a heart condition that is fatal, children with this problem do not live more than a few days. Yet, Chrissie was nearly 3 years old. I began to pray for Chrissie - that her forever family would find her. And of course, they did - bringing her home from Serbia 7 months ago. I had lost track of Chrissie until about a month ago when I came across a post asking for prayer for her. Since then, Chrissie, her mom Lorraine, and the rest of their family have been in my constant prayers. I have been amazed and in awe of how God has used this sweet angel to show His majesty as well as draw people closer to Him.

Chrissie lost her battle this morning and according to Lorraine, "Her heart has been healed and now she spins and she sways to the Cinderella song with Jesus as her dance partner."

I am so thankful that I have been allowed to follow their journey over the past month. My relationship with God has been deepened and strengthened because of it! I know that others feel the same. If you haven't checked out Lorraine's blog, I encourage you to do so. Just click here or on the button to the right.

Thankful Thursday

Better not let the day go by without taking a few moments to share what I am thankful for. Two people immediately come to mind. And my gratitude for them is a little belated since they both had birthdays this week.

#1 - My mom - She is a determined, strong woman and much of the person I am  is because of her. I am thankful that God chose her to be my mom!

#2 - My wonderful husband - He's had a really rough week at work -his truck broke down, no sleep because of the delay, and an extra run disrupting plans to get some work done at the cabin this weekend. Hopefully, he will get the opportunity for some well deserved R&R this weekend and the chance to celebrate his birthday a little late.  I am so thankful that God chose Mark to be my hubby!

Happy belated birthday to both of you! 

So not a good patient

As I have shared before, I have control issues. And as I shared in my last post, I am not a good patient. If I am sick for more than a couple of days, I get cranky. I would probably get well quicker if I wasn't pushing the limits. Instead of resting, I want to be going places, getting things done, crossing items off my to-do list, doing things for others. I don't like to be slowed down by a body that isn't cooperating with me.  It makes me feel week and ineffectual.

As I was sitting here this morning thinking - well, really whining to myself (and God) about how I wanted to feel better NOW, I felt like He was telling me to slow down and think about my priorities. That there is a purpose to this time of rest.

A bible verse came to mind and I'm paraphrasing... "God's strength is made perfect in MY weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9. For the past few years (and most of my life), I have been so busy trying to demonstrate my own knowledge, competence, ability to be on top of everything, etc. that I have not allowed God's strength to work. As usual, I'm trying to maintain control instead of turning things over to Him - the one who knows ALL things, the one who IS in control, who has a plan for my life - a plan that exceeds anything I can imagine. That seems pretty arrogant to think that I know better than God, doesn't it?

So... maybe (ok, not maybe - definitely), I need to allow myself to be weak for a change. I need to give up control to "the ONE" who has my back, the great physician and healer. Perhaps I should use this time to allow God to be the strong one instead of me...