National Honor Society

Meet the newest member of the National Honor Society!

Christian, we are just so proud of you.

Excellent grades don't come naturally for you.

You have to work to get the grades that you do...

so you push yourself and... 

work hard...

and while excellent grades don't come naturally...

your leadership skills sure seem to!

You work hard at school and on the soccer field...

and have earned such respect among your teachers, your peers, your coaches and...

your family!

The Lord has given you a very special gift...

use it wisely and watch as His plan for your life unfolds.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace

1 Peter 4:10

The Ripple Effect

*This is a post I had written almost a year ago and forgot to publish!  It still holds true today!*

Being out at the beach the other day was fun and being in the presence of the beauty that the Lord has surrounded us with always brings me back to a place of peace and trust.

Many times in this fallen world, the doubts creep in and the fear is just below the surface and the days can get hard.

I begin to allow the worry to permeate by thoughts and the expectations of this society override my trust in His plan and in His way...

which is so not the way of the world.

This is usually when the Lord steps in with His awesome reassurance...

and it is many times through my kids.

One question that creeps into those dark places is, "What about our other kids?"

How does this season of struggle and adjustment and lacking affect them?  Adoption is not always easy and our society tells us that we should be able to buy the latest and greatest gadgets out there and with 7 kiddos...

Well you do the math.

Our kids may not get to go to D*sney every year but our kids are doing just fine, thank you.

If you ask my kids if they would like to go to D*sney every year, I am certain they would reply with something like, "Heck yeah!"

If you ask them if they would trade their sisters for a trip to D*sney every year, I am just as certain that they might reply with something like, "Can have both?"

hehe

Seriously though, I know they would not trade the experience of loving their sisters for anything, including a yearly D*sney trip.

Does it make it easy when we have to say no to things that they ask for?

Heck no

*grin*

But these moments help to remind me of what is truly important and that yes, my kids are ok

better than ok

and while they may lack for some of the stuff that the world places value on...

 
the lessons that they are learning are invaluable! 

I love this verse from John 14:27...

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace!

God's peace!

High Expectations

Maybe I expected too much...

I know Lucy expected much and was disappointed.

I am certain it will not be the last time and learning how to survive disappointment is good.

This is a good, normal life lesson for our kids.

However...

when the disappointment has everything to do with my beautiful, special daughter's special need...

that makes it a life lesson that I don't think my beautiful, special daughter needs to learn - ever.

We look at our girls as very special indeed...

we do not look at them and see limitations...

so when limitations are forced on them...

it is hard...

when expectations aren't met that could have been...

it breaks my heart.

On this day, she just wanted to fit in...

she just wanted to play with class mates whose friendships were still tender and new...

but that did not happen...

and it could have...

but we are now a society filled with unending, unbending rules and regulations designed to "protect" when in reality it only creates unnecessary boundaries and fear.

A society in which you think it better to spend money on a "special bus" for one child on that child's first ever field trip when that one child's Mom could have driven for free...

and been there to help that child play with her classmates whose friendships were still tender and new.

Sigh...

Lord fill me with grace today as I sort through the anger and pull up my boot straps for the work ahead and while this particular battle is important...

there are bigger battles looming on the horizon...

 and to tell ya the truth, I am a bit battle weary...

but then He gives me this...

and with it the strength to hang in there and trust Him for another day.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Isaiah 40:28-31

 

Happy Birthday Mom

My Mom had a birthday last week...

yep, she makes 80 something look good y'all!

 To celebrate, we went to the place where birthdays are always celebrated...

 her house...
 

hehe

and even though it was her birthday...

we left feeling celebrated as well, cause this is my Mom..

Mom has such a gift for making you feel listened to and cared about and that definitely leaves you feeling happier!

You leave her presence with a warmth in your heart and a smile on your face.

She listens, she gives, she nurtures, she cooks (yum) and she loves.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Easter 2015

and what a beautiful day it was!

 On this day that He conquered death...

He showed us such life!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Happy Easter!