I pray everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. I, like many, used some of my day yesterday to just really stop, think and reflect on what I am so thankful for. Unfortunately this Thanksgiving has been bitter sweet for our family. Mark left a few days before Thanksgiving to go and spend time with his father who's health is beginning to decline. While his visit was under sad circumstances, I praised God yesterday that Mark was able to spend Thanksgiving with his father. This was definitely a very special day for them. A day that they could just be themselves, share stories with one another and pray and praise God for what is next. I am so grateful that we don't have to try to guess what comes after this life on Earth. God promises those who follow Him what their eternity will be. I am so thankful that no matter how or when followers of Christ leave these bodies on earth, that one day we will all be dancing together in Heaven rejoicing with our Lord.
I had many opportunities to count my blessings yesterday during our Thanksgiving meal. We shared a beautiful meal with several other families. I believe we counted 28 poeple in all. Marks mom was with us too which made it extra special. The food was fabulous and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. It made for a beautiful afternoon. At one point during the meal I walked by the young children's table. It was a moment which made me stop in my tracks and say in my mind "Thank You Lord". It was a beautiful moment. As I walked by my eyes scanned the table. At the table were Annabel and Jacob along with 5 other younger children. Two of which were also adopted within the last two years. My heart just kind of sunk as I thought of how amazing God was. How He brought all 4 of these children, all born from different parents, halfway around the world into Christian homes to share their lives together in America. I am so thankful for those two that I don't even know how to fully put it into words. I would have to say that Annabel and Jacob have brought a new joy into our home that all of us have been blessed by so much. When I see Amber and Joey with them, caring for them as they have learned to do, it makes my heart full. I watch them when they help with bath time or when they comfort a hurt finger and kiss it better. They both truly love these two little ones so much.
Thank you Lord for the tender hearts that you have given to Amber and Joey. Thank you that you are preparing them to one day be fabulous parents to their own children. Thank you that you have opened their eyes to how blessed they are to be in a loving home. Amber and Joey are growing up before my eyes. I do not even want to think about them leaving our home for college, but I know the day is fast approaching. I have been truly blessed by both of them. It's amazing how you learn more from your kids then your kids learn from you at times. haha Thank you Jesus for all 4 of my children. Thank you that grandma Jan lives near us and is able to share in their lives as well. She is a huge blessing to us all. And thank you for my husband Mark. I am thankful for his kind and generous heart. For his words of encouragement and for the way he loves his family, his kids and myself. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to grow old together. Jesus, most importantly I am thankful for my faith, my salvation and my future with you in Heaven one day. I certainly don't deserve it, but you saved me anyway. That is true, unconditional love that none of us really deserve. But you see past what we actually deserve and you bless us anyway. Thank you!!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Tamara's book of the month
So I am always looking for a great book to read. I don't always have the time with two little ones to read for hours like I would like to. But I always try to squeeze something in. Even if it is only bits and pieces. Sometimes I read a page while waiting to pick the kids up at their class or in the bathroom while the water is heating up for my morning shower. I have even been known to read a sentence or two before running into the store to buy milk. Wherever and whenever I can fit it in. It isn't always ideal, but up until now it has worked for me. But when I find a good book....One that grabs at my heart and doesn't let go... watch out. Time has no hold on me. I wait until all my kids are fast asleep in bed, plant myself on the couch next to the fire, cover up with a warm blanket, put on my reading glasses (yes a sign of my aging eyes) and off to reading land I go. Are you curious which book has me completely hooked? Maybe you are reading it yourself. It is Kay Warren's Dangerous Surrender.
It was recommended by a blogger friend of mine who I had the pleasure of spending time with in China a couple months ago. We have been communicating for over a year via the computer and I have come to see what an amazing love she has for the Lord. And I have watched her and her family put their heart on the line as they walked with complete faith in God through their most recent adoption. I knew if she recommended it as a faith building book, that she meant business. And was she so right. This book has grabbed at my heartstrings and made me really think. It isn't often that a book makes you really think about the plan that God has for your life. This is one of those books that make you day dream about what tomorrow might bring. It makes you stop in your tracks and ask yourself if what you are spending your time on earth doing is His plan or your own. It reminds you how easy it is for the world to simply stamp out the uncomfortable things that they do not want to recognize. The old saying "Out of sight, out of mind"....is ever so insinuated in this book. And how often do we do just that? How often do we pretend that ugly things in the world don't exist until we are faced with it personally.
Just 10 short weeks ago my family walked through the doors of my sons Orphanage in China. I will never forget as long as I live the feelings, the smells, the sounds of his orphanage. Jacob was 4 years old at the time and had only been in our family for 3 days. But he clung to me for dear life. This was a boy that knew the difference already in just 3 short days. The difference between a forever family and an institution. A building which houses hundreds of children and too few workers to be able to give them each the one on one attention they not only deserve as children of God but they crave from the depths of their soul. A child who knew in just 3 short days how wonderful it was to have a mommy, daddy, sisters and a brother who he could hug and kiss at any moment of the day. A child that knew in just 3 short days what unconditional love felt like. Love that only God Himself could grow in our hearts. Man alone is not capable of growing that type of love outside of God's presence. As I was reading the first chapters of her book I was reminded of our trip. I was reminded of how I wanted to close my eyes to certain things that were uncomfortable. But God had me see them for a reason. He had my children see them for a reason. His plan for us is not finished. There is so much more to see and so much more to do. But He needed to unveil to us a discomfort that we had never experienced first hand.
Now, like Kay Warren, I cannot walk past an article on orphans and not be moved. I cannot turn a blind eye to the 143 million children out there without families. How can anybody pretend it doesn't exist? Do we really want to stand before God one day and try to explain away why we allowed this to happen to His children? The children He commanded us to take care of. The Orphans He commanded us to look after? Can my family alone change the plight of the orphans? Absolutely not. Is everyone on earth meant to bring a child into their home? Unfortunately not. But we can make a difference in the life of one. And maybe, just maybe with Gods guidance and support we can help another family do the same. Is it so much for God to ask us to do that? No way. So if God needs to put us in an uncomfortable situation or put before us magazine articles, TV interviews and World news reports that bring tears to our eyes to make us move in the direction of His will....then I say go ahead God. Because I can only see good coming from it. Sometimes we need to see the ugly and uncomfortable before He opens our eyes completely to see the beautiful and lovely. I encourage you to read this book and pray about what ugliness God wants you to be witness to. In what area might He use you, your faith, your Christian walk and your life story to turn ugliness into beauty.
It was recommended by a blogger friend of mine who I had the pleasure of spending time with in China a couple months ago. We have been communicating for over a year via the computer and I have come to see what an amazing love she has for the Lord. And I have watched her and her family put their heart on the line as they walked with complete faith in God through their most recent adoption. I knew if she recommended it as a faith building book, that she meant business. And was she so right. This book has grabbed at my heartstrings and made me really think. It isn't often that a book makes you really think about the plan that God has for your life. This is one of those books that make you day dream about what tomorrow might bring. It makes you stop in your tracks and ask yourself if what you are spending your time on earth doing is His plan or your own. It reminds you how easy it is for the world to simply stamp out the uncomfortable things that they do not want to recognize. The old saying "Out of sight, out of mind"....is ever so insinuated in this book. And how often do we do just that? How often do we pretend that ugly things in the world don't exist until we are faced with it personally.
Just 10 short weeks ago my family walked through the doors of my sons Orphanage in China. I will never forget as long as I live the feelings, the smells, the sounds of his orphanage. Jacob was 4 years old at the time and had only been in our family for 3 days. But he clung to me for dear life. This was a boy that knew the difference already in just 3 short days. The difference between a forever family and an institution. A building which houses hundreds of children and too few workers to be able to give them each the one on one attention they not only deserve as children of God but they crave from the depths of their soul. A child who knew in just 3 short days how wonderful it was to have a mommy, daddy, sisters and a brother who he could hug and kiss at any moment of the day. A child that knew in just 3 short days what unconditional love felt like. Love that only God Himself could grow in our hearts. Man alone is not capable of growing that type of love outside of God's presence. As I was reading the first chapters of her book I was reminded of our trip. I was reminded of how I wanted to close my eyes to certain things that were uncomfortable. But God had me see them for a reason. He had my children see them for a reason. His plan for us is not finished. There is so much more to see and so much more to do. But He needed to unveil to us a discomfort that we had never experienced first hand.
Now, like Kay Warren, I cannot walk past an article on orphans and not be moved. I cannot turn a blind eye to the 143 million children out there without families. How can anybody pretend it doesn't exist? Do we really want to stand before God one day and try to explain away why we allowed this to happen to His children? The children He commanded us to take care of. The Orphans He commanded us to look after? Can my family alone change the plight of the orphans? Absolutely not. Is everyone on earth meant to bring a child into their home? Unfortunately not. But we can make a difference in the life of one. And maybe, just maybe with Gods guidance and support we can help another family do the same. Is it so much for God to ask us to do that? No way. So if God needs to put us in an uncomfortable situation or put before us magazine articles, TV interviews and World news reports that bring tears to our eyes to make us move in the direction of His will....then I say go ahead God. Because I can only see good coming from it. Sometimes we need to see the ugly and uncomfortable before He opens our eyes completely to see the beautiful and lovely. I encourage you to read this book and pray about what ugliness God wants you to be witness to. In what area might He use you, your faith, your Christian walk and your life story to turn ugliness into beauty.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Enjoy the journey
Welcome to our family blog site. I am thrilled to have a place where I can share about all of our family blessings and adventures without trying to determine who's blog it should appear on. I will begin by sharing a little about who we are. Mark and myself have been married for over 17 years and have 4 beautiful children. Two fun loving teen-agers that were raised in my belly and two precious peanuts born from our hearts through what has become the miracle of adoption in our families eyes. No matter where their beginnings were, it is clear that they are children of God and that we are abundantly blessed to have the opportunity to share our lives with them. We invite you to join along as we travel through this journey of life. With all the ups and downs that we encounter in this world, one thing stands firm..... God is in control. We just have to remember to seek Him out and listen to what He has to say. Why on earth would we want to do it any other way? Mark and I spent too many years trying to make our own plans and pave our way through this tough world. Now life is all about stopping, waiting on God and enjoying the journey He has blessed us with. I invite you to take the journey with us.
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