Bragging Rights...

Bragging on Emma today... her artwork and photo are featured on Snapfish's Mother's Day Page (she drew the horse and stable picture and her photo is on the featured photo necklace on the right side of the page)

Take a look!

Deliver me...

My soul was bruised yesterday. I was struggling to find perspective because my emotions were flattened and gray and refusing to comply with my strict orders to “snap out of it”. In these times, I am sometimes at a loss for words to pray and frankly in these time I often don't even possess the desire to speak with my God. The Holy Spirit will often send a faint melody bubbling up from the recesses of my memory to give voice to my emptiness and prompt me to pray. Yesterday it was Margaret Becker's Deliver Me:

I was just about to tell You
What I'm sure You already know
How my throat is tight with crying
Yet my soul is arctic blue
'Cause I've seen some tears that didn't move me
Whispered words I didn't mean
Held back all my love for anger
Grown so weak in all these things
So in all these things

Deliver me from me
And deliver me to You
Come and set me free
Come and find me tried and true
Come on now
Deliver me from me

I was just about to run away
As far as far could go
When I recognized the cruelest captors
Living right inside my soul
And I can't escape their endless movements
Cannot shed them like a skin
Can't control all these emotions
Cannot live while they're within
So in all these things

Deliver me from me
And deliver me to You
Come and set me free
Come and find me tried and true
Come on now
Deliver me from
me

And now I'm falling, falling
Dreaming of Your arms of mercy
They are soft as the new winter snow

Deliver me from me
And deliver me to You
Come and set me free
Come and find me tried and true
Come on now
Deliver me from
me

Wordless Wednesday

My baby is FOURTEEN...

The oldest... the one you learn everything with... my first baby is fourteen. He is gifted in so many ways. He's creative, funny, brilliant in a scary way but most of all he has a heart for the gospel. I love him so. (Yes, that's me with the big hair. And that's Uncle Joe holding little Landen)

These photos are when Landen got his "very own brother" (his words when he found out we were adopting Isaac) and then with his brother this week. By the way, when he was three he would beg me for that haircut... he called it a "circle head".

Happy Easter from the Baldwin Bungalow

What????

I took this photo at South Bend Regional Airport when I was dropping off Larry the other day. Apparently our 'goodbyes' can be said AT the airport...

regarding the Gramma...

At bedtime the other night while Gramma Kerns is visiting:

Em: Mom, I think Gramma loves Jesus SO much that she should be a visiting pastor sometime. She would be really good at it.

You know, if I can be known for nothing else, I hope it is that I love Jesus so much...like Emma's Gramma.

Ain't No Reason...

This is a must watch...all the way to the end.

What American Accent Do You Have?

My friend, Tonni, did this on her blog and they nailed her! So, I thought I'd try it and sure enough...they got me too. Try it yourself but if you do, make sure you leave me a comment and tell me if they've got you pegged and what label they gave you!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West   Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The South
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Two Concerts...

Last Sunday a group of us from our church's orphan ministry, Father's Heart, worked at the Steven Curtis Chapman concert. We specifically were there to answer questions about adoption and help promote his "Show Hope" campaign where money is collected in change buckets and then the funds go toward grants for those going through the adoption process. We had a great time and it was so encouraging to talk to so many other people who feel called to adopt.

Then last Thursday, Emma had a short performance at school with her music class. She sang, played recorder and the xylophone. She was SO nervous (look at pic to the left). She kept looking up at me and I would mime deep breathing so she could try to relax! She did great...look at the concentration going into playing that xylophone.

Fun with Mice...

hosted by Maddie Baldwin

costume design by Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Mix

Extras provided by Big Sister's Horse Collection

Starring
Sleeping Beauty
(aka The Skinny Mouse)
and
Jan
(aka The Fat One...yes, she was named after Jan in "Grease")

Love Thursday...a day late...

She'll always be my baby.

Wordless Wednesday

Stuff kids say...

Tonight. Maddie prays.

"Dear Jesus, Help Mommy get her joy. Help Daddy get his joy. Help EVERYBODY get their joy."

Yesterday. Emma.

"I just love Christmas. You know how on Christmas day it just seems you wake up breathing different air?"