Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Things I Now Know @ Ft. Worth
- Ft. Worth, TX has the LOUDEST birds in the universe
- Said birds have the most digestive issues of any birds in any other locale
- Ft. Worth and my hair do NOT get along!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Words are Delicious!
Quote:
"Tact was a quality unknown to her, discretion too, and because gossip was the breath of life to her this stranger must be served for her dissection."
From "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier (recommended years ago by Vanda Eggington and I'm just now getting to it!)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
It's gonna be a long one...
I know it's gonna take a while when my three year old says, "I'm gonna pray lotsa, lotsa prays, ok?"
I guess I have a tendency to interrupt and ask her to wrap it up, because tonight she added, "and you don't talking to me, promise? I need to do lotsa prays."
I guess I have a tendency to interrupt and ask her to wrap it up, because tonight she added, "and you don't talking to me, promise? I need to do lotsa prays."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Today's List of Good Things...
1. God painted a masterpiece in our sky tonight. I wish my camera had been beside me. I was undone!
2. I had fun with my kids today and we got the basement clean!
3. Maddie made me laugh so hard...she was furious with me because I had told her not to do something. She was scrunching up her little face, tears rolling down her cheeks...you could just see her mind trying to come up with something mean to say to me...finally, she took a deep breath and between gritted teeth snarled, "God is NOT your mother!" I just about died laughing.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Making the 'Spiritual' Connection
Lately I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to convince Maddie that she is 'big enough' to go potty by herself. She, on the other hand, has been adamant that she needs assistance, specifically, from Mommy.
Today we were careening through the house during another last minute "potty" alarm. Limbs were flinging left and right as we dodged a football, sleeping bag, mouse house and two, or was it three, remotes to some electronic device that probably doesn't work anymore. As we raced toward the bathroom, I prepared an outline in my head for my opening arguments which I had scheduled to begin the moment I placed her, captive, on the potty.
As I plopped her down on the seat, I said, calmly and rationally, "Maddie, you're a big girl now. You don't need me to help you."
"But mommy, I do. I do need help."
"No, Maddie. Mommy doesn't need to help you."
Suddenly a light went on.
I held my breath. Could this be 'IT'? The right of passage into a world of no longer needing to wipe anyone else's butt (OK...admittedly... I wasn't factoring in elder care for my parents someday...I was caught up in the excitement of the moment).
Maddie took a deep breath and said, "Mommy doesn't need to help me? Will Jesus help me?"
Clearly, my point didn't get through.
Today we were careening through the house during another last minute "potty" alarm. Limbs were flinging left and right as we dodged a football, sleeping bag, mouse house and two, or was it three, remotes to some electronic device that probably doesn't work anymore. As we raced toward the bathroom, I prepared an outline in my head for my opening arguments which I had scheduled to begin the moment I placed her, captive, on the potty.
As I plopped her down on the seat, I said, calmly and rationally, "Maddie, you're a big girl now. You don't need me to help you."
"But mommy, I do. I do need help."
"No, Maddie. Mommy doesn't need to help you."
Suddenly a light went on.
I held my breath. Could this be 'IT'? The right of passage into a world of no longer needing to wipe anyone else's butt (OK...admittedly... I wasn't factoring in elder care for my parents someday...I was caught up in the excitement of the moment).
Maddie took a deep breath and said, "Mommy doesn't need to help me? Will Jesus help me?"
Clearly, my point didn't get through.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
The One Year Plan
Larry and I started what we have deemed "The One Year Plan" at the end of May. It involves some hard choices and big changes but it is reassuring to know it is temporary. I was browsing through Barnes and Noble one day and my eyes fell upon this greeting card. I knew immediately that it was my "visual" for The One Year Plan. 
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
S*O*S- block party
One of the projects that Landen's camp is doing is block parties in low income neighborhoods. I took the other kids and visited one today.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Hearts of Flesh
WARNING: The pictures displayed at the end of this posting are graphic in nature.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
I am undone.
I received a link to a CBS news story today from a fellow adoptive parent and dutifully double-clicked on it, fully expecting to be discouraged once again at the plight of the orphan. It is so disheartening at times. I steeled my emotions, feeling as if I must read this article...after all, Larry and I lead our orphan ministry at church and we try to stay informed and current so that our ministry is relevant.
Through the years I have had seasons when my emotions are numb... it is difficult for me to cry or be moved. Sometimes it is a result of my depression. Sometimes it is simply a spiritual dry time. Sometimes it is protection. Eventually I will tire of being anesthetized and I will reach for my Bible, fervently looking for the aged-yellow highlight marking the scriptures that speak of hearts of stone turning to hearts of flesh. I turn the phrases over and over in my heart and mind and pray them as a petition...Lord, let me feel again.
I've heard it said that there are "dangerous" prayers. Perhaps begging for a heart of flesh could be considered unsafe but I've learned that opening myself up for something wild usually ignites a renewed passion for the Gospel and fervor for participating in redemption. So, even though it usually takes some time for me to come around, I will wind up on my knees, pleading for that tender, responsive, fleshy, red-blooded and broken heart.
I have spent the last few weeks battling my depression...well, not battling... more like wasting away in my depression. Our lives are in transition and I'm finding myself lonely yet never alone. I can't find a rhythm and I've felt frayed on the edges, on the verge of feeling too much but not wanting to lose control.
This morning as I double-clicked on the news link, I was unprepared for God to show up. I was not "ready". I mean, I hadn't prayed my "heart of flesh" prayer yet. But God, and thankfully not I, is sovereign and He decided it was time.
My God gave me, and (I am so thankful for this) Larry also, a passion for the fatherless years ago. He uses this to awaken me to the Gospel on a regular basis and He did it again this morning. My heart is breaking for the things that break His heart. I am yearning for the day when His Kingdom comes here on earth as it is heaven. I want to be fully aware and fully alive and fully participate in this beautiful mess. I want to see the Spirit move with His sovereign plan and I want to see justice for these children.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Camp Baldwin
The girls (Emma, Maddie and Madeline Hubbard) got right to 
work creating the ultimate camp experience. They collected all the greenery they could find as well as anything that resembled a woodland creature and started setting up the area around the tent.
Isaac finally got bored with decorating and left to play outside. Meanwhile the girls dug out my yoga mat and turned it into a stream
filled with fish they had drawn on paper towels and a stuffed crocodile.
They took a break and went outside to play for a little while. A few minutes later the girls came running in with Madeline carrying Maddie who had tears running down her face and blood running down her legs. She had fallen on the sidewalk and scraped up both knees as well as parts of her feet. I wiped up the blood but the older girls insisted on playing Florence Nightengale and nursed her wounds for her while I got the stuff out for s'mores.
As soon as Maddie was all bandaged up it was time to get the fire going...
The girls started melting their marshmallows and we enjoyed an amazing dessert in our wilderness campground!
Eventually Isaac joined us too!
Dentists and Dogs
Today Emma got her first filling...make that TWO fillings! We have a wonderful new pediatric dentist who is fabulous with kids and made her feel very comfortable. After choosing the rootbeer flavored laughing gas, she settled down into her chair and was completely cooperative. She insisted that Isaac come along for moral support and he thoroughly enjoyed watching his sister giggle through the entire procedure. Afterward, the three of us (Landen was babysitting Maddie at home) went to the mall across from the dentist's office and chose a puppy to play with at the pet store. The kids chose the cutest little puggle (pug/beagle mix). There are no words...you just have to see for yourself! 
He didn't have any desire to play around on the floor. He kept snuggling up to the kids, wanting to be held! He captured their
hearts in an instant.
Later we picked up Madeleine (Emma's best friend) and came home to create Camp Baldwin...our own version of camping in our air conditioned living room! Pictures coming soon.
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