This is What its all about!

Ok, not exactly about adoption...

Tonight near the end of church Joe was getting tired of sitting and began to fight for his freedom. Prayer was beginning and so was the worship team. I walked a few minutes with a squirming 18 month old boy in arms and gratefully redirected him to the worship music that was getting louder as prayer concluded.

Sing Joe! I encouraged. He looked at me and just as I prepared myself for him to yell or scream to get down he began to sing. Quietly at first, at then with more confidence he sang "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus"! I applauded him with tears in my eyes. He gets it! Despite the name of "Jesus" not being in the actual song we were singing... he got it. At worship time we sing about Jesus!

Keeping 4 little ones in church each week is a challenge, but one we feel we must succeed at. I do not mind nursery, and my kids have enjoyed occasional "children's church" very much, however I believe what they have had to learn sitting next to us week by week is more valuable.

On the practical side, my children know how to sit quietly for an hour or more when needed! This has come in handy when forced to visit the social security office, DMV, or other locations where sitting quietly is the only option. It has also helps when our pastor insists both of us attend an important meeting for which no childcare can be found.

While the practical lessons have good benefit, it is for the spiritual lessons I feel they need to be in service.

Let me digress a minute... Our church has a good children's ministry. We are blessed to have congregation where the children outnumber the adults! We have teachers who are gifted in working with children and many children will hear the gospel and be led by these people who have given their time and energy (and often funds) to reach these kids. I do not want to take away from the fantastic work they do or the opportunity that this ministry provides for parents who need to hear the Word of God preached without interruption or distraction. In fact, it is not unusual for these children to lead their parents to church!

For our family we feel it is important that our children see their parents actively worship, that they see us occasionally broken before God, or raising hands in adoration. Children are famous for emulating the actions rather than the words of their parents. Most children constantly look around them trying to determine the adult characteristics and attributes they want to display. So, while services directed at toddlers, children, youth, or teens might provide a more interesting format, I fear that they do not set up an example for those children to grow and walk in to. A generation of mega churches with amazing children's ministry have produced few adults dedicated to serving Christ.

For fear of leaving out the obvious, we must also continue to demonstrate real faith in our homes. Our kids must see us pray, read the bible, live out the words we speak. It is SO scary to me! But our children are our ultimate disciples! They are, even now, serving as our apprentices and interns. I know I have failed at times, I have had to ask their forgiveness, and I am quite sure I will again. Our children do not need to see perfection, but they do need to see us serving a real God, both at home and in church.

We used to have daily worship time together and Anna has mentioned that she misses it more than once. Tonight as I tried to instruct and direct them during church worship I knew something was missing. (I was also reminded when a friend asked me to call her after she had finished her daily praise and worship time with her children!) So, with Monday's fast begins daily worship again... because ultimately: This is what it is all about! Raising children who who not only believe in God but who who have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Children who will not have to begin learning how to serve God when they reach adulthood but who have been serving Him so long that they cannot act any other way.

2 Timothy 3:14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Trip to Haiti?

We had hoped that there would be a winter trip to Haiti with our orphanage that just happened to be during the time that Sean had a break from school. We have been sort of planning for this but waiting on the details.

This week Sean's program at Southeastern University announced that they were planning a missions trip to Port Au Prince, Haiti during their Christmas break! They will be working on a number of projects including helping an orphanage (not ours).

After talking to the missions coordinator at For His Glory adoption outreach we found out that there will not be any trips scheduled this winter. So... that leaves the question... should he go with his class?

On the one hand we have to say God is providing a way. There is a trip to Haiti planned at exactly the time he wanted to go and to the city he planned to go to (not to mention getting some school credit). On the other hand we had thought he would be going with For His Glory and would have ample time to spend with Sophia and get to know her. If he goes with his class he will be very, very limited by both their schedule and our orphanage. For security reasons family can not just "drop by" whenever they feel like it! Traveling in Port Au Prince in not exactly easy and even getting from one place to another might be extremely difficult. I cannot imagine trying to take the correct tap-tap !!!

The third issue is time. Sean is leaving in a few days with his youth group to go to Mexico. They are really excited about the missions trip and many will by flying for the first time. Summer was not a good time to take off work and it caused some ill feelings with his boss. While Christmas break is not a busy construction time, we are concerned about asking off for another "missions trip". Please pray about this trip for Sean, and for the Mexico trip as well!

Fasting Mondays.

Another family adopting from For His Glory has challenged us to fast Mondays for our kids and other orphans. http://campgirdwood.blogspot.com/

I really believe in fasting, but as I prayed about fasting Mondays I looked up some verses about fasting. This really, really spoke to me:

Ezra 8:21-23 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

We have done this! We have told those who doubt that we are called to adopt this child that WE KNOW God will provide a way, we know he will provide the finances, we know, without any doubt that Sophia Luc is our daughter and we are trusting Him to walk us through it. So we will fast and seek God and ask for his protection and guidance over our daughter, our finances, and all matters of this adoption!

Anyone out there want to join us?

More pictures! Such a little toddler still...

So pretty, but so sad. I want to hug her... it is frustrating sometimes!

New Pictures!!!!!!!

This is the brand new update picture for July!

(ignore the date on the pictures, they do not know how to change it)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that she looks happy!

Possible ads

In my efforts to raise money I have allowed ads on this page. If they are really annoying, please let me know. Otherwise, please click on them because that is how I earn $$. We'll see how worth while it is...

I have LOTS of new Sophia pictures... I'll try and get some posted tonight!

This is Sean putting in the new floor I have wanted for so long. He is a general contractor, so his days are spent doing things like this. He is an expert at tile, but pretty good at all the other stuff, like framing, concrete, cabinets, plumbing and of course, nearly any type of flooring. I know he would have rather done pretty much anything else on his day off, and that makes me all the more grateful that he would do this for me!

People often assume that because I am the person posting this blog, doing the research, paperwork, etc that I am the person leading our home. We hear a lot of those "stupid man who just does what his wife says" jokes. So I wanted to tell you just how awesome my husband is...though I'll try to stay relatively on the adoption topic.

To me it is fantastic that I married a man who has such a heart for children. While I hear all around me about women who wish their husbands would let them have more children, Sean has always sought God on this issue. He has not been afraid to have too many blessings (BTW...Great blog about Blessings here:http://gombojav.blogspot.com/search/label/blessings )

Sean is a great Dad. He has every excuse not to be! He works full time, and in the summer that often means 10 hours of hard labor outdoors. When he comes home there are outdoor chores to be done such as mowing the grass, cleaning the garage and fixing whatever has broken today. He is a full time student and it is not unusual to have 2-3 hours of homework at night. He serves in our church as youth leader, elder, deacon, and is on the board. He is preparing to take his youth group to Mexico. Yet, it is rare that he is unable to tuck the kids in at night. He greets them happily and praises their craft projects and paintings. He does not miss the little dance being done by a daughter to show off her new dress or the stomping of his son acting as a monster ready to attack. Each night he reads them the bible and blesses them before they go to sleep. I don't know where he finds the energy... but I know how much the kids appreciate him. To our kids their Daddy is the super hero,and I never want to see that change!

When we began to talk about this adoption, Sean was willing but wanted to seek God first. We agreed that I would research and report back. I knew he would listen to me, but also that he would pray and listen. When I told him of the dreams I was having about a little girl in Haiti, it was he who encouraged me to look for her. I have not ever had a prophetic dream that I know of, but somehow he knew. When I found Sophia, it was Sean who said "If we have a daughter in Haiti, then lets go get her"! I know he would rather not deal with the paperwork or the classes or the home study meetings. But he has been willing and cheerful, and I have appreciated it!

When it looked like we could not adopt Sophia, I wanted an answer so badly that I would probably have accepted another referral. We already know that because of the square footage of our house we can only adopt one child. If he had given in to me, we would have had a lot of trouble. He simply said "I will not have an Ishmael". I am glad he listens to God. I am glad he will not be pushed, it would have been easier for him to say yes. To adopt another child that needed a home, but it would not have been God's plan and we would have missed out on the huge blessing God had planned for us due only to my impatience.

We are a one income, blue collar family. Sean believes in the importance of having me at home, raising our children. He has never suggested that I ought to be bringing in money or made me feel that we did not have equal share in our home or bank account. He knows that this adoption will be financially a big challenge. We cannot commit much of our budget and we do not have significant savings. However despite the fact that we cannot always make ends meet, he has always paid his tithe, always believed that God would provide. God always has, and we believe he will provide for this adoption as well.

I am impressed over and over again at the man God provided for me. He is abundantly generous, kind, loving, a good father, provider, and husband. I thank God for him, but not enough. So today, Sean I just want everyone to know how much I love and appreciate you.