Not Me Monday

I would never give up an hour away from my kids to go sit by myself with a hot Starbucks beverage for a quiet trip to the grocery store instead.

Nope, not me.

But if I DID go to the grocery store (in peace) instead, I'd surely have made it worth my time by having all my coupons in order and taking advantage of Harris Teeter's triple coupons, instead of lazily walking up and down the isles at the nearest grocery store without even a list in hand.

Nope, not this motivated, frugal mama!

'Cause that could only happen if I didn't completely chunk my whole coupon stash when arriving home from Uganda...because I would NEVER throw coupons away.

Nope, not me.

But let's just say that I did throw away every coupon in my possession and then tell my mother-in-law that I'd rather go get groceries, kid-less, than sit and sip on coffee.

That would make for a more eventful story, right?

Right.

So, saying the previous events did happen...

I did NOT park my massive SUV right next to the shopping cart return in order to avoid having to walk any more than necessary.

Nope, not me!  

I always take advantage of every opportunity to exercise and keep this body in shape, ha!

Anyway, if I tried to park next to the shopping cart return, I may just get so close that I have to literally squeeze this 35-week pregnant belly between the open door and the car, just to get IN the grocery store.

And that would look really ridiculous.  Not to mention embarrassing.

And then upon returning with a cart full of groceries, realize that my automatic unlock button no longer works on my key ring and have to shimmy my way back to the driver's side to unlock the car, then shimmy back out to unload the groceries in the back, return my cart that I gratefully didn't have to exercise to return, and climb through the passenger side door to the drivers seat just to get back IN my car.  (And I'm not even going to paint a mental picture of me squeezing my belly down between the steering wheel and the seat.)

Oh no.  I would never do something like that!

Nope, not me. 

Story In Pictures - Best Christmas Present EVER!

The View From Here

Thoughts From The Sifted

I think when a lot of people go through tough times they question why God would allow "it" to happen.

For me, I GET that God has a BEST plan.  I GET that His timing is perfect.  I get that He knows what is best for me.  I GET that crappy things are going to happen, even to His children, EVEN when they are following closely behind Him in obedience (because so often people question if they heard God correctly if their walk of obedience becomes difficult).  I GET that life sucks sometimes and that we are never going to totally understand WHY exactly God does allow hurtful and painful things to happen.  I GET all of that.  I truly do!

Josh and I have been reading a book called "Sifted", by Rick Lawrence (Thanks Katy!).  It couldn't be more of a perfect book for the season of life that we are stepping out of.


In Luke Jesus says one of the most chilling (in my opinion) phrases of the Bible:

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  

And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

If you notice, Satan went to Jesus to ask permission.  He sought Peter out.  That's a little unnerving. God was gracious enough to give Peter a warning at least, ha!  And then He graciously went on to tell Peter that he had prayed for his faith and that Peter would, in turn, strengthen his brothers after he had been "sifted".

Wow!

When Josh and I were in the midst of our "sifting" in Uganda we often questioned why things were going so "un"planned.  We often questioned how in the world everything would work out.  We even questioned if we'd ever get back home (this would have been a very low point in our journey:).  I'm sure we had underlying doubt and questions about why this was going so unpredictably for us while others were zooming in and out of country in less than 3 weeks!

Oh we questioned.  (Here is where I want to say that I believe we are allowed to question God and speak from our hearts to His.)  But we finally grasped (at least part of) the reason behind it.  We had a lot of learning to do. 

This "sifting" that we were going through was a hurt that God had allowed.  While we weren't particularly rejoicing in the fact that we were facing obstacles at every turn we were confident that God had a plan.  While we weren't sure how the end would play out, we were confident that God had a plan.  While we weren't sure if we could hang on any longer, we were confident that God was holding us.

After beginning this book and realizing the significance of being "sifted" I believe we could embrace the hardship a little easier.  Our thoughts turned from wondering how it would all play out to "I hope we can finish strong" and "I pray we can pass this test".

Instead of questioning God through all of this, I'm questioning my own heart and motives.  I want to pass this test!  I want God to get as much glory out of our sifting as He can!  I don't want my own fears and insecurities to get in the way of what God is teaching me!

I'm all about being transparent and open, because I believe it can help others, but this is a little hard to admit. 

Here is the weird thing.  When we finally got word that we had been approved to bring Alethia home I was beyond thrilled and relieved.  But at the same time I felt a strange spiritual finality, as though the sifting were over.  That the test was complete.  I felt like I'd passed, maybe not with flying colors, but at least I survived, but for some reason that wasn't enough.  I wasn't ready to be done being sifted.  I don't want God to stop testing me.  I know it doesn't make sense. 

It took some time to sort these things out in my swirling head and I believe I now understand what was going on.  It's not that I want heartache or difficulty all the time, but I don't ever want to feel like God is done with me.  I want to be in a place where I continue to grow!

Oh, don't get me wrong.  I am more than ready to have my whole family on American soil, in our own home, TOGETHER!  I am so ready to have this baby and begin to live a normal life again.  But I don't ever want to forget the sifting we have been through and I don't ever want to be so comfortable doing life that I would cave in the midst of another sifting season.

So for now, I pray that we can enjoy the victory when this season of sifting is complete (because this will be the time to gain strength for the next one), and pray that when our testing is complete that we can turn back and strengthen our brothers, because that is when God will get the glory!

Not Me Monday

To say that I'm a list girl would be an extreme understatement.

I make lists for lists for goodness sakes!

But I would NEVER succumb to the temptation of actually adding something to my list, half-way through the day that has already been accomplished, just for the sheer pleasure, enjoyment, and rush that one gets for being able to check yet another thing off of one's list for the day.

Oh no, not me!

The View From Here

And the swingset should be ready in about 267 days:)

With One Voice

The prayers uttered from our kids after family devotions tonight:

Zeke: "Dear God, please help us get the VISA to bring Shabila home soon.  Give daddy a safe trip to go get her.  Let Shabila realize it when she comes home.  Amen"

Cai: "Dear God, lksjfoahwekefsido Billa home. lkajsdhfaowiefof.  Amen"

Areyna: "Dear God, I am sorry that I keep sinning.  I am SO sorry.  Help us all to have good attitudes tomorrow and help me to obey mommy.  And please help us be able to bring Shabby home very soon and give daddy and Shabby a safe trip when they come home.  And please help the adoptions to go through for all the other people and for us.  In your name I pray, Amen"

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Comes Early This Year

 Since Christmas lands on a Sunday this year our church is shaking things up a little bit.

We're doing church ON SATURDAY!

We'd LOVE to have you come join us Saturday morning for one of our 3 services:

8:40am, 10:15am and 11:55am

Make sure you come early to help with parking and get a good seat.

You won't want to miss the opener!

CLICK HERE for directions and additional info.

Celebrating In True Via Form

Yes, Monday was a day to celebrate!

We celebrated the quick communication from Nairobi about our case.
We celebrated the immediate "Approval" from USCIS instead of the request for more evidence.
We celebrated the fact that Alethia will be with us in just a number of DAYS!
We celebrated God's "YES" to our heart's plea. 

Oh so many things to be thankful for!

We all celebrated in our own ways, but you better believe that some good ol' "field sledding" would ensue as a response to the gratitude and excitement in our hearts, ha!

The only problem is that we are going to need to buy a bigger sled for the winter:)