Stay out of my dirt

I was sweeping the floors today and I had to continually tell A, who is two and a half to stay out of my dirt. She was persistent though and kept getting in it. She was trying to "help". I finally gave in and gave her the dustpan and little broom and let her help.


I was reminded that often times we want to wallow in our own dirt and don't want anyone to get in it with us. We try to hide it or minimize it. We think we have it all under control. But, we weren't called to walk through life alone. God is our ever present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46). He also sent Holy Spirit to be our guide. We also have a valuable resource in community. It's important that we have a support system in place, people that can say the hard things to us without it bothering us. We are made to be relational. That can be hard because people will always let us down but it's better then walking through life alone.


We are given opportunities each day to be Jesus hand and feet. There are hurting people all around us. All we have to do is step in faith and reach out to someone that crosses our path. I encourage you to reach out to someone today.

Our Fostering Journey

It all started with an innocent conversation... Ed: Cole is going to college soon Me: Yep Ed: We will have empty rooms that could be put to good use Me: Yep And that was pretty much it. You see, I would opt for the much less messy approach to care for the volunerable and needy children of the world. Adoption. But not Ed, he felt that in our community were a whole host of kids that needed a safe place, even if just for a little while and so we were getting licensed when we got the placement. I would love to sit here and say that it has been the most beautiful process and all is right in our little world but I cannot. I have harbored many ill feelings and my emotions have been on a rollar cosater ride for the past six months. However, through the grace of God we have come a long way and the feelings that were once bitter are now love. Love for someone that may have never been shown what real love looks like. Love for the lost and hurting in our world. Love that will move mountains if only we let it. Loving the kids is the easy part. I was once the lost person that someone gave a chance to so why shouldn't I return that to someone else? Afterall we are called to be a light to the dark world in which we live. So, with that we strive daily to reach out and be a witness to the redemptive power of Jesus. It isn't easy, but it is worth it.

No one can do everything but everyone can do something

153,000,000

That's the number of times we have heard the following statements:

"You must be saints" (uh not hardly, I mean you have met us)

"I could never do what you are doing" (really? Why don't you try)

"I would be too afraid I would get attached" (you do)

"Will you get to adopt them" (the goal is always reunification)

"I don't time or energy to do that" (and you think we do?)

BUT 153,000,000 is also the estimated number of orphaned or vulnerable children there are in the world today according to UNICEF.

I'll be honest here, foster care is NOT something that I would have ever wanted to do but because my husband felt the call from God to do it we did. I can also tell you that while it is the hardest thing we have ever done, it is also the most rewarding thing we've ever done.

The fact is whether or not you decide to do something, these kids end up somewhere anyway. So our thought is why not open our home with extra rooms in it to love with only a love Jesus can give us even if it means it is temporary.

How do we do it? Only by the grace of God. My emotions are like a roller coaster between compassion and anger but this I know, we have been the ones blessed and stretched and grown through this. It may be for only a season but the rewards from it are far reaching.

What many foster families won't tell you is that there are times where it's the loneliness place to be. You feel as if no one understands what you are feeling. God has blessed us with friends that have made this journey a little easier by encouraging words, gift cards to fast food, Walmart, or for gas. Cooked us meals. Had play dates. Listened to us cry. Listened to our joys. Just simply been God's hands and feet to us.

I encourage you to seek out the foster families in your communities and reach out to them in some way. You have no idea what it will mean to them.

Life as a teenager

I think we as adults tend to forget how tough it can be to be a teenager. I have been reminded of this lately watching Cole make decisions about his future. Huge, life changing decisions. This year he has been so focused and concentrated on grades, scholarships, college decisions, and others.


We can forget that the words in which we speak into their lives can make an impact so deep that if they aren't mentally mature enough to decipher the words it can be detrimental to their emotional state.


We have always held our kids to a high standard. I am very proud of the people they have become, not because of anything we have done but because they have worked hard to be where they are at.


I was talking to Cole this weekend and he made a statement to me that I've pondered over. He said "Mom, life isn't all about basketball. I'm trying to decide where to go to college and focused on my grades". I will admit I was asking him why he wasn't having as good a year playing as he had in previous years. He is overwhelmed and focused on his future. I reassured him that now he needs to just play the game and enjoy it since its his senior year, I told him when he is on the court focus on that and when the game is over he can go back to focusing on the other aspects in his life.


I think all too often as parents, fans and coaches we think things are all about the season we are in athletically when what we need to do is step back and realize that kids don't have it as easy as we think.


Therefore, as adults we can be the people they turn to or the people they run from. I have learned from the many years that Ed has coached that it is more than just a game. It is teaching them about life through it and if you get the respect and admiration of the kids they will work their tails off to not let you down.


It is a different world we live in even from 10 years ago. I for one would not want to go back and be a teenager again!

Overwhelmed by the saints

I've learned that I can get out of my comfort zone on my own but how much more strength & confidence to do the work God has called me to do when the saints have gathered behind me in prayer.


I am continually in awe of the people that rally behind the one thing that God has put as a call on my life. The ones that write on my Facebook, the unexpected text, the amount of people that work endlessly on fundraising for an unexpected trip.



It's in those times that I know that if my friends would go to the efforts they have for little me, just what they will do for the least of these.



There are times I look around and extreme guilt sets in at our abundance but God reminds me to not feel bad for what He has blessed us with. He has given us resources to help, even if it is just one.



So, I thank you my friends for the unconditional love you have poured out on me and this mission. It's hard to show exactly what me heart feels for each and every one of you. No matter how small you might think your efforts are.


There is no small sacrifice. While I am blessed when finances come in, it's the prayers of the saints that will do the work that God has planned. It's in those prayers that I know He will provide just what we need.