February 28, 2007
Speaking of Transcultural Adoption
These are our good friends (and cool too!) Seth and Rachel. They are adopting twins from Ethiopia. Their kids are about Lucy’s age and hopefully they will get the call to pick them up any day. Please pray for that to happen soon. Here is a picture from their shower. Well, you are going to have to click on the title because it won’t let me display it!
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February 27, 2007
Transcultural Adoption
That is the name of the seminar Dustin and I will attend tonight. As many of you know we are in the adoption process. Part of the process is taking several seminars to help us better understand what it means to be adoptive parents and what it means for a child to be adopted. We are excited to attend and to be on this journey.
We are hoping to adopt from Guatemala but are unsure if that will happen. There are some legal requirements Guatemala is not meeting. To be honest I don’t feel a lot of peace about adopting from there unless more information can really assure me that we are indeed adopting orphans. Please pray for this process and especially if we should press on with Guatemala or look into other countries.
If you are interested in reading about what is happening legally with Guatemala here is a link:
Guatemala Adoption
February 25, 2007
February 24, 2007
Kid Genius?
The other night Dustin and I saw this interview of a kid genius. They said at 2 years old he heard Beethoven and could say that was his music. Dustin and I of course look at Lucy like are you a genius and we just don’t know it yet. At that point she comes up to Dustin grabs his nose and says, “Honk!”. We burst out laughing.
February 22, 2007
Should I be Worried?!
Dustin took this apart- I hope he can put it back together! Yes, my dryer is broke. It has reminded me of living in Syria, where most people don’t have a dryer. I had clothes hung up all over my house to dry. I forgot how wrinkly everything gets when they dry this way. It sure made me appreciate my dryer. We ordered the belt today so I’ll keep you updated on if Dustin can put this thing back together.
February 21, 2007
Paci Update
I know you are all wanting to know – has she asked for paci?!
Well she has twice, both times in the car. Then I’ll ask her where did you put paci? She will kind of giggle and say the garbage. Then we talk about yes you are a big girl who doesn’t need your paci. She seems to accept that.
Well I hear my little munchkin calling for me now!
February 20, 2007
Paci Days are Over!
Yes, it’s true Lucy quit her paci. I have been talking to her for a while about pretty soon we aren’t going to have paci anymore. I had been telling her how soon Baby Zoe would be here and she might use a paci but Lucy won’t anymore.
Well last night we were reading books on the couch and I said “Should we put paci in the garbage?”, never thinking she would go for it! She responded with a no (which she says when she means yes too) got up and walked over to the garbage. Before she put it in I told her once paci is in the garbage he’ll never come out. She didn’t seem to care and dumped him. She didn’t ask for him at bed or this morning. So I think were on to a new era!
I was glad- it was getting hard to understand her when she spoke with it in her mouth. Dustin on the other hand thought it was so sad and talked about it several times through the night how he couldn’t believe we got rid of paci!
February 19, 2007
Happy President’s Day
In honor of President’s Day, Kellie has asked me to guest blog. I am an avid fan of presidential history and love to read biographies of our past presidents. My opinions on some of these men have changed greatly. For example, before ever being interested in presidents I had a very high view of Thomas Jefferson. While recognizing that he may have been a good president, my respect for him as a person has plummeted (I believe he was scheming and duplicitous – though you might argue that this is true to some extent of all presidents!). Another example of one whose star fell for me is Andrew Jackson (he was wildly popular during his day, but totally disregarded the Constitution and the rights of Native Americans). My appreciation for men like John Adams (far more important to the founding of America than most understand) and Harry Truman (great man who had good common sense in leading the country after one of the most difficult presidents to have to follow [Franklin Roosevelt]} has grown considerably while my thoughts about Dwight Eisenhower have gone both ways (mostly great on foreign policy – complete failure on race relations in America).
Yet it is good on President’s Day to remember those God has place in leadership over us (Romans 13:1 says that he puts all authorities in power) and to seek to learn from their successes as well as their failures. It is good to see George Washington’s fortitude and faithfulness. It is also helpful to see John Quincy Adams’ general unlikability even though he was one of the most qualified presidents we have ever had.
Looking at presidential history also reminds us that we are fools to think that there is more mud slinging in today’s presidential elections than before (in fact, it seems much tamer!). We are people who live in a particular time and a particular place. Though our future is uncertain, our past has much to teach us, for as the writer of Ecclesiastes said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl 1:9).
Happy President’s Day to all!
For more info on presidential history check out the White House website. For a number of different lists ranking the performance of presidents, check out Wikipedia.
Chosen of God, holy and beloved!
Today’s sermon was so good. I felt so strengthened, encouraged and challenged by it! It was from Colossians 3:12-19. But mostly dealing with verses 12-13.
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and
forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave
you, so also should you.”
What really encouraged me was how Pastor John emphasized how we are chosen, beloved and holy. How if we are rooted in this truth we will put on the things listed. Do I really believe God has chosen me, set me apart and showered me with His love in Jesus? Oh for that truth to saturate me.
As I said I was also very challenged. I used to feel so bad when I felt convicted, like I was a big loser. Feeling like I’ll never change and why am I such a bad sinner that I struggle with this? I won’t lie sometimes I still feel that way but now I mostly feel, “Yes, God is working in me. The Holy Spirit is changing me and making me more like Jesus!”
So what I really felt convicted by was anger. Yes, you are right it’s not even mentioned in the verse above but was does impatience usually yield? Anger! I have it in abundance. I want to be long-suffering. I want to forbear with the annoying habits of my husband and the whining of my daughter! I don’t say that to insult either of them – they are human with faults; why can’t I be forbearing and forgiving as God has done with me?!
So my goal this week is to meditate on the fact that I’m chosen, set apart and loved by my Creator. I recommend you all go listen to this sermon at Desiring God under this week’s sermon.
