Please support our adoption fundraising by ordering a super cute Southern Belle T-shirt. They are on a teal blue shirt, with bright yellow and hotpink accents and black writing. They are "just fabulous" and I can't thank my sweet friend, Heather Allen, enough for organizing this fundraiser for us! The shirts are $20 for adult sizes and $15 for children's sizes. The design is below...
If you'd like to order, you can leave comments below with the size you'd like and I'll email you payment options. You can also send an email to polkadoption@gmail.com to place an order or on my Facebook page.
I've also been asked a few times if we are still doing the Iron Bowl Adoption fundraiser. We definitely are! It'll run until the week of the Iron Bowl! We are hoping to have an exciting announcement very soon regarding this fundraiser...(hint: "stay tuned" for exciting developments.) If you'd like to vote for Alabama or Auburn to win our allegiance, go to www.ironbowladoption.com and donate :)
Adoption is a rollercoaster...we have great days, we have not-so-great days. We experience victory, we experience defeat. But the one constant in this process has been the support of our amazing family, friends, church and community! We couldn't do this without you...thank you from the bottom of my heart~
How on Earth have I managed to blow up two vacuum cleaners in less than 12 months??? OK the first one was kind of my fault. I didn't clean it out enough but I didn't realize the machine was so "high maintenance" until it was too late. However, I still haven't figured out what happened to the second one. I was just vacuuming and as I was about finished with the entire house the piece where the filter fits in on the side literally fell off onto my breakfast room rug...leaving behind remnants of melted plastic on the rug! I have NO IDEA why it melted off but I was SO irritated to have to buy another vacuum.
The first vacuum cleaner I LOVED! It was compact and light weight and had amazing suction! I was really sad when it bit the dust :) Not only was I upset because this vacuum made my cleaning endeavors easier but also because the timing was terrible. It quit working the week before the adoption fundraiser/yard sale we had back in April. A time when we became totally focused on saving and raising money for our adoption. A vacuum cleaner wasn't in the budget...and still isn't. So imagine how excited I was when the day before the yard sale my sweet neighbor shows up with a bunch of items to donate and one of them was a perfectly working vacuum.
At the time I was grateful but didn't see the significance of "a need" being met at just the right time. The most recent vacuum cleaner fatality that occurred at the Polk house was last week, the day before we were set to leave for "home" on the coast. We had a precious missionary coming to stay in our home and I wanted to make sure everything was spotless for her. This was the day my "new to me" hand me down vacuum cleaner melted to pieces. But I didn't let it get me down. :) We have tried to remain focused on glorifying God throughout this process and trust that because we've remained faithful in giving to others, He will continue to provide for us. If I let myself dwell on the money it would take to buy a new vacuum, I'd have gotten really mad! You see, buying cleaning equipment irritates me as much as buying tires! If I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars on something, it should at the very least help somebody OR be pretty or shiny or fun or have a high heel :) A machine that sucks up dirt doesn't fit any part of that description!
We had a great visit at "home" with family and friends. We capped off the week by saying good bye (for now) to some very dear friends that are moving across the country...three time zones away...to California. Luckily, they will be "behind" us so Amy and I can still have our 9 am chats only it'll be 6 am her time:) You know that feeling you get in your stomach when you know you are about to have to do something you really don't want to but you have to...well when I walked up to their "seminary sale" Saturday morning to say "goodbye" that's the sensation I had in my gut. So how awesome is it that to ease the sadness of the situation, there was a vacuum cleaner sitting there waiting for a new home? :) After a tearful goodbye, I drove off in my "mommyvan" with my "new to me" vacuum cleaner sitting in the back. And then it dawned on me...God did it again! I have now needed a vacuum cleaner TWO times since this adoption started and without asking around or putting any effort at all into finding a cheap enough machine to get by until we are operating on a "normal budget" again, God has met that need. Significant? Not really...unless you consider $500 will pay for a home study review fee, or Registration fee, or Post-Placement fee, or two Visa's, or a Russian Medical Exam, or both boy's passport's, or 50 documents to be apostilled, or half our USCIS fee, or half of a round trip flight to Russia, or half of our "gift" to the orphanage...OR a vacuum cleaner.
God reminds me daily every $500 or $50 or $5 we save or raise is significant in this process. And if we are faithful to continue supporting other ministry, even when it's very tempting to focus all of our resources on the work we've been called to right now, He will be faithful in providing for us. NOW do you see why I'm so excited about a used vacuum cleaner? :) Phil. 4:12
Everyone inherits traits from their family members...good and bad. I'm always cold! :) You don't have to look far in my family tree to see where I get this from. My grandmother, Edna Brady, is known in our family for wearing a jacket even in 90 degree weather. Well, one trait I got from her late husband, my "grandpa Brady" is to worry...about everything. :) My whole life I've been called a "worry wart." I can even remember as a young child my dad telling me "you are just like your grandfather. You worry about things that haven't even happened yet." I guess that is why I've been desensitized to how harmful (and sinful) "worry" can actually be in your life. It's been a part of "who I am" for so long the effects of it are also just part of the "life I live."
Obviously walking this adoption journey has provided plenty of opportunity to worry. From little issues like Dustin's FBI clearance taking forever to come in to BIG things like how to come up with THOUSANDS of dollars to be able to bring our children home. Uncharacteristically of me, for a big portion of this adoption, I was not stressed, worried or anxious about any of it. Don't misunderstand me, I had moments of doubt or anxiety but because we were focused on Christ through this process the worry would quickly diminish. Keeping our focus on His glory and plan kept me from carrying around the constant weight of this HUGE step of faith we call adoption. Until a few weeks ago...
As I shared in the last post, we received a gift from some dear, Christ-like friends that enabled us to move forward to the next step in adopting twin boys...a direct answer to prayer. I didn't know why but after the elation of our most recent "win" in the adoption process wore off I felt a bigger burden on me than ever before. There were a few things that weren't going quite the way "we" wanted and then ,of course, this constant reminder about the money we have left to raise. However, our situation was no different than it had been in the beginning. If anything it was better...we are closer to our goal and we've had several BIG indicators that we are totally within God's will for this situation. So why am I letting this bother me now... four months into the process when I haven't really worried about it before. A few weeks passed and the consuming stress was beginning to take it's toll.
One Sunday night I was listening to a "guest pastor" share a message on Phillipians 4. I've heard most of it before. Typical, "don't worry or be anxious for anything" scripture I've read hundreds of times. I've been told my whole life as a "worrier" :) to give it God, we aren't suppose to worry. But something I've never heard was this quote...
"The extent to which we worry is the extent to which we are an atheist at that moment. An atheist is a "no god person" and when we worry God is not a percieved reality in our lives."
I've never thought of myself as an atheist. In fact, the accusation would be hurtful. My faith is very important to me. IT'S "WHO I AM." This quote spoke loudly to me...you can't be a "worry wart" and a beleiver in Christ at the same time. To worry is to NOT TRUST God...the core foundation of what makes my relationship with Christ real. So to transparently look into my life the past few weeks and see the faith of an "atheist" was disappointing. Especially when God is so faithful and loving to me. All He asks for is my trust in Him. I fail so miserably...but He knew I would which is why He gives us undeserved grace.
The difference in that "down" time and the months prior that were "worry free" was my focus. I got distracted by the "task at hand" and accomplishing it myself instead of trusting Him with every step and rejoicing in the Lord. Phillipians 4 was a great encouragment to me that if Christ is REALLY at the center of everything in my life 'His peace will guard my heart and mind." And a great reminder that even though I think I'M walking this path in faith...really He is carrying me the entire journey. :)
If you are a close friend of mine you know "phone tag" is a game I play everyday. I rarely keep my phone with it's bulky (but necessary with kids) Otterbox cover in my pocket. Honestly, there are many times I have no idea where my phone is just as a result of the glorious chaos and "busyness" a day chasing two children, running the roads, cleaning, cooking, errands, and other chores seems to bring. I totally relate to the song, "This is the stuff" by Francesca Battistelli..."I lost my keys in the great unknown. And call me please, cause I can't find my phone." Yep that's me! :) If you've never heard this song you really need to. Its the perfect "put a smile on your face" tune for a Monday morning.
Anyway, I have played "phone tag" with a dear friend of mine that lives in another state for a few weeks. Well, really months. The last I talked to her was the day this journey to twin boys really got kicked off. She was an immediate encouragement and prayer partner. We've text and left messages but no actual conversation for a while. I got a text from her two nights ago to call her when I got the kids to bed. Well, I responded that I would but my phone had other plans. It went dead shortly after the girl's bed time. By dead I mean not low battery dead, like dead dead:) It's a game my phone has been playing for a few weeks now. It just decides it wants to rest and doesn't wake up until it wants to. It's really annoying but after this expereince I am again reminded to appreciate the mundane things God uses to work in us...as Francesca Battistelli sings, "This is the stuff You use." Needless to say, we didn't talk that night.
When the Iron Bowl Adoption Fundraiser was launched we didn't have many expectations for it. We've prayed consistently from the beginning that God would use our adoption journey as way to reach people for His glory and to encourage others to adopt. Our prayer has been for exposure...to our adoption, our story, our God. Of course, we do need to raise money, but that is secondary to making His story known. With that said we have now come to a point where we are totally leaning on God for provision. We have used all of our savings to get us to this phase of the adoption process and when our next round of fees are due we will be short about $5000. I had a moment of weakness last week when the enormity of the cost started to weigh on me. I began to question whether we are suppose to adopt two. I discussed it with my mom and sister and they were nothing but encouraging...pointing to all God has done so far to indicate we are doing what He has planned for us. As my mom was getting ready to leave Birmingham she offered to give us the money we needed to make it to the next step of this process. Humbly, I refused it because I knew we hadn't given God a chance to provide.
Fast forward a week to the same day I got a text from my "phone tag" friend...I had a meeting with our agency discussing the next steps for our adoption. She mentioned when we submit everything in the next two weeks we will have to be more specific about which child/children we are desiring to adopt. Namely, are we going to adopt twin boys or are we going to try for just one? After our discussion I began to have doubt again. See, we have enough money in savings to pay this round of fees for one. The additional money we need is because we are hoping to adopt two brothers. Dustin and I both started having the same doubts that night. While the Iron Bowl Adoption website has exceeded our expectations in how many people have seen it, we never really thought it would raise thousands of dollars. (Although we believe God will continue to use it as a tool to provide and who knows what the total amount will end up being come SEC kickoff weekend :) God can really surprise us especially when we don't expect it. )We have a few more fundraisers planned for late summer/early fall but nothing in the near future. So where would we get the additional $5,000 we needed to move forward? The actual prayer was "If Your plan is for us to adopt two, please show us by providing the money for this next step. God, we told You we'd walk until we couldn't walk any further. Is this the end of the journey for us?"
Early the next morning I was cleaning up breakfast dishes and my phone rings. It was my sweet "phone tag" friend. Finally, we've connected:) We talked for a while and then she asks, "What are your needs for the adoption right now?" I casually answered, "Well we will really need between $4000 to $5000 for the next round of fees." And that's when I got to experience the presence of God AGAIN! She and her husband had decided a while back that God wanted them to provide $5000 of our adoption expenses. Overwhelmed with emotion, we finished our conversation. I spent much of the day on my knees in thanks! Do you realize the significance of not only God's gift through these precious friends but the timing of it? If we didn't play constant phone tag and talked earlier in the process or had we accepted the funds from my mother the week prior, we wouldn't have the answer to our prayer we prayed wanting guidance about how many children to adopt. If my phone had not died the night before, we would have never prayed this prayer. It was a faith building exercise totally orchestrated by an amazing God! :) And He showed us once again, continue walking to your TWO boys!
In classic girl fashion, I called my mother immediately to tell her the wonderful news. She was somewhat amazed. I know the gift we were given was HUGE but I was a little surprised by how shocked she was, but it was because there was even more to this story I didn't know. After the conversation I had last week with my mom and sister, Courtney, expressing my concern and doubt about adopting two, my sister spent time in prayer asking God to provide us with a $5000 gift to alleviate our doubts and fears. She told only my mom about her prayer the next day on their long drive back to the coast. God had not only answered our prayer for guidance in our aodption, he answered Courtney's specific prayer for $5000. WOW! I still tear up as I write this. We discount so many acts of God as everyday happenings. I felt compelled to share this very long :) story with you because we so often forget it's the little everyday things that God can be most glorified in IF we let Him. I pray this story is also a reminder for you to see God where we sometimes forget to seek Him...everyday life. "This is the stuff You use."
To contribute through our Iron Bowl Adoption Fundraiser, go to http://www.ironbowladoption.com/ and vote for your favorite team. This is a fun way to make smaller donations to help us out...we need the $5 donation as much as we needed the $5000:) No amount is too small to accomplish the end goal of bringing our two babies home.We thank you for your support and for sharing our blog and/or website with anyone you think may be interested in helping or will join in praying for us through out this process:) We are so blessed by you!
If you are a girl, you know at some point you've gotten a hair cut or color that you totally hated and there was that awkward moment of tears in front of the person that gave you "bad hair" :) Well, I was definitely crying as I walked out of The Hair and Nail Group in Hoover last week...but not because of "bad hair." My hairdresser, and friend, Miranda has never put me in tears because of an awful cut or color. Actually, she does a fabulous job and I'm so lucky to have her talent working on my head of hair:) This appointment was no different. We talked for the hour and half that it took to work her magic, mostly about our adoption and related issues, and then voila perfect color and trim complete. This wasn't the point of tears...it was a little later. Something Miranda doesn't know is I actually dreaded this appointment.And for no reason other than finances. I had somewhat forgot about the appointment until my alarm clock went off that morning and my calendar on my phone reminded me of it. To my credit this forgetfulness is probably due to the wonderful medication I had been taking days prior because of my surgery...which went very well by the way:) At the Polk house we have started living off of what I would call "survival budget." Don't get me wrong, if we NEED something we'll splurge to get it but otherwise we've been putting every extra penny into savings for our adoption. I felt really guilty about going to get my hair highlighted and dreaded paying for it because of that guilt. But I definitely didn't want to cancel on Miranda at the last minute and if you had seen my roots you might argue this appointment was, in fact, a "need.” :) However, when we reached the register, Miranda said "Don't worry about it. It's my contribution to your adoption." WOW! Thank you God for your provision. And that's when the tears came ....
God seems to be providing for us in some of the most unexpected ways. If you're reading this and thinking, "Really? This chick is praising God for a highlight?" Well, yes. Yes, I am. You see God reminded that day that if He cares enough to provide for a haircut (and ease my guilt :)), then surely He cares enough to provide a way to pay for our adoption. AND there's more to this story. While Miranda was working on my hair, the girl working next to her joined in our conversation; revealing she would also like to adopt. Her first question was, "I don't want to be nosey, but how are ya'll going to pay for it?" She had done some research and immediately was overwhelmed by the costs. As is the case for most people, including us! I tried to explain how God provides but I never can seem to do justice to His wonderment in words.I give examples of what we've experienced but people still don't understand. SO...that day, He decided to “show” her co-worker what His provision looks like through Miranda's gift. Totally normal, though unexpected, everyday acts of kindness of behalf of our adoption. When it happens, I can totally feel His presence...that's why I cry. He completely humbles me once again and I am reminded how good the God I serve truly is!
Going through the adoption process is a very humbling experience. From day one you are an open book to your home study agency, your adoption agency, your government, the country your adopting from's government, and if you’re like us, to everyone that has decided to support you in the journey. I try to be as transparent as I can be with you...nothing sugar coated or fake. Here is where we are...home study is complete (minus Dustin's FBI clearance) however our wonderful social worker proactively sent on the study to our agency for review. It's been reviewed and all we are waiting on is the clearance. Please pray it come very soon. Then our completed dossier will be sent to the agency for final review and then sent on to Russia. We are still hoping to adopt twin brothers but have no official word yet. Our strategy is to be ready to go bring these little guys home whenever we can. So we are being diligent in our paperwork BUT we've been slow to ask for help....
Why is it so hard to ask for help? Especially in an area of life God has commanded us to serve. He's pretty clear ALL Christians should care for orphans, so why does it feel so awkward to ask for support in our adoption of two orphans? Obviously if you've followed our blog you know we do not have the $80,000 it is going to take to bring our children home. We began this “walk” in complete faith that God will provide. We have devoted all of our savings and any extra money in the mean time to this ministry but we will never come up with that much money on our own in such a short period of time. But we are realizing that was exactly God's plan in this journey. Fundraising is going to be a big part of this story and through it, His glory will be known to many more people than just a small circle of family and friends. If we have to depend on Him to provide then we aren't in control and we are vulnerable. But why is that scary in an adoption? Isn't this true of every aspect of our lives? He loves us more than we can ever understand...isn't that who we want in total control of our lives? So then there is this idea...if we have to ask for help, isn't that a sign of weakness?
II Corinthians 12:7-10 says, "So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
'Orphans and widows and the weakest among us,' they are mentioned in scripture frequently with favor and instruction to care for them. I find myself now thanking Him for my brokenness and for bringing us to total dependency in this adoption process. If I appear to be in control, have it all together, then I'm not a major player in His story. If the world can look at me and explain away the miracle of impossible situations becoming possible because of my own glory, then God can't use me. At the time I am writing this, the largest contribution that has been made to our adoption was by a young missionary that is completely supported through individuals donating to her ministry. We have received several donations and we appreciate them all very much. But there was something so special about a donation that came from someone “financially weak” by worldly standards and forgetting her own needs trusted God enough to give sacrificially to our adoption. This missionary's generous gift keeps reminding me that “in my weaknesses, I am strengthened...”
So now, very humbled and in awe of how God is using us, we are asking for your help to finish His work in our adoption. We have kicked off our first fundraiser today. Dustin has developed a website for a little healthy “in state rivalry”. As you already know we are Mississippi State fans. We have been told many times we were suppose to chose an “Iron Bowl” team when we crossed the state lines but we never have...until now. Please go to http://ironbowladoption.com/ and donate to this fundraiser. We aren't asking for big donations, although they'd be grealty appreciated. :) But we're hoping for small gifts from A LOT of people. The more people that hear our story, the more Christ will be glorified through our adoption! We are hoping this will be a fun way to raise some money and further spread the story of the “impossible” adoption journey we are “walking” with a God that makes ALL things possible. Please also pass it on to anyone you think would want to help. We are also working on a way for you to make donations on our behalf to an organization that will be tax-deductible. If you'd like more information email us at polkadoption@gmail.com and we can get it to you.We can't thank you enough for your prayers and support. We are completely blessed by you!
The Polk girls are all smiles! We can't wait to meet
our "baby brothers."
I'm not sure where to even begin...it's been a month since my last update. This is partly because we've been crazy busy, partly because I have had nothing "official" to report, partly because I don't know what details to share and partly because everytime I begin to write I feel this overwhelming sense to "be still."
Hearts for Hackleburg :)
In this one month we have witnessed great destruction in our "Sweet Home" state...we have reached out to those affected by the April 27th tornados and prayed with those that lost loved ones. We have offered our muscles, ears, shoulders and hearts to a small town no one had ever heard of (until Brett Farve decided to stop by:) ) in hopes that, just maybe through these small acts the love of Christ would be felt in Hackleburg. We have cooked, shopped, loaded and hauled. We have laughed and we have cried with these sweet people. We have seen destruction on a scale only the majesty of God can explain but we have seen kindness and love just as majestic. Amidst all the craziness of this life we have also had much to celebrate. We have celebrated the many physical lives spared and the spiritual lives changed, we have celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, we have celebrated mother's day, celebrated a birthday, watched as other's celebrated the death of Bin Laden...and now we celebrate the discovery of an answer to a question I really thought would be a mystery to us forever....the answer is gallbladder. :) The question,
WHAT ON EARTH IS CAUSING MY SIDE AND BACK TO HURT LIKE THIS??? :)
I've been "coping" with aches and pains in my side since I was pregnant with Sara Kate and it's been driving me CRAZY! At first I thought the dull ache to sharp pain in my right lower rib was little feet wedged in my rib cage. But after those little feet made their entrance into the world, I was confused why it didn't go away. So I began to describe to my doctor what I called "phantom pain" because I thought my body was just "remembering" the pain from pregnancy. It would come and go and vary with intensity. It progressed from only upper abdominal pain to radiating to my middle back. Finally, in February of last year I got so aggravated with it I went to the doctor wanting answers. He did an ultrasound, blood work, CT scan ...everything looked normal. So I assumed at that point it was an annoyance I'd have to live with. Well, I have been living with it for over a year now and I'm at the point of wanting to do surgery on myself :)...just get it out! All the mommies can relate to this frustration...it's like at the end of a pregnancy you are so miserable all you can think about is GET THIS BABY OUT! I'm at that point but until last week I wasn't 100% sure of the cause of the pain. I finally had a HIDA scan done last week (I say finally because my own stubborness has been putting it off, as I was totally convinced nothing was wrong and it would be a waste of my time:) ) and it showed my gallbladder functioning at less than 9% and thus the source of my problem. I will have it removed on May 27th. Prayers are greatly appreciated although I'm quite certain the surgery will be no big deal and I'll be so relieved to feel "normal" again that I'll have very little down time. Don't you wish you got to be the person that had me as a patient??? :) Admittedly, I'm very hard headed and non-compliant! So pray for everyone around me as well! :)
Sara Kate turned two years old on May 15th. She may be itty bitty but she has a mighty two year old attitude. :) When I look at her I'm amazed...she is such a cutie and a miracle in her own way. Looking back to the season of life when I wondered if we would be blessed with another child seems like another lifetime ago. God is amazing! He is so faithful and now my answered prayer is two...
Blowing out the candles!
On a serious note, as I mentioned above, we have been busy this past month. Part of that time we were blessed to be able to serve in Hackleburg, AL. If you're not familiar with this area, it's a small town that was almost completely destroyed by a F5 tornado. Hopefully soon I can share some of our experiences from that time. God provided precious moments and testimonies is the midst of this tragedy. The spirit of the people in this town is so strong and one thing I learned after Hurricane Katrina is to look for the blessings in the "storms of this life." It's not always easy in that moment but on the other side you can see how perfectly orchestrated for God's glory something like a devastating tornado can be for a community, a life...an eternity. Hackleburg will recover but the efforts are on going. Please continue to pray for and support the people across this country experiencing great trials because of weather related tragedy.
And of course, please continue to pray for our adoption journey. Yes, it's still the "walk" of a lifetime. Definitely a marathon rather than a sprint. I'm totally convinced God calls only the most impatient people to adopt and then has a good laugh through out the process. :) We are pretty much complete with all of our paperwork that we can do. We are still waiting on clearances to come in from the FBI and state of Mississippi. Once those are here we will have our documents apostilled in Montgomery and sent on to the agency and then to Russia. We are still hoping to be able to adopt two sweet brothers and we hope to soon have more information. I'm "impatiently" waiting. :) Things are positive and on a good track to the successful adoption of two children:) So keep the prayers coming....
We've had quite a weekend celebrating Dustin's birthday! Times have definitely changed....the only guilt now associated with our "crazy parties" is the amount of calories we consumed:) (Thank you God for your mercy in our younger years!) Of course, even though we have grown so much in our spritiual walk since becoming "adults" we still have so far to go. I think it's a never ending process. The more we know, the more we realize we don't know. Once God allows us to grasp one concept, we discover another we are totally confused by. This alone is enough to keep us constantly seeking Him and studying His Word, but I'm really beginning to understand how much I need God's direction when it comes to parenting....
Around the Polk house we have a birthday tradition. Everyone gets a homemade birthday cake on their birthday...and by homemade I mean from a box but cooked in our oven and decorated with love:) Yesterday, while Sara Kate was napping, Carsyn and I decided it was a perfect time to work on daddy's cake. I measured out all of the ingredients and let Carsyn pour them in. She even cracked all three eggs into the bowl without having to fish out any of the shells...pretty impressive for a five year old! After putting the cake in the oven we began what naturally comes next...licking the bowl:) Now you would think after thirty years of cake batter, Dustin and I would just be nice and let the girls have it all. Absolutely NOT! There is just no substituion for some good yellow cake batter! We all still fight over the beaters, the bowl and the spoon:) Luckily this time, Sara Kate was asleep and Dustin wasn't around so Carsyn and I had it all to ourselves. She grabbed one beater and I got the other. We started licking the outside of the beater, once they were all clear, we started on the inside. It was then that it hit me...I felt like I was looking in a mirror! She was following the exact same "licking routine" that I do. It was like a sunchronized event and I could see myself in her. I stopped to soak in the moment. Then I asked her, "Why do you do it like that?" As she continued licking she said, "Do what?" I replied, "Lick the outside of every prong before licking the inside." She casually said, "I don't know momma. I just always watch you do it that way." WOW! Without intending to teach her how to lick the beaters, I have instilled in her a very specific routine to follow. What else have I unintentionally taught my child? I am hopeful there have been a lot of great lessons I've unknowingly passed on, but I'm fearful there have been negative ones as well.
Mommy and Carsyn "licking" it up! :)
A few years back I realized (thanks to a great Beth Moore study, Daniel) that if we aren't living intentional lives for the Lord then we will be consumed by the world. As a couple, it's been sort of a theme for how we make decisions with our finances but honestly hasn't seeped into our parenting. Oh how much we have to learn! :) You would think being parents for a whole five years now we'd sort of have this thing figured out. (I do hope you can hear the sarcasm in my voice with this last sentence:) Just when I think we are doing ok, God uses something (usually precious, silly Carsyn) to show me just like everything else in life, parenting is a never ending process that constantly changes and evolves. Please don't misunderstand me, we do teach scripture, Bible stories, and pray with our children. But this moment in our kitchen was a reminder that those times I unintentionally begin to let me faith settle I'm not only affecting my "walk" but my children see it too. I know the only constant in this world is Christ. I must be intentional in sharing, modeling and exhibiting my faith to my daughters. The best way for this to happen...through my daily life with a heart consumed for Him.
There is a song that perfectly captures my intentions for life in words. If I can achieve this only a fraction of the time, I know my girls will be forever impacted for the Kingdom of Christ. The song is Hosanna and this is my hearts desire...
Our adoption journey continues, as I mentioned before we are in a "holding" pattern:) We have several weeks before we expect to be "paper ready" and I sincerely believe this wait time is a "God-thing." We need this time to pray and discern our next step in this "radical walk." Please continue to pray for God's wisdom and provision in our adoption! For now, all I have to share are the little life moment's God uses to speak to me:) But really, it's these times that make the journey so significant.
Sara Kate enjoying daddy's birthday breakfast...
she ate the tops off of 3 sprinkle donuts
& she totally did her hair herself today:)
I do want to wish my sweet husband a very Happy Birthday! I'm so thankful we get to 'walk this road' together:) I hope this year is even better than the last! I love you...and only you know how much:) Also, I feel the need for a little disclaimer...I'm very aware of the "danger" associated with eating cake batter:) However, when it comes to something so delicious, I take into consideration the risk vs. benefit model and have determined the benefit far outweighs the risk! I've been eating it since I was a kiddo and wouldn't dare deprive my babies of something so wonderful! :) ENJOY!
