Sunday Love

I love Sundays!! Day of rest, worship and DONATION DAY!! I know people may not think much of it, or that $6 a week is much, but it all counts. A Little Can Mean A Lot. I love watching my boys funds grow. I donate and then hit the refresh button just to watch the number grow. I love praying everyday while I run. I pray for love, food and attention for these boys. I pray for their forever family to find them. I pray that my small donation will become big and help a family step out in faith to bring these boys home.

I know after Christmas time can be hard financially on all of us. We all have $1 or $2 that we can donate. It may not seem like much now, but it all adds up. If you can spare a small donation to my boys funds I would greatly appreciate it and so will their families one day. You will be a part of the solution to end the orphan crisis. It will make you feel good deep down in your heart and Jesus will smile! Once again here are the sweet faces of the boys that weigh so heavily on my heart. I will post their pictures again and also their webpage if you feel lead to donate. Plus I can not resist the cuteness!

http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=Garrison

http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=Copeland


Chech out this work in progress also: http://alittlecanmeanalot.com

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all my family, friends, and followers! I can not help but to feel happy and all warm inside at how blessed we as a family are these days. We are all happy, healthy, and enjoying life. This year since we have moved back to Oregon we have been surrounded by family and friends, been invited to gatherings and brought lots of plates of cookies!

Although I am happy, I can not help but have a hint of sadness in my heart for all the orphans in the world. Especially my heart boys Copeland and Garrison. I want to wish these 2 special boys a Merry Christmas! I wish I could say that they would be receiving a gift and hearing all about the birth of Jesus and being snuggled today, but that just is not reality. They probably do not even know that it is Christmas or that today is any different then any other day. This morning as I ran (yes ran my miles for my boys even on Christmas) I prayed hard, harder then normal. I prayed these sweet boys would be loved on today, smiled at, fed, and kept warm and dry. I prayed that the Lord would put that love in a mother and father's heart extra hard today that they may see these boys as their own and step out in faith on this adoption journey. I can not wait until I see these 2 on the My Family Found Me page on Reecesrainbow.org .

For now I can help by donating to the boys funds and if you feel so inclined also, please donate. Let's get their funds full and pray together that the boys will find a forever family. That this year will be their last in an orphanage for Christmas. That is my Christmas wish. Merry Christmas boys!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my B-day, when people find out this it usually brings up a lot of comments: Do you get jipted on presents?,Wow, I would not like that, Do you get one big present, and even more I can not think of at the moment. That is another post though. I just came by to share a very special gift I received from my husband. He bought me my very own web domain!! http://www.alittlecanmeanalot.com I am very excited about this as this is another opportunity for me to get to share what is on my heart and get the word out about the orphan crisis around the world and what we can do to help. I am constantly telling my family a little means a lot, a little can go a long way, so the name he chose is just perfect. So Bookmark it people and watch as this site grows and changes. Lots of ideas on the horizon I can not wait to get it all started!!!!

Tomorrow is Donation Day!!!

Tomorrow is Sunday and it will be my 1st full week of running my 2 miles a day for Copeland and Garrison! Last week I had just started and did 4 days. It felt good. I would get up early while most were still sleeping and get on that treadmill and run, and pray. I prayed everyday for God to hold these boys in his hands, to make them feel loved, to feed them, to let one person a day at least smile at them and care for them as a mother would. I prayed for their forever family to find them and find them quickly so that they can experience a family and receive the medical attention that they need. Tomorrow I will donate $6 to each boys funds. It may not sound like much, but it slowly adds up. It makes a difference when a family steps forward to adopt them. If you feel so compelled to donate along with me I would be forever grateful. Even if you can only do a little bit, or only to one of the boys it will make a difference. I am going to add their photos again so you can see there sweet faces and also add the link to their official Reece's Rainbow page. The donate button is on their page. Thank you and I challenge you to pray for a child this holiday season and always.

http://reecesrainbow.org/49537/copeland

http://reecesrainbow.org/48208/garrison

Aren't they darling? I think so. I run because I have the freedom to do so and these little boys are stuck in a crib, in an orphanage. They need out. Could you be their family?

Wordless Wednesday

Come Out, Come Out Where Ever You Are...

your family is waiting for you little one or ones! We are officially out of the Home Study phase and into the Matching phase. HOME STUDY IS COMPLETE!!!! So pray for us as a family as now we wait patiently to be match with a child or children. This process can take a while. Pray that our future child or children's hearts are open to all the change and love that will come upon them when they enter our home! This is going to be FUN!

It's Official!

I am an official Guardian Angel and Prayer Warrior for this sweet little boy!

And I am also the official Prayer Warrior of this cutie patootie!

I will br praying my heart out everyday that these boys find their forever family. That until they come home, someone will show them the love that they deserve, that they will never be hungry, and that they will be safe and surrounded in Gods arms everyday.

I will be helping to raise their grant money funds to help off set the cost of their adoptions You will hear me talking about them, writing about them, and begging for them. They are both so young, and so ready to live life in a family. They deserve this, they deserve the medical interventions and therapies. I can not wait for the day they are CHOSEN!

Right now since I have just started this path I started a challenge with myself. I will run 2 miles a day, taking Sundays off to rest. I started on Wed. when I made the commitment to these boys. I will then donate $2 a day for my run. So by Sunday my day of rest I will be donating $6 per little boy into there funds. The slogan/title I came up with is:

" 2 miles a day because I can, and they are not even given the option"

See what I have learned with following the international adoption blogs and world is that a lot of these kids sit in their cribs all day long. Some are drugged to keep them more in a sedated state and easier to care for. They are not often offered services or therapies to help with their delays or disabilities. They often only get a couple diaper changes a day and sit in their own bodily waste for hours, they cry and nobody comes to see what is wrong. So then they just stop crying. It just breaks my heart and I hope that it breaks yours too. We need to step up in even the smallest ways to help the least of these. It is our Godly duty.

I challenge you to challenge yourself. You may not want to run 2 miles a day, but you could match my donation every Sunday to help raise these kids funds. Be a part of helping these boys find families. You are welcome though to run along side of me in this challenge. Just think of all the freedoms we have everyday. The freedom to come and go, to eat as we wish, to be clean and dry. Last you can pray. Pray for these boys sweet faces, and pray for me as I try to help in any way I can.

This will be a very rewarding experience in the end.

You can read about the boys and many other orphans that need our help here at Reecesrainbow.org

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful for family. Not just my family but all families that open their hearts and homes to children in need. Building a family these days is done in many different ways. Through Birth,Adoption, and Marriage (blending families). I am so thankful for those families that choose adoption. John 14:18 (NIV) says I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Psalms 82:3 (NIV) Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless: maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Proverbs "Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows we know and holds us responsible to act"

Last night my kids and I got to welcome a family home with their 2 new little blessings! It was so amazing to follow this families journey and the witness the Homecoming. It was surreal. These children were not just pictures anymore.

They are home with a family forever.

Adoption makes families and gives children the love and homes that they need and deserve.My family has been blessed by adoption once already and I know we will again! Think about it, pray about it, ADOPTION ROCKS!!!

Wordless Wednesday

http://reecesrainbow.org/49537/copeland

Snow, Snow, Sunriver!

Over the Mountain we went 7 people, 5 which were adults, and all our luggage stuffed into my mini van! We were headed on a mini vacation for Kopelan's 5th B-day (I still can not believe my baby is 5 years old). We thought going to Sunriver, OR would be a new experience, a small town where we could take the kids snow tubing, swimming, ice skating and even geocaching and they did it all. I do have to say though the snowball fight between Kopelan and Kendall vs. Daddy and Uncle Richie seems to be the highlight of the weekend that they will not stop talking about.

It was just another great weekend spent with family. We got to meet up with other family members some that live down that way and some that were just visiting. There seriously is nothing better then family time.

On the Road Again...

Most people that know me know I love to be on the go. When my daughter became school age I felt like a lot of my/our freedom left also. Most parents can not wait for the kids to hit those years of going to school, I on the other hand sort of dreaded it. I do however love school holidays and vacations! I usually know when they are coming and have a trip planned. Whether it be somewhere close or somewhere far, getting away from the house and everyday chores is something I look forward too. This last weekend was no different. Kendall got out of school Friday and began a nice long week vacation! So I packed the suitcases, kids, my mom and off to Kennewick, WA we went. It was a long drive,but very scenic. The kids were occupied by of course every electronic they could get their hands on, but it made for a quiet ride, lol! When we arrived we were greeted by very excited cousins! Love Family!

Santa Baby, yes we got the kids photos with Santa. Went early and there was no line. Little Miss EEEEE was not a big fan of this old man. But we got one with no crying and went with it. We then headed to a bazaar where we proceeded to taste all the yummy samples of fudge, pretzels and dip, kettle corn, and even some wine slushies!
The rest of the weekend was spent just hanging out. We made caramel apples with yummy toppings! They were tasty.(i LOVE caramel)

The majority of the weekend though was spent with Mommy/daughter talks and the kids playing Beyblades. These toys were a lifesaver and kept them entertained with minimal fighting for hours. Who knew 3 kids, 3 Beyblades and a mixing bowl could equal a ton of fun!

The weekend went by to fast, good food, good talks, and lots of family time. Far to soon it was time to repack the suitcases, the kids, and my mom and head back home. On the way home we stopped for lunch at a place called Cousins! Pretty fitting for our trip. They greet you by saying "Hi Cousin", thought that was sort of cute. We stopped for a few photos of course.

We are now home and preparing for more family time during this Thanksgiving Holiday. I am so Thankful for Family. Thankful for a hardworking Husband that allows our travel bugs to be fulfilled. Thankful for school holidays so that I can spend lots of time with my children. I hope you all have a blessed week whether you are staying put in your home or traveling near or far. Be Thankful, Happy and Full of Love!

Anticipation and Prayer

I got a great email last night from our Adoption worker, the home study is almost done!!!! It is possible it could be finished this week. We have been praying for the little one or ones that will be brought into our lives. That their hearts will be open and ready and that so will ours. I can not wait to start the search and continued prayer to find the child or children to add to our family. I know the next step, the search could take awhile, but I keep thinking in my head what a wonderful Christmas gift it would be to have our new members with us. To start being a family with new traditions and showing our love and faith to our children during the holiday season.

Other then that awesome news are family is doing great. We are still settling in to our new home here in OR. Kendall loves her new school and new friends. She is taking jump roping class after school once a week and learning lots of new skills. She continues to amaze us with how smart she is and all she is learning.

Kopelan will start school after the new year and is currently attending a Lego Robotics class and enjoying it fully. It is amazing to watch his determination with new skills.

KC is loving his new job and it is a very different atmosphere then his last job, continues to challenge him everyday, yet give him freedom to participate in more of the kids activities or school functions. This is huge for our family!

Me, well I am busy running the kids to and fro, unpacking (still) and learning a new routine. I found a MOPS group (mothers of Preschoolers Support) and also Momsnext (the school age years). I am enjoying getting to see my parents at least once a week also. Family is the best!

That is all for now, but when I have more news I will update again! Please if you feel inclined pray for our family and future children!

Where we are...

Well if you have ever experienced the adoption process you know how long and draining it can be. This goes for any kind of adoption, whether it be private domestic, international or through the foster care system. As I announced we are going through the adoption process again. We are currently working on our home study, this consists of lots of paperwork, Dr.'s visits, interviews, educational classes, and home visits. We are moving pretty quickly through this process since we have some experience in the adoption world and working with agencies. We have already had 2 home visits and finished our paperwork. We just got word that we will not have to do the educational classes since we have been taking them over the course of the last 8 years while doing foster care for a couple different states. K.C. was beyond thrilled with this discovery as we have completed hundreds of hours of training and sometimes feel as if we could teach the class (if I enjoyed speaking in public, which I do not). So in a couple weeks we have our last meeting to approve the final draft of our home study and the the searching and praying begins. We have a child or children out there and we can not wait to meet them and see who God has hand picked for us to grow our family. So that is just a little update of where we are in our adoption process. Please keep us in your prayers and our future child/ren that their heart will be prepared for the change that will happen in their life.

Here We Go Again!!

Where are we going you ask? We are headed down the home study road again. We are doing things slightly different this time. We have decided not to do foster care for awhile and just strictly ADOPT. We will be adopting a child out of the foster care system as those children are still dear to my heart. We have already started and are actually pretty far along in the process. We have only told a few people, but I want to make it official. WE ARE ADOPTING AGAIN!!!

Pray and Believe

We have had some events this last month that felt like we were on a crazy roller coaster and no matter what we did, we could not get off. Let me tell you though, I was turned into a prayer warrior. Not that I did not pray before, but like most people I tended to pray when I needed something or felt scared. It is easy to forget to pray for the thanks, the good, and give the glory to whom its deserved. Not any more though for me. I have changed so much in my prayer life. It is the first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before I fall asleep. Do not get me wrong some days I pray all day.I just pray with a different attitude. I truly believe what I am praying. If it is an area of need, I know in His time He will provide. If it is a thanks or praise, I know HE is looking down saying, " Your welcome my child". It is just amazing, how talking to my Heavenly Father can make me feel so good and at peace. If praying is not a daily habit you have please try and make it one. Start small, as you lay down at night thank God for 1 thing that you feel blessed you that day. If you can not think of anything, then thank Him for the bed you are sleeping in, the roof over your head, your family, job, etc. If you can do this once a day you will find yourself praying even more often through out the days. You will start enjoying your time with Him. I encourage to just give it a try. I will be praying for you. Cause I am a prayer warrior.

Easter Story Cookies

Now this activity is very neat! It is to be done the evening before Easter.

- 1 cup whole pecans

- 1tsp vinegar

- 3 egg whites

- pinch of salt

- 1 cup sugar

- zipper baggie

- wooden spoon

- tape

- Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that Jesus was arrested, He was Beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, and close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door shut. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that the may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

The Easter Hill

This is another great activity! I love that there are so many activities we can sit and do with our kids to teach them the true meaning of Easter. These are fun activities that the kids and you can do together and they will not even realize they are learning.

This activity is from "Treasuring God in our Traditions" by Noel Piper
To purchase go here http://www.amazon.com/Treasuring-God-Traditions-euml-Piper/dp/1581348339

Instructions:

- Make a hill out of Salt dough (recipe to follow)

-The hill includes a spot for the cross, the tomb, and places to place other people.

- Let the kids make a hill and the people (out of pipe cleaner).

- On Friday morning , talk about when Jesus dies on the cross (wrap a red piece of tinsel or pipe cleaner around Jesus to show he has died) and the the kids place 'Jesus' in the tomb with the rock covering the opening.

- On Sunday morning (Easter Sunday) before they wake up you can roll away the stone and place Jesus on top of the hill (red blood tinsel removed) to show He is alive.

- Help the kids understand the waiting between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. And why Easter is such an important celebration.

Recipe

- 4 cups of flour

-1 1/2 cups salt

- 1 1/2 cups water

- 1 tablespoon oil

1. Shape dough into a hill

2.Form a hole/cave at the base.

3.Press a rock into the cave opening to make a more exact fit between the two

4.Create a cross using small sticks and twine

5.Stick the cross into the top of the hill to make a hole

6.The dough will shrink a bit when baking so make sure the hole is just a bit bigger and deep enough to hold the cross (or Jesus if you made him)

7.Use the toothpicks to make small holes all over the hill. These will hold the 'people' made out of pipe cleaners.

8.Cook at 250 for 4-5 hrs. It is okay if the dough gets a bit brown.

9.Once fully cooked let cool completely

10. Once cool you can paint.

Here is a blog with an example http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2010/04/01/diy-teaching-easter-to-your-preschooler/

If you do not want to go through the baking part you can use things you have at home. The picture at the top is my husband and brother when they were young creating their Easter Hill. Making the tomb out of an oatmeal box. Crosses out of twigs and Jesus out of a coloring book picture wrapped in tissue. They just used what they had around the house to recreate the scene. Having fun all while making memories and learning the Easter story. Be creative! Have Fun! Most of all teach the Easter story to your children!

Easter Bread

Another Fun activity to do with the kids. Be sure to read all the way through. This is a recipe to help explain how Jesus rose and the tomb was empty. Very cute!

Recipe

- frozen Rhodes rolls (Leave them in the fridge for about 2 hours) or crescent rolls.

- Marshmallows (big)

- Butter

- Cinnamon

- Sugar

1. Once rolls are soft, roll them out
2. Wrap the dough around a large marshmallow
3. Brush on melted butter or spray with Spray butter
4. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar
5. Let rise 45 minutes
6. Cook according to the directions on the Rhodes package
7. They are best right out of the oven all hot and gooey...not so great after they cool off.

As you prep are the rolls talk about what makes Easter so incredible. They placed Jesus in the tomb, but the story did not end there. A few days later the tomb was empty and Jesus had defeated death...the rolls are empty once baked.

http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2009/04/09/easter-bread/

Easter Eggs and Jelly Beans

With Easter quickly approaching the kids get excited for the Easter bunny and candy, but we need to help them really get excited for the true meaning of Easter. What Easter is really about and what it means. This activity I am about to share is great! You get to use what the kids love about Easter, plastic eggs and jelly beans to teach them about the TRUE meaning.

Place Jelly Beans of the following colors in Plastic Easter Eggs.

Black, red, white, yellow, purple, and green.

Black
Represents our sin. Explain: Sometimes we do bad things that make God sad. This is called sin. Sin stains our hearts. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned..."

Red
Represents the blood of Jesus. Explain: Jesus took our place. He died so that we can live. John 3:16, "God so loved the world..."

White
Represents our clean whiter than snow hearts. Explain: The blood of Jesus cleans our dirty hearts. He makes our heart whiter than snow. We have no more sin! Psalm 51:7, "... wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Gold/Yellow
Represents Heaven. Explain: Because we are clean, we can go see Jesus one day. He lives in a shiny place made of Gold. Revelations 21:18, "...and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass."John 14:2-3 " In my Father's house are many mansion..."

Purple
Represents Royalty. Explain: Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. King Jesus promised He will always be with you. Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you" He has sealed you with the Royal Seal.

Green
Represents growing. Explain: Every day we are growing just like the grass or a tree, or a flower. Jesus wants us to grow and know Him more every day! Peter 3:18, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope you and your children enjoy this activity.

15 Ways that show Disrespect to your husband.

Since I just got done doing the 31 day prayer challenge over my husband I thought I would post this just following. This list is from the book "The Respect Dare" by Nina Roesner. If you would like to purchase the book go here http://www.amazon.com/The-Respect-Dare-Nina-Roesner/dp/1440132801. If you would like to learn more about the author and the Dare itself here http://therespectdare.com/therespectdareninaroesnerdaughtersofsarah.html. Okay onto the list. As you read through you will find yourself probably guilty as charged on a couple. Maybe something you never even thought of. Remember you are not alone in the matter.

1. Ask questions that your really don't want the answer to, but are just pointing out how stupid you think he is, like, "How could you possibly...??"

2. Roll Eyes

3. Interrupt

4. Purse lips and scowl as he contributes his thoughts.

5. Argue without acknowledging his idea.

6. Don't ask questions about what he thinks.

7. Start all questions with "Why did you...?" because that is a "challenge" word for men.

8. Withhold compliments instead of looking for opportunities to build him up.

9. Leave him with a list of things to accomplish when you go somewhere - then criticize him for not getting all of it done.

10. Correct him when he's interacting with the kids - especially if it's his first time doing something. That will stop him from feeling like you think he is a good parent, so he'll stop trying.

11. Criticize him instead of praising him first when you have something constructive to let him know.

12. Expect him to read your mind (like your sisters, girlfriends, and mother can.)

13. Say really helpful things like, "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

14. Answer for him when he's asked a question.

15. Don't pursue him. And make sure you say, " Not tonight."

Covering your husband in Prayer- 31 Day challenge

"She does him good..." (Proverbs 31:21a)

As we come to our last day of our challenge, which was done on my facebook page, not this blog. I thought, why did I not blog the prayer each day? I am not sure why I did not think about it, but I am going to post the whole 31 day challenge so that if you want to do it on your own it will be available to you. I am thinking about doing this every 6 months. Not that I do not pray for my husband every day, but these are specific prayers that maybe I would over look. Are you up for the challenge? If you do not have a Bible to look up the extra scriptures, go to biblegateway.com . I love that site!

Day 1: Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart be developing spiritual disciplines - Bible Reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18;Prov.4:23)

Day 2: Pray that your husband's relationship with God and His word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Day 3: Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8)

Day 4: Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship - protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Day 5: Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ's love for the church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

Day 6: Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)

Day 7: Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)

Day 8: Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character-per - persistence, decisiveness strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58)

Day 9: Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting ad investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord's work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom 12:13; Heb. 13:5)

Day 10: Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)

Day 11: Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant's heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov 15:33; Eph 6:6)

Day 12: Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)

Day 13: Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal.5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)

Day 14: Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)

Day 15: Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)

Day 16: Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbes,, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit's control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim:2:4)

Day 17: Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)

Day 18: Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective- living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put GOd first in his life. (Matt 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Eph 5:16; Ps. 90:12)

Day 19: Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)

Day 20: Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov.27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)

Day 21: Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)

Day 22: Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)

Day 23: Pray that your husband will be a good father- disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally.If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim 2:1-2)

Day 24: Pray that your husband will have a balanced life- that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. ( Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)

Day 25: Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan's attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)

Day 26: Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)

Day 27: Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body- the temple of the Holy Spirit - for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)

Day 28: Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)

Day 29: Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifested in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)

Day 30: Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)

Day 31: Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

You did it!! You made it through all 31 days. Definetly give yourself a pat on the back. As much as we hate to admit it often there are days we forget to pray. So if you got through this and prayed for 31 days straight, it will be even easier to continue doing so from now on.

Anguish to Joy

I am not a Debbie Downer I swear. I am not really sure why God put another heavy topic on my heart. I guess somebody out there needs to hear it. Also in light of me starting my new bible study Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted, I do not want to be like Jonah in the way of running from what the Lord has asked me (told me) to do. My son who I believe is wise beyond his years (sometimes) said to me just yesterday. "Mom, whatever God says we got to do it. Then we will get wisdom." My 4 year old knows this, so why do I sometimes run the other direction, when I hear that call, feel that call? Well not this time. I heard it Lord and I am answering it. I will write what is on my heart, what you have laid upon my heart, because somebody must need your message. So here we go, another hard, but in the end joyous, and God teaching moment.

Can I just say that I started this blog last night and was INTERRUPTED or BLOCKED! My computer started loosing battery fast and every time I plugged it in to a wall outlet it would tell me, plugged in, not charging. Really every outlet. I guess that Devil man was bored. Trying to pick on me, that was not nice. My husband with much exploring figured out the problem and fixed it this morning. Well I win I will not stop writing, lol!

So where were we? Anguish to Joy!

Anguish in definition -
Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

Joy in definition - Happiness; an emotion

Could these two words be any farther apart?

Last year I got to personally witness my anguish morph to joy. (John 16:20) I have for years suffered from different female organ problems (sorry if TMI). I had a hard time getting pregnant with my son, which was done with the help of surgery. My husband and I wanted our kids close together in age, but 4 years after my sons birth we were still waiting. A recent Dr appt in Sept/Nov 2011 revealed that I would have to undergo another surgery to ever have more children. This just was not an option at that time, nor was I sure I wanted to go through a surgery for a maybe. I sort of became angry. Why do some people get pregnant without ever trying, or sometimes they are trying and boom that fast. I wanted more children, love children, but needed to except the information that had been laid before me. Little did I know the trial/miracle I was about to face. In Dec. I started really experiencing some pain. To keep you from all the yucky, TMI, unneeded details I ended up having a miscarriage within a few days of the pain starting. WHAT? I was pregnant? No way, the Dr said it wasn't possible, that I needed surgery. Why? Really? WHAT? My brain was a mess of emotions and questions.

At the same time that this trial/miracle was taking place I had started attending my first ever Bible study. The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh. So not only did I have my own circle of prayer warriors praying over me, but I had new knowledge that could not have come at a more perfect time. We has just learned some survival tips when these trials or storms as they can be called come your way:
1. Trust in the Promise, Jesus
2. Keep your gaze on Him
3. Praise Him for the profit that will come from enduring hardships
4. Find reason to be grateful in the midst of loss and pain

Number 4 hit me. Find a reason to be grateful in the midst of loss and pain. What did I have to be grateful for? I had wanted this for so bad, and for so long. I prayed, I prayed hard, my friends prayed, my family prayed. My very real anguish started morphing to JOY! (John 16:20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy). I am so serious people. Yes I was sad that I had to go through this, but guess what people. I HAD GOTTEN PREGNANT WITH NO SURGERY! My anguish of loosing a child I never would get to meet, turned to joy and hope for my families future. In his time. I need to trust God. Sheila Walsh said in her study, "We can trust a God who holds the entire universe together to hold us together, even when everything is falling apart. He is the Creator of you and me; and He is also the Sustainer of you and me." He has got this! At a point in my life when I was in anguish, God was there just waiting to show me the Joy!!!

SIDS and FAITH

So as some of you know we lost a foster daughter to SIDS in May of 2005. It was one of the worst things I have ever had to go through or experience. Though she was not my child by blood. I raised her for the first 2 1/2 months of her life. I am the one who brought her home from the hospital, changed every diaper, and got up in the middle of the night to feed her. I got to see her first smile and hear her first coo, she rolled over at 2 months. I am the one that took her to her Drs appointments and was there when she was admitted in to the hospital for a small surgery. These are all things a mother does for and with her child. When these things are taken from you in a blink of an eye your faith maybe shook up.

Like most people who go through a loss I did the; Why her Lord? What did I do wrong? This is a dream, a bad, bad dream. How could you let this happen? What could I have done different to protect her? All kinds of what ifs played through my head, over and over. I can honestly say I beat myself up for not just days, or weeks, or even months. Years I tell you, this grief and fear has been in me for years. It was not until this past Jan-Mar 2012 that I have really let go of the fear and grief of loosing that little one. It took me getting involved in a Bible study about the book of James by Beth Moore, to really let go. Can you imagine living with this fear for over 6 years? As a foster parent who takes care of babies all the time this fear was real and in my face a lot. Every time I would welcome a new little one into my house as I watched them grow and develop and get closer to the 2 1/2mo mark, my fear and anxiety grew also. When they hit that 2mo mark it was in full swing, this momma did not sleep much for the next month. I let the fear and anxiety eat me alive for a month. Why? Why did I not pray? Why did I not trust that God had this? My faith had been shaken that evening in May 2005 and I never grabbed back on to it.

When I look back, there are so many signs that God was right there with me the whole time. I just chose not to see or was blinded. The big one was he chose to call her home on the evening we had bible study in our home. Really? We were worshiping the Lord in one room as she passed away in another. Does that seem even possible? We were fellow shipping with 2 other christian couples right in the other room. Is that just a coincidence or do you think God knew we would need the support as he took us through this trial. I did not see it then, but I see it now.

James 1:2-4 says: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I definetly did not see the joy in going through that trial in my life. I also did not hold onto my faith and let it produce the perseverance. I did not let perseverance finish its work. Instead I let the fear hold on and drag me down James 1:5 goes on to say; If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ASK. All I needed to do is ask? I was pretty sure at some point I had prayed for, begged for, asked for the pain to go away. So why was it still there? Then I kept reading James 1:6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. After I read this a light clicked on inside my head and a rush of emotions went through my heart. I was asking, but I was not believing. There is a difference. You can ask God for anything, he actually wants you too. But, that is a big BUT you must BELIEVE!

Fast forward a little to January 2012 I get the call to pick up a 3 week old little girl to come and live in our home. I prayed on my way to the hospital, "Lord watch over this child that you have entrusted me with, protect her, and help me to raise her knowing you." Like praying for my own children every night, I have added this little one into my evening prayers. She will be 3mo old next week. I can honestly say that the fear and anxiety that I have experienced with so many children (including my own) was not there. It never was there, this whole month of her life. I have let my Faith that God has this, He is in control be first and foremost. It has been so freeing, so uplifting. Not to mention less work then not sleeping and being scared. I am so excited for this new chapter in my life. When I pray or ask you better believe I do it with no doubt what so ever. I know my God answers all, he is always just waiting for the next time I pray and have my time with him. Yes he knows what I need before I do, but he wants me to acknowledge and ask him.