FARMERS NEEDED ... pays is 0 dollars, long hours, NO sleep, little to no appreciation, clothing is not fashionable, hands and knees will stay dirty and blistered, but YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST BOSS EVER, WITH JOY FILLING YOUR SILOS DAILY !!!

If the call came today would you answer it to a FARMER ??? I have heard of many situations this past couple of months and have been encouraged to see people answer the CALL to harvest the crops ...

What if your neighbor passed away and their kids needed a home ???

Do you have a widow living next door that sits alone every Sunday for lunch ???

What if you heard of a family living in a car ???

What if there is a boy or girl in need of a mentor ???

What if a couple in your church decided to quit their jobs and move across the world to tell people about Jesus ???

What if someone was in need of groceries ???

What if you could provide a life-saving surgery for only $500 ???

What if a terminal child needed a forever family for only a few months before going home to Jesus ???

This list could go on and on !!!  THE NEED IS GREAT AND THE HARVEST is plenty ... Will you be a FARMER TODAY !!!!  Will you pick up the NEEDS of someone and carry them for a SHORT time, a MOMENT, or FOREVER ???  There is never a day that we open our eyes that there is not an IMMEDIATE need ... It is actually the best job on the earth - SOWING AND REAPING !!!

I mean lets be honest w/ ourselves - We are never more the person we want to be than when we are serving someone. somewhere, or someplace !!! We get nothing in return, but the knowledge of knowing our heavenly FATHER is proud of us for putting on our boots and wading in the MIRE w/ Him ... CAUSE YOU CAN BET THE FARM he is already there in the MIRE waiting for us  - He is with the orphan, the widow, the person in prison, the family living in the car, the dying child - SO don't wait  -- this job will change you more than you change it !!!

BLESSINGS !!!

I am almost 41 - I will never be a size 0 again (don't think I ever was, but you get the point) ... Things have shifted that won't ever return to their original and UPRIGHT position ... I have a face that is looking WISER (that is a sweet way to say wrinkly) and the weight thing - WELL it is what it is ... I am going to do my best to take care of myself, because I do LOVE to exercise and I desperately want more ENERGY, but there are days when doctors appointments, sick babies, chauffeur commitments, helping kids w/ homework, meal time, bath time, and all those other TIMES just don't quite let there be time for anything else ... AND I HAVE DECIDED what a joyful way to grow older - My body has given birth to two amazing boys and my heart has birthed 3 amazing daughters and 1 adorable son ... My arms have been wrapped around happy kids, sad kids, scared kids, and giggling kids ... My legs have played chase, hide-n-go seek, basketball, and jumped on the trampoline ... My eyes have watched them play ball or play at the park ... My able body has driven them to birthday parties, camp, practices, to get school supplies and their other million NEEDED places ... My hands have baked 1000s of chocolate cookies (and then my mouth has eaten them also - that is where the waistline gets a hit) ... Because you know it is sitting on the couch late at night w/ Jeremiah or Elijah (and lots of times w/ an extra friend or two) that I get to impart my wisdom on them ... Sitting eating chocolate cookies is where they ask me questions that they wouldn't dare ask at the dinner table ... And spending hours doing homework is a time to keep my brain tested and see how my child clicks w/ learning ... They all learn so differently, but need that reassurance that they are prized in their learning (no matter how hard or easy it comes) ...

It is being available for them ... Taking care of my health is a good thing, but not worrying about how the world sees me or the expectations put on by our communities ... I GET IT - I LOOK TIRED (believe me when I tell you that I know and you don't have to tell me) ... hee hee ... Why anyone would think that telling someone they LOOK TIRED is a good thing I will never know ... BUT I just laugh - perhaps I should start telling people it is NOT TIREDNESS you see, but JOY ... SO SAD FOR YOU THAT YOU DON'T LOOK AS JOYFUL AS I DO ...

I am feeling giddy this morning and just had to laugh a little w/ you ... Always do your best to be a DAUGHTER / SON of the King and don't sweat the small stuff ...

Suzanne and I were at Clearview Church Sunday night teaching a break-out session on adopting  Special Needs Children at their first ever family adoption/orphan care night ... It is always an honor to see how God can use the stories HE has created in our families ... We don't sugar coat it !!! We shoot straight and we try to encourage people to find the JOY that comes from Christ when they are in the middle of the hard days and help them see how amazing our lives are now that we have our sweet angels home ... I think whether you are on top of the mountain or deep in the valley and both will come in life (not just the adoption journey) you have to know how to RESIDE IN THE JOY OF CHRIST and forget the worlds view of what HAPPINESS is  ...

We love to have people share their story and where they are at before we begin speaking - thinking of adoption, just starting the process or newly home ... Where ever they are we hope to answer their questions and give them encouragement ... When we got around to one sweet lady she shared w/ us a story we had yet to hear at a conference - She was there to find a home for 2 older boys she had custody of ... I am going to start by saying how proud I am of this woman for coming to the adoption conference for help and information ... I know it wasn't easy to come to a place where people are bubbling w/ excitement and anticipation of adopting and be the person sitting in the room telling them I have two kids that NEED to be adopted ... You see... she, her husband, and their 4 boys were living a normal everyday life when a situation occurred where 2 neighorhood boys needed a home ... They were not in  a good home situation is all I will say ... These braves boys came to the family and said will you help us ??? AND THIS FAMILY DID !!!  They have legal custody of the boys for over a year now and are trying to find a forever home for them ... This sweet precious mother said she felt guilty after hearing Suzanne and I share our stories, our struggles, and the craziness of our lives ... She feels like a failure at not feeling called to adopt these boys ... WE AFFIRMED IN HER THAT WHAT SHE DID BY TAKING THEM IN THIS YEAR AND BEING A SAFE PLACE WHILE THEIR FOREVER FAMILY WAS FOUND WAS HONORING THE LORD ... She didn't turn them away, She didn't hand them over to the system, and they have been in a loving environment for the past year hearing the name of Jesus ...

We already have a couple of families interested in contacting the family about the boys ... I share this story to encourage everyone out there that there ARE SO MANY WAYS to love on a child in need ... AND to never be afraid to help and then ASK for help ... Again, I am so thankful for this family that has BRIDGED THE GAP for these boys and I feel like it is a great example of Matthew 25, "When did we see you a stranger and take you in ... I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to ME."

A great story to share as you start your week ... There is never a gesture to SMALL or to BIG when it comes to the LEAST OF THESE !!!

Well if you have been reading my blog long enough you know I have symbols for my children ... It is just one word that describes a part of them ... It is like a whisper from the Lord from my heart to theirs ...

Joseph's symbol was revealed to me even before I was ever matched w/ him ... HE IS MY STRENGTH ... He has within him the strength to bring joy to everyone ... I am told daily from others how they think he is the HAPPIEST child they have ever seen and I couldn't agree more ... The way he hugs, the way he says, "i loo luu" and the way his eyes sparkle will give you the strength to endure anything ...

He has overcome so much ... I just sit and wonder sometimes how my spirit would be if for 4 years of my life I couldn't hear very well and no one ever understood all the words I was trying to say ... I think I would be bitter and angry, but NOT MY BOY - he is patient, kind, and works so hard to communicate ... I think that is why he smiles so much and gives hugs ALL DAY ... He wants you to know he is there ... HE IS PRESENT !!! He wants to be involved in everything and never left out because of his special need ... He wants you to know he understands more than you think and has real feelings ...

I have watched Joseph become somewhat of a celebrity at FRA (and he doesn't even go there) ... All the kids friends love to come up to him and say hello - especially Jeremiah and Elijah's buddies ... And I have figured out why - Joseph makes you feel welcomed - he gives high fives, he cheers you on when you are playing, he doesn't care if you win or lose he is just happy to see you after the game, and he always has a smile waiting for you ... He gives freely with NO EXPECTATION !!!

He has taught me so much about real STRENGTH that comes from pure joy of Christ !!! He is diagnosed with development delays and severe hearing loss, but there are days when I was I could live in his body and see the world in shiny rainbow colors the way he does ... He makes even the simplest thing seem like a day at Disneyland ... You can say get in the car and let's go to the store and he gives you a hug from his entire body, giggles, and goes running like you are on the greatest adventure in the world ... He just loves being a part of something bigger ... He is our son and we could not be more proud of him ... I pray someday that we will be able to communicate more either through sign or verbal skills, but until then God has given him the strength to show us what he wants and needs through the way he LOVES us ...




Jeremiah is my HEART, Elijah is my JOY, Emily is my LIGHT, Maggie is my HOPE, Joseph is my STRENGTH, and Daisy is my GRACE ... I AM BLESSED !!! - still searching for my PEACE !!! hee hee ... All in God's timing

Well for the first time in 13 years I am going to have some time to myself ... 12 hours a week all BY MYSELF .. The start to school was fabulous for the kids, but I still haven't gotten my ALONE TIME TO MYSELF YET ... lol (shocker I know) ... First week I had sweet friends visiting - Second week Scott was home sick all week !!! (I can hear all you wives out there sighing ... sick husband is worse than 3 sick kids !!!) and now on my 3rd week I have doctors appts for the kids and a canceled sitter for our 147 work day ... BUT I CAN FEEL MY TIME IS COMING JUST AROUND THE CORNER ... lol

The big question is how will I turn off THE MOMMY MODE - you know the feeling of being always on guard - where are the kids, is anyone choking, are they climbing furniture that will fall over and kill them, are they flushing and wiping, are they in the cabinets eating when it isn't time, are they changing clothes for the 100th time w/out me seeing them and putting the clean clothes in the dirty clothes making more laundry for me (NNNNOOOOOOOOO), how much time have they spent on the computer, are they fighting again, breaking up more fights, making sure no one bites, are they sharing properly and saying kind words, did they read their Jesus Calling, DID I READ MY JESUS CALLING, are they turning off/on the light switches, are they jumping on the beds, are they chewing on yet ANOTHER BARBIE SHOE like it is gum, are they getting enough reading time, are they getting all the blankets out again for a fort and removing all the pillows from their pillow cases, are they spraying sunscreen in each other's eyes, are they flushing the whole roll of toilet paper, are they playing dress up w/ my good shoes, are they running w/ scissors or marking on my walls again w/ marker and WWWWHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWW - you get the picture ... We are ON GAURD 26 hours a day (not 24) and I really want to find a way to take a deep breathe for those 12 hours a week, so I can revive myself ...

All I hear lately is how the teenage years are so much harder than the toddler / elementary age and that SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME ...I am so exhausted right now physically that I am not sure mentally I am all there (I have a few friends that can attest to that fact ... hee hee) ... I want to have my FULL ARMOR of GOD on for the teenage years, so I know these 12 hours a week are crucial to my preparing for what is to come ...

I PRAY we can all find some time to prepare for the BATTLE that is ahead ... Let us make no mistake that the enemy is present and is coming for our children ... Children are a gift from GOD and the evil one wants nothing more than to bring destruction, doubt, and turmoil into the lives of our children ...

So I guess in a sense I want to turn off my guard so I can turn on Jesus to wash over me and cleanse my armor  !!!  I hope you have a blessed week !!!

P.S. I want to add to my list - Making sure Joseph or any other member of the family does not DISSECT his hearing aids and that Maggie doesn't do cartwheels or somersaults on her still healing head !!! NEVER DULL ...I actually think I could make millions if someone followed me around w/ a video camera ... either that or DHS would take my kids away from me ... hee hee