Don't Take My Wheels

Joshua is fascinated with wheels...How they spin...How they feel to his fingers and in his mouth. He clinches them tightly with his fist. He pushes his little Tonka truck across the house.

Today I watched him move from one place to another pushing his truck. I bent down and said, "Joshua, let me show you something about this truck." I placed my hand over his and pulled his truck upright. He didn't understand what I was saying or doing. He protested loudly. I said to him, "Look what these wheels can do! They can roll!" I rolled the truck back and forth several times with our hands. His unimpressed little eyes looked at me; his little fingers pulled the truck away from my hand; and his little voice let out one more loud "Ahh" as if to say "Don't take my wheels!"

I do understand that he is nine months old. He will appreciate my "wheels demonstration" in due time. But the conversation made me a little teary-eyed. Because I do that! Yesterday my posture before the Lord almost mirrored Joshua's actions exactly. I take the life that Jesus gives me and I try to determine what it's for (rendering it useless). I have to let go of my life for Him to use it. And with His hands, He will stand me upright and make me purposeful for His Kingdom. His ways and thoughts are so much higher than mine (Isaiah 55). I cannot trust my lowly (and sinful) reasoning. His Spirit gives life in His guidance. Thank You Jesus that my life is in You. I can rest in that fact. I confess my sin of longing to control and wanting "things" to go a certain way. I can say afresh because of Your great mercy, grace, and love I trust You my Lord and King.

I love the words to "I Surrender All" because it's what I want to become a reality in my heart. I'll get there someday...If I'll just let Him take my wheels ;)

 

"I Surrender All" by Judson W. Van DeVenter

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

 

Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

 

Adoption Update...

I saw on friend's blog recently where she completed an adoption time line. I want to take a moment to document the brief little progress we've made. (I also need to document at some point how the Lord has miraculously provided for this endeaver financially! So many souls have been involved. Thank you if you're one of them...from the bottom of my heart! That time line will come when I get the chance!) I'm going to post this onto the adoption page of my blog, but I wanted to post about it also since blogging is the main way I keep most of my family and Alabama friends posted. Thank you for your prayers! We really feel them! And Joshua, he's as precious as ever. I think he's beginning to actually associate da da and ma ma with Nathan and me. We listened to him on the moniter this morning in his crib talking to himself saying, ma ma...da dee da dee ma ma. Yeah, we're going to assume he was calling for us! ;)

Attended Discover Adoption with Bethany- December 6, 2012
Completed the Preliminary Application - December 6, 2012
Submitted Formal Application - January 19, 2013
Entered the Waiting Child Program- January 20, 2013
Formal Application Approved by Bethany's Georgia Branch- January 23, 2013
Formal Application Approved by Bethany's National Headquarters- January 28, 2013
First Homestudy Meeting- March 5, 2013
County Water Inspection (approved)- March 6, 2013
Renewed Passport (Katherine)- March 12, 2013
GBI Fingerprinting/Background checks- March 12, 2013
Medical Screening (everything good) - March 12, 2013
Homestudy Visit- March 19, 2013

Homemaking, Home Study, Horticulture and Horses

I'm not going to let the month of March go by without posting something! This may be it for a while so I'm just going to gives updates on almost everything. :)

Adoption Update: We are wading through a sea of paper work. We just began our home study. I spoke with a friend about my cleaning frenzy. She's been through it all. She's a mother of five and was able to articulate what I'm feeling. So...I'm nesting. Intense nesting. I mean, there will be flowers in our window boxes by next week--by George--kind of nesting!

Thankfully, Nathan is such a healthy contrast to my personality. He doesn't belittle my "feelings." He takes on my projects with gusto as if he thought them up. He's patient with me and yet reminds me..."You're not going to alter the course of the adoption process by placing pansies in that corner of the yard." But as my friend articulated, "It just gives you the feeling that you're doing...something."

Although let me be clear, we have lots of "something"s to do in the next couple of weeks. Next week we attempt being fingerprinted, obtaining Passports (all three of us...and yes, this mommy thinks Joshua will have the cutest passport in the history of the USA...maybe even world;), and go for our medical screenings. Praise the Lord we were able to schedule the necessary updated home inspections by our county today. Those are just some of the things on our checklist.

I had a scare Tuesday when I attempted to make an appointment with our family doctor for our medical screening. They were booked until June! I started to panic. Nathan didn't of course. Thankfully, it worked out that we were able to make appointments for next week anyway. Praise the Lord!

So, I want to ask you to join us in petitioning the Lord with thanksgiving (trusting His soveriegnty) to move Heaven and Earth to make this possible. We know He is good and His purpose will prevail...but He wants us to ask of Him.

Also, to all our Tallassee friends, my parents are having a yard sale for our adoption the first weekend in April. Please stop by and spread the word...WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF!

Joshua Update: Oh my where do I start! He's changing so quickly that these pictures are old. There are no words to describe him. He's an absolute joy to both of us!

Eighth Month Photo

 

As Nathan says, "He's one fast motor scooter."

 

Actually, this is a more accurate depiction..."ZZOOOMMM!"

 

He loves a bubble bath! And yes, his favorite toy here is an empty saline drop bottle.

 

 

 He's crawling fast now and pulling up on furniture. Yesterday he balanced holding onto to furniture with just one hand...another little milestone. He says "mama, dada, baba, agu, nu, pu" indiscriminately. We've recently introduced him to Gerber Puffs which is such a little blessing. He's content in the high chair while I'm cooking...such a praise!

We have such happy little days at home playing. Here's just a little look back.

This last one was taken about six weeks ago. He's grown since then.

Farm Update:
I'm turning into a country/cowgirl. We've been working on our rose garden (something I've always wanted)! We'll plant our vegetable garden at the beginning of April, but we're getting the soil ready now. This year we plan to plant corn, tomatoes, maybe one row of peppers (we still have so much pepper relish from last year), and we might try green beans. Our blueberry bushes look like they're going to produce and abundant crop this year!!! Our little fig tree (from Mamaw McCartha's) is still alive which is all I expect from it this year (it's only a foot tall). We still have our tiny strawberry patch. I'm almost finished fertilizing everything and tomorrow I begin my spring time watering routine. Gardening is my outlet. My yard is my little sanctuary. I think little man is going to be outdoorsy too. I plan to give our soon-to-be-toddler a bucket this summer and a job as co-harvester ;). We'll see how that goes...lol! Last summer I learned how to can (Thank you Mamaw Massey!). Joshua's job regarding canning this summer will be to take a nap.

I rode my horse, Dudley, a few weeks ago and enjoyed it! Yep, he's now my horse. It helps me overcome fear to call him my horse. I'm determined that I'm going to learn to ride, even though I'm allergic and afraid. I will over come this fear (and I'll be back on my allergy meds when I finish nursing ;). We welcomed two other horses to our equine family: Missy and Francy. The are full siblings to Dudley and seem to have similar personalities.

Basically, that's what our life is like these days. I could share so much more, but I'm out of time. Thank you for your prayers!