It's summertime--almost! The warm sunshine has me brainstorming ideas for getting out with little man and enjoying the outdoors. I love being a full-time wife and mommy, but I don't always enjoy staying at home...and I certainly want to stay outside this time of year. He's still so young, so I know I'm limited as to what we can do together; however, here are some ideas OUTINGS. I'll probably update later to share how these ideas turned out.
Callaway Gardens, here we come!!!! I'm thrilled that Nathan and I decided to purchase an annual pass to Callaway Gardens. The pass is good for twelve months from the time you purchase it. They have a plethora of outdoor activities that we can enjoy! We plan to go every Tuesday that the three of us possibly can. The pass is good for up to five people in one car, so any friends in the area, let's plan a play date!
Coweta Library in Senoia: I know Joshua is extremely young. Storytime is probably not an option for his busy little mind. I do, however, want to join the library now. He'll get exposure to the library early on. Also, Senoia has the pond, walking path, and park. I'm obsessed with picnics and walking paths. I think this combination outing will be fun for him.
Grocery Day: And here is where I think Nathan wins the "Daddy of the Year" award. We try to make Wednesday 12-3 grocery day. If Nathan isn't doing surgery, then he goes with us. Joshua and Nathan take in as much as little man can handle, then usually the two of them go sit on the patio furniture displays outside while I finish shopping. I get to concentrate!!! It's awesome, and I don't take it for granted!
So here are a few ideas that we have for summertime. I welcome more ideas! Please share!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
A Hodgepodge of Thoughts and Updates:
Ecclesiastes 5:2
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything to God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
And perhaps that's why it's been so long since I've posted...lol...sort of ;) How do I sort out all that God's doing into organized posts.
Psalm 9:1
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."
There are seasons to be quiet. And there are seasons to proclaim. So, I'm letting go of my desire to be "organized" because it's time for me to share. I just sensed that today I'm ready to share my heart. For over a month I've thought about what I should post. What do I share regarding family? adoption? Parenting? Marriage? Spiritual Warfare? Gospel victories? Lack of faith? Teaching my little Sunday school class? Then today, I felt the need to record some from my heart. So here goes:
About nine years ago exactly, I moved out of the dorm on the hill at AU and stepped into adulthood. I was the official 21. I felt like a toddler surfing the air for the first time not holding onto anything but the wind of His Spirit. I had an engagement ring on my left finger that sparkled in the light and I knew He would hold me up no matter what.
We had our parents blessing (and blessed support) and a little place to live. I moved in during the summer, and went to school. Nathan lived in Scottsboro and worked. Then August 10th 2004, we spent our first night at "home." The next morning I wrote in my journal: "Now as my new life begins in Auburn, it hits me how real this is. This is marriage. We're not on our honeymoon anymore, but everything is sweet. I trust You."
By little I mean that's a duplex, our home was the left side. And that's a recent picture. The flag hanging on the door is new. ;) It had cinderblock walls. And bugs. Rent was very cheap, which was good because we had VERY little money.
I planted that Crape Myrtle and a recent trip down memory lane confirmed it's still there. A little bit of beauty next to a garbage bin. And that's how life looks sometimes isn't it? As a daughter of Eve, I want to cultivate a little beauty everywhere I go until I reside in the New Kingdom and bask in His glory. ;)
I didn't know what in the world I was doing. How would I finish school? Where would I find a job? What would marriage be like? How Vet school would look for Nathan?...And You know what? Jesus was faithful. I look back through my four journals that I prayed through during our time in that buggy, muggy and, yes, also beautiful duplex (and through life in general). He provided in abundance. It was a walk of faith. He met me, filled me, and spoke to me through His Word, through rainbows, through long cool walks in the shade, through music, through friends and family. I cried out to Him. I laughed with Him. I held Him tightly, but more importantly, He held me. He provided. He provides. And He always will.
There. I just needed that little time of remembrance. I needed to look back at how faithful He is. I can take a deep breath and rest in Him.
For you friends and family who would like to know what's up in our little world, sorry for the silence. God is doing sooooo much! Life is moving too fast for me to put into words. Too fast for me to even take pictures. Everyday, I surrender (several times) to Jesus my family, my dreams, my fears, even my stuff (because we're not supposed to love stuff).
Here's a little update:
Adoption:
In the middle of this daily cycle, there are so many questions and longings. Too many to share.
And from there, we continue to work and wait out God's will for our lives. His perfect, gracious, loving will.
Joshua:
(Right now, he's playing with Joshua. Joshua has a turtle puppet that he loves. When I play with him the turtle says "Where is Joshua's nose? There it is!" When Nathan plays with him the turtle says "Hi Joshua I'm a turtle which means I'm a reptile with a three chambered heart, no diaphragm, and the inability to regulate my own body temperature.")
In closing, here's a sang while I painted those 50 year old cabinets in our cinderblock duplex. He is faithful. Amen. It is true.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything to God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
And perhaps that's why it's been so long since I've posted...lol...sort of ;) How do I sort out all that God's doing into organized posts.
Psalm 9:1
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."
There are seasons to be quiet. And there are seasons to proclaim. So, I'm letting go of my desire to be "organized" because it's time for me to share. I just sensed that today I'm ready to share my heart. For over a month I've thought about what I should post. What do I share regarding family? adoption? Parenting? Marriage? Spiritual Warfare? Gospel victories? Lack of faith? Teaching my little Sunday school class? Then today, I felt the need to record some from my heart. So here goes:
About nine years ago exactly, I moved out of the dorm on the hill at AU and stepped into adulthood. I was the official 21. I felt like a toddler surfing the air for the first time not holding onto anything but the wind of His Spirit. I had an engagement ring on my left finger that sparkled in the light and I knew He would hold me up no matter what.
We had our parents blessing (and blessed support) and a little place to live. I moved in during the summer, and went to school. Nathan lived in Scottsboro and worked. Then August 10th 2004, we spent our first night at "home." The next morning I wrote in my journal: "Now as my new life begins in Auburn, it hits me how real this is. This is marriage. We're not on our honeymoon anymore, but everything is sweet. I trust You."
By little I mean that's a duplex, our home was the left side. And that's a recent picture. The flag hanging on the door is new. ;) It had cinderblock walls. And bugs. Rent was very cheap, which was good because we had VERY little money.
I planted that Crape Myrtle and a recent trip down memory lane confirmed it's still there. A little bit of beauty next to a garbage bin. And that's how life looks sometimes isn't it? As a daughter of Eve, I want to cultivate a little beauty everywhere I go until I reside in the New Kingdom and bask in His glory. ;)
I didn't know what in the world I was doing. How would I finish school? Where would I find a job? What would marriage be like? How Vet school would look for Nathan?...And You know what? Jesus was faithful. I look back through my four journals that I prayed through during our time in that buggy, muggy and, yes, also beautiful duplex (and through life in general). He provided in abundance. It was a walk of faith. He met me, filled me, and spoke to me through His Word, through rainbows, through long cool walks in the shade, through music, through friends and family. I cried out to Him. I laughed with Him. I held Him tightly, but more importantly, He held me. He provided. He provides. And He always will.
There. I just needed that little time of remembrance. I needed to look back at how faithful He is. I can take a deep breath and rest in Him.
For you friends and family who would like to know what's up in our little world, sorry for the silence. God is doing sooooo much! Life is moving too fast for me to put into words. Too fast for me to even take pictures. Everyday, I surrender (several times) to Jesus my family, my dreams, my fears, even my stuff (because we're not supposed to love stuff).
Here's a little update:
Adoption:
- We are almost finished with our homestudy. We are gathering paperwork for our dossier. So we are half way through our paperwork. Provided that our adoption is typical and simple then here's how the process basically works:
- We complete our dossier and wait for State, US, and Chinese approval. Once we've been approved...
- We wait for our referral. A referral means that we've been matched with a child...as in at this point we will have a son or daughter (Can I just ask for your prayers? Because typing that made my heart leap.) Once we have a referral...
- We wait for our time to travel. Once we travel and meet our child.
In the middle of this daily cycle, there are so many questions and longings. Too many to share.
And from there, we continue to work and wait out God's will for our lives. His perfect, gracious, loving will.
Joshua:
- Our baby is almost 11 months old. He's grown into a curious, busy little toddler. He loves music (he dances) and being outside (he cries when we come in). He says Mama, Dada, bye bye, zeez (cheese), cap cap cap (clap), boo boo (vroom vroom...for trucks...every motorized vehicle is a truck...of course ;). He loves crawling so much that he has very little use for walking, but he pulls up on furniture.
(Right now, he's playing with Joshua. Joshua has a turtle puppet that he loves. When I play with him the turtle says "Where is Joshua's nose? There it is!" When Nathan plays with him the turtle says "Hi Joshua I'm a turtle which means I'm a reptile with a three chambered heart, no diaphragm, and the inability to regulate my own body temperature.")
In closing, here's a sang while I painted those 50 year old cabinets in our cinderblock duplex. He is faithful. Amen. It is true.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
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