Summertime Plans

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!

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:

• 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. 

Did you notice a pattern: work and wait and work and wait and ...well you get! ;o)

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.

I have my dream job. I really do. I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mommy. I'm trying not to take this season for granted. Everyday that I get to play and sing and pray and read and explore the outdoors with Joshua! I try very hard to not feel any anxiousness about the fact that perhaps somewhere across the world is another little one for whom I yearn to meet (regardless if it makes sense to anyone). I love being a parent. I love watching Nathan be a dad.

(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,
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.

 

Happy Trails...More Pictures of His Horse Ride.

Most of you have already seen some of the pictures, but Joshua rode our horse for the first time Saturday. It was a monumental moment for our family. Nathan has been waiting for me to give him the okay for months (I didn't grow up around horses...they're big to me). Thankfully, we have as trustworthy of a horse as possible. Dudley has never misbehaved. He's our pet...part of our family. Joshua seemed to enjoy himself.

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!

Grace...Faith...Prayer

Our pastor said yesterday, "If revival comes will you rejoice, resist, or fail to show up?"

I left church yesterday ready to start praying...BIG prayers. Why am I not asking God for revival in MY community...for our household...for the people who live on Oakland Road? Why do I think its okay to think negatively about the future saying things are bad and they're only going to get worse. I won't argue the biblical truth that wickedness will increase more and more until Jesus returns...BUT THE GOSPEL WILL INCREASE TOO! And the gates of hell will not prevail against it...

Honestly, I've been in a season (for the past month or so) where I'm prone to discouragement. I think it's my perfectionism (sin nature) kicking in...again. I'll leave it at that. Except for this...discouragement can lead to despair. There are three life-breathing words that God is speaking into my life which lift me up. He's reviving me personally and I'm reminded to dream big...revival can happen.  

These three words...
Grace, Faith, and Prayer...

Sometimes my discouragement comes from shame. Sometimes my discouragement comes from forgetting these three words in my relationship with Jesus.

I have a job to do here. It seems like everytime I stand to do my Kingdom job...I stumble over the sight of my shortcomings. I don't deserve to do Kingdom work. I could spend so much time going into detail...

I want to be a good Jesus follower...mom...wife...friend. But I fail (sometimes big-time). So here I am publically proclaiming...again...that I belong to Jesus. HERE I STAND PROCLAIMING I BELIEVE YOU LORD...help me in my unbelief. In response to what God's teaching me through yesterday's sermon and personal Bible study, I've been asking myself some questions. What if revival is on its way?

• What if I turn my fear into prayer? Isn't that exactly what Peter and Paul tell me to do? Don't be anxious...pray with thanksgiving and present requests to Him. AND HE WILL GIVE PEACE! Cast cares on Him because He cares...Jesus will lift up the humble...(1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6
• What if I ask Jesus to show me my sin?
• What if I receive Jesus' forgiveness for the sin He exposed? And what if I embrace forgiving...even forgiving myself?
• What if I choose to believe that God will do something great with my obedience...IN DUE TIME? Afterall...part of faith is choosing to believe that God has/is/and will work beyond what I can realize with my senses. This is a big deal! I'm very impatient and want to see immediate results from a conversation with God or an act of obedience. Sometimes when God doesn't answer me immediately I act as if He's "giving me the cold shoulder." After all that's the least I deserve...I am a sinner. But there's those three words again...grace (He does love me...He will not let go of me), faith (I choose to believe that He's not finished with me), and prayer (I have the gift of a relationship with Jesus...He will never be too busy)...
• What if I choose to delight in His gift of grace? Specifically, what if I choose to see every moment as an opportunity?

Speaking of opportunity, I can't forget to give a little family update as well...

• Joshua is crawling. He says ba ba, ma ma. He makes new expressions each day. He LOVES the picture of Jesus on the cover of his storybook Bible. He flips the book over as we read it and points to His face...over and over. Yes!
• We begin our home study for adoption Tuesday, March 5th...Thompson Baby...we're praying for you!