One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer" 

(1 Peter 3:12).

There is so much pain and hurt in the world.  Sometimes, I feel guilty for being stressed or upset about the little things.  However, I know that I have a mighty God who hears ALL the cries of ALL His children.  Nothing is insignificant or too small because as I'm reminded from my son's sun catcher hanging on my kitchen window, "Jesus cares about little things".

Continuing to give thanks...
#3595-#3614

-God's ears are attentive to my prayers
-He cares about even the little things
-a successful procedure with "no abnormalities"
-my chauffeur, my friend, my sister
-my children's sensitivity and sympathy towards my hunger pains
-how my three year old kisses my ouwies

-fresh picked flowers from Deborah (with Beppe's help)

-the smell of lilac in the kitchen

-a chilly track and field day, but sunny!
-having fun in all she does
-achieving a few first places

-his positive attitude, and best effort

-his care free attitude, and best effort

-her imaginative play

-bringing out her artistic side
-how she needs the deukie beside her so as not to get her hands dirty (just like her brothers)
-how she loves to play with her brother's friends
-how she wraps her arms around her Beppe's legs

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe" 

(1 Timothy 4:10 TNIV).

"In Christ alone my hope is found..."

We joined over 300 churches across North America and we joined our voices with 97 000 other Christians remembering the life and the tragic death of Tim Bosma.  It has been a very difficult past two weeks for the Bosma family with the disappearance of Tim and then the shocking news of his death.  My heart aches for his wife, his young little girl, his parents, and the rest of his family.  I am so thankful to be part of his  family through the body of Christ and to be united with all fellow Christians.  I am even more thankful for the hope that we have in "Christ alone" and that  "No power of hell, no scheme of man Could ever pluck me from His hand".  Christ is our solid ground, our comforter, our all in all.  

 "In Christ Alone" is a popular, modern Christian song written by Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England), both songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music. The song was composed in 2001 and gained increased popularity first in Ireland and the UK and then in the United States and internationally.

"In Christ Alone" is considered a Christian credal song for belief in Jesus Christ. The theme of the song is the life, death and resurrection of Christ,[3] and that he is God who even death cannot hold.  (wikipedia)

In Christ Alone 

by: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

[- From: http://www.elyrics.net -]

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

I will stand, I will stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground, all other ground

Is sinking sand, is sinking sand

So I stand

 Continuing to give thanks...
#3575-#3594

-being part of God's big family
-being able to share each other's burdens, griefs, and sorrows
-uniting ourselves in voice and song
-Christian musical artists
-in the midst of unimaginable grief, her testimony of faith
-Christ conquering death
-our comforter and all in all

-attending the All Ontario Youth Convention with Nicole

-inspiring speaker

-young people sponsoring children through Compassion and wanting to help end poverty and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

-Nicole's company and desire to be part of Compassion's ministry

 -God's beauty in colour

-reaping the benefits of a flower grower

 -Paul's successful shipping season

 -my brother's handiwork and willingness to help Paul (and me)

-how she loves to jump with her siblings when they come home from school

-new origami creations and how he shares his passion with others

-great fellowship with Mom's friends
-how my dad's best friend preached about Pentecost and reminding us to be in awe of the marvelous acts of God that we see everyday
-laughing hysterically around the campfire in the backyard

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children" (Proverbs 17:6).

Honouring Mothers...

As we celebrated Mother's Day yesterday, I felt a lot of different emotions...

Grief- for the 3 babies that I will never be able to hold on this side of heaven

Empathy- for Deborah and her birth mother

Gratitude- for Deborah's birth mother and the many moms who made an adoption plan for their children

Anxiety-for waiting to hold our little boy and one day bring him home to his forever family

Happiness- for those who open their hearts and homes to be temporary moms to foster children; for first time moms; for anyone who's experienced the blessings through adoption

Sadness- for the mother of the 32 year old missing man and his wife and child; for those who have lost their mothers; for those who would like to be mothers and are unable

Thankfulness- for my mom and mother-in-law's health and love that they lavish on their children and grandchildren

JOY- for the overflowing blessings of being a mother to my lovely 4 children

I am so blessed to be a mom to these precious children.  I love them more than words could ever describe.

Continuing to give thanks...

#3551-#3574

-my loving mom- her smiles, love, hospitality, helping hands, her health and her deep faith

-my mother-in-law- her kindness, gentleness, love, generosity, her health and her deep faith

-unspoken words:  I said to Deborah how I felt blessed that she is my baby, and she lunged toward me to give me a gentle, loving hug

-being a mom!!!

-my four loving, fun, energetic, creative, loud children

-visiting with my lovely niece and her beautiful baby

-first time Moms!

 -how eager they were to meet and hold their second cousin

 -his big heart

 -his gentleness

-my brother-in-law's labour of love for his mother-in-law
-willing helpers

 -homemade cards (THE BEST!!)

 -how she googled homemade gifts for dads

 -his precious girls

 -homemade gifts (origami flower); how he wanted to make a flower because his dad grows flowers

-celebrating his birthday a day early
-going out to dinner as a family

 -enjoying the new birthday gift

 -together in the hammock??? I HAD to take a picture of that!

 -how she appreciates her landlord (and son-in-law)

 -how we've had such nice weather so far and were able to sell lots of flowers (before the cold front came)
-God's white sprinkles on the deck and evidence of His control over all things
-God's transcendence and immanence, and this reminder from our guest pastor

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'" (Jeremiah 31:3)

Looking at others through God's eyes- that was one of our challenges from our guest pastor last night.  It would be much easier to pour out our love if we viewed others as children of God.  It would be much easier to love others and ourselves if we looked at them and ourselves through God's eyes... broken and beautiful, sinners but forgiven, princesses/ princes- children of the King, loved beyond understanding, saved by grace, and someone worth dying for.

Continuing to give thanks...
#3533-3550

-God's love for us and his loving view of us despite of who we are
-another nice visit with a friend/fellow adoptive mommy
-how he lets her play hockey with him
-how he snuggles in bed with her and reads bedtime stories with her when he's babysitting
-visiting with our beautiful niece and her beautiful baby
-scrapbooking and chatting with my sister-in-law

-wearing shades like her friend and having a fun play date together

-practicing his speech

-getting chosen to say his speech in front of half of the school

-eager to practice her speech

-an attentive speech audience!

-how he loves to act silly with her
-how she always talks about her big brother, "Curty"

-comfy chairs for napping

-beautiful spring weather

-splashing in  the pool on the deck

-how she makes water balloons for everyone to share

-how they all are able to cooperate and have fun on the trampoline together