Keep on learning

"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning"

(Proverbs 9:9).

There are the sayings, "you learn something new everyday" and "you're never too old to learn something new". I pray that I will continue to learn more about my heavenly Father as I continue to study His word. I love our women's Bible study where we learn something new every time we meet and where we are able to challenge each other and encourage each other with our walks of faith. I am also enjoying reading different passages of the Bible in an attempt to read through the Bible in a year (following the schedule recommended by our Pastor) and learning more about God's plan of redemption.

Recently, I have learned something else new. I decided to buy a sewing machine (to answer my brother in law's question, "What possessed you to do that"?) because my mom is gone for a month and I have some sewing I needed her to do. Well, it is definitely something that I will learn more as time goes by, but I did enjoy making my first project- a bandanna purse. Oh, my mom will be "sew" impressed when she comes home!!! I'm thankful for my very talented friend who patiently taught me how to thread my machine and for my recent shopping trips at the fabric stores! I look forward to my mom coming home and being able to give me many more instructions as I take on more sewing projects.

Here's my first project:

Yes, Mom, this is me sitting behind a sewing machine!!

My model, who is also liking my new hobby.

Deborah's new friend

"The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:7,8).

The Lord has been so good. He certainly was watching over these two little ones as they made the same trip from the same birth village to the same orphanage, to the same transition home, and to the same province in Canada.

I am thrilled that the Lord has brought little Ezra and his parents into our lives. It was so great to meet them, to share stories and to see pictures of Deborah's birth village (as Ezra's parents made the 10 hour bumpy ride to Nekemte). We are so blessed to have made this connection!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD" (Psalm 150:6).

Another Monday... another day to be intentional about giving thanks. Sometimes we need to be purposeful in being grateful because it's so easy to be grumpy and to complain. Today I was reminded of this while I was listening to the song "We Want to Praise Jesus" sung by the Collingsworth Family.

"Sometimes I feel grumpy and I'm tempted to complain over something that's so silly and so small. But then I think of all the many things that Jesus does for me and I just have to smile and thank the Lord.
We want to praise Jesus for His many blessings. He's been so good to us. He supplies our every need above all we could ask or need so we've come to praise the Lord."

#1372-#1394

-back fields to hike through

-deep snow

-innocent pride over his boogers

-snow eating break

-jackpot...finding an amazing sledding hill in our back fields


-posing in the snow
-sharing sleds

-my 28 year old toboggan-they don't make them like this anymore!

-injury free despite many tumbles

-a slow GT snow racer (I don't why it's called a racer); perfect for Curtis

-daring boy and willing to take chances

-getting sprayed with snow

-covered in snow and LOVING it

-having fun together as siblings

-thoroughly enjoying all the snow

-having fun in her new play house

-playing with her cousin for the day

-trying different soups enjoying soupfest with my brother and sister and supporting a great cause
-safe travels for my mom and her friend

-safe arrival for friends in Ethiopia (praying for a successful court date)

-siblings standing by the piano practicing their recorder together

-smell of tomato soup on the stove

-friends looking out for each other's children

Enough

"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-19).

"[The Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you..."' (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

The children had LOTS of fun in the snow yesterday and enjoyed their first snow day from school in years. I must confess, however, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get the amount of snow that was originally forecasted.

It's sad how often I complain that something is "not enough". This includes not enough clothes, time, money, etc. etc.

I am so thankful that God's grace is ALWAYS enough. When I've been a lousy wife...God's grace is enough. When I've entertained ugly thoughts in my mind...God's grace is enough. When I haven't been patient...God's grace is enough. When I haven't spent the time drawing near to my Lord...God's grace is enough.

Forgive me Lord, and thank-you that your grace IS ENOUGH!

Something Beautiful

"[God] will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy"

(Job 8:21).

(photo created by Jess)

I'm sure everyone has been around the dinner table sharing knock knock jokes (often times not making any sense, but you laugh anyways). Last night Jesse made up a rather funny joke (not a knock knock one, though)... "What's the oldest joke in the world?".... "I don't know".... "The one about Methuselah"!! (oldest person mentioned in the Bible).

I thought that was quite funny, and so did Jesse of course. His eyes started to water as he had a hard time to stop his giggling! That just made if all the more funnier!! As Newsboys sings, "When we laugh so hard we cry...something beautiful"!

I just love those moments.

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him" (1 Corinthians 7:17).

I forgot to put it on the calendar.
Do I drive to school, or not?

I was trying to find the blessings and gratitude in my morning dilemma as "we" (my daughter) completely forgot about her project that was due today. Good thing she had worked on it last week! I quickly printed off some pictures, gathered all her supplies and dropped it off at school. My frustrations turned into smiles, as my daughter blushed and said, "Thanks, Mom".


my list of gratitude continues...
#1353-#1371

-smiles and words of gratitude from my daughter
-quick tickles from Curtis to Deborah as I peeked in on him at school
-a shy and embarrassed 10 year old as I wave to him in class
-Jesse had another good guitar lesson even though he was worried about it
-a sister to remind me of the things that I forget to put on my calendar
-examples of those who have it altogether when I certainly do not!

-snow blowing the ice rink (my mom called from her granny suite next door, "You have to take a picture of this!!")

-sale on Source yogurt (Nicole's favourite)

-Deborah exploring (everything goes in the mouth- even pom poms)!

-all packed up to fly down south

-giddy with excitement to get away for a month

-husband who so willingly drives his mother-in-law and her friend to the airport

-words of comfort

-God, our comforter and deliverer

-Jesus, our mediator

-meeting with fellow adoptive Mommies

-the excitement of meeting (online) another Mom who's baby was born in the same little village as Deborah!

-a successful court date after 9 court dates later for a fellow adoptive Mommy (here's praying for more successful court dates- go Liesl and Drew)!!

-severe storm watch and winter storm alert!! Bring on the snow!!

Promoted to Glory

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!" (Psalm 84:1)

"Promoted to Glory" - those were the words that the minister used yesterday as he used God's Word to comfort a church full of people mourning the loss of a dear husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, honorary uncle, and dear friend. We get pretty excited over a job promotion, but imagine being promoted to GLORY! There will be no more tears, no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).

As the family sat around their loved one's bedside and sang verse four of "It is Well With my Soul"-"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul" the Lord answered their prayer and the angels carried their loved one to his eternal home.

I pray for comfort for the entire family and his many close friends. It's difficult to lose a loved one. Praise God for His Word and for the comfort that comes only from our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that His plans are to prosper us and not to harm us and that He will listen to us when we call upon Him and come and pray to Him (Jeremiah 29:11-12).

Uncle Joe leaves behind a legacy of deep love for his family, a love for music, strong faith in his Saviour, and a hearty laugh that will be remembered by anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

I know my Dad is rejoicing as another one if his close friends has joined him in glory! We can only imagine what his promotion to glory is like.

"I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, yeah, yeah, yeah

Surrounded by your glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine, yeah, yeah
I can only imagine, Yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, Ohh yeah
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do
is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine."