Small Catch-Up...

Life is beginning to spin into an orbit I feel is completely out of my control, and all of my being is trying to hold on.... more of an update on that later... this single Mom life has more challenges than I anticipated, and more joy of course.  A friend of mine on Facebook had this as her status today

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Not only was that the verse of my class "The Challengers" at Asbury college, but it was a word I needed to hear from the Lord today.

This weekend was rainy on & off... so what do you do w/ a 2 year old stuck in the house for a rainy weekend???  Buy fingerpaints...

This is her new "Look at the camera, and say cheese!!" face...

When I was little I can remember on Saturday nights (or Christmas Eve)... I would sleep in these foam pink curlers to give my Dorothy Hamil haircut some bounce... (imagine a  mushroom on my head).... I've wanted to try in on Madalynn for awhile, of course when it came to sleeping in them, she began pulling them all out... but I thought she looked pretty cute in them before bed in her jammies...

The other day I heard her in the kitchen (NEVER a good thing), and went in to find this...

She said she wanted to make me my coffee....

I think she had an ulterior motive of eating the sugar....

 

Adoption in the news...

I'm sure you've seen the headlines regarding a Russian adoptee being sent back to Russia by his adoptive Mom in the headlines today.  As always, the negative adoption stories get the attention, and my heart aches for all involved.  I thought the statement by the  CEO of NCFA (National Council For Adoption), put this in wonderful perspective...

"Reacting to Russian officials' demands for a moratorium on intercountry adoptions, Johnson continues, 'This news sends a false picture of intercountry adoption that now jeopardizes the lives of other children. If the reports are true, Ms. Hanson made a terrible, inexplicable decision. Fortunately, this single act does not represent intercountry adoption as a whole, or the commitment that American parents make to their children. Clearly, justice must be served, but a moratorium on adoptions would only hurt more children.' "

Of course, Unicef latches on to these stories as reasons to shut down intercountry adoptions... Another quote from NCFA states...

"While the majority of internationally adopted orphans end up doing very well, adopting formerly institutionalized children is not without its challenges. Many of these children suffer physical and emotional challenges as a result of the shortcomings often found with institutional care. "

Again, Unicef's answer is to keep children in institutions longer so long as the child is being kept in his/her own country.  In the case of Guatemala children being placed for adoption used to be cared for in foster homes with stable family units as opposed to institutions.

To my knowledge since Guatemala shut down over 2 years ago so did the use of foster care, and the creation of institutional care for these children, and in those 2+ years no new adoptions have taken place.   Which is heartbreaking to me.

Study after study has shown that children do much better in a home environment as opposed to an institution.  Even the best of institutions can't take the place of a home/family environment.

Please pray that the one decision by this overwhelmed woman doesn't prevent 1,000s of other children from being placed in loving, caring homes.  Also, pray that this story doesn't deter families considering adoption.  It is one of the most amazing journey's, and for me God's greatest gift.

Hope...

I'm sure you all heard the amazing story of the father who jumped into the East River to save his 2 year old daughter who had fallen 20 feet over the side of a ship, she & her family were touring.  This was the account given by witnesses to the reaction of the girls father...

Right away, the girl's father was racing across the ship's deck...(he) dove into the water and brought his daughter to the river's surface.

I cry everytime I read or think about this story as I can't help but think that's how God reacts to us.  We are like that helpless 2 year old.  Drowning in unbelief, in despair, in addiction, in loneliness, in illness.  God our father will stop at nothing to save us... to reach us.  He doesn't stand on the side of the pier, and lecture us for not listening, or for being careless, and we should have known better than to get ourselves into this situation.  He doesn't begin to research what is the best way to get us out, and offer advice, He doesn't just throw a lifeline or a life raft.  No, God OUR Father jumps right into the water WITH us.  He is WITH us, He is experiencing all that we are.  The difference is He has the strength, and wisdom to get us out.  He holds us close, assures us that He's got us, and it will all be okay.

I've been feeling like that little girl lately... overwhelmed, and drowning in the demands of life.  Right now I feel like I'm sinking, but I know my Father is with me even if I can't see, hear, or feel Him.  That is what faith is.  I'm trusting He'll pull me out these murky waters.

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture to hold onto when I have feelings of despair. It's from Lamentations 3:

21 Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.

²⁴ I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
       therefore I will wait for him."

²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
       to the one who seeks him;

²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
       for the salvation of the LORD.

³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
       so great is his unfailing love.

³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
       or grief to the children of men.

With all that said, I'm also going to focus on what I have to be thankful for...

• My Madalynn
• My family
• Dear friends
• A job that provides for us.
• A roof over my head.
• Food to eat.
• Living in a country where I'm free to write things like this without fear of persecution.
• A relationship with God my father.

Spring

We're still here... life has been hectic, and busy... I have a couple serious posts in the works, but for now just an update with lots of pics. 

After March was full of rain, we finally got some sunshine, and warmth... I love spring!! 

Our Easter weekend was busy but fun... lots of time spent with family...

First year we decorated egg...

 

 

All the decorating was just exhausting...

The final product...

Her basket ready for Easter morning...As she gets older I want to balance getting her to understand that Easter is about soooo much more than a filled basket, eggs, and chocolate.

Her favorite thing was the binoculars...

Ready for church...

 

Later at Aunty & Uncle's house the hunt begins!!!

Grandpa lends a helping hand...

This was my niece's basket...

I hope you had a blessed Easter, and a renewed appreciation of the hope in the empty tomb... He is Risen!!