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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Blogger For Orphans II


OCA Mission Moments from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.



They sat in the studio with an expectant glow as they spoke about their children they had yet to meet, but who they claimed as their very own... 




Josh: "As unbelievers, we are aliens.  We are strangers.  We are separated from God.  But God has come in and adopted us, through Christ, to be in His family."


Jenn: "And we're just so thrilled that our family can be a picture of that to the world!  And just like we would never question our true son-ship to God the Father, it's been an encouragement to us to think about, we really don't have to question whether these kids are our true children... cause they are!"



When Josh and Jenn Philpot felt God's nudging toward adoption they weren't sure where they would get the money.  They received a matching grant through the Orphan Care Alliance (OCA), turning the $6,000 they had raised into $10,000, and making it possible for them to bring home not just one child but two!




OCA is a multi-church alliance in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area.  Adoption funding is just one part of their ministry.  Their many outreaches include recruiting and training foster parents, mentoring local foster children, assistance for local churches in launching orphan ministries, international orphan care, and more!  They are also a part of Lifesong's Outside the Walls Network, which connects churches to serve orphans more powerfully together than they could on their own. 


 


 

Monday, February 21, 2011

Madalynnisms…

All of these were posted on Facebook within the last few months, but once they go on there they get buried, so I wanted to be sure I got these down on the blog which serves as our scrapbook.

Me; “Madalynn, how did I get so blessed to be your Mommy?”

M; “Jesus brought me here”

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Me; “I don’t want you to watch this part it’s scary, and you’ll have bad dreams”

M; “But Mawmmy I’ll be next to you” (as she pats my shoulder).

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Me; “Madalynn, want do you want a sandwich & chips for lunch?”

M; “No, I want….ummm….ummmm…ummmm….ummmm summfing squishy!”

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Me;"Madalynn don't eat straight sugar it's not good for your teeth".

Madalynn: "But it's good for my tongue".

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Madalynn called my parents & asked my Dad "So, when are you guys getting Marwwied?"... I have no idea where that came from... she was glad to hear they were married over 40 years ago.

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Madalynn talks in her sleep, and it just cracks me up. Once as I was leaving her room after she fell asleep, she asked me for something, and then then held up her hand, and said "Just put it right here Mommy"... I just kissed her hand instead :-)

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Madalynn's bedtime prayer one night "Dear God, please give me a giant ice cream cone, and my own TV show... Amen" Oh dear... I think she got it from a movie she watches at my parents house.

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Madalynn was over near my nativity this morning "Madalynn, what are you doing?" her response "I'm just watching baby Jesus being boring" ( I think she meant 'born'... let's hope :-)

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Quote of the day "Moooommmy! You need to hang up your sock-fing (stocking) so Santa will bring me a Daddy for Christmas!!"... I guess we should have put that in the Christmas letter. :-)

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Madalynn just came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl full of grapes "Madalynn, don't eat all those grapes you'll get a bellyache & it's almost dinner time"... To which she responds by walking to her Little People nativiity "But Mommy, they're for the kings".

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Madalynn just did something silly, and I laughed & she said "Oh...Mawwmy... I so happy I make you laugh... Mawwmy... I make you sooo happy"... Hands down best Christmas present I've ever gotten... I love that girl!!

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Madalynn comes walking out of the kitchen w/ a lollipop from Halloween... Me; "Madalynn didn't I tell you not to eat a lollipop?"... Madalynn; "Mommy, I'm not eating it I'm just licking it"... nice try...

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Cinnamon Puffs

Pictoral recipe for cinnamon puffs on the "Here's the Thing" blog...


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Re-launch

Re- launching my blog from about a year, and a half ago... "Ok here's the thing"... I'm re-launching with a review of one of my favorite movies of all time... "Return To Me"

www.okayhereisthething.blogspot.com

Friday, February 18, 2011

7 Things

My dear friend, and fellow GuateMama Bethany tagged me to ‘spill the beans’ on 7 of my deepest, darkest secrets...wait no, just 7 fun, possibly interesting little tidbits about myself that you might not know.  Just so you know I’m completely uncreative when it comes to this kind of thing….

Okay, here goes!

1) My senior year of college I spent a semester living in Romania with 7 fellow students volunteering in an orphanage, and children’s hospital.  I am forever changed from the experience.

2) My family has a history of quick engagements & marriages.  My brother was engaged after about 2 months of dating, my parents engaged after 6 weeks, married in 3 months, and my grandparents went on a blind date & came home 11 hours later man & wife. 

3) I’m a very aggressive driver… to the point where I say I drive like a man (with the exception of excessive speed …I keep it w/in 10 though my Mom may disagree).  Given that I have a perfect driving record.

4) It never occurs to me I can’t do something.  If I decide I want to… I research, research, research to figure it out. 

5) I played Truvy in a college production of “Steel Magnolias”.

6) I have an uncanny ability to remember movie lines, with the inflection delivered, as well as remember what actor/actress has been in what, and always win at “The Kevin Bacon” game.

7) I’m about 5th or 6th generation New England girl w/ my ancestors going back to Vermont, I have many ‘Yankee’ personality traits, but am very often told I’m more of a ‘southern’ girl in my disposition, and style.  Which I take as a compliment.  I always say I was born in the wrong generation, and location.

I’m going to totally break the rules, and only link back to the person who sent it… so hop on over to Bethany’s blog to see her 3 handsome boys, and cute ‘girly-girl’.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Defining my daughter…

Ok… this outfit defines Madalynn… balance of prissy-girl, and toughness… makes for a great combination in my opinion.  This was the outfit she put together the other day

  • Football jersey
  • Fireman helmet
  • Twirly Hot Pink Tu-Tu
  • Fancy orange jewel ring on her finger (look on the hand on the hip)
  • Princess wand

This was as she had just made some sort of royal declaration followed by jumping off the chair…

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Slamming doors….

I’ve always loved the expression “When God closes a door somewhere He opens a window”, although sometimes that faith is hard to have when the door closes, and you are left in darkness, with no glimmer of light anywhere.  In my life those closed doors have usually involved potential romantic relationships, and they’ve always left me disappointed.  While in those moments I am able to thank God for the closed door as I know it was His hand of protection on me, and trust He is still guiding me to that open window feelings of disappointment are hard to walk through.  Disappointment is one of the hardest emotions for me to get through as it is usually a hope deferred (again), or even a hope crushed.  Also, if not careful it can lead to despair.

This past week God slammed a door that has left me with nothing but joy!  I knew a decision was going to need to be made, and I was leaning toward saying yes even though in my heart I knew it was not right, nor what was best for Madalynn & I, but for practical reasons I was going to say yes for awhile while I figured out what else to do.  Thankfully, when that decision moment came God took the practical reasons away making my saying “NO” the simplest thing ever, and confirmation that God is in control, and He is guiding me in this time of transition… leading me to new things.  Things He created me to do.

As for an update for life around here in Madalynn’s world… all I can say is SNOW!  We’ve had A LOT!!  I hate to complain about the weather but I can’t remember the last time I was warm.  I always say the snow & cold makes us appreciate the coming of spring all the more.

The snow bank next to my house goes to the roofline.

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One more storm & I don’t think I’ll be able to see out my kitchen window…

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Our city was voted the 2nd worst for snow removal in our state… I can’t figure out why… I mean why would 2 cars need to pass each other?

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This is my back deck… I really hope it doesn’t collapse... that’s a floor lamp on the left.

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This was a few weeks ago making cupcakes with her kid cupcake baking kit Ga-Ga got her for Christmas, and the apron I got her for Christmas (I just LOVE it)

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We hope you’re all staying warm… remember spring WILL come!!!