Come home soon Isaac

I have a friend from college (Jamie and Jason Kelley) who are trying to adopt this wonderful little boy Isaac. From her blog http://room4love.blogspot.com Jamie writes, "Isaac is 3 years old and was born with Down syndrome. In his current country, there is simply no place for him in society at this time. If he is not adopted at age 4, he faces transfer to a mental institution where the likelihood of his survival is very low."

I have read places that 95% of kids with Down syndrome that get transferred to these mental institutions DIE because the conditions are heinous. This breaks my heart. And I think about my friend Jamie as she has tucked her kids in bed and the house is quite how she must be dreaming about her little boy coming home. Wondering when she can hold him and tuck him into bed and sing him songs and give him kisses. I miss my kids after a day. I can imagine have this separation. If you would like to help bring Isaac home you can go to Jamie's blog and donate. I have seen the humility that this family has had when someone has donated $3 or $3,000. Seriously even dollar helps. I recently went to an adoption seminar, mainly because I wanted to raise my awareness about the need. What stuck with me was when the speaker said "not all of us may be called to adopt but all of us are commanded to help orphans." So even if you can't give re post this and pray for Isaac to come home soon.


Grab This!

West Coast to the East Coast

Wow where do I begin? Well, plain and simple we have moved. We moved from California to Buffalo, New York. I have a little bit of regret not documenting the last couple months but at the same time it takes a time to move with two little ones and most importantly we were soaking up every minute of our life in SLO with students who were more like friends and friends who were more like family. We went to Big Sur, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, took more walks on the beach with coffee from our favorite coffee shop, we took a train ride up the coast with friends, we went to every farmers market on Thursday night, the kids and I would ride the trolley that stopped in front of our house just for the heck of it and the list goes on. If I wrote this post just even a couple weeks ago I would be sobbing thinking of all that I miss but Jesus is Good and has done a work in my heart. Now there is still a tear prick in my eye and sadness in my heart as a write this but I see God working and feel Him providing and I am starting to trust Him more and more.

Trust in him at all times,
O people; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalms 62:8

Kevin has also been a rock for me. He is adaptable. He welcomes change. And he sees the glass half full. I am thankful to have married a man with the complete opposite nature of mine. The kids are doing well. Nothing phases Dave, he just keeps smiling (my parents nick named him the "smiling machine"). Abbey is adjusting. The first week was hard for her; she missed her friends and the old house. But a week in Colorado with staff kids at our staff conference put her on the fast track to making New York home. This definitely helps my heart.

I guess this post ended up being less about details of our move and more about my heart. Maybe more details in the future but I promise you I have the blogging bug again so a should be in this space more. And I can't promise you that I won't slip in a few old SLO adventures every now and then. You know I will, coming from the women who blogged about Christmas in February.

The Comparison Game

I am really into this new website http://www.girltalkhome.com

It is a website where 4 different woman sharing thoughts about homemaking, marriage, motherhood, being a woman of God through the Word. It’s where the gospel is prized most of all. I have reading through The Snare of Compare series and it is kicking my butt.

Here is just the first paragraph...

"How do we respond when someone else gets what we want? We compare our situation to theirs. We measure our lot against theirs—especially if we think they have it better than we do. Why can she eat whatever she wants and stay so skinny and I just look at a piece of chocolate and gain 5 pounds? Why does she have that gorgeous face and I look so average? Why can she barely study and make a 4.0, and I have to work so hard for a 2.5 Why does she have such a beautiful voice and I can’t even carry a tune? Why can she decorate and sew and paint and do photography, and I can’t even make a pillowcase? Why does she get pregnant without trying and I am still infertile after all these years? Why is she married at 20 and I am 35 with no man in sight? Why does her husband lead their family and mine won't initiate anything spiritual? Why does she have a big beautiful home for just the two of them when our family of seven is still crammed into this little townhouse?"

Ever had thoughts like these? Well, I was so convicted and now as I continue to read through the series I am asking God to change me. Check out the website and their blog and let me know what you think.

Mother's Day and Abbey's Dedication

It has been awhile since I last posted because i have been sick and things have been busy but I couldn't help myself after such a good Mothers Day. The morning started off with a hand made note from Abbey wishing me a Happy Mother's day and a gift from Kevin. Actually it was my second gift. Early this week a box of fancy chocolates came in the mail which we polished off in 2 days. and that was with "self control". Yikes! But that morning the Martha Steward Encyclopedia of Crafts was on the dining table! Hundreds of pages of beautiful crafts. I thought he had forgotten but of course he remember and I left very loved. Thank you Kevin!

Then we were off to church where Abbey was dedicated. It was a sweet moment as our church family prayed for her and we committed to raising her in the love of Christ. I couldn't believe Abbey let Pastor Ron hold her. But half way through the prayer she leaned over for me to hold her and she said "Ma Ma" into the mic in her super cute voice. At that moment I was in heaven, felt so proud and thankful to be a mother.