A Birthday Sleepover

My baby girl is turning 11. We celebrated this weekend with a few of her friends. All I can say is God is good! These precious girls are a gift from the Lord.
Dale made his infamous "hot fudge squares" for all of us to enjoy. Princess EB wanted each girl to have a candle to blow out (instead of her having all 11). I'm happy to report that no candles were left burning. According to the girls, no boyfriends - whew, since she can't even THINK about dating until she's 16:)

Thank you, Jesus, for this long-awaited for daughter! She is tender, thoughtful, compassionate and a gracious giver. She melted my heart when she presented me with some of her Birthday money today and said, "Here is my tithe. Please give it to the orphan fund, Mom." She hasn't even had time to think about what she wants to get with her money for herself and she is already thinking of others. What more could a parent want?!

Mother's Day

My eldest daughter surprised me this morning with breakfast in bed. She made me a toaster streudel with "I Love U" written on it, an orange (already peeled) and bananas sliced up. My drink was ice water, but no ordinary ice water. The ice cubes had real purple flowers frozen into them!

I love my kiddos! Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms!

Of Princes and Princesses

 
Everyone has heard about the soon-to-be princess, Kate, betrothed to Prince William.

Not too far away, at least by plane, in the hot tropics of Africa lives another princess, Princess Katie. She was not royal by birth, just like Kate. No, she grew up in an ordinary family in ordinary Tennessee. During her high school years, she fell in love with a man. He just happened to be of royal descent.

This man rocked Katie's world. The more she grew to know him, the more madly in love she fell.

During her Senior year of school, Katie spent some time in Uganda working at an orphanage. Her heart was smitten by the beautiful children, so much so that she spent her summer there as well.

When Katie came back, she wasn't the same person anymore. Sometime during that year, she had given herself fully to the man of her dreams, her prince. She became a married woman who now was of royal blood.

Both Kate and Katie have similar stories, but their realities are quite different. You see, the man Katie married was Jesus - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Her union to Him makes her royalty, but her life is nothing like what you would expect for such a high honor.

Her home is not a castle laden with servants. In her home, SHE is the servant. Fourteen girls call her mom. Many others in the community call her "Auntie Katie" as she bandages wounds, feeds the hungry, listens to broken hearts and always, she introduces these people to her "husband".

No, you won't find her story on the cover of USA Today. Jewels and earthly goods - she has none. What she does have is favor with God Almighty. One day He will crown her head with many crowns. One day He will welcome her to her home in Heaven and she will be gloriously adorned. One day, she will have riches that far surpass the fleeting ones of this earth.

I had the privilege of meeting Katie when I was in Africa. I feel more honored to have spent time with her than any celebrity you can think of. Go to her blog and see her love for Christ shine through with every word she writes

www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

You will be blessed by what she has to say.
"I will betroth you to Me forever..." Hos. 2:19
"For your Maker is your husband-the LORD Almighty is His name..." Is. 54:5

Of Princes and Princesses

Everyone has heard about the soon-to-be princess, Kate, betrothed to Prince William. Her marriage to William will change her status in an instant from ordinary to royalty.

Not too far away, at least by plane, in the hot tropics of Africa lives another princess, Princess Katie. She was not royal by birth, just like Kate. No, she grew up in an ordinary family in ordinary Tennessee. During her high school years, she fell in love with a man. He just happened to be of royal descent.

This man rocked Katie's world. The more she grew to know him, the more madly in love she fell.

During her Senior year of school, Katie spent some time in Uganda working at an orphanage. Her heart was smitten by the beautiful children, so much so that she spent her summer there as well.

When Katie came back, she wasn't the same person anymore. Sometime during that year, she had given herself fully to the man of her dreams, her prince. She became a married woman who now was of royal blood.

Both Kate and Katie have similar stories, but their realities are quite different. You see, the man Katie married was Jesus - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Her union to Him makes her royalty, but her life is nothing like what you would expect for such a high honor.

Her home is not a castle laden with servants. In her home, SHE is the servant. Fourteen girls call her mom. Many others in the community call her "Auntie Katie" as she bandages wounds, feeds the hungry, listens to broken hearts and always, she introduces these people to her "husband".

No, you won't find her story on the cover of USA Today. Jewels and earthly goods - she has none. What she does have is favor with God Almighty. One day He will crown her head with many crowns. One day He will welcome her to her home in Heaven and she will be gloriously adorned. One day, she will have riches that far surpass the fleeting ones of this earth.

My Baby Turns 5!

Five candles for 5 years of life. Her Birthday just happens to be her "Gotcha Day" as well. We would need 3 candles to celebrate that.

Princess? You bet!

She used to be Daddy's Girl, but now she's all mine! Her smiles are infectious.

Life really is like a vapor. It goes by so fast. Five years ago we weren't even thinking about adopting, yet our baby girl was being birthed out in the African bush.

Lack of food and resources led a young mother to make a very difficult decision. One day she made the long walk to an orphanage and handed over her only child. She knew that the moment she turned her back and walked away it would be goodbye forever. The most she could hope for would be a family who had enough food, treated her baby well and would give her a good education.

But she would never really know.

Sometimes I want her to know that I love her little girl beyond comprehension. She has never missed a meal and she is so stinking smart.

I cannot claim that she is all mine, though my heart cries out that she is. Reality is that she looks just like her birth mom. They share a dimple high on their left cheeks.

The years have healed the physical effects of birthing a child. I wonder if the emotional scars have mended. On the other side of the world, is a beautiful Liberian woman remembering this day? Does she ever regret her decision?

Or, has she moved on - everything a dim shadow of a time long ago?

All I know is, my life has been forever changed for the better by opening my heart up to my African babes! Through them, God in His graciousness has shown me how much He can love me - HIS adopted daughter!

Happy Birthday, my precious baby girl!

My Mr. Lovewell

He pursued me relentlessly. I ran. There was no way I was going to open my heart up again. Pain has a way of making you protect yourself, setting up walls to keep you out of harms way.

He won. His persistance paid off. The walls around my heart crumbled, and I found safety where I expected none. In his arms I felt glimpses of a different kind of love; a love that endures.

Eventually, I shoveled away the debris left from my self-made fortress. Bare soul, I walked down the aisle. His eyes said it all. The love he was offering me was true to his character. It was unrelenting, persistant and enduring; it had not changed over the years.

The graying of my hair, an indication of time passing. The mirror confirms that life has indeed not stood still. Over 20 years have slipped by since he noticed me. I have not regretted letting him have access to my heart. Through the valleys of life, he has lovingly cradled my scarred heart; he has also taken me to mountain tops unimaginable. I am so thankful that I let him in!

The above description tells the story of 2 men in my life. Just a little over 20 years ago, the first man I gave my heart to was Jesus. He had been pursuing me for a long time. For an equally long time, I had been trying to find meaning to life. All of my efforts had resulted in pain and loss.

In rode my Prince, not on a stallion but rather on a humble donkey. He did not offer me riches or all the world has to offer. No, He offered me an enduring, persistent love - one that doesn't give up. He gave me what no one else would give...His life.

The second man is the one you see in the photos. He is my husband, my soulmate, my best friend. Through the years he has done an amazing job of reflecting God's love. People are more important to him than all of the riches of this earth. He really is someone who "loves well". I'm blessed that he is my Mr. Lovewell!

Worthless

I was reading in Jeremiah today during my time with the Lord. As is typical, I will have read something many times before only to have it fall afresh on me. Today was no different.

The passage is directed to the nation of Israel, but that doesn't mean it is not applicable to us today.

Let these words sink in, "What wrong did your fathers find in me(God) that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?" Jer.2:5 parenthesis mine

What am I chasing after that is worthless? What are you chasing after? Is it fame? Money? Acceptance? A life of ease? What do I spend my time on that really is of no value to me or God?

Did you catch the last part of the verse? If we chase after worthlessness then we become worthless! This is a strong statement. I do not want to become worthless to God's Kingdom. I want to finish the race of life running into the arms of Jesus. As He holds my expired body in His embrace of grace, I want to hear "Well done good and faithful servant!" There will be no sweeter words that my ears could hear.

I want to look into my Savior's eyes and see His pleasure; a statement void of words yet saying so much. I want to know that I sought after His heart and the things dear to Him. I want to know I didn't chase after worthlessness.