Word Filled Wednesday...Psalm 44:18

Psalm 44:18

Our hearts had not turned back;

our feet had not strayed from your path.

To add your one of your favorite bible verses and photo...

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Cancelling Disney Channel Is Not Child Abuse...

My husband and I read Crazy Love by Frances Chan this summer. It completely changed the way we think about everything! If you have not read this book yet, I would HIGHLY recommend it. We are now teaching it as a series to our senior youth Sunday school class. Teaching it to our youth group, has changed how we think even more. Because sometimes you have to work a little harder to explain your points to youth (especially early in the morning) since they are not always open to discussion.

Last Sunday we were teaching chapter 8, which discusses the need to fully rely on God financially. The idea of not needing retirement accounts or savings accounts because if you are truly relying on Him, then you know that He will provide. When the Bible speaks of financial responsibility... responsibility is helping others and not wasting your money on selfish things or building our savings accounts for the what ifs. Think about how different this world would be if everyone lived for God and helped one another instead of always thinking of themselves first...everyone's needs would always be covered. While you are taking care of others needs, someone else is taking care of yours.
We shared with them this chapter was the hardest for us to think about because in this society it is so hard to surrender the financial aspects of life. However, we are suppose to trust it all to God since it is never ours to begin with. We are not to become so embedded in this world that we see it as our home nor are we to feel that our lives are better because of "stuff".
So, when teaching this to the youth group, we shared an example that we had just started in our home. We recently cancelled all cable channels, with the exception of just receiving the four network channels. This saves us $60 a month, which we now plan to use to help others with their adoption expenses. Boy, did this example get the teens' attention! They thought we were crazy! "Who lives without cable?", they questioned. They also expressed concern for our children not having the Disney channel. My husband assured them that our children not having the Disney channel is not child abuse and that there are far more important things than cable in this world. I am pretty sure they will not be wanting to hang out at our house any time soon. However, I hope that they see the point of what we were trying to share.
Many times throughout this study with have shared with them the following ... You can never do anything to repay God for what He has given us through Jesus. You are saved by grace. He does not need us, nor does He need us to do anything for Him...He is God. However, He longs for us. He wants us to come to Him and He wants us to live for Him.
It is like when we teach our children manners over and over. It does not mean as much when they are prompted by us saying, "What do you say?" Then they say, "Thank you." However, when one of our children walks up to someone on their own and says, "Thank you for what you did. I really appreciated you taking the time to help me." THEN, that means the world to the person they are thanking. As their parents we are overcome with emotion for them taking the time to show appreciation to others. Or How much would it mean if we gave the kids money and told them they HAD to buy something for someone in need. Yes, it would be nice on our part, but how much more meaning would it have if they decided that they wanted to spend their money to buy something for someone in need? These are some of the points that we have made with the youth that seemed to click not only for them, but for us too. He doesn't need us to do anything for others, but He longs for it...
We found this video of Frances Chan, sharing his thoughts on Proverbs 30: 7-9.

Proverbs 30: 7-9

"Two things I ask of you, O LORD;

do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

We are number...

Our case worker just called to give us our number on the boy waiting list....

We are #26

So, that means that there are 25 families in front of us awaiting the referral of their little boys. As they receive their referrals, our number will countdown until we are at #1 and we are given our referral of Elijah! Can you see us doing the happy dance? Can you hear our cheering? We are so happy to be on the waiting list!!! Thanks be to God!

It turns out that I am not perfect...

Once upon a time, there was a Southern girl (okay woman), who proofread all of the dossier paperwork many times. On the twentieth time of proofreading it, she felt it was perfect and sent it to their adoption agency. As the adoption agency reviewed the dossier, they found a paper, with one word, wrongly typed that must be resubmitted. {Gasp...the horror of realizing I was not perfect!!!} Since this is the first mistake this 32 year old woman has ever made...she feels she has a pretty good track record. {I joke folks...it is really the second mistake I have ever made}

The good news is that it was an easy form to fix. A new one was printed, notarized and overnighted to the agency. Our case worker said as soon as she receives it Monday, she will call us with our number on the waiting list. Yay! I will let you know Monday....

Have a fabulous fall weekend!

I would like to introduce you to...ripple #1

Remember when I posted this, after someone asked us, "What we hope to accomplish by adopting one when there are 147 Million orphans?" Well, I explained that we prayed this would be a ripple effect. We prayed that others would see the blessing of adoption through Elijah and how beautifully it works and they too, would adopt. After posting that I got three emails from women saying that the ripple effect has already begun. These women shared of their desire to do God's will and that they were either praying about it or were going to begin the adoption process soon. This makes my heart happy beyond words.

I would like to introduce you to the first ripple, my blogging friend, Lauren. Lauren was one of my very first blogging friends. When I started my blog in June, I found her blog. I emailed her and told her how much I enjoyed reading her stories because you could tell they truly came from her heart. She and her husband have experienced big losses at their young age; they have two baby boys in heaven. Yet, she always gives God all of the glory for all things in her life and she lets His light shine in all that she does. We began emailing and commenting back and forth...encouraging one another and praying for one another. I believe God placed Lauren in my life for a reason. She is someone I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life.

When I would think of her throughout my day, I would pray for her. However, I began thinking about her in connection to adoption. So, each time I thought of her, I prayed for her and her husband and God's will for them to adopt. I did not share these prayers with her. Within that same week, she began emailing me about the thoughts of adoption that God was placing before her. I had to share with her that I had been praying for God's will for them and adoption. During that same week, she and her husband applied and were approved by our same adoption agency. They are now proceeding by faith and adopting a baby boy from Ethiopia.

This is a beautiful display of following God's will and His timing. Lauren's husband just started seminary and she is working to support their family. They have complete faith that God will bring them to their child and will provide for their journey. I love their story and their hearts.

Our babies could be in the same room together right now! How beautiful is that thought? We already have plans of meeting for our babies to play together some day. Please go to Lauren's blog and congratulate them and pray for them and their baby. God is so good. Let the ripples continue!!!

Lauren's Blog:

Living By Faith

A Crib Bedding Review for Elijah's Room....

When CSNbaby.com contacted me about reviewing crib bedding for Elijah's room, I was over the moon with excitement. Their site is so amazing because they have hundreds of crib bedding options to choose from.

Paul and I sat up last night looking through all of the options and we have chosen this crib bedding set (pictured below) to review. It should arrive very soon and I cannot wait to share our thoughts on it. This is so exciting!

If you too are on the lookout for crib bedding for your own blessing, please head over to CSNbaby.com and check out their selections...they have everything you could imagine for your baby's nursery and so much more.

Exemplify Online {Kid's Crafts - Fall Name Wreaths}

I am so excited and yet so humbled to share with you that I will be a contributing writer to the Exemplify Online Family Channel. Exemplify is an awesome Christian site that uplifts women through the writings of other women. There are new things happening at Exemplify, including blog channels dedicated to a variety of different topics. I will be writing for the family channel and I am beyond thrilled. If you have not checked it out, please do. Here is my first post:

I love to create crafty things. I especially love creating crafty things on a very small budget. My oldest children also love to craft with me, so I am constantly looking for kid friendly crafts. I recently came up with this fall leaf name wreath idea (say that three times) and I decided to let my kids do it all themselves. I think they turned out so cute and and oh so affordable since each wreath creation only costs: $2.75. These will be treasured for many years in our home and I wanted to share them with you so that your family could also make these adorable fall creations..

You will need...

• A crafty child or two
• Small Straw Wreaths (ours came wrapped in plastic wrap and we left them that way to avoid additional mess)
• Straight pins (we chose the ones with little colored balls on the ends so that the kids could push them in more easily, but any that you might have on hand would work)
• Fall ribbon for hanging
• Silk fall leaves
• Felt for the name banner (we used a firm felt sheet so that it would stand strongly across the wreath without drooping)
• Letter stickers for the name banner

To follow the steps on how to make these wreaths...

please visit my first post at the

Exemplify Online Family Channel.