Big little brother

My children, who are 11 months apart to the day, are the best of friends and the worst of enemies. They fight A LOT. They are really mean to each other sometimes. They annoy each other on purpose, and try to get each other in trouble.

They also play together A LOT. When they are apart, even for just a day, they miss each other. They sleep in the same room, by choice, and often in the same bed. When one gets gets a special treat, they make sure to get one for the other.

My Son by nature is a protector. He wants to be an "army guy" when he grows up, so he can help people. He has a very tender heart and watches out for other, especially if they are smaller. If someone is picking on his sister, you can be sure that he will be right there defending her.

Yesterday, Daughter, who tends to be slightly accident prone, fell down a hill while she and brother were on a hike with Daddy. She hurt her back, and when she was still complaining about the pain at bed time, we decided to be safe rather than sorry and get her checked out.

As we head to Nana's to drop off Son, he beaks down in tears. "I don't want sister to be hurt. What is the Dr. going to do to her?" He was so worried about the welfare of his sister.

I have two sisters and we are very close. We watched out for each other, protecting each other. It was always my prayer that my kids, too, would have that close relationship. I am so grateful that they do, and I pray that it continues into adulthood.

Very Proud Mom

This past Sunday, my daughter, who is growing up way too quickly, chose to be baptized. I didn't know if she was ready, if she really understood what it meant, but she did and she was.

Above all else, I want my children to know Jesus, personally, all the days of their life. I know she loves Jesus, and I know that He touched her heart in a special way as she chose to publicly proclaim that He is her Lord and Savior.

It was a very special day for her and for us. We are so proud of the young lady she is becoming.

Easy Fundraiser

We have something new and exciting we'd like to share with you! It's the new Ask For the Nations Ministries toolbar - once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to Ask For the Nations Ministries - at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to Ask For the Nations Ministries. http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/ask-for-the-nations-ministries


Not only will you be giving each time you search, but if you frequently make online purchases, if you connect to your favorite store through goodsearch.com, a portion of your purchase will be donated to Ask For the Nations.

Some of the stores included:
Ebay
Amazon
ITUNES (I was excited about that one)
Best Buy
1800 Flowers
Home Depot
etc....

YAY! We're going back to Africa!

Click HERE for a special announcement! :-)

A broken momma....

She has given me two of the most precious gifts. Gifts for which I could never repay. Our relationship is unique. Often unheard of for two in our predicament.

She has betrayed me, hurt me, lied to me. There have been moments where I have been so angry with her, fuming with hate. Yet, I love her. I love her with a deep love that just won't go away. Others ask, why do you bother? Why don't you just walk away? My answer is always the same. I just can't. I often wish I could. Watching her self destruct is painful.

I don't just see the outward self destruction. I see her brokenness. I see her true self, scared, wounded, unable to attach, unable to love. I see her loneliness, and her longing. Longing for someone to love her unconditionally. Longing for someone to care. I see who she could be, who she was created to be.

She is wounded, and doesn't know how to receive healing. She knows of Jesus and His power, of His unending love, but in her brokenness she isn't able to receive it, to let it change her completely.

She says, "I am afraid to be normal, afraid to feel." What it must be like to live with so much pain. What I wouldn't do to take it all away. I sit here, listening, feeling helpless.

In her brokenness, she chose to obey. She chose to listen to the Holy Spirit. She chose life. She chose me to do what she could not. She may never experience wholeness, but because of Jesus her children will. They will know the Father's love. They will know the love of a family, they will know safety, comfort, peace, joy and His grace and mercy.

I want them to know her, too. I see her in their faces each time they smile. I want them to hear her tell a story of God's restoration power. It's not too late. It's never too late to surrender.

Jesus, work a miracle. Set her up with a divine appointment. Bring full restoration to her life. May she be able to receive your love, grace and mercy. Heal her completely. Restore her completely. Give her a Genesis Week in the chaos of her life. Amen.

PRAY!!!

I sit here in my comfy home, listening to my kids as they giggle and play. I am thankful for the peace in our home, in our lives. I take a moment to enjoy it and thank God for His goodness.

Many around me face very dark circumstances. Darker than I can imagine. My heart is grieved. I know I am helpless, except for one thing. I have access to the One, Jesus Christ, who is most powerful. And so, I pray. Will you join me?


The people of Haiti: facing destruction and the loss of life.

The Adams: Mom has familia ALS, not expected to live past this year. Daughter suffers from Cerebral Palsey, and is currently in recession from cancer. She has many medical issues as a result of radaiation.

The Gordons: Mom pregnant, unborn baby diagnosed with Trisomy 18, under developed heart and kidneys.

Heather: Daughter dies of abuse by father and fiance. Other daughter seriously abused by the same people, but survies.

Roberta: Went to the hospital yesterday for severe pain in her leg. Dr's believe she has very advanced cancer.

Family Friends: Need a miracle in their marriage and family.

Goodbye 20's...

Another decade has come and gone, and taken my twenties along with it. Yes, I will be turning the big 30 this year, and dreading it already. It is not the issue of age or becoming older that I dread, but the fact that so much time has passed.

I look back at my twenties with a mix of emotions. I reached big milestones---marriage, motherhood. God had provided, protected and blessed me beyond measure. I have so much to be thankful for. However, woven among the blessings and good times, have come some serious challenges and hard times.

As I face the close of a decade and the start of another, I feel frustrated. I wasted so much time---valuable time. I look back and see how I could have done things better. I look at my current state of being and think, I should be better than this! I should be further along than this! It is as if time was moving in a fast forward motion, yet I was stuck in slow motion.

I was blessed to be able to spend the first week of this new decade at the International House of Prayer in KC, Mo. It was so nice to be able to get away and spend hours in His Presence. Being reminded that it is all about our love relationship with Jesus. The more time I spend loving Him and allowing Him to love me, the better I am at life.

Someone spoke/prayed this word from the Lord over all of those present "I know you are a work in progress, but don't you know I love the process?" Wow. He really does. My life is woven in His. He doesn't look at my life and think "Yeah, you really should be further along. I am really disappointed in you." He says, "I know where you are at, and I know where you are going. Let's go together. It's the journey together I enjoy."

So, as I face my 30's head on, and contemplate the many changes I want/need to make, I remember the most important. Loving and being loved by God. I want to look back 10 years from now,not frustrated about the coulda, woulda, shoulda, but with satisfaction. The satisfaction that comes from knowing, despite all that life brought--both good and bad-- I spent the last 10 years head-over-heels in love with my Savior.