Reflection and thoughts

Today...but 3 years ago, was the night that we had the first inkling that this foster care/adoption journey was going to get "interesting!" If only I'd known then what was ahead...I might have pulled the covers up over my head and stayed there for a very long time!! This, friends, is why God lets us know what we need to know when we need to know it! In addition, this is why we need to find humor and positives in small things; too much heartbreak over the past 3 years... However, seeing where we are now and what we've learned inspires us to continue to walk the journey, some days with more spring in our step than others! For those who have jumped in, seriously you saw the need and jumped to help us, encourage us, listen and or cry with us (there's not a ton of you, so you know who I'm talking to...I think of you as "Our Bucket Brigade!") we love you, thank you! For those ahead of us in the journey, (many of whom are in our Bucket Brigade!!) we are learning from you, thank you!! For those at the same step of the journey, we link arms with you, together we're stronger! For those who are just realizing their journey isn't what they expected...we get it. It's so crazy and hard, and really just sucks sometimes. Please know, you are not alone and you CAN do this!! Just keep swimming, find your village, surround yourself with supports, even if it's a small village to start; get them engaged in prayer with you and for you and hang on....don't forget we are here, we are part of your village!!! Above all remember, God knows, God cares, and He is there! He understands firsthand the struggle and cost of redeeming lives! Sincerest thank you to all who walk with us and to those who don't quite get it, that's okay...it's not your journey! !

For those who hurt on Mother's Day

Peek at Play

A peek into some of our counseling sessions...tbc....

Hannah Henna!

I am learning Henna! A = my canvas! I tried a dragon! A: "I was hoping for cool, I guess cute will do, maybe the girls will like it." This is not as easy as it looks! Austin is out of arms...roll up your sleeves B, you're next!! When learning something new, i like to do things from the ground up so i am learning all about... To be cont.

Resignation Gone Bad

Oops!

Vivian

I had a friend named Vivian, she was amazing and lovely! An Adirondack hoarder of paper and poetry. As an adult I reflect on how, as a little blonde kid, I would love to sit in her living room and listen to her stories. I'm sad I can't remember them now. She wrote poetry, it just poured out of her. Beautiful reflections of her friends, nature, and, mostly, her Lord. I remember she was a larger lady with gray hair and a wobbly chin i don't think she bathed much, her tub was full of poems. I loved spending time with her. She inspired me to write poems and listened to my scrawling attempts and would recite her own, they flowered from her soul. She kept them on various bit of paper in shoe boxes and envelopes everywhere. Her house was literally cluttered with poems and she would want to find a particular one for you she would search through them hundreds...thousands... I always wanted her to publish them. Her daughter did, after her death. I remember it was a small blue paper booklet, I wish I had a copy. I haven't thought of her for years but tonight she came to mind so vividly, I scoured the internet to see if someone out there had her poems... and i cried, sad that her thousands of papers and poems are gone, just like she is and thankful tears that I knew her.

Challenge to the "religious"

I saw this laughed and felt guilty all at the same time! I am really struggling with bitterness and disappointment in God's people. The people who preach religion but don't follow through. I hate to even say it, because I know I'm far from perfect. But really? My dad has had a few family members visit and a friend from California, but no one from his church and no one from the the organization he held in such high regard. Sure it looks good that you do your duty to go to church, or to Africa (no offense to Africa) but what about your duty to the shut-ins, orphans, widows around you? What about someone who used to call you friend? Why not? Is it because we are too busy or too uncomfortable and that there is a clause for this that releases us from this duty? There is no James 1:27b "Unless it takes time or takes you out of your comfort zone!" Knowing that I'm not perfect, I challenge myself as well as you. Are we acting out the command of James 1:27? If the answer is no, what is the plan to change that? I pray that the Holy Spirit nags us until we listen and change! #Truth #NotEveryoneAppreciatesMyCandor