Technology is so cool!

It is so stinking amazing to be able to use my phone, iPad and computer to all study Gods word!  What an amazing time we live in, and all the closer to Jesus return!  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

I have been reading about faith this morning..  Hebrews 11 is such a neat chapter! It is so encouraging to read through all of the examples of people in the Bible having faith n such extreme situations.  They make may little struggles seem just that - little.  Noah built an ark, Abraham offered his son up, Moses brought Gods people out of Egypt, Sarah conceived as an old lady, the list goes on!

Several verses to share that I just really love:

6: but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.

11-12: by faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and she bore a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude - innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  (really, I like verse 12, but included vs 11 to provide some context)

16: but now they desire a better, that is, heavenly country.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

At the end of the chapter, there is a list of all of the horrible things that some of the people in the hall of faith went through to proclaim the gospel - Horrible, horrible things!  And, yet, they still clung to the promise of Christ, they did not give up!

Lord, give me strength and courage! Help me to have faith in Your promises!  Be not ashamed for me to call You my God!

quiet Saturday morn..

It is strangely quiet this morning..  John is my early riser and is usually up by 7am at the latest.  Today, it is almost 9am and both my boys are still asleep.  I am hoping it is just catch up, but am suspecting that they are both going to wake up not feeling well - it is that time of year, unfortunately.  The stillness and quiet gives me a moment to reflect, which is nice.  I read through my friend's blog after reading through my Bible time.  I love my friend and love what she does with her kids.  She has been blogging about each of her kids and I love that idea, too.  She is great inspiration to me..  :)

Today's entry in My Utmost is Matt 28:19 - Go and make disciples of all the nations... 
This verse is difficult for me - I am at home everyday and not around many, if any, nonbelievers.  But, as I have been sitting here, Jesus reminded me that my boys are who I am responisble for shaping right now.  (I know this, but needed the reminder ;))  This can seem like such a daunting task!  I am shaping two of the next generation - they could change the world!  What a load!  BUT!!! I only can do this with the Lord's help and guidance.  He carries this weight, not me.  Phew!

I am really excited to see my boys in 10 years to see who they are - where their hearts are.  I pray all the time that they have a heart like David - a heart seeking after the Lord.  I also pray that they have the courage of Paul to share the gospel all over, to everyone at all times.  I see glimpses of this in John, already.  He is a lot like his daddy.  Both of them say what they are thinking right then and there.  Eman has always been able to swallow his fear to tell people the truth, regardless of the consequences.  He says it is a both a blessing and a curse.  To me, it is admirable.  I am not confrontational at all - I will back down with just a glimmer of confrontation.  Basically, I am a chicken.  Jacob is more like me.  :) 

So cool to watch them grow and develop - love them so much!

my prayer..

Jesus, be the center
Be my source, be my light
Jesus

Jesus, be the center
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

sweet aroma

This morning, I put on my robe before coming out of my bedroom.  It smells really nice! It hangs on the back of my bathroom door and gets misted with my perfume each time I put it on.  I love it!  I think I might hang my sweaters there instead...

My morning devotional email had this verse this am: When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?  I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."  Acts 21:12-14

The commentary says this: ..Paul was so committed to Gods purposes that he was ready to die for the cause of Christ. ..We may not be called to go somewhere to die, but are we living in the dynamics of the Holy Spirit, or have we allowed comfort to lull us into spiritual boredom?

This verse and commentary made me realize that 1. I am no Paul.  2. I have definitely have been lulled into my comfort for a long while.  Although, God has been prying and pulling me out of that spot with this adoption process.

My Utmost used this verse today: "Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ..."  2 Cor 2:14

Oswald talks about having the proper perspective and that is to maintain the fact that we are here for just one purpose - to be captives marching in the procession of Christ's triumphs.  We need to be more like Paul, really, willing to go to Jerusalem (or where ever) even with the threat of death ahead.  We are not to talk about being victorious, but instead, giving glory and belonging to the Victor - It is always HIS victory.  He references Romans 8:37 - we are more than conquerors through Him..."

Oswald finishes with this: We are encompassed with the sweet aroma of Jesus and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

2 Cor 2:14-16 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life..

Lord Jesus, surround me with the sweet aroma of Jesus - let me be a wonderful refreshment to the Heavenly Father!  Show me how to teach my children to be the same.  Give me the strength and knowledge to be aroma of life leading to life for the people that surround me.

Galations 5

This morning, I read Galatians 5:1-6.  Interestingly enough, it is a great follow up to my corrections from last night:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.  And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."

Last night the Lord showed me my bondage, my sin.  Today, He tells me, now that I have confessed, to move on!  I am no longer caught in that bondage.  Following the "rules" is not what is going to save me - I have to totally surrender.  I have to trust the Lord loves me and will work in and through me to complete my life.  It would be great to have this be a snap thing, and then our lives would be complete.  But, that is not how the Lord does things.  Each day I must choose to leave my bondage behind.  Please pray for me (and I will pray for you) that I am able to do this through the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Today's verse in My Utmost is 2 Cor 5:17 - "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  Oswald says in the devotion, "..God pays no respect to anything we ring to Him.  There is only one ting God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender."  "The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God - such a trust that we no longer want God's blessings, but only want God Himself.  Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected?  Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see."

There has been a repeating theme throughout my blogging... TRUST.  Apparently I am super slow to get this.  LOL  I know that I can trust the Lord regardless of whether there is blessing for me.  My problem is whether I throw a hissy fit or not.  I need to give my trust with a happy heart, just like I tell my boys.  No stinky attitudes!

My goal for the rest of this month (and on forward) is to continue reading each morning.  I am planning to at least put where I read up here, so I am held accountable.  I cant use the standby "no time" excuse, because I do - at least 10 minutes.  I know that's not a lot of time, but that is enough to meet with the Lord to start my day.  THAT is what I need.

Heading to the wood shed...

The past week or so I have been super antsy, feeling like I needed something to do, filling my free time with mindless computer games, facebook, etc.  Tonight finally, I opened up My Utmost For His Highest along with my Bible.  I know my unease has been because I haven't actually been spending time with the Lord other than praying each night before going to bed - I know, I know.  October 22 in My Utmost is titles The Witness of the Spirit.  Oswald references Romans 8:16 - "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit..."  He talks about how we don't have the Spirit because we are not doing what God has called us to do - spending time DAILY with Him, in the Word (this is, of course, speaking to what I am doing/not doing).  I am not abandoning myself to Him in total surrender - SO hard to do, simply because I am a stinky idiot sinner who really likes to do what I want to do.  I really struggle with giving my everything up to the Lord every day.  It really annoys me, too.  But, what is cool, is that the Lord is always good to remind me of how much He loves me and that He wants good for my life, He has a holy purpose for me!  Not a life of aimless wondering, seeking and trying to fill it up with stuff.
I know that the Lord has put a desire in my heart for Naomi, an ache to have my child here.  I am not capable to put those desires into my heart with only a few weeks of knowing this little girl on paper.  I truly ache for her to be here.  I have been trying to fill that space by making things for her, preparing for her arrival.  I have made a variety of things, and started to collect clothing and other things we will need for her.  I have not given those needs and desires to the Lord or asked Him to provide for us.  I have simply gone for it.
After reading the My Utmost, I went back to the Bible and read through Romans 8.  This chapter is cool, even though the first several verses can be confusing.  I have to read through them slowly and usually out loud for it all to make sense.   ;) Verse 5 really hammered into me - "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."  I have been trying to distract the hollow by making myself busy "preparing".  And, in all honesty, the hollow is not having Naomi, but my distraction from the Lord.  Verse 6-8 goes on to say, "For to be carnally minded (thinking about the here and now) is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (I have had no peace - just anxiousness)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."  All of that, combined with where I know my heart was, really stinks!  I do no want to be an enemy of God nor do I want to be in a place where I cannot please Him!  Thank goodness God whacked me upside the head - thank goodness there is a part 2 with good news for me later in Romans 8!  Verse 13, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."  Yay!  And, even better, the Spirit is going to do the work for me, through me, in me!
Verses 15-17 I love - "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we duffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."  Our Father went through the same thing bringing me (us) into the family that I (Eman and I) am doing to bring Naomi into ours!  I love that He has made me a joint heir with Christ!  How cool is that?!
Now these next few verses were especially sweet to me.  Seriously, God is always going to bring it all back around.  First, He corrects us, then shows us that He still loves us and then gives us an extra dose of love. 
Verse 22-26 "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered."
I know that this is all talking about waiting for Christ to return for us, but it was sweet to me because it felt like the Lord was telling me, "I know how you feel as you wait for your daughter!  I groan with you, for you."  And, again, the Spirit is going to do it for me!  I am weak - HE is strong!
The last 10ish verses in the chapter are also fabulous, but the first 2/3 was what I needed to hear.  Thank you, Jesus, for being faithful to discipline and correct me!

Lord, give me patience!

I am beginning to understand my fellow adopting families impatience..  This waiting between steps is really hard!  I want more pictures, more videos and more information on our little Naomi Xinyu!  I want paperwork to get done all on its own, grant applications to be submitted and accepted, and our travel date to be right around the corner (since nothing is ready here, yet)!  Hurry up, already!

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. - Isaiah 26:3

Hello, my name is..

We told the boys last night that we are going to have a little sister and she is waiting in china.  We showed them her picture and they both said, I have seen her on the computer!  Yep.  They had a mixed reaction and the conversation did not play out like I had planned in my head.  John was a bit disappointed because he wanted another brother.  I reminded him that he already had  a brother..  Jacob said he wanted a big sister from the united states like a big girl they had played with earlier In the evening.  I told him that I didn't know if we would ever be getting a big sister.  For now, we were just getting a little sister.  They immediately moved on and went back to the tickle fight they were having with daddy.  The whole thing was a little bit anticlimactic.  I guess I should have expected that because the reality of a baby sister being here is still a ways off.

After I got them settled back down and back on the bedtime path, eman and I had a quiet little discussion about Xinyu's name.  We decided that we will name her Naomi Xinyu.  The name Naomi means pleasant, delightful.  I pray that this Naomi brings delight to our family.  I cannot wait to see how she changes our family dynamic.  Hold on, little sister, my little delight! We will be there before you know it.

Here's the story..

I sent out an email to my family letting them know about the news that came yesterday.  I have spoken to my sister and mom now and have gotten a tentative support from each of them - yay!  My mom is a bit freaked out which is completely understandable.  I was freaked out to begin with too!  I haven't shared how this all came about, so figured I would and then share the exciting offer that I got today.

I was sent Xinyu's file Wednesday night while I was at church (Eman was working).  I saw the alert come up on my phone along with the subject and sender of the email.  I immediately got butterflies and sat there wondering what I should do.  After a few minutes of anxiety, I got up and left the sanctuary to open the email.  The email said that the file had already been locked for us which freaked me out even more - could they do that without my permission?!  In my confusion and excitement, I couldn't remember if I would be able to open the attachments so called my friend to ask her what I should do and if I could send her the email to open for me.  She laughed and while she really wanted to see the file, didn't want to see the child before I had a chance to (smart gal).  After I hung up, my brain started to work and reminded me that I CAN open those files on my phone.  It is a mini computer, after all.  So, I opened it up and gazed in wonder at this beautiful little girl.  I was able to open all of the documents EXCEPT for the English translation file.  I called my friend back and told her what I knew, which was nothing, except that it was a file for a little girl named Yu Xinyu.  I gathered up the boys and we headed home.  Once there, I was able to open the word doc and see what exactly was going on with this child.  I did some research on hydrocephalus and started to panic - it seemed really scary!  I finally headed to bed about 11:30.  After doing what I needed to in the bathroom, I went into my closet and dropped to my knees (I don't usually pray here, in case you are wondering).  How on earth am I supposed to care for a little girl like this?!  Lord, if we are really supposed to move to Africa, this child would end up dying - Uganda does NOT have the capabilities to care for a child like this!  There is just no way, Lord!

Eman came home about 7:30 Thursday morning (he had been working night shift).  I showed him the pictures of Xinyu and shared with him all of the information that I had found the night before.  I also told him that we needed to give our agency an answer by Friday evening - that gave us 48 hours!  (Normally we would have 72 hours, but since it was the weekend and China was just getting ready to go on an extended gov't holiday, our time was shortened just to be safe.)  Eman didn't say much since he was completely drained from a very stressful shift.

Later, after I had breakfast, I read Psalm 27 (I posted it several back).  I was super convicted about my freak out the night before and decided that I would fast that day and the next until the Lord gave us our answer.  I asked the Lord to give both Eman and me a peace that passes all understanding if we were supposed to say yes.  If it was no, that He would give us a heavy spirit.  

All day long, I did my best to seek out as many opinions and as much information as I could.  I tried to get a hold of local neuro Drs as well as some in Seattle but got the run around there.  I also was trying to get in touch with a mom here locally that has two adopted children with hydro.  I was beginning to feel like we were going to have to make a blind decision and just TRUST that the Lord knew who this girl was and whether she would fit into our family.  We were going to need to TRUST that He really would give us our answer when we needed it.

Again, when Eman woke up,  I shared with him what I had found out and what I felt like the Lord was showing me - not much and TRUST!

Friday, I spoke with a mom on the other side of the country with a bio kid with hydro.  She shared some encouraging information as well as what daily life looked like for her family.  She also shared with me that she had started a foundation with her sister to help pay for shunt surgeries in Africa.  They were donating their funds to a non profit hospital that performed the surgeries.  After I got off the phone with her, I looked up the organization.  There is a hospital in Uganda.  Guess what their specialty is?!  Neurosurgery!!!  My mouth pretty much dropped to the counter.  I could not believe it.  I was also able to talk to a Dr in Spokane but couldn't get too much information since I only had a little bit to share.  Again, I felt like we needed to make a blind decision and just TRUST that the Lord would let us know HIS plan for us.

Eman and I finally got to talk and pray about what we were supposed to do Friday afternoon.  He and I both felt complete peace about this little girl, so agreed that we would say yes.  I was immediately giddy!  We agreed that we would not say anything until we had received our PA.  We then went out to meet some friends for dinner.  Eman was the first to spill the beans - usually it is me.  ;)  That night, we got our care letter sent to China and a week later, we had PA!  I just have to say that while I had excitement and anticipation with Jie, I have complete JOY with Xinyu.  I cannot believe that I am going to have a little girl running around here!  I am the mom that was completely content with boys and didn't feel like I needed a daughter to complete my family.  Ha!

All of this, leads me to today.  I spoke with my mom this morning for a bit and she told me that she would like to have me come over and help her sort through all of their stuff (there is a LOT, too).  She wants to give me all of the stuff to have a yard sale with in order to help support our adoption!  She said that she wanted to money to go to something worthwhile and she knew we could use it!  I am so absolutely blown away by her offer!  I did not expect any financial support from my family, at all!  She is willing to host the yard sale, or we can load everything up into my dad's trailer and bring it back here.  There is a community yard sale in April in her town that we could participate in, if we wanted to wait.  At first, I was thinking that we bring it all back here, but after praying and thinking about it more, I think it may be really cool to do the sale there.  What an opportunity for the Lord to show his power and ability to take care of us!  I pray that my parents see the glory of the Lord through this as well as being blessed themselves for being willing.  Having the sale at their house would bring people to see the farm and maybe bring business there as well.

So, so cool.  I love how things come together when we get our fingers our of the pot and let the Lord rule in our lives.

Big news!!!

 Today I received our PA from China for little Miss Xinyu! 

I cannot wait to see her with hair..  She is going to be so lovely - she already is, but even more so with hair!  It is so strange to think that I have a daughter. Never did I think that would happen.  I love my boys and love how easy they are.  There is very little drama with boys.  ;)  It is going to be really interesting to see who this little girl is.  Her file says she is quiet, shy and sometimes obstinant.  My boys are loud, outgoing and pliable.  If the file is true to who Xinyu is, then she will be completely opposite of what we are used to. 

I already have a plan for her room and am really trying not to buy cute girly things.  I have an idea of how big she is now, but dont know when we will be going for her.  There is no way to plan ahead at this point.  I am expecting that it will be winter/spring time.  Give me strength to withstand the temptation to shop, Lord! 

Xinyu will be 2 at the end of January.  She is post-op hydrocephalus which means she has a shunt in already to help drain the extra spinal fluid in her brain. 

I just cant wait.  I have a cheesy grin on my face...  :)

Colossians 1:13-14

For He has rescued us 

from the dominion of darkness 

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

 in whom we have redemption, 

the forgiveness of sins.

This was the verse that came today in my daily Bible email and it is totally appropriate as we get close to Halloween.  Here is the commentary that came with:

Notice the term 'rescued'.  This implies that we couldn't get ourselves out of our predicament.  I n other words, we didn't find God - God found us!  His forgiveness of sin was never based upon our ability to get our act together.  Our redemption was paid for at the cross, and we should never forget that we have been pulled out of darkness by God's mercy in Jesus Christ.

I just love this.  I am so thankful for the regular reminders that I am not capable of doing any of this "saving" on my own.  The only way I can "save" myself is by saying YES! and allowing Jesus into my heart, by saying YES! to His desires for my life.  How easy is that?!  Ok, not always so easy because I am a stinky fleshy person.

This verse is also timely in another way.  Yesterday I received a short video clip of a little girl in China.  She is laying in her bed, trying to eat a candy that is still wrapped in plastic.  Her bed is a narrow crib - just wider than her small body.  There is a mattress in the crib, which is a step up from a lot of other beds, but no sheets or blankets to keep her cozy.  She appears to be well taken care of, and I am so thankful for that.  But, I am still a little sad for her.  I am really sad, heart broken and burdened for the kids that sleep on a hard bed, whether there is a crib around them or just on the floor.  I think about how well cared for my children are and how fortunate the kids in the USA are.  There is someplace for them all to go (even if they choose not to go).  There are opportunities for our kids to get food, free schooling, cloths and so much more. 

While I know the kids here in the US need families just as desperately as the kids around the world, I am just not as burdened for them.  My heart aches for the kids in countries that are so poor that they have no chance at providing a fraction of what we, in the US, can provide for our kids. 

I was talking with my friend after watching the video clip and we were talking about this little girl's bed.  She told me about how many children in China sleep on a bamboo mat inside their hard crib, again with no blankets.  I didnt know this, but was not surprised by it.  This piece of information made me realize that I had been turning a blind eye to this.  The Lord is slowly peeling back my onion layers, not only on my heart, but also on my eyes.

These children desperately need to be rescued out of their darkness spiritually and physically.  The Lord has burdened our hearts to bring one of these children home, now.  I pray that many more families are burdened in the same way.  I am also praying that Jesus returns soon to rescue the children that are regularly overlooked or are not available for adoption, for whatever reason.  And, if He is not coming soon, that He would visit these children and provide comfort in their very dark world.. I pray that there is just one caretaker in their building that is able to offer a comforting touch or smile.

I dont know if the Lord will ask us to bring more children home or not..  But I pray that He gives us the strength and ability to care for the children He does give us.  I pray that He continues to burden my heart to pray for these kids, to help them however we can. 

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;  Whom shall I fear?  

The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  

When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.  

Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; 

though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.  

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.  

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret place of his tabernacle he shall hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock.  

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; 

therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle; 

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.  

Hear, o Lord, when I cry with my voice!  

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  

When you said, "Seek My face," my heart said to you, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."  

Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; 

You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, o God of my salvation.  

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.  

Teach me Your way, o Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.  

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, 

and such as breathe out violence.  

I would have lost heart, 

unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  

Wait on the Lord; 

be of good courage, 

and He shall strengthen your heart; 

wait, I say, on the Lord.

I love that He is always so faithful to remind, encourage and refocus me..  Thank you for how You show Your love of me! 

How great is our God?!

We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:6

Do y of feel far from God? There is good news.  God knew that we don't have the ability to be consistent, so he took our faults and laid them upon the only One who could bear all of our wondering - himself.  Jesus took our sin because our heavenly Father knows us much better than we know ourselves.  Our quest for chistian perfection can be laid at The cross.  We  can rejoice that Jesus death and resurrection has opened the way to return from our wondering back to the arms of our Creator.  (commentary by Dave Whitehead,, senior pastor, gracenyc.org)

While I am not feeling far f rom God, necessarily, I am so thankful that He is able to bear my wonderings!  I am definitely guilty of that, it seems on a daily basis, as I get busy with what is right in front of my nose.  I am so easily distracted by the day to day, I tend to forget that my Heavenly Father is giving those day to day things to draw me into His presence..  This reminds me of His call to be more intentional with all that is in my life.  I purchased a study to do with the boys a few weeks ago.  We haven't started it yet.  My excuse was I didn't have ink to print it out - it is an online, PDF study rather than an actual book.  Well, that excuse, obviously doesn't fly since it is an online, PDF study.  However, I now have ink and print out a hard copy.  I will be printing it out and starting the study this week with my boys .  Once again, I need to be intentional.  Thank you, Lord that you can redirect me with a single verse.  Please continue to draw me into Your presence and to keep my eyes on You!

child desired form

Yesterday Eman and I filled out our Child Desired Form finally!  It was a bit of a dreaded form to fill out.  I thought it was going to be hard to decide what to say yes, no, maybe to.  But, it turned out to be easier than I thought.  I had been praying all week that the Lord would give us wisdom on what to check - now we need wisdom to know who is our child.  This was the scripture I got this morning on my daily scripture email: 

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food 

will also supply and increase your store of seed 

and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:10

I love the unexpected encouragement and reminder that the Lord is in charge of this, not us!  He will be the one enlarging our family.