After a great day at church with our family in the Lord, we came home to a taco dinner. The kids love beans so I made a corn and bean hot salsa and they loved it. I always like to find things that they REALLY like. This was one of them.
As I sit here watching football, the kids are playing with lincoln logs and singing:
"Lord of all, yes, I believe. Thats was God is. God of glory, God of grace. God my rock and hiding place. He is great and powerful, thats what God is . Ruler of everything. I believe, thats what God is. "
Now that absolutely warms my heart. They cannot speak much English but can sing that like never before. I am so very proud of them.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Joshua's writing essay
Joshua had to write about what makes a person great. He put the following and I am paraphrasing. He has to write in complete sentences. hee hee
- God made us all different
- The Lord gave us a mind to think
- God has a specific plan to do great things for him
- God has planned every second of your life.
then there was more....
The next part of the essay was for him to write about a person who was great. He wrote:
- The urologist is a great person because he will save my daddy of cancer in his prostate.
- God made us all different
- The Lord gave us a mind to think
- God has a specific plan to do great things for him
- God has planned every second of your life.
then there was more....
The next part of the essay was for him to write about a person who was great. He wrote:
- The urologist is a great person because he will save my daddy of cancer in his prostate.
Thanksgiving Day
It was their first Thanksgiving and they did not understand what was going on. We made turkey hats, read books about Thanksgiving, watched Snoopy's T-Day celebration, ate turkey, made cards of thanks...... But, thru it all, Mari'An just said, "Happy Christ-giving" or " Happy Birth- giving" Just another day, I guess. They did not understand it all. I guess it is a bit confusing when the Christmas tree is up and all they see everywhere is Christmas stuff. They never had that either. So, who knows????
At dinner, we did get a "WOW- very good mommy- excellent. No in Sheshemene." (Sheshemene is the orphanage) All of them said "Good."
We could not be more thankful to the Lord for our lives. Dan's cancer has really put a lot of things into perspective. We have spent a lot of time doing things that, in the end, really do not matter to our eternity. Our views on how clean the house is, unused vacation days, our family time on Sunday's, and much more, has been brought to the forefront of our minds. Yesterday was an amazing day as we just played with the kids, finished decorating the Christmas tree, sang songs and just loved on one another. It was a great day. May each of you that has not been faced with the big "C"ancer, realize what you have and how you are wasting time on things that do not matter. Your family, your spouse, your children are precious. Enjoy every moment with them.
At dinner, we did get a "WOW- very good mommy- excellent. No in Sheshemene." (Sheshemene is the orphanage) All of them said "Good."
We could not be more thankful to the Lord for our lives. Dan's cancer has really put a lot of things into perspective. We have spent a lot of time doing things that, in the end, really do not matter to our eternity. Our views on how clean the house is, unused vacation days, our family time on Sunday's, and much more, has been brought to the forefront of our minds. Yesterday was an amazing day as we just played with the kids, finished decorating the Christmas tree, sang songs and just loved on one another. It was a great day. May each of you that has not been faced with the big "C"ancer, realize what you have and how you are wasting time on things that do not matter. Your family, your spouse, your children are precious. Enjoy every moment with them.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Update on Dan
Dan had more tests on Friday to check his heart for surgery. The results will be in this week. We are all very nervous about the surgery. We know that the Lord was watching out for us as this cancer was caught so early. We were devasted the week we found out, but we know that the Lord did not give this disease to Dan, the world did. The sins of the world have resulted in cancers, diseases, etc. It is how one deals with what they are given that makes the difference.
So, since we are here and cannot do anything about it, we pray that we can continue to give God the glory for His amazing gifts and blessings we receive. We are here on this Earth for such a small blip in time. Our eternity and the eternity of others is the utmost importance. We cannot add one day to our lives by worrying about all of this. God breathed life into us and He will stop it when the time is right- in His time. Until then, we will take one day at a time. Preparing for surgery on Dec 3, is scary but we know we are in the Lord's hands. May each of you know the peace that only comes from our Lord and Savior.
So, since we are here and cannot do anything about it, we pray that we can continue to give God the glory for His amazing gifts and blessings we receive. We are here on this Earth for such a small blip in time. Our eternity and the eternity of others is the utmost importance. We cannot add one day to our lives by worrying about all of this. God breathed life into us and He will stop it when the time is right- in His time. Until then, we will take one day at a time. Preparing for surgery on Dec 3, is scary but we know we are in the Lord's hands. May each of you know the peace that only comes from our Lord and Savior.
Things we have learned about the kids....
In talking to them about differences from America and Sheshemene, Africa, here are a few of the things not in Africa:
* No jeans - Neat to have jeans and jean jackets. They love these
* No Christmas
* No birthday presents- never a gift of any kind
* They have heard the birthday song on TV
* No seatbelts to wear
* No tennis shoes
* No kleenex- Soft was toilet paper used for everything when they had it
* No liquid soap- this is cool for them
* No bikes
* Not allowed to play outside - ??
* No swings
Showed them the RV last night getting it ready for family to stay in. They just walked thru it saying, "Oh, my goodness" They kept asking- drive house. So, the RV is now the "car house." That was as close as I could get to explain it. Can't wait for their first vacation in it.
THey are just loving everything. So much for them to learn and experience. They are still doing pretty well. Prayers are still needed as they continue the adjustment.
I was disturbed by a story I heard of a family that was not able to keep an adopted child they adopted. We have a HUGE passion for adoption and hearing this makes my heart weep. When I speak with someone that is considering adoption for the first time, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is for them to PRAY about it. Adoption can be very difficult, even if you have children prior. This cannot be taken lightly or cannot be done on one's own power. If you are called to adopt and truly believe you are supposed to, then the Lord will give you the child that HE has chosen for your family. Giving that child up is a difficult place to be. Be prayer as you walk down this road. If a door closese, then it is not of God. Serve and care for orphans in another way. Seek Him with your whole heart and He will guide you in everything.
* No jeans - Neat to have jeans and jean jackets. They love these
* No Christmas
* No birthday presents- never a gift of any kind
* They have heard the birthday song on TV
* No seatbelts to wear
* No tennis shoes
* No kleenex- Soft was toilet paper used for everything when they had it
* No liquid soap- this is cool for them
* No bikes
* Not allowed to play outside - ??
* No swings
Showed them the RV last night getting it ready for family to stay in. They just walked thru it saying, "Oh, my goodness" They kept asking- drive house. So, the RV is now the "car house." That was as close as I could get to explain it. Can't wait for their first vacation in it.
THey are just loving everything. So much for them to learn and experience. They are still doing pretty well. Prayers are still needed as they continue the adjustment.
I was disturbed by a story I heard of a family that was not able to keep an adopted child they adopted. We have a HUGE passion for adoption and hearing this makes my heart weep. When I speak with someone that is considering adoption for the first time, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is for them to PRAY about it. Adoption can be very difficult, even if you have children prior. This cannot be taken lightly or cannot be done on one's own power. If you are called to adopt and truly believe you are supposed to, then the Lord will give you the child that HE has chosen for your family. Giving that child up is a difficult place to be. Be prayer as you walk down this road. If a door closese, then it is not of God. Serve and care for orphans in another way. Seek Him with your whole heart and He will guide you in everything.
Operation Christmas Child
I am so excited to report that the Graceland family gave 621 shoeboxes. I am humbled to be part of such a giving church in the middle of this economic craziness. Thanks to all who gave to provide a child with an opportunity to learn about our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
YEH!!! Keep praying that the boxes go to the just the right kiddo.
YEH!!! Keep praying that the boxes go to the just the right kiddo.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Mari'An shares
Mari'An shared a bit of her past that brought tears to my eyes.
This is how it went. We were at the laundromat and she was looking at the magazines on the table. She saw a picture of a little black girl picking up food off the ground. She ran to me and said that was "ME." In broken English, she shared with me that she did not have food and that she and her brothers and sisters ate off the ground. She said she was very hungry but no food. She then showed me a picture of a house of stucco material and said she lived in a house like that. She then with her arms and sounds said the house fell down and she had no more home. She pointed to the sidewalk in front of this house and said that she slept there. Her mother had 2 dresses- one she wore and one she put on the ground so all her brothers and sisters could sleep on it. She said it rained and the dress was destroyed, ruined, or taken away. Then she said that her mother took her to the orphanage with her mothers friends daughter (would love to find her and get her a family close too. I will have to pray about that!) She then had food but did not go out to play.
Next story was of the birth of the baby sister, Mar. She said that her mother had a C-Section and 2 babies came out. One boy and one girl. The girl Mar was ok. The boy was not breathing and died. Of course, all of this is with charades and words and things. But, I could make this stuff out pretty clearly.
My heart goes out to the mom as she had to do something that I can not EVER imagine doing. I applaud her for not aborting her babies but giving life to them. Even if that life is one of severe poverty. I pray that other families can walk out in faith and help these moms who make the choice to keep their babies. As a Believer we talk about being pro-life but seldom are we willing to help the orphans. Should we have just aborted them? We need to do something.
This is how it went. We were at the laundromat and she was looking at the magazines on the table. She saw a picture of a little black girl picking up food off the ground. She ran to me and said that was "ME." In broken English, she shared with me that she did not have food and that she and her brothers and sisters ate off the ground. She said she was very hungry but no food. She then showed me a picture of a house of stucco material and said she lived in a house like that. She then with her arms and sounds said the house fell down and she had no more home. She pointed to the sidewalk in front of this house and said that she slept there. Her mother had 2 dresses- one she wore and one she put on the ground so all her brothers and sisters could sleep on it. She said it rained and the dress was destroyed, ruined, or taken away. Then she said that her mother took her to the orphanage with her mothers friends daughter (would love to find her and get her a family close too. I will have to pray about that!) She then had food but did not go out to play.
Next story was of the birth of the baby sister, Mar. She said that her mother had a C-Section and 2 babies came out. One boy and one girl. The girl Mar was ok. The boy was not breathing and died. Of course, all of this is with charades and words and things. But, I could make this stuff out pretty clearly.
My heart goes out to the mom as she had to do something that I can not EVER imagine doing. I applaud her for not aborting her babies but giving life to them. Even if that life is one of severe poverty. I pray that other families can walk out in faith and help these moms who make the choice to keep their babies. As a Believer we talk about being pro-life but seldom are we willing to help the orphans. Should we have just aborted them? We need to do something.
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