Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday...what does it mean?

What is Lent and why don't we as Baptists celebrate it? Well from my internet research it seems some Baptists have begun to recognize Lent more and more. And from my limited understanding of Lent and what it means, I think I can benefit from this recognition of Lent. 40 days. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days before he bore our sin so that we might one day live with Him. I think that obviously me giving up something for 40 days is small and insignificant compared to the sacrifice Jesus made for us. However, if it helps me to daily remember that I am a sinner and that I didn't deserve what Jesus did for me...then that can only help me become stronger in my faith. It can only help my relationship with Christ grow. I like that. So this year I've decided to give up something that at times I feel I can't live without. Sugar. I am going to avoid all things sugar. I think I am also going to add to my 40 days with daily prayer journaling. Lent is not a fad. Lent is not the "in" thing. Lent seems to me to be a very personal journey. A walk that will deepen my relationship and strengthen my faith. 40 days to reflect and repent before our celebration of His resurrection Easter Sunday. I would love to hear others opinions regarding Lent, so please share!

Garret celebrated his 12th Birthday on the 13th! Wow, I can't believe he's 12. Our last year before the dreaded "teen" years. haha! Although we are not anticipating them to be that bad. Garret is a such a great kid! We are so blessed to have him as our son. He's a funny, caring, genuine boy. Life is very black and white for Garret. Its wrong or right and he doesn't like gray areas much. He is not a rule breaker and he does not like others breaking the rules. He has a strong faith in God and it is very evident in his life. He is not afraid to tell others about Jesus. After much prayer we moved him to Salem Academy for 6th grade and he is thriving there. He enjoys school I think as much as a 6th grade boy can. He is a smart boy and sometimes can just get by with his smarts, if he would push himself a bit he'll for sure be a straight A student. He'll get there, he's just figuring things out still. He really enjoys basketball and watching him on the court warms my heart. He didn't play football this year, rested his ankle from a bad sprain during spring soccer. So maybe we'll see him on the football field in the fall. He is still my same baby boy that loves all things cheese and bread. I sometimes think he forgets there are other food groups. We've still got to work on expanding his food interests. Our Pediatrician told us when he was little not to stress over the fact that he was so picky because he would grow out of it...well we are still waiting. haha! He enjoys playing computer games and listening to music. But more than anything he has this love for reading that Kyle and I are just in awe of. He devours books. He loves fantasy type books most. Someday he says he would like to write a book. I think he will. Above all he is our wonderful son and we are so proud of him. We love you Garret! Happy birthday!

Kaelyn's day...

 

So Kaelyn is feeling pretty good today! She got a new haircut. She actually told Tonya she wanted it just to the top of her shoulders, but I motioned to Tonya to go a little lower. haha. It is adorable on her. She got about 6 inches cut-off! I think it makes her look a bit older, which she LOVES. She can't stop running her hands through it right now. And I'm hoping with it being a little shorter it won't get into the nasty tangles in the back. We'll see. And also today Kaelyn's cell phone came fedex. She's been bugging for one for awhile and we've put it off. But lately there has been a few times that a cell phone would have been nice for her to have. So we decided that she might be ready for the responsibility. She's been on cloud 9 all day! Pretty fun. 

A moment hidden in my heart...

Let us be silent that we may hear
the whisper of God. -Emerson

Why adoption you might ask? Seriously, our kids are older (12, 10, 7) so we are out of the "baby" stage. We have zero for a baby, I've given it all away. Why start all over? Sleepless nights, diapers, bottles, less freedom, car seats, child proofing, diaper bags, baby food and various other things that I'm probably forgetting that are needed for a happy baby. All of which make me giddy. Tired, but giddy. Love it. Love the idea. Can't wait! Sure I could be nuts. That's okay if you think so, it doesn't hurt my feelings. Honest. I have my moments where I too think I might be nuts. ha ha!

I really do believe that this is God inspired. I believe at one particular moment in time God whispered in my ear and hid this desire in my heart. I know because, I know the moment it happened. Kyle and I have gone twice on a short-term mission trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil to work with an amazing group of people, Restoration Ministries. We left a piece of our hearts in Brazil each time with the families and children we met there. We love our Brazilian Brothers and Sisters and try to keep in contact with them. We hope to return again in the near future.

There was this one day in particular while we were working at the day center doing a vacation Bible school. I met the most beautiful brown-eyed little girl. She was shy. She would peek at me, but wasn't interested in coming to close. I would smile and wave and she'd look away. I was busy working, but was so drawn to this little girl I'd stop and try to get her smile every time I'd walk by. I was determined to get her to smile. Finally she warmed up to me and came and sat in my lap, we played and laughed. After awhile I hugged her and took her back to her Mother. When I did, I casually said to her Mom that I loved her daughter and I could just take her home with me. That was translated and the Mother said something back in Portuguese and handed her daughter back to me. Puzzled I looked for the translation and was told she says, "Please, please take her". It was like I had been punched in the stomach, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. I know a nervous laugh came out of my mouth and I acted as if the Mother was just joking around with me. All the while fully knowing she was serious. If there had been a legal way to do so, she would have.

I have never seen that despair and anguish close up. The pain of a Mother who can not provide the life she wants for her child. A Mother who is uncertain where the next meal is coming from or how much longer they will have a roof over their head. I cried that night when we got back to our hotel. I cried not just for the beautiful brown eyed little girl I fell in love with, but for every child I met that day and the hardships their families face daily. I could not do one thing to better their life here on this earth. I felt helpless. I couldn't change their horrible living conditions, I couldn't provide nourishment to their hungry belly's on a daily basis, and I couldn't stay and daily show them the love they missed and desperately needed. I was only in the country for 10 days. I could do so little.

However, I do believe at that very moment God whispered to me there would be one I could help. One I would love and call my own. To wait for God's timing, but there would be one. Shortly after we returned from Brazil we thought it was going to be a 16 year old girl we met named Nina. I thought that was who God was calling us to bring to our home. We were ready to be Nina's parents. We were ready to bring her to live with us. However, it wasn't God's will. The Brazilian government would not let it happen. We were so sad. We thought we were doing God's will. Again God said to wait there would be one.

God opened my eyes to the poverty and despair in Brazil so that my heart would softened to it everywhere. So that when the time came I'd listen to God's gentle nudging. So that I'd keep the dialog open with Kyle about the topic so that one day he too would again feel the pull of God's calling. He did. God said there would be one, and we believe there is. When we read of the heart breaking need for adoptive parents in Ethiopia, our hearts jumped knowing this was what God was meaning for us. And here we are today. We are ready to bring home a baby boy from Ethiopia. We can't wait!

Garret Bball tonight!

 

 

 

 

What a fantastic game tonight! Not only did Garret score some points but he owned the court tonight. He normally doesn't play full court so he did need his inhaler tonight. haha. He looked great out there tonight. It was so fun to watch him play. Oh yeah and they won too. Wahoo!

Bryn's Cheer Competition today...

So we owe Brynlee five-bucks! I told her before they performed that if she made some silly faces i'd give her $5. We've noticed at all these competitions that the girls make these fun faces while they cheer and Brynlee practices them all the time in the mirror. But when it comes time to perform she's concentrating so hard on her routine she hardly remembers to smile. So today she actually made a few faces, 3 to be exact according to her! haha! She did great! We are so proud of her. Last night she prayed that God would let her team win first place and that she wouldn't mess up. Aren't children prayers sweet?

So watch this video that Kaelyn took with her camera and see if you can spot her "3-silly faces".

Garret's Basketball game

I forgot my camera but thankfully Kaelyn had her camera, so here are some shots she took. Garret's team had a rocky start to the first half, letting the other team get a pretty big lead. But they held them the 2nd half to only a few baskets. So that's good, right?