Tis the Season...to Bake Cookies

Recently Macy Kate and I had fun baking Christmas cookies with MawMaw, Aunt Mimi, and Aunt Dana. A fun Saturday filled with messy goodness! The poinsettia cookies were my project although I think they look more like pinwheels! Nonetheless, they were yummy! We made Christmas snickerdoodles and of course had to dress snowmen for the cold :).

We're Expecting

It's official the call came yesterday to say that we were the chosen family for Zane!! We are excited and filled with so many emotions. What a wonderful early Christmas present! Hopefully we will be able to meet him in mid January and by the end of the month he will be with us permanently. As our waiting continues we covet your prayers for our family and Zane.

With new beds to buy, rooms to rearrange, and plans to make we'll be busy making everything special for him! The kids are excited and anxious to meet him. We love you Zane!

To God be the glory in ALL things!

Why Do You Want to Adopt?

This is a good question. One that I've actually asked myself this week. I've prayed for the answer and waited patiently. Since then God has reminded me loud and clear...convicted me of why I want to adopt...I read a blog post yesterday of a new found friend, Rachel Goode who too has a heart for adoption. It brought some clarity and has helped me cleanse my words, thoughts, and motives. In the post called "Segregation" she boldly talks about hypocrisy (that we are all guilty of), neatly sanitized Christian boxes, and sends out a call to action.

As you probably know, we have been "waiting" to hear about whether we will be the chosen family for Zane. The wait is difficult at times. I did talk with our placement specialist, Brian, early this week and he hinted around that he wasn't quite sure we were the "right" family for Zane. He confirmed that we have not been eliminated yet but something about the conversation made me feel uneasy. Apparently Zane isn't perfect! Turns out Brian thinks we are a "white picket fence" family! Hahahaha...

It was only after our phone call that I wondered, are we doing the right thing? Bringing a stranger into our home, feeding them, loving them, showing them Jesus. I mean isn't that risky? Aren't we putting our "perfect little family" (whatever that is) in jeopardy? Couldn't it be disruptive?

Read those words again...bringing a stranger in, feeding them, loving them, showing them Jesus...does that remind you of someone? Isn't that what Christ does for us? He has adopted each of us as His children. We are sinners, imperfect, and humanly flawed. We are undeserving but God dines with us, He loves us unconditionally, and He makes sure all our needs are taken care of. He gave us EVERYTHING! Talk about laying everything on the line...He did it ALL!

So why do we want to adopt? For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?, The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27. We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19.

I guess you could say we want to "get our hands dirty" serving Him and being about His business! What else can we do? We've been called and we must obey. God will give us the resources, people, and support to get through this. We want to adopt so God will be glorified! Is there any better reason?

Warmest Regards

People often close a letter with regards or warm regards. My colleagues and I recently joked about it saying we don't even know what a "regard" is. We don't use it in our correspondence and were curious as to where it got started.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a client using warm regards and so I decided to jokingly ask him "What is a regard anyway?". Well I was delighted with the answer. True or false, it didn't matter. It was a wonderful example of the goodness in mankind and I just had to pass it along...

A “Regard” is a burrowing mole that makes people happy simply by being in proximity to one. When you hold the Regard next to you, the energy you feel coming off of it tends to warm the heart and spirit much the way a good hug from a loved one does but is far more correct with people less well known. The interesting thing about these Regards is that they have been discovered to have a much higher energy level when they are warmer rather than colder so when someone offers Warm Regards, it is a metaphorical way of suggesting you enjoy good and joyful energy as conveyed by one of these little guys at the higher degrees they can actually achieve. What is weird is that you can never go find one unless you are giving it away. A regard can only be received from someone and given to someone but you can never get one for yourself.

So consider yourself "enlightened". Hopefully you learned something new today...now pass it on!

Warmest Regards,
julie

Chewacla State Park

Recently on a day off from school, I took the kids to Chewacla State Park in Auburn. It is a short drive and the kids always enjoy the scenery. It is the one place they seem to all get along :). The best part is getting to see them enjoy each other and God's creation. Hearing the kids laughter warms my heart.

Drinking From My Saucer

On this Thanksgiving Day, I pulled out a poem I've had for a long time and seems more fitting now than ever. Enjoy!

Drinking From My Saucer ~ by Jimmy Dean
I have never made a fortune
And it is probably too late now;
But I don’t worry about that much
I am happy anyhow!

And as I go along life’s way
Reaping better than I sowed.
I am drinking from my saucer
Because my cup has overflowed!

I haven’t got a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going’s tough;
But I have loving ones around me,
And that makes me rich enough!

I thank God for His blessings
And the mercies He’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
Because my cup has overflowed!

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin;
But all at once the dark clouds broke
And light peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe
About tough rows I have hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
Because my cup has overflowed!

If God gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I’ll not ask for other blessings;
I’m already blessed enough!

May I never be too busy
To help others bear their loads.
I’ll keep drinking from my saucer,
Because my cup has overflowed!

What is a Blessing?

A true blessing to me recently has been the book "Same Kind of Different as Me" (Hall/Moore). I began reading it Sunday on the plane to Austin and have finished all but 30 pages as of my return home last night. Crying most of my 2 hour plane trip, the stewardess kindly asked me if she could do something for me. I just said, "a tissue would be great". We briefly discussed the book and I think I've convinced her to read it :). I would highly recommend it to everyone!

As I was catching up on my blog reading this morning, I read an interesting post about the definition of a blessing. I had to pass it along. It is a unique and biblical way of defining a blessing. I hope God blesses you today to help you grow, depend on Him, and grow closer to your Father!

Sweet Baby Gavin

It seems like just yesterday that my baby sister was coming home from the hospital cheating all odds at 2 lbs, she made it home and has grown to be a smart, beautiful, wonderful woman! I love you baby sister! I can't believe you have now joined the ranks among your big sisters and now have a sweet baby boy! Can't wait to watch him grow up...just like I watched you...all my love!

Halloween Fun

Trunk or Treat at church is always something we look forward to. Of course Tanner is too "old" to dress up but I got a couple of cute pics of my glamour witch and my scary screamer :). I also managed to get a quick pic of my favorite twins in the world!

The Words I Would Say...

I've heard this song a million times and love it. But today, I thought of Zane. So many of these lyrics have been my prayer over the past several months!