Orphan Sunday

Tomorrow is Orphan Sunday, and Heath and I have been asked to give a brief testimony in front of our church!  While I am so thrilled to share how God has used adoption to start our family, I'm a big ball of nerves when it comes to speaking!  (Gah!!) When our pastor asked us, we both knew we had to do this because we told specifically told the Lord we would declare His goodness and glory through our story.  I told him years ago that we would share our journey of infertility to parenthood whatever the path may be.  Well, of course that path led us through the adoption, so now we'll be talking about that at church tomorrow on Orphan Sunday!  Maybe I can just be arm candy to my husband who is far more versed in speaking than I! Hahaha... No, I want to speak too, but it won't be very elegant. (I tend to get lost in my own bunny trails and the excitement of my story!) I do better talking to others in the comfort of a living room with a warm beverage in hand! But as my nerves grow God reminds me as He has before...

My beloved Leslie, 

I don't just call the equipped.

I equip the called.

Wow!  What would I do without Him?? That takes the nerves off.  He wants us (me!) to lean on Him...His Word...His ways...

His guidance in the opportunities we've been given to do His kingdom work.  It is faith in the most practical form!

This is something I learned in the process of deciding to adopt.  In the beginning I had an idea that said those who adopt are wealthy, wise, and have it all together.   They probably are perfect Christians with a Mother Teresa kind of heart, and probably missionaries in the 3rd world or something.  Certainly not an average Joe or Jane who just wants a child to love and a family to have!

Yep.  I thought there were so few called to adopt, and I wasn't sure I would ever fit that perfect description that I conjured up. 

Lies.

If God leads, then all you need is a willing heart. 

Let me tell you from experience!  When I wholeheartedly surrendered my fears to Jesus, my heart began to supernaturally grow!  Heath and I both wanted to parent whoever it was God had for our family.  Whether I would grow them in my own womb or my heart only, I was ready to love a precious child as my very own!  God was actually filling our cup to overflowing capacity so we could love in this way!

We adopted not being "wealthy" or in the most ideal situation, as we live away from family and Heath is a busy medical resident.  But God knew the timing was right, so our hearts were anxious to get started on the exciting journey to our children and we then started the home study.

It was definitely a process for me to get to the place God needed me to be to parent our children.  It began when I surrendered my own plan, and walked in obedience to His, for that's when the heart change really happened.  It actually happened quickly now looking back.  From our loss of Bailey in '09 to the failed IVF in winter of 2011 (dark days of depression immediately afterward), but our mourning turned to joy just the next year when I laid all my fears at His feet!!!  We then knew we were supposed to adopt and were thrilled to have clarity!

So tomorrow if I get on the platform with sweaty palms I'll remember the day I truly surrendered all to Him and took one of the biggest leaps of faith.  The day my plans died, He planted a seed of a greater plan that would redeem not only our lives, but a baby boy and girl who would need agape love.

Remember He doesn't call the equipped, but He equips the called!  Step out in faith wherever it is God is leading you.  There is no regrets in following Jesus Christ!!!

Fall Mornings

Cozy fall mornings at home with family are some of the very best!  It's chilly outside but the candles are lit, fire in the fireplace, most comfy slippers warming my feet, and pumpkin muffins just out of the oven!

There is nothing like slowly waking up with vanilla coffee in the darkness of my home by a warm fire, and talking to my Lord because He is here with me.  I usually have my most intimate times with God in the morning when I'm alone with Him. 

Awww, the house smells so great with pumpkin and cinnamon spice, I can almost here Christmas music playing now!!   It's less than 8 weeks away now! Speaking of Christmas, I hear my sweet little ones are awake so I'm going to get them up.

Have a beautiful day.

~Mommy

 

October Beauty

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  John 15:11

I stand amazed at God's creative hand every October when the trees turn crimson red, firey orange, golden yellow, and deep plum!

This picture below is the street we live on.  Our neighborhood in Louisville is stunning every year in the fall.  The sugar, red, and Japanese maples along with dogwoods and other varieties glow along streets!  Their colors surround the houses with a canopy and provide a blanket of crunchy leaves on the ground perfect for jumping in.  I decided to take a walk yesterday while Heath was home with the kids, but I did it more for capturing the beauty of it all than excersize!

This was the prettiest leaf, so I picked it up along with a few other favorites to show the kids.  We get excited to put beautiful leaves and acorns around our pumpkins outside on the porch steps.  It's becoming a simple little tradition that we enjoy doing.

I even have fall colors adorning the inside of our home now that Heath lovingly bough me this bouquet of gorgeous flowers this week!  I love fresh flowers!  I think they look perfect in this colbalt blue pitcher my parents bought us for our anniversary.  I'm like my mom and enjoy using pitchers to hold flowers most of the time.  I think it looks so cozy!

Here is another beauty in our home that is one of God's finest!!!  Our baby girl dressed as Tinkerbell for a fall party!  (She is calmly watching Mickey Mouse on the television with I'm getting ready.  You can see Peter Pan in beside her!) :)

As you can tell I love autumn, and I love the colors it brings!  The anticipation of Thanksgiving is here as I'm gathering recipes for delicious pies and dishes to make for one of my favorite holidays to cook for and spend time with our family!

How is your Autumn going?  What is some of the beauty God has placed In your own life?  Take the time to look for it today, because He gives it for us to enjoy!

~Mommy

Early Fall Adventures

It's been awhile since I've shared at my little blog here, but of course that doesn't mean there hasn't been things to share.   Life has been busy and full as the new season --one of the best!-- Autumn has arrived!  

(This will be another blurry post full of pictures and few poignant words, but I wanted to catch y'all up on our life's highlights.)

There was the trip to the apple orchard!

We picked a few apples, enjoyed a huge caramel apple with nuts, and later a country dinner at the farm's restaurant.  

Distracted by dandelions...

Had to get pumpkins.  Jayden was strong like his daddy to carry one...  So proud! :D

There was the "campfire" evening when we toasted marshmallows and made gooey s'mores!  Daddy played and we all sang songs together.  We love worship songs, especially.  It was a sweet, sweet night!!

Sticky faces are the happiest ones!

Then there was the amazing getaway weekend Heath and I shared in Nashville together! Sigh. It was simply perfect!!! He and I alone for almost 3 days and away in a hotel with delicious food!!  

I'm so glad I said, "YES!".

 

The restaurant Josephine was outstanding.  If you're ever in the 12 South area of Nashville, pleeease have dinner at this elegant yet casual farm to table restaurant!  I could go on and on about this place, because from the atmosphere to the delicious food, to the music and service.  Perfection!

I loved my view.  Xo

We also attended a good friend's wedding.  It was a beautiful outside event in the country.  We saw friends we haven't seen in far too long.  It was wonderful!

The most recent day of family fun was Saturday, and it was packed with surprises for the kids!  We told them just before we went to each place what was about to happen.  First we went to the pumpkin patch and road in the wagon to hand pick two pumpkins and left with a frost apple cider drink for the road!

From there we took a road trip to French Lick, Indiana to see and ride Thomas the tank engine!!!! They were so surprised and Jayden was beside himself cute and happy!  It couldn't have been a more precious time.  I'm so glad they're still innocent and enjoy these things.

Jayden got to wear the train conductor's hat!

Kylie wasn't so sure about it.  (Haha... This is such a typical reaction from her!)

(As I reflect on these pictures, I noticed we ran out of time for me to really fix baby girl's hair.  Add the hot weather and a car ride nap, and you have her fantabulously fluffy hair! Haha)

Heath and I were proud of the kids and so happy we could treat them with this surprise!  

It was a gorgeous day for a road trip, and we enjoyed being together!  With Heath in residency his schedule is busy and inconsistent, so when he does have free time we try to intentionally make it quality time.  Balancing family life with a resident's schedule is very challenging, but God has helped us do it so far.  We have less than a year before that crazy schedule is over for good, though.  Next summer Heath will finish!  Honest y'all, I don't think we could make it through this season of little children, living away from family and residency without the Lord's strength!  He is my helper everyday! Whew..  That's for yet another post.  :)

So that's a very brief summary of some of the past month's adventures. There were other wonderful times such as visits from family, which is always a delight, and the everyday precious moments.  The past few weeks was one of the best stretches of the year so far!  

~Mommy

Reflecting on a Sweet Summer

Our children have started back to their little preschool (2 half-days a week), and in a flash our official "summer" is gone!  

Where is 2014 year going so fast?  I think I understand the saying of having children sometimes makes it feel like the days crawl but the years fly past.  It's true, my friends!

I'm glad that the actual season of summer is not over, because last winter was the longest and coldest winter I've ever lived through in my whole life!  A high temperature below 20 with wind chills in single digits or below for about a month is just not cool!  (Well, errr, no pun intended!)  Add our two active kiddos in the mix made for a little more cabin fever than I'm used to... Let's just leave it at that! :) So, I'm no where near ready to leave behind hot days, shorts, and the ease of dressing the children in two pieces of clothing and flip flops as opposed to one dozen items just to get to the store. If you have going kids, you know what I'm talking about! 

If you'd walk down this bunny trail with me for a minute...I noticed this morning since the start of school, the noise of the loud buses flying to a stop in front of our house is something that's returned.  My kids would sleep later and I would a little more soundly, but sounds of screaching school bus brakes are back and so are (earlier) mornings.  I would like to think a vehicle that carries dozens of kids would gradually ease to a stop, but no! It's a race to the stop signs with a dramatic--hold on to your seat because you have no seatbelt--kind of braking action!  Just something I find odd.

All in all summer 2014 has been amazing!!!  We've had a blast with our kids and with the rest of our family, so I thought I'd share in pictures the highlights with you. With our kiddos being a year older, grand adventure awaits!  

Independence Day was filled a beautiful day with fun, wonder, and awe!

We've spent lots of time eating in the pretty outdoors. A farmers market breakfast one morning. Picnics at home and the park some days.  Patio seating at restaurants some nights and the big July 4th picnic on the grounds of my parent's house in the country!

At home or here and there, we've eaten some of summer's best fare!

We enjoyed every minute of playing outside in the beautiful weather!  We've played out at home, at the parks, the zoo, at the pool and splash park, and at Grandparent's houses this summer!

And this happened while playing, too!  My brave super hero-boy!  He was sporting the red, white, and blue face for the 4th this year. :/ 

I had some wonderful dates with my husband!  Thanks to our parents, we had a few special nights out together to have fun and reconnect. We even had time at the pool-- alone!  Sometimes being parents can take time away from your spouse, but we want to always keep the love alive!  

So all of that amazing food you saw earlier has lead me to many more of these.

But I'm okay with that!! :)  That's another blog post, anyways.

Sigh...  Looking back reminds me of what a wonderful time we've had!  No big-time trip or huge new toy, not this summer.  We just spent quality time together, had fun as a family, and made a decision to savor those moments the best we can!  

 

What are your own summer highlights?  It's fun to reflect on them with the family, and do it year after year to keep those memories alive!  

-Mommy