The gift of another year!

In a few days I will celebrate yet another birthday. I didn't really plan on celebrating this one. I have my reasons. I am going to be a pivotal age where things begin and others end. Let's talk about the things that end first. What was I saying? Oh yeah, the memory! If I can possibly remember what I said 10 minutes earlier I consider myself a brainiac! I try to make a list to remind myself of things I need to do but I always forget where I put the list. Firm skin. Now days, if I hope to see no lines or sagging neck I have to lay on my back and hold a mirror up. It is wonderful!!! Everything looks so smooth and firm! Of course that leads to other things falling off to the side if you know what I mean. Natural hair color. Mine isn't to far off from its original color, I just have to color it more often now! Darn those gray hairs! And they are stubborn! They stick straight up like someone just put a ton of gel on them!
With these things ending I get to look forward to new things!! A 10% discount at some stores! More and more junk mail from AARP! emails from cute little womens groups that desire to help me get through this "special" time in my life. Things falling further south. Offers to plan for my funeral so my family will not be burdened with this sad time in their lives. Hello! I have raised them, cooked like a thousand meals for them, washed 7 million loads of their laundry, sat hundreds of hours on bleachers watching them play sports and let's not forget they are responsible for most of my gray hair! Now I have to plan my own funeral? I don't think so!
So you understand why I am not thrilled about this birthday.
Seriously, How ungrateful am I? I finally realized (we will blame it on my impending age!)that everyday I wake up is a gift from God! And no matter how lousy things seem in this world there is a lot more good to celebrate! Three years ago for my birthday I was in Vietnam meeting our youngest daughter! And even though I am getting up there as far as numbers go, my heart and attitude are young. All kidding aside I am enjoying my life more than ever.
Age is a heart condition. So that should make me 34! That is how old Kennedy thinks I am anyway! Ok, so I felt bad about that and bumped it up to 44. :)
I am grateful for the life God gave me. It didn't start out so great but it is awesome now! He has great plans for me and I plan on seeing those plans through!

I posted a few pictures of the loves of my life!

My guy!


My Cody


My Dustin (he really does like me!)


My Michael


My silly Kennedy!




My sweet grandkids


My girls! Cameron, Jordan and Kennedy

MY BLESSED LIFE!!!!

Silence

"The day our lives begin to end is the day we remain silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King Jr.

Have you ever been in a situation where you should have spoke up but chose not to?
Most of us have at one time or another. We will speak up about things that effect our lives but don't think for a minute to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves. I have a mouth. I try my best to use it for good and not evil! And there are times I believe in something so strongly or see someone treated badly that my voice comes forth like the mighty lion roaring in the jungle! Not always a good way to get your point across. But either is keeping silent.
For example. I am a huge dog lover. BUT! when that commercial about the pets being abused, neglected and needing homes comes on two emotions go through me.
1. I want to cry 2. I get a little upset and think "use the money it took to make that commercial and use it for the children in the world who are abused, neglected and need a home! The thing is that someone believed that animal abuse needed to be brought to our attention so they spoke up and did something about it. For that I admire them. It is those who refuse to remain silent who get results.
When we go to bed at night in our nice warm homes, with our full tummy's and running water there are kids somewhere in this world who are laying on the ground some inside, some outside, no blanket, no protection from the elements.The fear and cold take over their little bodies and they don't sleep. There are 6 & 7 year old out on the street begging for food for the sibling they are taking care of because their parents are dead. They walk through garbage dumps with no shoes looking for something, anything to eat. They do not have a mom and dad to tuck them in at night and promise them that everything will be all right. They are alone.
Several times a week I will open my email for Hug Away and there will be an email about a child who is waiting to be adopted. Each of them touch/break my heart. But the ones who really get to me are the older kids who have waited and waited and are running out of time.
I have information sent to me about younger children who have a very fixable special needs that sit and wait for someone to adopt them.
There are children who die in the orphanages and all they needed was a simple heart surgery. But because the funds were not available for their surgery or a family didn't step up and adopt them they lost their battle.
Silence is not always golden. And of course opening your mouth and bringing attention to something that makes a lot of us (including myself) uncomfortable doesn't always have positive results. And sitting around thinking someone else will do it doesn't work either.
In the year 2010 my prayer is that more people will speak up for the sake of those who have no voice. Adoptions are way down I pray that they will go way up!! I pray that those who are unable to adopt or go on mission trips but desire to help will donate the money needed so those of us who can go can make a difference on your behalf.
Never, ever think that you can not make a difference. All it takes is action on your part to do whatever you can do with all the love you have in you. It is entirely up to you.

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. ~William Penn

Pictures of orphans who need us to speak for them

My wish list

I wish that life was more simple. I wish I could do many, many things over. I wish I could sleep like a baby with no cares or worries. I wish that I had family that lived closer. I wish I was wiser. I wish there was no war, no prejudice, no disease. I wish life was fair to everyone. I wish I was 10 years younger. I wish that there were no orphans. I wish that people were not starving to death. I wish my faith was stronger. I wish people were more patient. I wish people were kinder to one another. I wish my kids didn't have to go through "stuff." I wish that greed and the attitude of self entitlement would disappear. I wish adoption wasn't so expensive. I wish Jesus would come back soon. I wish the biggest issue I had in my life was wondering if my daddy was going to beat me at monopoly! I wish......

Exciting News!

I have wanted to share this for over a month now!! I know what everyone is thinking and no we are not adopting again. For a very long time I have had a heart for Ethiopia. I have prayed that somehow Hug Away could find a way to work there. Well let me just say that God in all His amazing awesomeness (don't care if it is a word or not!) has provided a wonderful opportunity and we are moving forward.
Some friends of mine who have been missionaries in Ethiopia and are still very much involved (they go back several times a year) introduced me to their "son" when he was here visiting from Ethiopia a few weeks ago. Him and his wife have started a school for some children and we are going to help find sponsors for them! It was surreal! As he spoke of their desire to help these children all I kept thinking to myself was "this is a match made in heaven!"
We are still working out some things but I already have their pictures and history and they are beautiful! The board has decided that we are going to help fix up their school and work in the community. We hope to raise over $50,000 and take a team down there soon. Have I told you lately how much I love God?
What a blessing it is that we have been chosen to do this. I am humbled. Here is a picture of my newest babies! Pray that we find sponsors for all of them (already have some) and we are able to raise the funds needed. I will share more later.
If you would like some more information you can email me at: hugawayfoundation@cox.net or if you want to help with a donation go to www.hugaway.org. Your donation is tax deductible.

Aren't they beautiful? Be still my heart!

Giving

Oh to be talking a mile a minute and tracing words on your sisters back and then just fall asleep! It is like Kennedy has a switch on/off. That just amazes me. To be so...relaxed!
Ahh...the Christmas season. It really does bring out the good, the bad and the ugly.
But no matter how good or bad mankind chooses to act this time of year let's not forget that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
I have had a pretty amazing week. I have had one particular prayer request for a while. It has to do with $$$$. Has that prayer been answered? no. BUT this week I rediscovered something. When you have a problem and it seems like there is no way it is going to be resolved, go out and help someone! It really does help you take your mind of you situations. My week was amazing because I made a difference. That old saying that "it is better to give than receive" is very true.

I pray that each person who reads this has a very blessed Christmas!

Growing Pains

My heart!

I haven't posted in a while. I have been going through some things. Not bad, not good, could be better... just part of this journey called life. I call it "Growing Pains. " I am not talking about growing up or out ^_^. My growing pains have to do with believing and faith. Believing that I will have the spiritual strength to keep the faith.
It has been hard! There are days I honestly don't believe I can wake up and do this...again. And there are days where I feel that God has not left me but more like put me on hold for a while. Here is where the faith comes in. Every time I get to the point where I want to give up somehow, somewhere this tenacity deep inside my soul begins to stir and it reminds me that faith will see me through this. And that is when I am able to take on another day.
Faith is believing in what we do not see but know to be true. I know God loves me and wants only the best for me. And sometimes we have to walk through the valley to get to the best. This year has challenged me in ways I never would have imagined. I can say for sure my desire to do everything God put me on this earth to do gets me through.
In the mean time I take it one day at a time. Remember to be patient (God and I working on that one!) give God control mmmmm... we are working on that one also :/ and keep the faith! That one I am getting pretty good at!
For everything that is going wrong there is a lot more going right and for that I am so grateful. I have learned that when things don't work out as we had hoped that is the time we need to let go. And that is when I remember Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

That actually gives me something to look forward to!

This word Adoption

What does the word adoption mean? Here are some definitions I found in the dictionary:

The act of accepting with approval; favorable reception
Nouns denoting acts or actions
adoption; acceptance; acceptation;
approval; approving; blessing (the formal act of approving)
embrace (a close affectionate and protective acceptance

These are all wonderful definitions. But for me there are two words that says it all and that is love & family. Family doesn't always mean you are related by blood. Trust me our family knows this all to well!
Not only have we been blessed with the adoption of three beautiful daughters, we have some precious adopted grand babies! Our oldest son has a son of course he is our grandson! Our grandson has two little sisters and of course they are our granddaughters!It was never discussed, it just was. So we are blessed with three beautiful grandchildren that we love to pieces!
Then there are those friends. We don't have a lot of family around. I have three sisters that live near by but unfortunately we don't see each other as much as we would like. When we joined our church about 18 years ago we met a couple and became instant friends. Through the years we have been there for each other. Our kids call each other cousins and we are all Aunts and Uncles to them. Our kids only have one grandparent left and she lives in another state. Our friends parents have always been like parents and grandparents to us and so have their Aunts and Uncles. A few years ago another couple joined our unique "family." It was also an instant friendship. We do a lot for each other and their son became a cousin to this crazy crew! Their parents also treat us like part of their family.
So here are three families who have no blood relation at all but could not love each other more. We are "family." Our kids even had a cousin picture taken together recently! I will try to post that soon.
See family is not only your blood/biological relations, it is your heart relation. God has adopted all who believe in Him. I think that makes all believers "family."
I am so thankful for adoption. What does adoption mean to you?


Our sweet grand kids!!