The Journey

Jordan in S. Korea

Most people think that when you adopt and the child has been placed in your arms that child's journey has just begun. They couldn't be more wrong. It started the day they were conceived. They have a life story. It may be short or very long. It may be a sad story or a happy story. Either way it is their story and it is important for adoptive families to remember this.

Some children will take a short journey from their birth mothers arms directly into their parents arms. Some will travel half way around the world before they make it into their parents arms. And for some it will be a journey of ups and downs, some pain and doubts until they walk into their parents arms.

The baby Jordan is holding will embark on this journey. We need to pray for all the children in the world who are waiting for a family. Let their journey begin.


We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
--- Kristi Larson
.

Birthdays, Family and a Lesson

Today is my oldest sons birthday. He is 33. Michael has never been one to ask for a big party or expensive gifts. He just likes to have his family around a few friends and grill.
When I was growing up I can't remember my birthday or my sisters birthdays ever being acknowledged. So I decided when I had kids I would make sure they had a celebration to remember.
Now here is the deal. I just assumed all kids wanted big parties with their friends over and lots of gifts so I had an agenda! Taking the whole family to eat at any restaurant the birthday person wanted to go to. Seriously? And if I asked them what they wanted for their birthday and it didn't seem like much by golly I was going to add to the list. After all you need lots of presents to open...right? At times it was so stressful that by the time the party rolled around I was stressed, tired and couldn't wait until it was over. And if they asked for something simple like just dinner with the family I thought they were just being nice.
Well, like I said today is Michael's birthday. He is very low key and mellow. He wanted to grill and have his family around. Last year he grilled for his birthday and asked us over! I found this very simple request to be refreshing and I enjoy myself so much more. Of course there is a lesson to be learned here.
There isn't anything more valuable than love. There is nothing more wonderful than sitting around with these amazing people that you are blessed to call your family. And there is nothing more precious than when you realize how richly God has blessed your life. It is priceless.
Birthdays are a celebration of the day God blessed you with life. There is not enough cake, ice cream or gifts that can top that!

I Give You My Son

The other day I took my son to the airport knowing in a couple of weeks he would leave for his second deployment.
You stand there waiting for his flight to be called. When it is time you look at him and smile. You will not cry! You burn his face into your mind and heart. You hug this man, your son so tight because you don't want to let go. You kiss his cheek (several times!) whisper in his ear how very much you love him, how proud you are of him and then you let go. You have done all that you can do as his parent. He knows he is loved, you pray and ask God to watch over him and bring him home safe. It is now out of your hands.
You may not agree with the war he will fight, deep down you don't want to let go, but you respect him, this man, your son and his desire to fight for freedom. A freedom God gave us and men and women fight for.
God bless those who choose to fight this fight for us everyday and God Bless America.
I heard this song the other day and it touched my heart. Here are the lyrics to
I Give You My Son

My only son goes off to war, he's unafraid to live and die for a people who don't even know who he is, and I understand now just what you did.

This is my son, my only son, and I give him up for a
people who don't care that they're free at the cost of his life.
I understand now your sacrifice. You gave us yours and I gave them mine.
Lord keep him safe he's my only child. Please bring him back home. This is my son.

I watched him grow into a man and I must believe he's now in your hands,
Lord help me to keep in front of my mind that you gave your Son
so that mine would have life.

This is my son, my only son, and I give him up for a
people who don't care that they're free at the cost of his life.
I understand now your sacrifice. You gave us yours and I gave them mine.
Lord keep him safe he's my only child.
Please bring him back home. This is my son.

The Choice

Ysterday I had one of the worse days I have had in a very long time. I am mad at myself because I let someone get to me. It had been coming for a long time and after a bad day I lost it. I came home to a family who loves me and let me for lack of better words stew in my juices for a while.
I asked God to help me. This morning I went to my email today and found this from Max Lucado. It was just what I needed. We are all human and by no means perfect but God gave us the freedom to make choices. We need that reminder from time to time. Thank you God! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

The Choice
by Max Lucado

IT'S QUIET. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness . . .

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control . . .

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.