I am a bit of what they call a "blog stalker." I go around reading tons of blogs about adoption but almost never comment. Well this one I just had to share. The writer of this blog post practically picked the thoughts right out of my brain. Thanks so much for writing this. So here's... I don't want my kids to be happy.
http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-want-my-children-to-be-happy.html
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
MOVING TO A WEBSITE
We are going to be leaving this blog soon and heading to a new website me and Joe built.
It is called bythebeard.weebly.com
That site is still very much a works in progress but it will me much more organized and it's easier to find what you're looking for.
Let me know what you think and what I could do to make it better!
PLEASE feel free to leave comments there on anything. I can see the pages are being view but not by who... maybe I will need to make a guest book!
It is called bythebeard.weebly.com
That site is still very much a works in progress but it will me much more organized and it's easier to find what you're looking for.
Let me know what you think and what I could do to make it better!
PLEASE feel free to leave comments there on anything. I can see the pages are being view but not by who... maybe I will need to make a guest book!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Where God is leading us
So last night I was reading a blog written by Sallee, whom I met at Macy's Ballet class. She had written about a give away so I clicked on this link and ended up watching this video. Those 15 minutes have changed our lives. Our 5 years together have gone something like this: we will have 3 kids and then maybe we will adopt, to we have 4 kids and one day we will adopt, to we have 4 kids and must start our adoption journey now! I have felt that lately God was leading us in this direction with more force than usual but last night He spoke directly to my heart with full force and I know that NOW is the time to get started. I know that NOW being the time won't make sense to anyone else. We have 4 children already, Joe doesn't have a "real" job, we don't own a home, and we have never had very much money but who are we to question God? Nonetheless I have in fact questioned Him on this one. Really? Me? Where will we get the money? Why?! Can I really do this? The answer to all those is simply Faith. We must have Faith and Trust in God. So here is where we are today... We have chosen to go international. Due to our ages and the number of children already in our home we don't have a large selection of countries so it looks like we will be adopting from Ethiopia. We for sure want a boy possibly 2 and in fact would like to adopt them both at once if it's possible. The first step is for Joe to move up jobs from pizza hut delivery boy to teaching. There are new teaching postings every day now that the schools are getting their contracts in. He has an interview with the DCS in Shelbyville soon and although it's not exactly what we want God has a plan. If this is what God has planned for us then let it be so.
We really need encouragement, guidance and prayers! So please pray that Joe gets a better paying job soon and for God's guidance. Somewhere (possibly not yet conceived) our child is waiting. I want to get to him as soon as possible!
...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12
We really need encouragement, guidance and prayers! So please pray that Joe gets a better paying job soon and for God's guidance. Somewhere (possibly not yet conceived) our child is waiting. I want to get to him as soon as possible!
...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Quote...
"...Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Friday, April 2, 2010
Easter Story Cookies
We are going to try these tomorrow night and will post an update with pictures then
Easter Story Cookies:
Begin this recipe on Saturday, the day before Easter.
You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible
(we are going to try using Maple Syrup +1 tsp baking soda instead of sugar)
Preheat oven to 300*F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’s followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’s body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
Leave the kitchen. If you’ve been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!
Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they’ve worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus’ followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!
Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
Matt. 28:5-9
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
HE HAS RISEN! HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
Easter Story Cookies:
Begin this recipe on Saturday, the day before Easter.
You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible
(we are going to try using Maple Syrup +1 tsp baking soda instead of sugar)
Preheat oven to 300*F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’s followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’s body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
Leave the kitchen. If you’ve been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!
Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they’ve worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus’ followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!
Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
Matt. 28:5-9
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
HE HAS RISEN! HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Another Adventure Around the Corner?
So last night I was reading a blog written by Sallee, whom I met at Macy's Ballet class. She had written about a give away so I clicked on this link and ended up watching this video. Those 15 minutes have changed our lives. Our 5 years together have gone something like this: we will have 3 kids and then maybe we will adopt, to we have 4 kids and one day we will adopt, to we have 4 kids and must start our adoption journey now! I have felt that lately God was leading us in this direction with more force than usual but last night He spoke directly to my heart with full force and I know that NOW is the time to get started. I know that NOW being the time won't make sense to anyone else. We have 4 children already, Joe doesn't have a "real" job, we don't own a home, and we have never had very much money but who are we to question God? Nonetheless I have in fact questioned Him on this one. Really? Me? Where will we get the money? Why?! Can I really do this? The answer to all those is simply Faith. We must have Faith and Trust in God. So here is where we are today... We have chosen to go international. Due to our ages and the number of children already in our home we don't have a large selection of countries so it looks like we will be adopting from Ethiopia. We for sure want a boy possibly 2 and in fact would like to adopt them both at once if it's possible. The first step is for Joe to move up jobs from pizza hut delivery boy to teaching. There are new teaching postings every day now that the schools are getting their contracts in. He has an interview with the DCS in Shelbyville soon and although it's not exactly what we want God has a plan. If this is what God has planned for us then let it be so.
We really need encouragement, guidance and prayers! So please pray that Joe gets a better paying job soon and for God's guidance. Somewhere (possibly not yet conceived) our child is waiting. I want to get to him as soon as possible!
...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12
We really need encouragement, guidance and prayers! So please pray that Joe gets a better paying job soon and for God's guidance. Somewhere (possibly not yet conceived) our child is waiting. I want to get to him as soon as possible!
...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
