Matthew 22:37-39
Sunday, December 26, 2010
We had Christmas Eve Service together with our church family. It was a great service and it was beautiful seeing this gorgeous chapel decorated and the body of Christ coming together for one purpose; for worshipping the One True King! Lyndlee and Gavin had a hard time sitting still through the service. They were loud, saying funny things, Lyndlee tried eating the candle they handed out, etc. After this adventure, we ended up at Denny's with a few families from church for a late supper.
Christmas morning serving at our church went great. We had a great turn out and made some new friends! What a blessing it was to our family, to serve and give to others instead of focusing on ourselves, on gifts and other things. Really put some things into perspective. We were able to help some poor families pick out a coats, hats, gloves. Some families picked out extra winter clothes and blankets. One girl chose to Christmas shop for her mom. I watched as our music minister took his shoes off and gave them to a man who wasn't wearing shoes. I watched some of our youth girls walk up to total strangers to talk to them and make them feel loved. I saw some men go out of their way so they could know as many people as possible at this breakfast. I saw them reach into their own pockets to give this sweet girl some money so she could buy a Christmas gift. I saw numerous people that didn't even attend our church come to help serve because they wanted to do something different at Christmas. I saw groups of people that came to serve others and not themselves. I saw a group of people come together to be "Jesus" to our brothers and sisters that needed it the most. And isn't this what every Christmas, what everyday should be about. Shouldn't we always be striving to serve and love others? After all, our perfect example Jesus did not come to be served but came to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many people! (Mark 10:45)
Wishing everyone a Wonderful New Year!
Blessings.
Christmas morning serving at our church went great. We had a great turn out and made some new friends! What a blessing it was to our family, to serve and give to others instead of focusing on ourselves, on gifts and other things. Really put some things into perspective. We were able to help some poor families pick out a coats, hats, gloves. Some families picked out extra winter clothes and blankets. One girl chose to Christmas shop for her mom. I watched as our music minister took his shoes off and gave them to a man who wasn't wearing shoes. I watched some of our youth girls walk up to total strangers to talk to them and make them feel loved. I saw some men go out of their way so they could know as many people as possible at this breakfast. I saw them reach into their own pockets to give this sweet girl some money so she could buy a Christmas gift. I saw numerous people that didn't even attend our church come to help serve because they wanted to do something different at Christmas. I saw groups of people that came to serve others and not themselves. I saw a group of people come together to be "Jesus" to our brothers and sisters that needed it the most. And isn't this what every Christmas, what everyday should be about. Shouldn't we always be striving to serve and love others? After all, our perfect example Jesus did not come to be served but came to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many people! (Mark 10:45)
Wishing everyone a Wonderful New Year!
Blessings.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas in Joplin
We had a great time visiting both families for Christmas. This year we are having Christmas at home. But we are having a busy day. We are starting the morning off early, serving the homeless in our area. Our church is serving breakfast Christmas morning and handing out coats, gloves, winter wear to those that need it. What a great time this will be, just showing love to those that truly need it on Christmas. And then at 2pm we are having a few friends come over that are staying put for Christmas and we are cooking up a feast. Brennan is excited as he is going to deep fry the turkey. What a great day it will be.
Was sad not to get a family picture of my brother Jeremi, his wife Jenni and sweet baby girl Ellie. She was napping when all the pictures were getting taken! So I had to sneak in a picture of her with my sister Joy because she is the sweetest little baby!
We are headed back to Joplin on Sunday to see my brother Josh. So I will have to sneak a picture of him too!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Adoption
We were once like children, slaves to the useless rules of this world. But when the right time came, God sent His Son who was born of a woman and lived under the law. God did this so he could buy freedom for those who were under the law and so we could become His children! Since you are God's children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, and the Spirit cries out "Father." So now you are not a slave; you are God's child, and God will give you the blessing he promised, because you are His child! Galatians 4:3-7
Adoption is not Plan B!
Thank you Lord for adopting me as your child!
Adoption is not Plan B!
Thank you Lord for adopting me as your child!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Christmas in Columbia
We had an early Christmas in Columbia. The kids loved being around family, especially Hayley and Brett! They enjoyed making cookies with Granny, Gavin ate about 3 cookies in one setting. Lyndlee and her cousin Hayley played the piano together. Well Hayley played, Lyndlee just hit the keys but it was still cute. Gavin loves watching football so the guys watched a game or two. I love the picture with the kids by the tree, they didn't want to hold still at all. Next Christmas will be this weekend in Joplin. Christmas morning we actually get to stay at home in Branson. Christmas morning at our church, they are serving breakfast for homeless people around Branson. Our church does such a tremendous job reaching out to the community, letting them know we all love them and are there for them. We have a great woman of the Lord over all of that outreach, her name is Sarah and she is always doing things for others. What an example she is of Jesus' love. We can't wait to be apart of this Christmas morning, to give joy, food, encouragement to others and have our family serve together.
Blessings.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Is it really December?
I can't believe how time flies and that my last post was in October.
I have done awful at getting any recent pictures of the kids too.
We are trying to live differently each day. We learned so many things while we lived in Haiti. We learned so many things from our students, our friends and neighbors. We miss them all dearly. They are such happy content people, many have nothing. Many have only 4 walls surrounding them for their house and that is it. No painted walls, no decor, no furniture, no material things. No car, no toys, no closets full of clothes. Many don't have food to eat each day. Many don't have presents to give their kids for birthdays and holidays. My mind constantly journeys back to the poor we saw day after day, to stories our students would tell us of things going on in their family and household. And yet through all of their hardships and trials, they were/are so happy and content. The students would come to school, dressed in their best clothes, ready to learn and to hear about Jesus. What examples they were and still are for our family and so many more. And how silly my problems seem in comparison to their struggles day after day.
We are trying to live simple here in America, and that is a challenge everyday. We are all surrounded by so many things, so many material things, so much excess. And in this world, they tell you to want more, to buy more, to get more, etc. When it comes down to it, none of those things matter! Who cares what clothes you have, what your house looks like, what kind of car you drive, etc. We have fallen so many times into these lies and I get so frustrated about it at times.
Right now we are trying to get out of debt completely. Can't wait for that glorious day, let me tell you, there will be a big party at our house! We are in the process of trying to sell our car so we don't have a car loan. At times I get selfish and don't want to sell it. But I have to keep remembering, it is just a thing of this world and we don't need it! We are also working hard on paying off school debt. Through all of this, God is faithful and provides for our everyday needs. We are so very blessed.
I continue to watch kids at home, today I have 5 little ones under the age of 3. Nap time is a glorious thing! Really I am so blessed and have such great kids to watch. And Lyndlee and Gavin love having friends over each day!
Lyndlee is doing great, learning her letters and sounds. She is my little helper, she loves to clean. Right now we are working on Christmas ornaments to send to other adoptive families. She is so cute and creative! She is talking and using so many sentences. I know I always comment on that but she didn't used to talk really at all and I was worried about that.
Gavin is doing great, growing and eating like crazy. Seriously my boy can put away food like no one else! He is almost bigger than his sister, by weight and height. It brings us so much joy to watch him grow because he had such a rough start. You can't tell that now though!
Brennan continues to keep busy with work and youth things. He is great at his work and the kids really respect him and look up to him. He is a great daddy, provider and best friend.
We have a few more trips coming up to see friends and family along with youth trips on the weekends. And then we will rest at home and take it easy for a bit. March is our next big trip. We are taking a vacation with our dear friends who we ministered with in Haiti. We are meeting at Santo Domingo and spending a week together. Can't wait, it has been too long since we have seen them. And we love traveling internationally. Just nervous imagining Gavin on a plane, he doesn't like to sit for a long time!
Hope you have a blessed Christmas.
I have done awful at getting any recent pictures of the kids too.
We are trying to live differently each day. We learned so many things while we lived in Haiti. We learned so many things from our students, our friends and neighbors. We miss them all dearly. They are such happy content people, many have nothing. Many have only 4 walls surrounding them for their house and that is it. No painted walls, no decor, no furniture, no material things. No car, no toys, no closets full of clothes. Many don't have food to eat each day. Many don't have presents to give their kids for birthdays and holidays. My mind constantly journeys back to the poor we saw day after day, to stories our students would tell us of things going on in their family and household. And yet through all of their hardships and trials, they were/are so happy and content. The students would come to school, dressed in their best clothes, ready to learn and to hear about Jesus. What examples they were and still are for our family and so many more. And how silly my problems seem in comparison to their struggles day after day.
We are trying to live simple here in America, and that is a challenge everyday. We are all surrounded by so many things, so many material things, so much excess. And in this world, they tell you to want more, to buy more, to get more, etc. When it comes down to it, none of those things matter! Who cares what clothes you have, what your house looks like, what kind of car you drive, etc. We have fallen so many times into these lies and I get so frustrated about it at times.
Right now we are trying to get out of debt completely. Can't wait for that glorious day, let me tell you, there will be a big party at our house! We are in the process of trying to sell our car so we don't have a car loan. At times I get selfish and don't want to sell it. But I have to keep remembering, it is just a thing of this world and we don't need it! We are also working hard on paying off school debt. Through all of this, God is faithful and provides for our everyday needs. We are so very blessed.
I continue to watch kids at home, today I have 5 little ones under the age of 3. Nap time is a glorious thing! Really I am so blessed and have such great kids to watch. And Lyndlee and Gavin love having friends over each day!
Lyndlee is doing great, learning her letters and sounds. She is my little helper, she loves to clean. Right now we are working on Christmas ornaments to send to other adoptive families. She is so cute and creative! She is talking and using so many sentences. I know I always comment on that but she didn't used to talk really at all and I was worried about that.
Gavin is doing great, growing and eating like crazy. Seriously my boy can put away food like no one else! He is almost bigger than his sister, by weight and height. It brings us so much joy to watch him grow because he had such a rough start. You can't tell that now though!
Brennan continues to keep busy with work and youth things. He is great at his work and the kids really respect him and look up to him. He is a great daddy, provider and best friend.
We have a few more trips coming up to see friends and family along with youth trips on the weekends. And then we will rest at home and take it easy for a bit. March is our next big trip. We are taking a vacation with our dear friends who we ministered with in Haiti. We are meeting at Santo Domingo and spending a week together. Can't wait, it has been too long since we have seen them. And we love traveling internationally. Just nervous imagining Gavin on a plane, he doesn't like to sit for a long time!
Hope you have a blessed Christmas.
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