From 9/19/11:
Proverbs 19:21 "Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand."
Being determined to do and be anything other than what God wants is futile, and will only bring about anger and frustration.
Monday, October 31, 2011
New Update on Adoption
We turned in our paperwork last Thursday. In a way, I am excited. I'm also back into the waiting mode which tends to foster anxiety and impatience and peevishness in my heart. I so just want this to all be over already so I can bring home a child of my own. All we have left to do is get our house inspected by the fire department, and then get the homestudy done.
Friday, October 28, 2011
After a brief hiatus..
I'm back to the journey of losing weight. I made a pledge with my mentor Bernie yesterday to lose 25 pounds. She is going to help me keep track, and she has been teaching me how to cook simple things that don't need a recipe. Like, chicken. And vegetables. And none of it with pre-packaged sauce or a creamy soupy surrounding. I am loving it. And I actually finally fit in smaller jeans today.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Happenings
Last night David and I went to BuyBuy Baby and looked at their gigantic warehouse of stuff. Thankfully the have not followed the trend of excluding all things Duck from their selections. I found a crib that I really like there- it has a changing table built into it, and eventually can convert into a toddler bed and then a double bed. And I got to squeal over lots of stuff! :) David is so good to me.
Today, the bookshelf that I ordered for the nursery came in. I haven't opened the box yet. I'm waiting for David to get home so he can help open it, and share the joy.
Today, the bookshelf that I ordered for the nursery came in. I haven't opened the box yet. I'm waiting for David to get home so he can help open it, and share the joy.
Excerpts from my Adoption Profile
Not all questions on the profile are worthy or good for sharing, but I wanted to give you all a little taste of the better questions and answers from all the paperwork.
How do you think becoming a foster/adopt parent will affect your employment/work?
I am a stay-at-home-wife currently, so it will change everything. It will also give me a lot of joy and fulfillment. Throughout my life, whenever I pondered what I wanted to do with myself as an adult, the only consistent answers were to be a wife and mother.
How important do you feel extra-curricular (school and personal) activities are for children?
They are very important. Children need a large network of friends, interests, and mentors in their life. The more people that are involved and invested in a child's life, helping them work toward a bright future, the better.
How important will your foster/adopt child's grades and school performance be to you?
It is very important to me that my children do their best in all they do, as for God and not men. However, the grade letter isn't as important as it is for them to develop character, wisdom, and their individual God-given talents and potential. I will do whatever it takes to see my children succeed in school and in life overall.
What do you see as your greatest strength as a parental role model?
I am very willing to admit when I am wrong or have made a mistake, and ask for forgiveness and prayers. I want my kids to learn through my behavior and teaching that there is no mistake that is too big to be forgiven, and that God's grace covers over all our imperfections. One of my dreams for my relationship with my children is to build a team-effort attitude with them in their raising, and for them to pray for me every day in my job as their mommy. I don't want to have an arrogant attitude with them, and act like I never make mistakes, misunderstand, or sin.
What is your greatest fear about fostering/adopting children?
That I will get attached to a child, and they will attach to me, and then not be able to keep them. Also, I am afraid that they will never come to a place where they are glad to have me as their mom.
What would you like to tell a perspective foster/adopt child about your home and family?
I am so, so looking forward to meeting them! I will love them forever, and once they are in my family they will have a home with me forever-- or as long as they want one. I will never give up on them.
Please compose a brief statement of your religious faith.
I believe in a sovereign God, and in salvation through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ Jesus alone. Everything that happens in this world is for the purpose of revealing the glory of God in some way. We are saved by the mercy of God, and not by works. Jesus was the son of God, and was both fully God and fully human. Our life on Earth was foreordained through God's wisdom and love, and we have a responsibility to be servants, encouragers, and messengers of the gospel. There are no coincidences, and while God grieves at the evil in this world, we are guaranteed that He will make everything work out for our good, those of us who love Him.
Christ (God) is my first love in this world and the next. He is my ultimate joy, and whenever I think on him my soul brims with sweetness. Nothing is as important to me as knowing Christ more and more, and knowing that those around me know Him also.
I love to study the Word, meditate on its wisdom, and look for signs in my daily life of the Spirit at work. There's no way to ever completely understand God with our human minds; I just do my best to be open and accepting of everything I learn through the Word, and read it without bias or notions of what it "should" say or mean. The best excitement to me is contemplating being with God in heaven someday, and learning at the feet of Jesus.
How do you think becoming a foster/adopt parent will affect your employment/work?
I am a stay-at-home-wife currently, so it will change everything. It will also give me a lot of joy and fulfillment. Throughout my life, whenever I pondered what I wanted to do with myself as an adult, the only consistent answers were to be a wife and mother.
How important do you feel extra-curricular (school and personal) activities are for children?
They are very important. Children need a large network of friends, interests, and mentors in their life. The more people that are involved and invested in a child's life, helping them work toward a bright future, the better.
How important will your foster/adopt child's grades and school performance be to you?
It is very important to me that my children do their best in all they do, as for God and not men. However, the grade letter isn't as important as it is for them to develop character, wisdom, and their individual God-given talents and potential. I will do whatever it takes to see my children succeed in school and in life overall.
What do you see as your greatest strength as a parental role model?
I am very willing to admit when I am wrong or have made a mistake, and ask for forgiveness and prayers. I want my kids to learn through my behavior and teaching that there is no mistake that is too big to be forgiven, and that God's grace covers over all our imperfections. One of my dreams for my relationship with my children is to build a team-effort attitude with them in their raising, and for them to pray for me every day in my job as their mommy. I don't want to have an arrogant attitude with them, and act like I never make mistakes, misunderstand, or sin.
What is your greatest fear about fostering/adopting children?
That I will get attached to a child, and they will attach to me, and then not be able to keep them. Also, I am afraid that they will never come to a place where they are glad to have me as their mom.
What would you like to tell a perspective foster/adopt child about your home and family?
I am so, so looking forward to meeting them! I will love them forever, and once they are in my family they will have a home with me forever-- or as long as they want one. I will never give up on them.
Please compose a brief statement of your religious faith.
I believe in a sovereign God, and in salvation through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ Jesus alone. Everything that happens in this world is for the purpose of revealing the glory of God in some way. We are saved by the mercy of God, and not by works. Jesus was the son of God, and was both fully God and fully human. Our life on Earth was foreordained through God's wisdom and love, and we have a responsibility to be servants, encouragers, and messengers of the gospel. There are no coincidences, and while God grieves at the evil in this world, we are guaranteed that He will make everything work out for our good, those of us who love Him.
Christ (God) is my first love in this world and the next. He is my ultimate joy, and whenever I think on him my soul brims with sweetness. Nothing is as important to me as knowing Christ more and more, and knowing that those around me know Him also.
I love to study the Word, meditate on its wisdom, and look for signs in my daily life of the Spirit at work. There's no way to ever completely understand God with our human minds; I just do my best to be open and accepting of everything I learn through the Word, and read it without bias or notions of what it "should" say or mean. The best excitement to me is contemplating being with God in heaven someday, and learning at the feet of Jesus.
Friday, October 07, 2011
Dump Cake
I'm getting ready to go out of town with hubs for visit to the in-laws. I decided to make a cherry-pineapple dump cake to take with us! Mmmmmm. It's in the oven now; I don't know if it will make it there unmolested.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Wisdom Searches
I've been meaning to post about this for awhile now. Every morning for the last 2.5 months, David and I have been waking up a little earlier and doing a Bible study together based on character qualities and Proverbs. We start by reading the character quality for that day (we move on to the next quality every three days), then the chapter of Proverbs for that day. It's easy because there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, and 30-31 days each month. Last month only had 30 days, but the evening of the 30th David decided to read me the 31st Proverb and talk about how he saw the attributes of the excellent woman in me. Because he's amazing like that.
After we read our chapter, then we each spend as long as we need to perusing back over the chapter and making notes about where we see the character quality of the day either referenced, applied, or otherwise related to. Then, when we both are done, we share our insights with each other. It has been a blessed activity, and has increased the voice of the Lord in my heart and mind tenfold. I have decided to start sharing some of my nuggets of insight on my blog, with the reference label "Wisdom Nuggets".
It's kind of interesting the way character qualities and the words of admonition that go along with them match up to what we are experiencing at the moment. Sometimes I feel loathe to participate, and tune in and invest myself in the search because the application is so deeply-rooted. And sometimes I just don't wanna hear what God is saying. Because I want. MY. way.
And other times I avoid the conviction because I feel lazy, and my heart says, "Really, God, today is just not a good time for me. Raincheck?" But that's usually not a good answer to Him, and there's usually a consequence for my attitude- somehow things still turn out good for me, but I usually come to a bittersweet realization of missed blessing. If it wasn't for that darned sin nature getting in the way of us acting and receiving all the blessings God would like to give us, I think the verse would read "All things work for the utmost excellence and felicity of those who love God...etc." But that's not what it says.
Right now the study is focused on the character quality Endurance. We get our character qualities and their meanings from the book "Achieving True Success: How to build character as a family" by "Character First!" It is such a wonderful book, and we have so enjoyed using it. It has a antonym quality for each positive character quality, and then a very concrete definition of the quality along with examples of what that quality looks like in the home. It has been a great study aid.
So, just as an example, I will give one of my wisdom nuggets for today. Today is October 6, so the chapter for today is Proverbs 6.
Quality: Endurance vs. Discouragement
Vs.6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!-- Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.
~ It is important for me to have the same kind of endurance as an ant, and continue doing what I know is right, even when no one is watching. The sluggard is the one who gets discouraged, gives up, and gives in to his fleshly desires of rest and pleasure. There is a time for sleeping-- don't use sleep as an excuse to not be effective in accomplishing worthy goals.
After we read our chapter, then we each spend as long as we need to perusing back over the chapter and making notes about where we see the character quality of the day either referenced, applied, or otherwise related to. Then, when we both are done, we share our insights with each other. It has been a blessed activity, and has increased the voice of the Lord in my heart and mind tenfold. I have decided to start sharing some of my nuggets of insight on my blog, with the reference label "Wisdom Nuggets".
It's kind of interesting the way character qualities and the words of admonition that go along with them match up to what we are experiencing at the moment. Sometimes I feel loathe to participate, and tune in and invest myself in the search because the application is so deeply-rooted. And sometimes I just don't wanna hear what God is saying. Because I want. MY. way.
And other times I avoid the conviction because I feel lazy, and my heart says, "Really, God, today is just not a good time for me. Raincheck?" But that's usually not a good answer to Him, and there's usually a consequence for my attitude- somehow things still turn out good for me, but I usually come to a bittersweet realization of missed blessing. If it wasn't for that darned sin nature getting in the way of us acting and receiving all the blessings God would like to give us, I think the verse would read "All things work for the utmost excellence and felicity of those who love God...etc." But that's not what it says.
Right now the study is focused on the character quality Endurance. We get our character qualities and their meanings from the book "Achieving True Success: How to build character as a family" by "Character First!" It is such a wonderful book, and we have so enjoyed using it. It has a antonym quality for each positive character quality, and then a very concrete definition of the quality along with examples of what that quality looks like in the home. It has been a great study aid.
So, just as an example, I will give one of my wisdom nuggets for today. Today is October 6, so the chapter for today is Proverbs 6.
Quality: Endurance vs. Discouragement
Vs.6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!-- Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.
~ It is important for me to have the same kind of endurance as an ant, and continue doing what I know is right, even when no one is watching. The sluggard is the one who gets discouraged, gives up, and gives in to his fleshly desires of rest and pleasure. There is a time for sleeping-- don't use sleep as an excuse to not be effective in accomplishing worthy goals.
New Mentor
My church has a yearly mentoring program as part of the women's ministry. Last year, my mentor was Anne, and I still love her dearly. She was a huge help and encouragement to me over the year. This year, my mentor's name is Bernie. We are getting along splendidly, and I enjoy her so, so much. We got together last weekend and cooked a meal together- meatloaf, stuffed peppers, sauteed veggies, and "pumpkin crunch", which is like a variation of pumpkin pie and dump cake. It was DE-licious.
Happenings
I took Mackenzie for a walk today. Most mornings I wake up thinking, "Wow, what a beautiful day! I should go for a walk!" Then I don't. Then later I moan to David about how "we need to make time to go for a walk together each day", when what I really mean is "I need to make myself take a walk every day." LOL.
So, today when my lovely hub woke me up for prayer and Bible reading, he read 2 Peter and then prayed for God to give us energy to do what we needed to do today. Guess what that meant? God woke me up. Then He reminded me to go for my walk. And take Mackenzie. Because she is a wiggles and she would like it. So I did.
I have gotten out of the habit of exercising the last couple of months. For the first 5 months of this year, I did really well at keeping in the habit of exercising at the gym almost every day. Then, we started the adoption process, and it got reeeeeeeaaaallly hot outside. And I stopped caring about losing weight and getting pregnant because it was HOT. So I stopped working out. Hopefully my walk today was not just a one-time unusual occurrence, and I will actually get back in the habit of being more active. I think I might even take Zenzi for a walk in a little while.
So, today when my lovely hub woke me up for prayer and Bible reading, he read 2 Peter and then prayed for God to give us energy to do what we needed to do today. Guess what that meant? God woke me up. Then He reminded me to go for my walk. And take Mackenzie. Because she is a wiggles and she would like it. So I did.
I have gotten out of the habit of exercising the last couple of months. For the first 5 months of this year, I did really well at keeping in the habit of exercising at the gym almost every day. Then, we started the adoption process, and it got reeeeeeeaaaallly hot outside. And I stopped caring about losing weight and getting pregnant because it was HOT. So I stopped working out. Hopefully my walk today was not just a one-time unusual occurrence, and I will actually get back in the habit of being more active. I think I might even take Zenzi for a walk in a little while.
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