Encouragement!

We serve a great big God! God is all knowing and uses His people on one side of the world to be used clear across on the other side....amazing!

While J was in Africa we were having some issues come our way. One day it was becoming a large issue and major prayer was happening and I was asking God what His plan was.

This very day I was sitting out on the deck watching my kiddos and the phone rang. It was a wonderful lady from our church that I really do not know that well but what I do know, I highly respect. I have seen her be nothing but loving and love Jesus so sweetly, rooted firmly in the Word.

She quickly said I have a verse the Lord has impressed upon my heart for you today. Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,"declares the LORD.

She went onto say she was impressed to repeat NO tongue that accuses will prevail! Then she said "OK Bye!" I stood there in shock - how did she know? We had not said a word to any of our church family yet. Well, she did not know, God did! God used an obedient child of His to help direct comfort and strengthen His other children.

This word from the Lord has taken on so many meanings, as usually a word from the Lord does, so multi faceted. In that moment I thought it applied to the current happening in Africa but even still I find myself meditating and taking comfort in it - Thank you Jesus for giving us just what we need in EVERY situation, Your word is my daily bread, the lamp unto my feet.

Thankful/Grateful Thursday!

I am so grateful!

Summer Time!!! ( I took this yesterday.........wanta join me for some today?)

Worship!

Yes, that is a goat - her name is Barbie and she thinks she is a dog.
I am even thankful for her. :) She makes sitting on the back deck even more entertaining! I am even more grateful/thankful for the people in the pic!

I am thankful that my children love each other and enjoy playing together. It seems like the beginning of summer is always a little rough, they seem to fight a lot. But now I am beginning to see things settle into a nice rhythm - ahhhhh.

"My Caterpillar"

"Mommy, I love my caterpillar!"

"I will hug him and squeeze him and..."

"Get up caterpillar, get up! I want to play with you!"

"Hey, it's not moving...."

Happy Father's Day!

The day is passing and I just cannot let it go without wishing my amazing hubby a Happy Father's Day! I get to be front row to see how he fathers our children and I am inspired and so thankful! Thank you J for being a man that desires God to be the center of our home and for being a loving father! I love you!

Happy Father's Day to my Dad! Papa we are praying for you (my dad has not been feeling the best) and sending you our love!

Thankful Thursday!

God is so good - He is so good to me!

Colossians 4:2 (New International Version) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

I am so thankful for answered prayer! It amazes me how God knows our deepest thoughts and fears and meets us there again and again! Praise Him, He is so worthy and awesome to serve!

I am so grateful for all that He is doing in my life. There has been some pruning going on and tho is has been painful it has brought me to a place of rest in Him, Him alone.

One thing I can be a little less vague about is we are in process of bringing a little one home from Uganda!! I look forward to the day I can show you pics and details but for now I will share with you how God brought us to him.

Two and half years ago one of our best friends died three weeks before I gave birth to #4. We (not knowing she was a girl) decided on a boy name, named after our friend. Because of all of this I was sure she was a boy - the name was so loud in my head. She popped out a she - huh, I thought alright - not that name. Fast forward a couple of years - one night J and I were discussing adopting (months ago), J lifted up the pic of our friend and said, well we know the child's name, I got chills and just kinda left it at that thinking WE would name the child that.

Fast forward to a week before hubby left for the mission trip. One morning after J was reading his bible he said he really thinks that _____ is the name for our child in Uganda. I said great - whatever God has I am thrilled, again thinking WE would re-name the child.

J arrived at the orphanage and began playing with all the little ones, got the nerve up, and walked over to one of the workers and asked if by chance there was a _______ here. She said "Yes, one, and he is right over there." She then went on to ask if he wanted to adopt - he said yes, she said that when he walked in she had a random thought and wondered if he would adopt ______. Can you say confirmation?

J then called me and said (with no warning I might add :)) "_______ say Hi" - I nearly had a heart attack - I started screaming what do you mean there is an ______ there. God LOVES to send my into "Jaw dropping, Awe inspiring" moments! :) So WE did not have to choose - God did, God choose _____ to be in our family before the foundations of the earth. We just had to step in obedience to Him and He takes care of the rest.

God is so good - He's so good to me! (come on sing along.........)

Uganda!

Beautiful Ugandans

Building for African Hearts

New Friends!

We feel so blessed to of made such great new friendships, ones brought with a common heart for Christ and those he loves!

Re-Cap from Dwight!

Justin arrived home last night! It has been so good to have him home. The kids were all on a hike outside and Justin went running for them when he saw them - they were all so excited and ran in to his arms.......except Lily. She said "Hi," as if he had just come home from work. It was funny and we had a great evening.

Justin has not had a moment to get his thoughts together to blog yet but I saw this post on Linn's blog so I thought I would share.

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-dw-in-london-england.html

Missing My Man

I know I have not blogged a lot about J and his time in Uganda. Trust me, this is not for lack of events to report. It is more of a where to start and how to put it into words. The time has flown by and been more exciting and full than we ever imagined. Full in every way - full of joy, full of grief, full of a brokenness for the poor and oppressed, full of new friendships, full of food (Justin said they stuffed him full all the time), full of sweat (humidity, yuck :)), full of hope, full of faith and so much more.

We are so thankful for this opportunity. We are so thankful for all of those who have cheered us on and lifted us up in prayer - the prayers were SOOOO felt! Justin said it over and over how he could feel the prayers, I could too! I could not image doing something like this with out the support from the body of Christ. Thank you!

On the home front we have done very well. I regret to say that all my great and mighty projects I had planned to do did not get done but the kids are all here...I think .....I should probably go :)...

Look forward to LOTS of pics .....coming soon........

Thankful Thursday (just a tad late)

I am so thankful!