tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775411640404232242024-03-04T22:33:22.453-08:00God Will Make A Way...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-38675526064390239172018-01-09T19:38:00.000-08:002018-01-09T19:38:36.006-08:00Meal Planning Part 2: A few good recipes
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">One of the questions that I’ve received since sharing my
meal planning system is what I cook or what recipes are family favorites. There
were several other questions about list making, storage, how often I go
shopping, etc. So I will touch on those in a post in the next few days. In the
meantime, here are a few recipes that I thought I would share with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Our family’s
“Goulash” recipe</u></b> (I’ve come to learn that word can mean so many
different things depending on who you ask, so here’s ours!)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 lb. Ground Beef</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 lb. Medium Shell Pasta</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Can Tomato Soup</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Can Stewed Tomatoes (Original Recipe)</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Fry up ground beef (I always add a little garlic salt and
pepper) .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drain. While meat is cooking,
boil water and cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Put stewed tomatoes
and tomato soup into pan (for my family, I also take my spoon and chop the
tomatoes up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a bit in the pan so the
pieces are not as big). Add cooked pasta and beef back into the pan and stir,
giving it a few minutes over medium heat to fully heat through. Serve with
parmesan cheese. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">*My dad always kept a little bit of plain pasta and a
few spoonfuls of meat in the fry pan that you cooked the beef. We added garlic
salt, lawry salt and parmesan cheese to it for those that didn’t want the
sauce. However, most of us just eat both!</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ham Fried Rice (my
recipe)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">3 Cups cooked white or brown rice COLD (the key to a good
fried rice is that the rice is cold. This is a great use for leftover rice. If
you don’t have any leftover rice, you could make rice at lunchtime or the night
before and leave it in the fridge until you are ready to cook. If you didn’t
get a chance, I have used a trick I’ve heard where you take your cooked rice
and spread it in a thin layer on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer while
you cook the rest of the meal. This will work in a pinch)</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Bag of broccoli slaw</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">½ Cup of sliced green onion</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">3 eggs</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">2 cups of chopped ham (again, a great use for leftover ham.
If you don’t have any, most grocery stores sell small bags of already diced
ham. I’ve also bought a small ham, diced it up and put in several small
freezer bags and use them in various meals)</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">2-3 Tablespoons+ of Soy Sauce (Start with 2 tablespoons,
stir and taste. Continue adding a tablespoon, stirring and tasting until you
get your desired flavor. I tend to use more)</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In a deep, large fry pan or wok (I’ve even used a dutch
oven) add a small amount of vegetable or olive oil and fry up ham chunks. Set aside
in a large bowl. Add green onion and broccoli slaw. Saute until vegetables are
softened (I like a little crunch to mine, so I don’t let the broccoli get too
soft). Add to the bowl of ham. Add a small amount of oil and scramble eggs.
When eggs become scrambled add back into the fry pan the bowl of ham, broccoli slaw and green
onion. Add in cold rice. Stir. Add in 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and stir on
medium heat. Taste and add more soy sauce if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranch Macaroni and
Cheese (Recipe from Taste of Home)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 lb. of elbow macaroni</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup of 2% milk</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">¼ Cup of butter</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Envelope of Ranch Salad Dressing Mix </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup Colby cheese shredded</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup of Sour Cream</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">½ Cup of crushed saltines</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 tsp of garlic pepper</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 tsp lemon pepper</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1/3 Cup parmesan cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Cook macaroni according to directions. Meanwhile in dutch
oven, stir milk, butter, salad dressing mix and seasonings. Add cheeses, stir
until melted. Stir in sour cream.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Drain pasta, add to sauce along with crushed saltines. Stir
and serve with parmesan cheese. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">*Somewhere along the way, I stopped adding saltines and all
was still well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Quinoa and Spinach
Patties</u></b> (my meat lovin’ husband LOVES these </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) recipe from skinnytaste.com</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup uncooked quinoa</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">2 Cups of water</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">4 eggs, whisked</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1/3 Cup parmesan cheese</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">3 large scallions, sliced thin</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">3 cloves of garlic, minced</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">½ tsp. kosher salt</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup steamed spinach, chopped (frozen is fine, I prefer
using fresh)</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 Cup plain breadcrumbs</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1 tsp. olive oil</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and place the grains in a medium
saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook
until quinoa is tender and has absorbed the liquid, about 20 minutes. Let it
cool.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, eggs, Parmesan,
scallions, garlic, salt, spinach and breadcrumbs. Let everything sit for a few
minutes to absorb the liquid. The batter should be moist but not runny. Form
patties ¼ cup each. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium –low heat.
Cook patties covered for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until browned and golden.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">*We like to serve these on slider buns and with my dad’s
special ketchup recipe: ½ cup of ketchup, 1 Tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1/8 tsp
of garlic powder and a dash of pepper. Mix and serve on top of burgers.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHj-dlBGA77zKVBJOkKzj8O6nieIFPI1hViJzLSfzpLqfoYF-fCOq0A3KMU01TPUNca2HOsLRnIf2gQz3MpsRc2xGBT_z33navtCla3R0KFTu-mKrJj5uOJPeikrtWUhUcIwMItJvNw8/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="77" data-original-width="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHj-dlBGA77zKVBJOkKzj8O6nieIFPI1hViJzLSfzpLqfoYF-fCOq0A3KMU01TPUNca2HOsLRnIf2gQz3MpsRc2xGBT_z33navtCla3R0KFTu-mKrJj5uOJPeikrtWUhUcIwMItJvNw8/s1600/signature.png" /></a></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-19825609724506653142018-01-03T10:44:00.000-08:002018-01-03T12:01:09.497-08:00Meal Planning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What seems like a lifetime ago, I was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a mom in seminary, serving 2 churches and raising
3 young children. I was getting to the stage of life where it became necessary to calendar who had to be where at what time. Life seemed so crazy, so out of
control. One thing that I had always loved to do was cook. I get excited about
finding new recipes that my family will enjoy (yes there is always a kid or two
that likes to find something to gripe about but I try not to let that deter
me). We even had a rate a meal system we would do where we would give it a
rating of 1-5 (1 is not our favorite and 5 was our favorite). If there was a
meal that everyone really didn’t like, we would eat it that night with the
promise I would never make it again <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I needed to have as much planned as I
could for all of the “unplanned” life I had as a mom with young kids, student
and pastor. So one day I sat down with my recipe magazine I got every month in
the mail (Quick Cooking and then it changed its’ name to Simple& Delicious).
I went to write down on my calendar 7 different meals and quickly found that I
had too many Pasta meals in a row (now I can eat pasta every single day of my
life and it could never be too much but that isn’t the case with all of my
family members) so I decided I would spread them out and we would eat those
over the course of two weeks and I found a few different recipes to eat in the
in between days. Having 2 weeks of meals all planned felt GREAT! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I found more meals we liked and as life got to busier
seasons like finals and holiday times where I not only had all of our family
events but extra church events and services and kids school programs, etc. I
decided to let myself plan a whole month. I sat down with my same favorite
magazines and picked out meals for several weeks. I actually found it to be
really easy. I printed out a plain calendar with every day of the month having
its only little box and put the name of the recipe, what magazine it was in and
what page. I then added it to a 3 ring binder and was able to pull it out each
week as I made my list for grocery shopping. My system has been enhanced a bit
through the years and I’ve added in some freezer cooking to the mix.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward about a decade later and our family has grown
to 7 children and while I am on a break from ministry right now, life has its
own type of crazy. Last year, I found myself planning 4-6 months at a
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now a few notes about this. I
usually plan 5 days of meals each week. I figure one night we may have
leftovers of that week’s meal and there is a possibility we will eat out for
lunch or dinner once on the weekend and if we eat out to eat for lunch we have
a light dinner. Plus planning out so far doesn’t allow me to know those days
when people will come out to our Lake House to visit or that we will go to
extended family for birthday celebrations and even if we might take a vacation
or long weekend somewhere. It tends to balance out. Plus, I am a person that
let’s say<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>used only half of a small carton
of half and half for a new recipe may decide to make Alfredo pasta (or pizza!)
to use up the rest instead of letting it go to waste (which wasn’t on the meal
plan). Additionally, like most families we have our favorite quick dinners that
we almost always have the ingredients on hand such as ranch macaroni and cheese
or buttered noodles with lawry, garlic and parmesan cheese (can you tell pasta
is my jam ;-)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>) I have also found that
sometimes I have extra meals that I didn’t intend: if I had enough leftover that
it really could make another meal (either making the same recipe or using for something else. For example, taking leftover barbeque beef that we had as sliders and taking the rest of the
meat and adding it to rice to make a stir fry or casserole).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> When I don't get to a meal or when I have enough for a second meal, I simply </span>highlight those meals in my planner and
roll those over to whatever month I am planning next or pluck them out of my
freezer and use on a day I don’t have anything else planned. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So for January 2018, I had pretty much filled up the
calendar with the unused recipes from last year. I wanted to challenge myself to
go beyond the 4-6 month planning and with a few days of picking up my old recipe
magazines and perusing my Pinterest boards, I have meal planned for all of
2018!! It feels very freeing to know that this is one thing that is accomplished.
I can keep meals ready for our family dinners every night and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as a bonus, in the end saves a lot of money because
I’m not constantly running to the grocery store to grab ingredients and all the
extras you grab when you go the store or ending up getting so frustrated that
I order takeout (which is totally fine to do from time to time and I do even
with the meal plan).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of additional small notes that work for me:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-I write these meals down on my personal planner now (yes I
still use a pencil and paper because that is just what works best for me) so
that I can see every day what the meal is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>that I planned for the day/week and it is forefront in my mind as I plan
my day.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-I write the 5 meals on a small dry erase board on my
fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t specify which meal is
for which day, that way there is freedom to decide I’m going to throw in some
frozen pizzas on a crazy day instead of making the crockpot meal I thought I
would since it’s 2 p.m. and I.didn’t.even.start.it.yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">-I try and find a day once a month to do some freezer cooking. There was a few times that I've done 20 meals at one time. However, what I find works best for me, more often than not, is to have meat that ready to reheat or cook for a meal starter (such as sloppy joe meat, taco meat, plain ground beef or turkey to add to a casserole or sauce and then a few meats that have a marinade or sauce all combined but is still raw so that I just have to thaw it out and put it in the crockpot or grill/bake it). I will try and have a few casseroles where I just need to thaw and bake and dinner is done. I try and have those for days when things are extra busy or Thursday which I've learned is the Barkley crash day :-) Even if you don't have time to do a freezer day, next time you are preparing a pound of ground beef or turkey, buy and prepare 5. It only takes a little bit more time and you've got a head start on upcoming meals!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-I try not to waste anything. Even if we only have a
spoonful or two of meat left over, I keep it. Maybe it’s for a quick lunch for
me or the kids for the following day or maybe I put it in a small freezer bag
or container to use in another meal (that is a whole other post about how to use
up food instead of wasting it). </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-I LOVE to try new recipes but sometimes my family just
would like to eat the tried and true favorites. So I make sure I put those in
throughout the month. If the thought of finding a bunch of new recipes for the
week (or month or year) feels WAY too hard, just start by filling 75% or so
with your family favorites. You haven’t cooked a lot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask a family member or friend what their top
3 favorite recipes are and try those.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-I give you permission to leave off an ingredient (or 3!) or
swap out turkey for beef or fat free cheese for the regular stuff. I’m not a
natural “rule follower” ;-)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I know
some who feel like they have to follow a recipe to the T but you don’t. You can
change it up and all will be well (unless you are baking).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you all end up hating it, you tried!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SO give meal planning a try. Try out a week. Add an
additional week if you can. Then just go crazy with it. I can say in a chaotic
life like mine that this is one area that feels in control and it brings me a
sense of peace and joy. Happy cooking…and planning!!</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-81717403596775638232015-02-28T17:46:00.000-08:002015-02-28T17:46:09.381-08:00Holy Flipping<br />
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First of all, I can't believe it has been almost an entire year since I posted! Granted, 2014 was a busy year as we welcomed another child into our home and continued to get used to our new town. But still, a year is a long time! <br />
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In the past year, I have also done the very important work of discovering shows on Netflix that help me zone out at the end of a long day. For instance, I never watched "The West Wing" and oh.my.goodness is that a great show! I used to get so mad when it won all the awards and now I see why. <br />
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But in the past month, I've discovered a new show that I love: "Flee Market Flip." It is a show hosted by Lara Spencer from Good Morning America. The premise of the show is that two teams, consisting of two people, get $500 to go spend at a flee market to buy any items they want to use to transform for 3 projects that they will then sell at another flee market. Whoever, gets the most profit off their sales wins $5,000. I find it fascinating that someone sees a vase and a mirror and in their mind already transforms it to be a unique side table. Some of the projects are funky and unique, some are trendy, some bring a piece back to its' original glory. The transformations always blow me away and I love to see that pieces that may not connect with me (and obviously not many others) just draws a certain person in and completely connects with them.<br />
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I worship a God who does some holy flipping (that statement may get me in trouble ;-) We may look at the mess of someone else's life and wonder how God can possibly redeem that for good (or maybe someone is looking at our life thinking the same) but God is the master crafter who does just that. God crafts us into His beautiful pieces. And while our life story may not connect with everyone else, there is someone out there who is going to find hope through you. So share your life story with someone. You may not think it's anything special or maybe you are ashamed of some of its' parts, but by doing so, you get to show how God has worked in you and through you. For those of you that haven't committed to a Lenten discipline, maybe simply sharing your story could be a way to draw closer to God (and maybe help another draw closer to God too) in this holy season.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-672571913376394782014-03-19T09:01:00.005-07:002014-03-25T08:01:43.235-07:00Ultimate Cleaning<br />
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Yesterday was my favorite day of the month: the cleaning lady came! Several months ago, I had heard about someone going through a difficult time who was looking for a cleaning job. I decided to hire her to clean before we had an open house at the parsonage. I ended up hiring her for good. She does a wonderful job!<br />
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So obviously I love having a clean home where for whatever brief period of time it seems, all is well. Everything is in it's place, the crumbs have been vacuumed, the kitchen floor is NOT sticky, my white kitchen sink that is just gross, sparkles. But most of all, things seem more manageable. <br />
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A week or so passes and the mess, the crumbs, the dust, the spills not to mention the homework, the laundry, ministry etc. all begin to pile up. I feel overwhelmed (and I have a helpful family where we all help). I know I cannot do it myself. Like a superhero, my lady shows up and all feels well again; I feel like I will not only survive my week but maybe even thrive a bit.<br />
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While I do not want to equate my cleaning lady with Jesus (though she is pretty awesome ;-) This has reminded me of my faith journey. My dirty house is a lot like sin. Sin can muddy up my heart. At first, I might not even notice, just like those crumbs or the spills that I thought had been wiped clean. I may not repent. I may not open my heart up to God to be cleansed because I don't allow myself to see it. But pretty soon, I am overwhelmed by how I have let the sins captivate my heart and how I've strayed from my relationship with God. When I do, I call out to God with the lyrics of a great hymn: "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me." <br />
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I recognize that my heart needs to be cleansed by God. It is a job I cannot do it for myself. Only my Savior can. My spirit is renewed. I feel freed to joyfully follow God and fulfill the calls on my life. This holy season of Lent is a time to recognize the ways you turn from God and to allow God to clean your heart and renew your spirit. It is not a one time process but rather something we need to do, time and time again. The God of all grace pours forgiveness on us and makes us a new creation. So allow yourselves to be cleaned my friend. It is worth it!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-90809217597148929642014-01-06T20:08:00.002-08:002014-01-06T20:08:46.733-08:00Crafting Craze<br />
Like many people, in January I make goals for the upcoming year. I have several craft projects that I want to do. This nasty weather (lots of snow and below zero weather) has given us extra indoor time, so I have been in a crafting craze these past few days. I thought I would share some of it with you. My big goal for 2014 is to completely organize our families pictures and videos. So that means I am catching up on scrapbooking for all of the kids (I am caught up..to the beginning of 2008 :-( except for Zander adoption spurred me to do his scrapbook all at one time so it would be ready at the party. So one kid down, 3 to go! I also have our family pics that we put in regular albums and one I made for my ordination (my uncle was so kind and captured the whole day for me). In addition to the all of the photographs, I want to get all of our family videos all labeled and in one place as well as to transfer our VHS family videos to DVDs. One of the things that I noticed right away in this big venture (besides for the fact that it is a HUGE task) is that I have a lot of leftover wallet size (and smaller) photos of the kids. So some of them we made into Christmas ornaments (I already took them down and packed them away for next year, so you will have to wait until November to see them :-) but I have come up with several other projects to use them. One is these coasters:<br />
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I took cheap white tiles (13 cents a piece!) and mod podged a piece of scrapbook paper and one of our wallets onto the tile. The older kids actually did their own. I let them dry and then mod podged several more times to keep any possible moisture from their glass or spills from ruining them. I took simple black coasters we already had and put stickers and mod podged them the same for me and Craig's coasters. I then found a cheap plain wood tray at Michaels and used some left over kitchen wall paint to paint the tray that will hold them. This tray is on my kitchen counter and we put our cups on them when we are finished (whether full or empty) so that we can always find their cup and we don't confuse whose cup is whose and get more cups out (making extra dishes to wash). </div>
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Well that started the craft craze. Then before I knew it I was dragging this cabinet out of the dining room and into the kitchen. It was so spur of the moment I didn't do a "before" picture. The only one I could find is one where you can see the cabinet behind my daughter and niece (aren't they cute?! 9 days apart those two :-) <br />
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Well I took the doors off the front (Ok, I couldn't get them off, so after asking what in the world was I doing, my husband just shook his head and took them off for me). Then I just took a piece of sandpaper all over the outside of the cabinet. Now for paint, I am all about using things you already have. So I found some egg shell-ish paint out in the garage and back to the trusty old leftover kitchen wall (green) paint. I took a sponge and just gently painted the egg shell onto the whole cabinet not trying to "cover" the whole cabinet (you could still see the wood underneath). I let that dry for a little bit. Then I took the green paint with another sponge and lightly painted most of the cabinet, again not trying to completely cover up the egg shell paint but just add long green strokes to the cabinet. Then (I'm not sure if I made this up or saw this somewhere because I've done this before) I took some of my used dryer sheets and just randomly wiped across the whole cabinet. Doing this took some of the paint completely off and allowed the wood to show through. The finished product has that antiqued, old farm look to it. <br />
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I left the doors off the front (I wonder what I will think of for those?!) and inside is now home for the scrapbooks that I have been working on for the kids. <br />
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The last project that I'm working on is a special place to put pictures of our foster kids that have come in and out of our home. While we have pictures of them in our family photos I wanted a place dedicated to those who God allowed to come into our home for us to love. I had a set of 3 frames from IKEA that I hadn't used yet. So on one I put some scrapbook paper with stickers; it simply says "Fostering Love One Child at a Time." Well actually there is a heart sticker but you get the point. The most adorable thing was when I was putting this piece together I asked Jonah what he thought. He is still learning to read so he had me read it to him and he groaned, saying "Only one child at a time, how about 3?" I love that kid!<br />
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I put "K" and "J's" pictures in the other two frames and am going to put them on this black shelf (yes, it still needs to be hung on the wall :-) </div>
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Next craft: taking all of our wallet pictures and attaching them to a piece of colored construction paper and then taking them to be laminated and voila: a personal place mat!</div>
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Happy Crafting!!</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-71974205558312037992013-12-17T21:03:00.001-08:002013-12-17T21:08:34.473-08:00Forever Changed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is how Zander feels about being in our family forever :-)</div>
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We feel the same way! We are filled with joy knowing that it has been cemented in the eyes of the law what we felt in our hearts from Day 1: He is our son. We have loved him, we have nurtured him, we have nursed him back to health, we have cried over how sick he has been...and rejoiced in how far he has come. He makes us laugh, he makes our hearts soar and we are eternally grateful for his biological parents who made the selfless decision to let us be his forever family. <br />
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I have so many emotions that swell within my heart. However, there is one that comes up often: a sense of almost panic that this might not have been our story. If events hadn't occurred that led us to open our hearts to foster care, to adoption, to saying "Yes" at the exact time we did, Zander wouldn't be with us. I CANNOT IMAGINE our lives without him. He is shaping each of us into the people that God wants us to be. I've learned so much from him and my understanding of scripture where it speaks of us as being God's adopted sons and daughters, has deepened. <br />
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The circumstances that brought Zander into care are heartbreaking. The personal events that brought us to foster care and adoption are intermingled with pain and disappointment. Once Zander was with us, the ups and downs of the foster care system and the legal system were not without heartache YET the God we serve is a God of redemption. All of our lives have been redeemed; beauty has risen from the ashes. <br />
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There are so many ways that God calls us into God's redemptive work in this world. Sometimes we are too busy to notice and sometimes we say "No God, not right now" or "No God, there is no way I could do what you are asking of me." What are we missing out on? What is being delayed through our fears or stubbornness to step out in faith? I'm not just talking about foster care and adoption but every day events where God nudges you to say a kind word, to extend grace to someone you rather not, to give of your resources or time to a person or organization, to be bold and share your testimony of how God has worked in your life, etc. <br />
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Spend some time reflecting on your day or week. Where do you feel like God showed up for you? Were there times that you felt God's nudging? How did you respond? Spend time talking with God, giving thanks for the opportunities to be Christ's hands and feet in this world; ask for forgiveness for the times you ignored God or flat out said "No." Allow God's grace to wash over you and free you for joyful obedience in the days and weeks to come. <br />
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I'm so glad we said "Yes" to God. We are all forever changed. But I know there are times when I have said "No" to other things that God gave me nudges about. May we all be attentive to God who shows up in new and unexpected ways throughout our lives and gives us the awesome privilege to be in ministry together. <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-1210475341781097292013-11-21T10:17:00.002-08:002013-11-21T10:17:50.798-08:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This November I am posting to Facebook what I am grateful
for each and every day. Yesterday, my heart was stirred enough that I felt that
a blog post would be a better way to explain what I am grateful for because
this just isn’t going to fit in a sentence or two!</span></div>
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Yesterday was the Parent Visitation Day at my younger kid’s
school. Mikayla is in 4<sup>th</sup> grade and I had a wonderful time seeing
her classroom, talking to her teacher more and helping her with a Thanksgiving
work packet. We got done a few minutes early and I asked what she normally does
when she is done with her work early and she said she writes in her journal. It
is a private notebook that the students can write whatever they want; something
that is not graded but rather a place to pour out their thoughts. Mikayla said
she wanted to share it with me. I opened it up and it took everything in me not
to start sobbing like a baby. Filling the lines of the first few pages was the
story of her life, one where the beginning was marked by the time that we began
fostering. The words that filled the pages, some misspelled (which somehow made
it even more sweet) were how she loved all the children that have come into our
home. She wrote about having “Z” come to our house and he was so cute and she
loved to hold him. She wrote of the first night our foster daughter came to our
house and was scared, so Mikayla let her crawl up to her bed and so she could
comfort her. She shares about the task of packing the beautiful girl’s stuff up
almost a year later so she could go live with her brother. She said how much she
loved her and how laid with her again, giving her all the love that she could take
with her. The bookend of “J’s “ time with us: covered in Mikayla’s love and
protection. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It reminded me that when people heard that we were going to
be foster parents, not all were thrilled. Many worried about what that would
mean for our other children. Would it be right to bring another child in our
home that would need so much attention (and therefore take attention away from
our own children)? Would it be right to expose our children to the broken world
we live in? They would come to know about parents who abuse their children,
about families ripped apart by domestic violence or drug use. They would learn
about the justice system, court cases, incarcerated parents, etc. Shouldn’t we
just shield them from that until they are older? Then what happens when a child
leaves, aren’t you setting your children up for grief they cannot handle?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u>Folks, we don’t give
our kids enough credit</u>.</strong> I have watched God work through my children to
minister to children and adults who are broken. I have seen how our own sin and
brokenness has come to the forefront and how God has used our experiences
through foster care and adoption to try and mold us and make us into the people
we were created to be. I have seen Jesus in action. Are Craig and I perfect,
heck no!! Are my kids perfect, a big NOPE to that too. But God works through
our weaknesses as well as our strengths. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have thought about doing foster care and have thought
that you couldn’t possibly do it because you have children at home, I encourage
you to pray and think more about that. You definitely need to take into
consideration your own unique children and family situation. I also don’t want
people to hear that we sacrifice the safety of our own children to minister to
others. There are several children who we had to say no to because I felt like
the safety of my child(ren) could be compromised. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But give your children some credit. God has given ALL of us
gifs that are to be used to glorify God and help others. So yesterday, today
and every day, I am grateful that God is using us through foster care and
adoption. I am not glad that these two things exist because they stem from the brokenness
of humanity but they are a constant reminder of God’s grace and the redemption
that is possible through Him. I will always treasure what I read yesterday. It
was a lesson for me too and a reminder of how great God is.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-30969733110716359682013-08-27T20:00:00.002-07:002013-08-27T20:00:21.380-07:00Autopilot
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot has been happening in the lives of the Barkley’s but
the biggest change is that we moved. While it is not the first time we have
moved to a different home or even a different town, it is the first time we
have moved out of the area in which Craig and I grew up. It is also the first
time that we have moved away from our families. I have to say that after living
here for 2 months that we feel it is home. The kids have made a lot of new
friends, our new church congregation welcomed us with open arms, the kids love
their new schools, the list of positives go on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That said, I have learned an important life lesson through
all of this and one that I think can relate to our faith lives as well. If
anyone knows me, they know that I am directionally impaired. However, living
here has taken this to a whole new level. I get lost VERY often. I make a wrong
turn, then realize my mistake and try to go back and change my course only to
repeat the same mistake over again! It is so aggravating! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Likewise, when I go to the grocery store, I am lost on the
inside. These are new stores for us, I don’t know where the items are located
and some of the things that we like aren’t carried at those stores (for
example, we are having a hard time find Gracie’s fruit chillers). I go up and
down the aisles looking for things, figuring out new brands or varieties as I
try to get the items on my list. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I won’t even bore you with the obstacles I had getting
a new drivers license or registering the kids for school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I realized through all of this is that almost all of
these tasks are things I have done on autopilot for a long time. How many of
you, drive to a store or work and really don’t even remember the actual drive
there? How many of you, make your grocery list up by mentally going down the
aisles and writing things in order so it’s less work when you get there? It is
SO much harder when you actually have to be present and to think through all of
these tasks and the decisions involved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If many of us our honest, we could say the same about our
faith life at times. It is so easy to get on autopilot. We go to church to
worship on Sunday (or Saturday or Wednesday), maybe we read a devotion or say a
prayer every day but really we are just checking it off our list. We are not
really studying or pondering the Scripture or dwelling with God in prayer. We
start to fall into the trap of faith just being about a private feeling or set
of beliefs. We go to church to be with our friends or family, to check in with
them for the week and maybe “fill our tank” spiritually but we stop actively listening
for the Spirit of God to speak to us, corporately and individually, to listen
for the ways we are called to be Jesus’ hands and feet. We stop listening for
the radical difference the Church is called to make. It simply falls back into
a “thing” that we do on autopilot; one without a lot of thought or energy
behind it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So in this new season, I’ve been spending time being more
intentional in my faith life and in my family life. I don’t want to get
complacent. While it does take a lot more energy and can even be downright
irritating at times and it may lead to feeling convicted by God in an area or
two we may not want to be, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Revelation 3:15 says, “<span class="text">I know everything
you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the
other.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God doesn’t want us sitting in the middle,
complacent and on autopilot. So I encourage you to take a peek at your life and
see if you have fallen into complacency. If so, be more intentional, pay
attention, I promise you that you will be on your way to the abundant life that
God desires for you.</span></span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-39363862822469794682013-07-01T12:48:00.001-07:002013-07-01T12:48:30.546-07:002 years ago today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was 2 years ago today that our little man was placed in our arms for the first time. God took a painful, broken situation and brought forth beauty. I look at a simple image of the two boys have a breakfast picnic sharing some fruit loops and my heart soars with love. These two love each other more than words can say. We are so blessed to have "Z" in our lives and CANNOT WAIT for that day coming soon (please Lord SOON) that a judge will declare that he is legally our son. </div>
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FYI, this picture was taken in the living room of the place we will now call home. We LOVE our home and the neighborhood we live in. Everyone here has been so welcoming and we are enjoying our time exploring all that there is to offer in our area and beyond. There is so much to do outdoors! I'm taking this time to reconnect with God through nature and just b.r.e.a.t.h.e. </div>
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Praying you can take the time to see the beauty that surrounds you both in the presence of loved one and the beauty of creation.</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-45063787468882985642013-06-10T13:10:00.002-07:002013-06-10T13:10:43.166-07:00FAQ ABOUT OUR MOVE<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This post (and many others floating around my head) is WAY
overdue. Since the announcement in April that I have been appointed to Palos
Heights United Methodist Church, people have had a lot of questions. So here is
my attempt to answer many of those:</span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> is Palos Heights? How far away
is it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Palos Heights, Illinois is about an hour and 45 minutes
southeast of Rockford. It is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
southwestern suburb of Chicago and close to Orland Park and Joliet (which
people seem to recognize more </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).</span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When do you start? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The appointment officially starts July 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>.</span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will you move houses
or just commute?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our family will be moving to Palos Heights.</span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you found a
house in Palos Heights?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The church has a parsonage (a church owned home that the
pastor and their family live in).</span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When do you move?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will move out of our current home on June 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
and move in our parsonage on June 28<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. (Please pray packing mercies
on the Barkleys!!)</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What will you do with
your home here, was that a parsonage too?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our current home is a home we purchased (I did have a
housing reimbursement account that covered most of our house payment). We
intended to sell our home and proceeded to try selling it on our own when, out of the
blue, a family member found out they were going to need to rent a different
home! We are praising God that this seems like a great solution for us and for
them, at least for the time being.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about your
foster children, will they come with?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have 2 foster children in our home right now. Baby “Z”
(though I really should stop calling him a baby now that he is 2…but he’s still
my baby </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)
and Baby “K.” Z will be coming with us as we are awaiting the finalization of
his adoption into our family (that will be a HUGE post when that happens!!). We
will need to continue to meet with our social worker until that is finalized. We
are hopeful this will not slow down the adoption process in any way (fyi
adoption is S.L.O.W. and I understand it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is a LOT of work BUT in the name of Jesus, someone needs to reform
the process and the paperwork!!!!!!! Rant over.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby “K” will <em>not</em> be
moving with us </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
She is currently in the process of trying to be reunited with her biological
parent(s) and she does have weekly visitation with one parent. She also has
visits with her brother. Palos Heights is too far away to maintain those visits
and not put any more added strain on K. It is looking like a family member will
step up and care for her which was the original plan and hopefully, what will be
the best for K. We ask for prayers for her, her family and ours as we say
goodbye and transition to this new chapter without each other. We trust that God loves K even more that we do and will continue to protect her and heal her
family.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is Palos Heights
UMC like? How many in worship?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is my understanding that Palos Heights UMC is compromised
of many older adults and their families as well as a handful of younger generation
families. There are children and youth actively participating in the life of
the congregation. I was told there are around 80 in worship on Sunday. They
worship at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday in their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beautiful </i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sanctuary. </span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will you be the
Senior Pastor?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will actually be a solo pastor or lead pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Senior Pastor implies you have an Associate
Pastor and at this time, Palos Heights does not have an Associate Pastor.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How does your
children feel about the move? How about your husband?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My kids are really excited about the move! We feel this is
an adventure for our family and we look forward to meeting new friends and
connecting with a new community. That said, now that our time in Rockford is
drawing to a close and they have gone through their last days at school, the
reality is setting in a little more. The truth is, we love our church family,
our many friends and our family (who has always lived close to us). It will be
hard to say goodbye<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and as we begin
saying these goodbyes, our hearts hurt. We know God will soothe these wounds
with the loving community that awaits us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband, Craig, is also excited about the move. We love
the outdoors and Palos Heights has so many outdoor places (forest preserves,
bike paths, hiking paths, lake, etc.) for us to discover together. </span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about Craig’s
job? Will he need to find a new job?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has also been a complete blessing. My husband is the
Director of IT for Physicians Immediate Care and has clinics all over the
Chicago area as well as some work in Indiana. He usually is traveling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to</i></b>
Chicago and driving <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">back</i></b> to Rockford. He will be able to retain his job, work out
of one of the clinics close to our new home and hopefully do a little less
traveling!</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why do they move
pastors so often in the United Methodist Church? Didn’t you just get here?!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Wesley, the founder of Methodism felt that the
itineracy of pastors allowed for fresh theology and new life for pastors
and congregations, as pastors move from one church to another. As painful as it
can be to say goodbye, I believe Wesley had it right. As pastors (and as
people), we all have different gifts and graces. In different seasons of church
life, those gifts and graces can be used to help heal, inspire and grow
congregations. Each pastor has their own interpretation of our United Methodist theological
beliefs, their own unique stories, preaching, teaching and congregational care
styles; we have a fresh set of eyes as the “newbie” to see things that those
who have been there for awhile no longer see.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was just recently
with several pastors who are going to be changing churches in July. They all love
their current churches, however, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">excitement</i>
in the air was tangible! New places, new people, new possibilities can
invigorate a pastor and it can be just the breath of fresh air congregations
need not to get stagnant in their ministries but to live out the Gospel mandate
to GO and make disciples.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I came to Christ UMC in October 2008 (while serving Bethany
UMC in downtown Rockford). The appointment was unique to the circumstances of
the church at the time and I’ve continued to see the church through many
changes…many losses and many joys. It has been a BLESSING to be a pastor for
the church that can take credit for making me who I am today. </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-90966228083424275822013-01-26T19:11:00.001-08:002013-01-26T19:11:59.836-08:00A Dimly Lit Mirror
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjg2Vp3we36Ls1sk1i3IWa3v_M1ic4oU06SAYi_e860MJOKWJm2QiCbwPukf44xpgwGeToM5GP6jjElIQsrBLF2-Cc9bxfQ39Q1qLLr9n_6JAUcw6iR__-EAnU6mzSkAJcJZT7WrGhLI/s1600/perspective-mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjg2Vp3we36Ls1sk1i3IWa3v_M1ic4oU06SAYi_e860MJOKWJm2QiCbwPukf44xpgwGeToM5GP6jjElIQsrBLF2-Cc9bxfQ39Q1qLLr9n_6JAUcw6iR__-EAnU6mzSkAJcJZT7WrGhLI/s200/perspective-mirror.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">My blog has been very quiet lately. The
truth is, I didn’t have the energy to write everything has transpired in the
past few months: the good, the bad…the ugly. I think part of me didn’t want to
write it out because writing is very therapeutic for me and I know that I’m
going to feel everything as I write this. But I hope what I write will not only
give you an “update” but also maybe be a word that someone needs to hear..I
guess that’s what I always hope to happen through my writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">As I looked at the calendar I realized that
one year ago today is the day that “J” came to our house. When she came I knew
that there was a very large chance that “J” was not going to be returning to
her biological family and that they were looking for a forever home for her. I
thought we would be that forever home…or at least I was hoping to. Anyone who
has read this blog knows that “J” has lived through a lot of rough things in
her life and a lot of homes. From the day she came here, the road was bumpy,
sometimes extremely bumpy. She hit some very “low” times within the first few
months of being here and quite frankly we were exhausted and wondering if our
family could withstand the stress of having her here. However, after a few more
months and A LOT of extra resources “J” started to turn a corner. I felt there
was hope. One of the big parts of J’s story is that she has a brother in which
she is VERY close to and while I will not share the details, she was separated
from him. Near the end of last summer, they began to visit one another. Two
things happened: one was how overwhelmingly close they were and how apparent that
someone made a mistake in separating them and two, her behavior started to become
quite difficult again. It was so confusing for such a small child to be torn between
these two worlds: her home here and her brother (who doesn’t live in town).
Prayerfully, we began to discern whether it really would be best for the two of
them to be reunited. I am thankful to have established a relationship with her
brother’s foster parents and after several months we decided that it would be
best for them to be together; being apart was difficult for both of them and
the two of them have a bond like no other. We began transitional visits for
about a month or so and then on December 2<sup>nd</sup> we brought her to her
new home. We had prepared for that moment as best as we could. She had been
excited to go and live there but when we got there, it was HARD. I tried so
much to be strong for her, though my heart was breaking into a million pieces.
I was praying that we were doing the right thing for her and for everyone. I
love that little girl so much and she will always be my daughter. Her little
hand is forever imprinted on my heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">At the very same time all of this was going
on, things took a MAJOR change with baby “Z.” A few days before we said goodbye
to J, we had a surprising phone call that said his parents wanted to meet with
us and talk about allowing us to adopt “Z!” It was an emotional roller coaster.
I will keep private what happened in that visit but I can say that it was holy
ground and we will forever be grateful for the sacrifice they were making for
their son. TWO DAYS after we said goodbye to “J” we went to court where his
parents would sign the necessary paperwork. I decided to get cards for his
parents and also a special picture and frame of Z for them. As I was driving to
court, I couldn’t help but think about the sacrifice of both of them but
especially of his mother. I am not a mother who has given up my biological
child and do not want to claim to know what that feels like, but I had just
done what I thought was the right thing for J and allowed her to go and be
raised by another family. I had let go of a piece of my own heart and knowing the
heartache of that made me feel so much for the loss that Z’s mom (and dad) who
were and still are, feeling such loss. I am so thankful for the ability to be a
part of God’s redeeming plan on Z’s life. We love him so much and are
overwhelmed at how much he is a part of our family and can’t imagine if he wasn’t
our forever son/brother/grandson/nephew. He is a Barkley! We cannot wait until
it is official (there is a lot of paperwork and legal “stuff” that needs to be
done for the adoption and it can take 6-9 months+).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Now here we are not quite two months later.
Things have continued to be a roller coaster ride. We received another little
girl “K” back in early November. She has been diagnosed with a serious medical
condition in which we have been fighting. I’ve been in contact with J’s new
family and things have been hard for her. However, a bombshell was dropped
yesterday when they called to update me. Her foster mom let me know that it was
discovered that J has a medical condition, one that could have explained a lot
of her difficult behaviors as well as things that we saw and were concerned
about. It has raised up so many emotions. First, I’m mad that no one listened
when I shared my concerns, I’m mad that no other professional discovered this
and I think most of all I feel guilty, guilty that I didn’t push more until
someone figured it out, guilty for not knowing the poor girl was suffering from
a medical condition when it looked like a lot of behavioral issues…and I think
most of all, wondering if it would have changed anything. Would she still be
here with us…would life with her and her ability to live apart from her brother
been more manageable. I still believe they should have never been separated in the
first place but so much pain and heartache for both of them…oh how the system
has failed them on so many levels. These children need advocates, people who
will fight for them; who will be their voice. At this same time, I’ve had to
FIGHT for “K” because I KNEW that there was something REALLY wrong and the
doctor was NOT listening. She had to suffer for at least 2 months. So many
things are just not right; they are not fair for these kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The truth is foster care (and adoption) is
HARD. There is a lot of pain involved. One of the most painful parts is not to
be able to see the whole picture (on so many levels). I’ve been thinking about 1
Corinthians 13:12 that talks about seeing things in dimly lit mirror, however,
I really resonated with the New Living Translation of this scripture “Now we
see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will
see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and
incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows
me completely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In this world, we see thing imperfectly. I
long for the clarity that God has. for the fullness of time when, we too will
see with such clarity. It is so painful to not know things clearly, to wonder
if decisions you’ve made or directions you have taken are the ones that should
be. Only God sees the complete “puzzle.”So in the meantime, I pray for God to
guide me. Then I ask God to redeem those mistakes that I have made and for
those times that I go the wrong way, for God to turn me around and get me back
on the path that God intends me to be on. So in this time of incompleteness and
seeing things only partially, I will cling to my God and my Savior who sees
everything perfectly clear. </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-14015598692895304732012-10-12T21:22:00.001-07:002012-10-12T21:22:56.459-07:00Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooiBAMpKMQnHGJYcKs-0F3cIdeb4FZQf457k2RNvvbIA_Snim4UEafBjOGwXFlXgUtrqcbcprj4Et4TU5Je-GS8gH4KRJb80T0aloQpCd2uAJ0q6b5fZucIGEI40aKm-pMrRDSruSWas/s1600/A-Moment-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooiBAMpKMQnHGJYcKs-0F3cIdeb4FZQf457k2RNvvbIA_Snim4UEafBjOGwXFlXgUtrqcbcprj4Et4TU5Je-GS8gH4KRJb80T0aloQpCd2uAJ0q6b5fZucIGEI40aKm-pMrRDSruSWas/s320/A-Moment-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been on a little break from blogging. I’ve had several
blog posts that have danced in my mind but quite frankly, I’ve been too busy or
not had enough energy to sit down and write them out. This past week, I took
some much needed time off and have rested, read and reconnected with my
creative side. I don’t know about you, but my life is so full that I don’t have
time to process a lot of what happens on a daily basis and when I finally get
off the merry-go-round for a little bit, I am dizzy, dizzy with all of the
thoughts and emotions that I haven’t had time to think or feel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the things that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking
about it is my children, all of them, both biological and foster. They all have
a special place in my heart. The future is a question mark…I’m not exactly a
fan of sitting in uncertainty but I know that truly no one knows what tomorrow
holds, we just like to believe we do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been listening to this beautiful song by Selah called
“Moments like These.” It just speaks to my heart; explains how I feel half of
the time. Looking at my children, watching them, seeing their personality
quirks and what makes them who they are, it makes me so happy…and at the same
time, those moments, those glimpses of who they are becoming, makes me sad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some of the lyrics</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So
I’m down on my knees help me soak it all in<br />
I want all of this life that you’ll let me live<br />
And when time flies by <br />
Oh, remind me to breathe <br />
‘Cause my heaven on earth are moments like these”</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Time flies by. It is easy to miss it, to not soak all those
moments in. It is easy to get frustrated by little things and to let the big
things swallow you up. We can miss those “kingdom moments.”</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The kingdom of God has aspects of the already and the not
yet. There are times on this earth where I believe we have glimpses of heaven…those
times when God’s Will is done, where love is in a perfect state if only for a
moment. I believe there are those moments that happen during our lives but many
times we are too busy to notice. We aren’t watching for those kingdom moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about you, have you experienced any of these “kingdom
moments?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is
blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live
forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> –1 Corinthians
15:52.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2oyWE1xgVM"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2oyWE1xgVM</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A side note, this song describes my children well (granted I
have more than this song sings about and not all girls :) </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-52174763516936279672012-07-01T19:12:00.000-07:002012-07-01T19:12:29.244-07:00One year ago today…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ2Bw1pcl56QynM_vVNOrSmzeLGfEiwDSoeg3zA47ZpBW7evSYIXPeoyfCwGQlkgPe_Tj2z2vqYVhaEXjV6Y-cWLSa3warBoKIDn58617DNuaDgEHX7gOMKxEwAiCEe_rzGsstxNpz_0/s1600/one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ2Bw1pcl56QynM_vVNOrSmzeLGfEiwDSoeg3zA47ZpBW7evSYIXPeoyfCwGQlkgPe_Tj2z2vqYVhaEXjV6Y-cWLSa3warBoKIDn58617DNuaDgEHX7gOMKxEwAiCEe_rzGsstxNpz_0/s1600/one.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It was a Friday.
Craig and I had heard that we might be called for foster care placements before
we even had our license in hand. We had yet to receive our foster care license but
that day I missed a call for 3 little ones they were trying to place. I called
back and alternative arrangements had already been made. A short time later,
the phone rang from our agency again. I wondered if the plan for those children
had fallen apart, it didn’t…they were calling us about baby Z. We didn’t receive
a lot of information and frankly I was so excited I didn’t ask a lot of
questions. All I knew was that it was a 3 month old little boy. The person
calling thought he was born on time and that his birth weight was around 6 lbs.
Well it turned out that he was released from the hospital at close to that
weight but he had been born 2 months early. I didn’t know his name, his
ethnicity or much of his background but I knew this would be the start of our
new journey as foster parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I can still
remember the car of the social worker pulling into the driveway (did I mention
that not only was my husband and kids all excitedly waiting because it took A
LOT longer for them to arrive at our house than we thought, but our good
friends with their 4 children were there AND my parents! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> Everyone was so excited!). We went out to
the car and there he was, this TINY little boy. We would find out his name and
we would learn a little of the medical issues that were plaguing him. Then with
a quick signature and a few papers, he was here. Holding Z for the first time
was like holding any of my other kids born to us. Immediately we fell in love
with him. He was (and still is!) so precious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">He was so little,
so sick, so helpless. The mama bear in me rose up to protect him and hasn’t quieted
yet. Our lives have forever been changed. He is such a blessing. It has been so
awesome to watch God heal him and help him overcome his earlier struggles. I
cannot tell you the joy that he has brought others and how it has melted my
heart to see the interactions between my children and baby Z, yet alone other
family members and friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In the midst of
celebrating this one year anniversary that Z came into our lives, I can’t help
but think back to Broderick, a little boy who captured my heart, who stirred us
to open our hearts and home to love those that God would place in our arms. I
still have Broderick’s picture as my screen saver. This little boy is now safe
and loved in the arms of another mama and daddy but he will always hold a
special place in my heart. If it were not for him, we would not have started
this path that we are on and it wouldn’t have been one year ago today that our
lives forever changed as Z was placed in our arms. When we open ourselves up to
where God may be working through our lives, we never know where it will lead
us. It is not always easy but I will always choose faithfulness because the
beauty that God can bring out of ashes is one that I don’t want to miss! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvUt2XQ5zjfeTL0EQGmSisR1a-1AQYFez4C7JS-KW60W8ye9_MGu0utLxZGQJJxtZaTDGp0DHqEOOlHs90OCsFV0QlMfyIuBTyrydKySYaZr5Z870yWrUV6kQfqK3KcvMWPfHK6ETmTo/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvUt2XQ5zjfeTL0EQGmSisR1a-1AQYFez4C7JS-KW60W8ye9_MGu0utLxZGQJJxtZaTDGp0DHqEOOlHs90OCsFV0QlMfyIuBTyrydKySYaZr5Z870yWrUV6kQfqK3KcvMWPfHK6ETmTo/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-73486037553562877202012-06-30T09:08:00.001-07:002012-06-30T09:08:21.737-07:00Contentment<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These last few days as the heat was soaring, my mind wandered
back to 1996. I was at my first Workcamp in Elizabeth, North Carolina. It was
my first time going on a mission trip to serve others. We would go to do
physical labor on homes that needed repair but also to share our faith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was July and it was HOT! I admit when we
showed up at a house that only had one window air conditioning unit in the
family room (our work was mostly outside and in the kitchen), I was not
thrilled. How was I supposed to work in that heat! As the first day unfolded,
we met the residents of the home. The family had five beautiful children and we
soon began to form relationships with them. But late in the first day, I heard
a baby cry from upstairs. I knew the rest of the kids were outside and the
parents had gone off to work. I wondered if anyone knew the baby was crying, so
my nosy self went upstairs to check on the little darling. However, as I turned
the corner, I heard a voice, singing softly. I was startled, not knowing
someone else was upstairs. I wondered if I should go back downstairs but I was
discovered. The elderly woman invited me in to the room and she introduced
herself. Essie Mae shared that she was no longer able to get around like she
used to, so she stayed upstairs, took care of the baby and read her Bible all
day. She was such a gentle soul and exuded this joy that I wish I could
describe. It was so hot up there and she couldn’t come down and enjoy the
family room where it was cooler...BUT she was happy! It blew my teenager mind! As
the week went on, I continued to be shocked as I would see children who had
very little, offer up to our whole work crew their special treat: freeze pops.
The people I encountered had very little…yet they were content. Even more they
were joy-filled. It was hard to wrap my teenaged brain that based contentment
on one's circumstances: what you have or didn’t have. It is a lesson in faith and one that this family from North Carolina taught me. It is a lesson that I have continued
to relearn as I have grown up. How easily it is to allow circumstances in our
lives to determine our attitude and our spirit. I hope the next time you feel
hot or irritated about something going on in your life that you will remember
Essie Mae, that fountain of wisdom, who taught me about true contentment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Philippians 4:11b-12<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.</span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><span id="en-TNIV-29439">I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have
plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zl6rXsIWgrswTv7d04hr5nUid4XwnPH6Dar8wtRIOmZIAhrAJUMBoAFIOPqGEJwcJcV-5kJA2__z5I-pk88pEsriciipOTfdSo_YrqBavnT3BV2_4pVxzaqpjwKQxFUD-yiXxDs_nlc/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zl6rXsIWgrswTv7d04hr5nUid4XwnPH6Dar8wtRIOmZIAhrAJUMBoAFIOPqGEJwcJcV-5kJA2__z5I-pk88pEsriciipOTfdSo_YrqBavnT3BV2_4pVxzaqpjwKQxFUD-yiXxDs_nlc/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-65446706364686773422012-05-21T13:15:00.002-07:002012-05-21T13:18:37.290-07:00Daughters (and sons too :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVw7wUkPAezUc7BxKdBJ8E3QsNE8wbZMnZ-PKzGf90Z0zynjaUMhyza5HzqdA5r9hdNoo7zT6-8qJaKTIOCdRttVYWgC9XaA2HD8nmppJeEdl7y76W3ZRDzp1wdFyo10i2nDnYJZ8w3Y/s1600/564800_3944610378543_1378519391_3548308_1795702979_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVw7wUkPAezUc7BxKdBJ8E3QsNE8wbZMnZ-PKzGf90Z0zynjaUMhyza5HzqdA5r9hdNoo7zT6-8qJaKTIOCdRttVYWgC9XaA2HD8nmppJeEdl7y76W3ZRDzp1wdFyo10i2nDnYJZ8w3Y/s320/564800_3944610378543_1378519391_3548308_1795702979_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is an early Father’s Day post but the truth is it could
also be a late Mother’s Day post. This past Saturday was the Father-Daughter
dance at Gracie’s school. She is wearing the dress that Craig and I got her from
Mexico. It was another take-my-breath-away moment when I realized how much
older she is getting. Doesn’t she look so beautiful next to my handsome
husband! She was nervous but they had a wonderful time going out on a date to
eat dinner, just the two of them, though, she reported back that at the
restaurant they were surrounded by families with kids making noises, she said
they just can’t get away from it </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went to the dance and out for ice cream
afterwards. A night of memories for both
of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is so important to cultivate a relationship with our
kids. It is even harder as you have more children or even as your children get
older and can be involved in more activities or have a job. But they are
looking for a relationship with us, one that will define the kind of
relationships they will have when they are older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a song by John Mayer called “Daughters”
(the song is about daughters but the same is true for our sons) that has the lyrics, “Father’s be good to your daughters, daughters will love
like you do.” It goes on to basically give the same advice to mothers, as
they (could) one day be mothers too. That is one heck of a responsibility: to be
cultivating relationships with our kids that can shape the relationships they
could have with their significant others later in life and as their life as a
parent (should they choose to go that path). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will teach them how to love, how to
nurture, how to react to life. Some days, I feel like I do a pretty poor job.
As one friends said today, “I am now out of the running for the Mother of the
Year Contest.” But I’m glad we have a God that has shown us grace when we
stumble and gives us more opportunities to try again, to live modeling the same
love, compassion, grace and mercy as Jesus. New are God’s mercies everyday…THANK
GOD </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">! </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I think I will listen to John Mayer one more time and
sniffle over how fast my daughter is growing up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daughters by John Mayer:</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhopziNunsI&feature=related</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-8884816933720827402012-05-20T13:36:00.000-07:002012-05-20T13:38:53.775-07:00Their Example<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t let anyone look
down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> –
1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The number one thing I hear about foster care <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">besides</b> “I could never do that because
I could never give the kids back” is about how it might affect other children in
your house negatively. Now, let me start first by acknowledging that foster
care and/or adoption affects <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">everyone </b>in
your home and even other family and friends. It is an adjustment and there will
be sacrifices (it is a word that our own biological kids have come to learn the
definition of). We carefully considered our own children and talked at length
with them for many months before starting the process. However, I have noticed
not only in our own case but in other comments on people’s blogs or facebook or
in casual conversation there definitely is a judgment that having a foster or
adopted child is giving your own biological children (or other children in your
house) the short end of the stick. After all, they are going to have less
attention with all the attention and energy poured on the new child (that most
likely has more physical, mental and/or emotional needs). Further, they are going to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know </i>about bad things (i.e. abuse of
children, parents who go to jail, etc.); they are going to have to share their
stuff, etc. It is often said with a sympathetic tone. Our poor kids! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well this couldn’t be further than the truth. If anyone
has met our family, you have seen the ministers that my children are. I don't say this in a way that says my kids are something beyond what others
are or could be (and if you have met the Barkley children you know that I am not
overlooking the fact that they can all be full of it and make my blood pressure
rise at times). However, as a society we often don’t give kids the credit they deserve.
Our children are little ministers, little theologians, little teachers, and the
list goes on. They have something to teach us about perspective, about love,
about joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I’ve shared before, one of our foster children “J”
has some sensory issues and A LOT of fears. We work with her to push past them.
Sometimes you want to lose patience and say, “For Pete’s sake(who is Pete anyway??), it’s only ____, just get over it!” But that doesn’t do any good </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Last night, we were going through
the sprinkler for the first time since “J” got here. She wasn’t thrilled about
the feeling of the dry grass on her bare feet, or the wet grass for that matter,<em> or</em> the wet
cement and DEFINITELY not the sprinkler itself. I did all sorts of silly games
to try and get her more into it; to feel the JOY of playing in the sprinkler.
Well about an hour and a half into it, my daughter Mikayla got through to her
and off they ran, back and forth through the sprinkler. This photo is from
behind (to protect her identity) but let me tell you, she was ALL SMILES! Not
only did she feel the fun that the others were having but felt the triumph of
another fear! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So for all of the little ones or youth in our midst,
thank you. Thank you for teaching us. Thank you for loving others in the
special ways that only you can do, thank you for your perspective on the
abundant life that God desires for us (one that has nothing to do with fancy
cars or houses but rather the joy of running through a sprinkler or noticing
the special rock or beautiful leaf on the ground). Thank you for being you. May
we never look down on the mighty things that God can do through you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-2956726408117178202012-04-14T19:57:00.001-07:002012-04-14T20:05:34.816-07:00Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRDFEUxsNQnsZEiYbaYamTRrx6p9MtxlYeiFIikBX9niV1-WrffsVIYcXHLFGuNR66ahUA93bOIUSMeqam7SUtc7gc6iV0Dez3G8N7STtSEpYhPAH_TIVzTqhxT0HBSCYyn5-TliChAk/s1600/wizardofoz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRDFEUxsNQnsZEiYbaYamTRrx6p9MtxlYeiFIikBX9niV1-WrffsVIYcXHLFGuNR66ahUA93bOIUSMeqam7SUtc7gc6iV0Dez3G8N7STtSEpYhPAH_TIVzTqhxT0HBSCYyn5-TliChAk/s200/wizardofoz.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I love "The Wizard of Oz," especially Dorothy and all that she encounters on the yellow brick road. She and her friends are constantly afraid of what is around the corner or new things they encounter. I feel that is "J's" life. As we enter into more and more of her world, we encounter her MANY fears. We are in the process of sorting out so many things with her and seeking out some professional help with several areas but sensory issues are a definate problem. So like Dorothy, there can be a lot of shrieking going on! <br />
Our latest adventure was this week when we went to do a family visit for Z. I would love to blog more about this but because of privacy issues, I can't say a whole lot. However, the meeting was emotionally draining for everyone. I'm thankful Z doesn't know a whole lot of what is going on. There were other families who were visiting at the same time and when the time came from children to leave their parent, the crying at the separation was enough to tear my heart in two. The brokeness, pain and suffering in this world has become so much clearer as we have entered into this journey of foster care and adoption. So many things that break God's heart, have broken mine/ours as well. <br />
Anyway, we decided to make a "family trip" out of the visit and stayed at a hotel overnight. So it was new surroundings, new noises, new beds, new routine, etc. We had several "moments" that wore us down. So we decided to add another "new" to the list (yes, we're crazy!). One thing that we haven't done since J has been with us is swimming; I've been worried because there have been several fears around water, especially bathing, so I wasn't sure how it would go and have been avoiding it. So, literally, we took the plunge! J was excited as we looked at the pool and put our suits on. She talked about her brother and swimming. It is hard when you don't know a child's full past. You don't know what they have done and not done; what things have brought pleasure and what things have been terrifying. Well, we got down to the pool area and as soon as her feet touched the cement area that was wet from the pool, there was serious meltdownage :-) So Craig scooped her up and put her on a chair by the pool and as we are setting our stuff down, my 4 year old son Jonah just runs and jumps in the pool...except he can't touch...and he begins to go under!! AHHH! So Craig to the rescue (I had the baby in my arms). So once we get all of that under control, we go back to working with J and the pool. I tried to get her to sit on the side of the pool and just put her toes in but she was having NONE of that! However, Craig came and scooped her up again and got her in the pool. She DID NOT like that..at first. She began to snuggle into him and hold on for dear life! But he got her in a little ways. Then he brought her to the hot tub. Again, it didn't go so well. But he was so patient with her and realized that if he put towels on the ground, she wouldn't feel the wet cement as she sat down. Then the bubbles of the hot tub were quite upsetting, so he showed her how they popped and eventually she began to do that herself. He would have her hold her hands out in would pour water into them, slowly getting her used to the water. He worked so slowly at taking things one step further. She definately was overwhelmed by the echoes of noise in the room, by the wet cement, by the bubbles from the hot tub, etc: her own version of "Lions and Tigers and Bears!" <br />
So this morning, we said we were going swimming again. She didn't fight putting on her suit and seemed excited. We got down there and opened the door, she paused when her feet hit the wet cement..but no screaming! But she just wanted to sit in a chair. We let her..for a few minutes :-) Then Craig picked her up and brought her in the pool. She didn't like it but wasn't screaming. He slowly got her to go in deeper and deeper water with him and she didn't completely flip out. Then we got her back into the hot tub. I made the mistake of holding her in the water right next to where the bubbles were shooting out, not her favorite! But I finally just held her in the middle of the water and again she wasn't happy but once she calmed down, I would count to 3 and we would go to our bellies, then our shoulders and finally our chins and get wet. Then I taught her how to hold her nose and shut her mouth and we got a good deal of her face wet! Progress!!! It was very exciting to see her conquering some of her fears and working through some of her sensory issues but I will admit it can be exhausting. <br />
I wish it was all big triumphant moments of moving forward but the truth of healing is that it is one step forward, 2 steps back; sometimes, though, it is 6 steps forward but usually followed up eventually by a few more back. It can be frustrating. We definately have moments of "can we just be done with THIS step and NEVER go back!!" However, I think that this can be how we are as people no matter what. I reflect on all of the mistakes that I have made in my life or those that I have watched others make. God must think, "Really, you need to go back to repeating that!" I'm so thankful for the grace and mercy that God has blanketed my life with. As we learn to live into the image of God, we are called to put on the attributes of Christ, the fruits of the spirit: peace, love, joy, patience, kindness,goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness. They are so much easier to read on a bible page or put to memory, than to live out! So I'm getting my fruits of the spirit exercises. I hope you are too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinA7m1EtlUA0N1WLNTb3Pgjw5S0jRSzz5Yj49b7kXkwxT4muxOnMu-D52pOfykN6TbMwMopGXv5Y_sKu6Rc51k5bQKN5P523bvRWtr7FM0It06VTUI8i8DlOuXiHU52ddM9_-n3kY4rNI/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinA7m1EtlUA0N1WLNTb3Pgjw5S0jRSzz5Yj49b7kXkwxT4muxOnMu-D52pOfykN6TbMwMopGXv5Y_sKu6Rc51k5bQKN5P523bvRWtr7FM0It06VTUI8i8DlOuXiHU52ddM9_-n3kY4rNI/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-73849368538707521902012-04-11T20:59:00.000-07:002012-04-11T20:59:26.629-07:00Red Glasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ66NsUXsTVyuL6lVw8-H3cwTNAh-WntY1jzgg06X8xQ6V8b_RKAZan9Cf_rICze_auCJgk6MpXpSHy7h3NYyiFegFGKsGiYtOgSnSUFMV6JPuzUYv6Ns7FCFK97V7aaDHPi8N-GcLATQ/s1600/red+glasses+frames.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ66NsUXsTVyuL6lVw8-H3cwTNAh-WntY1jzgg06X8xQ6V8b_RKAZan9Cf_rICze_auCJgk6MpXpSHy7h3NYyiFegFGKsGiYtOgSnSUFMV6JPuzUYv6Ns7FCFK97V7aaDHPi8N-GcLATQ/s200/red+glasses+frames.png" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This week is Spring Break for the kids, so I took the week off. I knew this week would be full of appointments for “Z” and “J” and that I had a lot of catch-up house chores/organizing to do, but I was hoping for some fun this week. So far, I must admit, the “fun-ometer” has not been going very high. “J” has had a VERY hard week. I don’t know if it is another “layer” of healing or if there has just been too many changes of schedule in the past two weeks (the teachers were on strike, then they went back to school for a few days and now they are on break and we don’t have a normal routine for each day). I have really wanted to wear a tee-shirt and put a huge sign out in our yard that says “Don’t mind the blood curdling screams, it’s just healing taking place…really!” Then to make the week even MORE fun, I took “Z” to his follow-up appointment from his ear tube surgery and was expecting the “it looks great!” report and instead heard the dreaded, “I’m sorry but his one tube is falling out of his ear and will need surgery ASAP.” Ugh! The poor kid can’t get a break. Not to mention I had all 5 kids with me at the appointment and when they heard that this meant our fun overnight away that we had scheduled for the same time would be cancelled, well let’s just say things went downhill. Then during one of the appointments at our home for services for “J” (which I’m praying will be helpful for her to work through a lot of tough issues), she broke her glasses. We went today to try and get another pair and it will take a week. While we were in there, “J” had another one of her moments and while I know I could let things slide in public and become not consistent with following through (to prevent a meltdown in public) I choose to be consistent to help in healing. As I was leaving, a nice older man stopped me and said, “I will be praying for you; you have your hands full.” </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was worried about “J” going so long without her glasses so I decided to take a family trip after dinner to the mall. Now this is probably not a big thing to anyone else, but the Barkley’s don’t frequent the mall very often. I’m not big on spending money and I’m also allergic to the perfumes that permeate the stores. I knew that the mall had at least one of those 1 hour glass stores, so we went. “J” was so excited to find a pair of red glasses (ok, she thinks they are more pink but whatever!) and pair of brown ones as well (buy one get one free!). She looked in the mirror and said, “I look so beautiful” which always comes out boot-if-full </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. It was a wonderful time being there as a family, playing in the play area, getting ice cream, checking out some of the stores and we found a great store that had jewelry for $1.00 that the girls had fun finding treasures at. When we were leaving the play area, “J” started to talk about a memory with her brother at the same play area. It was a special time as she was able to connect with a positive memory. So, while I wasn’t thrilled to have her glasses break, these little red glasses provided a respite from tough healing, some spring break fun and hopefully another step forward in our journey together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflXayuYEzzP7WhUb9hnYTmH4c0M3oGiSSGjMvQy_iU4sPt1kt1lBw40Qy2Fx4NcC9Htqvj6o8MksfBi5Q_GB9EwZDryT_BwBrV-tUuX0QFnN4OSPMzL5-rpu1hvqXK9GRdgZMT1YFf00/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflXayuYEzzP7WhUb9hnYTmH4c0M3oGiSSGjMvQy_iU4sPt1kt1lBw40Qy2Fx4NcC9Htqvj6o8MksfBi5Q_GB9EwZDryT_BwBrV-tUuX0QFnN4OSPMzL5-rpu1hvqXK9GRdgZMT1YFf00/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-74364365185003561892012-03-29T18:33:00.000-07:002012-03-29T18:33:51.963-07:00One Year Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-swTeJ4vIzSJ9bTMMVBzMzv-BY9sVVNXlcBOVDO1kdomdcLFFygcaoS2MJo_XqElJsO8YXFP5_2GFxHsMA9R-MJSNjnVJPyY8Jj-zEomHxR5kWXMTUbsLc6EUDA-rtb2s05smwkrP_cw/s1600/great+is+thy+faithfulness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-swTeJ4vIzSJ9bTMMVBzMzv-BY9sVVNXlcBOVDO1kdomdcLFFygcaoS2MJo_XqElJsO8YXFP5_2GFxHsMA9R-MJSNjnVJPyY8Jj-zEomHxR5kWXMTUbsLc6EUDA-rtb2s05smwkrP_cw/s200/great+is+thy+faithfulness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A few weeks ago, I had our “Day with the Bishop” where clergy from the Rockford and Dekalb districts (in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church) met with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung. It was during that meeting that I remembered that it was on last year’s day with the Bishop that life started to change for me and for the life of the church I serve. It was then that I found out that our Senior Pastor had been appointed to be a District Superintendent and soon would find out that the other 2 pastors were being appointed elsewhere. We would be receiving two more pastors and I would be staying. Oh my! Living with the unknown became the norm for awhile. The anxiety of what would be, what could be, was overwhelming. It is great to be able to look back and celebrate the faithfulness of our God. We received a new Senior Pastor and new Associate Pastor. They both bring a wealth of gifts with them and it is clear that God has called them to be at this place at this time. Likewise, those that have moved on have found a place that the Almighty has prepared for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 139:5 reminds us that God goes before us and behind us. We are surrounded and loved by our faithful God who doesn’t leave us or abandon us, even as we walk into the unknown roads of this life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I encourage you to look back over the past year and reflect on both the joyful places as well as those that may have caused you anxiety. I invite you to see God’s Hand upon your circumstances; the places where you can celebrate the faithfulness of God. Also acknowledge those places where you held tight, trying to control the direction of your life or worry yourself sick over life circumstances. May this next year be one where we not only rejoice in how God does not abandon us but also, because of that knowledge, we can walk in greater trust and obedience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe6_-rFPMf4LNeUfjV5Iij2aZB_zUpKupprHeZQJaWcrMfH8iyB8UYlNWKav8XXMdHxqSxiyVWSn6RXFrNZB5z2I8PRbsKy3VtQu_CGIxwUQLA9t9-2BVR_gJiJ-JNLVYRkG1hl4CdwQ/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe6_-rFPMf4LNeUfjV5Iij2aZB_zUpKupprHeZQJaWcrMfH8iyB8UYlNWKav8XXMdHxqSxiyVWSn6RXFrNZB5z2I8PRbsKy3VtQu_CGIxwUQLA9t9-2BVR_gJiJ-JNLVYRkG1hl4CdwQ/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-57420677758629356672012-03-09T19:23:00.001-08:002012-03-09T19:30:17.228-08:00The Healing Hand of God<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_3x3m4tbUtOZ9U2IOaYIruHkGZtVG9_JK4_i524FRkOAAunhsNhNthZaV3aCRjeIZUyW_3p6ewelDLzLSanGAluf5BTemWmez-dyzeZ1fMUrz1gFUuxORfI9pifeUh6EE4O6RGnxN_A/s1600/God-heals-bandaid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_3x3m4tbUtOZ9U2IOaYIruHkGZtVG9_JK4_i524FRkOAAunhsNhNthZaV3aCRjeIZUyW_3p6ewelDLzLSanGAluf5BTemWmez-dyzeZ1fMUrz1gFUuxORfI9pifeUh6EE4O6RGnxN_A/s200/God-heals-bandaid.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are now about a month and a half into our time with our new foster child “J.” We have had our highs and we have definitely had our lows. I’ve seen God’s amazing healing hand upon this dear little girl. However, I must admit there are days when I wonder if we are taking steps forward or steps back. We will see some amazing improvements in trust, in compliance, in trying to express herself appropriately, etc. Then, after a little bit, we have a day or two where things seem to go back to those earliest days that were nothing short of tough. I’m left with trying to figure out if this is regression or if maybe this is another layer of healing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I once heard the analogy of God’s healing in the terms of debridement and it really resonated with me. Debridement, by definition, is the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you talk with anyone who has gone through debridement they will describe it as quite painful. There is tissue starting to form over a wound but it may be damaged in some way, so a medical professional needs to go in and take out the damaged tissue so the remaining tissue can heal and the wound will truly be healed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In our lives, we all experience things that wound us. Just like a burn, we may feel like we have begun to heal as “tissue” forms over it. We go on with our lives, we feel like we have moved on, that we are “over it.” But then we go through a painful time where it feels like that wound is ripped back open. I have noticed during those times in my own life following that wound being ripped back open, that God has brought me to a deeper place of healing. I had assumed that I was “healed” but God said, “Oh my daughter, I want you to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> be healed. I am going to get deep inside that wound and make sure that none of that bad tissue remains that will lead to more unhealthiness!” I admit it is not always a pleasant process. Who wants to “go there;” to be reminded of our wounds, to go through the healing process again, much less at a deeper level? Well we may not choose it but God, our Physician, knows what it best for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a great song called “Healing Hand of God” by Jeremy Camp. There is a part in the song that really sticks out to me:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cause I have seen the healing hand of God, reaching out and mending broken hearts. Taste and see the fullness of His peace.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have seen the healing hand of God, in my life, in the lives of those I minister to and also in my children. God reaches out and mends broken hearts in a way that is breathtaking to watch. A way that leads to a peace, one that surpasses all understanding…a way that leads to wholeness; to the abundance that God desires for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray for all of those going through a season of “debridement.” I pray that you will trust the healing hand of God and experience the blessing of being healed, truly healed, so you may live a life free from the wounds that seek to lead you into a path of unhealthiness rather than the abundant life that God so desires for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Link to hear the song “Healing Hand of God”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK7uiOz7fv4<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-56301889324316342992012-02-16T07:22:00.000-08:002012-02-16T07:22:04.575-08:00All Because....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyMhWhu57X1F3SUNblJPdr4z8TwMWVVkS3ZCSBXBl2OA6wxcxzvO64MEAIvzSzW0NjdddNy509sRs6tOjitndWwBWntgw9Y4gjDRfM8XVCWH5Ldc2WGzXW-_Ky3l3TejOYROBuaDiUvo/s1600/Family+Art+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyMhWhu57X1F3SUNblJPdr4z8TwMWVVkS3ZCSBXBl2OA6wxcxzvO64MEAIvzSzW0NjdddNy509sRs6tOjitndWwBWntgw9Y4gjDRfM8XVCWH5Ldc2WGzXW-_Ky3l3TejOYROBuaDiUvo/s320/Family+Art+001.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>So I know this is a little late (more a Valentine's type post) but I wasn't finished with our project above :-)<br />
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This past summer we had a family reunion on my mom's side and someone had created a geneology chart that started a few generations back. The paper spanned the most of the length of one of the garage walls. I looked at the first couple listed at the top (I forgot how many "greats" it was) and I thought, all because these two people fell in love, all of the rest of this followed. Those two people helped create that large family that had gathered to celebrate being in a family together. The family line has not been with out "mess" and conflict but here we were letting those walls fall and singing and dancing the night away. <br />
A few months later, I found the wall hanging at the top of the picture "All Because Two People Fell in Love" and have been waiting to find the right place to put it. As I have jumped on the "Pinterest" wagon with so many others, I saw a wall hanging with hand prints that was similar to the one I made with our kids. So last night we completed our "Hand Print" artwork (and can I say how DIFFICULT it is to get a painted hand print of a 10 month old!!). I knew my other piece of artwork would now have a home: It is because Craig and I fell in love 15 years ago that this family has come into existence. Some of our children's have come from us biologically, some have come to us through another's biology but have found a place in our hearts. We don't know how our family unit will end up: two of our children are in the foster care system and we don't know how their cases will end, we do not know if more children will come or if this will be it and for all of us, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow, so I have a snapshot of how our family is today. <br />
Just like my family of origin, our growing family is not perfect; we have our ups and our downs. Life is messy and complicated, yet, so beautiful. <br />
So I will sit here on my couch and see these beautiful little hands; hands that will help one another, hands that will steal siblings belongs and create drama; hands that will make messes all over the house; hands that will wrap around our necks and give us the best squeeze here on earth. <br />
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Here's to the next 15 years and what suprises may be in store!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC7X4nlRkvrj84maEn1JlbMeYyE32XPXyBJI-xMxlvh-T3OUoA8lds-wDJF5tR7zsRMlXIuDGTOXuutgOjafMn8ThJ5esT9fVmBA0QOj_ISTjqKl2KuwzmecMXsYcLXfyDfiDNhIxDaw/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC7X4nlRkvrj84maEn1JlbMeYyE32XPXyBJI-xMxlvh-T3OUoA8lds-wDJF5tR7zsRMlXIuDGTOXuutgOjafMn8ThJ5esT9fVmBA0QOj_ISTjqKl2KuwzmecMXsYcLXfyDfiDNhIxDaw/s1600/signature.png" yda="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-40960281320385564832012-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:46:58.626-08:00Letting Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_OAgdaHbOZcQ7JvmW5u6HQdUVJi4WBZ9UQyhgETvsqdEKpZ7vDBI7fTMH7c8Ryn2l7xSo0u6C0dRqLbfbzsHHhBnoRSG4qdNpbKCijJuOE82IspxZ9-reu1l4YUvYTbt6uqcjMXJy_0/s1600/Nemo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_OAgdaHbOZcQ7JvmW5u6HQdUVJi4WBZ9UQyhgETvsqdEKpZ7vDBI7fTMH7c8Ryn2l7xSo0u6C0dRqLbfbzsHHhBnoRSG4qdNpbKCijJuOE82IspxZ9-reu1l4YUvYTbt6uqcjMXJy_0/s200/Nemo.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few weeks ago I was watching the movie “Finding Nemo” with my son Jonah (for the umpteenth time </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">). I was having a particularly hard day. I’m not sure why but I think the reality of our life probably caught up to me that day. Many of you know that we have a foster baby “Z” with us (and have recently taken in a little 3 year old girl “J”) and many of you have asked if we will be adopting him or not. I have explained that this is not how the process goes. The goal always is for the biological parents and their children to be reunited. Sometimes the goal is achieved and sometimes the goal is not. The parent(s) have criteria in which they need to meet depending on why the child is in care (classes, counseling, drug treatment, domestic violence intervention, etc.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a short process and ultimately it is up to a judge to decide what is best for the child. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Often when people come up to me, they say that they would love to be a foster parent but they don’t’ know if they could give a child back. I understand that reaction. It is one that Craig and I talked a lot about and prayed about. We have now had “Z” long enough that he feels like he has been with us forever. Honestly, it is hard to imagine our lives without him. The day I was watching a movie with Jonah, the enormity of loving someone that much and not knowing what the future holds was clamping down the jaws of fear on my heart. Fear is like a raging river current where you get sucked down into it and before you know it you are overwhelmed by it. I wasn’t really listening to “Finding Nemo” as my thoughts were too loud. But all of a sudden, the movie got my attention and as many times as I’ve watched it, never has this part stood out to me. Dory and Marlin (Nemo’s dad) are in the mouth of a whale and they begin to hear noises. Dory begins to try and speak “whale” to understand what is going on (which by the way ALWAYS cracks me up) and she says that either the whale is saying “Move to the back of his throat or he wants a root beer float.” Of course, Marlin (who is a worry wart and pessimist) believes this is the end, they are going to die. Then there is a big movement of water and the whale’s tongue begins to move them to the back of his throat, like it or not, and Dory and Marlin are hanging onto the whale’s tongue, not wanting to fall back into the whale’s throat. But Dory hears the whale say, “It’s time to let go. Everything will be alright.” Dory…just let’s go. Marlin begins to ask how she knows that nothing bad will happen and she simply replies “I don’t” and let’s go anyway. Dory and Marlin fall to the back of the whale’s throat and it is there that the whale shoots them out of her blowhole and they land right near their destination. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I felt God’s Presence in my living room ministering to my fearful heart. I can’t control what all the future will bring, not only in the area of fostering children but in every other aspect of life as well. I need to let go of that which hinders me so that I can run the race that is set before me (Hebrews 12). What is it that you need to let go of? Maybe it is a fear, maybe it is a grudge or an unhealthy habit. Sometimes we can’t imagine what our lives will be like without holding on to those things but by letting go we can enter into the abundant life that God desires for us. So heed the wise words of Dory “Let Go” and may you experience that which is awaiting for you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODQ0JxPWZYD2HOtLrlmCr6RY1AN_tDe_3hFTFt5khxMxfvUYpIJEeeYxICU2MzIpoWFjBgimGGxOy7zC3aMBe00VExycV7UGJndLMlMRT1MfhVYmFeaREZBJSuEFEQyGUaZgMcIJzMWY/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODQ0JxPWZYD2HOtLrlmCr6RY1AN_tDe_3hFTFt5khxMxfvUYpIJEeeYxICU2MzIpoWFjBgimGGxOy7zC3aMBe00VExycV7UGJndLMlMRT1MfhVYmFeaREZBJSuEFEQyGUaZgMcIJzMWY/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYoUkGRFmR0</span></div>(Finding Nemo's whale scene)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-6989857136837622372012-01-21T10:15:00.000-08:002012-01-21T10:20:05.541-08:00Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKAjU9h1ZdT8YjYArZg1EiRJyyBy4hyphenhyphenPRLi3Eoxc9_w-O7NmnlJOvzYjpVBTs-g5vSOr4DuSrtzNJmKk9vH_Z6TrILNQBBpT0KBgK72KgqX7zCsLrgGeXHO0qpCQPRJvx2QrZsYBxd8/s1600/plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKAjU9h1ZdT8YjYArZg1EiRJyyBy4hyphenhyphenPRLi3Eoxc9_w-O7NmnlJOvzYjpVBTs-g5vSOr4DuSrtzNJmKk9vH_Z6TrILNQBBpT0KBgK72KgqX7zCsLrgGeXHO0qpCQPRJvx2QrZsYBxd8/s200/plans.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There has been a lot of uncertainty in my life. I’m sure for yours as well. There have been times where I wonder where the road I am on will lead. I’ve had those moments in ministry. Most recently it was earlier this year as 3 of our 4 pastoral staff were appointed elsewhere and we, as the church were left with the uncertainty of how things would be with a new Senior Pastor and Associate pastor. I was left with the uncertainty of how that would be for me, for the church and even for my family as I knew the role I had as a pastor would change. Then there has been our journey with foster care. Where would it lead us? Who would God bring into our families? What would his or her needs be? Could we meet them? Would they stay? Would they go? How would we deal with all of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Uncertainty. Bleh!! I didn’t think I was a person who liked a plan. I’m more of a go-with-the-flow type of person. Yet, in these recent years I’ve found myself wanting to see further down the road. I think it’s because I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feel the need to think about all of the possible scenarios and process them and plan how I will act/react to them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was thinking about Jeremiah 29:11 that says, </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This is from the New Living Translation and I had to kind of chuckle when I saw one of the words that this translation uses: “disaster.” Well, I don’t know about you but I have definitely had times where I thought, “this is a disaster, what is God thinking!” There are those moments in life that feel disastrous; those moments or times when it feels like God possibly could not have wanted that or could redeem it in any way. Maybe that’s where one’s strength in faith can come, in those times where all seems to be falling apart. Once you live through those, you experience the fulfillment of God’s promise that there <em>IS </em>a future and a hope that is possible <u>even in those times</u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was saying before, I want to think through all of the scenarios that the road I am on could possible lead and how I will react. Well that’s the thing with God. Sometimes what happens in life is so much more than we can humanly imagine. I could not have foreseen some of the blessings that I have been able to experience and how they have shaped the person I am today. At the same time, sometimes what we go through is so much harder than anything we could have imagined and is not something we <em>CAN </em>plan for, it is truly God who brings us through it. All of this takes a whole lotta trust! Trust to know our lives are in the hands of the Living God, who loves us more than we can ever know. May we able to be able to rest in the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 and know that it we do not go on this journey alone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOueMQolTVWlfJpO4XcsZCWD1NXuVU8LZdiVkUwKzbSrT4qH5Cfb2oQTRx3vwcvk9TdKdPX0hLg3wfBbY6uHxR6VRf0G7VYD5memg18rRKyWEq0h50uxNxfsh2-fSfvpoAQM2zDF4S2k/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOueMQolTVWlfJpO4XcsZCWD1NXuVU8LZdiVkUwKzbSrT4qH5Cfb2oQTRx3vwcvk9TdKdPX0hLg3wfBbY6uHxR6VRf0G7VYD5memg18rRKyWEq0h50uxNxfsh2-fSfvpoAQM2zDF4S2k/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-29129861838120761672012-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:002012-01-08T18:15:06.983-08:00To Share or Not to Share…<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEY_vWNPnbicFyQI2jG7OYUK9-YsgCWGEzBLiS2wJHbbxh-GXAXfU7Zo8L12wNh9PR5M4h7tUSvKvYc3_huGWjKWr86M3rhIITW0XG-NVXeQ-8vbiKMyJ2TwVFyDsFCJVnzutfRPC-tM/s1600/open_door_free_access.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEY_vWNPnbicFyQI2jG7OYUK9-YsgCWGEzBLiS2wJHbbxh-GXAXfU7Zo8L12wNh9PR5M4h7tUSvKvYc3_huGWjKWr86M3rhIITW0XG-NVXeQ-8vbiKMyJ2TwVFyDsFCJVnzutfRPC-tM/s200/open_door_free_access.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">You just never know when or where God will give you an opportunity to share your story. The other day, I was with a group of women that I just met. We could sit wherever we wanted at a table at a local restaurant. Wouldn’t you know it that the person I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sat next to</i>, would ask for advice about foster care and adoption. She is a pastor and had a congregation member ask her about agencies and general advice. She wanted to know if any of us had any suggestions. It opened the door for me to share our story. If I would have chose to sit at the other end of the table, I would have never heard her question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I chose to go home that day rather than fellowship with this new group of women, I would have never been there to be able to give an answer AND once the question was asked, I could have chose to give a quick answer of an agency recommendation or two because when I open up and share our story, questions usually go to a deeper level. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Have you had that experience: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the one where God opens a door to have a deeper conversation; one that may include sharing your faith and/or part of your personal testimony and pain. Then you have a choice: to share or not to share, that IS the question. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">God often opens doors for us to share how God has moved in our lives. It usually includes, the good, the bad and the ugly. It is our story of redemption, of transformation, of not having it “all together,” of pain, of joy, etc. But in sharing our story, God can plant seeds of faith, can open up new relationships, can speak a word of healing…but we have to be willing to share it first. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Are you willing?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYl0xSVBmxhL91p1HCQcwaMn9ARY_AFwm8QcA_zPrbZayDv0synpXNgvxMAQVE1D77O8GdER5hgOHnAErklnmTmjmWgTj0QmLa1AfzXr3husauryDZRv3JXxmQAx9F4WSj9demKjVXaw/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYl0xSVBmxhL91p1HCQcwaMn9ARY_AFwm8QcA_zPrbZayDv0synpXNgvxMAQVE1D77O8GdER5hgOHnAErklnmTmjmWgTj0QmLa1AfzXr3husauryDZRv3JXxmQAx9F4WSj9demKjVXaw/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377541164040423224.post-14573376643212230472011-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:002011-12-30T09:00:04.670-08:00New Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt8SWLV8zygqwQbXLEHFRjjT6K9s5HqRgFs4iLrnINZcoOBSlU9OfycGT4-GqCpSoLXtKtYgnGDdtbxMB7_eai74qe-eJCm3uOPvoy3rgxYayhsSv3-Y1VstUEhsUssZHLifDjSHocUs/s1600/new+life.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt8SWLV8zygqwQbXLEHFRjjT6K9s5HqRgFs4iLrnINZcoOBSlU9OfycGT4-GqCpSoLXtKtYgnGDdtbxMB7_eai74qe-eJCm3uOPvoy3rgxYayhsSv3-Y1VstUEhsUssZHLifDjSHocUs/s1600/new+life.bmp" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s almost the New Year and I it is a time when a lot of people reflect on their lives, the good and the bad, especially of the last year, and think about their hopes and dreams for the new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God is in the business of creating new life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was reflecting on this I couldn’t help but think of two families in my life. One is a family with a vivacious 9 year old girl who is in the hospital and she awaits a new liver. She has dealt with more illness in her short life than most people I know. Her family is torn between the hospital and their home about 2 hours away…just waiting. Shelby is too sick to be at home now, so they are keeping her as healthy as possible and praying that the new liver will come soon. She awaits this new life of feeling like a healthy person without all of the limitations she has had. She awaits being able to run around with her friends and attend her school again. She waits to be home with her family and live in the “norm” (which by the way many of us complain about, you know chores to do, jobs and school, fighting children, etc.). Her family wishes the same. They wait for what this new life will be like with a healthier child. They wait to be reunited again under one roof. They wait for the “normalcy” of life with sibling spats and homework projects. They wait to live without the fear and stress that it has brought them to wait for this liver. It will be a new life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I think of another family, they too wait, but for something different. They wait for their little boy Brody who they hope to bring home from Ukraine. He is a precious little boy who has lived a life with a lot of loss and because of his HIV + status has waited for a family that would say “yes” to him. I’ve wrote about him several times in this blog. He awaits this new life with a family (one he doesn’t even know is coming). He awaits having a mommy and daddy to tuck him in at night. Little does he know but his new life will also include two little brothers to explore the world with and skyping with his best buddy from the orphanage who has found his forever family (the thought of the two of them reunited by skype brings tears to my eyes!). His family awaits for this new family member to make complete what has been missing. This family awaits to shower this little boy with the love that they overflowing from their beings. It will be a new life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ has promised all of us a new life in him. A new life that lets us shed the pain of the past and walk into the glorious light of a new life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Advent is a season of waiting and I know that we are in Christmas tide where we acknowledge the fulfillment of God’s promises. Well this new life is a little of both. We are awaiting the new life that will come but it IS coming. We may not know what that looks like. Most likely it is far beyond what we can dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know last year at this time there were several painful things happening in my life. There were many losses on so many levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year God has brought myself and our family to new life in more than one way. The joy we have experienced this year, even that which was intermingled with heartache, was breathtaking. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is my prayer that you step into the new life that Christ offers you this New Year, allowing God to not only do new things but also to transform the pain and hurt of the past into something beautiful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In the meantime I ask that you keep the Martin and Sadler families in your prayers as they await the fulfillment of their hopes for new life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nf_QHrzFEi6TkecvIm7LdqzCFDMhMA7qbHJoww0qPtIPon_VWhwyLydDfTSV-IU1yY4K_OOG2Hls6RySoP4Kh-ntFesYwUTnAg4_X2ojlVOUzcUKJFLZaOWFQ7R5yiHHR2tbcOsK2uQ/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nf_QHrzFEi6TkecvIm7LdqzCFDMhMA7qbHJoww0qPtIPon_VWhwyLydDfTSV-IU1yY4K_OOG2Hls6RySoP4Kh-ntFesYwUTnAg4_X2ojlVOUzcUKJFLZaOWFQ7R5yiHHR2tbcOsK2uQ/s200/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00291458437765658450noreply@blogger.com0