I stepped into her world, I could not help myself.
Her existence, a challenge to value system, cultural belief and the meaning in life.
Her smiles, reminders of joy during intense moments of pain.
Her laughter softens a calloused heart.
Her silky hair dances free from atrophy under the colorful night lights.
She speaks loudly without possessing the gift of language.
The Almighty, His steadfast love radiates from her porcelain skin.
This teacher who does not have the ability to move her own body efficiently has stirred millions to step into her world and passionately step out for Christ.
This teacher, Elise.
You can read more about her and her family here Life with Elise
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Hope
Hope.
A small word with so many meanings. The hope we have in Christ that we are children of God, here on earth for purpose and by careful planing. Hope that I have for my children's future and for a better world. Hope in the truth of God's Word that pouring my life into my children will yield a generation of godly men and women. Hope that I will get all of our laundry done...some days that seems like an impossible task!!
Hope in certain seasons of life especially when the diagnosis is worse than expected or the bank wants to foreclose on the house. Holding on to His hope of completing an impossible task that God has clearly called you to and you know you are completely unqualified in your own strength and resources.
Sometimes hope is seen and heard in the most unexpected and miraculous of places. Hope is clearly seen and heard from my sweet friend Elise. Look and let God speak His hope to you through Elise's smile. Remember her giggles as His praise.
Psalm 71:5-8 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you, you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
A small word with so many meanings. The hope we have in Christ that we are children of God, here on earth for purpose and by careful planing. Hope that I have for my children's future and for a better world. Hope in the truth of God's Word that pouring my life into my children will yield a generation of godly men and women. Hope that I will get all of our laundry done...some days that seems like an impossible task!!
Hope in certain seasons of life especially when the diagnosis is worse than expected or the bank wants to foreclose on the house. Holding on to His hope of completing an impossible task that God has clearly called you to and you know you are completely unqualified in your own strength and resources.
Sometimes hope is seen and heard in the most unexpected and miraculous of places. Hope is clearly seen and heard from my sweet friend Elise. Look and let God speak His hope to you through Elise's smile. Remember her giggles as His praise.
Psalm 71:5-8 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you, you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Nurse Mom
July brings us to the end of the pic line!!! Our home health nurse was wonderful ! Thank you Nurse Bryan!!!
One of us was very excited about the last day!
Recovery snuggle with gege.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
More Surgeries ad Procedures
June did not start out well for us. Grateful that we have an excellent medical team. Child Life was amazing too! We leaned about a pic line so we could go home instead of being in the hospital. It was a looong week.
Grateful for the funny clown that also brought bubbles!!!
Reading and singing Snuggle Puppy.
Inflated gloves on no-nos silliness!!
Learning about a pic line.
Ready to go home!!!
Much needed shopping break with Mom.
Yummy snack with Z and Dad.
Inflated gloves on no-nos silliness!!
Yummy snack with Z and Dad.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
In the Crook
Many times throughout the day I have an amazing view. A precious indentation, the curvy crook of my Hudson's left cheek. I hear him laugh and feel his smile growing as I smooch this beautifully bumpy scar. I love the way Hudson tilts his head when he is intently figuring something out or when he is looking back at me trying to translate what we've said to him. This radiant crook where the light and the shadows seem to dance. This crook, a shaded cranny that my Daddy has blessed me with so much in the crook.
(written pre-op)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Purple Tree Studios Adoption Photos
Here is a link to our photos from Purple Tree Studios. Erin is AMAZING!!
The way god weaves people together
The way god weaves people together
How Great the Father's Love for Us
Our journey to bring home Hudson was incredible. It started in May 2011 with a picture and a thank-you email, when we first began to pray for him and that God would provide him a family. After a couple months of prayer and reflection, God showed us he was to be our Hudson. Now after 16 months, piles of paperwork, tens of thousands of dollars, countless prayers on our behalf, a 17-day trip and six airplanes later he is ours and he is home.
Along the journey and even since, it has been common to hear people say things like "you guys are so wonderful" or "you guys are great for what you are doing" or "he's so lucky". Truly, we are not amazing. We're not really that special, just willing to obey when He has asked us to do hard things. Any glory in this circumstance goes to God.
On the 14 hour plane ride back to the US though, I did begin to think about our trip that was almost over, and what great lengths we had actually gone through in the last two weeks and the 16 months prior, to bring home our son. Not that we were awesome, many families have traveled down this road before us and will after us. But adoption really is an extraordinary step outside of our everyday world into something different and amazing to create a family. We'd been down this road before in different ways as well as having watched other families go through the process but somehow, now as it was really happening and nearly concluded, it struck me how complicated and involved the process really had been.
Then it hit me, as much as we have gone through to bring home our Hudson, how much more has our heavenly Father gone to great lengths to make us part of His family? 1 John 3:1 reminds us that if we are in Christ, that is exactly what we are:
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
Along the journey and even since, it has been common to hear people say things like "you guys are so wonderful" or "you guys are great for what you are doing" or "he's so lucky". Truly, we are not amazing. We're not really that special, just willing to obey when He has asked us to do hard things. Any glory in this circumstance goes to God.
On the 14 hour plane ride back to the US though, I did begin to think about our trip that was almost over, and what great lengths we had actually gone through in the last two weeks and the 16 months prior, to bring home our son. Not that we were awesome, many families have traveled down this road before us and will after us. But adoption really is an extraordinary step outside of our everyday world into something different and amazing to create a family. We'd been down this road before in different ways as well as having watched other families go through the process but somehow, now as it was really happening and nearly concluded, it struck me how complicated and involved the process really had been.
Then it hit me, as much as we have gone through to bring home our Hudson, how much more has our heavenly Father gone to great lengths to make us part of His family? 1 John 3:1 reminds us that if we are in Christ, that is exactly what we are:
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
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