The Intentional Life

Thank you to those who have reached out to me, prayed for me, since my post on Sunday. I am humbled yet again by the love of Christ, and His followers. I spoke of hope. And truly I am learning more about hope as life goes on.  I understand it more than I did 10 years ago. And even now, this week, I feel I am seeing new dimensions of it that I did not know existed. I am a realist. With a small dose of optimism.  And I think that it is that sprinkling of optimism that is keeping me from swinging way over to the pessimistic side of things. Because I truly want things to work out, HOPE that things will work out.  But I keep my hand on the shift knob, because I just may have to throw things into a lower gear because well, I'm just hoping for things to work out, but kinda doubt they will. I hope that made sense to someone.  You may need to go back and read it.  I'll wait. .......... I think I live most of my life, and approach most circumstances, like that.

Weekly in the office, our Lifesong Family comes together to pray for our in-country orphan initiatives, adoptive families, Forgotten Advocates, fellow co-workers and anything other items needing prayer or praise that week. It's a special time to come together to remember and acknowledge THE ONE who deserves all the glory and praise for the work HE allows us to do. To THE ONE who has ultimate control and power over every situation. We would love to invite you to join us in this time of prayer by subscribing to our monthly Prayer Team email. At the end of each month, you will receive an email outlining the prayers and praises for specific needs from that month. We hope you will pray along with us! Sign up below... [gravityform id="19" name="Lifesong Prayer Team Sign-up:" description="false"] Learn more about the Lifesong Prayer Team>> “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you

I go through the motions.  I wake up and put my feet on the floor.  Go throughout my day with no sign of the valley that I am walking through. Sometimes the sun breaks through.  Little kisses from Maddie.  Pictures drawn by Hannah.  Small hand of Owen in mine.  A note from a friend.  An appreciative word from Paul. Like balm, they soothe my soul.  But sadly, so sadly, it does not last. I've asked myself countless times, "how long do valleys last?" Because it seems this one is a bit endless.  I can't even remember when it began. And I have no idea when it will end. How do you cope with the valleys?   What do you do when you are in the middle of them? I have hesitated for so long to type this out.  I don't want to be a downer, and I don't want to alarm anyone. I'm in a valley.  I know I am.  And I think I have been waiting to be rescued.  To be plucked out of the middle of the valley.  Placed in the sunshine.  The dark behind me. But

5 years ago, this is what our family looked like: Owen 2 years, 3 months Hannah 9 months And we were just starting our adventure in being parents/mentors to teenagers and living at Gateway Woods. 5 years ago we said we would do this thing until Owen started Kindergarten.  Well, Owen is in 1st grade, Hannah is in Kindergarten, and Maddie is knocking on that door.  I guess God had different plans (go figure!)   Cypress House! We've celebrated birthdays Added another child to the family Spent holidays on campus, missing family Decorating Turkeys at Thanksgiving Staying up until midnight, ringing in 2012 Making Christmas cards to send to family Lived 5 very long summers  Laughed with the funny things kids came up with Fish funerals I do NOT miss the golf cart Cheered on the accomplishments Paul's second marathon in 2 months The whole house trained, and ran, a 5K Cried with the frustratio

And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship Him. Romans 12:1 NLT I have loved diving into this verse more this month, because, like so much of scripture, it is so much deeper than at first glance. But God is full of paradoxes.  His Word can be so deep, but yet so simple. I think this verse is an example of that. To give it a bit more light, I'm going to back up a couple verses to Romans 11:34-36 Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. THEREFORE , give yourselves to God as a living sacrifice .... In the Old Testament, what did an acceptable sacrifice look like to God? Pure. Unblemished. Firs

December is notorious for being the month that I have to empty my camera card due to excessive amounts of pictures. Between family get togethers and beautiful snow and twinkling Christmas lights, well, it's not too hard to get carried away. I won't put you through the hundreds of pictures I did take, but will leave you with a few choice picks.  Putting up the tree at Cypress.  I sat back and let them do the work.  It. was...interesting.  And then setting up the little tree in our little apartment.  Again, let the children dictate the placement of ornaments.  I'm making baby steps in my fight against perfectionism.  Most of the sprinkles did not make it on the cookies.  At one point in time everyone tried on the tutus made by Grandma.  Everyone.  This child.  Life at a blur.  Loving being home from school on break.  Snow and tower building!  The Christmas mustache.  Actually kinda liked it...  Walking in the woods.