The Intentional Life

One-third. Owen is 1/3 of the way to 18. Today he turned 6.  I read on a blog a few years back about a guy whose son turned 6 and it hit him that his son was a third of the way done with his time at home. Granted, there are children who live at home past 18, and Owen may be one of them.  But if he trends like his dad....18 it will be. It sobers me to realize that that time is already past.  I pray that we have used those 6 years to God's benefit and that Owen has been taught with that Truth that he needs whenever he does venture out on his own. But, for this time, he is still under our roof.  And we will continue to enjoy the sweet package that he is. Owen, who more easily talks to adults that kids his own age.  Who is more at ease in a group of 5 teenagers than a circle of Kindergarteners. Owen, who's soft heart causes him to tear up easily.  Those feelings are hurt so easily.  Oh, son, I understand it well. Owen, who often thinks ...

I've never had the chance to enjoy a 2 year old like this before. Whenever I had a 2 year old, I had a newborn. But now, Owen is in Kindergarten, Hannah heads to preschool for a few hours three days a week, and I get this goober all by herself for a few precious hours. Madeline is so snugly, often she brings me her blanket and just wants to cuddle up with me on the couch.  She loves to color...almost TOO much. We have had couches, coffee tables, floors, walls, windows, and people colored on by this little Picasso. I also think Madeline's vocabulary is much farther along than either of her siblings were at this age - attribute that to all the bigger people she has around her all the time. She has the hardest time staying in bed, and we go through this little battle nightly.  We were having her recite her memory verses the other day and one that she said was "Children obey your parents.....Stay in bed!"  Hmmmmm, well we know that she knows what to do, it...

Psalm 91:3-6 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. Faithfulness. The theme of our September.  Despite the many snares, arrows, and darkness that Satan threw our way, God remained faithful as our Protector, Comforter, and Guide. There were certainly low points: adjusting to having no alternates, just as the house filled up to capacity with 7 residents dealing with hospitalizations with one of our residents a resident running away from campus mourning the sudden death of my cousin Michael But the Lord is faithful, and promises not to give us more than we can bear.  Between the valleys there were highpoints.  Moments ...

"I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land.  I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land..."  Ezekiel 22:30 I came across this verse the other day as I was doing my morning devotional.  It stood out to me as I noticed the words "stand in the gap."  I have heard a few people use this phrase when speaking about foster care or adoption and I have always thought it was a way of describing how a person would stand in the gap that is created when a child is found without a home or parents.  But as I read it in this context here, it gave me a whole new perspective of standing in the gap.  Maybe you all have been clued in before now and I am the last to come across this, but I'll share what I have discovered anyway. My Life Application Study Bible has an excerpt at the bottom that helped clarify for me: " The wall spoken of here is not made of stones but...

August was exhausting.  By the end of the month, I felt like we had crammed about 8 weeks into the 4 supposed weeks that made up August.  I'm not sure what made it that way but I have a few theories: -Auction Week -post-vacation recovery (yeah, no one's feeling sorry for me on that one!) - sending our oldest offspring off to Kindergarten -bringing 3 new residents into our house in a span of 8 days -saying goodbye to our alternate houseparents as they leave Gateway for greener different pasture I think it was a combo of all those things.  I am actually kinda fatigued thinking back through it all.  But, I'm thankful that God built in nighttime so that our bodies can at least stop for a few hours and recharge (though, sometimes those hours are fewer than others!) Despite the exhausting circumstances, I managed to take a few pics of some of the events of August. I'm ready for September to bring us a bit more gentle of a schedule. ...

Our apartment, our little haven (this spot is off limits to residents).  Down the hall is 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. OK, I thought I would make a post up about this for all those family members of mine who live a ways a way and don't know all the nuts and bolts of what we do from day to day here at Gateway.  I have thought about doing a post about a typical day for awhile but always had the thought that it's going to come off a bit arrogant - who really wants to know what I do all day?  But in the end, I am deciding to do it most of all for me to look back on some day.  Because someday this will all be past and I am going to think I was pretty crazy to be doing all this.  But blessed, oh so very, crazily blessed. 6:45AM  Wake up.  Roll out of bed.  Instant regret for not going to bed earlier. Get dressed and do about a 10 minute prayer and devotion time.  Paul heads out in the house to get breakfast for the residents and send them o...

10 years ago, despite our lack of a bank account or life experience, Paul and I embarked on the adventure of marriage together. August 24, 2002 Today we celebrate the ups and downs that have made up our last decade.  Between the two of us we have: owned 9 cars worked at 7 jobs lived in 5 homes brought 3 children into this world went through college....twice. And many more things that may or may not ever be mentioned.... Nearly 10 years later - celebrating with a trip to Bermuda I can say I love him more than the day I married him, and no doubt will love him more the day we celebrate another 10 years. I love you, Paul!  I am so glad I get to share life with you and that you are willing to share yours with me!  May God be given ALL the glory! Happy 10 year anniversary!