So, I have this Brita Pitcher-that I LOVE-because our water always tastes like bleach to me. I like knowing my water is clean but bleach in my water is a little too much, thank you.
Anyway, the other day I poured myself a glass of my bleach free water. But, before I could enjoy it I noticed that the bottom of the pitcher looked a little green. No big deal, I just figured there was a stain on my horrid counter top. Nope! I moved the pitcher and the green moved with it. Uh Oh! Turns out that since I don't like to run out of my nice clean, bleach free water and I kept refilling every time it would get a little low, a little film developed on the bottom of my pitcher. YUCK!!!
Now, I struggled with sharing this, cause I tend to worry TOO much what others will think of me. But, it just kept coming back to me and along with it thoughts of them
and the fact that this water is the only choice they have. They don't have the option of a filter to filter out the bleach taste. They don't even have the option of the water WITH the bleach taste. What you see is it. That's what they have every day, and apparently they don't even always have that.
If it takes a little green film on the bottom of my water pitcher to bring the plight of these children back to my mind, or someone thinking I don't keep my stuff clean to bring them to their mind, then I say- " Thank you Jesus for green stuff in my water!" Cause you see, I took that pitcher and I cleaned it out real good and filled it up again with fresh clean water. Those kids can't clean theirs that easily.
Don't you wanna help?
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
You Won't Believe What Tom Said
I am just loving Tom Davis. He is not afraid to say what needs to be said and he doesn't sugarcoat it. He speaks the truth without worrying whose toes he's stepping on. Not speaking words to make himself look good or hurting folks cause he can, but telling us what's wrong and how we can hope to fix it. Isn't that what Jesus did?
This latest article that I just read may offend some. I don't want to hear it myself, but I know I need to. We are not doing enough, there is so much more that could be done. I hate the thought of the people who suffer while we do nothing and I also hate the thought that Jesus is disappointed with us.
Let's live the Red Letters.
This latest article that I just read may offend some. I don't want to hear it myself, but I know I need to. We are not doing enough, there is so much more that could be done. I hate the thought of the people who suffer while we do nothing and I also hate the thought that Jesus is disappointed with us.
Let's live the Red Letters.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Warren and Caiden
The Boys right before they left the hospital.
Uncle Noah holding Warren.
Uncle Austin holding Caiden.
Opi with Caiden. Don't let the tough look fool ya, he is loving being a grandpa. Old Softie! :)
Opi with Warren.
Aren't they CUTE?!
Friday, July 11, 2008
OY VEY!
Gracious Goodness! How the heck do you explain "4 centimeters dilated" to two boys aged 9 and 11 with out going into all the icky details?
Today (or maybe tomorrow) Rickydoodle and I are going to become an Opi and (step)Omi. Twin boys are officially on their way and everyone is sitting around waiting to hear the news. The latest is that she is at four centimeters and this is what prompted the questions from excited soon-to-be uncles.
I am just not ready to have a birds and bees conversation with them. Isn't that why I married Rickydoodle? You can call me "Chicken" if you want to, I'm perfectly fine with that.
Today (or maybe tomorrow) Rickydoodle and I are going to become an Opi and (step)Omi. Twin boys are officially on their way and everyone is sitting around waiting to hear the news. The latest is that she is at four centimeters and this is what prompted the questions from excited soon-to-be uncles.
I am just not ready to have a birds and bees conversation with them. Isn't that why I married Rickydoodle? You can call me "Chicken" if you want to, I'm perfectly fine with that.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Music and Life-When I Wasn't Cool
Okay, so by posting this everyone knows I am officially uncool :)
I remember being in about 5th grade and everyone's talking about what music they listen to. They all insisted they listened to whatever was popular then, I can't remember what. What I do remember is that they emphatically denied listening to country, whatever this horrid country was they hated it and if you listened to it you were NOT cool. So, I said, "I don't listen to country (I knew the stuff I loved was awesome so it couldn't be this country they were talking about) Then, my friend says, "What station do you listen to?" My reply, "Y106" Her reply, "Melissa, that is country"
That's the day I found out country wasn't cool. Oh Well!
I remember being in about 5th grade and everyone's talking about what music they listen to. They all insisted they listened to whatever was popular then, I can't remember what. What I do remember is that they emphatically denied listening to country, whatever this horrid country was they hated it and if you listened to it you were NOT cool. So, I said, "I don't listen to country (I knew the stuff I loved was awesome so it couldn't be this country they were talking about) Then, my friend says, "What station do you listen to?" My reply, "Y106" Her reply, "Melissa, that is country"
That's the day I found out country wasn't cool. Oh Well!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Living the Red Letters
So, last night I said I was going to post about Tom Davis' book "Red Letters" and I am determined that's what I am going to do. So, then, why do I find myself reading everyone's blog that I haven't checked lately and googling silly unimportant stuff? It's not because I don't want to or because I didn't enjoy reading it, I do and I did. I'm pretty sure it's for the same reason that sometimes when I knew I had time to read I would find something else to do or read some silly story that just entertained me for a minute. The enemy knew that there was Truth in that book and he didn't want me to find it, that's why. He wants to keep us distracted from the work that our Father wants us to do. And He does want all of us to be a part of helping those who are in need, I truly believe this. There aren't only a few who are called to go and to serve and that's it. It's left to them. We are ALL called to serve our Brothers and Sisters in need in some form.
Once I would throw off all the distractions and sit down with this book I devoured it. I love how Tom puts real stories of real people in his books. It's so much easier to empathize with a person than to apply emotion to statistics. The stories are all sad and they're all true. There are people hurting all over this world and we are the answer. It sounds so simple but if everyone who calls themselves a Christ-lover would show themselves to be people-lovers a HUGE difference could be made. People's lives could be changed, justice could be served. Little girls should not have to prostitute themselves to feed younger brothers and sisters.
I don't really know what else to say. It's an amazing book with truth that every Christian needs to read, but not just so you can say you've read it. Let it ignite a fire in you, read the stories and imagine if that was your son or daughter. The only reason it's them in the story and not you and your family is just where they happened to be born, the circumstances they happened to have been born into. It could easily have been us or could easily become us.
If you're like me and you want to help but don't know how to get started there are lots of resources in Chapter 10 of "Red Letters" and also on Tom's blog. You could even begin by just helping to provide clean drinking water. I know there is so much more I wish that I could do, but I just keep reminding myself that doing a little bit of something is better than doing nothing at all.
Once I would throw off all the distractions and sit down with this book I devoured it. I love how Tom puts real stories of real people in his books. It's so much easier to empathize with a person than to apply emotion to statistics. The stories are all sad and they're all true. There are people hurting all over this world and we are the answer. It sounds so simple but if everyone who calls themselves a Christ-lover would show themselves to be people-lovers a HUGE difference could be made. People's lives could be changed, justice could be served. Little girls should not have to prostitute themselves to feed younger brothers and sisters.
I don't really know what else to say. It's an amazing book with truth that every Christian needs to read, but not just so you can say you've read it. Let it ignite a fire in you, read the stories and imagine if that was your son or daughter. The only reason it's them in the story and not you and your family is just where they happened to be born, the circumstances they happened to have been born into. It could easily have been us or could easily become us.
If you're like me and you want to help but don't know how to get started there are lots of resources in Chapter 10 of "Red Letters" and also on Tom's blog. You could even begin by just helping to provide clean drinking water. I know there is so much more I wish that I could do, but I just keep reminding myself that doing a little bit of something is better than doing nothing at all.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Redeeming Waters
I just finished reading Tom Davis' new book, "Red Letters-Living a Faith that Bleeds" and I'm going to blog about it, hopefully, tomorrow. Tonight, though, I stopped by Brandi's and after reading this post felt compelled to help.
Watch the video and maybe you'll feel led to live out the "Red Letters" as well.
I don't think you could read the book and not feel called to make a difference in some way. I couldn't look at the faces of those kids, hear the statistics, and look at their water without feeling I could do a little bit of something. I wouldn't want my own kids to have to drink that water, and Jesus doesn't want His children to have to drink it either. That's why He asks us to be His Hands and Feet.
Watch the video and maybe you'll feel led to live out the "Red Letters" as well.
I don't think you could read the book and not feel called to make a difference in some way. I couldn't look at the faces of those kids, hear the statistics, and look at their water without feeling I could do a little bit of something. I wouldn't want my own kids to have to drink that water, and Jesus doesn't want His children to have to drink it either. That's why He asks us to be His Hands and Feet.
Adoption Induced Insanity?
I either drank some spiked coffee at church this morning or the adoption/homestudy stress has driven me over the deep end. I'll tell you what's going on and you can weigh in with a diagnosis, how's that? But, be nice.
As we are driving home Rickydoodle stops at a stoplight and the Missy-mobile is not slowing down fast enough for my liking. Ricky actually does this on purpose cause he likes to see me hold onto that holder-on thing, I think. Usually I fuss at him and he says he's driving not me and I stick my tongue out at him. This time I grabbed the holder-on thing and said really loud, "EEEEAARRRCCCHHHHHH!!" (you know, the tire squeal noise little boys make when they play cars? See what I mean about too much testosterone?) My kids thought that was great and they all laughed so hard the folks next to us made sure to beat a retreat out of there as soon as the light turned green. I haven't made that sound since I used to play cars with the boys when they were little. I'm still laughing about it now and Mojo keeps looking at me like this:
Yeah, I have taken a turn around the bend.
As we are driving home Rickydoodle stops at a stoplight and the Missy-mobile is not slowing down fast enough for my liking. Ricky actually does this on purpose cause he likes to see me hold onto that holder-on thing, I think. Usually I fuss at him and he says he's driving not me and I stick my tongue out at him. This time I grabbed the holder-on thing and said really loud, "EEEEAARRRCCCHHHHHH!!" (you know, the tire squeal noise little boys make when they play cars? See what I mean about too much testosterone?) My kids thought that was great and they all laughed so hard the folks next to us made sure to beat a retreat out of there as soon as the light turned green. I haven't made that sound since I used to play cars with the boys when they were little. I'm still laughing about it now and Mojo keeps looking at me like this:
Yeah, I have taken a turn around the bend.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
They Chose Him?! What The......!
You have got to see this. I am totally in shock. I never thought he should have won and now I know he shouldn't have!
After you watch this you could google Bush House vs Gore House and see what you think about that. There seem to be a lot of opinions and some will say that it's "Right-wing propaganda", but I read articles from both sides and research things and didn't find any proof that it was made up.
After you watch this you could google Bush House vs Gore House and see what you think about that. There seem to be a lot of opinions and some will say that it's "Right-wing propaganda", but I read articles from both sides and research things and didn't find any proof that it was made up.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Disappointment
We met with our SW yesterday and she does not want to finish our home study. She believed us that we really did everything we could in the situation with our former foster children and the the agency hung us out to try but she thinks we should not adopt at this time. That we should put our "energies to help a child into other endeavors". We don't want to "help" a child we want to add to our family.
We are disappointed and I hate that we have lost the money that we paid to her. However, we are going to move forward with our PRIDE training and see what the future brings us. Plus, after everything, we are just glad to not have to deal with her anymore. This also means that we won't be adopting LB*, I hope that a family comes forward for her.
Maybe I have been trying on my own to make this happen and not really listening to my Father. It's hard but I think all of this has forced me to step back and give up control.
*If anyone knows of a family looking for a little girl around 6 with a gorgeous smile and sweet personality please contact me. She does have CP and is nonverbal, she uses a ponywalker and a wheelchair to be mobile and a supertalker to communicate. There is a video her agency will send to interested families.
We are disappointed and I hate that we have lost the money that we paid to her. However, we are going to move forward with our PRIDE training and see what the future brings us. Plus, after everything, we are just glad to not have to deal with her anymore. This also means that we won't be adopting LB*, I hope that a family comes forward for her.
Maybe I have been trying on my own to make this happen and not really listening to my Father. It's hard but I think all of this has forced me to step back and give up control.
*If anyone knows of a family looking for a little girl around 6 with a gorgeous smile and sweet personality please contact me. She does have CP and is nonverbal, she uses a ponywalker and a wheelchair to be mobile and a supertalker to communicate. There is a video her agency will send to interested families.
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