Before and After

We've had strep throat lurking around our house.  Nadia was the first to come down with it last weekend.

 She went from a runny nose on Friday morning to a full blown case of strep by Saturday morning...poor baby. She couldn't keep her hands out of her mouth so anyone who held her during her non-diagnosed, contagious time was highly exposed.

So far, my niece and I have both come down with it as well. :(

All I can say is, "Thank God for antibiotics!"

She is a new person just a few days later as she gets ready to go to school.

"Bye Mom, hope you feel better...take a nap today ok?"  Yes, I will!!!

Praying this one doesn't get it! (I think the four-legged one is immune) Josi and illnesses go together like oil and water...like Republicans and Democrats...like NC State fans and Carolina fans....ok, you get the picture.  Prayers would be appreciated. :) :) :)

It's Baaaack...

Hockey that is!

We are a sports loving family, and one of the things we've been missing are our family outings to the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Games!

(For those of you non-sports people--there was a player lockout, that lasted 116 days, that ended recently once management and players agreed on a new contract...or something like that)

Last night was our first home game!

We dressed in our Hurricanes' Gear and eagerly anticipated leaving to be there in time for the puck drop.

(I know Nadia doesn't look too excited but trust me...she is)

Almost the whole gang is ready...waiting on the eldest and the leader of the pack.

(Nadia's not sure why she has to pose for pictures when we said we were leaving soon)

Josi and Michael, however, are doing their best to pose AND manage the wiggly worm.

"OK, I'm smiling...now can I get down and get in the car?"

"One more?  OK, but that's it puleease!"

"Woo Hoo!  Here we go!  GO CANES!

So we ended up losing...handily...to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  BUT, that's not why we go...although a win is definitely the icing on the cake.

  We love the family memories we are making and also the awareness that is made possible when crowds see our 2 girls out doing what other girls their age might be doing with their families.

  Oh sure, we get some stares and a few double-takes now and then (not often, though), but mostly we get opportunities for a conversation here and there about special needs, adoption, inclusion, etc. and usually lots of smiles when people see our 2 beauties cheering on the CANES like the rest of the fans!  

Just a small, fun way we can espouse the positives of special needs in our little neck of the woods... which is always a Win!

A Change of Hats!

Remember this little girl in the white hat?

During our visits to the orphanage  getting to know Nadia, she was rarely without this beautiful, eyelet, white hat.

She was quite subdued during most of our visits.  It probably had a lot to do with the heat, but even moreso, I think it's the boredom that came with life in an orphanage where there was little interaction, stimulation, and/or playing in general...like a 2yr. old needs.

 .

Sure, she showed some interest in her surroundings and was engaged at times with us. But she would very quickly go back to that place of being subdued and "into herself" for lack of a better explanation.

We saw sparks of her personality now and then but mostly we saw a sleepy, lethargic "baby" who preferred napping to exploring/playing/learning.

 We had to fight to keep her awake when we took her on stroller rides around the orphanage grounds. (Didn't want to mess up her 2-a day nap schedule for the workers!)

Here is that same little girl 2.5 years later wearing a different hat!

She is SO full of life and has more energy than most 5yr. olds that I know!

She can still be contemplative and quiet at times...but now I attribute it more to those wheels turning inside her head rather than all-out boredom and lethargy.

She has a wide range of moods and personality traits that have blossomed in the last few years.

She is surrounded by love, learning, and she is moving along at her own pace.

She has gone from wearing the hat of an orphan to that of a beloved member in our family.

And THAT change of hats makes all the difference in the world in the life of a child.

There are MANY (too many) newly listed children on Reece's Rainbow who also need a change in 2013. Will you be that family to make the difference in the life of one of those children? 

Would you consider popping onto the website and consider what your role might be in changing the life of a child? There are many families out there whose only roadblock to adopting is the financial end of things.  They are more than willing to bring a special needs child into their family--the desire is there! Please consider putting whatever amount you are able into the account of one or more of these children so they too can be home posing (somewhat reluctantly :)) for a photo shoot with their new Mom or Dad!

Quote for 2013

I want my life in 2013 to be an illustration of this quote that I've always loved:

“Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, “Oh no, she’s awake.” –unknown

I'm tired of living my life as a somewhat lukewarm Christian who:

-- is either acting/feeling more or less Christ-like depending on the circumstances I'm going through.

-- tends to blame others for my anger and lack of patience or otherwise un-Christ-like behavior.

-- tends to question why things happen rather than trusting that God's got my back AND has an ultimate glorious plan, regardless of the pain I may be experiencing in the here and now.

--wants God's blessings to be in the form of comfort and ease.

--takes control of things because releasing the outcome may mean things not working out the way I want them to.

God has taught me a lot in 2012 about my lack of trust that leads to lack of contentment in my life.  It's easy to trust God and to espouse His goodness to others when things are going well.  But when trials come that knock you off your feet and you come face to face with your faith, you have to make sure that what you believe to be real is really what you believe.

I spent a lot of 2012 face to face with my faith and what I discovered was this gap between my heart and my head of what I knew to be true about God, and my faith in His goodness and plan for my life. I knew His promises to be true, but I didn't feel as though they always applied to me as I went through hardships. 

So because of that gap, I've purposed to spend my quiet time in 2013 scouring the Bible for what it says about God's character and what it says about God's promises.  In doing so, I hope to be more aware of the many, many blessings God places in my life...whether in the form of wonderful things or things I wouldn't deem wonderful if looking at them through my own lense.

I pray that whatever God has laid on your heart for 2013 that you too would give Satan reason to shudder when your feet hit the floor in the morning.  I certainly don't want to give Satan a reason to sit back and relax this year...do you???

Happy New Year!!

Peace on Earth

 Two definitions of peace--1 from a man-written dictionary and the other from the divine inspiration of  God:

 

1.peace (from Bing online dictionary)

[ peess ]

freedom from war: freedom from war, or the time when a war or conflict ends

tranquility: a calm and quiet state, free from disturbances or noise

mental calm: a state of mental calm and serenity, with no anxiety

2.Most know that the Hebrew word shalom is understood around the world to mean "peace." However, "peace" is only one small part of the meaning .According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony.

Last year at Christmas as I was dealing with the loss of my father as well as some other life disappointments, I found myself lacking peace.  I was desperately longing for the type of peace that the world defines as a "state of mental calm with no anxiety."  Basically I was hoping to find peace by no longer having troubles, hard circumstances, and pain.  Freedom from....fill in the blank.

However, the bible clearly states in the book of John, ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

None of us are exempt from trouble...that is a biblical fact.  However, the bible is also filled with many promises of shalom-peace.  Including the biblical account of Jesus' birth where the angels are proclaiming the good news to the shepherds saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14.

This is not the type of peace the world tries to deliver that requires the ABSENCE of something.  It is the shalom kind of peace that God offers.  The complete, whole, perfect, filling type of peace. Not the absence of something, but the presence of the only One who can complete and fill us with that type of tranquility and rest that we all long for.

This Christmas I am resting more in His promises than struggling to figure out the why's of difficulties.  I am not praying for the absence of difficulties but rather for the filling up of the Holy Spirit...daily...hourly...to truly experience rest.

 Are you struggling to find peace this Christmas season?  Are you grasping at a peace that can only occur if there is the absence of something? Peace on Earth is only possible in the souls of those who know God as their Saviour. John 6:38-40 says it like this: ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Look to the Son and believe in him and you too can have eternal life...and while you're here...Peace on Earth!  And that's a promise from the Prince of Peace himself--"Sar Shalom."

Merry Christmas!

Fun Foto Friday

This is how I found Cutie Pie when I went to check on her before I went to bed the other night! :)

Josi wanted to braid my hair the other day and since I'd be crazy not to take her up on her offer, I proudly displayed my new 'do' for all to enjoy.  Even Nadia's bus driver liked the new look. ha ha

I think it turned out pretty cool, but most importantly, I enjoyed some much needed mother/daughter time with my teenager!

Hope you have a Fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday

 

OK so I'm 2 weeks late in posting Thanksgiving pictures. My Christmas cards went out today, though, so that should count for something right?

 

Anyway, this year's theme which has truly been my theme for the past year, was written on pumpkins in the middle of the floral display to remind me of what I want my mindset to be at ALL times...not just on Thanksgiving:

 

REMEMBER who He is.

THANK Him for what He has done in the past.

TRUST Him for what He will do in the future.

My  heart overflows with gratitude for the family that lives within our four walls and the ones we get to do life with and share special moments with as shown in the following pictures!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's all carry a mindset of gratitude into the Christmas season as we:

 

Remember who He is--the One who sent His Son to be born and live among men.

Thank Him for what He has done in the past--in allowing His Son to die on a cross for our sins.

Trust Him for what He will do in the future--take those who have received Him as Saviour and King into Heaven for all of eternity!!!

 

How can we NOT be thankful when we focus on that!!!