Our Covenant-What Are We Telling Them

Gather to Me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!" Psalm 50:5

I just think that it is so perfect to be studying and thinking on the LORDs Hebrew name in our book study this week - Yahweh Yireh - The LORD Will Provide. The key scripture for this study is Genesis 22:13-14, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of the place, "The LORD will provide."
This week many are enjoying Passover and Easter. The Psalm 50:5 verse fits so well into the study of the name, Yahweh Yireh. We should gather our children to us, as the LORD gathers us, and teach them that the LORD, Yahweh Yireh, has provided the needed Sacrifce so that we can be in covenant with Him. We could never offer a sacrifice that would cover our sins. However, if we will, like Abraham, lift up our eyes and look and thankfully accept The Lamb, Jesus, as our sacrifice, we can joyfully teach our children the truth of our relationship with God...our sins can now be "passed over" because of the blood of The Lamb, and we can now enjoy a forever relationship with our Heavenly Father. The LORD has provided all we need to be in covenant with Him. We have no more sacrifices to offer...He already did it. 

I believe that we as parents must take these verses to heart...let's gather our children to us and teach them about the Old Testament Passover, and teach them about our New Testament Lamb, Jesus, and our precious Yahweh Yireh, who has, and will always provide all that we need.

"I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations: therefore nations will praise You forever and ever."

Double Adorableness

I surprised my two little girl darlin's with these adorable dresses (actually, we got four of them, because they are SO CUTE). I found Sallee at It's Poppy Dip through another blog friend and I am so glad that I did. 

In fact, Joeliana and Alia love them so much I am sure that I am going to have to order more...and I am going to have to beg Sallee for a larger size for Caresse also!! The prices are great, so I hope that you will visit her blog and  help support their adoption with these cute dresses. 
By the way, Joeliana's hair is finally getting longer...long enough for box braids all over, but not really long enough for cornrows yet. So we still keep it loose most of the time. And Alia's hair needed a break from the tiny cornrows, so I did something different. I put in the cornrow along the front, then did medium size twists all over her head (held at the end with clips). Then today, I took the twist out and fluffed her hair out. I am in love with this style, though it will not really last more than a day or two. Of course, I could probably re twist at night and then re fluff the next day...

Stuck Stitch

Caresse is doing really good, however, she has been saying that there was a sore spot on her scar. I knew what it was and I also knew it just needed time. Well, tonight was the time. We had to dig out a stitch that had not dissolved. It hurt, but it's out. We are about to have our 3 month post adoption meeting with our social worker....so a quick update...everyone is feeling better except Keshawn. I am hoping that his medicine helps him to feel better soon. Can you believe that he has been home for 3 months. I feel like he was ALWAYS mine and I can not imagine my live with out him. 

Ours days are still pretty hard with Keshawn not feeling well. Our home was A MESS, so Sunday, Steve, Kalyn and I really worked hard to get things back in order and clean. We did a short Passover celebration tonight. Steve and I feel it is so important to teach our children about the Biblical Holidays. 

Must run to get ready for the social worker....

 

Dramatic Black and White

What a fun challenge at I Heart Faces this week... they want to see dramatic black and white photos. I always love the "feel" of black and whites so this photo was fun to play with. All the open beach around Keshawn just seems perfect.
Be sure to visit I Heart Faces and play along or just get motivated.

Time for Rest and Prayer for a Sweet Friend

Three little darlin's ....








...plus one little baby darlin' equals four sick little darlin's. They have sour throats and ear infections. 

My friend, Emily at Outnumbered! got me motivated here a few weeks back with this post about books and puzzles. So, since I was in town for a dr.'s appointment for the sick darlin's I picked up the above puzzle, and then to my delight, when I got home I had received the above music CD that I had won over at Jill's.
 



Well, today seemed like the perfect day to put on this worship music and work on the puzzle for school. Keshawn needs held almost constantly, so I put him in my Ergo and we enjoyed our morning. 

And do you know what this picture says to me...
"Your little boy still has a little bit of "baby" in his face", and that makes me a little sad because he is growing so quickly.

Speaking of baby, THE baby, Keshawn has been taking some of his first steps today, when he lets us put him down. However, I haven't been able to get a picture yet...may be this weekend.













My precious friend Adeye is leaving this weekend to bring home her sweet daughters.  


Please keep her and her family in your prayers! What an adventure they are living with the LORD, El Olam!!

He Is Home

Steve was able to finally get home tonight. He walked in and asked Kalyn and I to get winter dressed to come outside and help dig out the car that he uses for work. There is no way it was going to make it up our long drive way to the house.

So our greatest hope was to dig it out since it was high centered on the snow, dig a "parking lot" for it to sit in out of the way of the snow plows and...

...turn it around so that the front wheel drive could pull Steve out in the morning (without my help), to go to work. Sometime later, we succeeded, came in and feed children, gave Keshawn his medicine, which he threw up, bathed a few stinky bodies, cleaned up a REALLY messy kitchen and are now trying to get every one in bed. 
Thank you all again, for prayer and sweet comments...
is tomorrow Friday???

El Olam-Eternal One

El Olam...Everlasting God. 
We have all been disappointed in someone...may be they didn't keep a promise, didn't show up, we have hurt feelings, sad thoughts. May be we have experienced betrayal, lies, deception...we feel left alone.
As we began our study of El Olam this week...the thing that I loved from the start was that this Hebrew word is applied to God and His laws, promises, covenant, and kingdom. 
One of the verses to meditate on today is Isaiah 46:4
"...even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear: I will carry and will save."
The LORD is emphasizing His commitments to His people...to you and to me. See God is and always will be WHO HE IS...He can be nothing less...
So, He is a Promise Keeping God, a Covenant Keeping God. He has established His laws to protect and provide and His Kingdom is being made ready for the day it is time to come Home. 
El Olam has made and promises to bear, to carry and to save. 
"The LORD is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." (Is. 40:28-19) Do we believe this? 
I was tired last night, especially when I found out that Steve couldn't get home. I felt faint and needed strength and energy. However, will I look to my abilities for this? I already know, I will come up lacking....
or
will, I ask El Olam to increase my strength and renew my energy? 
If I have faith in "my faith" that the LORD will increase my strength and renew my energy, I am pretty much doomed because sometimes my emotions get in the way of my belief. I "want" to believe, but I'm afraid. I think that is what we do sometimes.
However, IF I have faith in WHO He is, the Everlasting God, who does not faint or grow weary; my LORD, who said that He would give me strength and energy when I need it to do what I need to do (for His glory, not mine), I can rest because He cannot change and He has even assured me of His commitment to me (for those times that I need reminding of His Love).  
El Olam had made a covenant with us, and HE will keep it. 
If you would like to read more about the Names of God, please visit Jill's blog and I pray that you are encouraged!

Not Comin' Home

Steve has been trying for two hours to get home, but this winter storm hit harder than we thought. He will spend the night sleeping on a chair in town at his work office (to save money at a hotel). The down side...I took Keshawn to the Dr. because he has really become sick with the symptoms of RSV, which, sure enough he has...and the medicine that he needs is at the Walgreens that Steve can't get to because of the winter storm. So I am at home (with a low fever myself) with no medicine for Keshawn and no husband and it is a Blizzard outside. I guess if Keshawn gets bad tonightI will have to call 911...so I am praying that we can hold our own for now. Steve is calling our dr. to see if we can use Corbin's asthma meds to help keep Keshawn out of the red.
Sorry no pictures...
on a funny side, Alia asked me if she could take her dolls to Heaven...I decided that the LORD could handle this, so I said,
"Well, you will have to ask God."
Alia said "What if He says no?"
Quick thinkin', I said, "Well, He must have something better for you."
She said "And if He says 'Yes', I am going to hold on to my dolls really tight when I go."
Me..."Yes, baby, that is a great plan."
So, we are headed off to bed, holding our dolls tights, and praying for sick babies to feel better soon.

Some of This, Some of That

I'm reading this....

...doing lots of this....

...hoping they pick up all of that....

...taking care of 7 of these...

...had a craving for this...

...hope to play with actions on this...

...and find strength and encouragement here.

Yes, seven of the children are sick! We are praying to keep Corbin's asthma under control! Not getting much sleep, since Steve and I are up a lot at night with someone who needs comforting. We still did some school today and have heard that another snow storm is rolling through here tomorrow. 

Time to clean up the kitchen and put sickies down for a nap. 

I Heart Faces - Focusing On Angles

It has been some time since I have submitted anything to I Heart Faces, but this week was so fun and I just got this cute picture of Keshawn a few days ago, before the snow rolled in again. 
The challenge this week is "Focusing on Angles"...

If you would like to join in and just want to be inspired by other "Angled" photos then visit I Heart Faces.

From Kalyn

Motherhood

When the night comes to claim its due
As the sun bids us farewell with its last magnificent hue
Softly through the house she goes
On her back the joy’s of the day and its woes

Gently bending to plant a kiss
Upon each brow, not one shall she miss
Not till each child has laid down their head
And each last blossom has gone to bed

Shall she lay down in peaceful bliss
With her Father in heaven sending down on the moon beams a loving kiss
Thou the days can be long and weary
And not all misshapes are cute and funny

Still each day she rises to do her best
At raising her young and maintaining her nest
It is with a thankful heart she greets each morning
And prepares for what the day shall bring

Though tears should flow all day
And fights break out along the way
And when in exhaustion she lays down her head
And prays to God to give her strength to walk down the path she’s lead

When she see’s that smile break across her little ones face
And the princesses come up all dressed in lace
When her child succeeds and does their best
Then all her miss giving’s and fears fly away as far as the east is from the west

This is a subject dear to my heart
And I know of no other way to share my gratefulness except to sing it like a lark
Together we go through rain and hail
And sometimes we stand tall, at other times we fail

I write what is close to my heart, my joys and passions
And I just can’t go for long with this to mention
I love my mother she is everything to me
She is my model and everything in life I could hope to be

So cheers to the mothers one and all
Who answered life’s greatest call
To love and to cherish the gifts that God has given them
So from one extremely grateful and thankful daughter’s heart I love you mom and that’s the best I know how to say it.

Shrinking Their World

This is what happens when mommy is trying to wash dishes and four small children decide to disobey Mommy. I call it "shrinking their world". Time in beside Mommy.
 Keshawn didn't disobey of course, he just wanted to check out the situation.

"Ready for Screws in Your Head?"

That's what the dentist asked Kalyn this morning. (We LOVE our dentist by the way!!! They have blessed us in more ways than I could count now for over 20 years.)
In the past I have mentioned that my pregnancies where very serious...I was SOOO sick. The doctors tried different meds to help me along during my pregnancy with Kalyn and one had the risk of causing teeth problems for the baby. Sure enough, when her baby teeth came in, two were missing. X-rays revealed that there were also no permanent teeth to come into those spots. So for Kalyn, it has been almost a life time of living with spacers or braces or "flippers" to keep those spaces open till the day it was time for permanent post to be implanted. Well, today was the day. We were both nervous as we gathered 9 sleepy children into the car at 7:00 this morning to get to town for the appointment. 
I am so grateful for our dentists...and the one that did the post today is excellent. The posts basically had to be "threaded like a needle" to avoid damage to the other teeth roots. He did an amazing job. I stayed with Kalyn while Caresse (who has been sick, throwing up for two days), watched the children in the van. I parked the van right outside the window so that I could watch them and be with Kalyn. They just had to wave a hand out the window if they needed me (which was only once in the 2 hours that we were there.)
Kalyn was very numb after wards...she couldn't even feel her nose! She is doing pretty good now. 
Want to see the posts?

This had been a long wait for Kalyn and we are so glad to have this part done. We go back in a few weeks for impressions and then a few weeks later we go back to get her new teeth put in. Kalyn has been so brave and is so excited that soon she will have teeth.
So, that has been our day. 
It is really warm outside, so the children are getting some wonderful sunshine and exercise. I am going to join them with a book I think!!

My Journey with El Shadday

In our book study, Praying the Names of God, the first chapter on Elohim was easy...I love the LORD's creation and studying about His name as the Mighty Creator was wonderful.
Next came El Roi-the God Who Sees Me...what a comfort it is to reflect on the truth of this Name.
This week our meditation is on the LORD's name, El Shadday.

 Guess what...
studying this name of the LORD is not as "warm and fuzzy" as the other two were. As I meditate on God Almighty, my thoughts turn to some difficult times in my life...
-a very rebellious and at times dangerous teenage period;
-dating and almost marrying an abusive man;
-moving to Colorado away from my family...so many mistakes I made as a young woman;
-three pregnancies that were life-threatening to the babies and myself...with each pregnancy becoming more difficult than the last, and realizing after the birth of our 3rd child that we would not be able to have any more children as we had dreamed of;
-several unexpected health issues and surgeries for me;
-the unbelievable stress of an adoption in a foreign country where we were unable to bring home a girl, almost lost our son, and did loose thousands of dollars;
-marriage crisis when I found out about addictions and lies (Steve wouldn't mind me sharing that, so don't worry):
-financial crisis;
-a real time in my life of being out in "deep" waters and praying that the LORD would save us all;
-the loss of triplets and then the death of twins;
-extreme battles several times to bring our children home;  
-a crushing accident to my mother;
and other, more personal things come to my mind.
So why, when I study El Shadday, do these painful moments come to my mind?
What about the good moments, the blessings?
I think for me personally, it is because without God Almighty, my covenant keeping God, I would not have survived many of those times. There were some times I didn't think I would...
But He has shown me in my darkest hours, deepest fears, greatest struggles, driest deserts, and times of despair that He is my All-Powerful God, the One who is able to sustain and bless me, to fulfill every promise He makes. Would I have seen His power, His love if everything always went just wonderful? I want to follow him faithfully, always believing He is enough for me and that His Almighty Power is every working out His will for me and that He will keep His Covenant promises to me. And it is partly BECAUSE of those difficult times that I stand in awe and fear of El Shadday and I believe in His ability and desire to help me. 
Times of trials will come...we must believe the TRUTH that El Shadday is mighty to save...I have personally seen it!

Mercy-I'm Tired!

Does anyone else hate this time change? I do. It really messes up the little darlin's sleep schedule (and mine!). 
We were blessed with such a sweet time with my parents this weekend. My children call them "Gommy" and "Dandy"...such cute names, huh?

One of our favorite things to do is to play dominoes and cards. Yes, that is a picture of my mom behind Kiana - she was 16. She was beautiful then, and she is still the most beautiful lady I know!

Garett had fun showing Dandy and Gommy how well he is reading.
My parents are such a blessing to us and I am so glad that they came to play with us a few days. The children LOVE them and my parents love to spend time with them. They also set an example of valuing people...no matter what their age.  Today they are driving back to Texas.

During one of our games, I came into the family room to find that Aiden had wrapped Keshawn up in two long armed frogs.














It was funny watching Keshawn try to crawl around like this. Aiden has so much fun with his little brother. Keshawn hasn't been feeling well this weekend. He is really fussy. I am praying for a miracle this afternoon...getting 5 small children to sleep at the same time so that I can sleep.

Off to do lunch....

Joy in the Mothering

Prov. 31:27 "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." 
O.K, I know that some time later in her life, IF Alia finds this picture...well, I hope she has a great sense of humor and laughs, like I do every time I look at it. Kalyn took this picture this past summer on one of our camping trips. Forget about the admonition "Don't play with your food."... "for heaven-sake, don't play with your eating utensils!"

I am busy getting the house cleaned up. We are looking forward to a visit from my parents this weekend. Caresse is hurting, but doing very well. Thank you for your prayers for her. 

I am seeing some habits in our home that I need to work on. I am feeling frustrated that I haven't done a better job dealing with some issues in myself and my children. So, starting next week I am going to focus on one character quality for a week and also some basic family guide lines - you know, like "Don't pick up the chair and throw it at your siblings." (Just kidding, only Aiden is strong enough for this, and I have said it to him, but I probably don't need to make it a "family guide line...LOL). Actually, I'm still trying to figure out the family guide lines...as the four younger ones have become older I need to do more training and less reacting. I'll let you know how that goes...
I have been rehit with an important motherhood truth...."MAN, THIS JOB IS HARD!" So, I am also working on my attitude...I want to ENJOY my children!
What are some ways that ya'll (I am from Texas...) find to enjoy this wonderful job of mothering?

Wordless Wednesday

El Roi

El Roi - The God Who Sees Me....thank you for Your watchful care of me; for seeing me, especially when I am in lonely and difficult places. Thank you that You are always near, helping me find a path through my days-never alone! Amen

The Pursuit of Happiness?

"I've read so many verses that reveal God's desire for me to value what He values and to help those around me. How, then, should I live? How can I love what God treasures instead of pursuing what the world treasures?"
The above was taken from a wonderful devotional called Hope Lives. The question is a real thought stopper. The last year, or more, the LORD has really been showing me how very rich I am and the many ways that we have fallen subconsciously into reaching the next level of American achievement. 


"1 Timothy 6:6 "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." 
We've been some-what trained into pursuing our own happiness and thinking that nothing is wrong with that. Is it wrong to pursue our own happiness? The funny thing is, I think this is the wrong question to ask. But before I can treasure what God treasures, I better deal with something ... do I trust the LORD with my happiness enough to let it go? 

A funny little thing happened when Steve and I felt "that feeling" that the LORD wanted us to bring home another child. We kept putting to death what "we wanted"...financial security, acceptance from others, time for "me" ("you know, you can't be happy and healthy if you don't have time for YOU" we've been told); new carpet and tile, vacations (thanks Mom and Dad, without you, we really wouldn't go anywhere); additions to the house; and on and on the list could go. The funny thing that happened? We became happier as we followed God's leading to minister to the least, the most vulnerable, the smallest person who is greatest at risk. I have become more grateful for what we do have and desire less what the "world" might say I need. 

1 Tim. 6:17-18 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generosity and willing to share"

I have seen my parents live this out their whole lives! When I was very young, we were VERY poor...no exaggeration! It never mattered. If someone needed something, my parents always helped or shared in any way they could. 
In the devotional Hope Lives, the author writes "Relationship is central to Christianity - The most important commandment is to love God, and the second is to love your neighbor. I think this applies to wealth. I'm to accept it as a loving gift from my Father, and I'm to enjoy it in relationship with other people. It's all about relationships; it's nothing to do with money." 
I have seen this lived out in my parents, whether there was little or lots, people were always more important than the money, and the money was just there (small of big) to be used in serving the LORD and loving others. 
Back to "How can I love what God treasures instead of pursuing what the world treasures? and can the Pursuit of Happiness be apart of this question? (Not THE question). 
Listen to what Paul has to say about pursuing what the world treasures..."...for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." (1 Tim. 6:7-10). 

When I love others by giving to them from what the LORD has entrusted to me, and serving them from my heart, especially the poor, sick, widowed, orphaned and hurting, what the world treasures will no longer entice me (well, may be clothes...but I'm trying to get better at that!). And by pursuing the happiness of others I will find my own happiness.

I'm In Love!!

It is very hard to find good sheets for our king size bed that we can afford. I have tried a lot, and have always been disappointed...they don't fit well and wear out to quickly. Some time back I accidentally stumbled onto Cara's blog and her store, the Sheet Boutique .

We were needed new sheets, AGAIN, so I decided to give the Fleece sheets a try. My first thought that night as we slept in our new sheets was "Oh My Gosh, I am in love with these sheets." After several weeks, I can say, I am still in love! First, they fit our very deep bed very well. And second, they are just so darn comfortable. 

Did I tell you how SOFT they are!!! Also, Cara was extremely helpful and I will always buy my bedding from her. So you must go try these...I promise, THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. We also bought the Bamboo cotton sheets. And we love those too.

This is what Cara's shop says about the Bamboo sheets...." A soft, delightful fusion of Bamboo cotton combined with Egypt's legendary cotton to produce a soft, strong, and silky fabric that is naturally breathable and eco-friendly. Cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and silky soft all year round, you are sure to love this wonderful new bedding!"

  

I'm also in love with this little one! Just in case I haven't shown you his adorableness in the last 48 hours.