Decision Making

Our pastor preached a sermon today and I have a good friend who needs this wisdom right now. So, this blog post is for my friend, but I pray it will bless everyone who reads it.

Here's his list of the 5 steps to take when making a decision:

1. Eliminate unbiblical options.
"I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11

2. Pray for God's wisdom.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

3. Yield to the Holy Spirit's leading.
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John 16:13-14

4. Get Godly counsel. 
"Make plans by seeking advice.." Proverbs 20:18

5. Trust God's sovereignty.
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13 

Happy Birthday, Grandmommy!

Today is my Grandmommy's birthday. I hope there are birthday parties in Heaven and that she is celebrating big today. She would've been 92 this year. She's been with Jesus for 12 years now, but I still think of her every day. She had a HUGE impact on my life. Just this picture alone brings back so many memories. We went shopping for her dress together at the Bealls in Bryan. She knew purple is my favorite color and I just know she picked it for me.:) My Grandmommy taught me so many things. Here's a short list:

1. how to make the BEST homemade mac & cheese
2. a love of nature and gardening (hey, I have the love, just not the time right now!)
3. how to be a Godly, submissive wife
4. food made at home beats any restaurant food
5. the country life is the BEST way of life
6. the joy of a porch swing

Most important of all, Grandmommy taught me about God. She took me to church and to VBS every time I was at her house. I would wake up early in the morning, but she had always gotten up first and had her morning drink (Tang+instant tea---blech!) and her Bible. Grandmommy loved the Lord with all of her heart, mind, soul, and strength, and lived her life for His glory. Every time she would write me a letter or call me, she always ended by telling me she was praying for me.

She even helped start a mission church in her little town and went to great detail to plant many flowers and organize a prayer garden. She started a Crisis Center for the needy in town. She spent countless hours collecting and organizing donations so the less fortunate would be blessed.

I miss her tons and I think about how happy she would be to see us living the country life with our family. She would love my boys so much and they would adore her, I just know it. I tell them about her all of the time and show them pictures. She left a legacy that I can only hope to leave for my family.

I was able to spend her last few minutes on earth by her side and I read Psalm 23 to her over and over. I had put the Bible in her lap and put her hand on top of it. Somehow, maybe through a prick the nurse had made in her finger for a blood test, a drop of blood fell from her finger onto this verse. It brought such joy to me because even in her unconscious state, it was like she was letting me know how filled with joy she would be in God's presence.

"I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8

I am so thankful for all that Grandmommy invested in my life--many, many summers, many drives to Frankston to meet my Mom halfway, many trips to MP to see dance shows and football games, numerous shopping trips, and most of all, the TIME she gave to me.  I thank the Lord for giving me a grandmother like her. Not every girl is as blessed as I was. Her legacy will live on for generations to come.

Today's Update from Dixie

This was Dixie's blog post today. It is good news. IBESR is the equivalent of Social Services in Haiti and apparently they are really backed up right now. Our dossier will not go to IBESR until we have our proposal.  I especially like the part that says, "we will continue to propose children"! That is what we are waiting for!

IBESR to restructure during the next month…

Posted by Dixie

IBESR will not be taking new dossiers until the 1st of June in an effort to complete studying and authorizing the ones already sitting on their desks and also finish the ones that have been given dispensations in the last few weeks. 
According to a source, the director of IBESR is wanting to clear the dossiers that have been sitting for some time waiting for approval.  There were many in IBESR when she took over the position of Director in November 2011.  None were signed until after February 2012 and so they are way behind.
We will continue to propose children and prepare dossiers so that on the 1st of June, dossiers can be turned into IBESR.  We are looking at this as a good opportunity for IBESR to clear their work load and prepare for the new dossiers that will be ready and waiting in June!

Waiting

I started this post and realized I have posted before with this title. I'm sure it won't be the last. : ) This weekend, we got a newsletter from GLA in the snail mail. These newsletters are better than the Sears catalog at Christmas because they have pictures of every baby at GLA. My 2 favorites (I know I shouldn't, but I do) from the Christmas newsletter are still in there. We have all had fun looking at the pictures and dreaming about which one might be our Gracie. Every child at GLA is beautiful and adorable and I would be honored to be the Mommy of any of them. Haitian people are just beautiful, that's the bottom line.

This week at Bible study, my leader asked me if I had an update to share. I told her that we don't really get updates. We're just waiting on "the" email with our referral. Her comment was, "Oh, I don't see how you are doing it!"

My immediate feelings were just feelings of complete peace. Of course we're doing it. We will wait as long as we need to wait to bring our daughter home. Would I love for it to be tomorrow? Sure! But, God has just been showing me over the past few weeks that there is joy and peace in waiting. Above all, we want HIS child that HE has chosen for us to raise. It's not about a timeline. We will wait on Him. If that means months, we will wait. I would much rather wait extra time and be given HIS perfect gift than rush it all in my time and not get His best (well, not that I could rush it, but ya know....).

So, while we wait, we dream. Having pictures to look at is fun, too. The very idea that we are looking at our daughter's face without knowing she's our daughter is just strange. Yet, I've taken that newsletter out of the envelope over and over all weekend and gazed at those pretty faces.

Meanwhile, FIVE more weeks of school!!!!! We are all ready for a summer break. I have been reading about the idea of year-round school. It just makes so much since on so many levels. Last summer was very hard on the boys. Kids who GO to school every day for 180 days are ready to be at home and enjoy the break. Kids like mine who are home every day, but with a school routine, don't really know what to do with themselves when there's no routine. I can lay in the hammock and read all day, but they can't handle that. The idea of starting school back up in July when it's 150 degrees and breaking in October when it's nice weather again is appealing. Most year-rounders school for 9 weeks and take 3 weeks off. Still thinking on this.

Easter 2012

Luke had planned the egg hunt for months---prizes and all. 1st place got a large chocolate bunny, 2nd place Cadbury eggs, and 3rd place Peeps. Ironically, Luke won 1st place and delighted in gobbling that bunny's ears.

We had a wonderful day celebrating our risen Savior with family.

Opening Day!

Rusty Greer: 2nd from the left

My sweet hubby is a Texas Rangers SUPERfan! MEGAfan! SUPER-DUPER MEGAfan. You get the idea? Well, he's never been to an Opening Day because it just never happened when he needed to take a personal day, get a sub, make plans, etc. His parents gave us tickets to Opening Day this year and it was SO fun. Mostly, it was fun for me just to watch him enjoy it. That's love, right? When the one you love is on Cloud Nine, you are on Cloud Nine.
Not only did they give us GREAT tickets (row 9, right behind 3rd base), but sweet Nana gave us the wonderful gift of monkey-sitting. Next year, Nana, you get to go and experience this wonderful day. The crowd was so energetic. There were times we couldn't even hear each other talk because it was so loud.
Oh, and one of my favorite players from the 90s, Rusty Greer, was there with other Rangers Alumni. Ok, I admit it: to say that I am a fan of a Rangers Alumnus makes me feel OLD!

Birthdays: Round 2

The spring is a busy birthday time in our family. This weekend, we celebrated Noah's 11th (tomorrow) and Luke's 8th (on April 8th) birthdays. I honestly cannot believe those numbers!!!! 2 more years and I'll have a teenager!

We had 23 people here and it was a great day with good family time. We alternate years on having "friend" birthdays because as you can see, having a "family only" party is still large! So, this year is a "friend" year. We will celebrate with their buddies in 2 weeks. I was reminding them last night of how blessed they are to have so much love from our family. : )