Knock, Knock...

anybody still out there? should i start writing on this here bloggy again?

This is the way...

We go to church, go to church, go to church...this is the way we go to church, all on a Sunday morning! :D

Good Mornings!

I love getting Hudson each morning when he wakes up. He is so affectionate. The minute I lift him up he leans in, puckers up, gives me a big kiss followed by his chubby arms wrapped around my neck with a squeeze. He continues to give me about 11 more kisses. I tell him how much I love him and squeeze him some more. Finally after a couple minutes I put him down and he is off for the day. Every single morning this is our routine. I LOVE it! He is my little teddy bear! :D

The Impact of a Child

Below is something I shared with some friends the morning after the earthquake it Haiti...

As you know my heart is aching for Haiti right now. My children and I spent some time talking and praying for them this morning. I was then going to get ready and "start the day". My 8 year old was following me around sheepishly. I ask her if she wanted to talk and she broke down crying. Her heart was hurting for the people in Haiti as well. With tears and a crackling voice she asked me if she could start going through her clothes and send them to Haiti. I am seriously so humbled by the hearts of my children in this. The adult in me wanted to downplay it thinking there are easier ways of getting help to them, but I knew I needed to do this for her. (I was trying to not cry! I have remained very calm in front of them as to try not to upset them.) I explained how difficult it is to get the clothes there, but that it was wonderful that she wanted to help. We talked about what the easiest/fastest way to get them help would be, so she decided to start a money drive for our missionary friends living/working in Port-au-Prince. It is hard to not let the adult in me suggest a better idea but rather to allow her to go forth with her desire. She has made phone calls to friends and family this morning. I posted it on my FB page and have had such a humbling response with people wanting to give.

My heart is overwhelmed with all of this. I am trying to not stand in the way of what she wants to do. She is just my little girl, but I must allow God to be God through her today. I am so grateful for the compassionate heart that she has. All of this only to share that today I learned how much of an impact children can have on our world. We just have to be willing to let them run with all of their ideas. I am way too quick to squelch them.



I am amazed to report that she raised over $500 that we know of. Many people contacted us and chose to give directly to our missionary friends. I never cease to be amazed by God! never! The look on her face as she would open each envelope that came in the mail was priceless. She couldn't believe it! She and her cousin are prayer partners and they pray together over the phone for the people of Haiti. It has been a wonderful learning experience for me as a mom.

Better than a Bed

As my 13 year old daughter and I sat watching TV one night this week said, "If we could help one of those orphans, they could have my bed. I'll go sleep on the floor in my sister's room." The tears began to fill my eyes. She went on to say, "I would way rather have another kid in our family than to have a bed to sleep on."

God is so wonderful in using our children to speak to our hearts!

My heart for Haiti...

Wow, what a week of intense emotions it has been for me. Many of tears have been shed for the people of Haiti. My heart aches...literally aches. I am continually crying out to Jesus for the Haitians and for the Livesays (and those they are working with).

A few years ago, I had begun praying for the flood gates to open and for the orphans to be released from this country and this week the Lord is answering those countless prayers. As I watch airplanes of orphans landing on American soil, the tears roll down my cheeks. How Great is our God! I don't understand why it took devastation in order for them to be released, but I am not in a position to question the ways of God. I know He is Sovereign, and that is all I know.

This week we found the family that is adopting sweet little Juvenson through a news story. My sister in law saw it on their local news station and sent me the link. WOW...just wow! Boy did it hit me hard. I am so overjoyed that he will be safe. He was very much *our son* in our hearts so I needed to process through some grief again. Yesterday their orphanage loaded a bus and van to get to the US Embassy to try to get out. They were not granted permission so they had to go back to the orphanage. I can not imagine the thoughts of the older children...thinking they were finally getting to come to America...only to head back to their icky orphanage. I did hear word that they were going to work on paperwork through the night in order to get them all out today. I pray this happens! These children are innocent and they need what can be given them here.

Last week, the girls came running to me telling me to grab my camera. As I walked into the living room, the glow of the fireplace was flickering on Matt and Hudson sound asleep together on the couch. I began clicking away. It was a moment that was so beautiful yet full of strange emotions. I first saw Matt fall in love with having a son while in Haiti. The images of him with the boys flooded my mind. The memories of us holding each other as we stood in a parking lot watching the the boys being taken back to the orphanage hit my heart. The overwhelming gratitude for Hudson hit me. The joy of his addition to our family hit. The love I have for Matt and the wonderful daddy he is hit me. I love that Hudson is peacefully asleep in daddy's arms. He is lying their safe in his daddy's arms yet I wonder who is holding Juvenson. I pray the Lord cradles these orphans. I know He loves them so much! We still will never understand why everything happened the way it did with our Haitian adoption...but we never for a second doubt that Hudson was our son chosen by God all along our journey. It really was such a beautiful moment and I am so grateful that I have this image forever! I know whenever I look on it, it will stir memories, emotions, and intensity...but that is the beauty of art!

Pray for Tara and give...

Please join me in praying for Tara as she runs The Twin Cities Marathon this weekend for the starving children in Haiti. Read all about it in this Star Tribune article. And please consider supporting her selfless act by adding a donation for the children of Haiti.

I never cease to be amazed and inspired by this wonderful family!