Book Review and Giveaway

I wanted to share a fun story with you I have been reading.  If you think you'd like a copy, leave a comment to be entered into a giveaway.  I will be GIVING AWAY a free copy of the book on Saturday, August 31st in honor of my son Keaton's 12th birthday.  Keaton LOVES to read and is also reading this book along with me right now!

The book is called Alone Yet Not Alone.  It is a true story of a family ripped apart by war.  The book is set in Pennsylvania at the onset of the French and Indian War.  This incredible historic book is recommended for children ages 8 and up and is a read they are guaranteed to love. It combines great adventure with even greater values - kids won't even realize they are learning about history! 

And they are coming out with a movie in September which will be a great FAMILY FUN night out.

About Alone Yet Not Alone (THE MOVIE): Releases in theaters Sept 27th, 2013 - Find a Theater Here 

Links for more information: 

Bring Alone Yet Not Alone the MOVIE to Your City:

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Movie Twitter

Movie Website

At times ministry can be exciting and inspiring.  At times it can be weary.  Hope Grafted In is a blessing, a God-thing, and I am more passionate about it now then when God began this work over a year ago.  But a ministry that has the ominous task of continuous fundraising and asking of others makes me grow weary at times.

Just like anything in life, it comes with ebbs and flows, ups and downs.  Today I want to share a story that lifts me up.  It is for the moments like this that I have renewed strength and refreshed energy to serve.

A couple weeks ago I received an email from the Director of Sangaalo Babies, my dear friend Damalie.  She shared of a new little boy the home had received.  His story so far in his 3 months of life at first glance appears tragic.  More horrific than one could imagine.  A story of incest, rape, and attempted murder.  But he is a child of the King and has been rescued into a new life.

Damalie gave me the honor of naming the little boy.  I gave him the name Gabriel, after my husband and our daughter.  A name I hope will bring him protection and strength.  A name that for our family means so much.

Three years ago today our daughter, Gaby, went to be with Jesus.  God has taught me so many things over the past 3 years through the gift of being Gaby's momma.  The layers of learning appears to be lifelong.

Two sweet babies with not much in common in many respects other than they are loved by a GREAT big God that created them for GREAT purposes.  They both are so many things for so many people.  For me, today they are a reminder of God's sovereignty, His goodness, and His faithfulness.

I pray that each day of baby Gabriel's life he feels the love of Jesus.  I am thankful to know that he is receiving loving care and has a home.  He has a family.  I am honored to be a small part of that.

I hope that God's plan includes Gabriel living a long healthy life and that I will be able to meet him in October on our trip.  But if I have learned nothing else in the past 3 years it is that God's ways are so much greater than my plans.  If His plan is to heal Gabriel and take him to heaven, what a blessing.

I will be sharing more here in the coming weeks about how you can be a part of Gabriel's story.  As God speaks, I pray you will listen.

Happy 3rd Gotcha Day

3 years ago today God put this precious little baby in our arms

and life has never been the same.  Macy Jean, you have taught me so much about God's perfect timing, patience, and faithfulness over the past three years.  I am amazed by how much God has done in your little life in 3 years.  It is hard to remember that there were days I worried if you would ever walk or talk as I now become quickly annoyed with keeping track of you and listening to you talk all day long.  Funny how time and perspective can change so many things.

I love how you tell others that you are adopted.  That you tell them God put you in our family.  That you introduce them to your new brother.  That you take care of him (and fight with him) like a sister should.  That you follow your big sister around and do everything just like her.  That you make your big brothers laugh because you are so stinkin' funny.  That you know the shape of Africa and tell everyone you can that Emmanuel is from there and that is where Amber lives and Mommy goes.  (Facts aren't always crystal clear with a 3 year old.)

I love that you talk about your twin, Gaby.  That you look at pictures of her.  That you pray for her.  That you ask for her.  That you want to talk about what it would be like if she was here with us and what heaven with her will be like.  That you bring her up all on your own at the sweetest times.  I worry about your heart and all you will face in not having her here with you, but even as I think those thoughts I am reminded that God is your protector.  I pray you find your identity in Him sweet girl.

Your new thing right now is that you pray for each of us at bed time.  You are hilarious as you move from bed to bed, kneeling by each of your siblings, praying for them.  And then you run to your bed and ask Mommy to pray for you.  There are days the habit of this annoys me.  Days where I quickly rush through praying over you so I can move on to the next thing.  Shame on me.  It would be so easy if you'd just stop moving, get in to bed and immediately shut your eyes and go to sleep.   But I am going to work at that, because your sweet spirit in praying for others is so admirable.  You have much to teach your momma.

My prayer is that your life continues to be a reflection of God's grace and faithfulness.  That each day you come to know your Savior more.

I love you baby girl.  Happy Gotcha Day!

Spring Break

Spring Break...first vacation as a family of seven was a success!!

Emmanuel Mark,

Today you turn two years old.  Today is your first birthday at home!  The moment I met you, you stole my heart.  And from that time on you have been showing me more and more of your heart.  And what a BIG heart it is.  I love that you have let all of us into that heart so quickly.  And don't tell anyone else, but I am so glad I am your favorite.  I love the connection we have and know that God gave that to us.

I am so proud of you.  Of who you are and all you have survived in your young life.  I love your sweet spirit and your silly giggle.  You are so full of joy and energy and fun.

On your first birthday I didn't even know you existed.  I didn't know there was a little boy across the world that would be my son.  That you  would join our family and fit so perfectly.  Isn't it neat how God works like that?

I love you sweet boy and am so thankful to be your mama.  Happy Birthday!

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We can't celebrate Emmanuel's birthday without celebrating a special part of our family across the world.  The complex and beautiful thing about adoption is that God gave Emmanuel to his birth mama. He chose her to be his mama, knowing that she would make the choice for Emmanuel to become our son.  That God would go through all those details and all that work to begin the story of Ema's life is amazing to me.  He truly is the Father to the fatherless, setting the lonely in families.

As I watch Ema play today, listen to him giggle, and watch him find joy in life's simplest things, I can't help but think of Mama A in Ghana.  The fact that today she may remember is the birth day of her son.  The fact that today she isn't watching him learn and grow like I am.  And I am flooded with emotion of gratitude for her selfless sacrifice of love.  The unconditional way in which she put her son's needs above her own.  Mama A we love you and honor you and Ema will grow up knowing your love for him.

Birthdays bring reflection.  They just naturally make us think back about the past and also look to the future and what the next year will be like.  I can't believe how much Ema has changed in the past 2 months at home.  He is taller, bigger, stronger, eating everything, sleeping well, talking, and attached to his family.  So thankful.

Can't wait to spend the next year of life helping Emmanuel grow into all God needs him to be.  What an honor!

Greatest LOVE

Thinking a lot about LOVE this past week.  Had a project I was working on for Hope Grafted In that had me looking at scripture about love and found myself studying and praying over God's words.

Particularly amazed by this verse...

John 15:13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

I love to think about all Christ did to show me that GREATER LOVE.
I love to think about all HE does every day to reveal that GREATER LOVE to me.
I love to think about the sacrifice our Father made that we all could have the chance at GREATER LOVE.

In an effort to show GREATER LOVE...
I rest in peace because I can lay down my life each day at the feet of my Savior.
I realize how much more I can lay down my life for my husband.
I am honored to lay down my life daily for the children God has blessed me with.
I humbly lay down my life for the friends God has given to me to love.

One of the ways our family is working on GREATER LOVE right now is laying down each of our lives for the life of Emmanuel.  Right now, his needs come first.  Right now, his trust is the one thing we long to win.  Right now, his smile is the thing that brings us each joy.  Right now, watching him in his family is the best gift we can receive for our efforts.

As we sit back and watch God bless in simple every day things, we are flooded with emotion recalling these are our son's new experiences with LOVE...

First time with a brother to sleep with.  LOVE how secure and loved he is with a big brother to protect him now FOR LIFE.

A feisty big sister to kiss.  They fight a lot, but play together too and are pretty funny!

A papa to teach him lots of things.

A big brother to wrestle on.

A big sister to be his second mama.

First time playing in the snow.

First time eating Gramma's yummy pie.

A Mimi to spoil him rotten...with treats!

New people and things to play with.

A family and all the wonderful crazy that comes with it.

BEYOND BLESSED.

May God reveal to you the people he needs you to lay down your life for today and may you have the courage and strength to show GREATER LOVE.

Getting to Know Each Other

Our first couple days home have been full of cherished moments.  We are all having so much fun getting to know Emmanuel.  And he is loving his new home and new family.

Emmanuel's Homecoming

Getting to know each other (again)

This coming back to Ghana was a little different than the many times I played it out in my head.  I went to bed for weeks dreaming and thinking of how it would work.  Where I would stay, what I would pack, how Emmanuel and I would bond.

Things don't go as we plan, but God's plans are better, right?...even if we can't see that at first look.

So that storm system that went through the US didn't stop me from getting to Africa (thank you for your prayers) but it did keep my luggage from arriving.  I am told it will come today...$75 and a trusted driver headed back the 3 hours to the airport ensures that...I HOPE!

So I had a back pack with this computer (that I DON"T NEED), all my papers and money, a pack of wipes, chap stick, toothbrush and toothpaste, a hair brush, one book, and one set of clothes for me.  Sweet Henry went out and bought diapers for Ema.  BUT that is all we have.  No clothes, no washes, lotions, and hair products I bought for chocolate skin/hair (yes, I am pathetic), no medicines, no snacks...I could go on but that is whining and complaining and I am trying to find joy in all things.

When I got to Ghana, 2 hours late, my driver wasn't waiting.  I found out, by using the phone of an all too willing airport taxi "director" that he was stuck in traffic.  So I sat outside the airport and waited.  If I had eaten or slept in the past 24 hours I may have had enough energy to be freaked out, terrified, or nervous.  Instead I just sat.

Then the 3 hour drive and Ema was waiting for me at the hotel!

Ema kept quiet and was very cautious for much longer than last time we were here...he didn'€t cry when I swooped him up and hugged him like I thought he might...just very straight-faced...like the whole night and all morning. I was pulling out all my best mommy moves (without ANY toys, books, or kid items at all) and I was getting half smiles.

It makes me so sad. He doesn’t trust that I am his momma. Poor little boy and all the memories in his life that I don’t even know. But God loves Him more than me and He is teaching me how to show E that love

He didn’t want to take a nap just now and was fighting and yelling and hitting me. My first instinct was just to lay him down and walk away like I would with my other kiddos at home when they throw fits at bedtime, but God whispered to stay and show him something else. So I held him tight and kept his hands from hitting me and stood and rocked him like a baby, singing to him...and he calmed down, his breathing slowed, he started touching my face and smiling up at me and then went to sleep.

These transitions are going to be hard, but I am up for the fight.

He woke up walking around looking for me saying "momma, momma", he is standing here trying to play computer, interacting with me and so adorable.  One little step forward.

All in all, praising God for the journey.  E is with me now and I won’t leave him again.

Thank you for the prayers. I feel them.

Pics coming when the camera (in luggage even though Gabe said not to do that) comes.

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning brings such excitement and hope for what is to come.

May the God of all peace bring excitement and hope to you today.

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Merry Christmas Eve

One of my favorite things to do is look at past Christmas pictures.  While part of me marvels that time is flying by, a larger part loves to see all that God has done in each of our lives as He creates our family.  May He work in your life today and each day throughout the year.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Romans 6:23

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