Love Orphans - For Easter

I was so challenged and inspired by a guest writer on this blog tonight. So here's the Easter challenge. Go to FEEDING THE ORPHANS to Love Orphans because He first loved us.

Will it hurt?

Remember the post I did on whether adoption will hurt my kids or not? Click here for the story, but today I am reminded again of how AWESOME and INCREDIBLE adoption can be for our children. They learn to give more of themselves, love one another, be the hands and feet of Jesus. The list goes on and on and on, but this picture sums it up.

Two boys who met one another 6 months ago. Two boys who became brothers on American soil 4 months ago. Two brothers who are inseparable, who are crazy about one another. Two brothers depicting God's love in the love they have for one another. Each day I watch them and realize I can learn so much from these two brothers.

A Dream

On February 26, 2010 one of my best friends had a dream. A dream of an African baby. This came just two weeks after we accepted our referral of Samuel and Helen. She dreamt Righ and I were bathing a baby and she came in to help us. As she awoke, she "knew" that baby was ours. As I listened to her tell me all about it, I "knew" it was her baby. You see, we had just accepted our referral and there wasn't a baby. Helen was 2. In my heart, I could see God writing this perfect story. A story of adoption for my friend. Her husband was all about supporting other families, but wanted no part of adoption for his family. So I just "knew" this dream was an indication that it would all change. God was going to change his heart and give them a baby.

Little did I know, God was writing a story so remarkable, so incredible that I couldn't even begin to imagine it. That precious baby would be ours and He would use my friend to lead me to him!!!

MIA

Ok, so I have been MIA for so long. Truthfully, my life has been busy (aren't we all), but I haven't been able to find the time to blog here. However, we have some very exciting news! WE ARE ADOPTING! Yes, again! Everyone asks that question. :)

We have been home with Helen and Samuel for 4 months now, but God has led us so clearly to two precious boys in Ghana. We have finished our homestudy and are praying our dossier can go next week. I will share the story very soon. Only from the Lord, only from Him. People are accusing us of being crazy. Our answer is YES, WE ARE CRAZY, BUT WE ARE CRAZY FOR JESUS.

Adopted for Life

A few weeks ago, I was placing an order from Amazon. A dear friend and I try to save on shipping so she asked me to add ADOPTED FOR LIFE for her. As I read the summary, I was intrigued so I added one to my cart for me. Oh, I am so glad I did! It has been an incredible read. This is what I read this morning:

Think of the plight of the orphan somewhere right now out there in the world. It's not just that she's lonely. It's that she has no inheritance, no future. With every passing year, she's less "cute", less adoptable. In just a few years, on her eighteenth birthday (or 16th), she'll be expelled from the orphanage or from "the system". What will happen to her then? Maybe she'll join the military or find some job training. Maybe she'll stare at a tile on the ceiling above her as her body is violated by a man who's willing to pay her enough to eat for a day, alone in a back alley or in front of a camera crew of strangers. Maybe she'll place a revolver in her mouth or tie a rope around her neck, knowing no one will have to deal with her except, once again, the bureaucratic "authorities" who can clean up the mess she leaves behind. Can you feel the force of such desperation? Jesus can. She's his little sister.

Then my thoughts went to this could have been my daughter. What if my daughter faced this life? Look what I would have missed out on.

And hearing her say, "I love you, Mommy!" about a hundred times a day. I will never grow tired of those sweet words...

Or we would have missed the love these two have for one another. It is amazing, pure, and full of Jesus!

Everyone is called to recognize Jesus in the face of his little brothers and sisters when he decides to show up in their lives, even if it interrupts everything else.

I want to be interrupted for these little faces, these faces that NEED HIM.

Our Keenan is 10

Ten years ago, God blessed us with our second (and what we thought would be our last) child. He was only 17 months younger than Sydney and threw us for a spin. He has always brought so much joy to our lives and still does today. He came into this world smiling, laughing and trying so hard to make others laugh, too. What a blessing and treasure he is to our family!

We started the day off at Dunkin' Donuts...every kids favorite, right?

Sydney, Keenan and his friend, Eli

Aiden savoring every second of his donut

Then, we were off to church and home to open presents.

Tennessee football calendar - he's our "organized" kiddo

Then, the big gift came, but it wouldn't be so simple as opening a gift. :) Dad is way more creative than that. SCAVENGER HUNT!!!

Almost to the gift (hiding in the woods)

This is what makes me smile every day - the love these 2 have for one another. They have no idea they were ever apart. True brothers - real brothers...

The whole gang minus Daddy

"Dad, I don't see it. Is it up here?"

And he found it!!

This year, Daddy splurged as Keenan hit double digits and found him his very own gun. Obviously, lots of gun safety (always locked up and never used unless Dad is around) and the best part is it will become a part of Keenan's family as he grows older. He will pass it to his son, then to his grandson, and you get the picture. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEENAN GANNAWAY O'LEARY!

On Monday, we went to everyone's favorite indoor play place, Tatarus' Gym. The kids had so much fun and burned a lot of energy.

Helen swinging from the rings

Aiden teetering on the edge

Sydney hanging from the rope

Now, it's Keenan's turn

And the day wouldn't be complete without Mom swinging from the rope into the foam squares. Oh, how I love my kids and am so incredibly thankful for each one of them in their uniqueness.

Ps. Some of you may be wondering why Samuel isn't in more of the pics! I couldn't keep up with him because he was having so much fun. :)

More of Him...less of me

These last few days have been hard for me. Our family is turning a new corner. We have a new decision facing us and it is hard. I have cried out to God for guidance, for confirmation. I am fearful and excited at the same time. I have prayed for my husband's heart to be united with mine and vice versa. Our God is not a God of confusion. He will unite us because we are one in Him.

In the midst of this, though, I have doubted hearing Him speak to me. I have been reassured and then doubted again. Through all of this, I have realized He wants me to be so utterly dependent on Him that I cannot breathe without His help. He wants me to love Him with a reckless abandon. He wants me to depend on Him without thinking. He wants me to be completely obedient and never second guess myself or what He has called me to do. THIS IS HARD! He wants to live through me. I have always known these things, BUT they are taking a whole new life.

As I sit here I am listening to my new favorite song SWEETLY BROKEN.

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

I pray that I will be sweetly broken, wholly surrendered to Him. As I asked someone to pray this morning for my heart to be united with Righ's (she had no idea in reference to what), she started telling me the story about the widow and the oil. The widow went to Elisha and needed help. He told her to go get vessels to pour her oil into. This sweet woman this morning started talking about how those vessels would always be full based on God. He wouldn't let us be empty if we kept refreshing ourselves, if we relied upon Him. No one had ever told the story like this. It spoke to me, it was her interpretation for where we are right now. God will be my energy, He will be my strength and no matter what He lays in front of us, He will carry us. As long as I am obeying and seeking His face for refreshment each step of the way. God will sustain me. He loves me and wants to draw me gently to my knees. I am amazed at a God who loves me so much. I pray I will obey Him each step, that I will be sweetly broken in front of Him.