There are times...

Hi y'all. A few thoughts.

There are times...

your momma sends you a gem of a picture... 4 generations... of great mommas (hoping I'm a great momma... I have some pretty great women to copy).

you have a really great clogging class that you are gonna miss so you give each of them an award... because they all rock! Aren't they presh? :) 

you realize how great your man is. he loves spending time with me. he would rather have fun with me than the house be clean. he likes my cooking (shocker). he knows me. he encourages me. he likes that I'm crazy. he says he even likes my corniness. he sits with me at baseball games... even when I scream like a teenager. he teaches me. he is super cute. he is a keeper... 

you need to take off work at go to a Braves baseball game and be silly with your man! 

you are super thankful for 2 college students who have truly made life better! Love these crazy love birds! 

when there's a group of seniors who are graduating and you know you will really miss them.

your dogs make you smile... even when you don't feel like smiling. So photogenic...

when it's okay to cry. Throughout this adoption process... I wanted to be 'okay' and I didn't wanna be emotional. i see all these adoption families and how super happy they are all the time... and I thought I needed to be like them. But... sometimes... the adoption process IS NOT FUN! Sometimes it's good to cry and to weep while I'm waiting. I KNOW it will be worth it. I KNOW He is FAITHFUL. I KNOW He is GOOD. I KNOW His timing is perfect. I KNOW His promises.  BUT... that doesn't mean I can't cry or hurt... because I can. I can cry for my kiddos and wish they were here. I can be super joyful thinking about when they do get here. I can always praise God for the amazing ways He is providing... IT IS TRULY amazing! But... I can cry and I can be 'not okay' sometimes.  I believe God weeps with me... and that is a good thought.

I AM okay. I trust my God... He is trustworthy. Sometimes a momma just has to cry! :)

So if you are waiting or hurting... IT'S OKAY TO CRY! We don't have to be happy plastic people all the time. It my emotional week, I have been so encouraged by my mom, my hubby, my friends, church family, and co-workers. There are times when us encouraging people NEED to be encouraged... JUST TAKE IT! Stop being stubborn... just cry... you'll feel better. And then remember...

Hellur Again...

I've been slackin'... O well. Lots going on so blogging just hasn't happened.

I just can't wait until I can blog and post pictures of our kiddos... I think I've just been boycotting in hopes that NOW would be the time... but we shall wait some more. 

So lately...
Here's my super cute family on Easter! :) Poor dogs... you can't even see Jubi's face because she's so black... and Walt obviously did not want a picture... but life's hard! We had a good Easter- church, lunch with the Knick's, and time at home. Thankful for Jesus. 

Check out how awesome my hunny is!!! 

He made us an end table (we are selling them for adoption money too if you are interested - $75)! It looks great in the house! And he framed my Africa poster that I got at a market in Kenya!! It's been rolled up and in a secure location for 3.5 years... it was time to give the thing it's rightful place! I LOVE IT!!!! I... well Jacob... hung up the other pictures with it too - it's now the mission trip wall/room. I FINALLY feel like it's okay to start thinking about decorating the kiddos rooms. THAT'S A BIG DEAL!! I have prayed that God would not let me start thinking about that stuff until it was the right time. I'm thinking about it... and we are having to move around lots of stuff to get ready for their arrival!  The Africa pictures and college collages are having to find new homes... but that's COMPLETELY fine because we'll have our kiddos and all will be right with the world! 

**On that note... we are now just waiting for Belize to send us PICTURES and medical information and... TRAVEL DATES!!!**

That could be this week, this month.... or way later.

I've had more Origami Owl jewelry parties! I love that job - it's super fun! You meet new people, learn their stories, and sell really awesome and unique jewelry! 

Look how cute and presh this necklace is???!!!! 

O... the pups. Ya know... since my human kiddos aren't here yet, I'll just show you the furry kiddos. They are nuts! Seriously... NuTz! They are fun though. 

Jubi sheds like a man woman, likes to bark at Walter, hides under the couch and gets stuck in the couch cover and yelps until someone rescues her, and SHE POOPED IN THE FLOOR THIS MORNING... almost killed her. Good thing she's cute.

This weekend we went up to Birmingham... it was a whirlwind of a weekend! I got to do everything I set out to do... but it was crazy busy! I had breakfast with my Nanny and Pawpaw, had an Origami Owl party, went to see my cloggers at their competition, went to an adoption fundraiser my awesome youth pastor's wife held for us, dinner for the birthday week boy, and then back to the competition for awards!!!!! I got to do it all with my mom so that made it even better! It was wonderful. And my girls are so stinkin' cute! They did awesome! 

Sunday morning I got to eat with my dad, brother, sister-in-law, niece - Ava, and nephew - Barrett! It was so good to spend time with them... it doesn't get to happen very often! 

It's also my Ava, Barrett, and my brother's b-day! So... naturally... Cracker Barrel brought out birthday cake for her breakfast treat! :) 

This 4 year old is just adorable!  

Wait for the Lord,

Be strong and take heart

and WAIT for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Catchin' Up

I think my life might be slowing down for a minute!! Isn't that exciting?

But lately I have been doing some cloggin' at a Halloween show

Did some painting and coordinating for our Faces of Troy interpreting conference! Our students are awesome! It was a great weekend! Here's a picture from our Interpreter Appreciation Day painting activity - they painted the sign for "interpret"! Pretty cool!

Sunday was Orphan Sunday 2012. My best friends sent me this that morning :)

What a good day... Jacob and I got to tell God's story about Eric to our church. It was so awesome to be on stage with my hubs sharing about our adventure. I would like to do that more. There are really no words to explain how blessed I feel to be on this journey with him... he's the best and he so loves the Lord. 

I was so overwhelmed on Sunday with all the emotions and encouragement and peace.  Our pastor had a time of prayer for us and another couple who is adopting in our church.  Prayer is powerful... it just is. When people lay hands on you and pray to the God of the Universe... it's good stuff. It was so awesome to look up and see our youth, our church family, my mom... just lifting us up in prayer. We heard so many encouraging words, got so many hugs, and were given monetary gifts that just blew me away. 

Lately, I have been so overwhelmed with emotion and peace at the same time, it's hard to cry. Sometimes I feel like I need to cry... because things are so touching and sweet and awesome... but I can't. Is that bad? I don't know. So, if you look at me during a supposedly emotional time and you wonder/judge me b/c I'm not crying... don't worry I'm judging myself! haha! 

Also... can I just say that God is using young people in crazy ways! God is doing something... REVIVAL... MINISTRY... WORK! He says go and do and give... and they give! It's incredible! Despite a few big gifts from more experienced (not old) people, the money has come from young people (our age) who are in college and poor or have just graduated and starting out!! It's crazy to see obedience and faith in action and I ADORE it!! I should cry when I open the envelopes from our friends we have met along the way... but I am in such awe and amazement... I just can't.  But... God is good and obedience is best.  So... God is working in our generation. He is moving... and there are many who are striving to follow! Blesses my heart!!! And I just want to scream THANK YOU and buy them each a diamond ring or something... but all I have to offer is some hugs, a thank you, and just praises to God. 

And today, I voted

It's a nerve-racking day for our country. God is Sovereign. He is on His throne. We must humble ourselves and pray for Him to HEAL OUR LAND. And... go vote! :)

ADOPTION UPDATE: We had our 3rd homestudy session yesterday! ONE MORE TO GO!!!! Our homestudy should be complete and written within the next 2-3 weeks!! YAY!!! All of our clearances came back!! We are clean!! Clearances are a big deal and take a while to get back so that is a huge weight off our shoulders! Now... onto getting everything ready for the dossier (pronounced Dos-e-a... not dozzier. haha)!! That means more money and more paperwork! 

This also means that we will hopefully have a picture of Eric soon!!!! I can't wait to see his face!!! His birthday is November 16th... how I wish we could celebrate it with him... that we could love on him and eat cake. Okay... now I'm crying... oops.

Overwhelmed... yet satisfied...

It's been a while... I know. Lot's going on - physically, mentally, and emotionally. 


End of the semester craziness at work.
Dance recitals! Fun times... just BUSY! Here's my class! :) 

I told you my class feel apart... so these are the 2 that remained. :) We had a good time. It was hilarious when people realized it was me on stage... lots of church people stunned that I was a dancer.  Come on people! Get with the program... it's my life! Recital was good... lots of crazy girls with loud shoes on! Loved it.


We also had another Youth Sunday. God is GOOD!!! It was amazing!! :) Freedom will come to Troy! 

I know I've talked a lot about prayer... because I believe it's the way we tap into the power and presence of God... influencing CHANGE and MIRACLES.  Well... I got serious about asking Him, "Lord, teach me to pray." I found out when you do that... He gives you a TON of stuff to pray for. 


Through all of it - my asking, my requests, my overwhelmed heart, my seeking... He is teaching.  I'm thankful He hasn't given up on me and I know He never will. He continues to teach me and I learn... when I am available, humble, and LISTENING! 


So... what is the point of prayer? 
TO KNOW HIM! That's it! TO KNOW HIM! It's not to get results.  Yes... He always answers. He does show up. He is all powerful and is the God of miracles.  But the point of prayer is to know Him. To worship Him. To delight in Him and let Him delight in me. To SIT with Him. To hear and obey. For fears to be calmed because of WHO He is... not the situation I am in. For JOY and PEACE to be shared because I TRUST Him. To know Him... and to want to know Him more. 


The point of all things is to KNOW HIM.  The point of cancer, sickness, conflicts, thorns, struggles, death, and the burden of lost people is not to make us miserable and seek results... is for us get on our faces and to learn more about our Almighty, Amazing God through it all!  To get upset with God because He doesn't answer the way WE EXPECT is to miss the point of prayer.  To know Him... that is eternal life.  Jesus prayed that for us in John 17! Full satisfaction... true living happens NOT when we have everything we want, when things are good, or when all are healthy. True living happens when we KNOW God and long to know Him more. 


Francis Chan slapped me in the face the other day with one of his podcasts.  He was talking about prayer and read Psalm 27:4:

I'm asking God for one thing, 

only one thing:    

To live with him in his house       

my whole life long.    

I'll contemplate his beauty;       

I'll study at his feet. 

This is a "transcript" of one of David's prayers.  His ONE (1) request is that He just be in God's Presence... just adoring, worshipping, and studying with Him. THAT'S HIS ONE REQUEST!! Franny asked what the transcript of my prayer would look like. Umm... Would my ONE request be to just KNOW God? Umm... no. How I want my heart to just long for that. To know Him... knowing He will listen to my heart's desires as I listen to His. To TRUST Him in ALL things. To just contemplate His BEAUTY and study at his feet. 

What does the transcripts of your prayers look like? 

So... what do we pray for?
Any and everything.  1 Timothy 2:1 says the FIRST instruction of worship is to pray for ALL people everywhere. So... DO IT! I get overwhelmed with my ever-growing prayer list but my overwhelmed-ness just boils down to my laziness! We have to PRAY people! Stop with the excuses! 

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14