Can I call you Mom & Dad?

What.a.day.

My.heart.is.full.

After 2 days of not being able to talk to Eric Friday and Saturday, we were finally able to chat with him this afternoon. :) YAY! 

We talked about normal stuff... our conversations get more natural and better each time. Talked about video games, church, his tests at school, his dance practice, his friends, and he asked for a cross to be hung in his room (done.). I absolutely love talking to that boy... I look forward to it each day. 

When we were getting off the phone today... as usual we asked him when he wanted us to call again and he answered tomorrow.  Then he said "I have one more thing..." Of course we encouraged him to tell us.  And out of his mouth came the most amazing words EVER... he asked, "Ummm... Is it okay if I call you Mom and Dad?" Oh.My.Goodness.  I lost it. I couldn't keep it together... not even to answer even though my heart was screaming "YES!!!". Jacob had to say, "Yes, of course, you can call us Mom and Dad." I was a mess...

It breaks my heart to know that he has not grown up without someone to call "Mom" and "Dad." It absolutely thrills my heart to know that he wants to call us Mom and Dad just as much as we want to call him "our son."  He wants to talk about his new parents and the plans he has with his new family... just like we do. He now has a place where he will forever belong. Forever be accepted. Forever be loved.  Forever have a Mom and Dad.  

I have wondered what he would call us... or how that conversation would come about, but this... this was such a treasure to me. He asked. I wonder how long he has been wanting to call someone his Mom... to have someone to take care of him when he's sick, someone who will always be there to make him laugh, someone to cheer him on every day, someone to get on his nerves with all the love. I wonder how many nights he has longed for a Dad... someone to practice ball with, someone to play video games with, someone who truly cares about the man he is becoming. A family.

I hate not being able to help him study for his Math tests, watch his soccer games, or read stories with him. I cannot wait for him to be a Morgan. For him to be HOME. For him to scream down the hall, "MOM!!!!" That will be a good day my friends! I am a Mom. Jacob is a Dad. How crazy! How beautiful! So thankful I have a hubby who is willing to be crazy with me... willing to follow the Lord with me... and just as anxious to get our 13-year-old son home from Belize! 

On another note - 

I also got to talk to Becky... in AFRICA today!!! Loved hearing her voice!!! She is amazing!!! Read about her stories HERE!!! 

Also, last night I got to spend wonderful time with these stunning high school senior ladies. We went for a night out - ate ALOT, shopped some, and spent time with Jesus... away from Troy!!!! I love them more than words can say. So thankful for their hearts! Can't wait to see what all the Lord has planned for these FEARLESS ladies!! 

CoMpLeTe!

Hello world! 

So, this weekend I got to go to a conference with the girls! It's the COMPLETE conference... only happens in Bama! what what! It's a great conference... just for girls... with a worship leader, speaker, and various workshops that the girls get to pick and attend! So fun! It's just good to be girls, with girls! 

Here's our group... so beautiful! 

We learned so much. I think I might have learned more than the girls did... which is crazy because a lot of times I put up a wall and don't allow my heart to be receptive. I don't know why... just a weirdo.  Anyways... I learned and received so much... because I wanted and needed it!!!! Ahh... so good. 

The conference was all about L.O.V.E! Not just romantic love obviously... but falling in love with Jesus, letting Him love us, and living out of LOVE! It was great.  The worship leader was Heather Williams and the speaker was Sarah Ott. I don't say their names because they want fame... I say their names because they are all about JESUS! Buy Heather's music and support her ministry! AWESOME stuff. Sarah... man... she spoke some TRUTH this weekend. Not just to the group as a whole, but to me individually.  I'm thankful for her openness, obedience, and humility. 

One of the amazing truths I took from this weekend is this:

To LOVE God is to NEED Him. To NEED Him is to LOVE Him.

Often times, we don't truly NEED Jesus... so it's hard for us to LOVE Him.  We don't acknowledge His providence, power, love for us, mercy, etc... so we think we have it "under control" (DANGEROUS!). I desperately NEED Jesus. I absolutely LOVE Jesus.  Those 2 things go hand in hand. The more you LOVE Him, the more you NEED Him. The more you NEED Him, the more he shows up and shows off... and it causes you to LOVE Him more. Good stuff. So maybe you are feeling a little distant from Jesus... maybe a little lost.  Check yourself - do you understand your NEED for Him? Are you following Him because you LOVE Him or because you want things? 

I learned stuff that is more personal than I want to share on a blog, but God totally and completely OVERWHELMED me this weekend. You know how scales were removed from Paul's eyes in Acts? Well... I felt that way. I feel like Jesus has had to remove scales from my eyes to show me different things about Him... I just wonder how many more layers I have on my finite eyes... Whew. But that's how I felt/feel - He pried some scales off... how freeing! Basically, without being detailed because it's not time yet... I learned more about PRAYER (go figure). I asked that he would teach me about PRAYER and He is faithful. 

John 15:7 says:

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

I know you are sitting there like... yea... cool... I read that when I was 10. OKAY! me too! But do you GET IT? I didn't.  Jesus is saying that if we REALLY ABIDE in Him and LOVE Him and NEED Him... we can ask our heart's REAL desires. I don't have to put up a wall to Jesus... I can just ask and it will happen. IF we are ABIDING in Him, we KNOW Him and will ask things within His will and for His glory... BUT WE CAN ASK AND HE WILL GRANT IT! WHAT?!!?! That's nuts to me.  

Many times I pray about things and I talk to Jesus about what I think and pray for others... but do I BELIEVE John 15:7? Most of the time... no... sadly. But I experienced a John 15:7 encounter the other week.  You can call me crazy or whatever, but I believe it.  So, there's a girl in our college ministry who has just had ca-razy health problems the past year- galbladder, ovaries, tummy, etc... just weren't working right. Well, 2 weeks ago we talked and challenged each other to REALLY pray... NOT WORRY... PRAY for her health. So... we did. Last Sunday I got her attention to come to the altar during the "invitation" because I felt like I was suppose to REALLY pray over her. So... we got on our knees and prayed. I believed what I was saying... and I felt something. I heard the words "lay hands," "pray for healing," "I WILL HEAL," and "a prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." So I prayed more. All I said was "HEAL HER, I BELIEVE. HEAL HER, YOU CAN." I have never done that before. 

The next day Sam had a doctors appointment and had to have a ultra sound done to see how things had progressed.  Guess what? There wasn't anything in there that was there before. HEALING. Wow. PRAYER... believing. The enemy wants to make us think that it isn't powerful, that prayer doesn't matter, but OH MAN.. YES IT DOES! I don't say that to boast... just to say that I believe and have seen and been taught that more and more. 

I can go on and on about what God taught me (because I was receptive)... but I'll save the rest for another day. 

So thankful for my friends who minister with me and love on these girls with me...

This is Amy. She is such a blessing and a God send. A friend. A prayer partner.
A lover of high school girls! 

This is Christina and Stephanie. The middle school leaders!
So thankful for their love for Jesus and their friendship!!!