Perspective

Isn't it true that we have NOTHING to complain about. I do often and mostly I just need a good perspective. Wow, if you need a good perspective on life read this. Thanks Amy!

Easter

He is RISEN! He is risen indeed!

Our Easter four on the back porch.

So green from ALL the rain we've gotten.

The family meal with Grandpa Shipley and Grandma Ewing

and Uncle Gary (taking the pic)


The Easter Couple

The Brothers

The sisters

Waiting!

We are currently in a big season of waiting. In our first adoption, we were amazingly blessed with a short wait. The whole thing took 7 months from the first phone call to picking him up in Ethiopia. We've been on the waiting list for 5 months and have officially moved from # 100 for a girl to #68 but really for a older girl there are only a hand full of families in front of us which gives us the false hope of a quicker wait. There haven't been many referrals in a while and it really makes the wait seem longer.I've done lots of waiting in my life time but not really thought about the process much! Have you? Waiting is annoying to most of us and I act as if I'm too good for it sometimes, like waiting in a doctor's office or in line at the store.

But really waiting can have it's purposes. I've decided to list some:

1. sometimes it gives us a moment to reflect

2. gives us time to rest if we take it

3. helps us to look at others around us

4. helps us to stop and listen (sometimes to God)

5. sometimes it slows us down when we need it and wouldn't do it ourselves

- i know of times when God uses this to speak to us or even save our lives!




I'm learning that when God asks us to wait

1. It can be an opportunity not just a nuisance

2. we are to serve in our waiting and not just sit around - I'm so good at this (sitting, I mean)

3. we usually need to be removed from the waiting to see the reason for the wait

4. God will teach me during my wait if I ask him too (not really good at asking)

5. Still learning about waiting and will continue to do so.

6. That waiting for something a second time is a bit easier cause you know that it does come at the end of waiting no matter how LONG the wait is.

Please feel free to share your lessons of waiting. It may help someone else today - like me!

Habakkuk 2:3 (Good News Translation)
"Put it in writing , because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I will show you will come true. It may be slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed."

Out of the Month of Babes

I just love the things that preschoolers say. Asher says some of the funniest things but I have to say that I don't write them down and I know I've lost some really fun moments in his life by not taking the opportunity. Many days I wonder what is making his mind come up with the things he says. Recently, Brad has been tell stories of his father, Grandpa Ewing, to Asher. Caroline was the only grandchild that was able to have time with him since he passed away 15 years ago. She was only 13 months old so doesn't have a working memory of him either. We miss him and just want to pass on the stories for our kids to get a flavor of what a wonderful, Godly man he was and how much fun he had with his family. We are sharing a part of their heritage. So after a night of Brad sharing some Grandpa Ewing stories the next morning I was taking Caleb, Abby and Asher to school when Asher started asking questions... " Mom, can you call Heaven?" I start to answer him by saying well we can with prayer but not an actually call to Grandpa or anyone else. There was a small pause and then Asher said, "You know I love the smell of Caleb's deodorant." Huh, whaaat? He just mixed the deepest thought he's ever verbalized with the shallowest thought in less the 30 seconds. Go figure the thought process of a preschooler. But it does demonstrate his high sensory needs. :) Some of the crazy things that comes out of the month of babes. I love talking with preschoolers! What a blessing!