A Little Bit Like Me

There are dozens of pictures of me like this at my mom and dad's house...looks like they be a little bit like me when it comes to musical interests and talents.  I'm good with that :)

  They love to push all of the buttons on my keyboard and play the keys.  Sometimes they sing along, too, making up their own tune and made-up words.  But the other night at supper, I realized they may be a little bit like me in another way. 
  If you know me, or have read some of my posts, you know that my heart is for adoption and orphan care.  And that our family will not be complete until we adopt our final child (children? maybe?)  Anyway, we've been talking a lot in our house about adoption and orphan care the past few weeks because the preschool ministry that my kids are involved in at church is taking up loose change each Wednesday and Sunday to send in to an adoption/orphan care ministry called Show Hope.
  Now, back to my girls being a little bit like me.  A few nights ago, Anna Beth got a little quiet at supper and I could tell she was thinking.  I just love watching the wheels turn in their little minds, don't you?  Then Anna Beth looks at me with this face that says, "I have the perfect solution! And it just simply makes sense." Can you picture it...like a light bulb came on in her head.
  She says, "Mommy, if orphans don't have a mommy or a daddy...why don't they just come live here with us.  You can be their mommy, daddy can be their daddy, me and Lynnsie can be their sister, and Creek can be their brother.  And they won't be an orphan anymore." Then Lynnsie chimes in with, "Yeah!", in total agreement.
  Talk about a heart overflowing with joy.  I love when God uses my children to teach me things about Him and His love.  And I love it, too, when He affirms callings and promises through them.  I love that He put that on her heart and made it all make sense.  I love that Lynnsie got it, too.  I love that they think adoption is perfect for our family.  I love that they are a little bit like me in this.

Over the Rainbow Birthday Bash

For Anna Beth's 4th Birthday Party, I really, really, wanted to do some type of art party.  I saw the idea on Pinterest last fall and thought it was adorable!! I also really, really, hoped she would want to do it, too!  Of course, I let her pick her theme and what she wanted to do from a list of suggestions and

 a Rainbow/Art Party it was!!

My friend, Becca, came over the night before and iced 8 dozen mini cupcakes!

Rainbow Cupcakes

Fruit bites in color coordinating Fiesta Ware made for a perfect & colorful addition

The painted rainbow centerpiece was done by our very own artist,
Miss Anna Beth, when she was just 2 years old!

We made ice cream cups using fun cupcake liners.  Got it from Pinterest.

The birthday girl painting her rainbow

She got lots of great presents from her friends and this super, awesome new bike
from Jacob and I.  I'm sure it's the first of many Jacob will put together over the years for our kiddos!

 

She's 4!!!

  Anna Beth turned 4 on the 25 of May.

The day was spent making 8 dozen (that's 96) mini cupcakes for her birthday party

She woke up to the house decorated for a birthday celebration!

Then we went here, to grab breakfast because that's what the birthday girl wanted.

We went in our pj's because that's more fun.



Birthday Girl!



Jacob had to work, so we didn't get to have a family celebration that day, but she had to open at least 1 present on her birthday!! It was a new Fancy Nancy book about tea parties.

  Four.  4.  F-O-U-R.  Almost 5.  Just shy of a third of the way to being a teenager.  And one fourth of the way to driving.  Yes, she is 4.  Where in the world has the time gone the past 4 years?!  Happy Birthday, my sweet Anna Beth!

The Battle: Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

  I've come a long way since that night in December, when I finally shared my brokenness with Jacob.  Looking back on it now, it's hard to exactly remember what the feelings were like...and I'm okay with that!
  One of my favorite books of the Bible is James...so much good stuff in that one, so much.  One of the first few verses has really been loud to me these past few months, "Consider is pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
  Complete.  Not lacking.  I want to be those things.  I made a note in my Bible a few weeks ago that looks like this....trials = completeness, wholeness.  The fact is, I can't be complete, I can't be like Jesus, if I don't have to hop over a few hurdles now and then.  And I want to be like Jesus.
  So, yes, I am considering it a blessing that I have had to fight this battle, endure this trial.  Here's why:
  - I had to rely and trust in God more than I think I have ever had to
  - I got to see God's work and provision in my life up close and very personal
  - It made me more confident in that I am who God made me.  I am the mother He made me.  I am not a perfect mother, and that's okay. 
  - Not that I have ever been insecure in my marriage, but it made me even more secure to feel Jacob's love and his strong, protecting arms around me.
  - I was reminded of just how awesome my friends are.
  I could have let this battle define me.  I could have believed the "I"m weak" lies.  And I would be in the same place, probably worse, than I was a few months ago.  But now, oh, now God has restored my joy.  He has restored my smile, my happiness, my love for being a stay-at-home mommy.  He has restored me to the life He has so richly blessed me with.

To read a little follow up post I wrote a few months later, completely in love with life and in awe of the Lord...click here