We Could Never....

Hi again everyone!  It's been quite some time since I have blogged, but I have some big news!  We FINALLY opened our home for fostering!  Our CALL coordinator asked for bloggers to blog about foster care and I figured now was as good of a time as ever to open this back up and begin blogging!

The title of this post is "We Could Never."  I want to begin with the fact that this was not our view on fostering.  In fact, it was something God called us to do and we answered.  We knew that if God called us, He would equip us.  That's exactly what He has done.  I titled this post because I hear those words often.  So often when people see us with our G-Man, I am told, "I'm so proud of your family.  We could never do it."

People, let me first just tell you this.  You CAN do this.  Will there be difficult times?  Of course.  Will there be tears shed?  Of course.  However, would you rather these sweet, precious children not experience love?  Don't they deserve us being attached and loving them?  Don't they deserve someone crying over them.  Don't they deserve our prayers?  Don't they deserve a home where they will feel safe and protected?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you CAN do it.  In the end, it's not about us, it's about them.  I think having my heart broken is worth it for these children to feel showered in God's love!

As we enter the unknown, we have to trust that God is by our side.  He will guide us and give us all we need.

Still here...

Just way overwhelmed and way too busy!  Believe it or not, I am still kicking.  I have been down for the past week due to a dry socket, but I am on the road to recovery!

I have had many awesome things going on.  Mainly- tons of photo shoots!  You can slide on over to my photography blog and see some that I have completed!  www.qrsphotography.wordpress.com .  That's been my main reason for lack of blogging.

Another reason is Ruthie has been attending swim practice.  This is something I was super excited about!  She started off not really enjoying it too much.  I felt like a bad mom b/c I made her continue going.  She said it was soooo hard.  However, she didn't realize how much work it would be and she wouldn't pace herself.  She was giving it her all and totally wearing herself out!  She starting enjoying it around the third practice, but still would say it was hard.  She didn't want to quit though.  Today is our last practice.  I am a bit sad, but a bit happy b/c I am ready to come straight home after work instead of rushing!
Here she is learning how to float.

Here she is swimming on her back!  I was shocked at how fast she learned!  I don't know how to rotate the video...sorry!


Last weekend I had a very amazing opportunity to work with the Both Hands Project. My dear friend and her family has answered the call to adopt a sweet, precious soul from Honduras.  This little one has brown eyes that will MELT your heart!  With this project, we went in and helped a widow, in return for donations for the adopting family.  All proceeds go to the adopting family.  I pray that they raise some good money to help.  I was shocked to find out how much it cost.  With that being said, a child IS worth it.  They need them.  We worked all day and got quite a bit accomplished.  The family went back and finished what we started.  It was amazing seeing this kind widow, and giving to her something she may have never received   The project goes on the verse James 1:27 where God instructs us to look after widows and orphans. It was an awesome opportunity and I am so blessed to have helped alongside my friend, her family, my husband, my niece, and a great group of teens and adults!

Randall also had the chance to preach Sunday morning and night a sister-church in a nearby town.  I love seeing my man up there delivering God's Word.  He is doing amazing too.  It's awesome to see the Lord work through him.  I am blessed to be his wife!

Everything else is going well around here.  Super busy, but who isn't.  I am ready for the holidays b/c I missed out on some family time last weekend.  I am ready to see all my nieces and nephews.  I pray it doesn't take me this long to get back on, but if it does, I apologize.

Thinking ahead....

My heart is heavy and full of joy today.  I have so much on my mind, I feel as though I can't concentrate.  I keep thinking about what's ahead in our lives.  I know we are to live in the moment, but after reading another blog today, my mind can't seem to focus.  Let me explain....
I have a friend I used to work with.  She traveled to Honduras during Spring Break.  There she met a VERY precious little girl.  After meeting her, she knew right then, she wanted her.  See, this precious little girl is in an orphanage.  She is unwanted.  My friend and her family want her.  Their hearts are crying out to her.  They want to give her what she needs.  Not just what she wants, but what she needs.  She doesn't have a home, a family, someone to love her forever, or a good supply of food.  My friend just wants to give her her basic needs, plus MUCH more.  Things aren't moving along as they had hoped, there are some trials, but God is still moving.
This morning, I was reading my favorite blog.  Ashley Ann is truly an inspirational mother and wife.  She loves with all her heart and knows how to put it into words that make you wonder what you are doing with your life and are you really making a difference. She lets her kids be kids.  She's crafty and just full of joy! I love her blog.  This morning I was excited to read about her trip to China where she met her daughter.  Ashley has been on an adoption journey for a while.  She has known for many years she wanted to adopt.  Today, I finally got to see photos of her little one.  My how my heart leaped with joy.  She is absolutely gorgeous.  Her smile melted my heart.  The photos of her looking into Ashley's eyes and seeing her new dad hold her with tear-stained cheeks.....there are no words.  It just makes me sit back and wonder, "what am I doing?  Am I making a difference?"  I am not saying you have to adopt to make a difference.  But something is moving in my heart.  I can't explain it.  I don't know if it has to do with all the pregnant people around me, traveling to Honduras, or reading about these adoptions.  I just know God is moving in my heart.  He is telling me something.  I need to be still and listen.  Randall and I have both been led to foster.  And the odd thing is, I think we are both leaning towards the youth.  Most people would prefer younger ones.  For some reason we both see us with teenagers.  We both have agreed to look into it a lot more in about five years.  We want to be financially stable.  We are far from it.  We want to be able to support these kids on our own.  We have no idea what fostering involves, we just know we want to be a part of it.  I know that there are so many out there without a mother or father.  It breaks my heart to know they feel unloved.  Working with the youth, I see so many craving attention.  It burdens my heart b/c I want to give it to them, but they want their parents.  I want to make a difference.  I want to do what God is calling me to do.  I want to give love where love is needed.
I realize this is a lot of rambling, but I am posting b/c I want to ask for prayers.  Pray for our family as we open our hearts and allow God to guide us and show us what He wants.  Not what we want, but what He wants.

Kindergarten News + 35/52

Ruthie is LOVING Kindergarten!!  I am amazed at how well she is doing.  I am soooooo proud of her b/c she has received the Principal's Award for good behavior, always listening, and being polite.  That makes me sooooooo proud!!!  Although home doesn't reflect that behavior, I still want to brag on her.  She's growing up, that's for sure.  The other night, she had her first night of "homework" and she was estatic!  I want to make that my P52 photo.  She's just too cute!



Not much else is going on.  Randy is doing great at daycare, which totally makes my life easier.  Work is going well.  Not really "into" it this year, but hopefully it will get better.  My heart is at home where I feel as though I should be, but that doesn't work for our family. 

Randall had the opportunity to preach this morning.  We enjoyed attending a new church and hearing him share the gospel.  So proud of the man I married.  Funny how our lives began and how they have completely changed, but only for the better.  I can only thank God for that.  Such a blessing!

Week Fifteen {Project52}

For this week's P52, I went with the newest photo of my handsome hubby.  He is actually wearing a sportcoat in this photo!  SHOCKER!  He dressed up for his last sermon and I HAD to grab a picture of him.  I am so in love with this man and I know that God has blessed me soooooo much!  Isn't he so handsome?!

Just had to share...

This was in our Baptist Trumpet (our BMA newsletter) and I scanned it b/c I didn't want to lose it.  I wanted to post it here as well.  We are so blessed by our Lord God Almighty!!!

Week Eleven {Project52}

Yes, another P52 photo.  I am doing a lot better now that the weather is nice!!
The first one is my official Week 11 P52 photo.  The other is just thrown in there b/c I did it for a challenge!  The reason I picked these flowers this week is b/c Spring is my favorite season.  It brings so much joy after a long cold winter.  I love Easter b/c of the event that took place on that day.  Where would we be without Jesus?

Wanted to say that Sunday night went really well.  Everyone is so supportive of him preaching and it means more to us than words can say.  It's not going to be easy at times, but the Lord is in control.  I trust Him fully.  Please continue to pray for us through this transition time.  Who knows how long this transition time will last b/c we don't know where He might lead us!!

BIG news....

Randall surrendered his life to preach!  I am so blessed to have such an amazing, godly, caring husband.  God has truly blessed me.  Only the Lord knows where our lives will go from here, but what we do know for sure- whatever door he opens, we will come running through.  We are more than excited to announce this.  He's been struggling with the calling for about a year now, not sure what the Lord was calling him to do.  This past Wed, he knew.  He was at a men's retreat and God spoke to him.  Tonight is his first sermon!  Ruthie is so thrilled along with the rest of us.  Please be praying for us b/c once you get on a spiritual high, the devil comes flying at you ready to atack!