Inspired

I found the cutest website today called bakeitinacake.com. The concept is simple yet clever, one of those things that makes me say, "Why didn't I think of that?" I'm thinking I'm going to pursue this with my next batch of cupcakes.

Cleaning House

It's amazing what you find when you clean! Ryan's closet was last organized around 2005. It's pretty full. The last time we sorted he was 12 and I talked him through letting go of the yogurt lid collection, the collection of Sonic toys and other pieces of toys that were long gone. He's a collector, enough said. We had an unexpected snow day today and I talked him into giving me some time to get through the closet.

The first four things I pulled out were a pair of crutches, a plastic tub of hats, three loose ticket stubs from Razorback games, and a box of marbles. Two and a half hours later I was craving a Sonic coke (the real thing) but didn't dare leave the house. I did leave the room, and now three hours later Ryan is still sorting through items he has discovered!

We exchanged high fives when he took out the first bag of trash, it's such a sign of accomplishment. We didn't even fuss over culling out the t-shirt drawer! It's a great day to see the floor of the closet.

Family time. Ahh.

Why?

It's one of the busiest times of the year for me. My brain is filled with details of two events in two separate towns/states. I am answering many emails each day about the business and planning for these seasonal events now. However, this year, the business isn't all that is taking up time in my brain.

It's time to get down to the details on the adoption process for our family. Out of necessity we have been working on things like space, paperwork, training and home studies. You can't adopt without these things. Space is a huge issue for us and so we have finally had to start openly discussing if we were going to move to a larger home or build on here. It's hard! We love our house, but it's older. We love our neighborhood and my kids friends coming in and out the front door. However, to be able to handle the responsiblity of one (probably two) more children, we simply must have more space. Building onto an older home isn't going to be the best thing for us.

So, as if moving doesn't start the conversation ball rolling...we must keep our focus on the details that are past the move. Like sharing our food, space and time with two permanant guests, and not even guests, family. All the pre-planning is like planning a big detailed wedding and giving no thought to the marriage. It's done all the time.

When this is final, we're in it forever, so we've got to keep our heads and our hearts focused.

So, why? Why adopt? MY answers:

1) Everything we have is the Lord's.

2) The character of God confirms that He would love children who needed to be loved. And so should we.

3) God has never said, "get comfortable and sit." He uses words like "stand firm," "be on your guard," and "love others."

4) "Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

5) Giving is standing firm against the god of our age: selfishness.

6) Giving is an act of faith.

7) Giving is a statement of His Lordship in our lives. Our faith in Him can't help but help us grow.

8) God has blessed our family with so much, and there are children who need to experience the unselfish love of God through us.

God has put this on my heart.

Ryan, my son

Ryan's is 17 today. As in, 17 years ago I had my first baby! He was a precious 9 pound 15 ounce boy with long straight black hair and the chubbiest legs and arms I had ever seen. He was a great baby and a textbook first child.

Ryan has given us millions of laughs, memories and joy every day of his life. Have we argued, yelled, and cried together? Yes. Are we still close? Yes. Do we love one another? Yes. Are we opposites in a million ways? Yes. Am I my son's biggest fan? Yes. Do I pray for him...for his character, his choices, his friendships, his future? Yes. Do I hurt when he hurts? Yes. Do I clap when he succeeds? Yes.





When I was pregnant with Ryan, my heart miraculously duplicated inside of me! I was immediately connected to him and after he was born it changed only physically. The years have changed this only in growth. I have watched him grow from an infant to a toddler to a boy to a teen to a young man. I love him so.

Ryan, the future is yours and I can't wait to see where God leads you.

Happy Birthday!

I think I posted this last year, but I love having Christmas cards out during the season. Everyone was a little later getting theirs out this year and for a little bit I thought possibly we wouldn't get any. I love to display them in the picture holders and spread out the picture cards and the cards. I attach them all to a huge corkboard in our laundry room for the rest of the year. It's fun to see faces of friends all year long. I think Christmas cards are awesome.

Honored

I wanted to make sure to record one of the coolest things we did while we were in Colorado. The house we stayed in has an attached lodge with an open upstairs and huge downstairs. Comfy furniture, a wooden canoe hanging from the ceiling, iron chandeliers, skis, oars and animal skins here and there.

The steps up to the upper room are logs split in half and shined, the center post in the room is a de-barked tree with multiple branches. (see photos) We were honored to have the owners of the home invite us to put our name on the tree to commemorate our time in the wonderful Colorado home. Because the snow had been falling for 24 hours, we chose snowflakes and I burnt our names (permantly) in the tree bark. How cool is that?

Sweet!

The boys are headed to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl! A ticket was Ryan's birthday present from us! They'll pick up Gramps on the way. Getting back in the car for a 10 hour trip is a BIG deal. That will be 8 states in 4 days for the boys and our Sequoia. Ryan has to miss two days of school, but it's a BCS bowl that may not happen again for awhile! Go Hogs! Wooo Pig Sooie!

Quote of the Day

Holy words long perserved

For our walk in this world
They resound with God's own heart
Let the ancient words impart

Words of life

Words of hope

Give us strength
Help us cope
In this world, where'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, changing you
We have come with open hearts
The faithful words of Christ

words by Lynn DeShazo

Books I've Read in 2010

I transfered this list directly from the home page of my blog and lost all the links.

Lady of the River****

Choosing to SEE*****

A Home in the Valley****

Storm Gathering*****

Storm Surge*****

Splitting Storm******

White Doves*****

White Roses*****

Honor's Reward*****

Honor's Disguise*****

Honor's Quest*****

Honor's Price*****

Honor's Pledge*****

Talk of The Town****

The Buck Stops Here*****

Double Shot*****

Latte Daze*****

Cool Beans*****

Until We Reach Home***

Through Waters Roar***

Take Four*****

Take Three*****

So You're About to be a Teenager*****

Finding Anna*****

Dark Waters****

Splitting Harriet****

SAHM I Am***

Shadows of Lancaster County*****

Colossians*****

The Unquenchable Worshipper*****

Emerald Windows****

Wildflower Hearts (3 in 1)****

The House That Cleans Itself****

Ephesians*****

Titus*****

As Sure As the Dawn*****

An Echo in the Darkness*****

A Voice in the Wind*****

Promise Me Tomorrow*****

Down Home with the Neelys***

Growing Up Christian*****

True Courage*****

That Certain Spark****

Revelation*****

Moon Over Tokoyo***

Piece de Resistance (3)****

Bon Appetit (2)****

Let Them Eat Cake (1)****

Shades of Blue*****

Newlywed Games****

Wings of the Dawn*****

The Case for Christ (student edition) *****

Three Weddings and a Giggle***

Allegeny Hopes (3 in 1)**

Honor in the Dust***

The Road Home***