Lessons Learned...

Some good friends of ours are in the process of adopting a precious baby girl from Ethiopia. They're getting ready to make their first trip over there. Stacy mentioned on their blog that they're going to take extra suitcases, filled with medicine and supplies for the orphanage. Aaron & I talked about donating some things and I thought it would be a good lesson for the kids (Anna for sure) to take them shopping for things to give Stacy & Christian to take with them. I asked Stacy what they needed and we headed to good ol' Dollar General. I explained to the kids what we were doing and why--what an orphanage is, why the kids are there, why they need us to get things for them, etc. I told them that Jesus commands us in the Bible to take care of the orphans. The biggest battle I have EVERY time we go to any store is the kids (especially Jacob, not always Anna) think they need to get a treat/toy. They were all on board, but Jacob kept saying that he was going to pick out a toy for "that boy". I explained to them that these kids don't have Mamas and Daddies to buy things for them and that they need clothes and shoes. To my surprise, both Anna and Jacob teared up. Anna said that made her really sad. We headed into the store and started picking out some shoes and clothes. Anna talked away about how much the kids would like their new clothes and shoes. The flip flops were on mega sale, so we literally loaded up the cart! :)

Not only did this teach my kids (at least Anna) a lesson on compassion and thankfulness, it reminded me to look outside my bubble of a world. I'm not going to be able to put into words what I want to convey...it was a good lesson for all of us and I was moved to see how much it affected Anna.

Lord, I pray that you continue to keep this precious girl's heart soft. I pray she never loses her gentle, caring spirit and that You mold her into a compassionate, loving, caring young woman who seeks Your face daily. As much as it hurts, continue to break her heart for Your lost and alone children. Thank You for putting Anna in this family and thank You for using her to remind me of Your compassion.

God's Love

I haven't posted much about the Bible study I'm currently in. Not because I'm not learning a TON. I guess I just haven't taken the time to sit down and write a post about it. And since both kids were asleep before 8pm tonight (yahoo!!)... :)

We're going through Jerry Bridges' "Trusting God". Tonight I was reading about God's love. Matthew Henry observed (after reading Zephaniah 3:17) this:

"The great God not only loves His saints, He loves to love them."

The psalmist David writes of the greatness of God's love in Psalm 103. God's love is higher than the heavens are from the earth. Just as His ways are high above our ways, God's love is more than we can ever comprehend. Bridges points out that

"(God's love) is not only perfect in its effect, it is infinite in its extent."

It's so hard to wrap my finite, human mind around a love like that. When I'm going through an adversity, a hardship, or just something that's not my idea of good, it's easy to forget that. Bridges reminds us to remember who we are. When we start to think that God doesn't care, that if He really loved us why would He be putting me through this...remember what He did for ME. He sacrificed His one and only Son. For me. Jesus willingly died a horrific death, suffered much...for me. I don't deserve His love. I don't deserve heaven. I deserve hell. A speaker once said

"Anything this side of hell is pure grace."

How true that is. May we all remember and humbly seek the cross and the Savior.

I'm a girl, what can I say?

I think this new blog background thing might be like purses...even better since they're FREE! haha I think I've settled on this one though. I like it...for now:)
And is my site counter right?? It says over 5,000 (at least it did in my preview mode). What in the world is that all about?!
That verse from Psalm that is in my header--it's on a stained glass thing that Aaron's mom gave me after Anna was born. She found it while I was in labor with Anna and thought the verse was very appropriate for what I was going through (3 days of labor!). I guess over the last 3 1/2 years, it's kind of just become part of my kitchen window. I mean, I see it but I don't read the verse or think about it, ya know? But when I was editing that picture of the flowers, I saw that in the corner and realized what an awesome verse that is. How wonderful is it that I have a God who asks me to cast my burdens on Him??? And He promises to sustain me through my trials--whether great or small! What an awesome God I serve.
Okay, Jacob is screaming again:( Guess I better go see what the matter is...poor baby. He's usually such a great sleeper.

Precious Anna

*sometimes her tenderness isn't so tender! ha*

Our daughter is so precious. She put Binga to bed tonight (on her own...no one prompted her to do so. She's done that before when Binga was really sick-that was even more precious). But shame on Binga, she got out of bed! Anna chewed her out (nicely) and told her "Ahwight, I sing you ONE more song and then that's it......ohhh Binga." HA! The Lord has blessed her with such a tender heart. I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. It makes me realize how incomprehensible God's love is for HIS children. Blows my mind.