The day I got married, one of my closest friends looked me in the eye and said "God has many wild and wonderful things ahead for you and Jeremy."

Being called mom by 7 kids is definitely wild. Each day I look for the wonder in it all...and give thanks.

Partnering with my husband in life, parenting, work and serving is definitely wonderful. He is my favorite.



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Thanksgiving at Christmas!

So I have been promising an adoption update----
Tra-la-laaaaa
Here it is!


I don't know any other way to start except with the best part about it---

our Dossier successfully arrived in Colombia!!

woooooooooooooooooooo-hooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

For those of you unfamiliar with the international adoption osbtacle course, this is a pretty big, amazing, happy hallelujah time!  We still have one more necessary piece that we are waiting on this side of the border, but everything else is there, patiently waiting in line on the translator's desk.

We are T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L!

As I look back over the last 4 months, I have so much to be thankful for.  When I call the process an obstacle course (or triathlon for that matter),  it's no joke.


A few have asked, "What's easier, domestic or international?"  The verdict is still out on that question, but I am brewing another post on it.

Right now, we are giving thanks, waiting, praying, reading, praying,
giving thanks, giving thanks, giving thanks!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Dear Birthmother,

You have really been on my mind.  I guess with Christmas approaching and thinking of the kids, guessing how they are probably thinking more about you this time of year. 

Perhaps they are missing how it used to be

miss

being with you.

I can only imagine how you must miss them, adore them, ache for them, love them.  I hurt for you as you redefine your life without them...
not able to provide. 


As you long to talk with them and hold them again...

and cannot.

I don't know if we would ever have the opportunity to meet, but I hope that you would be comforted in knowing how much we love them, adore them, treasure them.  I hope it would ease your broken heart to know that we accept them, all of them, their joys, their hopes, their dreams, their hurts, their history. 

Even...
especially...
the part of them that misses you
and grieves.

I pray for you.  I pray the Lord is close to you.  I pray His blessing on you this Christmas where ever you are.
love,
Vanessa

Saturday, December 10, 2011

My point exactly...

I forgot to add two more verses that I wanted to put with my last post about not having it all together. 

Psalm 138:7-8 (which precedes one of my favorite chapters in the Bible)...


"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me"
(would have been perfect right after the part about
He works...)

Told ya

In case you think I have it all together

Occasionally I stop by different blogs and facebook and I see all the great things going on in other people's lives.  And sometimes I think,

"Really??  Is it always that glorious??"

And it got me to thinking about what people might think when they stop by here from time to time.  So just to make it perfectly clear, with no misunderstanding....

I do NOT have it all together!

In fact, lately I feel like I have been carrying buckets full of water. 

Not just a beach pail,
I mean big ol' 5 gallon buckets...


...all filled to the brim
and most of the time I am just inching my way by
sloshing all over the place
getting myself soaked and muddy.

Sometimes I put one bucket down just to make some headway with the others that are pulling me down.  But then I have to run back and catch that forsaken bucket up--

usually right after I really needed it.

Thankfully, I have really.good.friends.  I mean the kind of friends that don't mind me getting them wet.  Friends that will carry one or two buckets for me awhile.  Friends that come to my rescue when I trip and spill every drop.

Thank you, Lord, for these friends.

So I have been struggling with what to do with these buckets of mine.  I have been asking God if He wants to take one or two and give them to someone else........for good.  I mean someone else could probably do a much better job, it would literally be for good

(Just so you know I am not referring to any of my children or my spouse as a "bucket") ;-)

And I am hearing Him say "Hold on." 

I recently read Katie Davis' new book Kisses From Katie and one of the many lessons I learned from her story is that God absolutely gives us more than we can handle.  Because it is at that point, in the middle of our weakness and our inadequacy where His strength is made perfect. 

He works. 
And He gets the credit.
As He should.

One verse I cling to when it seems like I am asking for the impossible or I am sinking in my weakness is Jeremiah 32:27 

Nothing is too difficult for Him.  So I am holding on.  I am waking up, breathing a prayer as I step out of bed each morning, and drinking in His Word as I drink my coffee in my favorite spot on my brown couch.

I know each day is full and busy. 
But He is God
and He is at work. 
Making my weaknesses evident so that He can make His power complete.

Adoption update is coming soon--promise!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

An important update is coming soon (get ready to celebrate with us!) but right now we are in the middle of the very important business of dipping all kinds of favorite treats into almond bark and adding red and green sprinkles!
s'mores on a stick
thanks for the idea, Amanda!

Today we had a semi-spontaneous "Christmas Party" with the cousins and it was scrumptious! 




 Will gave up after about 5 minutes and started eating his




Making treats...
I think I could start an idea book for 101 yummy things to dip in almond bark

Decorating the tree with my parents...


spending time with family...every smile, every hug
brought joy, thankfulness...healing