Seven years of Life...our Miracle girl...

Seven years ago, the Lord breathed life into the most amazing little girl.  She came 7 weeks early, weighing in at 3lbs 3oz.  She was a fighter from birth.  Born with her intestines outside of her body, she went into surgery at just ten days old.  She is truly a miracle child.

And in a few cities away, that very same month, the Lord told me to begin praying for my child.  Only because I journal, was I able to look back and see what He was doing, fifteen months later when I would actually meet that child.  You see, Erika was not birthed in my womb, but rather my heart.  The Lord put that desire in me so strongly, that I just had to find her...

Erika, you are an answer to this momma's prayers.  And proof that the Lord truly does give us the desires of our hearts:)

Erika, your eyes and your life hold adventure at every corner.  You can hold a snake or you can dance at ballet.

This year, you learned to swim across the deep end and taught yourself to ride a bike.

When asked if there is anything you cannot do, you say, NOPE.

We often refer to you as "Ramona" off the movie, Ramona and  Beezus.  You are so full of life, it often gets you into trouble.  We truly never know what you may say or do next.

As I type this, you are on your very last pace, Math, of Second Grade.  We have curicullum to pick up so this week you can begin Third Grade.  Your will is as strong as anyone I have ever met.  But your determination helps you accomplish much.  Only on the last few paces, did you even begin to make any mistakes.  You are a perfectionist and do not like to be corrected.

Four birthdays ago, we were on the verge of adopting you.  Look how tiny you were, just three years old.  But even then, you carried yourself in such a " big" way.  I am so blessed to get to be your mommy.  And I believe God knew exactly what He was doing when He chose you for us.

Just two years old here...and loving the blow out the birthday candle thing...

Your personality shone through for sure, last year at your six year old party.  You insisted to wear the princess dress Memaw sent you in the mail.  And loved all the crafts and pinata we did.

Today, we will surprise you.  We will pick up your two best friends and head out on an adventure you have not done yet.  I am praying today is magical and fun for you.

Aw, here you are, our second week of having you.  So cute, even though you did dump your entire box of Cheerios everywhere...

And now this past summer, six and half and full of sass.  Alice did an amazing job of catching your personality.

Baby girl, I can't imagine our lives without you.  Yes, you keep me on my toes, but you bring so much joy into this mama's heart.  I love you so much and wish you the Happiest of Birthdays:)

Seven, its a big one:)

In the Battle

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

If you ever fear that your life has gotten a little dull, just do something for Jesus, and that will stir up things for ya:)

We are in the midst of one our biggest spiritual battles that we can ever remember.  LifeNet is growing in numbers, but also growing spiritually.  We have one of our young people currently signing up to attend Bible college in the states. Sunday afternoon, we had three more baptisms.  Today, we are signing on property in Belmopan for LifeNet.

And the enemy is not happy with us.  

We are messing with some pretty big strongholds.  We are helping people find true freedom in Christ.

We covet your deep intercession.  We are fighting some very hard things...but they truly can only be fought on our knees.  I think that is the hardest part.  The only one who can help us is the Lord.  We can really do nothing in the flesh.

Please lift up Lee.  He has gotten the full on attack.  But we are one, so his pain is my pain as well.  Even our son has undergone attack.  In the midst of us providing shelter to a girl whose brother has cancer, she is also receiving the attack.  That is how unjust the enemy is.

We know it is the enemy.  We know God will win.  But this is a time when we need our prayer covering more than ever.  That the enemies schemes would not hurt the ones we are trying to minister to.

And this may seem really silly to some.  Of course, I am turning to strong worship songs that speak life to my soul.  But always in the back of my mind, I hear the old Veggie Tales Song, "GOD IS BIGGER THAN THE BOOGIE MAN."  Its a silly song, but so much truth.  God is bigger than these demons we face.  The demons of cancer.  The demons of false accusations.  God is bigger.  And He wins.

Thank you for praying for us:)

Christmas Memories

At this moment, my emotions are over the top.  I just spent the morning with 16 amazing girls (two of which are my own:):)  

I tried to make it like what I, as a healthy Christian mom, would do to make a fun morning at Christmastime, for my own children.  Because these girls are my children, too.

As we brought them out to the table to decorate cookies, I asked a sensitive question.  "What is a GOOD Christmas Memory?"

Reactions were mixed.  A few even shared hard, sad stories.  Some of the girls cried.  I was like, oh no, what did I do?  But then one girl pointed to her cookie, not saying a word.  I didn't understand, at first.  Then, she said, "this".  "This is my good Christmas memory."  Then another, who had shared a heartbreaking story, said, "there was this woman, named Robyn, and she would spend her Saturday mornings to visit me and do fun things with me and love me...(I quickly got it)...those are my best Christmas memories."  Many shared that they had never made cookies with their mom.  Many could not think of happy things at Christmas.

We, then proceeded to do some fun Christmas crafts.  Even making snowflakes out of white paper...many had never done that before...and they loved it.

My heart is full.

I ended, by asking to pray for them.  Christmas is not always happy for everyone.  It can be the saddest time of all.  But I prayed that even if where they were not going (for Christmas break, Marlas shuts down for Christmas...)  was not exciting to them, that God would bless them in ways they did not expect.  I shared how much Lee and I deeply love them.  There were a few teary moments, but it was awesome, too.

  What an awesome last time for a while.  We are going to take a break for the rest of December.  Of course, we will still see them and there is a play next Thursday that Erika will be in with the girls.  But I need to focus on my own children as we enter this season of Christmas:)

Its that Time of Year

Its that time of year again...where I have a million responsibilities as a mom and pastor's wife to try to make Christmas special.  Throw in a birthday of a girl about to turn seven and it can be simply exhausting.

I go to the store with lists, lose the lists, start over again.

And this year, we may have two extra girls.  But don't totally know yet.  Just have to be prepared.

In this season of craziness, though, God has surely shown up to show me He is my provider.  He has used anonymous people, new friends and family to help assure that we have the finances to have a simple, but blessed Christmas. 

Saturday, the girls and I will head to Marla's for a little Christmas fun.  I'm real excited.  We are going to make cut out cookies and let the girls decorate and then Eat them.  We have a small little candy to give each one with a bookmark.  And we will make Christmas cards and Ornaments.  Quite a blessing because I was blessed by an anonymous donor to do something at Marlas.  Even though these things are simple, I have to  plan for 20 girls, just in case new ones come in, and it does take finances to do these things.  So, needless to say, so blessed!!!

Next week, Erika will actually dance with the girls of Marlas at their Board Christmas party.  It is so funny how she just popped in there.  She will dance with the little girl her age.  And will enjoy it so much.

Then Saturday, we are surprising her for her bday.  She has no idea what we are doing, but she is going to be so excited.  I will post lots of pictures, I promise.

Sunday is Erika's actual bday and we will have a Christmas party for Childrens church.  Then Monday is her Christmas program for Ballet.

So lots of events.  Most of which I am in charge of planning.  And there will be lots of baking involved too...

At least I can rest on Christmas.  After the Christmas Eve Service and after I make a big Christmas dinner.

Let me share a little about God providing.  We have taken in the boy (who has leukemia)...'s older sister.  Honestly, we do not know for how long.  But God has provided, even in that.  People are  helping to make sure we have gifts.  The Lord is extending my groceries by giving me good deals.  He knows.  And He provides.

I really want to thank our families, as well, who have gone out of their way to make sure our kids have a great Christmas.  We have packages that  have been sent, money to buy gifts, etc.  And best of all, grandparents coming for a visit right after the new year.

This Christmas is tinged with a little bit of sadness for me.  Josh will be an adult and in college next year.  I remember 18 years ago being such a joyous time as I rubbed my belly, knowing what was to come.  I have been so blessed to get to enjoy so many special moments with him.  So it is sad to know he is growing up:(

But I am excited as we enter this busy season.  Having a house full is kind of fun.  Yes, more work.  But the kids are entertained:)  We are hoping to have one of the girls from Marlas spend her Christmas break with us.  Customarily, they try to find families to bless a child during that time and get them out of the home.  We are excited to be a part of this journey.

Now, my home is filling with the NetGroup.  I hear the vans dropping kids off...  Its almost time:)  Oh yeah, we will have a Christmas party of sorts for NetGroup too...

Have a blessed season as you celebrate where you are as well.

Sometimes we just need the Reminder

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." I John 4:4

Wow, this week has been a doozy...or maybe like past two weeks.  Sometimes it is so easy to get distracted by the problems.  Sometimes its easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.  Especially in the midst of crisis.  Especially when they are happening one on top of the other...

But the bigger picture is that GREATER IS HE.  And I am on His team.  So we win.  Sometimes the battles, they come, one right after another.  But still, He is here.  He really is.  And He shows Himself in the moments where we feel we cannot take one more thing!!!

I feel like today was the WORST day ever.  Sometime I will be able to share the details...  But just the roughest of days.  But I had a friend, interceding for us, encouraging me.  Then, a lady and her daughter(from the states visiting) met us with the most amazing gifts for our entire family.  And it is like the atmosphere just turned around.  Like God said, See I Am Still Here.  I am in the midst of these problems and Im at work.  Its like the rainbow in the midst of the storm.

And at those times, we are reminded who wins.  God wins.  And we are on His team:)

And I have three happy children in spite of the Devil attacking with all His might.

And I can rest well tonight knowing my Father God is watching over us.

just thought this was cool

Over the past week, the devil has been working overtime in attacking Lee, LifeNet, you name it.

But Sunday morning was awesome.  With a full crowd, we even ran out of cinnamon rolls.

On Tuesday, Tori's best friends' little brother was officially diagnosed with Leukemia.  So we have an extra child for now, until Mom can get back:)

Wednesday, Barry, who was going to make the 1000 cinnamon rolls we needed for Sunday, had a personal tragedy.  His father died suddenly and he had to return to the states.  

And then there are some other crazy situations going on.

But God is good.  Service was great.  And I fell more in love with the family we have at LifeNet than ever.  We had our leaders meeting last night...and I was just blessed by who we have and where we are going.

This morning, a package arrived from the states.  Someone sent an entire box full of NEW maternity clothes for one of the girls at the children's home.  What a blessing to get to bless her, as she is now growing in the Lord.  The girls rarely get new clothes, so it will be so special when the housemom gives them to her.

I have spent my morning, separating donated clothes and now have a basket of donated non-perishables to decide where they need to go.  God is so good to give us so much to turn around and give away.

One last thing that we would have absolutely loved to take a picture of...but couldn't.

When we dropped of the donated things at the children's home, we also needed to meet privately with the housemom, so shut her office door.  We left Erika to play with the little girl that is too small for school.  Well, when we opened the door, all the primary girls had come home for lunch, all so cute in their uniforms, eating stewed chicken, beans and rice.  And who was at the end of the table?  None other than our little Erika.  The staff had offered her a plate, as well, which she was readily chowing down.  

I was blessed by two things.  One, how these girls have all become our family.  Erika just blends right in.  And two, how much as Erika is now getting older, that she has in common with the girls from the children's home.  She was not able to be with her birth family either.  Yesterday was all about Gratitude at LifeNet.  I taught Children's Church and we had so much to fit it, I had to send one assignment home.  As I was about to put Erika to bed last night, she was working on hers.  We went and laid in bed together to talk about her paper.  She said, "I know it was a really long time ago, but I am so thankful that I get to be in this family:)"  Me too, Erika, me too...

Ministry will Break your Heart

I have been in some sort of ministry, I feel like, almost my entire life.  I am one of those kids who grew up in the church.  I was always in some sort of leadership, helping in Nursery, serving with Jr. high ministry.  Then I married a Pastor.

And sometimes....it just gets so heavy.

This is one of those weeks.  I have slept little.  I have prayed A LOT.

For two weeks, Tori's best friend, Dorothy, little brother has been in the hospital.  

Monday evening, it became more and more apparent that this boy had leukemia.  They were able to get the Cancer Society to ambulance him to Mexico, where there are better hospitals.

Henry is twelve years old and has three older sisters.  Dorothy is the oldest.  Their father, who was British, died about six years ago.  Their mother is from Guatemela and is so precious.  My heart is broken for her, walking through all of this alone.

Tuesday was a holiday here in Belize.  Our kids still did school, but we took them out for lunch, just to have a special time with them.  Henry's diagnosis was confirmed via text just as we sat down to eat.  I looked over and Tori was weeping.  Tori is such a girl full of compassion.  I pray that never changes.  I pray she weeps every time she hears news like that.  Sometimes, I feel I have forgotten how to just let it out like that.

God is good.  We do believe in our hearts that we will be able to link Henry to agencies to get help.  But we know it is a long journey ahead.

One daughter is with the mom and Henry, another staying with a friend, and we have Dorothy.  I do not mind at all.  I feel that we are her second parents anyway.  Dorothy's mom  has always looked to Lee as a father (spiritually) to her kids.  But please pray for us, as it started as just a few days, but we do not know what this means long term.  They have a home, but I know they cannot afford for them to live there, eat, etc, plus it is just not safe for the girls to be alone.  Pray for us as we minister to this family, mainly Dorothy.

We know there is healing in Jesus' name.  

Please pray for Henry:)