Addendum to the previous post.

Romans 8:23-24 23 "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all."

So I found an addendum to the last post. I guess this is the reason I have connected so powerfully to the adoption of little ones. I want to know more about what adoption is. As it says in Romans, our hope is in our new bodies at the end of time, when Jesus comes back and we are seated as ADOPTED sons (and daughters) forever in the kingdom of the Lord on Earth. Really, is there anything cooler? To have an even greater understanding into what it means to be adopted, by adopting others, can only increase my own heart to see my adoption into my Father's family finalized on the day he returns. Wow. It's pretty cool.

Adoption. . . . so the story continues (or begins, depending on your view)

So we have had a week of firsts. We are praying about this thing called adoption, and it has suddenly become elevated in our hearts. We met this past week with an Adoption Consultant- one who can help us through the process, create a profile of our family, and point us toward the right social worker for the home study, and finally connect us with agencies around the nation that desire to find Christian families for babies that are available. Then, we went to a dinner put on by the Zoe Foundation- created by a family here in KC to help others more affordably adopt. They are really cool people and have an amazing call from the Lord on their lives. Through it all, I hear the still small voice of the Lord speaking to me. It's really amazing, because at this stage in our lives it's really crazy, we have these two little boys, and we sure DON'T have an extra $25,000 sitting around. And yet, the Lord is speaking so clearly to us on this one. Here's a snippit:

1. I was praying tonight at bible study for this whole situation, particularly the baby and the money. We have to have $3000 to start the process, and are praying for the Lord to lead us to people right now who have the same heart. As I was asking the Lord to provide for this little one, he told me that we were fighting for her- by raising money. I know, it sounds a bit odd, but when you are pregnant, you are going to the doctor, cutting back on caffeine, taking your vitamins, and praying fervently over the one inside you. It is the means of fighting for her from the start. When they are born, you will fight for them at the drop of a hat if ever crossed. The Lord spoke so clearly to me tonight that I cannot do those things this time, but he is calling me to fight for her (we think it might be a little girl somewhere out there). As I talk to people and begin this adventure of fundraising, this is the means that I can fight for her. She is in a womb right now where she is unwanted, I am praying constantly for her heart, but by raising money to bring her into my home, I am fighting for her little life. Just as I would if she were in my womb.

2. My child is unwanted somewhere. I know there is a ton of conversation about when and what babies can know in the womb, but there is a pregnant mother who knows that the child growing inside her would be better off with another family. It is the most noble of decisions. Anyone who has sat in a hospital after holding the newborn you have just birthed, knows the heart connection that happens immediately. For that mother to know it is best to give her to me is honorable at least, noble and sacrificial at best. I have and will continue to pray that she will know she is created, known from the start, and LOVED wholly by a family in Kansas City, and created by a God who was willing to send his son to die for her. There is no greater calling. There is no greater love, than to lay down his life. . . .

Pray with us. It's about to get crazy over here!

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress"

You gotta see this. . .

So our friends up here in KC have adopted three little girls in the last two years and oddly enough, found out they were pregnant with a fourth girl. They are an amazing family, living as intercessory missionaries for years now, on staff and IHOP, and recently starting a foundation to help families adopt. Great people- if you don't already read it, I totally recommend you start reading his blog- http://randybohlender.wordpress.com It's really cool, but I wanted to share a particular entry. There is a small town in rural Texas called Possum Trot (and for those of you familiar with the rural south, you know what a great name that is for a town). Anyway, the town has three hundred people in it, 200 of them attend a Missionary Baptist church. In the last few years, members of that church have adopted 70 of the state-classified children, hardest to adopt. The story is amazing, and though there are always financial needs when taking care of children, the gospel that these faithful few are preaching is above and beyond anything I have said in the last several days. It's amazing what can be won when fighting the battle with the love of Jesus closest to you. . . enjoy!

http://randybohlender.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/hats-off-to-possum-trot/

By the way, here's the link to the church itself- really cool place.

Springtime fun!

So, the older Samuel gets the more he wants to play with Daddy and Benjamin. He knows that he is smaller, but longs to participate so fully. And as we are learning, whatever he feels in his heart, he feels it fully. So, last night, though it was late and everyone was tired and really dirty, we (well, Daddy) figured out how to safely attach the seat to the back of the bike and around the house and driveway they went. I don't know how well you can tell, but Samuel was delighted. Truly, enthralled. And loving his daddy ever more, every moment.

Shout out- Seminary Friends and so much more!

Alright everyone, take a close look. These women are amazing. They are dear to my heart, they are women who seek after the Lord wholly, parent their children fully, and devote themselves to the Lord in ways that spur me on. This is a picture from many moons ago, before there were any children screaming, pregnant bellies bulging, or miles and oceans separating us. We had just started our friendship while our husbands were in seminary and it was one of the first pretty days in spring. Of course, young marrieds that we were, we packed up and met at a park for an afternoon of quiet fun. What a ball, and who would have guessed that five years later we would be knit together, closer than ever, and living so far apart. As time continued, we grew in friendship, as did our husbands, and the first round of children was to come. Right before we left seminary (we were the first to leave Kentucky) we all took a trip together. This was the new stage of our lives and knitted hearts. We would meet once a year, take a thousand pictures, laugh until we cried, eat together, pray until we wept, and meet again the next year. It was and is something more precious to my heart than words can explain (and I usually have all kinds of words to say something!) Here's a pic from that first "reunion:"



That night Benjamin didn't sleep a wink! He was ten months old and Bright was a whole six weeks! What amazing, agonizing fun!

I guess the point is that the Lord unites our hearts to people for a variety of reasons, and I am so grateful that he paired me with these. May we unite again this year, ready to see the Lord together, ready to laugh together, and ready to leave further drawn to the Lord and each other.

Philippians 2:1-2 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. "

Easter Fun!

Okay, so I have decided that I am totally into traditions- but not just traditions, the ones that unite the family, teach truth, and provide loads of joy and excitement. I think last year I talked about our Easter Egg Hunting fun, and this year we came up with a new and expanded idea. I decided to include a video here of the actual event, but after re-watching it, I decided it might need a bit of explanation. So, Benjamin, Samuel, and John went to the Christian bookstore last night and picked out a figurine Jesus- you know, plastic, like three inches tall, and this one even came with Peter and a boat.





So, Saturday night before we went to bed, I made a cake formerly known as Ding Dong Cake (thanks mom for the recipe, and sorry for the name change, it will still always be credited to you) that we now call Resurrection Cake. As you remember, Jesus was buried in a tomb that was cut out of the dirt and rock. So we decided we needed a re-enactment on our dinner table.




Hope your day was ever blessed and that we will continue to be amazed at and continue to put our hope in the resurrection of the dead!

Thank You!

To all my dear friends and family who have given love today, thank you! I feel blessed and overjoyed to be alive and pondering the resurrection. What an amazing day. . .

Read this and be awed at the Father in heaven. . . I was.

I could complain but. . . .

So we rode in the car all afternoon coming back from Northwest Arkansas, I went to the small group that I lead and no one came, IT IS SNOWING AGAIN, and I would love to sit here and complain. And yet, I am so clearly reminded of all that I have. I am looking around, seeing pictures of my sweet boys and reminded of the woman this morning who turned around after church and told me how well behaved they were. I hear the recorded bible behind me and am reminded of the amazing husband the Lord has partnered to me, one who values the spoken word of God, understanding it's importance in our lives. I am reminded of the wonderful time spent with my family this weekend- loving, spoiling grand and great-grandparents, and AWESOME sister, new shoes, a fantastic high school play (Bye, Bye, Birdie), wonderful long-term friends, and a very warm and sunny Saturday afternoon with a cute beagle puppy. I think sometimes it's really easy for me to get really caught up in the cares and woes that seem ever present in my life. I forget to look around me and see what the Lord has done and is doing in my life. Tonight I am making a choice. Despite my circumstance, I am choosing to be grateful. I am choosing to approach this Holy Week with awesome gratitude and holy reverence. I am choosing again, like every day before this one, to seek the Lord with ALL my heart, mind, soul and strength. I am choosing to see myself the way that He sees me. And I am choosing to believe that I will be resurrected with him sometime soon, that I will live FOREVER, just as He does, and that this weekend is simply a reminder of the wonderful things to come!

Snow. . . . Really???

Just thought I would shoot some pics to everyone. I am not sure we have seen this much snow on John's birthday in a long time. Still headed to dinner tonight though . . .

St. Patrick's Fun!

This morning, the family loaded up and went to one of IHOP's major outreach events in the spring. We march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kansas City. There's a massive float with a mountain on the truck bed and at the top of the mountain stands St. Patrick himself preaching in 30 second "sermonettes." At the close of each speech, the worship band (loudly amplified) plays a rousing chorus of the Amazing Grace version done by Todd Agnew. We then walked behind, with all the others fron IHOP and sang and danced behind the float. It was a sight to be seen, and as the 75 degree wind was blowing, I was amazed and struck at the simple opportunity we had to preach the gospel. We had many "Amen's" as we passed by, almost as many as beer glasses raised in our passing. Either way, it was a blast and we walked the 1.2 miles with smiles shining (or sleeping as you will see). And, as my friend Candace says, here's the numbers.

Number of estimated people watching the parade: close to 100,000!



Number of IHOP participants: close to 1000!



Number of Happy Harrigans: 4!



Number of hungry little boys. . . . 4 (though you can't see them all here)




OR Number of sleeping boys: 3



Number of good friends: 2 (this is my friend Jody, she and her husband Beau were the first couple we met at IHOP)





Number of happy daddy and Benjamin moments: countless (don't they look cute?)