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?)

Official Birthday Pics-

Okay, so this one is on his actual birthday. We had our Thursday night dinner, since it was Thursday, and Andrew's birthday is the same day. But, I figured this was pretty cute.

p.s. Benjamin was "helping" Andrew blow out his candles, but when there are only two it's kind of hard to split it all up! Anyway, lots of fun was had by all!

Here's some pics from the party yesterday afternoon.

Happy Birthday My Samuel

Dear Samuel,

I remember so well the day you were born, it is filled with immeasurable joy. You didn't want to come out quickly or easily, but you made it. They immediately placed you in my arms and I didn't let go (except for your daddy) for two days. You were perfect. You were beautiful. I never understood how the Father could love us all the best, and yet all of the sudden I loved you and your brother the best. You still are amazing. I look at you today as you are two and I cannot imagine life without you. Your smile is precious, your laugh is contagious and your words are thrilling. You love wholly, you run fully, you sing loudly, and you trust cautiously. You are sensitive, yet strong. What an amazing combination.

You see, you are a testimony of the healing power of the Lord. You got sick and had to stay in the hospital. The Lord healed your brain and your body. He has such plans for you, "plans to prosper you, not to harm you." (Jer. 29:11) You are growing so much and I am amazed at how the Lord is redeeming you, and today you are still a testimony to His complete healing. I will look to Him as your parent, you creator, and your protector. I only get to stand on the sidelines and watch. He has spoken about how you will know the Lord from an early age, how you will be raised in the house of the Lord. How, like the Prophet Samuel, you will hear from the Lord and speak to the nations. How you will lead others to see him as well. You have already shown me the heart of the Father over and over, thank you. I love you with my all and may we grow even more in the days to come.

Mommy



Thank you Father for this one, He is more precious to you than me. So thank you for knowing him. May we only grow in love together as the days pass.