Had a BLAST again yesterday!

Okay, so we might have been a little over zealous, but we ventured out for another adventure- two days in a row!  This time we planned to just run down-town for a little bit, but once we met up with our friend Carrie, we realized we could stay down there for the day.

So, we made it off the train around lunch time, took a taxi to the closest item on the map we could find-- a middle eastern embassy.  That was an interesting conversation with the taxi driver.  :)  Anyway, we walked to the Fish Market and had an amazing lunch.

Little Man really enjoyed the seafood soup. . . . despite the claw sitting on the plate beside it.  :)

The restaurant was on a boat docked on the Nile and you picked out your fish you wanted, the way you wanted it cooked, and the sides, and they brought it to you.  As is. Ours was fried.

Needless to say, it did taste good.  :)

We left there and went to the "zoo."  We had heard it was cheap to get in, but some people thought it was good inside and others thought it was miserable.  Sadly, had it been cheap, it might not have been so miserably disappointing.  For Non-Egyptiams, the price was 20 pounds a person, Egyptians are 2 per person.  It appeared to be like a park, with a few animals in very small cages here and there.  There were many people there, many with small children, and many of them sitting around on blankets with picnics.  As I type that, it doesn't seem that bad.  But it was one of the cultural experiences where we felt like we needed to leave.  Quickly.  Not because we were in any kind of danger, just because the situation didn't feel right as foreigners.  To top it all off, it was incredibly dirty.  Like "Boys, walk around here for an hour and don't touch ANYTHING" kind of dirty.  When you are 3 and 5, that's kind of like asking you to solve a calculus equation.  Impossible.

 Anyway, we left there and headed back towards downtown, where our evening activities were.  We were meeting our friends and arrived a little bit early (due of course to our early departure from the previous mentioned activity).  Once again, we pulled out the handiest book of all time, Lonely Planet Egypt, and looked up activities in the downtown area.  We didn't have enough time to go to the museum, but there was a little shop that looked interesting so we went to find it.  And let me tell you, as much as the zoo was a disappointment, this little store was a joy!  It was amazing and beautiful, lots of incredible handmade gifts, cotton items, glassware, games, bags, clothes.  What fun!  We will definitely be back to this one before we leave!

The night ended with the "meeting," and "family" from different lands gathered to praise the Risen L-rd.  It was amazing.  We left a little bit early, as we were with some friends who had two little girls, plus our two little boys at a meeting that started at 7pm.  When we walked out and got to the square this is what we saw.  Beautiful.

If only. . . .

Oh how I wish I had my camera today.  We had such an adventure.  I was so proud of my husband and little boys.  We went to a different part of the city, rode in two different taxis (and communicated effectively where we wanted to go!), and rode on the metro.  If you are a little boy who loves trains, the city Metro is nothing short of the most exciting thing you have ever done.  Oh, if only I had my camera. . .

We left the house this morning thinking we would head to the internet store to get ours fixed.  Sometime last night it quit working and we quickly saw how dependent we are.  Once we arrived, fixed our only connection to the western world, and ate lunch-- we felt like we needed an adventure.  Since it was somewhat spontaneous, the camera had not made it into the backpack for the trip to the internet store.  So, imagine with me below. . . .


a fantastic pic of the big boy sitting on his knees, looking out the metro windows. . .  as everything passes by in a blur.


a precious pic of the little one eating a chocolate cupcake/bribe as we walked the streets hunting for fun shops.


another sweet pic of the two of them sitting on the steps of a shop where i found a beautiful bag and daddy got a sweet coffee mug.


the little one asleep in my arms at an amazing restaurant. . .  where the food, the decor, everything about the atmosphere was wonderfully authentic.


now imagine the decor. . . .  of that restaurant.  hmmm.... a little bit of an imagination stretching exercise for those of you who have not been to this part of the world.  :)


Wasn't that an amazing day?

p.s. just for kicks, here's a pic of the beautiful flowers my husband got me two days after we arrived for our anniversary.  we were tired, miserably jetlagged, confused, and disoriented, but really glad to be on the journey together.  i love you,  my husband!  way more than on the day we started this race together!

 

Okay, so here's how it goes.

I had this post all written up the other night, but sadly, it won't come over.  It was clever and witty and somewhat incomprehensible, since I wrote it the first night we were here when my boys were up from 12-3am.  :)  Nonetheless, for whatever reason, I can't get it to upload, so we will jump ahead to tonight.  We have now been away from home for almost a week.  Tomorrow morning, a week ago we left.  Since then here are the highlights:

1.  Flights all went well.  Everything was on time, everyone was mostly happy, and no one puked.  (at least no one in our family)

2.  We got to our flat, stayed here the first night, and have been here since.  It is fantastic and we are eternally grateful to some dear friends who made it possible. 

3.  We spent a couple of days going back and forth, between our house and the area where the team is.  It's a quick taxi ride, and we have now learned enough arabic to get there and back.

4.  Have no fear, we haven't learned any more.  ;)  We are still completely incapable and mostly dependent upon those who will help us.

5.  The day after we left, our home was broken into and several accounts/credit cards were stolen.  S.U.C.K.S.

6.  However, if ever in need, the Bank of America will 2-day courier a new set of cards to you all the way across the world.  Who knew?

7.  Yesterday we spent the day looking at some amazing sights here in this land.  You'll have to go to my facebook to see them, but they are amazing.  And we were tired, but everyone loved it.  Especially the camel rides!

8.  One of my best friends in the states had her baby yesterday.  And though I was so sad to not be able to talk to her, I am so happy that they are all doing amazingly well.  Well done Mama Chaney!

9.  We have eaten lots of peanut butter, pizza, even McDonalds, and some amazing native food.  The fruit is amazing, and we have been WELL fed. 

10.  There is nothing better than being exactly where the Lord has called you to be.  We are so blessed, in ways we can't even begin to describe, but knowing that you are where you should be is worth it all. 

Good Times with the twins. . .

This is my Great Aunt Bobbye.  Isn't she beautiful?  I just wanted to brag for a moment.  We have spent most of my lifetime in two very different parts of the state.  And she has come upon some hard times recently in her life.  Fortunately for us, it landed her in NW Arkansas near my family.  All of the sudden, I have gotten such a wonderful opportunity to begin to know better this twin of my grandmother.  Her soft-spoken words, the truth that rings from a place deep in her heart, and a spirited mind that won't let itself be missed.  I have been blessed already.  "The twins" as we often call them, have come up to our parts for a visit this week.  I'll let you know, but I think it's going to be a week of "spoiling" all around.

"Children's children are a crown to the aged." 
(and I would add children's, children's, children) 
Proverbs 17:6

Quote of the day . . .

I have a precious life.  Sometimes I remember that, and other days I forget.  This afternoon I had a sweet reminder.  My men, all three of them, were working in the yard picking up sticks so Daddy could begin the mowing season.  In the process they found some flowers, and my eldest came in the front door with something behind his back.  I was asked to close my eyes and hold out my hands.  I was quite obedient and opened my eyes to these sweet yellow flowers.  And a precious boy to go with them.  To top it all off, do you know what he said??  Completely UNprompted, by the way. . . .

"Mommy, do you know why I picked these flowers?"
"No, why?"  (thinking- of course, because they were pretty)
"Because I love you."

And with that he walked out the door to go get more sticks. 

How I love my life, and how I love my creator who was kind enough to put it all in front of me some days, so I don't forget how precious it is. 

Easter Fun. . .

 I don't know if you remember from last year, but we LOVE Easter around here.  This year was no different.  Our day started with the reading of the Resurrection- the women running, the empty grave, the doubting Thomas, and Jesus telling the disciples to "Go therefore. . . "  Then we rummaged through the mass sugar of the baskets, we went to church, and came home for the Easter egg hunting.

The boys had a blast, and when we opened the sugar-filled eggs, we also found small strips of paper.  We assembled the strips and had another rendition of the "hope to which we have been called."

Then we had some of the students come over who have no families locally, and we ate turkey to our hearts content.  Of course, following that we had to have some Resurrection Cake.  Seriously, I think this is my favorite of all the traditions.  Watching Jesus come up from the cake/grave is really cool!  :)

(I can't get the video to upload, so you'll just have to enjoy last years rendition!  So sorry!)


Anyway, after cake everyone had a seat in the living room and we watched the Gospel of John movie.  I helped clean up the kitchen (props and HUGE thanks to Chad) and then sat outside in the sun for a few minutes.  I was sitting and thinking on the day.  Not the silly parts, not the sugar, but the reality that for  2 millenia the believing church has been celebrating such a reality.  I wanted so desperately to sing an old school hymn, but at church's like ours we don't often sing hymns.  One of our favorite leaders was there and unbeknownst to the rest of his team, he belted out. . . . "Christ the Lord has risen today, al-le-lu-ia!"  Seriously, I started to cry.  I know, John looked at me like I was crazy.  But really, I was thinking about it this afternoon, and though none of us know all of the answers, as believers we have set our hope on the promises of the everlasting Father.  We have joined into a story that is so much bigger than our own lives, something that has been and will always be.  Something that does not change with the momentary whims of my heart. 

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,  12 and that you, O Lord, are loving."   Psalm 62:11-12

New Camera. . . . old friends.

Okay, so I know I love to take pics and never really understood what I was missing.  My dear friend Candace got this really cool camera for Christmas, and the pictures I have seen from it are amazing.  So, I decided I would be a total copycat and get the exact same one.  Yes friends, exactly the same thing.  And yes, IT IS AMAZING!  I love it.  I never realized all the pics I had been seeing in my brain that were never being taken since my camera was finicky in all kinds of lights, really slow, and generally miserable if the subject was moving.  (let me remind you of the ages of my children . . . 3 and 5)  SO, here is a sampling.  We have been playing with our friends the Millers this week, and I'll do a post on that in the days to come, but that will probably be some of the kiddos below.  Talk to you later!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

So, here she is.  Little Bethany Joy.  As with any adoption, things can always change, but here we are and this time we think it will actually happen.  Here's the story. . .

Three weeks ago, on a Monday morning, I got up with John to see him off.  He was headed to the airport at 5am- he would spend the day in South Florida, and then head to Haiti the next day.  (without easy phone access)  He left early that morning, and early that afternoon I got a call from our dear friend and adoption consultant Tracie.  She said, "When exactly are you coming home from your trip this summer?"  Well, I said, "right now it looks like early July, but it's pretty flexible.  Why?"  

She said, "Can you come home early and be here for a baby due July 7?"   What????????

I QUICKLY said I had to call John- before he got to Haiti!  There were so many questions, so many thoughts all at the same time, I didn't know what to do with myself.  No word on the sex of the baby- only that the birth mother was from the Pacific island area and that this would probably be the first adoption to come through Hannah's Dream.  She was in KC on a student visa and was about 22 weeks along.  Well, I called John, we talked it through, and felt immediately that this was the right situation.  I called Tracie back, and said, "Let's go."

So, three weeks later, after John got back home, we went and signed all the papers.  We all decided that if the situation before was 95% risk (risk that the birth mother would change her mind) then this situation is like 1% risk.  Everything about this situation is different than before- the largest factor being that she is directly connected to the agency and the social worker.  They have a relationship- a friendship where the agency is now the support system for the birth mother.  It is such a cool situation.  I will tell more of the details later, but either way be praying for little Harrigan- growing and forming somewhere in the Kansas City area.  That the Lord would speak life over her heart- that she would know she was formed and made with a purpose, and that her forever family has been praying for and seeking after her for months!

We are praying for you and your birth mama in these next months- over and over, every day.  The Lord is mighty to save.

The Heart of the Father. . . for the African American Culture.

So, Monday night the boys and I went to what I mistakenly called, a "show." Not because it wasn't a show, but simply because the boys thought that meant movie. Oh well, another day I will expound on my boys love for movies and my utter distaste for that love.

The African American Forerunner Alliance is a wing of IHOP that is committed to bringing the African American community into intercession, before the Lord, and uniting with other ministries around the nation focused on the same thing.  "The African American Forerunner Alliance (AAFA) exists to serve and strengthen all who have a desire to see black believers walk in fullness." It is amazing, and having spent a year teaching and living with an African American poverty populations, my heart is connected to such things.  Knowing that soon, we will be having a child in our family whose skin is a different color than mine, pushes my heart to want to understand the plight of those in our country who have been enslaved and abused for generations.   see video. . .


One of their groups, the Heart of David, did a play this week that showed the history of blacks in America, and called them forward- that they would know Jesus fully and live for Him in the days to come.  It is a play written for and acted by African American men and women- and though we were slightly out of place, I couldn't help but think about the days to come- when one or more of my own children will struggle with serious questions of race and identity.  We live in a fallen world.  Jesus has not yet returned.  People will look at me and my family funny.  Sure, some people will tell me how wonderful it is that we are multi-cultural.  However, I know on the front end that it will not always be pretty.  Others will stare, and even others will scoff at me.  I know my daughter will ask, "Mommy, why is my skin a different color than yours?"  I want to answer that question fully and honestly.  I want to know the history of people in this nation who share a common genetic link with my adopted children.

The play looked at the role of significant Black Americans- specifically Martin Luther King- throughout history.    The impact they made, not on policy and politics, but on the heart and soul of African Americans around the nation. 

I leave you with the same question posed in the play.  Who do you put your hope in?  Who is my hope in?  There is one man, one person, ONE who can make all things right.  There is one alone who can vindicate the wrongs in our life, one who can heal the wounds, bring freedom, and guarantee equality.  The One who created us equal, the one who formed us in our mothers' wombs, and the one who sees us completely (good and bad!).  He is our hope.  He is our eternity, and He is the one who will fight for us. 

1 Peter 1:3-6   "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." (bold mine)

Adoption anyone??

Since I know you are all ready to jump on the adoption rollercoaster with us :), I thought you might appreciate this video.  It's a great testimony about what is happening in the adoption movement around the church right now.  I read a statement from the director of the Zoe Foundation today that struck me,
     "If anything is going to move from being a blip on the radar to a full blown revolution, it takes many, many people saying the same thing.    The church is thinking differently about adoption because adoption ministries are springing up everywhere. The Zoe Foundation is not a lone voice calling in the wilderness – it is joined by other groups, large and small, that want to see adoption happen.
From the Abba Fund to Focus on the Family, all across the nation, adoption conferences and events are taking place…and it’s making a difference."

Everywhere I turn, I get to talk to wonderful people who are changing the face of adoption.  They share their stories with me, their reasons, their motivations, their testimonies about what the Lord is doing in their midst.  I am moved to be even a small part of this amazing thing the Lord is doing.  Enjoy the video and we'll have an update again soon!