WEEK OF FANCY

Sometimes a lot of things hit at once, and this week was one of those.  On Thursday night, we were pulled in two different directions with the Sugar Plum Ball that's part of CARTI's Festival of Trees and the Immerse Arkansas Donor Dinner.  It meant a lot of celebrating what God is doing in both places, which is such a joy to be part of.



The girls were over the moon to dress in sequins (I wonder where they get that? 😬🤣) and go on a date with John and several more special friends.  A party bus picked them all up at our friend's house so they could cruise to the event in style.

Meanwhile, Court and I left all the boys with a sitter and headed to the Governor's mansion to celebrate all that is happening with Immerse.  If I wasn't already 110% in with Immerse (I serve on the board), I would have signed up all over again.  It is amazing to see the ways that the Lord has worked in and through Immerse to change the lives of young people and families who have experienced intense trauma.  The girl who spoke had a heartbreaking story, and though it has taken YEARS and countless people, she is making a new way for herself and her children.  She is overcoming her past.  Gave me chills and tears to hear her sing and share.

Also, we got to get dressed up and feel all festive at a special place, which was a double bonus.  I found a way to wear my sleeveless sequined leopard dress, which is much less important, but I was pretty excited about it. 😜

On Saturday night, it was time to get gussied up again and head to Tux n Trees.  This was our 3rd year to attend (here are 2017 and 2018), and it just keeps getting better and better.  Hearing about the ways that CARTI is committed to taking excellent patient care all over the state of Arkansas to serve people where they are was inspiring.  Plus, the event was a rocking good time.

It was an amazing week cheering on organizations in our city that we are thrilled to partner with!

NO MORE WAITING!

Six years ago, I helped coordinate the very first Walk for the Waiting, and it's amazing to realize that it's happening again this Saturday.  Sadly enough, the statistics haven't changed that dramatically in the past six years in our state.  Arkansas still needs more foster families. Kids are still aging out of foster care without finding a forever family.  Foster and adoptive families need more support, and we understand this on a personal level better than ever.
(If you want to just go ahead and sponsor us - click here!)


(Pic from our very first walk the day after the twins discharged from the NICU!)

This morning, John and I attended Muffins for Mom and Donuts for Dad at school for the twins.  We loved watching as they sang precious songs in our honor as their parents.  Truly, it is our honor.



Six years ago, I wrote these words about our own adoption, and they all still ring true:

"Their birth mom was not at a place where she could care for them, and she made the loving choice to place them with us, and we are forever grateful for that.  Without that choice, our children would have gone into custody of the state, who would have decided their fate.  However, through God's people and the twins' extended birth family, we were found to be their parents.  We were waiting, and they needed parents.

To me, it was an amazing picture of what could be if all God's people were invested in finding solutions for children and families.  There are so many issues that put children in precarious situations, and God has charged us, as his people, with being a part of mending families and providing care for orphans.  In so many parts of the world and here in the US, there are cycles of poverty, lack of education and systemic abuse that tear apart families and leave children vulnerable.  Now, more than ever before, we are committed to being a part of the solution and hope that you will join us.

Walk for the Waiting helps to fund three organizations locally that focus on different aspects of orphan and family care (The CALL, Project Zero, and Immerse AR).  It is our hope that we will have no more waiting children who must bear the stress of abuse or abandonment and instead we have families waiting to care for them."

Something I firmly believe is that not everyone is called to foster and/or adopt.  However, as believers, this issue is close to the heart of the Lord and should be close to ours as well.  If you are at a place to give - even a little - we would be so appreciative if you would sponsor our family in the Walk this weekend!  To sponsor us, click here - we would be so very grateful!

TRAUMA ISN'T BOUND BY TIME

November is National Adoption Month, and instead of writing about the joys of adoption, of which there are plenty, I plan on speaking to some of the trauma entailed in the journey.  As time goes on, and I learn more, my awareness about this issue grows.

I serve on the board of Immerse AR, which used to primarily serve youth who had aged out of foster care without finding a forever family.  Our mission has shifted and evolved over the years spent doing the work and now seeks to address the multilayered issues that face these youth.  We have also gone "upstream" to help families who have adopted or are fostering to be healthy places where healing is taking place.  We have broadened our criteria to include runaway and trafficked youth, as well as serving pregnant mothers who wish to parent their children.

As we have done the work and engaged in the lives, clarity has begun to emerge.  We are battling trauma.  Usually, we are facing big T Trauma that leaves wounds at every level of a person.  When kids are abandoned or abused or even placed lovingly for adoption, there is trauma involved.  Losing a birth family for whatever reason is traumatic and leaves a mark.  When that is compounded with physical, verbal and/or sexual abuse or neglect, it means there is much to overcome, and that healing is not easily won.

This work is often slow-going and feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back and then run a lap backwards and then crawl in the right direction a bit.  Our expectations for people who have experienced such trauma as children have morphed as we've begun to understand what true healing and overcoming requires.  It requires infinitely more than we initially thought.  We are not offering homes to fix homelessness, we are addressing the needs and attitudes that led to the homelessness that are rooted in the crises experienced over a lifetime.

I am someone who grew up in a rather charmed existence, and this has taken me a long time to comprehend.  I arrived into young adulthood without a major crisis to speak of, which I now recognize for the amazing rare gift that is.  But, I remember my first brush with trauma, and it shook my core and reorganized my identity.  I can still see the camp office wall that I was staring at when I got the news that my dad had cancer.  I could tell that the diagnosis was tragic, but I had no grid for tragedy, and it took me far longer than it should have to comprehend what was happening.

I ran through all the stages of grief and for the next two years lived many high highs and low lows in a battle that was ultimately lost here on earth for him and won for eternity.  It has been 17.5 years since I took that call, but my body and mind can go back immediately to those moments and memories.  I am forever marked and changed, and because of the strong foundation I had, I have been able to heal, though I will never be the same.

My trauma is so tiny compared to what so many kids in the foster care system have faced or are facing.  Abuse, neglect, and uncertainty as a way of life is severely damaging, and when we look at overcoming and healing, we have to understand that it will take an equal amount OR MORE healing to break into the damage that has been done.  The good must penetrate as deeply and as widely as the bad did.  There is no quick fix, just as none of the trauma happened quickly.

When I see my own adopted kids, who I have known since the 3rd day of their lives, I have to recognize that there were 35 weeks before that.  They experienced things that are embedded within them that aren't bound within a timeframe.  We have so much hope for their futures, but it has come though acknowledgement of their past and what that past means to us all.  It is far more complex than I imagined it would be, and it shapes all levels of our family.  We need more help.  We need more wisdom.  We have far more needs than we might have otherwise had if we had not walked down the road of adoption.

So as National Adoption Month speeds towards a close, I hope you'll take the time to consider the trauma that is involved in the loss (and the gaining) of a family.  It marks everyone it touches.  I'm so thankful to serve a God who is in the business of healing and hope.  When I am tempted to despair and doubt, he reminds me of his faithfulness and love.  And I hope to keep learning what healing looks like and doing the work it takes.

{Also - if you feel compelled to give to the work of Immerse, our needs have grown as our work has expanded!  We would feel honored to have you join us in this work.}

WITH RETREAT

Let me let you in on an open secret: Adoptive and foster mothers are fierce.  We have to be.

We fiercely love the children that God has placed in our homes.

We fiercely fight to bring them home and advocate for their needs as they arise.

We dream fierce dreams for what our kids' futures can hold.

It's an intense group, but it has to be to meet the needs of the job.  Motherhood is sanctifying in all forms, truly.  And adoption and foster care add different layers and shadings to the experience.  It's nice to be with a group of people who fully embrace and live that out, and this weekend, I had just such an opportunity.

I've been wanting to make it to the WITH Retreat for several years, but the date has never worked out for me.  Last year, my desire to attend only increased, because it came under the Immerse umbrella, which is near and dear to my heart.

I drove up with Marla and Christy and relished the time we got together all weekend.  We had to go up late due to a funeral in Marla's family that day, so we sadly missed the first evening.  The theme for the weekend was "Remember His Faithfulness," and anytime I look back on our adoption journey, I am awestruck at all the Lord did to bring William and Violet into our family.  It's easy to forget in our day to day lives.  In all the chaos and sometimes heartache, I can lose track of the miracles that brought us together.  And make no mistake, there are so many miracles along the way.  It can still bring me to tears.

The speaker was Heather Avis who encouraged us all and spoke truth into our lives.  One of the things she said that struck me was,

"You don't need to know.  You need to remember."

As I look forward into the future of our family, I can become overwhelmed with all the things that could go wrong.  Fear can creep insidiously through the unknowns.  Instead of trying to know and figure out and spiral into despair and uncertainty, this is one place where going backwards helps.

Forever and always God has proven himself in my life.  Does this mean that things always go the ways that I wish they would?  NO NO NO.

BUT, God is present.  He is walking with me.  He is working things for my ultimate good and his ultimate glory, and I've seen it over and over again in specifics and in broad sweeping strokes.  He's doing the same for every one of my children, and I can trust what he has for all of us, even while knowing that I may not like every bit of it.  He is good, and as I remember his goodness, I can gratefully surrender and reclaim hope.

One way that I saw his goodness this weekend was in the people that I spent time with.  I knew that I would adore spending extra time with Christy and Marla, my sweet adoptive friends that I regularly do life with.  But, we were also able to connect with other adoptive/foster mothers from our church, and we shared a LOT of laughter together.  After the week we'd had, laughter truly did our hearts good, and I don't take it for granted.



There were also the bonuses of sleeping in a very dark and quiet hotel room and eating food that I had nothing to do with the preparation or clean up of.  Churros are always a good idea.  So is cake.  The chocolate covered espresso bean is the icing on the cake.  😜

My heart is refreshed moving forward, and I'm so thankful to be part of the work of Immerse Families and to benefit from it firsthand!

RANDOM AUGUST FUN

Here are a few things I didn't want the blog to miss out on.  August has been chock full of fun, and these are some of the highlights that haven't made it here yet.  I'll run through them pretty quickly with lots of pics - one of my favorite kinds of blog posts!

Adorable Tea Party for Taylor: There were cute dresses, make up, friends and a delightful tea.  Lily and Bella super loved it!

John got to go to a couple of Dodger games while he was in Atlanta and take a couple of our team members.  You better believe there are CFA cows in that stadium.

The big girls got lots of time with Grandma (and Grandpa) this summer!



We've had fun with SnapChat filters.

There was a lovely morning spent on a friends' creek.  This August has largely been cooler, and we enjoyed the shade and playing and picnicking and wearing Chacos.  Thanks, Livers - it was a blast!

😍😍😍

Immerse (the organization that I serve on the board of) launched a new ministry called Immerse Families to help support adoptive and foster families.  The first event was this month with dinner and inflatables and live music, and our family LOVED it!

All in all, August has treated us well, and it's hard to believe that it's almost over!

JOINING IN PRAYER

The last couple of weeks have truly been a swirl of activity both good and heavy, which is almost always the case.  This week I have been buried in Valentine's cookie orders, which has been fun for me, but it has also filled every spare moment in the past few days.  Even in the midst of this, I don't want to miss recording the powerful experience I had last Friday.  It was so encouraging to me, and I hope it will be encouraging for others to read now and myself to read in the future.

Some good friends of ours live in a neighborhood not too far from our restaurant that has experienced an uptick of violence in the last couple of months.  This has included gunshots on a more and more routine basis, usually late at night.  A couple of weeks ago, a stray bullet found its way into our friends' home, and while none of them was hit (praise God), it was a rattling incident - especially since the gunshots have continued in subsequent nights and passed into neighbor's houses as well.  Their way of living has changed for the foreseeable future.

In the face of these frightening developments, our friends called for prayer.  And while they certainly asked for us to all pray on our own, they also organized a prayer meeting at their house and invited their neighbors, as well as police officers that patrol the neighborhood.

Even now, I start to tear up thinking of this room of gathered strangers of all races and income levels joining together to petition the Lord on behalf of our friends and their neighbors.  At one point, we laid hands on everyone who lived there.  Next, we laid hands on the police officers who have the huge responsibility to serve and protect these particular streets.



We walked the streets in prayer, asking for God's protection for each person living there, asking for God to intervene in the lives of those perpetrating the violence who must feel as if they have no hope, asking for angels to surround the homes, asking for peace and comfort and joy in the midst of the suffering encountered.  I was reminded that only light can drive out darkness and only Christ is the true source of light in our world.  Instead of fretting about the issue, it was confronted head on in prayer.

Our battles here are not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil.  It is so easy to slip into thinking about problems here as things that should be solved here on earth, which distracts us from the larger spiritual issues at play.  Joining with others for an hour of real prayer was remarkably empowering, because it reminded me that God is the one who enacts true changes.  He moves hearts.  He changes minds.  He can drive out the darkness, and we are asking him to do so in this particular neighborhood.  We can have hope because of who Christ is.

Even now, I pray for these dear people - both the friends and neighbors living in homes that currently do not feel like refuges and also the people who are recklessly endangering lives because they feel no hope in their own lives.  We're all so very broken, and I'm praying in hope to see the way that God brings himself glory in a dark situation.

IMMERSE ARKANSAS BANQUET

It's hard to believe that this year marks FIVE for the Immerse AR banquet.  I helped coordinate it the first couple of years, and though I didn't help to plan most of the others, I've attended and helped in some way each year.  It is always a special night, and last night was the best yet!



John acted as the emcee for the evening and made me an incredibly proud wife.  He is so gifted for things like this, and I'm so thankful he chose to serve in this way when they asked if he could do it.  Doing anything like this comes at a cost of time and energy and effort, but it is worth it.

In the above picture, he is interviewing three of the youth we have served over the years who have graduated out of the program.  They graciously shared parts of their story and how Immerse has helped along the way.  Tears were brimming in my eyes the entire time, because I am SO proud of these kids and thankful for the ways that God has worked in their lives.

To get a better understanding of the needs that we work with, check out this "Day in the Life" video.



Eric and Kara Gilmore founded Immerse, and it is such a blessing to partner with them.  Their passion for youth in crisis and finding ways to connect the church to them is inspiring and convicting, and getting to be part of the wild ride in the last five years has truly been amazing.  I LOVE getting a front row seat to see God work, and serving on the board of Immerse has certainly been that in every way.  God shows up and moves in big ways.

If you're wondering about Immerse, definitely check out the website.  In short - we exist to help "fill gaps" in the child welfare system and walk with youth in crisis.  For the past five years, that has meant we've been focused on youth - mostly aged 16-24 who fall into the following categories: aged out of foster care without finding a forever family or runaway/homeless youth.  We've recently begun trying to expand to human trafficking victims, because they end up falling through cracks very easily.

We have supportive housing and transitional life coaches to work with youth to teach them life skills and walk alongside them, and we try to be the family that they never had.  We are looking to open more housing and build out the building that we purchased in the last couple of months to create a drop-in center and be a base for operations and the weekly Gathering we host each Tuesday night.

It all requires more money and staffing, and last night, the banquet brought in $179K with more coming in.  We are blown away by people's generosity and God's faithfulness and can't wait to see what else he does in the next year.

It was a great night with lots of great friends - most of them I didn't get a picture with.  These friends (and many others!) generously agreed to host tables, and it makes my heart glad to see them serving in this way!

Past Immerse AR Banquets
{2015} {2014} {2013} {2012}

EATING SOUP WITH A FORK

Serving on the board of Immerse AR really is such a privilege, because it allows me to be constantly reminded of the real needs around me.  Of the crisis.  Of the heartache.  Of the children and young adults who loose their families and never find a new one.

Wednesday took me to my own church for a luncheon celebrating graduating seniors who are in foster care.  I got to help set up and serve the food, and I got to observe with my eyes and ears and heart.  It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.  Each of these kids had already reached a major milestone that, statistically speaking, they were less likely to achieve than their peers who have never brushed up against the foster care system.  Celebrating and honoring that achievement took front and center at the luncheon.

The room was filled with advocates for them, and in some cases, foster families who have helped see them through.  There were tears and joy and lots of extra rolls passed around those tables.  In many ways, it echoed an average graduation experience.

But, then the keynote speaker took the stage, and she stopped me in the middle of my extra creamy, mass-produced mashed potatoes.  She was 24.  She grew up in foster care.  She is now working in the system and advocating on behalf of children.  She started her time on stage with slam poetry, and I wish that I had video of it, because her voice rising and falling in that unusual cadence sent chills straight through me.



As she spoke of her life and her experiences, one of the quotes that stuck with me was, "I was given soup, but I was given no spoon.  So I ate my soup with a fork."

She figured out a way to do something that should be impossible.  After the poetry concluded, she addressed this idea again.  "I ate my soup with a fork, and you will too."  As she pointed out, most kids are given spoons and some are even given silver spoons.  The way of life is paved for them by a loving family who set them up for success.  That did not exist in her life with her many foster placements, so she found her metaphorical fork and made a way.

She spoke of God and love and finding a support system to help bolster her journey, but she had to find her way to those things.  No one led the way.

I was given a spoon and then some on my journey, and I am certainly trying to do the same for my own children.  This week has been a good reminder that parenting is challenging, and I get it wrong seemingly all the time.  But I'm engaged and trying, and by God's grace, I love my children and get the chance to raise them.  I'm so thankful.

But I'm also so thankful to go and be reminded that so many children do not receive such benefits, and they are just as precious in God's sight as my own.  Serving in a tiny way on Wednesday showed me more of how God loves each person he creates and wants so much for them and how it is a joy and privilege to play a little role in that.

(If you want to support the work that Immerse does with former foster youth, click here!)

AWESOME IMMERSE AR BANQUET

What happens when orphans grow up, never finding a family or permanence?  When does a person go from being a victim of their horrific circumstances to being a responsible adult, capable of doing life and succeeding?  What if no one helps them along the way - then what?

Here are a few stats* for you.  Each year, 22,000 youth will "age out" of foster care at 18 years old after not finding a permanent family.  By age 24, here is what their lives look like:

     - over 40% will have experienced homelessness
     - only 6% will earn a two or four year degree
     - 58% will be parents, 1/2 of the young men and 2/3 of the young women
     - less than half (48%) will be employed
     - many will have been arrested, 39% of the young women and 81% of the young men

Here's a "Day in the Life" video from Immerse that gives a little insight into what life feels like for these youth.



This year, Immerse celebrated being in existence for 5 years serving former foster youth, as well as runaway and homeless young adults.  It was amazing to hear the stories and see the faces and get another vision for all that God has done through this organization.  Immerse offers transitional coaching, life skill training, education support and supportive housing.  We work to connect the youth with the greater church in order to give them a broader base of support and relationships through mentoring and other involvement.

At the very end, the Immerse Youth that were in the crowd went to the stage to pray over the banquet attendees.  My eyes filled with tears as one girl in particular prayed that we would all be able to walk with God and know him better.  It was humbling, and I will be forever grateful for her heart and being able to see the transformation within her.



God is for each of us, and there is a special place in his heart for those who have been orphaned.  It is amazing to see him work, and being able to serve on the board of Immerse AR has given me a front row seat to his provision and movement.  It is an immense privilege that I don't take for granted.

If you feel ever want to know more - let me know!  There are so many ways to give and be involved.

(*stats from Courtney, Dworsky, Lee and Raap, 2010)

A HARD KNOCK LIFE: CURRENT FOSTER CARE CRISIS

We watched the new version of Annie a couple of months ago and really liked it, and it reminded me how much I had enjoyed the old version when I was a child.  I headed to YouTube to show the girls the old version of "It's a Hard Knock Life," which is full of singing and dancing and little girls cleaning.  I loved it as a kid, and all of my children were transfixed.

But then they started asking questions.

Who are all of those girls?

Where are they living?

Why are there so many of them?

My eyes filled with tears as I tried to explain, because it represents such a real issue.  These girls are orphans.  They don't have mothers or fathers.  They live in an orphanage.  The words of the song trilled in my mind.

"It's a hard knock life for us.  It's a hard knock life for us.  No one cares for you a smidge, when you're in an orphanage.  No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy.  No one cares if you grow or if you shrink.  No one dries when your eyes get wet and weepy.  From the crying you would think this place would sink.  Empty belly life.  Rotten smelly life.  Full of sorrow life.  No tomorrow life."

I know this song by heart, because I did a dance to it in a college talent show.  We won money, so you know it must have been good.  In college, I actually majored in Family and Human Services.  I did an internship at a group-home for children that had failed out of foster care for behavioral issues, which was about as pleasant as it sounds.  That summer was so hard for me, because I saw, first-hand and for the first time, the horrors that adults can wreck into children's lives.  I truly didn't have a frame work for it, and it rocked my world.

I was at a sensitive time in my own life, because my dad was battling cancer, and I remember ending that summer completely drained and never wanting to touch foster care or social work again.  I certainly never wanted to adopt.  I had seen the dark side, and I never wanted it in my own family if I had a choice.  I craved comfort and ease and pleasant.  I still do.

Thankfully, God had other plans for my life.  We've adopted, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  It's hard and messy at times, but it is beautiful and for our good and God's glory.  One of the main ways that I get to serve the orphan currently is by being on the board of the non-profit Immerse AR.  I've talked about it many times, and it has been an eye-opening experience in its own right.

In our most recent board meeting, we reviewed where the system currently stands in our state, and it was an extremely depressing 45 minutes.  Our new governor also just reviewed all of this and released a report.  To sum it all up - there is a crisis.  There are more children entering the system.  There are fewer foster families.  Lives hang in the balance.

I absolutely know that not all people are called to foster care and adoption, but I firmly believe that many of us need to be doing more than we are.  I don't and can't know what this should look like for individuals.  I know that in my own heart I am loathe to give more, because comfort is an easy idol to look towards, and getting involved in the lives of those who are really hurting is painful and messy.  The lines are not clear, and timelines are moving targets, and we want things to be easy.  This issue is not easy.

But - as I listened to the words of "It's a Hard Knock Life", I was reminded that it really is an incredibly difficult life for children whose birth parents have failed them in more ways than they can number.  It's never easy to be them, and they have no choice in the matter.  I'm hoping and praying that better solutions can be found.

I DON'T WANT TO MISS IT

It's no secret that this season is fairly busy for our family.  In many ways, I feel I've become a bit self-protective, wanting to hole up and shore up in an attempt to reduce the stimulus overload of ALL THE THINGS that seem to be happening ALL THE TIMES.  I want to do what God has asked of us, but part of me feels like he's asking too much right now.  Just being honest.

Many days, I've had a bad attitude and felt sucked dry.  Like everything and everyone was draining out my very life.  This has manifested in many ways.  One of them is that I've gotten "scrappier" according to John.  This is fairly amazing, because at no point would I have been described as a pushover.  However, when I'm out in public now, I find that my patience level for things taking longer than I think that they should has plummeted to a new all time low.  I do endeavor to be nice, but I have found myself vocally hurrying along waitresses and store clerks.  (Insert gritted teeth emoji right here.)

The other way that I find I have responded to this stress level is questioning everything we do.  Why are we doing this?  Should we be doing it?  Should I drop out of everything?  I've been forced to conclude that most of the things we are doing right now are things God has specifically put into our path for his own reasons and for our good.  Though it doesn't necessarily feel good right this second.

All of this leaves me with a choice that I always have.  How am I going to respond?

Clearly - I haven't responded well at all turns, and I'm seeing that growing cranky or annoyed does nothing to improve the situation.  In fact, it completely masks the goodness that underlies so much of our life.  If I don't wake up and choice gratitude and joy, then I could miss all the good stuff all around.  Obviously, I need a lot of the Holy Spirit's help with this, because it doesn't come naturally.  Even as someone that is usually disposed towards optimism, this season I've leaned more towards irritation, bitterness and weariness, none of which is fun.

So, this week I've been praying for a shift in my heart.  Because it is prone to wander far off course, and I am powerless to swing it myself.  On Tuesday night, we had the Immerse AR banquet.  I've help coordinate this event for the past two years, but this year, my only contribution was to host a table, and even that felt like a lot of work.  In my heart of hearts, my attitude was not great.  I LOVE Immerse, but I didn't feel like having one more thing to try to figure out and manage.

Tuesday night came and was such an immense blessing.  I was reminded why I love Immerse.  Frankly, I was reminded of why I love God.  He loves us so much and wants to see us joyful and restored and connected with others in love.  He loves orphans and is raising up the Church to care for them in more tangible ways.  Getting to be a part of that is one of the greatest gifts in my life.  The stress I felt leading up to Tuesday evening (will I be able to fill a table?  will everyone come?) all paled in comparison to the joy of getting to see God at work first hand.

And I so easily could have missed it.  It would have been easier to bow out gracefully this year because of all that is going on.  It would have been easier to stay home and watch mindless TV.  And I would have missed all the goodness.

Also, I would have missed seeing all these dear friends, which was such a treat!



I'm continuing to ask the Lord to help me see the good stuff as gifts instead of burdens.  We have the privilege of joining with others right now to help find a car for someone who needs it, and I can either view that as an obligation that infringes on our life or be so grateful to the Lord that we have the opportunity to serve.  We are raising four precious children who adore us and want to be near us always, and I can either grouse about the lack of personal space or relish the laughter that comes so easily, especially when we turn our full attention their way.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

I have so very much to learn from what Jesus taught.  I need the humility and gentleness - clearly.  I'm sure anyone waiting on me in a restaurant will appreciate that.  And I need the rest for my soul that comes from his easy yoke and light burden.  I make it so difficult in my flesh, and I miss the good stuff - the gifts from him.  Lord - help my heart.

NO MORE WAITING CHILDREN

Ya'll, over the past two years+, my heart has been blown open for children that do not have a family.  And now that I am raising children who very well may have had a different life, this issue is even closer to my heart.  I recently watched a video that did an amazing job illustrating what this hardship and lack of permanency can do to a child.  It's called Removed, and though it is difficult to watch - I believe it is incredibly valuable to give a better understanding of this issue.



Last year, I was able to help plan the first Walk for the Waiting, and though I haven't been able to help plan the event this year, the Spenst family will still be participating in this year's Walk.  It is April 26th at War Memorial Stadium at 9:00.  Here's a short video giving more deets.



The official Walk for the Waiting website is here at Walk for the Waiting.Org.  You can register to walk yourself, or you can donate to the cause.  If you can't walk with us, we would love for you to sponsor our family in the Walk - click here to do that.  (Pretty please?)


(us at last year's walk - it was the twins' first full weekend home!)

The Walk for the Waiting is a collaboration between Immerse AR (works with young adults aging out of foster care), Project Zero (advocates for children available for adoption) and The CALL (recruiting and training foster families) - all orphan-care ministries based in Central Arkansas.  All funds raised will go to these organizations to help further their missions of finding families, giving permanency, equipping with life skills and providing hope for these children and young adults.



The reality is that the orphan crisis in Arkansas and all over the world is everyone's problem.  Kids that grow up without a family have bleak outlooks, and they often become the marginalized of our society.  I hope and pray that God will show us all the best way to engage in this issue.

And, I hope to see you April 26th!  (or at least to see you on our donor list. 😉)