VALENTINE'S DAY TABLESCAPE

I'm not sure that tablescape is a word, and since Blogger is telling me that I am misspelling it, I guess it isn't.  But, I like it.  It describes quite accurately what I am blogging about today.  It is a Valentine's tablescape.



Moving on.

I wanted to do this last year, but I never got around to it.  I saw this idea on The Anderson Crew blog, and I loved it!  So, I created these little mailboxes for our family to write love notes to one another.



The mailboxes are from the Target dollar section, and they are glued onto candlesticks that I got at Savers and spray painted pink.  They were brass before.  I put our initials on the front by printing out the letter on an argyle pattern using my Silhouette software.  I actually cut them by hand, since I knew it wouldn't take long.  I used packing tape to cover them entirely so they will be secure and less likely to be peeled off by helping hands.

I paired the mailboxes with a Valentine photo frame that I made a couple of years ago - for instructions, click here.



And the girls and I made a little heart bunting to go across the front.  Bella colored the paper.  I cut the hearts, and Lily strung them onto the baker's twine.  (Bella tried to help with that part too, but was a bit too little.)  All in all, I love the way it all turned out.

Since we are going to be out of town next week, our plan is to leave notes with John's parents to put in the girls' mailboxes each day.  I think it will be a fun treat for them.  It's coming up so soon!

SCARS & BRICK WALLS

This morning I met with my mentor.  Oh, how thankful I am that God led me to ask her to play this role in my life.  What a gift.  It is so nice to have someone who is a few years ahead to help me see my own blind spots and to see up close some of the ways that God works in her life.  I always have so much to learn.

Today I specifically wanted to talk about listening to God.  I wanted to hear her stories and experiences.  As she spoke and shared, I began to see some of my own stuff differently.

We all have scars.  We all have raw places - things that have happened in our lives that we may not understand or see how God was working it to our good and his glory.  I think much of the time, we go forward, simply because we have to.  Life moves on, but some questions linger.  The scars are there.



So many things will never be understood this side of heaven.  I truly believe that.  But, the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I can see that his good does not always look like what I think it should look like.  It rarely involves my comfort or happiness, though I do believe joy comes in it.  His good involves his glory.  It involves bringing me closer to his heart.  It involves showing himself to be big and good and gracious and loving.

If that means he needs to run us into a brick wall to get us to the end of ourselves, then that is what he will do.  When I look back over my life and my own scars and brick walls, I can see his hand of protection and love through those times, though I may not understand them all.  Hind sight is much clearer than the fog of the moment  Sometimes things in the present are clear, and other times there is murk surrounding it all as we try to cling to him.  Being human is so limiting!  I see so small.

So, I am praying that I can see the greater, high-level good that God is always working that will help bring peace through some of the mess that inhabits the low-level life that I lead.  I want his glory, and I want to be surrendered to what it takes to make him known more.  Whatever that is.  Which is a scary thing to type, but I find in my heart that God is putting that desire more and more inside of me.

I'm so thankful that he works in and through my mess, and that someday, every scar and every brick wall will pale in the light of his glorious face.

WEEKEND: HIGHS AND LOWS

On Friday, adulthood seemed to be closing in from all sides.  There were decisions to be made.  People that were disappointed and confused, and honestly, it was hard to see the way through at times.  On Friday afternoon, some of the clouds parted.  It was a great reminder to see that God is working - always, in and through all things.
This weekend has been restful and fun - here are the highs and lows.
High:  After some of the Friday gloom, we had a wonderful, melt-down free Friday evening.  We rounded it out at Krispy Kreme with the girls screaming, "DONUTS!"

High:  John and I watched most of Season 1 of Downton Abbey this weekend.  We are both hooked, which is always more fun.  I find myself thinking how wonderful it would be if someone helped me get dressed each morning.  Why do I have to do my own buttons?
High:  This jewel of a picture from late Friday night after watching several DA episodes.

Low:  Not knowing what happens next in the world of Downton.  Based on the massive Facebook outcry from this past week, I have a feeling hard things are in the future.  I hate being out of the know, and unfortunately, I cannot devote all of my time to watching it.
High:  On Saturday morning, I discovered Lily sitting on the couch, reading National Geographic to Lambie, because "Lambie likes animals."  This all stemmed from the night before, when John sat reading Nat Geo to the girls.  And they loved it and especially the animal pictures.

High:  Going to a surprise birthday party for a dear family friend.  Hanging round with people I have known all of my life always warms my heart.  Seeing my kids play with theirs is priceless.
Low:  Because we stayed late at the party, the girls got a short night of sleep.  It made for a whiny Sunday.  Bella gets louder when tired, which basically means she was yelling everything all. day. long.  And both girls decided to forego their naps, as usual, but I had had hope today, and it was still a no-go.
High:  I made cookies for our Super Bowl get together.  Most of them I saw on Sweet Sugarbelle's blog - she is my cookie hero.

High:  Having some of our Community Group over for the Super Bowl.  John and Lily watched some of the pre-game coverage together, and somehow it has become my norm to snap a pic of all the kids eating together.  It is the only time you see them all at the same time.  At least, most of them.

Low:  Realizing that there are a lot of little things that need to happen this week, and I have my work cut out for me.
High:  Realizing that I will be on a cruise the next week.  Holla.
Low:  Seeing someone, anyone, lose the Super Bowl.  I've realized that sports drama is hard for me, because on a stage this big, someone's dream has to die.  With everyone watching.  I actually teared up during the pre-game coverage interviews, knowing that someone was going to lose.  But, someone also gets to win and have their lifetime goal realized.  That's pretty amazing.
Hope you had a restful weekend and are ready to kick off the new week!

NEW NUMBER: ADOPTION UPDATE

Every month I write one of these posts.  The posts where I give out our newest wait-list number and a bit of a "state of the heart" when it comes to all things related to our adoption.  I can see that each month that you do this over again reinforces the wait.  It becomes a bit mundane.

But, it is where we are called to be right now.  Yesterday I got a call from our lady at the agency asking how firm we were on wanting to get two kids or if we would be open to hearing a referral for just one.  As much as it pained me to say it, because it seemed like she might have had a referral ready to go, I said, we want to do one adoption and get two children at once.  Immediately after getting off the phone, I felt at peace about that all over again.  I believe our children are out there and that God has put these specific things on our heart for a reason.  Though I may sometimes second guess what we think we've heard, I know that staying the course is best.  At least, until we hear otherwise.

So - our number this month is . . .



We moved 3 spots on the overall list and no spots on the special needs this.  It was a bit of a slow month for referrals from our agency, but some months are just like that.

I'm thankful for all the work that God has set before us immediately.  Our hands are quite full with what is going on right here, right now.  So, we wait on his timing for this.  We wait and pray and look forward to that phone call that will forever change our lives.

(To read other adoption updates, click here)