Trusting God's Will

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

First reading: Rev 11-12

RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB

God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth. 
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”

Today: our Lady of Guadalupe

Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe!  On this day back in 1531, our Blessed Mother appeared in Mexico to a 57-year old peasant named Juan Diego.

According to the earliest reliable account of the story, Juan Diego was walking near what is now Mexico City (Tepeyac Hill) when he came upon an apparition of a “maiden” whom he soon came to recognize as the Virgin Mary. Mary appeared to be wearing the dress of an Aztec princess. The sash tied around her waist was a symbol of pregnancy, indicating that she was with child. 

When he told the archbishop, he asked for a sign to prove what he had seen.

Upon returning, Mary instructed Juan Diego to climb to the top of the hill to gather flowers to bring back to the bishop. Reaching the crest of the hill, Juan Diego found Castilian roses, which were neither in season nor native to the region.The Blessed Mother arranged the flowers herself in Juan’s tilma (a burlap-type cloak) and instructed him in his native language to open the cloak only upon return to the bishop.

When Juan Diego arrived back at the bishop’s residence, he opened his cloak and the flowers fell to the floor. Left on the surface of his tilma was the image that’s come to be known as “Our Lady of Guadalupe."  Several million Aztecs were converted to the Catholic faith by the power of this image in just under seven years.

A shrine that was subsequently built on the spot where the original tilma can still be seen is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the world today.

As Patroness of the Americas, may she watch over our country & us all.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. 

Prayer of the Day

Dance Lessons

Elizabeth has been begging me for months to take dance lessons. Even for her birthday I bought her ballet slippers and a leotard. It wasn't until we stopped at a dance studio to buy Nutcracker tickets for her and I that I realize they had dancing for little girls. The owner recommended a 45 minute weekly class that taught all different types of dance.  Come to find out her co-teacher was also be her last-year's (8th grader) prayer partner from school.   So we signed her up, and of course like she does with everything she gets nervous the day before, can't sleep at night, and hangs on to me when we get there. She's an outgoing little girl, and I know she'll do just fine.  I end up feeling like the bad mom that while she's crying into my sleeve I'm pushing her into the dance studio.  There's 9 other little girls there. They invite her to sit down. She refuses. Her co-teacher she loves & adores is late. "Come on, God.  Help Ali to get here safe."  After 15 minutes Elizabeth is bending, prancing, and galloping with the rest of them.  She knows "Rose" a first grader from school.  They come out when they're done and she ALL smiles and pink-cheeked.  "Mom, can I come again next week?!"  

Sometimes God presses us to do uncomfortable things.  "Should I tell that person I'm here for them?" "Should I start a new job, volunteer more?"  "Should I move, should I stay?" This was a good reminder for me that when He presses us, he'll be with us the entire way, His face pressed against the glass and his heart filled with pride saying, "YOU CAN DO THIS!"  

Phil 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Beautiful adoption quote

Grace vs Mercy

Grace is a gift, giving us what we don't deserve,

Mercy is NOT giving us what we do deserve.

Fostering Experience

After 6 months of starting the licensing process, David and I were finally licensed to adopt on 4/20/16.  Our caseworker sent many emails on individual cases and either they weren't a good match (i.e. The child couldn't be with younger children or animals, had a Hx of aggression, etc.) or when we did say "yes" someone else was chosen.  Sept 12th we got the phone call for an emergency placement of a baby boy.  They needed an answer within a 1/2 HR.

We had this little buddy for 9 1/2 wks.  We were warned ahead of time that he may be with us for weeks, months, or even years.  Our caseworker had kids placed in homes for 4 years and going.  This is what I prepared my heart for in regards to our little buddy.  His mom went to court and while we don't know the outcome, she was given visitation and he was moved to a foster home closer to mom.

Baby went from having injuries to being healed.  Eating 10 bottles/day (an extra 300 calories/day for him) to incorporating solids 4x/day and the right amounts of formula.  He would wake every 3 hours at night and cat-napping all day to taking 2 naps/day and sleeping 11 hrs @ night.  We taught him to crawl, pull himself up, feed self fingerfoods, play patty cake & peek-a-boo.  I wish I could have seen his family when they saw him again and how much he changed, including getting his first 2 teeth.

We got into this process to adopt, not foster.  I don't think we'll foster again for a while because it was so hard on the girls to say goodbye.  I had a hard time too, but I know we were there for him for a season.  Many times you just don't know how long a season will last.  Maybe it's a good thing he won't remember us. One less person's feelings hurt.

People gave us such nice compliments, but they gave us too much credit.  "Good for you!"  But I see it like this: what if a mom threw her baby out of a burning building to you to save him.  Would you catch him and care for him if he had no one else?  Absolutely.

This little fella will always have someone praying for him.  I hope the best for him. He touched a lot of lives in a short amount of time.

2016 Election

I'll be honest, I voted for Evan McMullin.  I wish it would have been Hillary vs Ted Cruz.  BUT -- that didn't stop David and I from rooting for Trump last night when watching the polls.  I don't know what we will get with Trump, but I do know what we would get with Hillary...4 more years of what Obama did to this poor country, and worse.  

I pray for our country.  I pray for our president.  Republicans took the presidency, the house, & the senate.  As much as people believe that Obama did "such great things for our nation", I beg to ask the question -- then why did the country vote this way and BEG for change???

I believe Trump is deep down still democrat, but I also believe he likes to be popular and well liked. He does not want to fail.  Obama has divided this country horribly.  In Glen Beck's words, Trump has his work cut out for him...about as much as Lincoln had to unify this nation.  Obama & Clinton are of the "us and them" mentality.  She made this clear when she called Trump supporters "deplorables".  I pray Trump reaches across the aisle and fixes what is terribly, terribly wrong.

Trump got Florida, Michigan, & Wisconsin -- what does that tell you? Hope and change went the wrong way, but I digress.

God bless America.

228

Hillary Clinton

279

Donald J. Trump

270 to win

59,649,606 votes (47.7%)

Make Me a Servant, Humble & Meek. Lord Let Me Lift up Those Who Are Weak...

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2016, whose website is located at DailyScripture.net

Are you ready to give the Lord your best, regardless of what it might cost you? Perhaps we are like the laborer in Jesus' parable who expected special favor and reward for going the extra mile? How unfair for the master to compel his servant to give more than what was expected! Don't we love to assert our rights: "I will give only what is required and no more!" But who can satisfy the claims of love? 

We are called to serve God and neighbor selflessly and generously
Jesus used this parable of the dutiful servant to explain that we can never put God in our debt or make the claim that God owes us something. We must regard ourselves as God's servants, just as Jesus came "not to be served, but to serve"(Matthew 20:28). Service of God and of neighbor is both a voluntary or free act and a sacred duty. One can volunteer for service or be compelled to do service for one's country or one's family when special needs arise. Likewise, God expects us to give him the worship and praise which is his due. And he gladly accepts the  free-will offering of our lives to him and to his service. What makes our offering pleasing to God is the love we express in the act of self-giving. True love is sacrificial, generous, and selfless. 

The love of God compels us to give our best
How can we love others selflessly and unconditionally? Scripture tells us that God himself is love (1 John 4:16) - he is the author of life and the source of all true relationships of love and friendship. He created us in love for love, and he fills our hearts with the boundless love that gives whatever is good for the sake of another (Romans 5:5). If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). 

God honors the faithful servant who loves and serves others generously. He is ever ready to work in and through us for his glory. We must remember, however, that God can never be indebted to us. We have no claim on him. His love compels us to give him our best! And when we have done our best, we have simply done our duty. We can never outmatch God in doing good and showing love. God loves us without measure. Does the love of God compel you to give your best? 

"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity. Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you. May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others, just as you have so generously poured yourself out in love for me."

Sometimes...I Wonder

I love Fiddler on the Roof.  Some days I feel like Tevye:
[to God]
Tevye: I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?

[to God]

Tevye: Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?"

Elizabeth Turns 6

The girl who made me "mom".

6 YO Birthday girl in front of her "Robot Minon" treats for school.

Beautiful Prayer of the Day

"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."

New Linoleum

New Linoleum - a cheap and easy update.

Kitchen before

Bathroom before

Kitchen after

Bathroom after

My Baby is Growing Up

My little Joy Joy wants to know how everything works.  She wants to write her name.  Awe...and then I asked if I could just rock-a-bye her tonight.  My baby is growing up too fast.

Homemade Granola

Granola is surprisingly expensive & surprisingly easy to make.  I don't eat it, but D does. Here's my little cook helping me:

All dressed up to cook. :) 

Happy birthday to me--my theme song

We've sung this song so many times in church this past month that I'm claiming it as my goal.  It brings tears to my eyes every time. Love, love, love it. Simple yet sweet.  A good song from my childhood and growing with me. 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness; And all these things shall be added unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
	Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
	Man shall not live by bread alone, But by every word That proceeds out from the mouth of God. Hallelu, Hallelujah!

Lemongrass EOs

Here are my 5 favorite ways to use Lemongrass Essential Oil:

1. Use 1 drop of Lemongrass with some Fractionated Coconut Oil and rub onto sore muscles. 
2. Rub 1 drop of Lemongrass on the bottoms of the feet each day to support healthy thyroid function. 
3. Place 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule to take internally to support the digestive system, as well as to combat candida. This works especially well if you have issues consuming dairy! (I recognize that ingesting essential oils internally is a controversial topic! Therefore, if you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact your holistic practitioner, and if you're not comfortable ingesting the oils, then simply rub 1-2 drops over the stomach.)
4. Diffuse: 2 drop Lemongrass, 2 drops Thyme, 2 drops Eucalyptus, and 2 drops Basil for a natural insect repellent. 
5. Rub 1-2 drops with some Fractionated Coconut Oil on any areas of the body that are retaining fluids. The oil can help reduce edema and improve circulation. 

Sleepless Nights...again

 I truly believe that the human body knows what's going on before  we cognitively comprehend it.

 Late August and early September I was having trouble sleeping. I haven't had this much trouble since  my pregnancies and infanthood of my babies . I would wake up at about 1 o'clock stay awake until three or four in the morning and have no rhyme or reason for it except I thought I was pregnant.

Three weeks later I get a phone call to take in a baby, short-term or long-term, we don't yet know. He comes with terrible sleeping habits which we are working on with him.  It is slowly improving as he increases his trust in us.  Call it coincidence, Call it a God thing, call it what you like.  But I truly believe my body knew that something was coming before I did.

 I am still amazed that mothers can survive on the little sleep that we get.   I thought caring for a baby and limiting your sleep came with pregnancy, breastfeeding, or hormones.  But it turns out it is such a God-thing that he gives to parents.   If my kiddos can't sleep, one of us will usually crawl into bed with them.  While we don't sleep well, we still wake able to make it through the day that the Lord has made.  ;)

Amazing how our Creator created us.