Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

clean water.

I’m thrilled this morning to know that two of these life-saving water filtration systems will be headed to our girl’s orphanage in the next few weeks.  a HUGE thank you to my aunt Donna and uncle Billy for the incredible donation!

My sweet friend, Sheena, is going to take these, along with oodles of other donations to the orphanage when she goes to pick up her adorable little boy to bring him home!!! {on a side note, we are already planning the wedding of my S and her son…it’s our first order of business after getting these sweeties home}. 🙂

Sheena posted a photo of the donations she will be bringing along on her trip. Ah-mazing, right?!

And, here is a short video about the water filtration systems. Incredible. Life-saving stuff.

2012: a year to celebrate.

On Saturday, we left this gorgeous weather…

for this gorgeous sunshine…

We put the boys to work…picking fresh lemons and oranges this morning. 

After a really looong drive, we made it safely to Florida and are settling in and slowing down.

I was incredibly grateful for one snowfall before we left for our trip and loved that we delayed our departure by a day to enjoy the snowy afternoon together.

Now, as I sit here by the pool on this last day of 2012, I thought it would be worth taking a moment to reminisce on all that occurred this year. It really was an incredible year, after all.

My Top Ten Unforgettable Moments of 2012 —

10) Starting this blog. This has been an adventure in and of itself. I’ve loved every moment and treasure the memories captured in this little online space.

9) Sharing the most incredible weekend with hundreds of adoptive mommas… worshipping our God and creating life-long friendships. Hearing truths full of love: “Precious, daughter, you are my treasure. All you need to do for me is be a light. Be My light. Bring My light into the darkness in this world.”

8) Picking up and moving a 100-year-old house to our “farm” in order to create a relaxing getaway for our little family. Full detailed post to come on that craziness…
7) Celebrating my little guys turning TWO. They are growing up before my eyes and it is such an honor and privilege to be their momma. I still can’t believe how blessed I am with these two little munchkins.
6) Standing by my baby sister’s side as she married the love of her life.
5) Announcing our adoption plans with family & friends. The support has been overwhelming and we are full of gratitude for every prayer and word of encouragement.
4) Watching my boys dig in the sand and splash in the ocean on our beach getaway. 

3) Launching Bayt Boutique to raise money to bring our girl home. I have watched in awe as God has provided again and again for this adoption.

2) Quitting my job to stay home full-time with my boys. A blessing that has been a long time coming and happened at the perfect time: one week before signing our referral paperwork.


1) Seeing our daughter’s face for the very first time. At an unexpected time, in an unexpected way. I have fallen head over heels and she already has her daddy wrapped around her finger. We are longing to hold her in our arms.

It really is hard to narrow down all of the incredible, unforgettable moments of this past year. I have been stretched and challenged. I have stepped out in faith even when tempted to hold back in fear. I have loved unconditionally. I have ached and longed desperately for our girl. I have felt unimaginable peace in the midst of the pain. I have seen glory. I have witnessed miracles. I have understood that true freedom accompanies the truth that Jesus’ love for me is unending. His love for Dave is unending. His love for Ben is unending. His love for Nathan is unending. His love for “S” is unending. I am unshakeable when armed with the knowledge and fullness of His love.

Looking forward in hopeful anticipation for all of the wonder and joy to come in 2013!

perspective.

My world stopped spinning this morning as I willed myself to breathe. Everything moved in slow motion as I dialed Dave to tell him that my concerns were validated by the doctor.

She had ordered additional tests.

Initially, she warned me that if further diagnostic testing was needed, it wouldn’t take place for at least a month based on current scheduling timeframes. After the exam, she made a call and informed me that I was scheduled to go in for tests in one hour. Not in a month. I was to get in my car, go home, kiss my boys, and drive to the hospital. For not one test, but two. To be sure.

I called my mom. Then, I allowed myself to cry for about five minutes {maybe ten} before I turned my radio up and sang along to worship music. It was as though I heard the words for the very first time.

My God is greater.
My God is stronger.
Our God is Healer. Awesome and power. 

I prayed and prayed and prayed. And, as I received my medical bracelet and was shown to my room, I felt peaceful.

After I had been fully groped and smashed in machines, the sweet, gentle, kind nurse told me that the radiologist would review everything and I would know something before I left. I could not believe it. I had been told to be prepared to wait a week on the test results. I was grateful that I wouldn’t have to wait in uncertainty.

And, the absolute best news came … I was healthy. The tissue was normal.

It was not cancer.

There are no words to adequately describe that moment. Overwhelmingly thankful. Grateful. Blessed. Relieved. 

I’m praising God for a renewed perspective on my blessings and what is {and what is not} important. This life is so short and filled with so many ups and downs, twists and turns. And, when it is all on the line, even for a moment, what it all comes down to is love. Who you love and how you love. 

I’m choosing to love big. I’m choosing to learn from this scare and commit to pouring myself out to those around me. My boys. My husband. My family. My friends. The girl at the check-out. The man at the post office. My neighbor. All of them.

It’s hard to do. Life is messy. Life is hard. Real life happens in the between the moments of thankfulness and quiet and solitude. That is why I’m writing this down. As a commitment and a reminder to myself. This is important. This happened today for my good. I believe all things work for the good of those who love God. He is using this to shape my heart and show me how vast His love is for me.

“No eye has seen nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” {1 Corinthians 2:9}

I’m picking myself up and getting on with life. I’m breathing deeply. Big, full breaths rich in gratitude.

Tonight, my house is still and all of my boys are sleeping soundly upstairs, I’m sitting in front of a roaring fire, sipping my favorite cinnamon spice tea from my favorite snowman mug. I’m counting my blessings and I’m soaking in truths about my God’s promises.

I’m also praising God for His provisions. Earlier this evening, I sorted through the first round of donations that we will send to our girl’s orphanage. I am humbled by the outpouring of love for our precious girl and her friends. Truly, truly incredible.

Album for our S 🙂 
Sweet dolls and vTech recordable photo album for our girl. We each recorded a message for her. Her brothers sound beyond adorable telling her they love her and want her to come home soon.  
Formula, medicine, vitamins, nutritious snacks, diapers, bottles, toothbrushes, lotions, diaper creme…all headed to a little orphanage in central Africa soon. 

With much love and gratitude tonight,