Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

is justice worth it?

 
 
A friend sent this video and I watched and cried. Listening to these words that echo the cry of my heart reminded me that I am not alone in this fight.
 
The fight for justice is long and hard and can feel defeating. But, it is worth it. It is worth every tear of thanksgiving and joy in the mountain-top moments and worth every tear of sorrow during the long walk through the valley.
 
I will never stop fighting. Never. No matter how many days are spent praying, emailing, writing, calling, pleading…No matter how weary I am from the fight. I will never stop fighting. Our daughter is WORTH it.  

Advent begins.

We had a wonderful family Thanksgiving and have enjoyed the long weekend together making memories. I have so many photos to share…someday, hopefully soon, I will have my computer back and I can finally get caught up on photos!

In the meantime, I thought I’d share a couple of new Christmas / Advent traditions that we will be trying out this year.

First, I’m excited to start a Jesse Tree tradition. I have seen so many versions of this tree and decided to go with this printable ornament and scripture reference version. {I just looked and it’s on sale right now for $1.25!!}

What is the Jesse Tree?

The Jesse tree represents Jesus’ family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David. The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus’ ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus’ birth. {source}

OUT OF THE STUMP OF DAVID’S FAMILY WILL GROW A SHOOT — YES, A BRANCH BEARING FRUIT FROM THE OLD ROOT…
IN THAT DAY THE HEIR TO DAVID’S THRONE WILL BE A BANNER OF SALVATION TO ALL THE WORLD. THE NATIONS WILL RALLY TO HIM,
AND THE LAND WHERE HE LIVES WILL BE A GLORIOUS PLACE. {Isaiah 11:1,10}

I’m also reading Ann Voskamp’s “The Greatest Gift” – which is essentially a Jesse Tree Advent devotional. For the whole family Jesse Tree, we are using the Jesus Storybook Bible to tell the stories that correlate with each day’s ornament…a little more appropriate for two 3-year olds. 🙂

We are also going to put a spin on the Elf on the Shelf tradition. I love, love, love the alternative idea of “kindness elves“… read about it HERE on the Imagination Tree blog.

I just love this idea because the whole elf-is-watching thing is creepy and counter to the true celebration of Christmas – Love. Grace. Forgiveness. Hope.

This “kindness elf” will likely make his appearance in the morning… I just need to get myself in gear to come up with some ideas. Would love to hear any ideas from anyone else doing something similar!

I hope you all are having a peaceful, hope-filled first day of Advent. I’m off to make some apple cider and decorate our tree. I can hear the boys jumping on their beds upstairs instead of napping, so I think it’s time to bring down the lights and get started.

Blessings to you all!

gratitude changes everything.

this year, more than ever before, thanksgiving isn’t a day of gorging ourselves and planning black Friday shopping routes. it is a day of gratitude. a day to be thankful for abundant blessings, especially for the truth that His mercies are anew each morning.

if i would have written this post yesterday, it would have been written from a place of emptiness and sorrow. i would’ve shared hollow words of gratitude – i wouldn’t have been able to offer up praise for all of the good gifts He has blessed me with in this crazy ride called life.

yesterday, i could’ve said thank you. but, my heart felt empty. my heart didn’t really want to say thank you. my heart wanted to sit on the couch and cry. alone. i didn’t want to be surrounded by family and friends full of holiday cheer. i wanted to wallow and be angry at the injustices in this world. i wanted to remind everyone that my daughter isn’t here to sit with us around this table. to eat this food that requires an afternoon nap afterward. she isn’t here. and, that is not fair.

but, today. today He has given me the grace i prayed desperately for.

i woke up from an incredibly realistic dream where i was holding my girl. we were playing hide and seek and she was laughing and smiling. i woke up missing her so very much. aching. crying out to Him, i cannot do this anymore! i miss her so much. please…make a way where i can’t see one.

and, then He whispered to my heart… she is mine. I am holding her near. for now, dear one, listen…

i did.

i listened. i heard the sweet sounds of giggles and footsteps running down the hall. these two boys. this loving, kind husband and father who knew that i needed to sleep in this morning. the three of them making breakfast, laughing together.

His mercies are new each morning. this morning, i can be thankful for all that He has done for our family. all of the miracles we have witnessed. profound, life-changing miracles. and, for the small miracles that unfold each day…the moments. the memories. the simple joys of this life.

this story that He continues to author is not my own.

despite the fact that i do not know the ending – i don’t even know what is on the next page – i can be thankful for my abundant blessings and the awesome surprises and the incredible joy that i am promised is yet to come.

nothing is wasted.

Dave and I spent Sunday night listening to Steven Curtis Chapman sing and share his family’s incredible journey… it was an awesome night and so encouraging.

Dave was incredibly impressed that I only cried once the entire time…during a video of Show Hope families uniting with their adopted kiddos. It was hard to watch all of those “airport moments” — the one we are so longing for — without tearing up.

So, I have to share another song with you all today. I don’t know why this blog is turning into a radio station lately but it just is. 🙂 I had never heard Jason Gray’s song, Nothing is Wasted, before Sunday night’s concert where he also performed.

Oh. It is good. There are so many of us walking through a valley right now. Hardships and heartaches seem to abound right now. No matter what you are enduring, this song will likely speak to your heart, as it did mine. It is such an awesome reminder that all of this will be redeemed. God will use all of it for good. No tear shed has gone unnoticed, my friends. None of this sorrow is wasted.

“Nothing Is Wasted”

The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope’s a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow

(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

It’s from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what’s lost will be found again

(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

(Bridge)
When hope is more than you can bear
And it’s too hard to believe it could be true
And your strength fails you halfway there
You can lean on me and I’ll believe for you
And in time you will believe it too

(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
Sometimes we are waiting
In sorrow we have tasted
But joy will replace it
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted