4 to 6

Posted on by Mary

Children are a blessing from the Lord……

Blessed is he whose quiver is full…….

I’m not really sure why, but people often feel free to share their thoughts on how many kids a person should have! It has been that way for us for quite some time. I think that it started after our daughter was born. She was child number two and we had a bunch of people say “so are you going to stop now? You have the perfect little family, one boy and one girl!”

Over the years it has been more of the same….”When are you going to stop?”…”Aren’t you glad you can’t have anymore kids?” “I bet there are some days when you wish you didn’t have so many?” (for the record that has NEVER crossed my mind for a minute!) and the list goes on and on and on! I think people don’t understand just how hurtful these things are.

The perspective of this world is all messed up. Ashton Kutcher’s character in the new Cheaper by the Dozen movie defined the world’s way of thinking about children best by saying: “children are inevitable, like death and taxes”. REALLY?

And when people find out that we want to adopt the response is ALWAYS less than favorable. I continually hear “you have you hands full already”.  Yes yes I do, but my heart is full too! FULL OF JOY that only children can bring. Yes raising kids is one of the most difficult tasks a person can ever undertake, but because it is so very difficult it is also one of the most rewarding things!

Hubby and I knew before we got married that we would adopt someday…God calls us to take care of orphans and we both feel like this is something that God is calling us to do! We know that we have two empty spots at the table and two empty beds upstairs just waiting for us to show God’s love to the inhabitants. To be completely honest it makes me sad thinking I could be missing out on something with them right now!

My kids are not the best at anything, they aren’t perfect. I don’t know anybody who is! They don’t have a perfect mom or dad, but two out of the four have confessed to a perfect God as their Savior. I couldn’t ask for anything more yet God still blesses. Our 7 year old son is determined that he is going to a missionary and that just brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. He has a long way to go but that is why God doesn’t send 7 year olds alone to the mission field!

I have exactly what I wanted…people focused kids. They might not be the best behaved but my kids sure love on people unconditionally. They are service minded! My kids weep when someone in our church passes! They touch some of the older people by their smiles and love. Yes I have four VERY strong-willed children and yes they are assertive and yes they are persistent and determined. All things that will help them go far in life, if trained properly!  So yes it is hard and yes I fall into bed exhausted and yes I LOVE every minute of it….LOL…MOSTLY!

I’m Supposed to trust them…

Posted on by Mary

…with my children’s lives BUT I have had enough! I’m talking about about my children’s doctor!

I really appreciated them at first but that was until a few things happened.

The first incident was with the P.A. who after my daughter had been sick and vomiting for two weeks and was now screaming in agony told her to “stop wasting her time”. Lady bug was and still is very shy and wouldn’t let her look in her mouth!

The second occurance came when I was with our youngest who was having weight gain issues. My hubby had taken little bean many times for appointments but on one specific occasion I took him. While I was there the doctor insinuated that I did not feed my child. I described in length that he ate like a horse: 30 ounces of formula a day three full bowls of cereal plus fruits and veggies. What he failed to listen to was that Little Bean promptly puked up every ounce of formula I put into his body! We saw specialists and dietitians, we tried everything. Finally the gastro doc listened! It was the formula! Yet in the process they taked about cystic fibrosis, and blamed me for abusing my child!

And we come to today! I never in my life have been so frustrated. For the last three weeks have watched sweat bead up on Little Bean’s forehead, face, and his entire body. With no fever! He has been fighting a cold and it gets worse! The temps have been high but last night was different! It was freezing in our house and every one was huddled under blankets. Little Bean was in a diaper, however, and he wouldn’t hear of having a blanket and was covered in sweat with no fever. So this morning I called the doctors office. All I did was pose the question as to what could be causing this and what could we do about it? The receptionist said “you know hes going to want to see him”. I said “ok” and hung up. I checked our schedule and then called back and said today would be best if possible. I have a major project that needs to be done on Saturday for a parade and today was rainy! No biggie right? Well, when I get to the doctor’s office the doctor comes in and says. “Well i hear you have quite the story to tell”

I to say the least was flustered and the appointment went poorly. There was no story to tell. All it was was a question, blown out of proportion. A simple response via the phone would have been fine, but I followed what the receptionist said! Won’t do that again!

Forced into a Miracle

Posted on by Mary

Exodus 13:17

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

I found this verse so very interesting!

Obviously God knew that the Egyptians would be following them and that when the Israelites discovered that the Egyptians were hot on their heels, they would want to turn back. So God took them not the obvious way, which was wide open, but instead He literally put them between a rock and a hard place!

The path in which God took the Israelites ended at the Red Sea! So we know that on one side is a sea! Then behind them on the opposite side were the Egyptians who has had them in slavery for hundreds of years! So what about to their right and left…HUGE ROCK CLIFFS. There  was no way for them to get out and it was all ON PURPOSE!!! There was only way to go…the logical answer right? The Red Sea. They were forced into the miracle! What a concept. They had no choice they had to go!

What about you? Has God done something similar. He does it all The time, we just may not see it. Be on the lookout for God’s blessings that look like trouble to start!

Then thank Him!

One With A Shepherd – Chapter 2

Posted on by Mary

Dealing With the Physical Demands of Ministry

Basically the author takes the entire chapter and gives 12 ways to lessen the physical demands of ministry! We do most of them but not all of them. I have a feeling we might introduce a couple more of them though!

My thoughts:

1. Focus in your area of giftedness. Do not expend your energies elsewhere.

I didn’t do this at our current church at first. I was putting my energies into stuff that were not my forte. I was becoming exhausted and luckily one of our very wise deacon’s wives came to me and said, “why are you involved in these things? They weren’t on your list of things you wanted to be involved in when you candidated!” She was right and I prayed about it and set those two ministries aside and I am soooo glad I did it!

2. Prioritize and Organize

Do I need to say no to something?  Yes I do! Lol! We need to constantly re-evaluate what we are doing and why! This is an ongoing process!

And there you have it my thoughts on chaper 2. Have a great day!

My Thorn

Posted on by Mary

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I have clung to these verses for years. It has served literally as my sanity! I know I am by no means Paul, nor do I care to be! (I like being a girl!). Though I do think that Paul is one of the best examples of a Christ emulator that we have!

Let’s start at the very beginning (because that is a very good place to start)!

At age 13 I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. I was the youngest documented child having this ocular disease at that point in time! At age 14 I had surgery but by 16 my eyes had returned to their pre-surgery selves and I was devastated. I knew what it meant..no driving…Ever! The next 6 to 8 months were rocky to say the least. I was struggling with the new identity that everyone was throwing on me…..that blind girl! I could have screamed…oh wait I did…MANY MANY times. That’s not who I was and I was not about to let it define me!

It was during this time that I got baptized and accepted a call into full time ministry, which at the time I thought was for missions but God had different plans!

While working through all this these verses became my peace. I remember in college taking these verses and applying them. I begged God, but to no avail. So I have clung to the rest! But when I finally accepted AND embraced this new me, I was bombarded by believers who said…. Continue reading “My Thorn” →