.Life Right Now.

I've been busy here at home trying to figure out what day of the week it is! Ha! It has been so long since we have gotten away during the week that I am a bit confused. I tried catching up on laundry yesterday, and our washer broke. {bummer} Praying about that one.

I have a lot of thoughts tumbling around in my head, but I am having trouble deciphering which ones to share. Jim and I had some great conversation while traveling this week. We of course talked of adoption and also James 1:27 and advocating for orphans. I think we both are feeling tugged by the Holy Spirit to advocate for fatherless children. You can read my hubby's thoughts on that here.

I guess I am just not sure how to go about it. I know that I need to be gracious and humble, but at the same time I need to speak truth. I guess the key is to speak the truth in love. I need to work on that. This journey that we have been on has just exploded in ways that I could have never imagined, and it is my heart's desire to share this with others. I don't want anyone to miss out.

In October God tugged at us to leave camp ministry.

Sometime in the fall we started reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love.

In January Jim resigned from camp.

In January we started Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.

In January we were first confronted with adoption thoughts.

In March Jim got voted in as the associate pastor of our church.

In March we decided to sponsor a 4 year old Philippine girl, whose daddy died last year.

In April we could no longer pretend that sponsoring a child was enough and continue to ignore the ministry call of adoption in our life. So we plunged ahead applying to AWAA.

And I remember thinking, wow, this is it. This adoption is why God has been working so hard in our lives the past few months. But now here I sit in July and am realizing more and more that adoption is not the answer or the solution. It is a part of it, but this is bigger. This call on our lives is bigger. I have no idea what the future holds, what this all entails, but for now we continue to work towards getting our sweet Ethiopian baby home and raising awareness for all of the fatherless children everywhere - not just in Ethiopia. Maybe God will call us to adopt many, many children, or maybe this will be it. Maybe we will eventually foster children. Maybe not. Maybe God will call us to begin a James 1:27 ministry, or maybe He really will move our family to Africa. I would have trembled with fear at that sentence only a year ago. Not anymore. God works in such mysterious, exciting ways!

I don't know what lies ahead for our family, but I know that my life is completely different. I am completely different. I am bothered by global things now, where as before I turned a blind eye. I am bothered by our lackadaisical approach to the commands given in the Bible for every believer. I am passionate about lives that only months ago were not even on my radar.

With all these thoughts swirling it is a wonder that anything gets done around here! Just look at my night stand. One of my goals for this summer was to read and read and read.



The book that is rocking my world right now is entitled True Religion by Palmer Chinchen, PhD

It is going to end up being all highlighted!

When you give your life away, particularly in a global setting, you see God in the right size. You realize God is not trapped in a cul-de-sac. God is not limited. You discover a right idea of God, an idea of Him that is unbelievably large. You will find the God of Scripture: King of Kings, Mighty One, Alpha and Omega, Creator, All-sufficient One, All-powerful One, One and Only! A right idea of God is spectacular. Give your life away. Go and let God fill you with wonder. He is so much bigger than you've ever imagined. p.74

I have also been planning out Cadi's kindergarten year! I have planned out our first semester calendar.



And have started some block plans.



The weather has been gorgeous here this week! High 90s and low 100s. This is what I expect from summer, but I am trying to keep my littles cool. I am thankful for the pool at my parents' home!





Cadi and I have been devouring the American Girl series this summer. We read one book a week and are on our fourth now.



And I am waiting for the phone call from my sister saying that this little guy in her belly is ready to make his debut!



And for the day when my sweet baby can wear this. (LOVE outlet shopping where it is perfectly normal to find clothes as low as $2.99!!)




If you have not done so yet, please enter the Parlee Pocket give-away. If you do not have a little girl this would make a great baby shower gift for one!! I will announce the winner after 3:00 PM today! See you then!
Subscribe in a reader