Asperger's Faith Journey

Aiden's 9th Birthday

2011-12-30T23:14:00.002-05:00

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDEN!!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet, loving, generous, kind, insightful, helpful, energetic, passionate little man Aiden Michael. The Lord has created him with a unique set of personality traits and it brings such joy to my heart to watch him grow and mature into a wonderfully sweet young man. The Lord is already using Him to do great things for His kingdom and it is my heart's cry to watch him grow more and more in love with the Lord with each passing year.

Thank you for the joy you bring to our lives sweet Aiden!!

Christmas Letter 2011

2011-12-19T22:58:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2011

“For to us a childis born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Andhe will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 While this is a beautiful verse for Christmas, these attributes of oursweet Savior, Jesus, are the very living hope we cling to each day throughoutthe year. As we reflect on the year, wehumbly give God the glory for our joys as well as thank Him for Hisfaithfulness in times where our posture brought us to our knees at the foot ofthe cross in complete dependence on Him.

We rejoiced in celebrating 15wonderful years of marriage this year (19 years together); the fruits of hardwork! Thank you, Jesus, for yourfaithful presence in our lives and for your Word, which gives direction andlife to marriage. Joe continues to workfor Kettering University as Facilities Architect & Planner and Angiecontinues to enjoy most days at home while also working as an occupationaltherapist 1 day/week for Rainbow Rehabilitation with traumatic brain injuredclients.

Our 6-pack of blessings continueto fill our lives with great joy and purpose! We continue to home educate and started aFaith Community Homeschool this year with 13 other families. We have been blessed beyond measure by thisjourney! We spend 2 full days per weektogether learning history, literature, writing, church history and science throughthe lens of biblical worldview. We arevery proud of the spiritual and academic accomplishments of each of thekids.

Muaz is nearly11 years old, 5’2”, 95# and wearing a size 9 shoe. He is a constant reminder to us that God isquickly growing our boys into young men. He picked up his soccer cleats againthis year after taking a year to explore other sports. The Lord has gifted him with great skills andas we watch his passion, dedication and drive mature, we praise the Lord forHis work in Muaz’s life. Ethan is nearly11 and quickly catching up to his mama in height as well. He has a competitive and hard working spiritand channels his athletic and leadership talents into football andbaseball. Aiden is nearly 9 and enjoysbaking with mom, writing notes and playing baseball. He has a sweet spirit and is a wonderfulhelper. As the boys’ passion forathletics increases, so does their dependence on the Lord as the giver of theirathletic gifts. The Lord honors thatwhich we commit to Him, and it was a blessing to pray the very same scripturesover them that they had committed to memory during their sports seasons thisyear.

Eliana continues to enjoy American Heritage Girls, is a giftedreader and does very well in school. Bereket has made great gains emotionally and developmentally this year –all glory to God for his progress. He isdoing well with his eye prosthesis and wearing glasses now as well. Sweet Joey is the family comedian and isgrowing up way too fast. The Aspergerhouse is officially without diapers for the first time in 10 years…. (tear inmommy’s eye).

Life is good. God isgood. Life is good because God isgood. We have been gifted with 6precious children from 3 very different beginnings, which keeps us on our kneesdaily before a faithful Lord. You canfollow our journey at: faith4thejourney.blogspot.com My New Year’s Resolution is to be a faithfulblogger again, so subscribe to keep me accountable! :o)

May the love of Jesus fill your hearts and homes this year…

In His Grip-

The Asperger 8

In The Trenches

2011-10-21T23:41:00.002-04:00

The Asperger house is filled with a quiet stillness that begs me to bask in the silence and reflect on the journey of life...parenting...homeschooling...the gift of marriage...loving and serving a Sovereign Lord with every minute of every day.

Where do I begin to download...

I live in a house filled with noise...6 children often "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" and sometimes my 'sensory-sensitive self' finds it...very loud. Moments such as these, with 6 sleeping angels, leave me to my thoughts, which I often crave in the noise of a productive day. On this day, my thoughts are filled with joy, burden, deep love and sorrow all at the same time.

The past few weeks, I wish to label as "in the trenches" of parenting and life in general for the Asperger family. As an adoptive parent, I often wrestle with when to share the stories of my children and when to keep them private, but often I am prompted by the Lord that someone out there needs to know that they are not alone "in the trenches" of this blessed & difficult journey of redemption for our wounded children.

"Only 7 years..."

A phrase spoken by my 10 year old Ethiopian son a few weeks ago that continues to resonate to my very soul. In the midst of a busy morning, a casual conversation ensued about what time mom went to bed last night. I honestly stated that it was about 12:00 am when mom went to bed and I arose to the alarm at 5:45. My oldest boys commented that "you must be tired", "do you wish you got more sleep" and I honestly replied that it is ok..."I only get 18 years to parent each of you as my children and I will have plenty of time to rest when you are grown". At this very moment, the Lord directed my gaze to my 10 year old Ethiopian son. I looked into his eyes and stated, "and I have only been given the gift of 11 with you, so I don't want to waste a minute of it". We exchanged a smile and then I saw a look on his face that I have grown to love and dread at the same time. After a few thoughtful moments, his reply was, "....so mama Medina only got 7 years...". This is my son, whom I know, beyond the shadow of doubt, loves and is fully bonded to us as his parents. I also know, beyond the shadow of doubt, that he has another mom, in Ethiopia, of whom the Lord Himself chose for Him to born to, that he loves and should not be denied the gift of loving still.

In the routine of a typical busy morning, for a brief moment, we shared a quick moment that I have grown to love in this journey of redemption for my wounded children...our eyes met and I said to my son, "...you are right honey...and I am so glad that we know she accepted Jesus as her Savior so we can spend eternity with her in heaven. The bible states that when we get to heaven, this time on earth will feel like the blink of an eye..." We exchanged a smile that cannot be described in words...time did not stand still...the noise did not cease in the house...but, the Spirit of the Lord was upon us.

Parenting wounded children is Holy ground. I do not know how one would tread this water without full, undeniable trust in the Lord because every moment counts and there is often no time to ponder over the best response or read up on the latest literature. It is in the moment that it counts and I praise the Lord that I can fully rely upon His Spirit at work in me to adequately do the job He has called me to do.

In those moments I find myself loving mama Medina with a depth that has no earthly comprehension. She has given me the gift of another level of accountability that I do not have to entertain with my biological children. I am always accountable to God for parenting all of my children with intention and purpose to bring Him glory. However, I met mama Medina...I hugged her with my own arms...I watched her face light up when she saw her sons and held them in her arms...I heard her pleas for their well being with my own ears...and I watched her walk out the orphanage gates and leave her sons with us as our son (hers & ours) stood, silently weeping as she walked away... I cannot deny her mother's heart and I have chosen to be accountable to her as well as the Lord. I think of her with every decision we make for our boys...it is painful and it is good. It is the cry of my heart that I will be able to embrace her this side of heaven and thank her for her presence in my life. She has left a 'heart-print' that will eternally impact the way I parent all of our children.

"Why didn't she stop to help me?!"

One evening last week, I stopped in Eliana's room to help her clean up before bed. Out of nowhere she stated, "I miss Guatemala". Eliana arrived home at 6 months of age and has no intentional recollection of Guatemala...but her soul continues to beg for answers to the pain of abandonment she carries deep in her heart.

"What do you mean?" I ask her, always waiting to hear her heart versus putting thoughts into her head. She breaks down into sobbing tears and says, "I miss mama Elvira". "What do you mean?" I ask. "I am sad that she didn't get to be my mom...I wanted her to be able to be my mom". Once again, Eliana loves us and is fully bonded to us, but children becoming orphans was not part of God's glorious design...sin entered the world and there begins the plight of the orphan. I give her the standard line, "Eliana...mama Elvira could not take care of you and she loved you enough that she did the very best thing for you...God chose us to be your parents and we are so blessed that He chose us." Eliana's response (still sobbing), "I know, BUT...Why didn't she stop to help me? I needed her to help me and to be my mommy!" These are the moments that my heart shatters into a million pieces. I can love her...nurture her...hug her...tell her I love her...adore her, but it will never take away the deep wound of abandonment in her heart. I cannot fix that for her. So I sit on her floor, rocking her in my arms, tears running down my face...grateful that our Abba Father is cradling both of us in His arms as we rock back and forth... In time, as she grows closer to the Lord, I pray that she will find rest in knowing Her Savior "never left her or forsake her", but for now...I pray the Lord can use my human-ness to show her His redeeming love.

Although, at times I am weary "in the trenches"... I am forever grateful that God called me to this journey. For if I had never sat in the trenches with His children, I may never have known the "love the Father has lavished upon us", I may never have learned to trust Him the way I do today and I would have never witnessed the courage that He has given my precious children on their redemption journies... thank you Jesus for your Holy ground... and for each and every moment you craddle us through...

"Orphanology" Musings

2011-07-02T22:26:00.002-04:00

It is summer time and I have been enjoying the leisure activity of reading (something unrelated to our homeschool subject matter) this past week. Thanks to the book, Orphanology, by Tony Merida & Rick Morton, I have been given the gift of weeping for the orphan many times this week. Summer is a down time for our orphan ministry and often a time of reflecting and planning for the upcoming year. The gift of weeping for the orphan ignites a passion that God has placed deep in my soul. Passion (the whisper/shout of the Lord) + Action (choosing to BE the hands & feet of Christ) = Life Change (hope renewed, the gospel lived out)

During the school year, it is difficult for me to find time to sit, ponder and process emotion...to be still in the presence of the Lord and feel Him tug my heart. My days are filled with purpose and service to Him through my children, my husband, my patients, our orphan ministry...all good wonderful things. But, my soul grows hungry for time to be still with the Lord and bask in His presence. I crave time to think; without being rushed or preoccupied with the list of items (though necessary & good) begging to be completed in order to ensure that life runs smoothly. Sadly, that is the 'Martha' versus 'Mary' in me that I often pray to find a better balance between in my life.

Orphanology is a book about the theological basis for adoption and the responsibility of the church to respond to the orphan crisis. I will be blogging as the Lord speaks to me through this powerful book, but here is a quote to wet your palate...

"Jesus Christ alone had all the right qualifications to save us and make us children of God. Only Jesus was qualified to redeem and adopt me because only He is the God-man." I am adopted into God's family only through the death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross and my decision to accept Christ as my Savior. Without my adoption, I would be lost to sin and spend eternity in hell. Adopting children into loving families is the passion of my heart, but experiencing the love of a family here on earth pales in comparison to the gift of spending eternity in heaven. Fatherless children deserve to be adopted into christian homes ... they deserve the gift of eternal life...

Sweet Victory!

2010-12-19T22:44:00.002-05:00

"May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God." Psalm 20:5

We now shout for joy that the Lord has given our 'baby Bear' sweet victory over this great challenge in his life. He wears his 'new eye' for a week at a time now without hesitation or strife. When he looks in the mirror, he excitedly proclaims, "My eye is open!!" This seems a small victory for a 3 year old boy, but even at this young age, he notices and finds great joy in seeing himself this way. It is one of those privileges we cannot help but praise the Lord for as we think of where our children have come from.

Just to revisit the power of the Lord, and give Him glory for the miracles He chooses to perform and the delight He takes in answering the prayers of His people, notice how perfectly the eye sits in Bear's eye. Amidst the great trials of his 'prosthetic fitting appointments', the prosthetist warned us that the Shell would likely not sit perfectly in his eye, that it may spin around in his eye socket, that the color may not match, the pupil height may be off, etc. since he was not able to get the necessary measurements to form the prosthesis perfectly. We, and many other faithful prayer warriors, lifted up our Baby Bear to the Lord and petitioned Him to do the 'unlikely'. We prayed very specifically that He would guide and direct the skilled hands of the prosthetist to make a Shell that would indeed fit perfectly the first time. Once Bear began to open his eye, I had several phone conversations about how things were going with the prosthetist, a man of great compassion, who did not want to subject Bear to the trauma of an office visit. Imagine his surprise when he asked how it was positioned in his eye, color match, pupil height, rotation in the socket, etc. "Greg, it is perfect...." "Really? No issues, nothing...?" "No...it is perfect. We prayed that the Lord would work a miracle through your skillful hands, and He was faithful to use you to answer our prayers." Not only is the Lord in the business of answering prayers, He is faithful to provide us an avenue to share of His goodness with others.

As his comfort level with the Shell increases, we have noticed a few minor adjustments that can be made to the prosthesis to make it 'more perfect'. We are beyond grateful for the incredible ways the Lord worked through this trial on behalf of our sweet Baby Bear. We began in the valley of darkness, where we held him in our arms and provided hours and hours of the nurture that he craved from birth. And now, we bask in God's glorious light as we watch Bear's face light up in a way that only 2 open eyes can express.

As part of our family Advent devotional time tonight, the question was asked, "what are the gifts that we receive that we cannot put in a box under the tree?" and "which are of greater value in your life?" We discussed the gifts that cannot be placed under the tree of family, love, worship, freedom of religion, freedom as Americans, health, happiness, time, joy, friends, salvation through Jesus Christ... and we all decided that although the gifts under the tree are nice, the true gifts of Christmas cannot be wrapped and placed under the tree.

Thank you Lord for the gift of joy and victory in Bear's life over the past few months, I will "treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart..."

Darkness into Light

2010-12-15T21:26:00.003-05:00

"You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light."

2 Samuel 22:29

The Journey Continues:

Each day when we put Bear's 'new eye' in, we would pray with him that he would have strength to do the "hard work" of wearing his eye and that God would give him courage to open his eyes and be in the light.

After several days of total darkness when his 'new eye' was in, Bereket sat down on the floor with big brother Ethan (who had been carrying him around the house upon his every request & letting him sit on his lap while he did his school work) to play with some toys. Ethan poured the love of a big brother into his heart for about 45 minutes - handing him toys and telling him what they were and suddenly Bereket decided that he wanted to be in the light and opened his eyes. Thank you Jesus! Every one of the kids in the house were shouting, "Mom! Bear has his eyes open! Good job Bear!! (as they joyfully crowded around him)" As a homeschooling family, our kids have the privilege of sharing a lot of life moments with their siblings each day. As a mom, it is a precious gift to witness them nurture and encourage one another. Bear has been the recipient of many gifts from his siblings through this trial. His siblings daily lifted him up in prayer, agonized over his discomfort and rejoiced in his victory.

The next few weeks brought a mix of victory and defeat each day with his 'new eye' and we learned to praise through the victories and pray through the trials.

Darkness

2010-12-15T00:37:00.006-05:00

DARKNESS

Our next 'dispensing visit' to the prosthetist took 5 hours once again. This visit left the prosthetist stating, "in 30 years of doing this, I have never had a child react this way." We managed to get the Shell into Bear's eye, but he refused to open either of his eyes. He screamed and cried for a while, but then fell into a silent heap on my lap. He was not sleeping, but refused to open his eyes. The prosthetist sent us away for 2 hours hoping that once we were out of the office, Bear would have less anxiety and open his eyes. For two hours, he sat limp on my lap in total darkness. We returned to the office and reported our lack of progress to a very surprised prosthetist. "This is very odd, in 30 years, I have never had a child respond this way" he stated. At this moment I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to share Bear's history and educate him on the deep wounds orphaned children can bear. He was very interested, understanding and appreciated the insight. I praised the Lord for the opportunity to 'bend an ear' for the orphan. I decided that we needed to leave the office with the Shell even though we didn't know if the fit was right and prayerfully press through this difficult process at home. Our sweet Bereket would spend 8, 10, 12 hours a day in total darkness (not opening either eye). If he was not on my lap, he would sleep for hours at a time on the couch. We were taking it out every day to monitor his natural eye for break down and he began to cry, "No! I don't want to go back in the darkness!" when it was time to put it back in. It was heart wrenching, but a process we had to proceed with. We prayed for wisdom and discernment in those weeks for the Lord to help us weigh Bear's physical needs with his emotional needs. During this most difficult time, a wise friend called to encourage us and confirmed a feeling I had on my heart. Perhaps the Lord was actually using this time of emotional trial for Bereket to heal his wounds of abandonment from being sick and alone in Ethiopia. Through this medical challenge, He was lavished with the love and nurture his soul craved from a mother...

2010-12-14T22:15:00.008-05:00

Sclero-Shell Journey

Bereket received his Sclero-Shell Eye Prosthesis just before Thanksgiving and it has been a road of great challenge, great joy & the peace of watching our Savior's hand at work in redeeming the hurts of our once orphaned son.

Background Information:

In Bereket's 10 short months of life in Ethiopia, he was relinquished for adoption and hospitalized 3 times: 2 times for eye surgeries and 1 time with bacterial meningitis. Two of these hospital stays were 7-10 days long. When our children are sick and in the hospital, time stands still - commitments get cancelled and we sit at their bedside. We do not leave them. We hold them, rock them, snuggle them and pray over them until they are well and then we take them home. An orphan does not have parents to care for them, so they go to the hospital, alone. And they stay there, alone. Sick and in need of nurture and love, but unable to have those needs met.

Adoption is a journey that begs parents to grieve their child's hurts, losses and emotions in order to create a window of insight into the life they have experienced before they were gifted to you. It is the cry of my heart that adoptive families learn to embrace the lives our children have experienced before they came to us in order to love and parent them well. I have spent a lot of time grieving for my sweet Bereket, who cried out for the love & nurture of a mother when he was sick, but was unable to receive it. Of the many promises the Lord makes to the orphan, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you" John 14:18, is dear to my heart because He allowed us to 'come' with Him.

Fitting Appointments:

Bereket was sedated for his first Shell fitting when they measured his eye and made a mold for the Shell. The second fitting, however, had to be done awake and alert in order to measure eye lid height, monitor how it fit into his eye socket, measure pupil height to paint matching eye, etc. This appointment took 5 excruciating hours of a screaming and hysterical Bear, which put him out of his mind overloaded by the experience. We left the appointment with the kind and patient prosthetist stating, "This will be a process because I can't get the measurements I need and I will have to give it a professional guess and we will adjust it as we go." As our Bear screamed and cried through that appointment, the Lord begged my heart to grieve for his losses and lovingly endure this process with him, because this time - he was not alone.

We spent the next 3+ weeks praying that the Lord Himself, who created Bereket and knew the exact measurements for the perfect Shell would work through the skilled hands of the prosthetist to do the impossible and make a perfect Shell the first time.

PERSPECTIVE & EYE UPDATE

2010-07-14T09:34:00.003-04:00

Perspective: "seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship"

Life is so often a matter of perspective...it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit helps me to refine my perspective from relationship with self to relationship with my Maker. I know the Lord to be a sovereign Lord (having supreme authority over everything) and yet I often allow myself to question details. It is not often the large picture that I question, but in the smaller details, I harbor a weakness in which Satan creeps in and hangs out.

Our sweet Bereket obtained a new specialist for his eye yesterday - a plastics & prosthetics physician at Kellogg Eye Center, Dr. Gregg Doots (a wonderfully patient & kind man with 31 years of experience in his field of expertise who sat & talked to me for 60 minutes as if he were an old friend). Our son Bereket came from Ethiopia to be part of our family with an eye that would require continuing specialized medical treatment for a lifetime - we live 45 minutes from one of the best pediatric eye care centers in the country (Kellogg Eye Center) & 50 minutes from of the most sought after pediatric retina specialists in the nation (Dr. Trese - Beaumont). God's perspective is in the details.

Bereket did not receive medical attention for his eye in Ethiopia until he was about 6 months old and by this time, his eye was bulging from the socket due to excessive pressure in the eye. He had a surgery around 6 months of unknown procedure and the pressure was slightly reduced until he came home. Watching his eye protrude from the socket in pictures left me wondering at times, 'Why can't we get him home sooner - he needs treatment...please Lord speed this up!' This is a result of internal perspective versus sovereign perspective.

Bereket's left eye only opens at 50% of the capacity of his right eye and is 20% smaller. He is blind in that eye, but it is also showing that it is incapable of growth. If it is left untreated, his eye musculature and bone structure will not progress and he will have a sunken eye socket and immature bone growth affecting the shape of his cheekbone and facial structure. He is being fitted for a prosthesis - sclero shell - that he wear over his natural eye that will help to hold his eye open and potentially stimulate muscle and bone growth. He will wear this prosthesis (only removing to clean) for as long as he is able to keep his natural eye (prayerfully a lifetime).

As I sat in the office yesterday and listened to the specialist reveal his findings from the evaluation, I was instantly convicted by the Holy Spirit that God is in the details - He is always in the details! It was a moment in time where I could hear everything, but at the same time I was in instant communion with the Lord, who created my Bereket and is not at all surprised by the findings and plan for today, because God is always in the details. It was a precious moment for me and left me feeling so humbled by His love, provision and protection of the son He created for us to love.

Bereket has the perfect eye for this prosthesis because his eye socket was stretched so far while not receiving treatment in Ethiopia. God was in the details...

The sclero shell that will be made for him needs to be thin and children with dreamy dark chocolate eyes are the perfect candidate for matching color from one eye to the other (the darker the better:0). God is in the details...

It is no surprise to God, the sovereign Lord, the Creator of Life that Bereket would be born with a birth defect that would leave him blind in his left eye. He could have created him with 2 perfect eyes, but He has a plan for Bereket's life that includes his treatment and limited vision. I praise the Lord for the details He leaves us to trust Him to and I peacefully wait to see how those details will affect other people for the Kingdom of God.

'Lord Jesus - thank for that we have communion with a God that is always in the details - that is the Maker of details and that is never surprised. Lord, help me to be less surprised and more humbled by your provision and perfection.'

"I FEEL LIKE I'M DREAMING"

2010-06-10T22:46:00.006-04:00

Our oldest son from Ethiopia is pretty good at articulating his feelings to us. It took me a little time to notice the pattern, but after a family vacation or fun-filled family day or even a small moment of joy, he will say, "I feel like I'm dreaming..." It reminds me that he is still processing this 'new life' as a member of our family in America.
The greatest conversations with my children do not occur when they are planned out and prompted - they come sitting on the back deck on a sunny Michigan afternoon after lunch at the picnic table...

Muaz: "Mom, sometimes when I am playing in the yard with everyone, I feel like I am dreaming".
Me: "Why do you feel like that?"
Muaz: "I don't know, I feel like I might wake up and be in Ethiopia again."
Me: "Is it a good feeling to be here?"
Muaz: "Yes, I just sometimes feel like I am dreaming".
Me: "Do you ever wish you were still there?"
Muaz: "Sometimes - but only for Mama Medina and Meme, but I would miss you guys."
Me: (Misty eyed) "I'm so glad you are here, but I am sad you had to leave them, too."

Our son has been home for 2 years and experienced the joy of clean water, food in abundance, the love & of a mom & dad and the gift of time together, the bond of siblings, his own bed to sleep in at night, clothes and shoes of his own that fit (& he picked them out), a safe place to worship & grow in knowledge and love of the Lord, the joy of organized sports, safety & shelter. None of these items were available to him in Ethiopia and yet his heart continues to yearn for the one thing he left behind of value - his mother & sister, whom he loves. We cannot remove the hurt of being separated from them with our love, or the things or opportunities we provide him and my soul aches from a depth that I cannot describe for the way he wrestles with that. The very thing that allows him to love me as his mommy had to be taken from him to get here. After 2 years, it would be easy at times to just keep on moving forward, but I am reminded that in the depths of his soul, a grief that should not be ignored continues to dwell in his precious heart. He needs to be reminded that it is good to love Mama Medina and that we want to share his grief as much as we do his joy. It is an amazing priviledge to witness the work of God through adoption and the redemptive power of Jesus that dwells in the hearts of His once-fatherless & now found children.

WE'RE BACK!

2010-05-02T21:22:00.003-04:00

Well, it's been almost 1 year since we posted on this blog - life got busy, we began facebook & the blog got left behind. I miss my bloggin' people and the opportunity to connect and share - so stay tuned, the Asperger 8 are back to the blog. It's been a great year, filled with God's grace, provision, challenge & joy. I will be working on updating the blog with new pictures and links - excited to get started again...

SACRIFICIAL LOVE...

2009-08-21T13:26:00.006-04:00

SACRIFICE

"to suffer loss of, give up"

"the offering of something precious to a deity (God)"

"loss or deprivation"

(definitions from Merriam Webster Dictionary)

"An offering made to God for the purpose of showing respect"

(definition from Layman's Bible Dictionary)

LOVE

"Unselfish, benevolent concern for other persons"

"To love God supremely and others unselfishly are the two most important commands of Jesus (Matthew 22:37-40)"

(definition from Layman's Bible Dictionary)

This picture is a perfect representation of a mother's sacrificial love for her children. Our Ethiopian sons smile joyfully with their Ethiopian sister - 3 children, 3 families, 1 divine plan.

I count it a priviledge to sacrifice my time, my resources, my sleep, my plans, my person & even my sanity at times, but I praise the Lord each day that I have not been called to sacrifice as the birth mother's of my children have. This picture was taken for Mama Medina (Ethiopian birth mom). Our sons's sister's dad will be embarking on a mission trip to Ethiopia in October and plans to visit Mama Medina. It is my greatest prayer that she will be able hold this picture in her hands and feel the deep love of Christ that is growing in the hearts of her beloved children. That she would know her only requests voiced for her children, "to not forget their siblings" and to "go find your sister" have been honored. That her sacrificial love for them is the very love that has allowed them to be loved by us. The Lord has placed these words from Ephesians 3:17-19 on my heart as a caption to this picture & a blessing to Mama Medina..

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Asperger's Awesome Family Fun Day Adventure

2009-08-16T23:36:00.002-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had an amazing 24 hours - from Asperger's Awesome Family Fun Day Adventure...to a bit of sleep...to worship & then home for lunch and relaxation. What a great weekend - the gift of time spent together filled with joy & happiness and ending in worship on Sunday - it doesn't get any better than that this side of Heaven!

Bear's 2nd Bday

2009-08-14T10:59:00.001-04:00

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY BEREKET!!!

We are so blessed to call you son - we praise the Lord for the way He has worked in your life for the past year...we love you 'Bear'!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Summer Fun '09

2009-08-14T10:19:00.002-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

MOBILE JOEY...

2009-07-28T23:14:00.005-04:00

Our precious Joey is now fully mobile & crawling both forward and back! It is so fun to watch him crawl through the house and...get into EVERYTHING! Oh, sweet freedom for him & another reason to keep us on our toes! God is growing our sweet baby up right before our eyes & I praise Him that we haven't missed a moment.

Each day it is my prayer to be fully present in the moment so I don't miss a single blessing the Lord has for me...

BASEBALL SEASON

2009-06-17T22:45:00.002-04:00

Baseball Season is in full swing for the Asperger family. Ethan is playing on a 'Rookie League' team for GB Little League & is transitioning into the 'real' game rules of baseball and enjoying trying his arm at pitching. Aiden & Muaz are playing on a 'Coach Pitch' team for GB Little League and doing very well at all aspects of the game. They are all having fun and so blessed to have 'Coach Daddy' & 'Coach Papa' enjoying America's favorite past time together. They are all pictured above with their prized Game Balls!!

DREAM COME TRUE...

2009-06-12T23:59:00.002-04:00

Muaz has finished his 1st season of AYSO soccer - a dream come true for an Ethiopian boy with a love of soccer and a burning desire to play 'real soccer'! The day we met our Muaz - we walked through the gate to Hannah's Hope orphanage and he was in the 'play yard' (a small section of cement) playing soccer with some friends. The 'goals' were some torn nets tied up to either end of a small cement driveway which was the 'field'. Watching him play soccer this season was a privilege that is hard to put into words. He ran that field of grass with everything he had and scored more goals into those large, white nets than anyone on his team - it was something he always wanted and being able to give him that dream humbled my heart beyond words. He loves soccer and passionately plays the game every time! He is an excellent ball handler and team player. He excelled far beyond the ability level of teammates this year - God has gifted him with an amazing skill level and we were so proud to watch our son play out his dream with 'Coach Daddy' along for the ride & his sibling/family fan club there to cheer him on. God is so faithful to His promises for the orphan...

FINISHED WITH SCHOOL!!!

2009-06-12T23:39:00.004-04:00

THE ASPERGER HOUSE NOW CONTAINS ANOTHER 3RD GRADER AND A 1ST GRADER! WE ARE FINISHED WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR AND I HAVE MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO SCHEDULE BETTER NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN FINISH BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY! WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL BOYS AND THE GREAT STRIDES THEY HAVE ALL MADE ACADEMICALLY & SPIRITUALLY THIS YEAR! I LOVE THE PRIVILEGE OF EDUCATING MY CHILDREN AND AM ALSO SO LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING OFF MY TEACHER HAT & JUST PLAYING WITH THEM FOR THE SUMMER!!

SPRING HILL FAMILY CAMP

2009-06-04T15:51:00.001-04:00

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Spring Hill Family Camp - Memorial Day Weekend has become a tradition our family looks forward to each year! Our dear friends have been going for years and have invited us to be part of a wonderful weekend of family fun & worship. This was our 3rd year (we missed last year because we were in Ethiopia). It was the 'Year of the Zip Line' for the Asperger boys - Ethan, Muaz & Aiden conquered the zip line and are still talking about how they can't wait until next year already.

Spring Hill puts on a fabulous family camp and the activities are great, but we love it because of the families we get to share the experience with. The Lord has gifted us with the most precious friends and spending time with their families for an entire weekend of play & worship is awesome. We all attend family worship together twice a day and it is so moving to see all the children & adults sing and praise the Lord together. We thank God every day for the friends He has given us and the way they enhance our walk with the Lord.

A THIRD GRADER...

2009-06-03T14:34:00.002-04:00

WE HAVE A 3RD GRADER IN THE HOUSE!!!!

Ethan worked very hard at school this year & is now finished with 2nd grade - yahoo!

The top picture is Ethan @ the end of the year & the bottom picture is from the beginning of the year - he sure is a handsome young man & we are so proud of his academic and spiritual growth this year!

ONE YEAR LATER...

2009-06-02T16:49:00.002-04:00

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On May 30th - one year ago - Joe and I arrived to Detroit Metro Airport carrying precious cargo - our Ethiopian sons, Muaz & Bereket. We were united with our children & began a new chapter in the life of the Asperger family.

It has been quite a ride for the past year - we doubled the children in our family, sold a house, bought a house, moved and began driving a passenger van ('Blessing Box'). I now have mastered the necessity of 'head-counting' my blessings when we go anywhere and cook twice the amount of food for dinner (growing boys...& I know it is just beginning!). We have doubled the amount of homeschoolers in our home & begun the life of multiple sporting activities. And one year later, I praise God that we are catching our stride and running the course He has set before us with great pleasure & perseverance!

God has hand crafted a family for us that is beyond anything we could have ever asked for or created on our own. It is exactly everything we never knew we wanted/needed/loved. Each and every hour of the day for the past year have been filled with parenting experiences that I cannot even put into words - blending families...molding characters...building trust...bonding...growing in love for one another...praying...establishing respect....learning...crying...grieving...anger...tenderness...discipline...forgiveness...learning some more...talking...mending...praying some more...thanking God for His provision...joy...sorrow...& love, but the greatest of these is love...

And there have been times that I think all of these experiences have occurred during the same hour...what a privilege to weave the character of God into the hearts and minds of all 6 of our children through each of these joys & challenges. It has been so important to remember that nothing is a surprise to God and He walks before us and with us through each life moment He ordained for us before He breathed life into our lungs....

What a year...what a God...what a family...thank you Jesus for the Asperger 8

Happy Mother's Day...

2009-05-10T21:45:00.003-04:00

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SIX BLESSINGS - TRUE GIFTS FROM THE LORD - EACH ONE HAND CRAFTED BY THE FATHER - THAT CALL ME MOMMY. I AM HUMBLED BY WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN US FOR & ENTRUSTED US WITH!

JOEY WAS DEDICATED ON MOTHER'S DAY BY OUR DEAR FRIEND AND PASTOR - IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME OF PRAISING THE LORD & DEDICATING THE GIFT OF JOEY. MAY HE GROW TO BE A STRONG MAN OF GOD THAT IMPACTS LIVES FOR THE KINGDOM...

THE BELOW VIDEO GIVES A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF MOTHERHOOD AS AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL WORSHIP...ENJOY!

TOGETHERNESS

2009-05-04T14:49:00.002-04:00

Togetherness is one of the most precious blessings of homeschooling. These pictures give a spackling of the gifts of a typical homeschool day at our house. Older siblings caring for and teaching younger ones...family bath times...sharing in victories (Aiden displaying his 100 chart completed easily and accurately for the 1st time!)...sibling bonding time. I am so grateful for this gift of time with my children and the time they experience together by being home.

BABY BOYS...

2009-04-20T15:25:00.002-04:00

It's amazing how fast our baby boys are growing! I thank the Lord every day that I have not missed a minute of it! Joey started eating baby food with his cereal today - I think he approves!

Daddy

2009-04-20T15:09:00.005-04:00

I am so thankful for my husband and the man my kids call daddy. He is so cherished by our kids and they soak up every minute of 'daddy-time' they can get! We are entering a full round of sports at our house and 'Coach Daddy' is working very hard to manage practices and games for 2 baseball teams and a soccer team. A job he loves to do and I am so thankful for his dedication to our boys! Thanks for being so special 'Big Daddy' - we love you so much!

A Day in the Life...

2009-04-20T15:01:00.002-04:00

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Here is a snapshot of our wonderful fun-filled day at the park on a 70 degree day last week...thank you Jesus for the sweetest things in life...

TOOTH-LESS WONDER!

2009-04-17T15:38:00.003-04:00

HOW CUTE IS HE?!?!

Aiden lost his 1st tooth yesterday & is so very excited to have joined 'The Big Boys Club of Toothless Grins'! Last night he packed the prized lost tooth in his tooth box and strategically placed it under his pillow. All the while asking questions...will she find it? Will she wake me up? Big brothers were quietly in their top bunk beds (same room) while we prepared for the Tooth Fairy and I thought they had already fallen asleep. When Aiden's last question came, "do you think she is driving in her car right now to come here, mom?" I heard big brother Ethan respond from the perch of his top bunk, "Yeah, Aiden, because it is a loooong drive here from her Tooth Palace..." Now, big brother has discovered 'the truth' about the Tooth Fairy and I was so touched by his tenderness to little brother in that moment. He made Aiden's 1st lost tooth experience so much more special because he shared the excitement and wonder. I love raising siblings and watching their tender hearts reach out in love for one another.

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

2009-04-13T15:47:00.003-04:00

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

We enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday service & a relaxing day at home with family. Easter is the holiday that impacts me the most. I enjoy celebrating the birth of baby Jesus at Christmas, but Easter....Easter is where the story comes to life and penetrates my very soul. Easter - Jesus (the sinless man) was beaten, bruised, humiliated & nailed to a wooden cross...for me. He could have removed himself from the suffering, but He didn't because He loves me so much that He was willing to suffer and die to save me from my sins. That's my Savior. And on the 3rd day - He rose...He conquered death once for all & provided a way for me to enjoy eternity with my Jesus in Heaven.

I love to teach the Easter story to my children and I often remind them that the Easter story lives in our hearts every minute of every day as a constant reminder of God's steadfast love for us and His perfect plan of salvation. Jesus gave His life for me at Easter and each day I pray that God will help me to give my life back to Him to be used for His service...to bring Him glory for being an awesome God.

IS IT TIME FOR SPRING YET?!

2009-03-13T00:15:00.004-04:00

IS IT TIME FOR SPRING YET?!

AH..MICHIGAN IN MARCH - WE WOKE TO SNOW AND ENDED IN SUNSHINE...

"Also, if two (or 3!) lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" Ecclesiastes 4:11

MARCH ISSUE SERIOUS.LIFE MAGAZINE

2009-03-10T00:00:00.005-04:00

PLEASE BLESS YOURSELF BY READING THE MARCH ISSUE OF SERIOUS.LIFE MAGAZINE - IT IS PUBLISHED BY A BEAUTIFUL FELLOW ADOPTIVE FAMILY WITH A CONTAGIOUS FAITH. THE MAGAZINE IS A GREAT FAITH-BASED READ AND OUR BLOG IS ADVERTISED AGAIN THIS MONTH AS WELL.

ENJOY!

WOW! AFTER READING THE MARCH ISSUE, I MUST POINT OUT THAT OUR VERY HANDSOME MUAZ IS FEATURED ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR BLOG POSTS ON PAGE 121. WHAT A FUN SURPRISE!!

SUNNY 60+

2009-03-06T22:23:00.003-05:00

We enjoyed a reprieve from MI March weather today. We were blessed with a sunny 60+ & took full advantage of it! The kids worked really hard on their school work in the morning so that we could enjoy a picnic lunch and an afternoon of playing outside together. It was Joey's 1st afternoon outside and big brother Muaz swaddled him tight so he didn't get cold. We played football, baseball, shot hoops, rode bikes and took a family walk (daddy started to clean the garage, too - yahoo!!). Ah, the gift of time well spent with my children... one of the priceless gifts of homeschooling.

P.J's & TEA TIME...

2009-03-06T22:10:00.003-05:00

Eli and 'Bear' enjoyed a little tea time before bed the other night and they were so adorable, I had to photograph the event. Take note of Eli's P.J's (on backward) - she is very independant. And as you can see, she is giving him specific instructions the entire time they are having tea together. Life is so much sweeter when shared with a buddy...

Baby Bear's Eyes...

2009-03-03T21:59:00.004-05:00

Baby Bear had some minor eye surgery this week to evaluate his eyes under anesthesia and check the pressure and integrity of his eyes. He did really well and the doc stated there is quite a bit of scar tissue in the left eye, but since vision is not an option for that eye, he didn't need to clean it up. He also stated that although it is a 'sick eye' - the pressures are fine and it is sustaining itself at this point. He was happy to report the right eye structure still looks normal as well. He is getting more used to his glasses and we are getting some consistent wear time out of them now - sometimes...he is only 18 months so still a challenge. Check out his new face in the top picture - every time we tell him to 'say cheese' for a picture he rolls his eyes up like that to be funny - I cracked up the first time he did it. It is amazing how quickly they grow and gain a sense of humor!

And there is nothing like a nap with daddy - his shoulder is the best by far to snuggle up to and sleep! I love these moments...

Ethan's 8th Bday...

2009-03-02T18:01:00.002-05:00

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Happy 8th Birthday Ethan-

We are so proud of the little man you are rapidly growing into!

May we appreciate every moment of loving you & helping you grow into the likeness of Christ...

More new specs...

2009-02-18T23:08:00.002-05:00

How cute is Baby Bear?!?!

He is sporting his new specs and learning to wear them. Speaking of that, we could use your prayers as we train an 18 month old to wear glasses...I think we have made it to a full....4 minutes at a time already!!!

VALENTINE'S DAY...

2009-02-16T21:38:00.004-05:00

VALENTINE'S DAY...CARDS, FLOWERS, CANDY, CHINESE, CHOPSTICKS, CANDLE-LIGHT

& A MOVIE!

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day at the Asperger house. We woke up to Joe spoiling me with flowers and the kids with special Valentine bags from daddy. We spent the day together as a family and had an elegant candle-lit dinner at 'The Asperger's Chinese Emporium' (take out, put in fancy dishes with Chinese music downloaded from the internet playing in the background). We all ate with chopsticks (daddy rigged up the kids with paper and rubber bands to make it attainable fun - he is so good!) & had a delicious and fun meal together. I am certain that 10 years ago, as my husband took me out to a romantic Valentine's dinner for 2 at a Japanese Steak House, I never knew chinese take-out by candle light with my husband and our six beautiful children would someday be just as cherished. Good thing God knows just what we need and is faithful to fill our lives to the fullest when we surrender to His will.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Phillippians 4:19

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE

2009-02-09T10:40:00.002-05:00

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Today we celebrate Joe's birthday - a man we all love so very dearly. He is a wonderful husband, a loving father and a dear friend. Thank you Jesus for the gift you have given us in him today.

Upward Basketball

2009-02-08T23:06:00.010-05:00

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Ethan & Muaz are playing Upward Basketball at our church this year and daddy is coaching them. I'm not sure who is having more fun...daddy, the boys or their fan club!! We are soo very blessed to have so many people that love our 'lambs'. Last Saturday, their fan club included Gma Theresa, Great-Papa and Jim & Ilene (their extra set of grandparents) along with mommy & the sibs (of course!).

Milestone...

2009-02-08T22:28:00.003-05:00

This week we received the boys official MI birth certificates in the mail - so they are now legally Muaz Matthew & Bereket Isaac! Mom & dad were a bit slow in getting this step done, but they are proudly holding their new birth certificates.

Eliana is proudly holding a piece of paper with her full name written on it - Eliana Ofelia Asperger - that she wrote 'all by herself'! Last week, she was able to write 3 letters: ELI so that she could write her abbreviated name. After 1 week of practice, she is writing her entire alphabet - go Eli!!

And baby Joey is displaying an impressive 'prone on elbows' developmental posture (you can't take the Occupational Therapist out of the stay-at-home mom!). Our 'newbie' is rapidly turning into a developing baby - he is a delight to our hearts!

SERIOUS.LIFE MAGAZINE

2009-02-01T22:29:00.001-05:00

I wanted you to know about this publication I’m a part of called Serious.Life Magazine. They just published the February issue today, and I am in their Featured Blog Directory. It’s a very high quality magazine… you’ll really like it.

The magazine includes a lot of great content from bloggers you’ll appreciate, as well as great features, photos and other content. The magazine is owned and published by a family who have seven kids, three adopted and one who has Leukemia (www.riggsfamilyblog.com). The magazine gives away a bunch of ads to charities and ministries. Besides great articles on interesting people, there is a lot about family, adoption, personal finance, spiritual life, humor… all sorts of “life” topics.

Again, the subscription is free, and I know you’ll enjoy the magazine, so take a minute to check it out and sign up to get future issues. www.seriouslifemagazine.com

GO FIND YOUR SISTER...

2009-01-30T08:21:00.001-05:00

We all have crosses to bear, although a burden to endure, they are also the heart and soul of growth in Christ. When I was 7 years old, I am certain the only cross I had to bear was whether my room was clean or my words were kind to my siblings.
At 7 years old, Muaz was asked to carry a burden I am unable to imagine...
Our meeting in Ethiopia with mama Medina & Mimi (Muaz's older sister in Ethiopia) was a precious experience. Mama was kind and gentle and had a smile as beautiful as Muaz's. He chatted with Mimi, showed her a picture album of his new family and excitedly looked through the Amharic bible we brought for them to keep. The meeting is somewhat of a blur in my mind...Bereket cried through most of it (he was hungry) and I remember feeling a burden for mama that he cried as she held him for the last time. My memory of this brief and precious meeting is a blur of emotion. I recall mama and Mimi smiling a lot during the meeting and speaking with the orphanage director in Amharic. At the end of the meeting, I remember feeling gripped with sadness for the good bye that was taking place. In what felt like a second in time, there was embracing and crying and then they were gone... And there stood our Muaz...alone...staring at the gate to Hannah's Hope and quickly wiping tears from his eyes... I stood frozen for a brief second, trying to absorb the enormity of the moment. We cautiously approached our new son, and as his little body leaned in (giving us permission), we embraced him.
In recalling this special time with Muaz, I later learned what mama said to him during our brief time together. She said, "Bereket doesn't even know I am his mama." Amidst his crying, she was mourning the reality of her ultimate sacrifice for him. And she said to Muaz, "Go find your sister..." At 7 years old, he was asked to bear the burden of finding his siter whom had been relinquished before him and was already in America with her new family. This mother knew she could not keep her children and she had such a strong desire for them to be together again. I wonder what he was thinking when he saw his sister for the first time here in America. The picture above is worth a thousand words...

Favorite Foto Friday...

2009-01-29T20:39:00.003-05:00

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Happy Life Day Muaz...

2009-01-25T22:37:00.005-05:00

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"Happy Life Day"...a birthday greeting my dad has lovingly shared with me since I was a small child. Three endearing words he used to celebrate the day in which God breathed life into my lungs. Since the day I was born, my parents have celebrated the day of my birth with well wishes, parties & gifts.
We had the awesome priviledge of celebrating Muaz's 8th birthday with him on January 18. Although it was his 8th birthday - it was the first birthday in his entire life he has celebrated. I believe that for the past 8 years, on January 18, the Lord himself rejoiced in His creation of Muaz and celebrated the life He created in Him, but Muaz had never experienced a joyous celebration of his life by others. The effects of cultural difference and extreme poverty make it difficult to comprehend why a child's life would not be celebrated on their birthday. We thank God for the gift of Muaz and for the 8 years of his life that God protected & blessed before He led us to him. I believe that 8 years ago, when God gifted him with life, he had us in mind...'daddy had a plan' for our Muaz to celebrate his 8th birthday with us in America. Muaz had the joy of celebrating with us & his biological sister as well. She stood at his side while we sang happy birthday to him and my mind drifted to Ethiopia as the Lord prompted me to pray for mama Medina and be thankful for the gift she has given us in Muaz.

2009-01-25T21:39:00.002-05:00

This family shares our passion for both Guatemala and Ethiopia - they also have children from both countries. Muaz was at Hannah's Hope Ethiopia with Abby's older sister, Sami. Please join us in prayer for them as Abby fights for her life against Leukemia. This family has a contageous faith in Jesus Christ & an incredible fighting spirit.

NEW SPECS...

2009-01-22T21:44:00.001-05:00

Here is Aiden in his handsome new specs, holding baby brother Joey - one of his favorite things to do!

SHE JUST KISSED ME...

2009-01-21T21:59:00.003-05:00

These words continue to linger in my heart and burden my soul...
As our Muaz becomes more comfortable with us, he often shares about his mama Medina and life in Ethiopia. I count this as a precious blessing for us - for him to remember & for me to learn of the life he was gifted with in Ethiopia.
I once asked him what 'mama' liked to do and he quickly responded "she worked - she liked to work". When I tried to dig deeper to find something else, I was burdened by the reality that all she was able to do was work (all the time) just to be able to feed her children (sometimes). She had no luxury of free time or 'hobbies' - she worked. So, in his 7 year old mind, 'she liked to work'. From what he has shared, she worked until it was dark outside and came home in time to cook dinner (when there was food to cook) and then they went to bed.
He recently shared a story that was by no means profound in its content, but revealed something beautiful in its meaning. 'Mama' would sometimes come home from work for lunch and Muaz would go home for lunch (from school) each day in hopes that mama would be there. This was a very special treat because she worked so much, he did not get to see her much. Often he would wait for her and "she did not get to come home, so I couldn't see her." When I asked him how that made him feel, he said "sad, I miss her". So I asked him if he told her that he missed her and he said yes. When I asked what 'mama's' response was, he said, "She just kissed me & hug me".
I have had the priviledge of meeting mama Medina, but have not known her except from piecing together her character from the recollection of the son we share. From what I can guess, she was often quiet, of few words and thoughtful...she was affectionate and taught him to love well from loving him well...worked very hard for her children & yet it was never hard enough...
I can picture very clearly the look on her face as she heard his words and felt them pierce her soul - I imagine she longed for time to love her children. So, instead of saying a single word...she kissed him...what a beautiful picture of her love for him.
I do not know the burden of devastating poverty...my cupboards are full, my children are healthy, we drink clean water, we live in a home with locks on the doors and a roof that does not leak over our heads. I have the great priviledge of waking every morning and spending every minute of every day with my children. I feed them (until they are full, every time they ask for food), I play with them, I hold them in my lap & sit next to them on the couch, I educate them, I am the last person they see before they go down for a nap and the first one they see when they wake up, I dry their tears and laugh with them until our bellies ache. I have always counted this a priviledge, but have become keenly aware of this precious, precious gift since learning of life in Ethiopia and the joys/sorrows of mama Medina. She may never know that she is molding my character - she is teaching me to appreciate the 'togetherness' that at times can be overwhelming. I have often stepped back in a moment of chaos and felt the cry of her heart (to have so much togetherness that it becomes a challenge would never have been a priviledge of hers) & humbled myself before the Lord in thanksgiving for the life He has gifted me with.
One last thought - when he shared that story with me, I immediately thought of Mary in Luke 2:19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I wonder how long mama Medina pondered the fate of her children in her heart before making the ultimate sacrifice for them...?

AIDEN'S 6th BIRTHDAY

2009-01-08T21:22:00.001-05:00

CHRISTMAS 2008

2009-01-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

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PURSUING THE HEART OF GOD

2009-01-06T23:29:00.002-05:00

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."
Deuteronomy 6: 6-8

There are many occasions, as the shepherd of my children, I have the privilege of being humbled by one of my lamb's pure hearts and desire to seek hard after the heart of God. A few nights ago, during our bedtime routine of bible reading to the kids, I decided to go back to Genesis 1 and read that familiar passage to them.

Our 7 year old, Ethan, stops me several times before I get 1/2 way through Genesis 1 with great comments and questions. Then he says, "so.....if God made the world perfect & it was all good until Eve and Adam ate the apple in the garden, then there wasn't a hell before then? So, I, in all my righteousness (and it is past bedtime....) say, "yes, honey that is true..." and he says, "then how did Satan get in the garden to tempt them to eat the apple?" And I look up from my bible, ready to be righteous again and tell him exactly what the answer is....and I say, "um....honey, (humbled) I don't know, but that is a great question and now mommy needs to let you go to bed so that I can go study and try to find an answer to your question."

I was privileged to witness the faith of my son stretching and searching for absolute truth - pursuing the heart of God.

The next day he says to me, "mom-can we study the persecuted (not quite so well pronounced - too precious) church at school? And I said, "what? (pleasantly surprised again) "yeah, mom we are learning about it a little in sunday school, can we learn about it at home, too?" Needless to say, thanks to the faith of my son, I, too, have been pursuing the heart of God this week. For all you homeschooling mom's out there, I found a great website for kids through 'Voice of the Martyrs' called 'Kids of Courage' http://www.kidsofcourage.com that is a great resource for the persecuted church - our new unit study for school!

PRAY FOR THERESA

2009-01-05T22:10:00.002-05:00

Please pray for Joe's mom, Theresa, tomorrow (Tuesday, January 6) as she undergoes surgery for her cancer & in the upcoming weeks as she heals. She has taken each step of her cancer journey (this is her 3rd occurence) with courage, a fighting spirit & a strong faith in the Lord. She is an encouragement to so many and a dear mother and grandma Theresa to us - we love you mom!

CHRISTMAS 2008

2009-01-02T22:34:00.008-05:00

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

We enjoyed the irony of this verse as we celebrated our Savior's birth this Christmas season. 'For to us one child was born (Joey), to us (2 more) sons were given (Muaz & Bereket). We had much to celebrate and praise our Savior for this year ... as we do every year. I love this verse and the powerful names of Jesus that I am reminded to lift in praise and embrace with my heart.

We had several wonderful Christmas celebrations & enjoyed having Joe home for nearly 2 weeks! Our family time & daddy time were the perfect gift.

Enjoy our Christmas slide show!

REUNITED...AFTER 1 1/2 YEARS

2008-12-28T16:06:00.001-05:00

How beautiful are these smiling, joyful, precious children?

Whose children are they? Do they belong to us...the 'G' family...Mama Medina (in Ethiopia)? The answer is all of the above and none of the above. These are God's precious, beloved children whom He has ordained to be 'ours' for such a time is this. Why? Because 'daddy had a plan' for them long before He breathed life into thier lungs. He ordained for them to be born in Ethiopia to Mama Medina & to be divided into two different families in America. Why? Because God's plans are greater than our plans and He does not make mistakes.

When the 'G' family met with Mama Medina in Ethiopia while picking up their beautiful daughter, they asked her what she wanted for her daughter. Her only response was, "I don't want her to forget her siblings". As we sat at dinner watching these 3 beloved children eat Ethiopian food together, color and giggle together, my mind went straight to a mother on the other side of the world who, in our experience with our sons, taught her children to love well and find joy in their circumstances. I said a prayer for her that God would touch her heart and help her to know that her children are well & have been reunited. It is with great joy that I will help Muaz compose a letter and enclose one of these pictures to send to Hannah's Hope Ethiopia in hopes that Mama Medina would receive it and praise God for His faithfulness.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

2008-12-16T22:59:00.000-05:00

"FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN, TO US A SON IS GIVEN."

ISAIAH 9:6

WE ENJOYED DECORATING OUR NEW HOUSE WITH OUR NEW SONS - WE HAVE MANY 'FIRSTS' TO CELEBRATE THIS SEASON. WE ARE PRAISING GOD FOR HIS GREATEST GIFT - JESUS - AND FOR THE GIFT OF OUR CHILDREN TO US AS WELL. I LOVE THE IRONY OF THE ABOVE VERSE TO OUR LIVES THIS YEAR..."FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN (JOEY), TO US '2 SONS' ARE GIVEN (MUAZ & BEREKET)." BUT THE GREATEST GIFT IS JESUS...