A Little Woman

Everyone has seasons of waiting in their life.
We are waiting to adopt.
However, recently several things with our adoption have begun to make it seem impossible. We know that God will work it all out, but it can be hard to wait.
The other day, I was reading Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally and God showed me these verses.

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord

Psalm 37:9
For evildoers shall be cut of: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

Lam. 3:25
The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

Is. 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not grow faint.

Is. 49:23
For they will not be ashamed that wait for Me.

He has also recentally shown me some of the great people in the Bible who had to wait on Him.

Such as, Abraham, who waited over 20 years for God to fufill His promise and give him a son.

And Noah, who trusted God would send the promised flood and spent years of his life building an ark went everyone told him it was foolish.

It pays to trust God through the times of waiting. He will teach you and strengthen you.

May God Bless you!

It [July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.

-John Adams

A friend recently shared this audio of The Pineapple Story with me (thank you Mrs. O!) and I thought I would past it on.
It is the story of a missionary to a tribal people in Indonesia.
They are funny, but I also learned a lot from them.

Note:
Parents may want to prevew these before giving them to children.

I am my neighbor's bible;
He reads me when we meet;
Today he reads me in my home
Tomorrow, in the street.
He may a relative or friend be;
Or slight acquaintance be;
He may not even know my name,
Yet he is reading me.

And pray who is this neighbor,
Who reads me day by day,
To learn if I am living right,
And walking as I pray?
Oh, he is with me always,
To criticize or blame;
so worldly wise in his own eyes,
And "Sinner" is his name.

Dear Christian friends and sisters,
If we could only know
How faithfully the world records
Just what we say and do;
Oh, we would write our record plain,
And come in time to see
Our worldly neighbor won to Christ
While reading you and me.

We went to the Great Strides Cystic Fybrosis Walk on Saturday.
It was cold, but fun!

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

A flower is a beautiful sight,

When I see it in the light,

But when I have to go inside,

I'll still see it by my side.

When I wake up in the morning,

I'll go outside and see,

My little flower friend,

As light as it can be.

But when it starts to rain ,

I'll have to go inside again.

I'm looking out the window pane,

I see the merry rain,

Dropping, drooping on my lane.

The End

By Ellen Vogltanz

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Selah

Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Selah

Psalm 24

Today is Earth Day.
There is a great post about Earth Day on Hunter's blog.

(This picture is a few years old)

I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

"Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must follow."

- Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendent star
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that encompassed me, I swooned;
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the master shall the servant be
And pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?

Amy Carmichael,
Gold Cord: The Story of a Fellowship

Today is Spencer's 11th birhday.
Spencer became a Christian this year after reading Psalm 1.
We have enjoyed seeing him grow in the Lord.

Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Happy Birthday, Spencer!
You have turned from the way of the wicked and become the righteous man who delights in the Lord.
May he bless you this year as you continue to seek him.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

...but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:10-18

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20

Some how over the winter you forget the joy of working in the garden.
You forget the sweet spring smell, and the sound of the birds singing as they flit from tree to tree, the sound of a hoe thuding against the dirt. You forget the sound of Spencer and Hanna playing near by, the feeling of the damp earth in your hand, you forget the steady rythm of hoeing. You forget the way the wind blows your hair about, the way it lifts your skirt for a moment and is gone. You forget the sight of the damp still earth, the little green plants poking up, the birds when you pause to watch them.

Spring is here at last!

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent

and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.

He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.

He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.

But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;

they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.

You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.

They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:

wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.

The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the pine trees.

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.

The moon marks off the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.

You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.

Then man goes out to his work,
to his labor until evening.

How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.

There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.

When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.

When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.

When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.

But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD.

We spent most of the day yesterday making jelly with our friends.

Sorting the grapes...

...boiling...

...straining..

...heating the grape juice with suregell...

...adding sugar and boiling for 1 minute...

...putting the jelly in jars...

...and the finished product.

The joy of finding all those little green sprouts after a long winter!

I was trying to take pictures of my cousin Alexa while we were babysitting her on Monday.

The chalenge of keeping a hat on a 10 month old!

I am currently reading The Untold Story of Milk by Ron Schmid. It is a very interesting book.
It explains how whole raw milk is an excellent health food and is even useful medicinally. Raw milk can help in treating chronic disease, and unlike the processed milk we buy in stores is safe for babies to drink. Raw milk is actually safer then pasteurized milk, if it is handled properly and comes from healthy cows.
We have been buying raw milk at a local farm. It has been fun to go to the farm every week or so. We bring 1/2 gallon glass canning jars and the farmer fills them up.

Daddy put up monkey bars and a rope ladder in our basment.

So fun!

Climbing a rope ladder is hard!

At the top...

...and across.

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Grandma Kathie gave mama a fondue set for her birthday. We recentally used it for the first time.

Here is the main course...

...and dessert...

...when there was nothing left to dip Daddy and Spencer got creative...Frosted Mini Wheats...

...Cheetos?

Thank you grandma we are enjoying the fondue.

We make a drink out of yogurt, limes, and honey. It has lots of enzymes, so it is good to drink with a meal. (Mom and I are the only ones who will drink it as it is rather tart.)
The recipe is from Norishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

Because mom told him to pretend he was working (or something like that) so she could take the picture.

1 quart plain whole yogurt
juice of 12 limes
1/2 cup raw honey
filtered water

Put all ingredents in blender. Blend well. Dilute with water until desired consistency.
Makes 3 quarts.
It is very good iced.

I definitely recommend Nourishing Traditions. It is an excellent book.

...to take with us on a trip to midtown to look at various houses we found on CBS home...Just for fun since everyone else in our church small group was sick and could not come over.

At lunch today we were all wishing it was summer and talking about canoeing. We usually go canoeing at least once a year, but last summer, between house projects and going to Colorado, we didn't even go at all. Maybe we will this year, but it will complicate things if we have a baby...
We also like to go swimming at Two Rivers State Park. They have a swimming hole and we also like to go camping there. We did go camping once last year with Discovery Group, which was fun...Maybe before the baby comes we can fit in some camping and canoeing.

Anyway we got a call from Adoption Links Worldwide and they said that we have been aproved!! Now we just have to make a profile and then we will be waiting for them to call us when there is a potental match. That sould take 2-12 months.

There's a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell.
If you examine closely,
You'll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman's spear.
On one side the Easter lily,
Its center is the star,
That appeared unto the shepherds
and led them from afar.
The Christmas poinsettia,
Etched on the other side
Remind us if His birthday,
Our happy Christmastide.
Now break the center open,
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread good will and peace.
This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me
To help us spread His Gospel
Through all eternity.

I longed to be a star,
Or else aflaming fire,
That all men, near and far,
Might marvel and admire.
But God said, "No my child,
Splendor is not for thee;
I want you for my tallow to dip,
To burn for me.
Burning in the wind,
Burning in the dust,
With a steadfast flame
Of belief and trust.
Never letting doubt
Blow your clear flame out.
Candle in the mist,
Shining true and bright;
Guiding wanderers home again,
Through the stormy night.
-Shine, little light, shine on,
Till dark is lost in dawn."

This is from A Candle in the Mist by Florence Means.

...of the righteous will be a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

Proverbs 10:7

We made these cute heart lollipops out of mini cany canes, which we found on sale after Christmas.

...that I am making for "our baby," which is how we generally refer to the baby we are going to adopt.

Isn't that sweet?

We have mailed the scarves for Craft Hope!
Thank you to every one who helped make one.
We had 19!
Craft Hope posted that they got 420 scarves!

...Monday night.
They are from daddy who is in Baltimore untill Saturday.

Tomorrow, February 12, is the 201st anniversary of the births of both Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. Both of these men are important historical figures. However, Charles Darwin had a very negetive impact on the world.

Charels Darwin's Theory of Evolution has had a large impact on all of our lives. Although, it is interesting to note that, one of the best known naturalists today, Charles Darwin, never studied to become a scientist. His only schooling in science was a seminary degree, but Charles Darwin chose to turn away from God. He was unable to believe in a loving God who would allow pain and sickness. He failed to understand that God made the world perfect and all the pain and trouble in our world are a result of sin.
Even though Charles Darwin is celebrated as having "discovered evolution" many other people had similar ideas before him. His grandfather Erasmus Darwin already had the idea that all life had evolved from nonliving things. In fact even some people living in ancient Greece believed something similar, but Darwin has gotten all the credit for this "discovery." Erasmus Darwin wrote a book about his ideas, before he came up with his theory, Charels Darwin had read this book and it had a large impact on him.
Also, Darwin's theory has had a very negetive impact on society. It follows from his theory that some people would have evoloved further than others making it logical for some groups to be inferior to others. It also places a low value on human life. Because it teaches that people are just advanced animals.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

Daddy made this lamp out of an old tripod from a telescope.

We finished our homestudy on Monday!
Mama and Daddy have an all day training seminar on Friday.
I am soooo excited! Ever since I remeber I have wanted to have and baby at our house. Alot of things are going to change, but I think it will mostly be fun. The baby will sleep in Mama and Daddy's room at first, and after that whoever ends up sharing with them will get the room I have now, because it is the biggest.
This process takes up alot of time. Mama was gone all morning the last two Fridays, and she spent all morning Monday talking to the social worker. Spencer and I have been helping with alot of Hanna's school while Mama is busy. It is actually fun.
We are almost to the point where we are ready to get a baby!

Mama and Daddy and I are all reading (the same copy of) Adopted for Life by Russell D. Moore. It has been very helpful for understanding the spirital aspects of adoption. I recomend this book even if you are not planning on adoption.

But adoption is contested, both in its cosmic and missional aspects. The Scriptures tell us there are unseen beings in the air around us who would rather we not think about what it means to be who we are in Christ. These rulers of the age would rather we ignore both the eternal reality and the earthly icon of it. They would rather we find our identity, our inheritance, and our mission according...to what the Bible calls "the flesh"-rather than according to the veiled rhythms of the Spirit of life.
That's why adoption isn't charity it's war.

-Russell D. More

We brought the iron, wax paper, crayons, a pencil sharpener, and string when we visited Grandma K and made this fun and easy project.
You just peel the crayons and sharpen them letting the shavings fall onto a piece of wax paper. Keep sharpening until the crayon gets too small.
When the wax paper is not quite covered, put another piece of wax paper on top and iron. You will want to have something you don't mind ruining underneath when you iron, because the crayon will come through the wax paper and turn it pink. Then trace and cut out hearts. We used sewing thread to hang them.
I would also make sure to clean the iron off before using or you will get little bits of crayon on whatever you iron next (and they don't wash out=).

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

-Psalm 51

After the earthquake in Haiti, I know many people are wondering what they can do to help. I have found a few ways to do this, including an outlet for handmade items.
Craft Hope is selling handmade items on etsy to benefit doctors without borders and Hunter is selling Hearts for Haiti to raise money for Samaritan's Purse.
I hope this is helpful.

I recentally read Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. My family also attended the Do Hard Things video conference at Millard Alliance Church this weekend.
Alex and Brett Harris wrote the book for Christian teenagers (though any teenager could benefit from it). It encourages teenagers to use the teen years as the "launching pad of life." It gives practical advice and encouragement "to do hard things" for the glory of God.
I definitely recommend the book to any teenager, even one that thinks they are already doing hard things. It is a very motivating book.

Daddy made me this night stand out of cardboard.

You probably all noticed my mention of adoption in a recent post, so I thought I would post some more of the story.
On January 1 (a year ago) we were talking over New Year's plans, and Mama and Daddy told us they wanted to adopt. The only problem was finances. There were a few other ideas that we were praying about, but we started to feel lead more to adoption. Then Daddy got a raise. We used the money to apply to Adoption Links Worldwide's domestic infant program.
We sent in the homestudy paper work along with a (large) check. Then we left for the afternoon. When we got back, there was a card in the mail box with $700 cash. It was from "brothers and sisters in Christ." That was almost as much money as we had just sent in!
Now we are waiting for the agencey to asign us a social worker. It should be 2-12 months from the time we turn in ALL the paper work and finish the homestudy to the time we get a baby.

Craft Hope has posted project 6!

It is making scarves for teens that are leaving the foster care system and starting college. The scarves can be any unisex color and no fuz or mohair, knit or crochet approximately 60 inches long and 5-8 inches wide.
They need to arive by Valentines Day Feb. 14.
For more details click here.

She is a Coyote.

Oligarchy
n. G.
A form of government in which the supreme power is place in a few hands; a species of aristocracy.

Tyranny
n. Fr.
Cruel government or discipline; as the tyranny of a master.

Monarchy
n. Gr.
A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a single person.

[Communism began in the 1840s so Websters 1828 Dictionary does not have a definition]

Democracy
n. G.
Government by the people; a form of government, in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the people colectively, or in which the people exercise the powers of legislation. Such was the government of Athens.

Republic
n. L.
A common wealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in represenatives elected by the people.

Think about it.
Is America a Democracy or a Republic?

Here are a few of the things are family has done this last year.

JANUARY:
Mama and Daddy tell us they would like to adopt, took clay pot snowmen to the residents at Waterford Retirement center with craft club, set up our tent and camped in the living room…

FEBRUARY:
…went to the Nebraska state capitol and met our senator, did a field trip to Millard Lumber…

MARCH:
…were in the St. Patrick day parade with the Hal Daub for Mayor Group, started a parenting study with friends…

APRIL:
…hosted a scavenger hunt for Spencer’s birthday, Hanna got a blue ribbon and Spencer got 2 red ribbons at the Trinity art show, Discovery Group talent show…

MAY:
…cousin Alexa Faith born, Spencer and I had a piano recital, craft club made dolls for craft hope, Daddy painted the house, Daddy took Spencer fishing they caught 8 trout, we watched a robin nest out Mama’s bedroom window, ran in the Memorial Day run with grandma Kathie and her friend Nancy…

JUNE:
…rode the sky fari at the zoo, Hanna’s fairy party, Celebrate grandma K’s 90th birthday, camping with Discovery Group and Discovery family picnic, baking party at Hunter’s, Tuesday morning bible study, picking mulberries…

JULY :
…4th of July party, visit Carol Iowa, took swim lessons, Sarpy County fair, Hanna caught a duck in the animal scramble, more Tuesday moring bible study, took a baby sittig/CPR class at the Red Cross with Hunter, painted my room…

AUGUST:
…county fair, raising Monarch caterpillars, my birthday, I got a sewing machine…

SEPTEMBER:
…spent a week in Colorado and hiked 10 miles, Daddy did the roof, Uncle Jared’s graduation party, start school, grandma K turns 90…

OCTOBER:
…meet David Barton in Des Moines, atum harvest soup supper with friends, start babysitting Levi and Alexa on Mondays, Spencer starts Tae Kwon Do, I invite a group of younger girls to craft club…

NOVEMBER:
…mama and I go to Minnesota with Thayers, shoe box party, volunteer to pack shoe boxes at Westwood church, buy a live Christmas tree, start the adoption proses…

DECEMBER:
…Spencer gets a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, celebrate Hanukkah, childrens perfomance of the Nutcracker, walk through bethlehem we celebrate Christmas with three sets of grandparents and Hanna’s birthday, buy a Mandolin and learn to play…