A Little Woman

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