a swift kick of perspective...

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite family time together. 

i love the smells, the traditions, the family and the friendships it brings to the surface. 

this one was no different...

 

everyone groaned for family pics...

 

Deb ran from the camera all day...

 

Scott and Richard labored on the meat all morning in the cold,

while Kendra and i stayed in the warm kitchen... 

 



it was a WONDERFUL day of great family memories...

and God filled moments!

 

AND



it once again put everything in perspective!



let me explain... only days before i had become really bogged down in...

one more school move,

one more teacher meeting,

one more doctor appointment,

one more disagreement to deal with,

one more counseling session at the end of the day,

one more need... one more, one more, one more!

 

i woke up thanksgiving morning with all these things still in my head...

BUT THEN...

as He always does, when i need a quick swift kick of perspective,

God got my attention!

 

as we went around the circle in prayer and i heard each of my

children lift up their voices of thanksgiving to the Lord...

i was choked up with a heart that was full...

having forgotten all the stuff from before!

 

as i remained fixated on the sweet sound of their voices...

God quickly reminded me of this...

ONE more is better than NO more,

cherish every one of them!

 

our days are numbered is what we are taught in scripture,

and they move quickly (the older we get, the faster that seems to be)

so we better enjoy each one to the fullest!

 

wonder if you could use a swift kick of perspective too?

i sure needed one!

 

life in the fast lane...

..."What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes."  James 4:14

 

i cannot believe how time flies... the girls have now been in country almost 7 months!! 

 

 

the Lord has been so patient with us all during this time of learning and growth. 

we finally have a schedule and everyone is settled in school (and like it :)

we were snuggling down into our new comfy normal when... God moved...!!

you ever notice how good God is at taking note of our complacent comforts?

 

just when i began to think

"whew?!?!? we are beginning to get this thing figured out...!"

i realized how little i knew :)

 

our life moves fast and it moves furious...but it is intentional and purposed!

there is no greater high than striving in my little "mist of time" on earth to

LOVE LIKE JESUS! 

every second of time that i have breath matters in the life of others if i choose it. 

 

so... God has rocked our existence and challenged us to the core, yet again...

 in our Family and For Life ministries!

 

small change... we will be opening our doors this Christmas

to the sweet Ukrainian girl that we met through the Krells... Yulia :)

arriving on December 19th!

 

 

and in ministry....we are continuing to grow our

Love One sponsorship program... now extending into Haiti.

 

we will be hosting our first event on Nov 2nd to love on our

love one families here in Madison county. 

 

thanks to the support of our home church Willowbrook

we will be opening our first office December 1st. 

 

our Christmas projects for the year are:

purchasing a goat or chicken for our home in Haiti...

Ebenezer Baptist Home for Children.

 

and repairing an embroidery machine for the ladies

working for She Thailand in Phuket.

 

we had our first shop "for life's purpose" to raise awareness this week...

we have 4 to go for the holiday season.

to get involved visit... www.forlifeministries.org or visit our FB page.

 

we are just hanging on to God as He moves and marveling at His faithfulness!

it is full speed ahead and the adventure is miraculous!

 

i don't know how you are spending your "mist of time" here on earth...

but know that every second of it matters!

 

 

 

 

 



being ok when there is no definite!

sorry for the long delay, but i can barely shower... much less blog :)

life is definitely an adventure... and days of mundane have been long gone!

 

recently we were in the hospital with jordan for what looked like a major organ problem...

we tested for 4 days... doctors met, nurses loved on her and we just waited.

everybody was amazing and did their job well, but at the end of our time spent together...

the answer was not conclusive.  surprisingly i am ok with that!

 

as i look over the whirlwind of our life over the last 19 months,

this seems to be a theme again and again... no definitive answer!

as i pondered this idea, some things have stuck with me...

• i can't parent my kids after anothers pattern
• self help books don't always have the answers i need
• not everything (incl health) can be absolutely figured out
• sometimes bliss is a blessing
• bad behaviors aren't always signs of bad parenting
• drowning out all the other voices and listening to God's alone is a must

i could go on, but you get it...

not everything on this earth has an absolute... although we would like it to!

people are just people, they are not God! 

 

in Isaiah 55:8-9,  the Lord declares...  "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

 

sometimes we have to LET GO and LET GOD, trusting His ways are perfect.

and when there is no definitive answers... by faith we must choose to trust Him! 

 

as we have weathered great winds of change and opinions from others...

God has certainly humbled my heart and changed my expectations,

my judgement and condemnation.  

i've learned i know very little about most things... but God knows everything!

these great storms have changed where i want to be,

and how i want to spend my little bit of time here!

 

and if i were authentically transparent, i would have to admit...

i've found that people that don't always have to have all the answers... 

or pretend they do... are more likeable!

and...

i've found great taste in vulnerability and others ability to say i just don't know...

 it makes them very perfectly human.   

 

i think i like it so much... that its worth a try myself! 

there is only one definitive answer; and that is...

God alone has the answers we seek...   we just need to ask Him!

Feelings?!

everyday someone asks about our family... the size, the adaption, the struggles...

so let me go ahead and clear the air...  it is BIG!

 

our house is obnoxiously loud, we are late to everything, because we don't have enough seats...

or too many of their things start at the same time... or we cant find what they need.. the list goes on. 

 

i remember in my smugness when i used to glance at "that mom"

and think wow, she needs to get it together... well let me say it for you... THAT IS ME!

i glance around often and think what happened?

 

i often travel in a baseball cap, because i cannot make it to the shower...

i am constantly the one being reminded about the things i need to make or bring...

because once again i didn't check my email. 

and at almost any given time you can walk in my house and my exquisite dining table is full...

of undergarments, computers or a plethora of other uninteresting things i could list. 

 

we used to spend at least one night a weekend with friends... yeah we don't make the invite anymore...

i used to enjoy lots of  grownup conversation over lunches with the ladies... not so often anymore...

i used to send notes of encouragement to people often... can't even find the note cards now...

why... because life has simply changed!

 

we have been home from our last trip to Brazil for almost 5 months...

 and we are just now beginning to adjust to our once again new normal...

which has truly just been hard!

 

this week was particularly tough .. the last 5 started school... and activies :)

and quite honestly i have to admit i have been feeling pretty overwhelmed and wimpy!

 

so Dad above orchestrated a sit down for he and i this morning... like for hours!

(the boys are at an out of town tournament...

the little girls are at a friends, as is the middle one... and the olders are upstairs with friends).

an i have to admit, i didn't know how bad i needed an attitude adjustment until i got up:)

 

so i was pouring my heart out to Him about "having joy" and He prompted me to look

back at my journal last year from the same day.... and here is what the first lines said,

 

"If you are making excuses for why you are not experiencing an abundant joyful life,

determine today to settle for nothing less than God's best for your life.  Stop

following the world's way of finding satisfaction.  Instead listen to the Saviors voice and you

will find true fulfillment."  Exp God

 

uggggh!  it hit me right in the heart of my feelings! i was whining again!

i literally could hear Him speaking all around me...

which in layman terms would sound something like this...

"LeAnn don't focus on your feelings, they are way overrated...

focus on what i am filling you up with.  Abide in me and i will give you joy.

The world doesn't feed you, i do... lean into me, i will give you rest!"

Just what i needed to hear!! 

 

it never ceases to amaze me that, no matter how whiny or selfish i am being...

 i serve a heavenly daddy that will meet me right where i am and give me an

opportunity to get my heart and obedience back on track! 

 

so with a heart full of gratitude and no longer wimpy feelings...

i can say loudly and proudly life is an incredible adventure right now...

not one day looks the same!!

 

when i can't seem to find my "happy" i will do just as the Lord instructed me this morning...

I WILL REMEMBER...

 

that God has blessed us with the gift of family, friends and laughter!!

 

 

that so many do without daily! Be thankful!!

 

that love is priceless,  so many would give anything to have what we have!!

 



 

We are blessed beyond what we deserve!! (dogs and all!)

 

 

when i'm tempted to whine about being overwhelmed, challenged or exhausted...

 i will choose instead to REMEMBER!

 

God's aware and got this! 

He tolds you and i friend in the palm of His hand.

Maybe today is a great day for you to hit memory lane too!

 

don't let the world tell you that FEELINGS are what we should act out on...

instead trust in the Lords FILLING!

He will provide for you if only you will choose today to

BE STILL AND ABIDE IN HIM!

 

 

great is thy faithfulness

its been weird being off social media for an entire month...

and incredible all at the same time :)

 

 i will give you a give you a quick peek of the month...

 

the kids all went to various camps...

(maddie and gracie at camp maranatha)

 

(chloe and erik at willowbrook live camp)

(scott turned 30... yet again!)



(the pool was always full)

(we made new forever friends...... 





the krells sasha from ukraine)



(gracie braved a dental emergency...)

(dr. sonya's work is unbelievable)

this month has been chalked full of alot of heightened emotions,

as school decisions have had to be made...

so...

this is our first year to deal with college (money... :)...

we will have a senior being homeschooled...

we will have a freshman in private school...

we will have 4 middle schoolers and 1elemenatry schooler in public...

we are all over the place... but we believe this is a good plan!

i can't believe summer is coming to an end!

i always enter into the month of august with mixed emotions...

sadness that summer is over, but gladness to be returning to a routine.

everything i have shared of the last month is dear to my heart



but one thing stands out above them all... God's faithfulness!

 

3 1/2 years ago God called us to an unbelievable journey.

One that would cross our paths with a remarkable young man...

 

 

one i knew was my son from the moment we met!

 

a young man filled to the brim with:

 anger, frustration, confusion, questions and loads of doubts. 

 

our journey has been full of ups and downs, highs and lows

and lots of tears... but God has stuck so close through it all.

He has proven Himself as...

a faithful force in my doubts...

a strong presence in my weakness...

a stern voice in my whining...

a quick hand of discipline in my lack of trust...

and one that never leaves.   

and we've expressed this truth to erik again and again!

 

while our unit of 10 is far from perfect... we remain together!

we absolutely believe in following Jesus at all cost,

and we care nothing about what others say or think about it.

 

this truth used to rub erik a little raw,

but now has become his way of thinking too...

So...

it is with utmost pleasure that i share that

HE TOO has joined the KINGDOM OF ONE...

GOD THE FATHERS!!

 

 

i don't know where the storyline goes from here,

but you could not have made me believe...

way back then, that it would have made its way here...

GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!

 

can i just encourage you...

DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE ONE... GOD DOESN'T...

HIS FAITHFULNESS WILL SEE YOU THROUGH!