do you talk out of both sides of your mouth?

God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible ~ what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves. ~ AW Tozer

Buckle in.  I think this post has been brewing in my heart for awhile, & when I was reminded of this quote by A.W. Tozer (thank you, facebook), it was the catalyst to birth this baby.

I find so much courage, encouragement, & challenge in this one brief quote.  It is powerful.  It is truth.  How many times have *I* had plans all worked out?  Yes, control freak.  But then, I learned surrender.  And then, *gasp* what a leap of faith looks like.  It looks like God using a completely inadequate human being (insert picture of my face) that was simply willing to say, "Yes, Lord, I trust you.  Yes, Lord, I'll follow you.  Yes, Lord, I believe YOU created me, therefore these things that I am passionate about are from you.  I know I can't do it by myself, but if You say go, I will go." 

Easy?  Nope.  Don't think for a minute that it was like flipping a light switch, & I was on my way.  I've come to determine that it is a daily wrestling match of control vs. surrender.  Of listening vs. making a bunch of noise.  However, I know that I know that I know that He does do the impossible through the least likely of people.  There is story after story in the bible of Him using the least likely of people so that He can be glorified.  And it doesn't stop there.  It continues on in history through this very day where He has used people to go outside of the lovely boxes we like to construct.  Think about it.  What movies tend to be the most popular?  The ones where the least likely person overcomes this world's definition of who should be able to do what.  He overcomes.

As I try every day to gain a better understanding of exactly who God is, I find that one of our biggest stumbling blocks are other human beings, including those that are Christians.  I reposted this A.W. Tozer quote on FB, & if you saw it, you would also have seen that I added a bit of my personal feelings to it:

. . . what I might add is what a pity when people try to decide what others can & can't do instead of cheering them on in the way the Lord created them to be.

I said "what a pity" in reference to the quote.  What I really feel is that it ticks me off.  There.  I said it.  And I'm not just talking about adoption related things here.  I'm talking about any time someone doesn't fit into the mold that people seem to clutch onto like a security blanket.  We become uncomfortable with what we have created as gospel, so we throw out criticism, we question, we doubt.  Christians are some of the worst offenders, & it ain't pretty.

They can't possibly handle that.

They don't know the 'right' people.

They dream too big.

They aren't the right size, shape, etc.

They don't have the resources.

What are they thinking?

That doesn't make any sense.

The list goes on.  See yourself in any of those, be it on the giving or receiving end?  I'm sad to say there have been times I've done the eyeroll & shake of the head wondering what in the world.  But really, who am I? 

Exactly.  Who am I?  I am not Him.  He is the One that has a plan for everyone's life, and my job is not to be saying out of one side of my mouth that I believe in Him, but then spew out of the other side of my mouth discouragement & doubt when He chooses the least likely person/people to adopt children, be a missionary in an impoverished land, be the catalyst for a community outreach, be an Olympic athlete with no legs, be a leader in their middle school/high school/community, be a world changer with one act of kindness at a time....  If I am critical of someone following the passions God has given them, I'm basically criticizing God.

People, we've got to get uncomfortable in this life.  Instead of finding comfort in everybody fitting into a neat & tidy picture of some worldly definition of normal & acceptable, I want to cheer on the underdog.  I want to look at people through a different lens.  I want to see people that are being courageous enough to step into who God has created them to be & then be in the front row rooting them on.

Because if I am rooting them on, I am really saying, "Go God!"

my firstborn

I must apologize that I've been a bit MIA, but what better way to reenter into blogland than with a birthday post!?!

Yesterday, we got to celebrate Miss Kaelee Morgan.  She has had quite a year with student teaching in Hilton Head, SC, coaching cheerleading, working, & being a super-awesome big sister.  This next year promises to be just as full & exciting as she graduates in December.  By this time next year, we may very well be celebrating her birthday long distance style. *sniff*

But this year, we got to have dinner & family time together, which is a-okay with me!

I may or may not have used a garbage bag & plastic tablecloth leftover from a grad party as wrapping paper.  I'm just tacky cool like that.

Kaya & K'Tyo think birthdays are da bomb.  They worked all day long on cards that they then fold just so so that they can put some "goodies" inside.  It's truly a surprise to see what kind of treasures they find!

My ever practical daughter asked for a blender & crock pot for her apartment. 

Kemeri is not sure what to make of all this birthday fuss.  We've had 2 so far, & she hasn't been real interested.  Something tells me that when Kendi turns 2 in October, she may have a different take.  She did come over & try out spitting all over a corner of the dessert blowing out candles.

Kaelee Morgan, we love you & pray many blessings over this coming year!  Can't wait to see what God has in store for you!! XO

picture overload!

I know, finally, right?  Not sure how the days go by so quick, but here are the pictures we had taken while on vacation.  A lot of pictures.  I used to get so uptight about getting pictures with everybody smiling, looking in one direction...ha.  I actually love these pictures b/c it's where we're at right now.  We have one little one (Kemeri) that had never, ever seen the sand before, so she just wasn't real sure she thought much of it.  And Kendi's scowl in most of the pictures just makes me giggle.  She is not impressed with the person that has her "boo bunny", waving it around trying to get her to smile.  And of course, there's all the moments in between poses that we need to get our feet wet, play in the sand, or just silly around for a few.  It was all good. :o)

Quick story about the next picture...I cannot afford to buy outfits for everybody just for pictures, so we always try to utilize basics that we already have.  I did all the packing & made sure everybody had something, but had one of those "uh-oh" moments when we got to HHI.  Somehow, I left Kaya's white tank top behind (Joe:  "Gee, that's not like you."  Thanks, honey, I know...lol).  Anyway, there was no time to go to the store, so I started digging.  All I could find was her white tank top with a very sparkly hot pink heart on it, but it would have to do (again, I'm learning not to stress about it, but forget about it).  When we got the pictures back, the first thing Joe said was, "Look where Kaya is in this picture."  We literally grabbed hands for this picture, & there she is...with "the heart" right in the center of our family. :o)

Yep, we still kiss in front of the children, & they still react the same as they always have!