Moving

SO,  I am not moving in the sense of moving out of my house.

I am  moving blogs.

Why?

I'm glad you asked.

Because I really DO NOT want to move, but this particular blog won't let me post pictures any more.  Oh wait, they will but I have to pay a monthly fee.

Um. no.

So...if for some reason you are readig this blog, and would like to continue, go HERE.

Of course, it could be that I am talking to that one person out there who still stops by here.  Still...

See you on the flip side.

Today is election day.  And quite frankly, I am tired of the commercials.  The crazy part is...we don't even watch tv.  :P

I won't try to change your mind.  I can only trust it is not an emotional decision;  or a stubborn prideful one.

Just, truly... who is the best man for the job.

Nope, I'm not going to talk about the elections today.

Instead, today I really want to talk about marriage.

I heard through the grapevine that Lisa Whelchel got a divorce.

sheesh.

I find that insulting and aggravating.

And quite frankly, she needs to get out of the spot light and let someone else pick up the mantle of grace, faithfulness, holiness.

It wasn't like he was beating her,  cheating on her, threatening to kill her.  Or even stopped loving her.

I guess after  24 years of marriage, and the life she spoke about in HIM was a joke...it as time to move on, be free.

Someone needed to go over to her house and slap her.

See.. as a Christian, your life...well it is totally NOT about you.  It is about HIM.

Do you not think there haven't been decades in my life when divorce didn't just look good, but seemed like the only solution??!!?
Do you think marriage is easy? fun? romantic? a perfect partnership? running through the woods hand in hand?

OK fine there are moments like that.

But there are also moments when you realized just how selfish you are, and I am not going to lie,  your spouse is the best person to blame for all your problems.

Marriage is not about what you can get out of it. It is not about feelings.  It is not about not dying alone.  It is not about doing the next thing in the time frame of life.  It certainly is not about getting our needs met.

It is about love.

Though the looking-lovingly-into-each-other's-eyes, not-being able-to-feel-complete-until-we-are-together-again, I-can-conquer-the-world-as-long-as-you-are-by-my-side, etc. kind of love is what usually gets you to the altar...


It is the knock out, dragged out, tired, painful, exasperated, angry, cry your eyes out,  quiet, loud, hurt, feeling hopeless but still holding on, trusting it will eventually become better though you seriously can't imagine it, clinging to The Cross because Jesus is all you have, and  you realize HE is all you need kind of love that will pull you through.

Marriage is a commitment.  No vacations, no get out of jail free cards, no do overs, no oopsies.

It is for life.  It is until death.

I have heard "  We made a mistake. We were young and didn't know each other very well. We just grew part.  S/he is a butt. We were not Christians when we got married.  I didn't know what I was doing.  S/he wasn't The One.'       You say the excuse, I have heard it.  Sometimes in my own head.

All I can say is..there is a problem?  Well doggone it, grab your cross, get your big boy/big girl panties on and deal with it, work it out and fix it.

Mind you, I was 17 years old when I got married. Still in high school.  To a guy I 'knew' for 5 months. Neither one of us were Christians.  Nothing in common. Different cultures. Different visions.

BUT...

Almost 28 years ago, I made a vow.

And that vow has had its moments when it about killed me with sorrow/anger.

I bet this time next week, I will again think divorce is the answer to all my problems.  Again.

I am no saint.

But you now what?

HE IS GOD.

And THAT is all that matters.

THAT will pull me through.

THAT will help me love my husband to distraction, when I would rather despise him.

THAT will give me the hope, that pin hole of light I need to take the next step in those moment when I don't want to or have the strength.

Because at the end of the day, how I lived it out for HIM is all that will matter.  Marriage was HIS idea.

And boy does HE hate divorce.

So, Lisa Whelchel, and all those 'christians' in the spot light who thought divorce was an option, please stop talking.  Please go figure out your life, your faith, your future in HIM.

Again, I am not talking the situations were violence, genuine fear for your life or pure evil exists in the marriage.  That is a totally different situation.

And please don't think my marriage is the pits.  Yes, it has pits moments. More than I care to admit or think about.  But we also have wonderful glorious, peaceful, supportive, fun, full of joy and laughter, discovery and awe moments.

It is called marriage.

GOD is good.

I am appalled at my ignorance.

Anyway, the education continues.

Moving on... elections are right around the corner!!  Both candidates leave so much to be desired.  But I now in it all, GOD is still supreme.  so if by chance our present president gets re-elected and I feel like panicking and throwing up, I will remember this truth, and move on.

We have 3 birthdays in 4 days this month!!  Because to spread the out would not be as much fun.  lol.  My son and my son in law are 2 days apart.  Seriously...his mom &I were pregnant at the self same time!!! Weird, in  cool kind of way.  And now my future daughter in law's birthday is the day before my son!!!




So, after 5 months, this vegan this is still not cool.  At least now I know what I am doing, and I can feed the man.

But seriously, it doesn't stop it from being the pits.   :P

And going out to eat..not so much fun.  We basically have 2  or 3 places to pick from, and THAT is also the pits, living here in Jersey where we have access to authentic food from EVERYWHERE!!!


sheesh.

OK, I will stop complaining.

The girls are now real sisters.  Getting into fights and giving each other the stare down; and then 2 minutes later skipping/laughing/playing together like best friends.

GOD is good.

And beautiful boy?  Amazingly enough, he gets more beautiful everyday. Seems impossible, but it s true!

Ok, off to make vegan cookies.  Which HEY, everyone seems to like.  Most don't even realize they are vegan.  lol.

I keep forgetting.

Tonight, Samuel took a science test.  It came with the curriculum.  Truly, it is the first time he took one of these tests.  Usually he takes a math test, which is work it out; or an essay tests.  Or tests that I make up because the test from the book was too easy.

But tonight, I let him take the  test that came with the curiculum.

He looked at it and asked, " Wait, how do you do this?"

He has never seen a 'match it' test.  When I explained it to him, he burst out laughing.  He couldn't believe it!  He was so happy.  He was almost giddy and ran to take it  before I changed my mind and made up a new test.

I don't have the heart to tell him just how many kids take these test all the time.

I will let him enjoy this moment.

And guess what?  We got to see Live with Kelly & Michael!!

I want to go again.  It as super cool and great fun.  We need to take April with us next time.

And speaking of April, she had her bridal shower this past Saturday.  It was lovely.  Seriously, it was in her backyard, and her backyard is dreamy.  Her momma is  talented gardener, and I WISH I had 1/10 of her talent or patience.

She is beautiful, my future daughter-in-law.  Don't you think?  Not only is she this pretty, but she has a heart of gold, and she loves my son.

Which makes her perfect.

The bridal party.  

Yes, that is my daughter, the only brunette.  lol

<3 p="p">

OK, I need to go back to the game.  

Giants are winning.  life is good.

And GOD is great.

Horrible. Horrible.  horrible.

The embassy attacks are just awful.

I was listening to talk radio.

( Have I mentiond I love talk radio?  I have?  Many times?  sorry.)

I find it irritatingly pathetic how most of the media has Romney's opinion on what he would have done and how he would have failed.

Um. HELLO??!!??!

How come no one is asking Pres. Obama, "WHAT THE HELL HAPENED??!!??!"

Exuse my French.

Isn't he in office RIGHT NOW?

Why is he not anwering the hard questions?

Maybe I am expecting too much.

I mean, he is our president.  He is very busy.

Campaigning.

Too busy going on David Letterman.

Too busy going to Beyonce's fundraising party to go meet with a world leader.

Life is tough.

Allow me to state, I am not a Romney fan.

I may  have to write in a name on election day.

Because right now, Mickey Mouse is looking pretty good.

I jest, of course.  I will not write MM's name in.

Moving on.

Chrisitian started Sunday  School.  I stay with her.  Bonding.  :D

Check out the picture!   <3 p="p">

My happy girl learning about Jesus.

Life is good.

The 2 of them paying attention to the Bible story.

In the end, what will matter more is that these chidren, the ones HE gave us to raise, walk in HIS way, trust in HIS will, live out HIS heart, and at the end, hear "Well done my good and faithfull servant."

Then we will have lived a good life.

<3 .="." p="p">

And now, off to the next thing.

Which is NOT a nap.  :::sigh:::

I fell asleep

I know it has been a while since I have been here.

I am pretty ok with that.

See, sometimes I think, I will blog tonight, and then tonight came,  and I fell asleep.

I forgot how having little ones is mentally exhausting, and I am way older now.

But I love it.   :D

Elly & Christian are inseparable.

Even after  almost a month.  Yes, they have their moments, but for the most part...

And how do they love being twins??!!?

School started.  I  have an 8th grader and 1st grader and Kindergartner.  I had not planned on the K.   I thought we would have 3 year old fun.  Not so much.  But having homeschooled for a little while now, I can adjust.  Well, let me rephrase that, we will all adjust.


Our K.  She wanted their Bible to sit with her.

First grade looks so good.  And she has developed an odd attachment to the crocodile.

Made him take a picture, too.  8th grade will kill us or make us.  I am praying for the 'make'.

Our homeschool 2012-2013

Little sisters attack.

Loads of work this year.

Now if we could only we finish every. last. page. 

On another note, my future daughter in law's bridal shower is less than a week and a half away!!!!

I am getting quite excited.

She is a lovely girl, and as much as I love my first born, sometimes I think she is too good for him.  not in a mean way, but in a " Son, live a life that deserve her, always."

Anyway, I decided I am going to get a new dress for the shower.  I can't remember the last time I bought myself a new dress.  Not counting when our daughter got married.

Now if only I can find the time to go shopping.

I may have to pull out an old standby, and it will  be ok, I have lovely dresses.  But a new dress would be nice.

I can't leave without letting yous all know how much I love it that our grandson is 10 minutes away, now,  as opposed to  7 hours.  

have I mentioned...he is SO beautiful??!!??

HE gives and HE takes away

This is a hard post.

But not.

Yesterday, we picked up our daughter.

I am trying not to cry.  Right now our girls are in their room having a tea party.  Again.  They have yet to be more than 6 inches from each other.  They crack up, they run together, play together, they stare at each other while eating and start laughing from joy.

Which kind of makes me want to cry.

Again.

At the airport, we met the other couple who was also waiting for their daughter, the same chaperon was bringing both of them.

It is their first adoption.  They asked me if the transition is easy as they have heard.

I asked them who on earth told them that??!!??!!

It is the hardest, funnest, scariest, what-was-I-thinking, greatest, I-cant-imagine-life-without-them, I must be7 kinds of crazy, I need to hug them right NOW, I am exhausted, let me kiss that face one more time, kind of  experience.

But easy???

Heck no.

Seriously, parenting is not easy.  An adjusting to a new personality, culture, routine, trying to bond and a general getting used to, and on top of that you can't even communicate??

I don' think easy is the word I would use.

Christian is trying to adjust to the adults.  Not that she is having a hard time, but adjusting to Elly was a piece of cake.

And she is terrified of the animals.  Specially the dogs.   I told John, maybe the dogs in the Congo are crazy, mean, street dogs, and she was told to run when she saw one or she would be attacked.

Well, she RUNS let me tell you.

Meanwhile, the beagles hardly move.  :P  Elly keeps trying to show her the dogs couldn't care less if you sat on them and put your hand in their mouth.  They MIGHT open an eye.  Maybe.

Another situation, she just takes off outside.  Runs to the street without thought.

Oh dear one, you are not in Africa anymore.

GOD is good.



Today is my brother-in-law's birthday.

He would have been 50.

He was a gift of GOD kind of man.  We hardly had anything in common, except Jesus.  In fact, he was the one who introduced us to HIM.

Because of Peter, our lives were able to be radically changed by the KING of KINGS,  and our focus and goals changed.

And that common factor made us close.

It has been 16 years since he passed away.  There is not a week, some times it is not a day, that I don't think of him.

He truly was the brother I did not have.

I miss him, still.

Not gonna lie, even after 16 years, there are times I still cry over him not being here.  Sometimes it is a song, a scripture, a word, a thought that reminds me.  Sometime it is looking at who my children have become, are.  My children remember him through my memories.  Even Samuel who has never met him knows him well.

My little girls will know him.  How can I not give them those memories?  How can I not introduce them to the brother of my heart, who walked me to the cross and gave me LIFE? How can they not love him, too??!!?

And if I really think about it, they, my little girls are here because of him.  Years ago, he was the one who first asked us to consider adopting from China.  Long before foreign adoptions became 'common'.

we never forgot.

Happy Birthday my dear Brother.  My desire... for HIS sake, for their own sakes, and for your sake, Peter, is to raise my children to HIS glory.  One day, my children will run into your arms in heaven, and they will thank you for who you were to HIM, to me, and in turn to them.

And they will...Because HE lives.

Peter, you had many heartaches, joys, victories, pain and sorrows, and yet this reminds me of something you told me once, and it never left me:

There were ten lepers healed, and only one turned back to give thanks, but it is to be noticed that our Lord did not recall the gift from the other nine because of their lack of gratitude. When we begin to lessen our acts of kindness and helpfulness because we think those who receive do not properly appreciate what is done for them, it is time to question our own motives.   ~ Leaves of GOD