Katie Davis, (a remarkable young, single woman who has now adopted 14 daughters in Uganda) in her book "Kisses From Katie" says it best...if you feel convicted, please go to www.amazima.org and help in any way you can....become an advocate for adoption, adopt one or several precious children into your loving home, pray for the orphans of this world and how you can help, or give of your financial resources to bless those who are being the hands of feet of Jesus and/or waiting to bring their babies home...
"Today, about a year after naming this ministry AMAZIMA, I stand in awe of the truth with which God has presented me. In Uganda, I strive to teach my children and all children in our program and in our villages "the truth" of Christ. I know I cannot walk into a village and tell a child that Jesus loves her. She cannont comprehend that because, chances are, she has never been loved. I have to feed her, clothe her, care for her, and love her unconditionally as I tell her that I love her. Once she can understand and see my love, I can begin to tell her about a savior who loves her even more. That is the truth for these children-that they are loved, that they are valuable, that they will not be left as orphans but that they have a plan and a hope for the future. What a beautiful truth.
I have a young friend named Maria. The truth is that Maria had never had a bath before I took her home and gave her one. The truth is that Maria is sent from her home in the slum outside of Jinja to beg on the streets for food, and no one in Uganda wants to touch her or help her or cares that she is sick. The truth is that Maria is just like you or me. A person. Real. A child of the King.
Meet Rose and Brenda. The truth is that they are orphans. Abandoned and living in an orphanage. Now two of 143 million. The truth is that when they go to bed at night no one tucks their blankets in around them and kisses their foreheads. The truth is that when they woke up, frightened, in the dark, no one runs to comfort them. The truth is that due to someone else's carelessness, Brenda will die of AIDS.
Meet David and Bashir. The truth is that these precious little boys were child soldiers, abducted, sold as property, and forced to kill. Now that the war is winding down, they are not permitted back in their villages because they are seen as traitors, so they beg on the streets.
And the truth is that these are only the children I know, in a very small fraction of the very small country. The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, dying, unloved, and uncared for.
The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left.
This is the Truth. I have the freedom to believe it. The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it. The truth is that He loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible."
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Holiday Letter...
Well, here we are again and another year has past. Thought I would share with you a few things just to say that I did...
Michael is still dashingly handsome and takes home the best husband award for yet another year. He is still working his tail off saving lives and, in my opinion, is only missing his cape when he heads out the door. He has his financial excel spreadsheet memorized like no other. He still loves playing online poker and the great news is, since he manages when and for how long he plays, it no longer ruins our everyday existence as a married couple....progress! :) He got a new truck after sixteen years and it makes him so much hotter...I don't care what you think of me for saying that...it just does. He can still lay down some mean dance moves and makes us all laugh with his quick wit, wink and sideways grin. He is a celebrity in our home for his loyalty to us, his tireless sacrifices to provide for us and be intentional and directed in loving each one of us. He is still the love of my life and the best gift God has ever given me. You're gonna want to punch me for saying it but I love him more and more each year...it's true.
I am still doing...blah, blah, blah...okay...let me think here. Hmmm, I am still a ROCK STAR in my own home. Everyone wants me. Everyone needs me. Everyone looks to me to meet their every need. Yeah, that's how we roll. My role effects my home and the people I love most, eternally. It's big people. It isn't just eating bon bons and, I love it! I wouldn't have it any other way...even when I'm woken up at 4 a.m. with my son peeing on my back while he spoons me. I am still a pampered, doctors wife but I have four children under seven, homeschool and keep my house pretty straightened so I can't be all THAT bad. right? I am still doing whatever I can to make my hubby feel like the most cherished man on earth. I started a blog! And about ten people read it and I am having fun forcing people to listen to my thoughts. Working on a project about my past to share my testimony with others...I am excited for what the future holds...stay tuned.
Jaren is the smartest, most capable seven year old to walk the earth and she is involved in every program that they will let us put her in...ok, so maybe not but she IS still my FAVORITE daughter. She is still a 40 year old in a seven year olds body. She is still my right-hand gal and she still shows absolutely no fear at every piano recital which blows me away since I once panicked and had to be shoved with incredible force onto the stage...not that I am still holding onto that or anything MOTHER. She is reading a 350 page book right now, multiplying and can recite whole psalms of scripture so we must be doing something right with this whole homeschool thing. More importantly, she is the lead instigator in our nightly family dance-offs and an incredibly loving big sister. Last night we had some girl time where she and I put Barbie make-up on and the results were slightly frightening. She has a servants heart and a heart for others in need. We are very, very proud of her but constantly tell her that even if she were completely stupid and untalented, we would love her just the same.
Gentry is looking more and more like Justin Bieber every day. I keep trying to claim some family resemblance with me but not many people want to give it to me. His smile still lights up my heart and any room. He is still sensitive and loyal and gentle and tender-hearted. He did absolutely nothing this past year except play, play and play some more....and we did that on purpose. He adores his little brother Ransom and has always had a special way with little ones. Ransom and him can often be found giving eachother hugs. He's working on phonics and learning to read, when we aren't snuggling, eating dinner and meals around the family table, reading aloud, giggling and dancing. His favorite word right now is BUTT. His smile also proceeds some sort of silly mischief against one of his siblings. He can ride a bicycle with training wheels like nobody's business. Gentry brings tenderness and love to our home. We adore him. He is often known for stopping what he's doing to come over and hug my legs and tell me, "Mom, I love you so much. You are the best Mommy in the world. I am so glad you are my Mommy." He is getting more in the will.
Easton is bringing me closer to Jesus each and every day...ok, so maybe that's not COMPLETELY true these days...he turned four which has always been a big breath of fresh air in our home with our children...it's the magical birthday. The world is his stage and we his audience. He makes us giggle every day. He gives me all sorts of things to pray about. He gives me all sorts of blog ideas. I learned this year that God has given me three boys to humble me. I learned that the majority of my frustrations with mothering Easton had to do with me and not this precious and silly and wonderful little boy. He survived a complex pneumonia VATS surgery in September which we are very thankful for. There were multiple times when the medical staff where surprised by his progress but we were not...we know prayer works! He is finally getting his weight back on. We are pretty sure he will be completely potty-trained when he is ten. He hasn't learned much this year either...except how to play a lot, use his imagination, obey better, clean up after himself, use appropriate language and love his siblings. We did that on purpose as well. Easton makes our home a fun one. Our house wouldn't be nearly as wonderful without him in it.
Ransom is...well, have any of you SPENT any time with him? I am slightly biased but he is delightful. Delicious. A bright light in our home. Adorable. He still poops in his diaper but we are giving him some grace, afterall, he is only 19 months. He loves to roam the house and giggle at Easton's antics. He can often be found standing on my kitchen table. He was caught last night standing on my kitchen island after he pulled our bench over to it....hmmm... He has started getting a bit of an attitude and hitting others...something I saw in my other children at age 15 m. so I was kinda hoping THIS one DIDN'T get the sin gene. He has started that whole..."Look Mom, I don't think you GET it?! I am WALKING now. YOU can't tell ME what to do. I rule this world." Ah-hem. We get to look forward to training this one out of the self-entitlement mentality as well. He has gotten more of my peace and delight than the other children did...so many life circumstances are different now. There are times when I am sad to put him to bed because that means I won't see him for awhile. My cup runneth over with this delightful child....with each of them.
The other day, Daddy-o came in late from work and woke me up on accident...Jaren had a bad dream and wanted to sleep on our floor...Easton crawled in bed on one side of me to snuggle at 7 a.m. and then Gentry followed close behind and curled up on the other side of me. Both boys wanted me to scratch their backs. There was a time when I was too selfish, weary and exhausted to think of any of that as anything but an inconvenience to me. There are still moments when my mind rushes there...but I was so thankful that morning to stop and smell the roses and shed tears of gratitude...my cup runneth over in that moment and the peace our home is creating is so worth the training and hard work.
This past year, my dear friend Tami and I decided to be FIERCE! I am getting there. I have enjoyed several moments of it. I am learning to lay down a ton of my own made-up voices and believe God's truths. They have brought peace and freedom like nothing else ever will. I am thankful. I am spoiled. I am blessed.
My family and I pray you are laughing, delighting in your children if you have them, cherishing and honoring your spouse if you have one and feeling the peace of Christ in your heart.
With all sorts of love,
Annette and the family
Michael is still dashingly handsome and takes home the best husband award for yet another year. He is still working his tail off saving lives and, in my opinion, is only missing his cape when he heads out the door. He has his financial excel spreadsheet memorized like no other. He still loves playing online poker and the great news is, since he manages when and for how long he plays, it no longer ruins our everyday existence as a married couple....progress! :) He got a new truck after sixteen years and it makes him so much hotter...I don't care what you think of me for saying that...it just does. He can still lay down some mean dance moves and makes us all laugh with his quick wit, wink and sideways grin. He is a celebrity in our home for his loyalty to us, his tireless sacrifices to provide for us and be intentional and directed in loving each one of us. He is still the love of my life and the best gift God has ever given me. You're gonna want to punch me for saying it but I love him more and more each year...it's true.
I am still doing...blah, blah, blah...okay...let me think here. Hmmm, I am still a ROCK STAR in my own home. Everyone wants me. Everyone needs me. Everyone looks to me to meet their every need. Yeah, that's how we roll. My role effects my home and the people I love most, eternally. It's big people. It isn't just eating bon bons and, I love it! I wouldn't have it any other way...even when I'm woken up at 4 a.m. with my son peeing on my back while he spoons me. I am still a pampered, doctors wife but I have four children under seven, homeschool and keep my house pretty straightened so I can't be all THAT bad. right? I am still doing whatever I can to make my hubby feel like the most cherished man on earth. I started a blog! And about ten people read it and I am having fun forcing people to listen to my thoughts. Working on a project about my past to share my testimony with others...I am excited for what the future holds...stay tuned.
Jaren is the smartest, most capable seven year old to walk the earth and she is involved in every program that they will let us put her in...ok, so maybe not but she IS still my FAVORITE daughter. She is still a 40 year old in a seven year olds body. She is still my right-hand gal and she still shows absolutely no fear at every piano recital which blows me away since I once panicked and had to be shoved with incredible force onto the stage...not that I am still holding onto that or anything MOTHER. She is reading a 350 page book right now, multiplying and can recite whole psalms of scripture so we must be doing something right with this whole homeschool thing. More importantly, she is the lead instigator in our nightly family dance-offs and an incredibly loving big sister. Last night we had some girl time where she and I put Barbie make-up on and the results were slightly frightening. She has a servants heart and a heart for others in need. We are very, very proud of her but constantly tell her that even if she were completely stupid and untalented, we would love her just the same.
Gentry is looking more and more like Justin Bieber every day. I keep trying to claim some family resemblance with me but not many people want to give it to me. His smile still lights up my heart and any room. He is still sensitive and loyal and gentle and tender-hearted. He did absolutely nothing this past year except play, play and play some more....and we did that on purpose. He adores his little brother Ransom and has always had a special way with little ones. Ransom and him can often be found giving eachother hugs. He's working on phonics and learning to read, when we aren't snuggling, eating dinner and meals around the family table, reading aloud, giggling and dancing. His favorite word right now is BUTT. His smile also proceeds some sort of silly mischief against one of his siblings. He can ride a bicycle with training wheels like nobody's business. Gentry brings tenderness and love to our home. We adore him. He is often known for stopping what he's doing to come over and hug my legs and tell me, "Mom, I love you so much. You are the best Mommy in the world. I am so glad you are my Mommy." He is getting more in the will.
Easton is bringing me closer to Jesus each and every day...ok, so maybe that's not COMPLETELY true these days...he turned four which has always been a big breath of fresh air in our home with our children...it's the magical birthday. The world is his stage and we his audience. He makes us giggle every day. He gives me all sorts of things to pray about. He gives me all sorts of blog ideas. I learned this year that God has given me three boys to humble me. I learned that the majority of my frustrations with mothering Easton had to do with me and not this precious and silly and wonderful little boy. He survived a complex pneumonia VATS surgery in September which we are very thankful for. There were multiple times when the medical staff where surprised by his progress but we were not...we know prayer works! He is finally getting his weight back on. We are pretty sure he will be completely potty-trained when he is ten. He hasn't learned much this year either...except how to play a lot, use his imagination, obey better, clean up after himself, use appropriate language and love his siblings. We did that on purpose as well. Easton makes our home a fun one. Our house wouldn't be nearly as wonderful without him in it.
Ransom is...well, have any of you SPENT any time with him? I am slightly biased but he is delightful. Delicious. A bright light in our home. Adorable. He still poops in his diaper but we are giving him some grace, afterall, he is only 19 months. He loves to roam the house and giggle at Easton's antics. He can often be found standing on my kitchen table. He was caught last night standing on my kitchen island after he pulled our bench over to it....hmmm... He has started getting a bit of an attitude and hitting others...something I saw in my other children at age 15 m. so I was kinda hoping THIS one DIDN'T get the sin gene. He has started that whole..."Look Mom, I don't think you GET it?! I am WALKING now. YOU can't tell ME what to do. I rule this world." Ah-hem. We get to look forward to training this one out of the self-entitlement mentality as well. He has gotten more of my peace and delight than the other children did...so many life circumstances are different now. There are times when I am sad to put him to bed because that means I won't see him for awhile. My cup runneth over with this delightful child....with each of them.
The other day, Daddy-o came in late from work and woke me up on accident...Jaren had a bad dream and wanted to sleep on our floor...Easton crawled in bed on one side of me to snuggle at 7 a.m. and then Gentry followed close behind and curled up on the other side of me. Both boys wanted me to scratch their backs. There was a time when I was too selfish, weary and exhausted to think of any of that as anything but an inconvenience to me. There are still moments when my mind rushes there...but I was so thankful that morning to stop and smell the roses and shed tears of gratitude...my cup runneth over in that moment and the peace our home is creating is so worth the training and hard work.
This past year, my dear friend Tami and I decided to be FIERCE! I am getting there. I have enjoyed several moments of it. I am learning to lay down a ton of my own made-up voices and believe God's truths. They have brought peace and freedom like nothing else ever will. I am thankful. I am spoiled. I am blessed.
My family and I pray you are laughing, delighting in your children if you have them, cherishing and honoring your spouse if you have one and feeling the peace of Christ in your heart.
With all sorts of love,
Annette and the family
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Christmas Crazy...
Alright people...I love Christmas about as much as anyone I know, and the kids and I are feeling it. We are having dance-offs to every holiday station we can find right now. We are finally enjoying that it's dark at 4:45 p.m. because when we are out and about, we can spot Christmas lights. We even had hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and candy canes, we have even decorated and sipped on some eggnog...
BUT, I am also finding myself being sucked in to the vortex of Elf on a Shelf, The Advent Calendar and the latest...The Light them Up Service Project Calendar. Last week, I got an incredible video from a family...where instead of doing a holiday card, they made a five-minute video of their last year. It was sensational and you know who you are. I LOVED it. It's just that all these things have bombarded me with a whole different level of standards for us mommy's and my spirit is so unsettled with it. If you love it, go for it. If you find joy from it...great. If you're kids learn service from it? Who the heck am I to frown upon it? It's just that I feel the need to be able to do all of them too...simultaneously. I know, I am a dork.
Am I known for having too high standards of myself? Yep.
Am I known for trying to do everything others are doing? Yep.
Am I known for trying to have everything done picture perfect? Yep.
Am I known for thinking that if others are doing it, I should be able to pull it off too? Even though my circumstances are totally different than theirs? Check.
So...you can see my dilemma. Thank God I have people in my life who can snap me back to truth. Thank God for his word. Thank God for prayer. Thank God I can right myself again and remind myself to take a deep breath and chill out. Each of the things listed above are great things in and of themselves...it's just that combined, they add up to too much.
And I can't help thinking that in all of it, we are raising the standards higher and higher for ourselves as mothers. What ever happened to the days when you were a great Mom simply because you baked some cookies, served a few people in need in some discreet way and poured some eggnog for your kids a few times? I can't help thinking we are shooting ourselves in the foot ladies. And, I am sure I will get on another soapbox soon about how every time I turn around...there is another rule about TV being from the devil or anything that isn't organic being toxic or trick or treating being a terrible choice for my children...at some point it becomes my deal and I have to choose to create my home the way I choose with the principles I believe in...if only I could lay down that burden and need for approval that I have in me...lay it down 24/7 and never, ever face it again. :)
Or maybe I am the only one who does a mental freak out when I'm given another blog to read about the next list of ways you too can be an amazing christian mother if you too do this next thing...it's all with great intention. It's all with a great purpose in mind but I tend to read all of them and panic. Maybe it's just down here in the bible belt...
So, today I have decided to lay all that down and choose to be peacefully content with doing what I have always done. It's enough. It's loving and full of service and godly...but I am avoiding the checklists. Big sigh. Now, I just need your prayers that I won't pick that back up in an hour. :)
Maybe the next best thing might be to turn off my computer for the next month!? :)
With love and in need of a Saviour,
Annette
BUT, I am also finding myself being sucked in to the vortex of Elf on a Shelf, The Advent Calendar and the latest...The Light them Up Service Project Calendar. Last week, I got an incredible video from a family...where instead of doing a holiday card, they made a five-minute video of their last year. It was sensational and you know who you are. I LOVED it. It's just that all these things have bombarded me with a whole different level of standards for us mommy's and my spirit is so unsettled with it. If you love it, go for it. If you find joy from it...great. If you're kids learn service from it? Who the heck am I to frown upon it? It's just that I feel the need to be able to do all of them too...simultaneously. I know, I am a dork.
Am I known for having too high standards of myself? Yep.
Am I known for trying to do everything others are doing? Yep.
Am I known for trying to have everything done picture perfect? Yep.
Am I known for thinking that if others are doing it, I should be able to pull it off too? Even though my circumstances are totally different than theirs? Check.
So...you can see my dilemma. Thank God I have people in my life who can snap me back to truth. Thank God for his word. Thank God for prayer. Thank God I can right myself again and remind myself to take a deep breath and chill out. Each of the things listed above are great things in and of themselves...it's just that combined, they add up to too much.
And I can't help thinking that in all of it, we are raising the standards higher and higher for ourselves as mothers. What ever happened to the days when you were a great Mom simply because you baked some cookies, served a few people in need in some discreet way and poured some eggnog for your kids a few times? I can't help thinking we are shooting ourselves in the foot ladies. And, I am sure I will get on another soapbox soon about how every time I turn around...there is another rule about TV being from the devil or anything that isn't organic being toxic or trick or treating being a terrible choice for my children...at some point it becomes my deal and I have to choose to create my home the way I choose with the principles I believe in...if only I could lay down that burden and need for approval that I have in me...lay it down 24/7 and never, ever face it again. :)
Or maybe I am the only one who does a mental freak out when I'm given another blog to read about the next list of ways you too can be an amazing christian mother if you too do this next thing...it's all with great intention. It's all with a great purpose in mind but I tend to read all of them and panic. Maybe it's just down here in the bible belt...
So, today I have decided to lay all that down and choose to be peacefully content with doing what I have always done. It's enough. It's loving and full of service and godly...but I am avoiding the checklists. Big sigh. Now, I just need your prayers that I won't pick that back up in an hour. :)
Maybe the next best thing might be to turn off my computer for the next month!? :)
With love and in need of a Saviour,
Annette
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