** This is also posted on our adoption blog**
I was surfing the internet tonight and I stumbled across an interesting project called the "Mocha Club". They are working to support Africans with HIV/AIDS by way of nourishing food, education, medical care and most importantly, sharing the love of Jesus Christ. I didn't spend enough time navigating their site to say whether or not I would endorse it- that would take more time than I have tonight. But there was a video on the site that moved me and shook me... there was a 14 year old woman with her baby who showed up to receive medical care for her baby, who was covered in sores from head to toe. When the representative asked her what the baby's name was, she told her. I don't remember the name, but I will remember the meaning for the rest of my life... the baby's name meant "NO HOPE". The woman asked the young mother why she gave her that name. The young mother responded, "I watched my mother die of AIDS. I will die of AIDS. She has no hope". Wow. Through subsequent visits to the clinic, the young mother was introduced to and accepted the truth of Jesus Christ. She renamed her baby Lelethu, which means "Jesus is our hope". I can't stop crying. According to this website, $7 can give 9 orphans 3 meals in one day, pay for 21 orphans housing for 1 day or gibe 7 Africans clean water for a year. I shudder to think I spent $6 today on lunch and a snack for Markus and I today while we were out running errands. I can't help but wonder if our baby is out there already, with a mother who is heartbroken thinking there is no hope for her baby. I can't help but wonder if our baby is hungry right now. Or in pain. Or cold. Or lonely. And I can't help but think that although I know we can transform and give the life giving hope of Jesus Christ to the baby that God has for us, there will be millions that will be left behind. And the enemy whispers in my ear that we can't make a difference, that our one baby out of the millions left behind isn't enough... and yet I know. I know that God is bigger than all these statistics. I know that God loves these babies. And I trust that He has a plan. But I still cry.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Our other blog
Please come and read as we journal through our latest adventure... international adoption!!!
www.markandkelsadoptionjourney.blogspot.com
www.markandkelsadoptionjourney.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Day with friends
On Tuesday Markus, Halle and I traveled to Kirkland to spend time with one of my bestest friends, Beck, and her little man Sam. We had an awesome day and Markus and Sam really played well together. Sam was in love with Halle Joy and got lots of practice being a big brother (he will be one come August).
Monday, July 14, 2008
Just diapers
It's been hot here this past week. I love when the babies can just wear their diapers all day. Halle Joy will kill me for this fantastic shot of her and all her roly-poly goodness when she is older.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Pics from the zoo
After walking around the zoo on Thursday, the sun was shining and the kiddos were hot, so into the sprinkler playground they went!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
My awesome boy
Just some funnies to record...
* We recently went to my neice's baptism at a Catholic church in Seattle. Upon seeing the lifesize Jesus on the cross, Markus leaned over and asked "Who's that guy?". I responded, "That's Jesus". Markus' response... "Jesus has owies!".
* Markus was fascinated with the font at the church where the girls were baptized (at one point I thought he was going to dive in). The next morning, as we headed to our church, Markus asked "Can we go to the wet church again?".
* Upon leaving childcare at church yesterday, Markus said bye to the workers (Mimi, Poppy and Miss Jilly). He then shouted out "Bye kids!" to the rest of the children waiting to be picked up.
* Today in the car he asked me where Uncle Mark was.
* While praying at dinner the other night, Markus prayed the following prayer completely unprompted and on his own "Dear Jesus, help me to obey. Thank you for Abu, Dita, Papa, Daddy, corn, chicken, fork, milk. I love you Jesus. Amen."
* While at the pool the other day, Markus walked right over to a woman and said "Hey, how's it going?".
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Sweet giggles
Hopefully this adorable video of the girl will make up for what a slacker I have been lately...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
We're off!
We are off on a two week vacation tomorrow to the midwest. Please pray for our travels- three hotels in 14 days with two kiddos. Plus- the dude has a double ear infection to boot :). I don't know what our internet availability will be while we are gone, but look for some posts when we return... and a picture or two of our little diva with her ears pierced (sorry Drams!). Blessings!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
These two
There are days when I think they look totally different. But looking at these pics of them at almost the same age... I'm thinking they look pretty alike!
Sunday Seven
I've been neglecting this lately... time to get back in the groove!
1. Some great time with my family while my Uncle Jim (Dad's brother) and Aunt Yvonne are in town. Dinner at mom and dad's Friday, the farmer's market yesterday and church and lunch here today.
2. Watching Markus and Katie become pals. They played really well together on Friday. Watching them take a bath together was a riot. Markus talked about it the whole way home.
3. Halle Joy started to giggle more when tickled this week. Such a precious sound.
4. Reading a lift the flap book with Markus tonight that has all the major kid Bible stories. He was obsessed with Adam and Eve (I'll have to get him saying their names on tape- it's pretty cute). He also loved saying his version of Goliath (sounds kind of like giraffe) over and over again. He wanted to go into the ocean like Jonah.
5. Mark watching the kiddos this afternoon so I could get a nap (little miss let me sleep from 1-4 last night...).
6. Coming to a decision with Mark about something that I am SUPER excited about.
7. Bible study on Tuesday. It was our last one of the year. I will miss it terribly during the summer- I love those gals!
1. Some great time with my family while my Uncle Jim (Dad's brother) and Aunt Yvonne are in town. Dinner at mom and dad's Friday, the farmer's market yesterday and church and lunch here today.
2. Watching Markus and Katie become pals. They played really well together on Friday. Watching them take a bath together was a riot. Markus talked about it the whole way home.
3. Halle Joy started to giggle more when tickled this week. Such a precious sound.
4. Reading a lift the flap book with Markus tonight that has all the major kid Bible stories. He was obsessed with Adam and Eve (I'll have to get him saying their names on tape- it's pretty cute). He also loved saying his version of Goliath (sounds kind of like giraffe) over and over again. He wanted to go into the ocean like Jonah.
5. Mark watching the kiddos this afternoon so I could get a nap (little miss let me sleep from 1-4 last night...).
6. Coming to a decision with Mark about something that I am SUPER excited about.
7. Bible study on Tuesday. It was our last one of the year. I will miss it terribly during the summer- I love those gals!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Processing
Two days ago, Maria Sue Chapman (age 5), daughter of Christian musical artist Steven Curtis Chapman, was involved in a tragic accident in her family driveway and subsequently is celebrating her homegoing with Jesus right now. I heard the news yesterday morning and have since been processing some pretty major things. I wanted to jot them down while they were still fresh, and somehow writing them here- on a public setting- makes them more real to me. So here goes.
1. Notice in my opening sentence I used both the words "tragic" and "celebrate". "Accidents" that result in death are an interesting paradox for believers. On one hand, we say this death was tragic- the manner in which it happened, the fact that a family mourns their 5 year old girl, etc. But on the other hand, her death means that she now is with her Savior Jesus for eternity, in a place where there are no tears, no shame, no hurt- pure Joy alone. As a believer, I can claim that an event such as this is both tragic and wonderful, sad and beautiful, heartbreaking and freeing. Interesting.
2. On Monday night during our small group time, we had a discussion about really committing to the Lord all of our possessions here on earth. One of the things the Lord really impressed upon all of our hearts was the need for all of us to commit our children to Him as well. After all, they truly are His, not ours. I thought that I had committed our children to Him, trusting Him with their lives. Then I heard this story... and I found myself wondering if I truly have trusted Him with them. What if He called them home sooner than I thought appropriate? Would I trust Him with that? Would I still love Him through that? My head says absolutely. He is my God and He is sovereign and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that His will is perfect. But my heart... it is something I really need to pray through and make certain that I am daily relinquishing my control over to Him.
3. I have always had a heart for adoption. Over the last year and a half, Mark and I have been praying about whether or not adoption is for our family. Maria Sue Chapman was the youngest of the three Chapman girls that they adopted from China. As much as I think her little life was cut too short, I can't help but think how full that little girl's life was because the Chapmans welcomed her into their hearts and home. She was loved dearly and exposed to Jesus on a daily basis in a home that honored Him. She more than likely never would have experienced an introduction to Jesus had she remained in an orphanage in China. She never would have known the love of a family. She was blessed because of their willingness to follow God's command to care for the widows and orphans. Mark and I have so much love to give and it is hard for me to think about having another biological child when there are MILLIONS in this world that are desperate for what we can provide. This story has made that reality even more real in both our hearts. We are processing what that means for our family.
4. In closing, I have included a video from the Chapmans' website featuring a precious moment between Maria Sue and her daddy. Something as simple as washing dishes can be such a delight to a child. How often do I run through a day, doing all the mundane stuff, without a thought to how I can engage and enjoy my kiddos? My time with them is precious, and I do not know which moment could possibly be the last. Instead of hurrying through the day, I am now going to challenge myself to thoroughly ENJOY every part of being with my kiddos. Markus' new thing is dancing on the sidewalk whenever we walk out to the car. Typically, I am rushing him and am sometimes even annoyed that he would rather dance on the sidewalk than get in the car and get to whatever the next thing is on my list for the day. I now know it is my job to not only allow him a few moments to dance to his heart's content, but to dance and clap and laugh right along with him- and bask in every moment of that precious time. I need to have the video camera and digital camera ready at all times and be willing to CAPTURE life as it is happening. I need to let go of my schedule (when appropriate) and my to-do list and PLAY. Because as I quoted before from my dear friends' Ross and Taya's blog, the days are long but the years are short. There may be a day when I am longing for those long days again, and I don't ever want to regret the manner in which I lived those long days with my kiddos.
1. Notice in my opening sentence I used both the words "tragic" and "celebrate". "Accidents" that result in death are an interesting paradox for believers. On one hand, we say this death was tragic- the manner in which it happened, the fact that a family mourns their 5 year old girl, etc. But on the other hand, her death means that she now is with her Savior Jesus for eternity, in a place where there are no tears, no shame, no hurt- pure Joy alone. As a believer, I can claim that an event such as this is both tragic and wonderful, sad and beautiful, heartbreaking and freeing. Interesting.
2. On Monday night during our small group time, we had a discussion about really committing to the Lord all of our possessions here on earth. One of the things the Lord really impressed upon all of our hearts was the need for all of us to commit our children to Him as well. After all, they truly are His, not ours. I thought that I had committed our children to Him, trusting Him with their lives. Then I heard this story... and I found myself wondering if I truly have trusted Him with them. What if He called them home sooner than I thought appropriate? Would I trust Him with that? Would I still love Him through that? My head says absolutely. He is my God and He is sovereign and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that His will is perfect. But my heart... it is something I really need to pray through and make certain that I am daily relinquishing my control over to Him.
3. I have always had a heart for adoption. Over the last year and a half, Mark and I have been praying about whether or not adoption is for our family. Maria Sue Chapman was the youngest of the three Chapman girls that they adopted from China. As much as I think her little life was cut too short, I can't help but think how full that little girl's life was because the Chapmans welcomed her into their hearts and home. She was loved dearly and exposed to Jesus on a daily basis in a home that honored Him. She more than likely never would have experienced an introduction to Jesus had she remained in an orphanage in China. She never would have known the love of a family. She was blessed because of their willingness to follow God's command to care for the widows and orphans. Mark and I have so much love to give and it is hard for me to think about having another biological child when there are MILLIONS in this world that are desperate for what we can provide. This story has made that reality even more real in both our hearts. We are processing what that means for our family.
4. In closing, I have included a video from the Chapmans' website featuring a precious moment between Maria Sue and her daddy. Something as simple as washing dishes can be such a delight to a child. How often do I run through a day, doing all the mundane stuff, without a thought to how I can engage and enjoy my kiddos? My time with them is precious, and I do not know which moment could possibly be the last. Instead of hurrying through the day, I am now going to challenge myself to thoroughly ENJOY every part of being with my kiddos. Markus' new thing is dancing on the sidewalk whenever we walk out to the car. Typically, I am rushing him and am sometimes even annoyed that he would rather dance on the sidewalk than get in the car and get to whatever the next thing is on my list for the day. I now know it is my job to not only allow him a few moments to dance to his heart's content, but to dance and clap and laugh right along with him- and bask in every moment of that precious time. I need to have the video camera and digital camera ready at all times and be willing to CAPTURE life as it is happening. I need to let go of my schedule (when appropriate) and my to-do list and PLAY. Because as I quoted before from my dear friends' Ross and Taya's blog, the days are long but the years are short. There may be a day when I am longing for those long days again, and I don't ever want to regret the manner in which I lived those long days with my kiddos.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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