The time is quarter to four in the afternoon. The house has been quiet all day. Through the open windows, I hear my children coming home from school. As I listen to them in the distance, I anticipate the tales of adventure that filled their days. To my delight, the day has been good for them. We sit together and talk about our days, and E begins to laugh at something said. His laugh is contagious, one that you just can't help laughing along with. When he laughs, his whole face lights up and his eyes sparkle. This laugh is usually brought on by Addy's sense of humor, and they will both end up laughing together. Today Addy and I can't help but join E in the laughter. It is a moment we share together, and a moment I relish before I head downstairs to begin teaching. Moments like these cannot be manufactured or forced, they just happen.
This morning while struggling through some things, I prayed to God for a gift today, something in my day that would stand out as a gift from Him. The precious moments I had with my children this afternoon was a gift, and they are a gift. Thank you God.
9.21.2010
9.19.2010
A weekend away
This weekend we went to my sister's house for a birthday celebration. I love being with my sister and her family. Her home is so comfortable and welcoming. Every time we visit her, she goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we feel welcome, when in all actuality, just having her and her family there is more than enough to make us want to come. When stepping her home, there is a sense of calm throughout. I find this completely amazing and wonderful considering a two year old resides there as well. This is a calm that I relish and absorb as quickly as I can, letting it find it's way into my very inner soul so that when I return to the busy and hectic schedule that is my life, I am refreshed.
This weekend we were celebrating my dad's and Addy's birthday. With the completion of a fire pit, the celebration happened outside and s'mores were the birthday treat this year. It was a fun and special evening.
While the entire visit was a lot of fun, there is one part that is a highlight in my visit. When we arrived on Saturday, the mail had just come. Sitting in the mailbox was a child information packet from Compassion. The little life that she and I had been praying about for a week and a half since she had signed up with Compassion was about to be met. I could hardly wait for her to open the envelop so we could meet the little life that we would be praying for and that she would be communicating with. What a cutie he is, a nine year old boy from India. I am so excited to share this adventure with her as we share our letters and prayers together.
This weekend we were celebrating my dad's and Addy's birthday. With the completion of a fire pit, the celebration happened outside and s'mores were the birthday treat this year. It was a fun and special evening.
While the entire visit was a lot of fun, there is one part that is a highlight in my visit. When we arrived on Saturday, the mail had just come. Sitting in the mailbox was a child information packet from Compassion. The little life that she and I had been praying about for a week and a half since she had signed up with Compassion was about to be met. I could hardly wait for her to open the envelop so we could meet the little life that we would be praying for and that she would be communicating with. What a cutie he is, a nine year old boy from India. I am so excited to share this adventure with her as we share our letters and prayers together.
9.17.2010
Just to be heard
There are people in our lives that, like the sun breaking through for just a moment on a cloudy day, shine into our lives and we take notice. Perhaps it is more than just the sun peaking through, rather more like the warmth of the summer months that encourages flowers to grow and we are never the same. Whether the brief encounter or a season of growth, we seldom forget the impact left in our lives from these visits.
When I look at the people who are impacting the lives of my children, I notice they are all doing the same thing. Of course it is in their own unique way, but when stripped down to the very simple act, it is the same. They are listening to my children. By listening, they are imparting a sense of value and giving love. Part of this realization comes from the journey I have been on in my life that has opened my eyes and allows me to see today what is probably so plain and obvious to many people.
Today while attending a field trip with my daughter and her class, we sat by a little girl on the bus who I think just wanted to be heard. I obviously don't know much about her home life, but she was telling me about her mom and her brother and some things that she was frustrated with. Now I understand that children will talk and sometimes exaggerate the truth. I get that, I often tell my husband I wonder what our children say about us when we are not listening. But, this little girl talked so much, that neither my daughter or I could say anything, she had things that she wanted to say. So, we listened.
I have recently started a new job teaching classes to three to five year old children. They come into class excited to talk about the shoes they have on, what their siblings did that morning, or even the fact that they have a sibling. They would sit and talk through the whole class if we didn't have material to cover.
I am so thankful to the adults in my children's lives that stop and listen to them. It gives them a sense of purpose, identity, security, and love. I hope that in my day as I am trying to stay on task and manage the busy and hectic schedules of life, that I don't forget to stop and listen. I pray that to the children God has placed in my life, I can be one who will listen in their life.
Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me." Mark 9: 36-37 NLT
When I look at the people who are impacting the lives of my children, I notice they are all doing the same thing. Of course it is in their own unique way, but when stripped down to the very simple act, it is the same. They are listening to my children. By listening, they are imparting a sense of value and giving love. Part of this realization comes from the journey I have been on in my life that has opened my eyes and allows me to see today what is probably so plain and obvious to many people.
Today while attending a field trip with my daughter and her class, we sat by a little girl on the bus who I think just wanted to be heard. I obviously don't know much about her home life, but she was telling me about her mom and her brother and some things that she was frustrated with. Now I understand that children will talk and sometimes exaggerate the truth. I get that, I often tell my husband I wonder what our children say about us when we are not listening. But, this little girl talked so much, that neither my daughter or I could say anything, she had things that she wanted to say. So, we listened.
I have recently started a new job teaching classes to three to five year old children. They come into class excited to talk about the shoes they have on, what their siblings did that morning, or even the fact that they have a sibling. They would sit and talk through the whole class if we didn't have material to cover.
I am so thankful to the adults in my children's lives that stop and listen to them. It gives them a sense of purpose, identity, security, and love. I hope that in my day as I am trying to stay on task and manage the busy and hectic schedules of life, that I don't forget to stop and listen. I pray that to the children God has placed in my life, I can be one who will listen in their life.
Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me." Mark 9: 36-37 NLT
9.15.2010
My Sponsored Child Taught Me....
We received mail from our Sponsored Children today. A letter from India and a letter from Honduras. Our correspondent child in India has been very responsive as of late. We have received two letters from him this week. In a previous letter, I asked him about the source of his water. This week we received the answer to that question. His water source is 656 feet away from their house. They take drums and other utensils to get the water. The kids and I mapped out the distance and talked about what that means for him to get his water. At first E thought it was not that far until we started talking about carrying a 5 gallon bucket full of water that distance and that the water in the bucket was your water for the day, there would not be a faucet to turn on to get a glass of water or to wash dishes.
Our child from India has taught us what it is (in a very small way) to have the water source that we do.
When we began sponsoring her a year and a half ago, her brother was just born. In the year and a half that we have been corresponding, I asked about her brother and what his name was. She responded with his name this past summer. I have been praying for both children by name. To my wonderful surprise, in today's letter there was a picture of our sponsored daughter holding her brother. She wanted us to have a picture of her and her brother. This is also the first picture of our daughter that she is smiling in. It brought tears to my eyes. What a gift that she would want to send us a piece of her life as we share pictures of our life here.
Our daughter in Honduras has taught me the importance of investing in a life, even if it is just by letter.
By investing in letter writing and collecting a few photographs, I have gained so much more than I ever thought I would. I started sponsoring children as a way to make a difference in a child's life. I hoped that it would help with their education, health, and their relationship with God. Little did I know when we made the choice to sponsor children that it would affect my life in so many ways.
I did not know when I began sponsoring children that:
I would enjoy writing letters as much as I do.
I would come to love a child through writing letters.
I would be so excited when a letter in a cream colored envelope is sitting in my mailbox.
I would gain a new appreciation for the different countries and cultures on a new level.
I would love searching for the appropriate gift that can be sent to the children.
The desire that would become so strong within me to visit these children and give them a hug.
My Sponsored Children have taught me what it is to give and what a gift it is to be the one giving.
Our child from India has taught us what it is (in a very small way) to have the water source that we do.
When we began sponsoring her a year and a half ago, her brother was just born. In the year and a half that we have been corresponding, I asked about her brother and what his name was. She responded with his name this past summer. I have been praying for both children by name. To my wonderful surprise, in today's letter there was a picture of our sponsored daughter holding her brother. She wanted us to have a picture of her and her brother. This is also the first picture of our daughter that she is smiling in. It brought tears to my eyes. What a gift that she would want to send us a piece of her life as we share pictures of our life here.
Our daughter in Honduras has taught me the importance of investing in a life, even if it is just by letter.
By investing in letter writing and collecting a few photographs, I have gained so much more than I ever thought I would. I started sponsoring children as a way to make a difference in a child's life. I hoped that it would help with their education, health, and their relationship with God. Little did I know when we made the choice to sponsor children that it would affect my life in so many ways.
I did not know when I began sponsoring children that:
I would enjoy writing letters as much as I do.
I would come to love a child through writing letters.
I would be so excited when a letter in a cream colored envelope is sitting in my mailbox.
I would gain a new appreciation for the different countries and cultures on a new level.
I would love searching for the appropriate gift that can be sent to the children.
The desire that would become so strong within me to visit these children and give them a hug.
My Sponsored Children have taught me what it is to give and what a gift it is to be the one giving.
9.13.2010
A New Adventure
Tonight was E's first night of flag football. He has been so excited waiting for this night. Tonight was a night of drills to assess the skill levels of each of the kids. It was fun for me to sit and watch E run and throw a ball and be on the field among peers. He talks about playing football at school each day with his friends, now was my time to see him doing something he loves to do.
The league is set up with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I like how the evening is set up. The kids arrive at the field and begin the evening with a practice. After a half hour of practice, they play a 45 minute game. The evening ends with a 15 minute talk about having Christ centered thoughts about their lives when they are at school, on the field, and any other place in life.
As tonight was a skill assessment night, we do not know which team E will be on, I know he is hoping to be on the Vikings, but ultimately he is just excited to be on the field.
The league is set up with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I like how the evening is set up. The kids arrive at the field and begin the evening with a practice. After a half hour of practice, they play a 45 minute game. The evening ends with a 15 minute talk about having Christ centered thoughts about their lives when they are at school, on the field, and any other place in life.
As tonight was a skill assessment night, we do not know which team E will be on, I know he is hoping to be on the Vikings, but ultimately he is just excited to be on the field.
9.07.2010
First Day
All of the preparations were ready last night. Lunches packed. Clothes laid out. Backpacks loaded ready for the journey to school. Addy was excited and could not wait for the first bell of the school year to ring. E, decked out in his Vikings gear could not wait to see his friends again.
Beautiful brown eyes, shining with the excitement of the day greet me at days end. There is barely time to get a word in as each of them share the news from the day. New friends, new schedules, and new teachers. A brand new beginning.
Both are excited for day two.
Beautiful brown eyes, shining with the excitement of the day greet me at days end. There is barely time to get a word in as each of them share the news from the day. New friends, new schedules, and new teachers. A brand new beginning.
Both are excited for day two.
9.02.2010
Fall
Fall is here. It is a feeling I get before the weather cools. Soups start to sound good versus the fresh veggie salads that I have been eating. The thoughts of putting on jeans and a sweatshirt are not appalling, but actually sound nice. While walking down the aisle of Target this past week the fragrance of cinnamon, pumpkin, and other "fall" scents was present, and I didn't cringe.
Another sign that fall is here is that the school supplies, after sitting in backpacks for a month, are now tucked safely in the desks at school awaiting use next Tuesday. We have visited the classrooms and met the teachers for the upcoming year, and found out that each E and Addy have friends in their classrooms. I think this year is going to be good, possibly even great.
Another sign that fall is here is that the school supplies, after sitting in backpacks for a month, are now tucked safely in the desks at school awaiting use next Tuesday. We have visited the classrooms and met the teachers for the upcoming year, and found out that each E and Addy have friends in their classrooms. I think this year is going to be good, possibly even great.
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