Change of plans...

This summer has been a summer of homework, fun with family & friends & a change of plans. I originally had planned to return to the school that I worked at as an Educational Aide. I love my job & the staff & students I serve there. Then the change of plans came. My hubby & I both felt like God was calling my heart back home again. With four kiddos, two being seniors this year, and a desire to open our home up again to children that come from hard places, this made sense. Sense spiritually but not economically. In the past when we would take in kiddos from hard places & I worked outside the home it made it very difficult to do things well. We have also been going through training this past summer through Texas Christian University's child development program called Empowered to Connect, and just finished up 7 weeks of homework. We head out to Jersey this week to do more training with others who are like minded. We're very excited about this as we know that foster & adoption ministry is a calling that God has placed on our lives. Even when we need to take a break, He eventually draws our hearts back in. I love His grace on our lives!!! I have had mixed feelings about my change of plans. I know my time at the school was very important. I believe God used me to share His love with others there & I too was blessed by those I worked with & served there. That is why this decision was so hard. It was like I had 2 good choices, not one bad & one good. So I prayed about choosing the direction at this point in my life that I could bring the most glory to God. I wouldn't be surprised if my journey takes me back to the school at some point, but for now my journey is keeping me at home. I love that I will be available for our kiddos more, be able to take in kiddos that come from hard places & share the wonderful training we're receiving with other families to help encourage them on their journey. This journey was one of stepping out on faith. I believed in my heart God was drawing my heart home again but that He was going to have the decision be one of trusting Him & not having all the answers as I stepped out on faith. So here's to my new journey & being open to using whatever talents God has given me to bring glory to Him & further His kingdom. When it's all said & done that's what's most important in my life. Living it for HIM!!!

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say "I used everything you gave me." - Erma Bombeck

ALL children are a blessing from the Lord!!!

Snooze or Lose

Snooze or Lose

Using Time In Instead of Time Out

Homework in the summer? Whoever heard of such a thing?

Homework in the summer? Whoever heard of such a thing? Well this summer that is exactly what Nick & I are doing. We just started our third week of "homework" to be able to train & mentor other families in parenting children that come from hard places. The neat thing about this training is we're finding it is beneficial for all children & parents: biological, foster or adopted. This training comes from Empowered to Connect by Dr. Karyn Purvis and the staff at TCU institute of child development. You might have heard of her book, "The Connected Child." Along with information from Dr. Karyn Purvis' work we're also reading many other great books on fostering, adopting and parenting. As we go through our "homework" we're finding we would've loved to have had this information available to us years ago. We're very passionate about helping other families and look forward to what God has in store with using this material and our open hearts to reach more families for Him and encourage them as they parent. After this week we will have 5 more weeks of "homework" then we will travel to New Jersey for three days of training with the other families that are also doing "homework" this summer. Looking forward to meeting more people that have the same passion we do. Please keep us in your prayers as this requires quite a bit of time to complete. Please pray especially for my hubby as he works long days, then comes home to try to juggle time with us and do his "homework." We want to be faithful in what God has called us to do. Thank you!

God's grace is enough!

So thankful for summertime! For me that means home during the day instead of working at the school and more time with my loves. With currently four kiddos in the house ranging from 11-17 years old I am realizing more and more how quickly time does pass. This summer has been different with the older ones working more and I'm finding it hard to plan activities where we can all be at them together. During this new journey of life, God continues to amaze me on how sufficient His grace is. He has given me a perspective on this new journey to enjoy each moment even more with whoever is able to be there with me. Sometimes it's all four kids and sometimes it's just my youngest tagging along with momma for the day. When I use to think about these days coming I would feel sad or overwhelmed because of everyone not being together. God, however has open my heart to realize that His grace is enough. His grace is enough when all my loves are home and His grace is enough when one day all my loves are somewhere else. So thankful I do not walk this journey alone. Would love to hear from other families that have gone through this journey or are currently walking this journey and how God's grace is enough in your lives.

Men's Prayer Breakfast Tomorrow

Nick will be speaking tomorrow morning, May 14th at the Olivesburg United Methodist Church in Ashland, Ohio for their men's prayer breakfast. The breakfast starts at 7:30am. He will be sharing from his heart and God's Word about our foster and adoption ministry. I encourage you men to come out and support Nick and enjoy a delicious breakfast while fellowshipping with other men.