Jesse 2H

What is life like in your home today?  I'm sitting by a cozy fire, enjoying the sparkle of the Christmas tree, listening to music, and enjoying the quiet as my family sleeps. 

Don't forget to make your bed!
Make sure you eat all of your dinner or I'll eat that last nugget!
Can you please pick up all of these toys?

These refrains echo through my house daily.  These things are complete luxuries for children in the orphanages of Eastern Europe.  Many children are confined to their beds, are rarely picked up, my only receive force fed meals from a beer bottle with a nipple.  They may not have chewed on food.  Their toys are broken and few.  They wear mismatched clothes and they don't know the warmth of a mommy or daddy.

This is a sad fact.  What can we do to change this?  All of us aren't called to rescue a little one ourselves, but we can give out of our abundance.  Jesse 2H may live in an orphanage like I have described. 

Can you help him today?  Maybe this Christmas he'll find his forever family and give them that precious smile.


Please share Jesse's story!  Since I didn't have any bids for my friends awesome photo shoot giveaway, I'm offering a chance to win it if you:  share his story on facebook or your blog or you donate $10 or more.  Please leave a comment for each and I'll enter you in a drawing for the amazing photography package!  The giving is secure and goes straight to Reece's Rainbow (a reputable 501 C-3 charitable organization)  Gifts are tax deductible!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand . . . Dollars?

I happen to have very talented friends.  One of these friends is like family and she happens to be one of the most sought after lifestyle photographers in the Baltimore/Annapolis area.  Her name is Heather of Heather Grace Photography.  You can check out her site and wonder at her talented eye and gift with the camera.  Heather has agreed to donate one of her mini-sessions to benefit our little Jesse 2H.  I have decided to auction off this mini session with all of the proceeds going directly into Jesse's fund.  How exciting!These mini-sessions are hard to come by.  Some winner will be very lucky! Place your bid in the comment section.  The bidding will close at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, November 23.

Here is a taste of her Knoxtastic work

Winner Winner Chicken . . . oh wait

My dear friend Anne from Making Things Stretch was the winner of the autographed OP t-shirt.  Congrats Anne.  Check out her blog.  It's full of a wealth of great info and a snickerdoodle recipe :)

Woo Hoo!

I'm so excited for Jesse!  We've raised over half of the $1000 goal in just a week.  Could we raise double that next week?  I think we can!
My dear friend Amy is on her way to meet her little angel across the ocean today.  Lift her up in prayer.  How exciting!

Jesse Tree Giveaway

My extra talented hubby is also a rockstar! The first CD that his band released is a concept album all about physical and spiritual adoption.  He is an adoptee himself and has a huge heart for orphans. He has agreed to donate digital downloads of Orphan Project's 2 full length cd's to anyone willing to give $20 to Jesse's fund.  If you donate, please leave me a comment with your email address. 

I'll also be doing a drawing for an autographed T-Shirt and CD of their latest release Spooning Out the Sea for anyone who:
becomes a follower of my blog-one entry
share's my post about Jesse on their Facebook page - one entry
donate's $5 to Jesse's fund - one entry
(don't forget to leave me a comment with each entry)

I'll post winners on Friday!

Project Jesse Tree

     Have people been asking you yet?  Did you make your list?  Have you decided what you want for Christmas?  It seems so early to be asking these questions, but Thanksgiving is creeping up on us and Christmas is around the corner.
     Wanna know what I want for Christmas?  I want Jesse to fill your trees with reminders that there are little ones out there who don't care about presents but want nothing more than the love of a mother and a father.
     Reece's Rainbow has begun their yearly drive to raise grant funds for the little ones across the ocean with a little extra chromosome.  The website is constantly tugging at my heart strings and I searched for a little person that we could advocate for this Christmas.  I found precious Jesse.  Look at that smile that covers that delicious face!  In God's economy $1000 for Jesse is nothing.  Can you help me raise $1000 so that Jesse might find his forever family?

     Consider donating just $35 and receive an ornament with his face to remind you to pray for Jesse and others like him waiting for a mommy and daddy this Christmas.  This is a great way to get your kids involved in reaching out with the love of Christ.  How can we help to raise his grant fund so that his forever family can bring him home quickly?  Could you forego a fancy coffee for a month?  Could you eat in one night?  Could your kids rake leaves or sell brownies?  $35 is so little in our very abundant American lives.  Can you sacrifice a little so that Jesse may find a family to bless?    Read our story to see how we've been blessed by our little man with a little extra.

Eyes wide open ...

credit: google

My friend Adeye, a fellow blogger and adoptive mom of some very special girls, posted a hard but eye opening question to all of us who claim Christ.  I was reading this morning in I John 3: 17:  "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."    How can we in the world's richest nation, not love those little ones around the world that are in such need?  The Lord may not call all of us to adoption, but we can all help.  Reeces Rainbow just kicked off their Angel Tree program to help raise grant funds for little ones with special needs in difficult situations around the world.  Will you help?  More to come on the little guy we are sponsoring this Christmas!

Read Adeye's blogpost here.

Little Ebenezers

I was always puzzled by the line in "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Here I raise my ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I'm come

The only Ebenezer I was familiar with was the crotchety old skinflint from A Christmas Carol.  Humorous pictures of someone holding up Old Scrooge, had crossed my mind.  As an adult, I learned that an ebenezer is something that reminds the world of God's help and sovereignty in the lives of His people.  We keep the prybar that was in Shane's belt when he fell 20ft backward off the roof as an ebenezer of God's protection of Shane.  It could have impaled him, but only left a little scratch.  

I have some pictures that will serve as ebenezers.  Here are my little men, just one year ago:

And just a few days ago:

God has given these brothers such a sweet love for each other.  Knox even calls for Grae and Grae can understand his baby speak.  Grae is the soother, protector, and playmate of our newest addition.  Knox looks at Grae with awe.  It is a precious picture and testimony of how the Lord can take 2 unrelated people, grafted to a family by adoption and knit them together. 

Rise and Shine

I love the comfort of my cozy bed and the rumbling of my hub's loud breathing.  It usually takes a scream through the baby monitor, or the entrance of one very loud almost 4 year old to pry me out of my cocoon of comfort. 

I am a changed woman.  I've been waking up a little after 6 (I still hit the snooze) to spend some time in Bible study.  It's been three weeks and I actually look forward to getting up.  My friend Beth joked about our new chair and a half in our library.  "You drawing close to Jesus in that chair?"  I am, and I love it. 

My life at this stage is full of busyness.  Managing a one year old (with fabulous hair) and his variety of therapist appointments, an energetic 3.8 year old and his alphabet, and my viking of a husband requires an extra dose of energy. (Hubs is such a help and a blessing)  I have felt a new vigor and encouragement with this little time to myself.  I'm digging in and scraping every last morsel of wisdom from my time in the Word.  I'm praying for people instead of just saying I will.  I'm starting my day with the right focus.  Who knew in my battle for discipline, I'd win this tiny victory.

Next battle, weight loss . . .

Surprise

One year ago today a family entered the hospital to give birth to their son.

One year ago today their little boy was born with down syndrome and congenital heart defects.

One year ago today, a family wrestled with a life changing decision.

One year ago today, we had no idea we would have a baby in 15 days.

One year ago today, the Lord began a journey to bring us together.

One year ago today, our newest blessing was born.

Happy Birthday Ciaran Knox!

These boots are made for walking

I am possibly one of the most terrible bloggers of all time.  I look at the same post that pops up in my homepage and, uninspired, I move on.  In an effort to maintain discipline in several areas of my life, I'm going to try to post more regularly. 

I recently began a morning Bible study group called Good Morning Girls which walks through the Bible one verse at a time.  I joined a group of like-minded ladies to share what I'm learning.  It's been two weeks and I have to say that I love the accountability and the discipline of getting up early.  If only getting up to exercise were this easy!

We've been walking through 1 John:

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It's amazing what I've overlooked in my haste to "read" the Bible.  I'm being forced to meditate each day on a small chunk and I love it. 

John walked, talked, laughed, touched, heard, and saw Jesus.  This book is his proclamation of the Gospel of his Savior.  It is John's desire for us to know that same Jesus.  I know the truth of Scripture, but sometimes it seems so abstract.  This was a great reminder that this brother in Christ almost 2000 years ago is giving me his testimony.

I was also convicted about my double-mindedness.  I can't claim to be one thing and act differently.  What I do overflows from my heart.  If I confess Christ, God is faithful despite my faithlessness.  I need to be more honest about my own sin.  I heard a great sermon by Mark Dever called "Can I know God and keep on sinning?", a great reformed exposition of these verses. 

Walking in the light doesn't mean I don't sin, but that Christ exposes sin and declares me righteous.  What an encouragement to walk!

Consignment Conundrum

Let's face it.  My first child was a clothes horse.  We got the best things from showers and at birthdays and with all of the awesome hand-me-downs, we were set.  Now I have a little mini guy who doesn't quite fit in the size or season I have.  While my husband's step-sister was in town, she told me about the large consignment sale in her area, where you tag things online, drop off, and get a great commission from your items.  As I thought about the boxes of clothing, stacked to the ceiling of our little basement closet, this sounded like a great idea.  We have a great sale close by.   Here's my issue.  What do I save and what do I consign?  We have more than enough for 3 children in each size, but I'm not sure what to hang on to and what to sell.  I want your vast wisdom.  Have you done a large consignment sale and how do you do it wisely.  Please comment and share!  I need HELP!

Teri Lynn Update

On No Greater Joy Mom, Adeye just posted an amazing message.  There has been $20,000 raised for the adoption of Teri Lynn.  Evidently there are some families working with the adoption agency.  Continue to pray for the right family with a home study to be matched with this special girl.  Over and over I see how amazing God is!

He knows their names . . .

My heart has been moved to aching for the second time in 24 hours.  How is this not a human rights violation?  How can we not step in for these helpless ones?  I read another hard story on a blog that I follow called No Greater Joy Mom about a little girl named Teri Lynn who is about to be transferred to a mental institution in Eastern Europe because she has Down Syndrome and no one has adopted her yet.  Did you know that 95% of children with Down Syndrome die after being transferred to these horrible institutions? 

Teri Lynn just weeks after being transferred to a mental institution.

Our Associate Pastor, Andrew Gretzinger, reminded us yesterday that we have been given much to be a blessing to others.  If you can't pursue adoption, could you help raise money to ransom this little one.  Could you commit to praying daily for her and the other children?  Help me brainstorm.  What can we do as the body of Christ to help these most vulnerable ones?  There are 1.5 MILLION children in Eastern Europe alone that have been abandoned by their families and there are almost 3,000 children languishing in horrible institutions with Down Syndrome and each of them has a name.

Refrigerator Wars

I don't know what draws me to the show Hoarders.  It's like a car crash.  It's definitely not edifying, and I should curb my viewing habits.  In some sick way, it gives me comfort.  Comfort that my house isn't "that bad", that I have my "stuff" together, that I'm not as sick as "those" people.  I had a little wake-up call as I tackled my refrigerator. 

I've been using an online organizer called Cozi that I found on one of my favorite cleaning and organizing sites, Flylady.  I have this neurotic need to have a checklist, and this site was a dream come true (How type A do you have to be to get excited about cleaning and organizing your house?).  One of the tasks assigned by Flylady for the day was to empty and clean out the fridge.  When we arrived home from the grocery store, I decided to tackle this task.  I anticipated it would take me 15 min . . . 2 hours later and I'm up to my neck in old salad dressing bottles, half eaten fuzzy somethings, and about 6 jars of jelly all while mini-people shouted, grunted, and begged for lunch. After soaking disgusting shelves in the bathtub with bleach, chipping away at some mysterious caramel colored congealed substance with a sharp kitchen implement, and scraping out (insert gagging noise here) old containers of who-knows-what, washing my hands at least 25 times in scalding hot water, I was done. . . until I removed the little vent cover underneath the fridge and discovered about 3 lbs of dog hair.  (We haven't had dogs for over a year!)  This was not for the faint of heart. 

I'm not going to make some profound spiritual connection between my dirty fridge and my dirty heart (though the parallels would be interesting) I'm just going to say that I now realize that I'm just a few bad decisions or circumstances away from the aforementioned show.  It gives me more compassion with those that struggle with a very visible manifestation of a hurting heart.  And it reminds me to take out the yellow gloves and do some hard work in my own life with the Spirit's help. 

(And yes, I do look that fetching while fetching from my Frigidaire)

She's got the fever!

I have been lurking on several blogs that highlight life as a momma of a child with Down Syndrome.  The most encouraging sites have been ones that are written by mommas who love Jesus.  I have been moved to tears, encouraged, educated, and entertained by life in all of the very different families all over the web.  My heart was moved recently by a story of a little boy named Kirill and his journey home to America.

Because my husband and I are passionate about adoption, I was instantly drawn to a site called Reece's Rainbow that advocates for children with Down Syndrome and other special needs.  What instantly drew me to the site was the fact that many of the children from Russia look just like my little boy:  our domestic, international, special needs adoption. You can read about our adventure at this post.

My best friend growing up gave birth to a little firecracker named Evan.  He is absolutely delicious and his extra chromosome makes him extra cute.

Amy was such an encouragement to me as we made the decision to bring little Knox home.  Lately, I was noticing my friend Amy was equally captivated by Reece's Rainbow and I began to sense that she had caught the fever.  I know the symptoms having been friends with many in the adoption community.  She kept commenting on the site, advocating, and even sponsoring a little friend from RR to help increase the adoption grant.  I was so excited to find out that Amy and her husband Mike are embarking on the adoption journey.  You can read about their story on their adoption blog.  I was in tears looking at that little girl that looks like she was made for this family.

 I am glad to say there is no cure for this fever.  I pray that our lives and testimonies of God's grace in ransoming these little ones will become contagious.  I'm hoping for an epidemic :)

Too stinkin cute . . .

Mighty to Save!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

Those were the words of praise shared by Tesney Davis as she proclaimed the power of our God to move in the hearts of men. I posted two posts ago about this family and their great love for a little man named Kirill . This story originally broke my heart. A little boy with Down Syndrome was denied adoption by a russian court because he was deemed unfit because of his diagnosis. After many prayers and lots of blog posts, we can rejoice with the Davis family. The Supreme Court overruled the previous decision and Kirill will join his new family very soon. What good news! Our God is mighty to save!

There was a Girl. Fifteen Years Old: An Adoption Story - Reformation21 Blog

There was a Girl. Fifteen Years Old: An Adoption Story - Reformation21 Blog

What a confirmation of what we already know! Great blog post!

My God is so Big . . .

Tonight I read a story that literally broke my heart.  As I sat in front of my computer screen, I was overwhelmed with tears and with great thankfulness to the LORD.  As many of you know, our littlest Lankford was adopted in October.  He came to us from an Albanian family who did not have a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome.  When little K was born, he was a shock to their system.  You see, they come from a country that thinks that children with DS are unsuitable for families, "unadaptable".  I don't fault little K's birthparents.  I grieve for them.  I grieve that they didn't see the blessing of our baby.  I grieve that they grieve.  I grieve that their culture and many others like it feel that babies with an extra chromosome are disposable, less than human, undeserving of dignity and love. I am also praising God.  I praise him that we have been blessed with the most adorable little baby, who smiles and laughs and melts into my shoulder.  I praise God that He chose us to be K's parents.  I praise God that we live in a country that doesn't farm our disabled children into institutions where they are condemned to a crib with no toys, no blankets, no love.

Please join with me in praying for the Davis family.  They are seeking the adoption of a little boy named Kirill.  They went to the country twice and upon their second visit, attended a court hearing where the judge deliberated and decided that Kirill was not fit for adoption.  What a dire situation.

I've been teaching G this week about Jericho and how God tore the walls down with some marching and shouts from His people.  Will you join me in praying to tear down the walls of opposition to this adoption before our Heavenly Father.  It seems to be an impossible situation, but I know that my God is so Big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!


Read more about the story at No Greater Joy Mom.

Sure!

I have a little boy whose favorite mode of locomotion is a sprint.  He may have a future in track and field.  He's like a little tornado with boundless energy.  He's precocious and curious with a large measure of sweetness.  He is such a little blessing to me.  People always ask how Grae is with our little Knox.  He's so tender and dear.  Apart from his desire to pick his brother up by himself or squeeze him in a big brotherly hug, his interactions with Knox are a tender, genuine demonstration of his precious love for his mini brother.  More than that, he shows me how much he loves me by his service.

Where has he learned such selfless behavior?  Not from his mother, I'm afraid.  He has seen this selfless willingness to be at my beckon call from his dear daddy.  When I ask Grae to get me a clean diaper or wipes, throw away a soiled one, to put a bottle in the fridge, to replace an errant paci in the car, his prompt reply is, "Sure!"  often followed by an, "I love you so much, Mommy!"  What a precious response and one that speaks volumes to my own sometimes grumbling and complaining spirit.  Out of the mouths of babes . . .

The most delicious fish sandwich that has ever crossed these lips. . . .

Blackened Tilapia Sandwich with Cilantro Mayo *

So the cupboard was pretty bare today, but I remembered a delicious recipe that I'd seen Paula Deen make yesterday (I watch while I'm feeding the little guy).  I stole the picture from the food network because Shane and I devoured ours before I could take a picture.  This is definitely going in the keep pile.  Yumsers!

*Photo credit Food Network

Adoption is . . .

. . . knee callousing, pride humbling, paper pushing, adventure.

. . . a glimpse into the beauty of my own salvation.

. . . a chance to share and educate.

. . . a way to build a family.

. . . a love that is as strong as biology.

. . . caring for the most vulnerable.

. . . a front row ticket to God's plan unfolding.

. . . the blessing of my husband.

. . . the boys that own large pieces of my heart.

Love is in the air. . .

I am absolutely smitten.  I have a little 10 lb package of cuteness who continues to amaze me everyday.  He's so precious.  We had a date at the ER for croup and this little man was wooing the nurses and snuggling with me.  He's been so happy and smiley and has even started to giggle despite his hoarse voice and barky cough.  Right now he's chatting with Tigger in his Pack-n-Play.  I can't imagine life before little Knox joined our little fam. 

Mom Tip: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder . . .

Every masterpiece he creates is precious; the scribble crayon landscapes and paint flecked scraps of paper.  So what do you do with all of the masterpieces that begin to pile up in your home?  I have a solution that may help.  I have a 12x12 scrapbooking storage box that I put G's most treasured or memorable creations.  What about the others?  (Remember, those precious pieces of artwork aren't memories, the time that you spent with them is)

When we are ready to make room for some new projects, I have found that sending them to a loved one is a great solution.  Those out of town grandparents or aunts and uncles love to see a little craftiness from my LO and it also serves as a great way to keep in touch.

Next time you find your refrigerator door is getting overcrowded, pull one of your little Picasso's lovely projects down and send it to someone you love.  They will love it too!

Low Country Stew

I like to cook, but I love it when I find a simple delicious meal that is economical and very easy.  Here is my latest discovery.  I found the recipe on E-mealz.  This site is a wonderful time-saving resource and very economical.  I used another site for 5 years that had menus and shopping lists, but the recipes on E-mealz have been delicious.  There are very few we have not liked.  Here it is:

Low Country Stew

8 small new red potatoes
1 large sweet onion, quartered
1 lb smoked Kielbasa (I used turkey)
2Tbs Old Bay Seasoning (a Maryland staple)
4-5 cups water
4-6 ears of corn on the cob halved (I didn't have so I subbed 3 cups of frozen beans)
1 lb large shrimp (frozen or fresh, shells on)

Put potatoes, onion, veg, and sausage in large pot with the water.  Stir in Old Bay. Bring to boil.  Reduce to medium for 10 min. Add shrimp.  Simmer 5-7 minutes until shrimp is done.  Drain in collander and serve with hot rolls and butter.

Mom Tip: Snack Attack

He prowls about seeking his prey . . .
He whines, he cajoles, he begs . . .
He looks for a moment of weakness in his parents . . .
He is a snack monster.

The problem is that this little monster doesn't like to eat his dinner.  My option is to make dinner time a miserable fight over 3 bites of this and a forkful of that or to try to curb the little monster during the day so that he is hungry at mealtime.

My solution was fairly simple and seems to have worked . . . so far.  I saved an old coffee can and covered it with some cool guy scrapbooking paper.  In the morning, Grae gets to choose 2 healthy snacks and a treat to put in his snack jar (1 snack b/w breakfast and lunch, 1 post nap nosh, and a treat for fun).  Once the stuff is gone, it's gone.  I also reserve the right to remove the treat.  My little snack monster doesn't growl as much and now we have a more pleasant mealtime. 

Almost perfect

So for years now I have been saying that I am a defeated perfectionist.  I have grand dreams of a spotless house, an up-to-date blog, a perfectly home-preschooled child, a baby on a routine, and a husband who is fed and happy.  This season of my life has been a reminder that I am . . . ridiculous.  I have been humbled at the lack of progress in each of these areas.  Thankfully, God is graciously reminding me that if I was perfect, I wouldn't need Him!  I have had to sacrifice my unreasonable expectations at the foot of my Savior's cross and resolve to try to do lots of little things well, not perfectly.  Though my house has dustbunnies, my blogging is irregular, my oldest only knows up to the letter D, my baby sleeps all the time, and my husband has had to settle for some less than stellar concoctions, I know that my Lord sees my heart and not my performance.