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| If you return to the Main Page, we hope that you will sign our guestbook. We hope to share the encouragement and kind words with Maria someday. |
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| 3/26/2006 Well, I have been battling geocities and the computer all day just for one little update. But...I am finally here. Today is my official last day of spring break. Of course, now that it is just starting to feel like spring, I wouldn't mind an extra day or two. But we have standardized testing this week (yes...in kindergarten). So hi ho, hi ho, it is off to school we go. :) Before I forget, if you happen to read this, a very special little guy is having brain surgery tomorrow. Jake Owen is a delightful little boy. I don't know him personally, but I check on him daily; he is a beautiful child inside and out. If you can, say a little prayer for him that this surgery will get rid of those two tumors. He just had a bone marrow transplant, and we are praying for complete healing on earth for him. Okay, on to today's verse. Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the path of life, In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." You know, yesterday was a beautiful day. We did some work around the house while the kids were at an airshow with their grandfather (Grampops). It was a nice day. I felt content. Then I went to the mailbox. You never know what you might get. A huge bill. Lots of junk mail. Or a box from your adoption agency with a video in in as well as a CD of pictures. I ran in the house, tore it open, and found the DVD/CD. I immediately popped the CD in the computer and found a year's worth of pictures of Maria. Many we had seen before, but some were new. And some were very recent. And she is actually smiling! We both just cried tears of happiness as we watched the pictures flash on the computer. (One of our favorites can be found on the main page at the top.) We were on Cloud 9. (We are Clouds you know :) And I just felt this happiness the rest of the day. Just because of some pictures and a video. But that made me think about joy/happiness. See happiness is fleeting. While I will always smile when I see those pictures (mainly because of the joy we feel in loving Maria), that happiness of getting them, surprise and all, will fade away. When things get rough (like another week of no updates) or the time lapse gets longer, the happiness of pictures will fade away. (Hopefully we will continue to get some though until we can have the real live thing at home :) But the joy, not of pictures or good news, comes from God. And it can't fade away if we really hide it in our hearts. We have joy in His presence, regardless of the circumstances. And then we will find the pleasures at His right hand. Please pray for some good news this week! |
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| 3/27/2006 "Give thanks to the LORD because he is good. His love continues forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love continues forever. Only he can do great miracles. His love continues forever." Psalms 136:1-3 Before anyone gets too excited, no, we did not get any good news today. Trust me, I was just waiting for my cell phone to break out into the Halleluljah chorus (well, it is on silent at school, but afterwards). I was BELIEVING it would happen...in His time. Apparently, it wasn't His time. Anyway, today is Praise and Worship Day on my favorite radio station, KLRC. This week is the "fundraising" week which they do every year to get donations for the next year of programs. It is one of our favorite causes...and definitely a "staple" in our lives. (It is the only station I listen to in the car) I don't know how many times I have gotten into the car upset or worried and heard JUST the right song... So I thought I would do my own Praise and Worship Day. This is by far not a complete list of all of the praise and worship I feel. Just a few things that come to mind. A Christian heritage. I am grateful for the Christian parents and grandparents I have had who have taught me about God. Our church, University Baptist. It has been a difficult year at the church after the retirement of one pastor and the search for another one (we hope to find someone soon!). But we feel more at home in our church and our Bible Fellowship than we ever have before. A Godly husband. I am so grateful for Mark. Someone told him last night that we are just complete opposites. In a lot of ways we are. But in the ways that count, we agree. (parenting, marriage, God) My children...the two here, the one not here. God has blessed us. Another beautiful day (when it was supposed to rain all day!) My caringbridge friends who have taught me about living life to the fullest. My job. I have been teaching kindergarten for 9 years, school for 13. And I love it. Well, 99% of the time. On occasion, there may be a rough day. How many people can say that? Family. I have a sister who I dearly miss and her family, then there is Mark's family...we are well loved. KLRC/Christian radio...always the right song to focus me back on Him. Friends, both old and new, some I spend LOTS of time with, some I have never even met face to face...I won't even try to name them for fear of leaving out someone...but you know who you are. And my new friends I have made through this adoption...thank you for walking this journey with us. And of course, our Heavenly Father. He is the reason we can praise. His love continues forever. Everything else will fade away...but NOT His love. Even days like today when I am just hoping beyond hope for that phone call and a little disappointed when it doesn't happen...His love continues forever. We have much to be thankful for! Thank you for praying with us! |