Jesus Calling

• I recently picked up a new devotional book entitled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. Its my first week with it, and already I am moved. The entries are short and sweet and come with a few scripture references.... exactly what I need!
• I wanted to share what Monday's reading was:
• Come to me with your plans held in abeyance. Worship me in spirit and in truth, allowing My Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life!
• The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. John 4:24; Isaiah 55:8-9
• The timing of this devotional for me was amazing.
• This week has been interesting and involves patience. I can't go into detail right now, however there is a situation that looks hopefull for us, it requires more patience than I think I have. Although when I look at the timing of things really, I mean really with open eyes, I know that waiting for that said time, really would be ideal for our family. In fact, everything about the whole situation is quite ideal Steve will hopefully be home full time then and that would of course make life easier. But waiting is not an easy thing. If I knew it were a sure thing, I maybe could lie and say I can wait that long, however, I know that even then, I would not be as patient as He has called me to be.
• In the mean time, I am drawn to a more immediate situation. I am waiting for a phone call today to see what is happening with that. And then I read this devotional. I can't help but feel called to the wait. I don't want to miss God's plan for us. I don't want to let impatience screw up what He has orchestrated. And yet, I know, that His plan will come to pass. No matter what I may be doing.
• So, this is my prayer request: Patience for me, clarity for difficult decisions, patience for me, understanding for our children, the child(ren) no matter who or where they may be, patience. ( That is my struggle-- can you tell?!)
• Thanks for checking in!

Alicia

Tulip Festival!

Tulip Festival is here again! Yesterday we had a great day downtown! Jackson did some Dutch games-- he even had fun! Maicy and I scrubbed streets. We ate too much, but it was all so good! And we will do it all again today. The kids will ride floats in both parades today and we are looking forward to that. I can't believe how big he is!! She just hates to have her picture taken! ;) One pic of the 3 of us A trip down memory lane! I think this could be current, but evidently my kids are much older and bigger now ( and so am I) This was taken in 2005! Look at my babies! (Although we do still struggle with each us looking at the camera at the same time!) Enjoy your weekend!

Let's Get this blog rolling!

Okay, So I am not very good at updating. Mostly because as far as adoption goes, there is nothing to tell right now. So, since its my blog and I can do what I want as you hopelessly read along, or don't, I will start writing more. About whatever at all. Because after all, the blog is titled "life's a journey" and we are still on a journey. No matter how mundane those days may be, its our journey. So, stay tuned... soon... very soon.... I will bore you on a much more regular basis!! I would like to share a few things right now, some important, some not so much.

• It is National Foster Parent Month! How great really! So, (this was supposed to be up before Mother's Day) please take a moment to pray especially for Foster Moms. They are amazing people who are quite selfless. I don't know how they do it, but I do know that God upholds them each and every day. And a few more prayers on their behalf would be awesome.
• We did have our first official phone call to take someone in. Unfortunately it was just not a situation that would have been good in our home at all. Please know, we are not "picky" so to speak, but we have discussed at great lengths what is best for our family and those we would take in. We have ages and situations in our mind. Not that we aren't open to God's plans, it was just very clear to us both that this was not at all in His plan for us. I believe it was practice for me to say "no" What!? NO?! Yeah, new word for me. (my kids disagree!) But in all honesty it is so hard for me to say that. So, it was a good lesson, and I am relieved that I was able to be tested and I feel I passed.
• TULIP FESTIVAL in the OC!! Random, yup. What can I say. This is on my mind, its busy, its fun, and then, on Saturday night around 10:30, I will be done! Yeah! Tonight I was busy finishing up Maicy's lace accessories for her costume, which somehow I had forgotten about aaaallll year long. See, I made her(and mine) costume last year ( okay I had a little help) and then I got very angry at the lace from my costume, so I decided hers could wait til winter. Good winter project right? Yeah. I forgot. Until someone wanted to borrow her old costume and I realized she had been using the same lace since she was about 1. Now its done.
• Pictures will be posted after the festival, promise!!

Have a great day and God Bless!

Just a brief update

I mentioned in my last post that our homestudy had been submitted. I did hear back that those children have been placed in a permanent home now. It was disappointing, but, we know that God's plan is so much greater than we can imagine and we will continue to wait on Him. In the mean time.... I think I need a dog. I talk to myself a lot when I am home during the day!If that happens, we will be sure to let you know! Steve is ready to adopt as many kids as necessary, but doesn't like the thought of a dog!!

Instead of posting the last 2 weeks...

I went to school with Maicy to make Green Eggs and Ham. I love Green Eggs and ham, Sam I am!

Then I went to school with Jackson to make corn husk dolls and spool knit.

At this point I emailed those pics to Steve who replied that I was not adjusting to both kids being in school full time, so I needed to go along with them. There may be some truth to that... It's okay, I am not too proud to say it. And any mom who has been where I am now, would agree. ;)

We celebrated our baby turning 6 years old. She had a Gigi themed birthday. For those who don't know, Gigi is a character by Sheila Walsh, and she is God's little Princess. We love her books!

Before the birthday, we celebrated Easter. Here are the kids all dressed up in the morning, and then freezing searching for Easter eggs. Next year, we will get them fancy new winter coats and snowpants for Easter!

• I guess that's all. This has been a very busy month around here, not all of it caught on camera, and some is, just didn't get posted. So, I apologize for not updating more. The truth of the matter is, as far as the adoption process we really have nothing to update. I think our homestudy has been sent to an adoption worker, but, there is a communication gap with our agency, so I don't know for sure. I thank you for your prayers, and we will update as soon as anything happens!

• In the meantime, we really are doing well. The kids are adjusting to Steve working out of town, they are playing soccer-- in 30 mph winds which is just so much fun for me freezing my rear off! (if that really worked, oh, wouldn't that be great!) I am keeping busy-- albeit by following my kids to school--and we are experiencing nothing but peace right now.

• I know that we are in God's plan and that He hasn't forgotten about us. He knows our desires, and He knows our needs. We will wait on Him.

• Thanks for stopping in! I am now off to clean and organize the toy room! (see, I am very busy!)

Be Still

• I have to thank you all so much for the wonderful verses that you have shared with me! Your time and encouragement is greatly appreciated. Your words are perfect. And yes, I really wrote them down and have names of the people who shared them on the cards so each time I read them, I remember to say a prayer of gratitude for you in my life.
• Last night ( after I was told that it's time to update again! Seriously, I have little "inspriration here but since one person asked... you all suffer!) I thought about what to share with you. What kept popping in my head was the old car safety ad "You can learn a lot from a dummy" So, I will share what I have learned and you too can learn from this dummy! I am in awe of the words that people found and how fitting they are. I am definately delving into Isaiah closer this week and it has been great for me. Anyway here are some verses shared with me. I didn't include the ones from the comment section since you can check those out yourselves.
• In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
• Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowlege Him, and He will direct you paths. Proverbs 2: 5-6
• Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more then all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21
• And then, after all of this, I looked up. At my wall. Oh yeah, that verse that I see each and everyday. I love it. And I still couldn't have told you correctly where it was found without looking at it. I knew it was a Psalm, and I know what it says.
• Be still and know that I am God.
• I need to stop fretting and worrying and trying to make it all happen.
• I need to be still.
• God is God and He is the One who will make things happen.
• I will wait, and listen, and pray.
• He will do.
• I will be still.

If anyone can tell me why I can't get paragraph breaks to show up please do!!! I swear I broke it up for easier reading!!