Today is Sunday.

Today is also a holiday, New Years Day.

Today is the Lord’s Day. A time to gather as a family & fellowship with our church.

I could not think of a better way to start the new year.

I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my dearest friends on the praise team this morning, Alyson Lee. She was here visiting her in-laws for the holiday weekend. It was refreshing to see her as we exchanged smiles & later hugs. She has been so precious to me in recent years. She continues to be such an encouragement & a wonderful support to me & my family. I have greatly missed her since she & her family moved to Texas, over a year ago. We keep in touch through phone calls, Facebook and a weekend scrapbooking retreat twice a year. Seeing Alyson was a blessing I didn’t know I needed until today.

God is good like that.

As Chris Malone led worship & Mary too on the praise team IT hit me with a stream of emotions.

Our family is only weeks away from saying good-bye to our dearest friends.

Friends we’ve known for over 10 years.

Friends we’ve grown to love and value.

Our children’s best friends & mine too.

Through the births of children, the news of Down syndrome, walks at the YMCA, the adoptions of SEVEN children with Down syndrome from Ukraine, garage sales, hour long phone chats, birthday parties, sleep overs, surgeries, numerous church activities, date nights, stiches, broken bones & ER visits, play dates at the wooden park, road trip to Dallas, Women of Faith Conferences, adoption trip to Ukraine, a child locked in the car (in the driveway), trips to the zoo, Christmas parties, home school field trips, swimming at the Moore Pool (we look like we own a day care) a shoulder to cry on, a non-judge mental ear to listen, many prayers said on one another’s behalf & laughing so hard I could pee my pants.

The list goes on & on.

What I will miss most is TIME together.

So excited for the call God has on the Malone’s lives. Proud of them for giving their YES.

None the less, they will be missed. No other family can relate to ours quite like they can.

Not making resolutions this year.

I do have a list I will keep to myself of things I would like to accomplish, do better at or more of.

We were given an opportunity right away to serve another family.

We were able to bring dinner to another dear family, the Bessert’s.

They have been so good to us when arriving home with new little ones from Ukraine, preparing meals for our family & making hospital visits with a Diet Coke in hand.

Wayne & I were grateful there was a need we could fulfill, dinner.

How often do we have the opportunity to give back?

How can you repay someone for their thoughtfulness & time, by doing the same.

I am a giver by nature. It is hard for me to ask for help or receive. I am learning with the course of the past couple of years there is no way we can do the calling God has on our lives alone.

God has placed generous, kind people in our paths who ask for nothing in return. True servants!

I pray this year I can be a better giver of my time, gifts & talents.

This message is about genuine friendship. Heartfelt & real.

I pray I can be a blessing to those who continue to give so freely to our family.

We are depending on the Lord as our provider of all things & our strength in all things.

To God be the glory!

Happy New Year 2012

I found myself in a position this evening I had not planned for.

A place that is becoming my new norm.

As Marcus’ mom & his voice I continue to share his story. His story of redemption.

The Lord continues to offer me opportunities to tell where Marcus came from & just how far he has come.

I can honestly say, the last 3 months have been harder than the first 2.5 years home. Why?

Because of change. Change for the good but none the less change.

I love Marcus. I know Marcus. I am invested in Marcus.

I am in a position, as his voice to share with others for him.

We don’t always receive the response we had hoped for.

Marcus is a handful, requiring constant one-on-one supervision.

Being left to himself for 3 years in a crib has certainly taken a tole on his short life.

There are times it still angers me, the neglect, malnourishment & abuse. It is not fair.

More importantly, it is not Marcus’ fault.

My husband & I were called to rescue him from an orphanage in Southern Ukraine.

We did just that. It was only the beginning.

Today, we continue to meet Marcus where he is & meet his needs as they come.

That has meant offering him great medical care, food for nourishment & most importantly the love of a family. The list continues to grow; the love of a church family, therapists & those who teach him in the classroom & neighbors in the community.

We have been told we are pioneers.

Teaching those to offer Marcus the love of Jesus & grace he deserves.

It’s not a job I came equipped for but one I gladly accept.

My prayer is that I will glorify the Lord in ALL that I say & do.

As I share with others our reality, Marcus’ truth, I pray there is compassion & concern to do right by him.

He deserves the love & kindness of others. In a way only God can provide.

I will continue to be his voice.

Advocate for the things that are right, not easy.

Marcus has come so far.

We see it as his family.

We want others to join us as we help him reach his full potential in a loving, accepting environment.

I thank God I was chosen for this journey. Marcus is SO worth it.

Please continue to pray for our little man.

God knows his needs even more than this mommy can express.

Our God is Bigger!

Tonight was one of those nights a mommy dreams about. A night planned for weeks.

Macey would “take the stage” as a part of the AWANA Worship Christmas program,

The Hanging of the Green.

The kids have worked tirelessly week after week on their songs they would share with us.

I am excited that Macey is included with her typical peers each week as they play instruments, sing songs & offer their worship to the Lord. It is a joyful sound and she LOVES it!

Macey was ready. She sang her little heart out along with signing the motions. No stage fright for her.

She was a star ready to shine!

Well, maybe just having a good time with her friends but I thought she was just beautiful. An angel.

Everyone in the family sat front & center to see Macey, to cheer her on. Everyone except Marcus. He played in childcare during the program. One day he will join us. Miss that little guy.

Anyway, Mia sang right along too & Daddy was grinning from ear to ear. One proud papa.

Things are different. Plans change but traditions stay the same.

Wayne & I knew this weekend would be a challenge. How could we all go to Journey to Bethlehem as a family or how could Wayne & I continue with tradition & take Taylor & Tanner together?

In years past, we’ve taken advantage of the first Friday night in December as date night, offered by our church. We left M&M to attend this event with T&T. This year the DSACO moved their Christmas party to the same night, last night was Bedlam so we made a choice to go tonight.

Wayne was helpful so I could continue to take Taylor & Tanner and bring Macey along as well. Was it the same, no. I missed Wayne being a part of our evening, it’s tradition. He offered to stay home with Marcus & Mia. He is nursing a cold himself. It promised to be a late, cold evening. We made the right choice.

                         We waited outside                   We waited inside             and waited some more

Then it was OUR turn to experience The Journey to Bethlehem. The iron horse awaited our arrival.

We traveled for miles & miles.

We learned of the Messiah, born in Bethlehem.

Jesus is THE Reason for the Season.

We are grateful for the ministry of Forest Hill Christian Church.

What a wonderful tradition to keep for my children.

May we all remember to keep CHRIST in Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Today is a BIG game day for Oklahoma.

This is the one football game Wayne & I make sure we watch together. It’s Bedlam!

The guys are funny wearing Wayne’s FREE Oklahoma Blood Institute t-shirts. I guess you could say we’re a house divided. I think they do it to have a little fun.

Game day is another reason for Wayne to feed us well. He wanted Bar-b-Q. Ribs to be exact. He bought a slab from our friends at Van’s Pig Stand. The ribs fell off the bone. That’s the only way I like them. They went great with our ham we were given last night from the DSACO Christmas party.

Taylor, Tanner, Wayne & I have enjoyed our evening together. Nothing like watching a run away game. The cowboys have the win in their hat. I feel so sad for the Sooners. No touchdowns to be had tonight.

Oklahoma football + Family time = Priceless

Cowboys 44 vs. Sooners 10