Of Birthdays, Cars, and Seasons of Life

Before I begin this post, I want to share something really important. Please take a moment to check out the 2 links on the right hand side of my blog. One is called "2,000 Tu-tu's" and the other is called "Orphaned No More" Both of these moms are trying to raise their funding to bring home 2 more precious children. Both moms are making and selling items that would be great gifts for girls on your Christmas list. One is, of course, really pretty tu-tus of different colors. The other is handmade bracelets. I am definitely going to get these for my girls for Christmas to help out these moms. Thanks for taking a minute to look and please share this with others too. If you have a blog, you can add the links to your own blog too, in order to spread the word further. Thanks.

WELL...
Four Years Old !! Our little Faith turns 4! Last year on this day, we did have a party...but she had no idea what we were doing. The whole thing scared her and she had no idea what presents were. Tonight we were reminiscing about her "lightbulb moment" last year when she finally understood that the presents WERE for HER. She literally just sat and looked at a pile of presents because it meant nothing to her. We tried for a while to explain and when she finally understood, her eyes got big and she started pulling the presents in towards her with wide eyes saying "That's-a-Faiful"



Well, this year...SHE KNEW. She knows aalllll about parties now...you know, being our "social butterfly and all".

Uncle Dan and Aunt Jes...here are your goodies making their appearance half way across the country. She loved them! We started your book already.




Aunt Sue and Cousin Jennie make the blog!
As you can see, Miss Faith got lots of jewels for her birthday.



Jennie, our family cake decorator, wisely talked Faith out of her "Blue-flower- with-a-kitty-on-it-and-Spongebob" cake. And talked her into a princess cake.
Yeay, Jennie.




Happy Birthday...Happy Four Years Old!!!


Well, now....

Here's someone who's older than 4 years old!

This week Mitchell bought his first car! My hubby says this car is every teenage boy's dream car. Seriously, it is gorgeous. It's Way Cool...do you think it's cool to say "way cool"? He worked many long hard hours to save the money for it!



We drove to Virginia to get his car and it was such a gorgeous day. I oohed and aahed the whole way about how the leaves are still hanging on the trees down there...and of course it was warmer...Ya know, "the grass is always greener," right?

There is this incredibly beautiful tree in my yard that has become the "last tree standing"



It looks like this...













...when everything else looks like this...

I don't ever remember not wanting winter to come like I do this year. I don't know why. It's almost been like a sentimental feeling of sorts..wanting to hang on and not head into that barrenness.

There's this song that has grabbed me...


So I've been thinking alot about seasons. And how maybe for different seasons of our lives God has different work for us to do. My dear brother and his wife just filed paperwork to adopt from Ethiopia. My kids joke all the time about our family really being able to sing "Jesus loves the little children" with each child singing their own color! The reality of it all strikes me deeply though....that God destined us for this calling...and that He knew long before we took our first breaths, what He quietly speaks to our hearts, but our minds still only know in part. I think about how my wonderful parents were divinely veered off the comfortable road, to now walk with their children in gathering orphans from all corners of the earth. We are not capable. We are not wise enough. We are not even strong enough.

But He is.

Father, I write this post for You. That as You unfold Your plan, be it in times of beautiful color...or times that feel barren...that we would walk it without question.