Wheat Harvest

 

Today we are cutting our first wheat crop!

 

DJ getting some wheat of his own

 

 

Andy unloading wheat into the grain cart

 

Eating lunch at the edge of the field

 

For the LORD your God

will bless you in all your harvest

and in all the work of your hands,

and your joy will be complete.

Deuteronomy 16:15

Hoping in Him

~Our Family, June 2013~

 

For about the past year, I have written several times of the great need for families for children waiting to be adopted from foster care.  And that is very true, there is a need, but we are beginning to see that maybe there isn't a great need for a family like ours. 

 

We are at the point now where we are inquiring about various kids we see on the photolistings, and almost every time, the child we ask about has some big need that prevents them from being a good match for our family.  Things like, "cannot be contained in a classroom", "s*xually provocative behavior", "chronic suicidal ideation" or "history of false accusations of s*xual abuse" are some of the descriptions we've seen.  Some are on as many as 6 prescription medications for mental health issues.  Does your heart not just break for them?  They have been through so much suffering to be at the point they're at now.  Placing them in with our boys would just not be wise.  These kids largely need families with no other children, or older children.  If that describes you, maybe you're up for a challenge?  (:

 

Of the few kids that are available that have more mild needs, there is an abundance of willing families ready to adopt them.  One of the children we submitted our homestudy for had 20 families interested.  Girls under age 10 are apparently in high demand.

 

So where does that leave us?  This week we sent our paperwork in to the local adoption attorney that helped us with the adoption of AJ, to be presented to birthmoms who are looking for a family for their child, probably a newborn.  So we have to be prepared for any girl age newborn through 13!  We don't know what God's plans are for us, but we are hoping in Him.  I posted this verse last time, but it just keeps running through my head-

 

Then you will know that I am the LORD;

those who hope in me

will not be disappointed.

Isaiah 49:23

Summer's Day Tea

 

On a beautiful summer's day, sitting on the porch swing

sipping tea and reading a magazine sounds pretty inviting,

doesn't it?  Of course, you might need some iced tea in your tea cup!

 

This pretty rose tea cup is made by Homer Laughlin.

 

A Teatime Victoria magazine always has lots of inspiration!

 

Aren't these miniature pink roses so cute?

 

The quilt blocks were pieced by me in high school, and my Grandma

quilted it for me.  I used scraps of material from the dresses and clothes

my Mom had made for me when I was little.  I had a shirt out of

this Holly Hobby print- isn't it so sweet? 

 

And here is an encouraging verse I found to share with you as well~

 

Shout for joy, O heavens;

rejoice, O earth;

burst into song, O mountains!

For the LORD comforts his people

and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

 

Then you will know that I am the LORD;

those who hope in me will not be disappointed.

 

Isaiah 49:13,23

 

~I am joining Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday again today~

Looking Up When Life is Looking Down

 

I've been reading this little book by Beth Moore,

Looking Up When Life is Looking Down

again lately and it has been very encouraging.

Beth Moore says things so well!

 

This morning I read this section on waiting, and it

was so applicable to my life now.  So just in case

any of the rest of you are waiting, here's some encouragement.

 



"And you must never fear that God is not at work while you wait.  He's doing what no one else can.  Get a load of Isaiah 64:4:

 

Since the beginning of the world

Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,

Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

 

If your eyes could only see how God is moving all those chess pieces around the board for maximum impact, it would blow your mind.  He's up to something big that doesn't only affect you.  He's also after those around you.  Furthermore, He's not just interested in impacting the present.  He is the One 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty' (Revelation 1:8).  Within every 'is', God is mindful of what 'was' and what 'is to come,' and He intends to show Himself mighty in all of the above.  One thing is certain: you can't accuse God of being shortsighted.

 

 

While you wait for God to work and to manifest your sure deliverance, wrap yourself around Him as tightly as you possibly can.  Ask Him to make you more God-aware than you have ever been in your life.  Bind yourself to Him with everything you've got so that you will ultimately--inevitably--go anywhere He does.  Hang on for dear life and never let go.  No matter how long it takes, He'll never run out of breath or stop to soak His aching feet.  Pin yourself so close to Him that you can almost hear Him whisper.  His words will live in you and you will live in Him.  God does not make His home in a pit.  Bound to His holy robe, neither will you."

 

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Knocking

We are moving along with our adoption, one little bitty step at a time.  You know this verse?

"So I say to you:

Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives;

he who seeks finds;

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Luke 11:9-10

 

We've been doing a lot of knocking lately, since it seems like there aren't many kids from the state that would fit our family.  I am so glad that even when it seems like we are in the dark, feeling our way around, God knows exactly what the outcome will be- He is so good!  We are looking forward to seeing what door He opens.

A Winner and 60 Years

By a very scientific method (where DJ picked a number) Aunt Agnes was the winner of my give away!  Thank you for all your comments, both on the blog and on facebook.  I will be getting the necklace to you, Aunt Agnes!

 

My Grandparents are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary this week, so we had a celebration for them yesterday.  I hope Andy and I will get to 60 years one day.  (Can you tell our kids were thrilled to get another family picture taken???)

 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

Prayers?

PD and a soft shell turtle Andy found by the side of the road

 

Would you pray for us about our adoption?  We are looking through profiles of more kids, and would appreciate your prayers for us, that we would have wisdom, perseverance, and complete trust in God as we go through the process.  A lot of the kids we're looking at have been through so much, and therefore have many needs.  Sometimes our hearts are bigger than our heads, but we don't want to say no just because it looks hard either.  Please pray we would be sensitive to where God is leading.  Thank you!