Well...we did it. We really as my Southern friends would say "gone and done it." We filled out the Foster Care application and we are starting our six weeks of training on Feb. 24th.
I have several things paralleling when this training should take place, so it is going to be so awesome watching The Lord sustain me and help get me through all of it, because as of now, in my strength, I'm starting to schedule my massages due to the stress! Ha!
Shew what a ride, never in my life did I imagine this is what my life would be like, living on the edge of that cliff constantly being encouraged and asked to take jumps off the high peaks, trusting and knowing that The Lord is there to be my parachute.....over and over...and over...and over He asks me to jump, and yet....I still am terrified of jumping. I wonder if it will get easier at some point?
But for now.....here we goooooooooo!
:)
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Don't forget the "so that"....
As many of you know, those of you who know me in real life that is, know that we are in the middle of a winter...storm? Well its not really a storm its a winter chill, how about that. The temps have been around 3ยบ and below zero with the wind chill. Very cold to say the least.
Well one of my good buddies had the idea to open up our church to the community around our city that currently don't have a home. You see the Salvation Army offers a place to stay, but they were at capacity with 80 beds filled, and the Daily Bread, another shelter here in town, was also to capacity. So he had the idea to open up our church to them so they could have a warm place to stay until the weather warmed back up a little.
What an idea! A simple one, but one that kind of hit me upside the head...well duh...why wouldn't we do that??? Then just like that the people jumped in head first...planning, coordinating, pitching in! Local restaurants have been so willing to help pitch in with food that we had to stop the food from coming because there is so much! WOW! Praise God! It has been beautiful watching this, very tangible way of being Jesus' hands and feet, come alive in people! So many people have come to help and just be with them and welcome them into our "home" the church. It has filled my heart with so much awe and wonder I could float for days.
There was more news of an old folks home water line breaking and there were about 60 elderly folks needing a place to stay as well! So blue ridge did it again and opened up their doors to them as well! So now there are two different groups of guests staying at the church building and from what I heard there were so many people pitching in to help accommodate everyone...even the guests!! Now THAT is cool!! The news has traveled quickly around the city of what has been happening and news stations have come out to interview, people around town are talking about it, and as I hear all the chatter of what is happening...I stop and think.....in the hustle and bustle and the planning and the prepping, I hope we haven't forgotten the "so that" in all of this. So that.....they may know Him....I trust the community of believers that I'm a part of and have no doubt that the "so that" is there and fully being talked about, but it just made me wonder about other situation we/I find myself in at times....do I forget the "so that?" Quite honestly....I think I do at times. I don't want to forget the so that, I want that to be my first, last and middle thought of each situation that I find myself in. I'm so thankful for times like this when I can stop and get a gentle reminders like this one.....Don't forget the "so that."
Well one of my good buddies had the idea to open up our church to the community around our city that currently don't have a home. You see the Salvation Army offers a place to stay, but they were at capacity with 80 beds filled, and the Daily Bread, another shelter here in town, was also to capacity. So he had the idea to open up our church to them so they could have a warm place to stay until the weather warmed back up a little.
What an idea! A simple one, but one that kind of hit me upside the head...well duh...why wouldn't we do that??? Then just like that the people jumped in head first...planning, coordinating, pitching in! Local restaurants have been so willing to help pitch in with food that we had to stop the food from coming because there is so much! WOW! Praise God! It has been beautiful watching this, very tangible way of being Jesus' hands and feet, come alive in people! So many people have come to help and just be with them and welcome them into our "home" the church. It has filled my heart with so much awe and wonder I could float for days.
There was more news of an old folks home water line breaking and there were about 60 elderly folks needing a place to stay as well! So blue ridge did it again and opened up their doors to them as well! So now there are two different groups of guests staying at the church building and from what I heard there were so many people pitching in to help accommodate everyone...even the guests!! Now THAT is cool!! The news has traveled quickly around the city of what has been happening and news stations have come out to interview, people around town are talking about it, and as I hear all the chatter of what is happening...I stop and think.....in the hustle and bustle and the planning and the prepping, I hope we haven't forgotten the "so that" in all of this. So that.....they may know Him....I trust the community of believers that I'm a part of and have no doubt that the "so that" is there and fully being talked about, but it just made me wonder about other situation we/I find myself in at times....do I forget the "so that?" Quite honestly....I think I do at times. I don't want to forget the so that, I want that to be my first, last and middle thought of each situation that I find myself in. I'm so thankful for times like this when I can stop and get a gentle reminders like this one.....Don't forget the "so that."
Nice Quiet Weekend.....
The nice quiet weekend that was planned was quickly altered when I got a call on my Friday off from my friend at 10am. Her father in law was in the hospital and in critical condition. Her husband had decided to drive down and she was going to just stay the weekend at home with her 3 children (14, 3, & 2) instead of lugging them to South Carolina. As any good friend would do, I offered to keep her children so she could go with her husband. Another one of our friends offered too and so they took us up on it & left friday mid-day.
So then started my weekend of being a mom of...many! haha Shew. They were SUCH good kids, don't hear that wrong, but man...how exhausting.....
and I started that blog post two days ago! haha Yep, that pretty much sums it up! ;)
So then started my weekend of being a mom of...many! haha Shew. They were SUCH good kids, don't hear that wrong, but man...how exhausting.....
and I started that blog post two days ago! haha Yep, that pretty much sums it up! ;)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Here We Go
I am seemingly averaging one post a month these days which makes me sad because there are days that I have so much to say, but just don't even have the energy to turn on my computer. Outside of my work and smart phone I don't think I log on to a computer more than once a month these days! There have been several things that have been rattling around in this head that I've not had a chance to get out, but I felt in the interest of marker moments in our lives this one needs to get documented.
Remember my last post? The one on living in light of eternity? Yah that one, that tiny little post....well its funny how God starts to do something in our hearts and then actually calls us to them....So yah we are in a moment like that.
Lets back up...in early November (told you its been a while!) we went to an adoption/foster care rally at my church. I was fully going as a support and encouragement to others. See where I am (was) with more than the two kids we have is....perfect. I do not want more. Hear me...I do not want more. You can think about it like this...as much as Jeremy did not want children at all is as much as I do not want more than two. So that is where I am as I go to this rally. Well as God in all his sweet gentle kind ways that he does, a girl was talking and she was giving us the perspective of a child that was pretty much born into the system and aged out of the system. What I loved about her was she was so real and honest and flat out said, I'm not here to convince you to adopt or foster a child, I'm here to tell you the child's perspective. She did alright! It was beautifully heartbreaking. As I'm sitting there in my stubbornness of not wanting more kids there was a section of her talk that hit me hard...and the Holy Spirit said, that is your next step. So I immediately do what I do best, and I said NO. Ha! :)
There it was again, Janna, that is your next step....so I do what I normally do and put my foot down and say "fine, but you have to do something in Jeremy's heart too because I am not leading this!" In all my spoiled brat manner.
So the rally finishes and it was a great time of encouragement....but as we are driving home before we could really even get a full conversation out, God had did what he originally did with Jeremy & my hearts at catalyst in 2009....he aligned our hearts. We both felt we were being called to move into Foster Care.
So now that is what has been rattling around in this head of mine...I have no clue if that means we are supposed to Foster to adopt where they will be a part of our families forever, or if it means we are to be a safe place for a season for a child to come into and find healing? We have no clue, we are just starting the process, and part of that process has been to simplify our home. So that is what we have been doing the past month. The next step is an informational meeting with one of the local agencies; which we are attending tonight. So if you are reading this blog today would you please lift us up in prayer tonight as we go. We are just trying to be obedient to what God has asked us to do, but aren't 100% sure we know what this will look like. So we are hoping for come clarity and confirmation tonight as we go.
So with as much as I really do not want more children, yes still if it were up to me I'd be done for good in the kid arena, I see the beauty in the story that God is writing in our hearts and lives. I can't wait to open our home to a little child that has been broken and needs a home just to feel and be loved unconditionally. I can't wait to be an outward example of what Christ does for us, he pursues us, he finds us, he wants to love us, he wants to mend our hearts and make us well. I am so excited to watch a little heart grow and bloom at the discovery of how much God truly does love them. There is beauty in all of this.....its just a little scary as we go...ok a lot scary. Would love and cherish the prayers! xoxo
Remember my last post? The one on living in light of eternity? Yah that one, that tiny little post....well its funny how God starts to do something in our hearts and then actually calls us to them....So yah we are in a moment like that.
Lets back up...in early November (told you its been a while!) we went to an adoption/foster care rally at my church. I was fully going as a support and encouragement to others. See where I am (was) with more than the two kids we have is....perfect. I do not want more. Hear me...I do not want more. You can think about it like this...as much as Jeremy did not want children at all is as much as I do not want more than two. So that is where I am as I go to this rally. Well as God in all his sweet gentle kind ways that he does, a girl was talking and she was giving us the perspective of a child that was pretty much born into the system and aged out of the system. What I loved about her was she was so real and honest and flat out said, I'm not here to convince you to adopt or foster a child, I'm here to tell you the child's perspective. She did alright! It was beautifully heartbreaking. As I'm sitting there in my stubbornness of not wanting more kids there was a section of her talk that hit me hard...and the Holy Spirit said, that is your next step. So I immediately do what I do best, and I said NO. Ha! :)
There it was again, Janna, that is your next step....so I do what I normally do and put my foot down and say "fine, but you have to do something in Jeremy's heart too because I am not leading this!" In all my spoiled brat manner.
So the rally finishes and it was a great time of encouragement....but as we are driving home before we could really even get a full conversation out, God had did what he originally did with Jeremy & my hearts at catalyst in 2009....he aligned our hearts. We both felt we were being called to move into Foster Care.
So now that is what has been rattling around in this head of mine...I have no clue if that means we are supposed to Foster to adopt where they will be a part of our families forever, or if it means we are to be a safe place for a season for a child to come into and find healing? We have no clue, we are just starting the process, and part of that process has been to simplify our home. So that is what we have been doing the past month. The next step is an informational meeting with one of the local agencies; which we are attending tonight. So if you are reading this blog today would you please lift us up in prayer tonight as we go. We are just trying to be obedient to what God has asked us to do, but aren't 100% sure we know what this will look like. So we are hoping for come clarity and confirmation tonight as we go.
So with as much as I really do not want more children, yes still if it were up to me I'd be done for good in the kid arena, I see the beauty in the story that God is writing in our hearts and lives. I can't wait to open our home to a little child that has been broken and needs a home just to feel and be loved unconditionally. I can't wait to be an outward example of what Christ does for us, he pursues us, he finds us, he wants to love us, he wants to mend our hearts and make us well. I am so excited to watch a little heart grow and bloom at the discovery of how much God truly does love them. There is beauty in all of this.....its just a little scary as we go...ok a lot scary. Would love and cherish the prayers! xoxo
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Living in light of Eternity
Lately God has been impressed on my heart this idea of "Living in light of Eternity." I've been challenged to look at what this means on a daily basis, and its not fun. haha I mean it is, but you understand what I mean, its a daily dying to self, and (for me) that is not fun. I like pleasing myself if I'm completely honest. I like convenient, I like easy, I like cookie cutter. But as I read through scripture and let scripture read me, dying to self, personal convenience, easy, and cookie cutter is not how Jesus told us to live. At all. That is when I start to get the sweats. Sweaty palms, racing heart, the jitters.....and I say Lord, I'm good. Life is good. I have my family of four and we are good! But did he call me to just have this perfect cookie cutter life? And is he calling me to stay there....and if I'm being honest the answer is no. EVENThough, I would love to say yes. :)
As I read through the word, I got to thinking about how we are just passing through this life. This is not the end all be all place to plant and take root life, if we are followers of Christ. We are passing through, only. God in all his graciousness allowed us to be here on earth at this very time and season we are here, and his heart and his desire is for us to impact His Kingdom. Not to strive for the perfect family of four, white picket fence, and perfect career. We are passing through. The point is to bring people with us as we pass through.
I have been reading 1st & 2nd Timothy a lot lately and I just love the encouragement Paul gives to Timothy. He is a source of strength and encouragement for him. All throughout these books Paul is helping Timothy and paved all through out his letter there is one theme...living in light of eternity. Here are some things I've been learning:
1 Timothy 1:15-17 Paul remembers what God did for him, remembers where he came from, and knows where he is going...he is living in light of eternity, and does not forget that he is a sinner saved by grace.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul says to train yourself to be Godly. What sound advice! because how hard is it to be Godly? Its very hard, so he tells timothy to TRAIN yourself. Its not going to come natural, you have to work at it. He also knew this eternal mindset was not a natural response either....we have to train ourselves to have it.
2 Timothy 2:22-25 Paul is writing timothy with Jesus in mind as his example. All throughout the Gospels we see Jesus' life and we see he took every opportunity to teach his disciples about the Kingdom of God, and whatever he taught them, He lived before them! So in order to continue in this eternal mindset, we need to live out what we believe. Live out what the Bible tells us to. That is living in light of eternity!
2 Timothy 4:3-8 No matter how hard this life gets...keep going! Keep your eyes on the goal...eternity. Keeping our eyes on what really matters, what we are here for, what impact we are supposed to have for HIS Kingdom is why we live in light of eternity, and can one day join Paul in saying, "I have fought the good fight! I have finished the race! and I have kept the faith!"
Joseph M. Stowell, Pastor for the Moody Church in Chicago wrote, "When we believe the reality of the other side, we start behaving differently on this side. This is what drove the disciples our into their world - they had seen firsthand the reality of the other side."
As I read through the word, I got to thinking about how we are just passing through this life. This is not the end all be all place to plant and take root life, if we are followers of Christ. We are passing through, only. God in all his graciousness allowed us to be here on earth at this very time and season we are here, and his heart and his desire is for us to impact His Kingdom. Not to strive for the perfect family of four, white picket fence, and perfect career. We are passing through. The point is to bring people with us as we pass through.
I have been reading 1st & 2nd Timothy a lot lately and I just love the encouragement Paul gives to Timothy. He is a source of strength and encouragement for him. All throughout these books Paul is helping Timothy and paved all through out his letter there is one theme...living in light of eternity. Here are some things I've been learning:
1 Timothy 1:15-17 Paul remembers what God did for him, remembers where he came from, and knows where he is going...he is living in light of eternity, and does not forget that he is a sinner saved by grace.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul says to train yourself to be Godly. What sound advice! because how hard is it to be Godly? Its very hard, so he tells timothy to TRAIN yourself. Its not going to come natural, you have to work at it. He also knew this eternal mindset was not a natural response either....we have to train ourselves to have it.
2 Timothy 2:22-25 Paul is writing timothy with Jesus in mind as his example. All throughout the Gospels we see Jesus' life and we see he took every opportunity to teach his disciples about the Kingdom of God, and whatever he taught them, He lived before them! So in order to continue in this eternal mindset, we need to live out what we believe. Live out what the Bible tells us to. That is living in light of eternity!
2 Timothy 4:3-8 No matter how hard this life gets...keep going! Keep your eyes on the goal...eternity. Keeping our eyes on what really matters, what we are here for, what impact we are supposed to have for HIS Kingdom is why we live in light of eternity, and can one day join Paul in saying, "I have fought the good fight! I have finished the race! and I have kept the faith!"
Joseph M. Stowell, Pastor for the Moody Church in Chicago wrote, "When we believe the reality of the other side, we start behaving differently on this side. This is what drove the disciples our into their world - they had seen firsthand the reality of the other side."
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
November!
Oh little neglected blog of mine I do apologize for not coming to see you in...well over two months! That might be a record!
I knew coming into this fall season it was going to get batty around here, and well its been batty that's for sure! We are in a slow down season so now hopefully I will be able to get a few posts done before another month or two passes!
So I went through the Made for More study, and I totally forgot to get the girls to do an evaluation of what they liked/didn't like, and so I have no clue how it went for them. haha opps. There was some really good conversations and a few stories of girls being impacted, and so the rest is up to God and what He wants to do in them. Which I am totally ok with! It was good to do it with high school students. It was a little different taking peers through it, but with the students I had to think a little differently and tweak some things, but all in all I think it went well! Yay God!
Then Jeremy went to Nepal and my parents came to visit us. It was nice to see them, and I was super thankful for the extra help! Especially since I have to leave work at 5:40 each morning! It was so nice that they were here, super thankful!!
Then there was Halloween! My a lot of time has passed!! It was really fun this year because Ella was definitely into it. She dressed up as Princess Sophia, and she felt like a Princess too, it was cute! We went trick or treating around a friends neighborhood. By the end of the night as she was running back to me from getting a peice of candy and screaming, "MOM I did it!! I said Trick or Treat, and I said THANK YOU!!!" haha She was super proud of herself, and I was very proud of her too! Its a neat journey watching these kids grow! :)
Miss Alivia was a Strawberry. Hahahaha the costume was from my parents and it was adorable!! I'm going to miss this toddler stage! She is just so darn cute, and I think I kiss her face hundreds of times in a day! She is such a joy and a crowd stopper! As people came up to get candy everyone "AWWWW Look at her! So adorable!!" haha it was really cute. Super thankful to get these seasons with my kiddos. What a gift they are.
God and I are doing great! Lots of things have been rattling around in my brain, and I will do another post on that later, but now its
to Thanksgiving fun! I was seeing so many people posting stuff on Christmas and it hit me! We get to decorate in THREE weeks!! WOOHOO My rule in my house is you don't decorate for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. I made this rule because if you decorate before then you just have two Christmas's basically! haha But, I may have rearranged my furniture to get ready for the tree already! haha :)
What about you, what is your Christmas decorating tradition?
I knew coming into this fall season it was going to get batty around here, and well its been batty that's for sure! We are in a slow down season so now hopefully I will be able to get a few posts done before another month or two passes!
So I went through the Made for More study, and I totally forgot to get the girls to do an evaluation of what they liked/didn't like, and so I have no clue how it went for them. haha opps. There was some really good conversations and a few stories of girls being impacted, and so the rest is up to God and what He wants to do in them. Which I am totally ok with! It was good to do it with high school students. It was a little different taking peers through it, but with the students I had to think a little differently and tweak some things, but all in all I think it went well! Yay God!
Then Jeremy went to Nepal and my parents came to visit us. It was nice to see them, and I was super thankful for the extra help! Especially since I have to leave work at 5:40 each morning! It was so nice that they were here, super thankful!!
Then there was Halloween! My a lot of time has passed!! It was really fun this year because Ella was definitely into it. She dressed up as Princess Sophia, and she felt like a Princess too, it was cute! We went trick or treating around a friends neighborhood. By the end of the night as she was running back to me from getting a peice of candy and screaming, "MOM I did it!! I said Trick or Treat, and I said THANK YOU!!!" haha She was super proud of herself, and I was very proud of her too! Its a neat journey watching these kids grow! :)
Miss Alivia was a Strawberry. Hahahaha the costume was from my parents and it was adorable!! I'm going to miss this toddler stage! She is just so darn cute, and I think I kiss her face hundreds of times in a day! She is such a joy and a crowd stopper! As people came up to get candy everyone "AWWWW Look at her! So adorable!!" haha it was really cute. Super thankful to get these seasons with my kiddos. What a gift they are.
God and I are doing great! Lots of things have been rattling around in my brain, and I will do another post on that later, but now its
to Thanksgiving fun! I was seeing so many people posting stuff on Christmas and it hit me! We get to decorate in THREE weeks!! WOOHOO My rule in my house is you don't decorate for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. I made this rule because if you decorate before then you just have two Christmas's basically! haha But, I may have rearranged my furniture to get ready for the tree already! haha :)
What about you, what is your Christmas decorating tradition?
Thursday, September 5, 2013
MFM
Well here it is. In print. To give to students. Yikes.
Almost exactly one year later, the birth & vision of Made for More happened, and on September 17th it is coming to fruition. God is so cool. I love that I am here where I am now, because last year when I started writing and getting all that was in my heart out on paper, I just felt crazy. Over & over I would say, ok Lord.....use it how you will, its all from you anyway! And he is using it! I'm kind of scared, but super excited because I KNOW that I bring nothing to this & its all him wanting to get into the hearts and lives of these girls. He wants them to know that He loves them & HE made them for more! EEEE So excited to give them this gift he's given me! YAY GOD!!!
So this is where you come into play...please pray! Please pray for these girls that will be going through this first round of it, that it would penetrate their heart, create deep lasting roots, and bring true life change. Changing their view of themselves forever; knowing it is only because of Christ in them! Pray they would engage and understand the content. Pray their hearts would be prepared for what they are about to encounter. And lastly pray that they would commit! It is only 7 weeks, so pray that they would be all in so that they can experience fully what the Lord has for them!
Thank you!!
Lord I love you, and I'm so honored and humbled to be here right now. I pray that this would radically change hearts & that forever they would be different as they grasp a understanding of your love for them that they never knew was there! Thank you for this gift of made for more! Thank you that it is possible to live in freedom...because of YOU!!! ♥
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