Gosh where did the week go! Earlier this week, Isaiah called saying his friend was coming home for the week end and could he catch a ride. I could hear a little yearning for home in his voice, so even though he is coming home for Easter I willingly agreed. He arrived somewhat down in the mouth which I had sort of picked up on the phone. His friend was with him, and there were lots of hugs all round as the kids were eager to see both of them, but he still wasn't himself.
Unfortunately the boys were at youth group and not due back for an hour or so, and that seemed to make him more doleful. After chatting for a little bit, a few things came out that were obviously bothering him. It seems that his friend, who has graduated from high school, has really been able to fast track his course at Job Corps and will be finished in just a few short months, where as Isaiah, who is doing amazing for his short few years being educated, is going to take probably another eighteen months to finish both his GED and his trade. Luckily we had neighbors over, and his friends mom, and we all reiterated to Isaiah his successes, not his failure to keep up with his friend.
It then occurred to me that we should always keep our eyes straight ahead, focused on the path that we are on, and not look over at someone else's journey. It can cause us many emotions if we let it. God has a path uniquely designed for each of us, and even though sometimes that path becomes foggy, or we stray away from it, it is ours. Isaiah's life has taken so many twists and turns in just a short time, but God knew every one of them, even if it wasn't the path set out in the beginning.
Well, the boys came home, there was much catching up to do, and they spent the rest of the night doing just that. Then an exciting turn of events and our neighbors took all three boys up to the North Georgia Mountains for the night. I must admit, Isaiah tried to feel torn about staying and visiting with us or going for an adventure, but they all ran out of here with big grins on their faces. Life is good, if you just let it.
My book Finding Friday is coming out in the next month or so and I am doing what they call a "crowd Fund Raiser" with Indiegogo. Here is the link to that. If you feel led to give something small, that would be great and help me get Isaiah's story out there. If not, please share this link with your friends, I would be most thankful.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Good Things Happening
It's easy to dwell, or get wrapped up in, the chaos of everyday life, and the things that bring us down. It's easier to get up in the morning and end up in chaos just getting everyone out of the house, either to school, or to your job, or that early meeting downtown where you have to fight the six lane traffic in rush hour, with the usual crash, or break down, or just the sun hanging low and bright in the sky because it is now daylight saving. But, if you can just say that small prayer and hold your breath, often, count to ten, and smile, let some of the stuff roll off your back, then life is better. Laughs come more often, frowns, which by the way are unbecoming and lead to wrinkles, are less.
It is harder to laugh at yourself when you know you are being silly, or petty, or lacking in patience, than to let it roll off and begin your day well. I know those things are true for me. I am a morning person, but I do like to see everything in it's place when I get up. That, in my house with eight children, is a romantic notion, no matter how much I cleaned up the night before. There's always just one more cup of tea, one more snack, one more munch on the huge family size packet of chips. And, of course, the load of laundry someone needed for tomorrow, put in the dryer with the wrinkle cycle on, just to wake me up in the wee hours of the morning.
But, all of those things tells me there is life in my home, and it is flourishing. There is the beginnings of independence, the consequences of having to get out the door in the morning after you clean up your mess from the night before. The trays with just the left over crumbs from my tweens learning how to make brownies in the microwave, and tonight, gluten free, chocolate chip cookies from my flour mix in the pantry. Quite proud of them, even if it is a bit of a mess, because at least I can get to eat one!
Sometimes, you have to get messy to learn, to grow and become responsible. As I look forward to Isaiah coming home for the week end, that is how it has been for him also in the last few years. He has had to pull down the walls, and look at the mess that had built up behind them, and learn to clean it up in the very best way he could, with our help of course. His language and math skills, just at grade one level some three and a half years ago, are now around sixth grade. That has taken huge steps forward, intermingled with huge steps backwards to progress, but he doesn't frown much anymore, he has a big smile on his face because his future is looking brighter and brighter every day.
I imagine that it will take another twelve to eighteen months at Job Corps for him to complete his GED, and his trade, which has been slowed down to match his pace in general education, but I can't wait to see him earn his right to have put most of his messes behind him.
I am about to release, publish my book, Finding Friday and to do so and meet the speaking engagements, house concerts and marketing expenses, I am doing a campaign at Indiegogo. Please share the link below with your friends in social media, and your family. This story must be heard, if only to save another child from the suffering and huge hurdles that Isaiah has had to go through. As my pastor says to our church, only give if you are lead, but please share so this important story can reach as many as I am able to take it to. Here is the link:
It is harder to laugh at yourself when you know you are being silly, or petty, or lacking in patience, than to let it roll off and begin your day well. I know those things are true for me. I am a morning person, but I do like to see everything in it's place when I get up. That, in my house with eight children, is a romantic notion, no matter how much I cleaned up the night before. There's always just one more cup of tea, one more snack, one more munch on the huge family size packet of chips. And, of course, the load of laundry someone needed for tomorrow, put in the dryer with the wrinkle cycle on, just to wake me up in the wee hours of the morning.
But, all of those things tells me there is life in my home, and it is flourishing. There is the beginnings of independence, the consequences of having to get out the door in the morning after you clean up your mess from the night before. The trays with just the left over crumbs from my tweens learning how to make brownies in the microwave, and tonight, gluten free, chocolate chip cookies from my flour mix in the pantry. Quite proud of them, even if it is a bit of a mess, because at least I can get to eat one!
Sometimes, you have to get messy to learn, to grow and become responsible. As I look forward to Isaiah coming home for the week end, that is how it has been for him also in the last few years. He has had to pull down the walls, and look at the mess that had built up behind them, and learn to clean it up in the very best way he could, with our help of course. His language and math skills, just at grade one level some three and a half years ago, are now around sixth grade. That has taken huge steps forward, intermingled with huge steps backwards to progress, but he doesn't frown much anymore, he has a big smile on his face because his future is looking brighter and brighter every day.
I imagine that it will take another twelve to eighteen months at Job Corps for him to complete his GED, and his trade, which has been slowed down to match his pace in general education, but I can't wait to see him earn his right to have put most of his messes behind him.
I am about to release, publish my book, Finding Friday and to do so and meet the speaking engagements, house concerts and marketing expenses, I am doing a campaign at Indiegogo. Please share the link below with your friends in social media, and your family. This story must be heard, if only to save another child from the suffering and huge hurdles that Isaiah has had to go through. As my pastor says to our church, only give if you are lead, but please share so this important story can reach as many as I am able to take it to. Here is the link:
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
When Good Things Happen To Those Who Wait
I have found that you can live in the past, live in the future, or, live for today. So many times in my life I have lived for the future. I don't often look back, what's the point? Some one close to me today reminded me that regret for things that didn't happen doesn't change it, or decisions we made that were poor ones, are the best ones we could make at the time. I realized a long time ago that living in the future invalidated the life I was living. I needed to enjoy the journey I was on, and if my circumstances meant I couldn't pursue my goal today, then get the most out what was being handed to me now.
When I was led upon the path of adoption, it was not my first choice, if my choice at all. I am not some saint, or "good" person, frankly my dreams had come crashing down at a time in my life when I was feeling like I was "too old" for my profession and had blown my only chance at it in this country. I was seeing others achieve what I wanted so desperately for myself, but was being denied, or at least that is what I felt. That was about the last time I looked backwards, because God gave me so much to do that was worthwhile, exhausting, and took up all my days and most nights as well, that I didn't have time to dwell upon little 'ol me. Despite myself, I was defending and caring for what I call "The Lost Children" who came through my door at alarming rates.
I look around me today, at my nearly eighteen year old twin boys who came some sixteen years ago next month, and don't, and wouldn't regret one moment that I gave, instead of following my "passion" selfishly. Every moment has been a treasure with all nine children who I have been blessed to call mine. But, as I said, I am not some "saint". I have always hoped and believed in the promise that was given to me nearly thirty years ago that a time would come. Unfortunately, it did mention something about me being like "Sarah" and I did not want to hear that, and as the years as unfolded, became a "Sarah" and didn't believe it anymore, rather thinking that somehow I had disappointed, or missed it, or maybe, it was all in my head.
And, maybe I have. But tonight I step out in faith because God has opened an opportunity that I believe comes from Him, and wait, yes, "wait upon the Lord" and see if this is the time after all these wonderful, memory packed years full of children's laughter, achievements, monumental moments when a child threw away a brace she had to walk, another child's heart was healed from a three prong defect right in front of me where the Doctor could not explain it, where speech happened after three years when none was ever supposed to, where cerebral palsy disappeared, the facial, emotional and neurological effects of alcohol and drugs were no more, and learning disabilities, dyslexia, bi-polar, ADHD, OCD, and Tourette's syndrome became just letters of the alphabet and names of disorders.
Whether or not I waited in vain is irrelevant, if I hadn't I would have missed so much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJS0YDnXZg
When I was led upon the path of adoption, it was not my first choice, if my choice at all. I am not some saint, or "good" person, frankly my dreams had come crashing down at a time in my life when I was feeling like I was "too old" for my profession and had blown my only chance at it in this country. I was seeing others achieve what I wanted so desperately for myself, but was being denied, or at least that is what I felt. That was about the last time I looked backwards, because God gave me so much to do that was worthwhile, exhausting, and took up all my days and most nights as well, that I didn't have time to dwell upon little 'ol me. Despite myself, I was defending and caring for what I call "The Lost Children" who came through my door at alarming rates.
I look around me today, at my nearly eighteen year old twin boys who came some sixteen years ago next month, and don't, and wouldn't regret one moment that I gave, instead of following my "passion" selfishly. Every moment has been a treasure with all nine children who I have been blessed to call mine. But, as I said, I am not some "saint". I have always hoped and believed in the promise that was given to me nearly thirty years ago that a time would come. Unfortunately, it did mention something about me being like "Sarah" and I did not want to hear that, and as the years as unfolded, became a "Sarah" and didn't believe it anymore, rather thinking that somehow I had disappointed, or missed it, or maybe, it was all in my head.
And, maybe I have. But tonight I step out in faith because God has opened an opportunity that I believe comes from Him, and wait, yes, "wait upon the Lord" and see if this is the time after all these wonderful, memory packed years full of children's laughter, achievements, monumental moments when a child threw away a brace she had to walk, another child's heart was healed from a three prong defect right in front of me where the Doctor could not explain it, where speech happened after three years when none was ever supposed to, where cerebral palsy disappeared, the facial, emotional and neurological effects of alcohol and drugs were no more, and learning disabilities, dyslexia, bi-polar, ADHD, OCD, and Tourette's syndrome became just letters of the alphabet and names of disorders.
Whether or not I waited in vain is irrelevant, if I hadn't I would have missed so much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJS0YDnXZg
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