Back to Normal

The wrapping paper has been thrown out, family has headed back home, and the children are busy playing with their new toys and gifts.  The "hype" of Christmas 2012 is now over.  Many of us will head back to our jobs and school will resume shortly for our children.  I'm grateful for a great Christmas with my family.  But as I head back to my "normal life" I'm just not content.  I want to be different.  I don't want to be complacent.

As we have been celebrating Christmas over a multi-day period, my heart as been pulled in a few different directions.  My heart hurts for the children in Ethiopia that don't yet have a mom or a dad.  I want to make a difference.  My heart hurts for the children in Russia that may never be given an opportunity to be adopted.  I want to make a difference.  My heart hurts for children in the USA that don't have a home to call their own.  I want to make a difference.  My heart hurts for children all over the world.

I fully believe that everyone is not supposed to adopt.  However, we are all supposed to do something.  We all have the ability to do something.  I have the ability to do something. Now that Christmas is over and we are getting back to our "normal" lives - why don't you think about something that you can do to help. 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is his: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." 
James 1:27

Sure, my family has two children that used to be orphans so I should be "done" right?  Nope!  I have done my part and we have two ex-orphans living in our home.  I can't be done.  We can't be done.  I'm not sure if that means more adoptions are in our future or what it means - but I do know that I just can't sit back and do nothing.

Here are a few things my family is doing to continue to help as we begin 2013:

• Give - We are going to give money to help others in the adoption process.
• Go - We are going to go on another mission trip to serve someone else.  I want my kids to learn about serving others at a young age.
• Share - We are going to share our story.  Our story of adoption may impact the lives of someone else.  It was another adoption story that impacted our decision to start the adoption process in 2008.
• Pray - We are praying for the other children that need support or moms/dads.

 My prayer is that 2013 will be a year of making a difference.  I can't just sit back and do nothing.  I want to be involved.  I want to change. I don't want to go back to "normal" What can you do? What are you able to do?  More importantly, what WILL you do?

12 Day of Christmas Challenge

My friend Kelly wrote this blog post last January.  I asked her if I could post it on my blog.  I took her challenge that she talks about below last year and it was a lot of fun for me to love on my husband.  Will you take the challenge?  See below for what Kelly has to share....

A few weeks before Christmas I was challenged by a particular post on the Passionate Homemaking blog. The writer encouraged wives to not let the busyness of the holiday season crowd out our husbands and, instead, to add a little holiday spice into our marriages. The article encouraged women to use the Twelve Days of Christmas to intentionally bless their husbands. Immediately interested in doing this, I posted the idea on my Facebook. I was surprised and encouraged by the number of women who wanted to join me in giving thoughtful gifts to their husbands. When I initially posted the link to the article on my Facebook a few women commented. When I posted it a second time after having committed myself to doing it, several more people commented. The idea spread so quickly that my friend Jenny suggested we start a Facebook page so that we could all encourage one another and share ideas. Over 100 women requested to join this group! Some were newlyweds and some had been married over 35 years. Some came from really strong marriages and some came from marriages that were really struggling. Knowing that God loves marriage and is honored when we are intentional with it I was beyond thrilled by the number of women who were willing to carve out time from the crazy Christmas schedule to focus on their husbands! I believe God was honored by those women who chose to honor their husbands.

During the twelve days I received several notes from women who shared with me how God had used this idea to draw them closer to their husbands. I heard women talk about how they were falling in love with their husbands all over again after months or years of hardships. I read those messages with tears and praised God for those women who had a renewed commitment to their spouse.

The idea was simple. Each day for twelve days I gave a gift to Ben that coincided with the day. For example, on Day 4 I gave him the "4th" DVD in a comedy series. On Day 10 I gave him a "10" issue subscription to a magazine. On Day 12 I gave him "12" letters I had written to him. Some women spent a lot of money and gave really nice gifts each day. Others chose not to spend any money and got really creative by giving gifts of service. The point is, any wife can be an encouragement to her man. It doesn't take a lot of money or creativity. I am not a creative person but after a little research and a lot of thinking I was able to come up with a list of 12 gifts.
 

I want this to become an annual tradition. I have one marriage. I want it to be the best it can be. I want to be intentional!

Kelly

If you want to join her facebook group to learn more about this challenge and to see some more ideas - click on this link.   I loved doing this for Thom last year.  If you start on December 13 - your last "gift" will fall on Christmas Day!!  Here are a few of the items I "bought" him:

Day 1: ONE Almond Joy - his favorite candy bar
Day 3: package of THREE pairs of boxers (yep, I'm practical)
Day 6: sent SIX texts of encouragement throughout the day
Day 7: package of SEVEN pairs of new socks (it was a bonus package!)
Day 12: TWELVE pack of his favorite drink, Mountain Dew

God's Perfect Timing: The Junkin Family

　 　My husband and I started our process of adoption in January of 2011. 　We have known this would be something we were going to do for quite some time (actually I told him I was going to adopt on our second date). 　We already had two sons and felt the Lord was telling us it was now time. 　

　 　 Let me just be clear, I probably would not have been able to write this post during our wait! 　Waiting STINKS!! 　Now on this side of our journey I am able to look back on what God was teaching us through all of the waiting and the many trials we went through. 　I remember at one point during our wait for our referral one of my son's was asking for a certain toy. 　He pitched a fit when I said no. 　I was already planning on getting this toy for him for Christmas but he did not know that. 　That next day while I was doing my quiet time with the Lord I realized, I have constantly been praying for the Lord to hurry up and send us our referral ( I may have even pitched a fit or two!) 　:). 　How was this any different than my child? 　We know what is right for our children just like our heavenly Father knows the right thing for us. 　

　 　 　We got the call on June 20th, 2012 that our new son was a 5 month old baby boy. 　Once we looked through his file his birth date kept sticking out to me. 　I was on the phone with my good friend Deidre telling her the great news. 　She asked me when he was born and I told her. 　She said, "Jennifer, that was when we were at the Created For Care conference!". 　The significance in that is because the day our son was born I was in a room praying for his birth mother for the first time. 　I had not really prayed for our future son's birth mother and thought about the things she would endure until that day. 　The Lord really convicted me of this and I wept for the woman that would give birth to our child. 　Once I got home from the conference I told my husband we really need to be praying for the birth mother of our child. 　The Lord knew that this was our son and their is no coincidence he had me pray for her that day! 　When we were in Ethiopia to bring our son home we were able to meet his birth mother. 　I was able to tell her that the day she gave birth the Lord was telling me to pray for her. 　She gave me a huge smile and said "Thank you". 　

　 　 　This is just one instance where God confirmed his perfect timing. 　Now looking back there are so many. 　I wouldn't change anything about our journey. 　 Pray for your child or children because you may be the first person that has ever prayed or yearned to hold this child, but also trust that the Lord knows exactly what he is doing. 　I want to encourage each of you to try and listen to the Lord and see what he is teaching you and your family during the wait. 　

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. (Psalm 130:5 NASB)

 

Jennifer & The Junkin Family

 

 

God's Perfect Timing: The Petersheim Family

From time to time we are going to feature "God's Perfect Timing" testimonies from adoptive families.  I'm grateful for the Petersheim family and am glad they are sharing a little piece of their story with us.  Enjoy!

Last year, on October 8th, my family and I went to a local farm show. I remember watching our children, drunk on the excitement of farm animals to pet, cotton candy to eat and whirling rides to spin on. Their smiles and giggles were so infectious that everyone around them was grinning from ear to ear. Except me...their mother. My heart was a mess.

We were waiting on our 4th child, a little girl in Ethiopia. We had made it through the summer of court closure, biting our nails with worry and impatience...eyes focused on this very week in October. However, instead of good news pouring in, all became very quiet...and an ominous feeling was in the air.

Somehow, I knew the things we had been fervently praying about weren't going to take place. At least not at all in the timing we had so longed for. That day - at the farm show - I felt so defeated, so confused as to what God was doing in my life.

We had sought Him out on our adoption journey - He had confirmed so many things along our path...and now, it seemed - it FELT- like He had just fallen silent.If only I had known...if only...that at the very moment I was at my most lost...the very moment I was without faith...was the moment that in a world away, God was doing His most mighty, gracious work in my life.

On October 8th, while I was picking up baby chicks in a petting zoo - a tiny baby - barely weighing 1 kilogram - was being picked up by a police officer.

A little girl...who would fight for her life through sickness and malnutrition, a little girl without earthly parents but with a Heavenly Father watching over her...this little girl's beautiful face would show up on my computer screen 3 months later...as MINE. The two of us...put together by a God who knows best. Who asked me to wait...because HE knew what I was waiting for.

On October 8th this year, we took this little girl - our 4th beautiful daughter - along to the farm show. I watched my birthday girl moo at cows, laugh at her sisters' giggles, cuddle close to her daddy. And I was so thankful. God's ways are not my ways; His timing is not my timing - it is Oh-SO-infinitely better.

 

 

Thankful

It's almost Thanksgiving here in the USA and my children have been doing some Thanksgiving crafts at daycare.  After work yesterday, I picked up my kids and this craft was proudly hanging in my 4 year old sons classroom.

What a precious picture.  My son is thankful for me...and hamster.  I stood in his classroom and smiled (I even might have laughed out loud).  His teacher said, "It's ok, I am 20 and I have a hamster."  I laughed and said, "Except, we don't own a hamster".  She joined in laughing with me.  I'm so thankful for my children and how they make me laugh.  In addition, I now know that my 4 year old apparently wants a hamster!

Let's Talk:  As we head into Thanksgiving, what are you most thankful for?  Leave a comment below with some things (big or small) that you are thankful for....

Blessed?

We have a guest blogger today!  Katie Ganshert is the author of Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows (releases March 19, 2013).  She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she writes stories about finding faith and falling in love.  When she is not busy plotting her next novel, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels and coffee.  She and her husband are in the process of adopting from the Congo.  You can find her online at her blog and on Facebook.

 

I'm so grateful for other Christian women that I have had the opportunity to meet and to get to know.  She is a mom that is in the "waiting process" with the rest of us.  I had the opportunity to read Katie's first novel and she is a very talented writer! Enjoy what Katie has to share with us and be sure to check out her novel - it's a great read!!

 

Blessed?

by Katie Ganshert

We find out a friend's pregnant and we say, "What a blessing!" And the woman who's barren wonders.....

We see smiling parents with well-adjusted attached children and we say, “What a blessing!” And the parent who are struggling with their newest little one wonders…

We see big, healthy families in big, beautiful houses and we say, "What a blessing!" And the mother struggling with the medical bills wonders....

Am I blessed?

Here in America, blessing is usually synonymous with good fortune. Whether that be money or health or success or popularity or beauty or (fill in the blank). We think if good things happen to us, then God must be blessing us. Which is fine and might even be true. But for every definition we construct, there's an unspoken opposite that simmers beneath it.

If blessed means fertility, then the infertile woman isn't blessed.

If blessed means attached children, then the parents struggling with attachment aren’t blessed.

If blessed means health and prosperity, then the unhealthy and poor aren't blessed.

And if we're not blessed, we must be doing something wrong. Somehow we're missing the point. God's not pleased with us. Maybe even upset with us. We're undeserving....less loved.

Then Jesus opens his mouth and says...

“Blessed are thepoor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are themeek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven...."

Wow. Rejoice and be glad.

Because it's the hard stuff that removes our hope from this shifting world and pins it on an unchanging God. It's the hard stuff that brings us to our knees and draws us close to Him. And drawing close to Him.....wow. What a blessing.

Let's Talk: Do you go through periods in life where you don't feel blessed? Do you equate good fortune with blessing? If you could pull up a chair with God and ask Him what it means to be blessed, what do you think He'd say?

 

I Hate Waiting

Today we have a guest post on the blog.  Dave Wood, International Director, at Lifeline Children's Services is a friend of mine and he has graciously allowed me to post one of his poetry pieces on the blog.  Dave has over 25 years of professional experience working with families and children. In addition to Lifeline, Dave has served in most every pastoral position along with serving as Director of Precious Child, a crisis pregnancy center. Dave’s passion is finding incredible families for orphaned children through the avenue of International adoption. Dave is married to Johnna and they are the proud parents of three children.

I have learned so much from Dave about leadership, encouragement, and what families need as they walk through the adoption process.  I'm grateful for his friendship and I think he has nicely expressed what many of us think and feel during the adoption process.

Thanks Dave!

I HATE WAITING

Ok, I'm just going to say this, be confessional and admit;

That I hate waiting, it makes me want to throw a hissy fit.

I know that doesn't sound spiritual, but it surely is the truth;

Standing around, hands in my pockets, is totally uncouth.

Dependent on someone else... ugh, the intolerableness of it all;

Makes me want to scream, when progress comes to a crawl.

It was fine when I was a baby, and didn't know any better;

If I sat there all day, in a diaper getting wetter and wetter.

Maybe this is why, we don't remember those early days;

To keep us from blowing a gasket, and coming off as crazed.

Is anyone with me here, or am I in this struggle all alone;

That I hate waiting, in every single form that can be known.

The grocery store for instance, there's a conspiracy against me;

It's true whatever line I pick, I'll get the new and slow trainee.

So if you ever see me in a store, please pick the other line;

You'll be out of there so fast, back home, relaxed in no time.

I wish that I were done, but there's something more to be said;

I hope this won't offend, and it's submitted with some dread.

In those times I have to wait, the very last thing I want to hear;

Is a spiritual pep talk on patience, lets make that crystal clear.

I know patience is a virtue, God is working things for my good;

He loves me in my circumstance, even when I've misunderstood.

Telling myself these things, while standing in another line that lags;

Yeah, down at the DMV, I've been waiting three hours for car tags.

So I get it my Christian brother, even if it appears I don't engage;

It's just hard to hear it, from a guy who struggles with road rage.

No where is your patience more tested, than on the adoption trail;

Before the Promise land, a wilderness, many times you'll want to bail.

But in my office are scores of pictures, children who've found a home;

Each of them a thousand word sermon, that you will not always roam.

Narrative Poem

Copyright © 2011 Dave Wood


Let's Talk About It:  Waiting it something we have to do every day!  We will never be done with waiting and being patient.  Why is it that we have such a hard time with waiting?


 

Why "A Road To Here"?

Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  My road to here is not something that I would have scripted on my own. I am beyond thankful to be right where I am.  I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father that knew exactly what I needed and has plans laid out for my life. 

 

Those of you that know me are aware that I am very passionate about a few main things: my Lord, my husband, my two boys, and my job (orphan care/adoption). You won't talk to me very long and not hear me mention at least one of the four listed above, if not all of them. It is my desire with this blog to write about the things that we learn as we journey through life together. I want to write about my "Road to Here" and I want to learn about your "Road to Here". What would you have said if someone had asked you 20 years ago what you thought you would be doing in November 2012? I never would have said that I would be living in the USA let alone with an awesome husband, two precious boys (that joined our family from Ethiopia), and working for an orphan care ministry.

 

It is my prayer that through this blog we can journey together through your adoption process and down the road of life and we can find ways to grow together, learn from each other, and discover new ways to be a better wife, a better mom, a better friend, and a more consistent follower of Christ.

 

 

Being Thankful

 

 

Hurricane Sandy? A miscarriage? No job? Sickness? Cancer? Bankruptcy? Divorce?  There is so much hurt, disappointment, and so much sadness in our lives.  There are so many trials that we could be facing at any point in time. When asked for prayer requests most of us could give a list that would fill an entire 8x11 piece of paper.  That is ok.  We live in a fallen world and there will be pain and sadness. 

Through the trials, the pain, the sadness, have you ever considered keeping a Thankfulness Journal?  When we go before The Lord in prayer we tend to give a list of requests and things that we want Him to do for us.  Requests are not a bad thing but I challenge you to also be thankful.  I challenge you to write down 3 or 4 things each day that you are thankful for.  Through the hurt, the pain, etc, we can see that there is still so much in which we can express thankfulness.

The month of November has prompted many Facebook users to list something each day that they are thankful for and this is a great idea - but I challenge us to go deeper.  To have a thankfulness journal in the back of your prayer journal or even to have a seperate journal going to focus each day on thanksgiving.  It can be big things or small things - the items don't matter rather its our attitude of being thankful.  I encourage you to hold fast and to cling to the Lord.  He has promised us so much in His Word and we have been so blessed.

Psalm 100:4

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

My journal entry today:

• I'm thankful for the beautiful sunrise that I get to watch each day as I drive to work.
• I'm thankful for the girls I work with and the friendships we have together. 
• I'm thankful for my large McDonald's Diet Coke (in a styrofoam cup) - sometimes it's the small things:).

What are you thankful for today???

Mom Tip: Layering Bed Sheets

Here is a little tip that I was told about a few years ago and it was one of those tips that I thought to myself, "why didn't I think about that?".  So, here it is:  on your kids beds...layer their sheets to make accident clean ups and sheet changes quick and easy.

What we have started to do at our house on our boy's beds is to start with a waterproof mattress pad, add a fitted sheet, mattress pad, fitted sheet, etc.  I usually do three layers. So, if one of them wet the bed or get sick at night - it's an easy fix to just peel off the top layer and the bed is still made for them to crawl back in after adding a new top sheet.  This also helps with storing sheets:)  They get stored on the bed and just the extra top sheet is in the linen closest.

This was a huge lifesaver when we were potty training our kids and makes for a quick fix when you have to get up in the middle of the night.

That's it!  Have a great day!

Fall Comfort Food: Taco Chicken

Alright, here we go with another one of my favorite recipes.  This one came from my friend, Kimberly Cipkowski. Super easy!!  Get your crockpot out for this one. 

5-6 frozen chicken breasts
1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1/2 can of chicken broth

Put the frozen chicken in the crockpot and pour in the chicken broth.  Sprinkle the taco seasoning mixture over the top of the chicken (no mixing needed). Turn the crockpot on low for 7-8 hours. After 7-8 hours take two forks and shred the chicken. Stir it around in the broth and let it sit for another hour. That's it!  Easy and yummy!!  Add your favorite taco toppings to your table and it's an easy fall meal. 

We also use the chicken for the following:
- taco salads
- taco soup
- chicken enchiladas

Enjoy!!!  Also, feel free to email me some of your favorite fall recipes and I'll post them as we go....we can all learn from each other. 

Refine Me

I'm not sure where you are on your Road to Here.  Some of us might be at various stages in the adoption process and the waiting is seeming like an eternity.  Some of us might be struggling with loneliness and finding a place to fit in.  Some of us might be trying to figure out what is the next step in our journey.  Some of us might be growing weary in our marriages.  Some of us might feel like we've been walking in the valley for a long time.  Wherever you are and whatever it is that you are facing, it is my prayer that together, we will ask the Lord to truly refine us.  Not only do we need to ask the Lord to refine us but we need to be open to being refined.

What does it mean to be refined?  According to dictionary.com, refine is define as:
Re·fine

1. to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities.

2. to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing; make elegant or cultured.

3. to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.

4. to make more fine, subtle, or precise: to refine one's writing style.

One of my favorite artist, Travis Cottrell, has released a song on his most recent album called Refine Me. It has become my "theme song". With permission from Travis's team, I wanted to share the lyrics with you. I highly recommend that you download this song from iTunes or from wherever you purchase your music. If you can, listen to it before you read the rest of my post.  If you can't download it - take a minute to click on this link and listen to it on Youtube.com

Refine Me - Travis Cottrell

Your so patient with me
Faithful and sure
To make me into something better
You know prayers that I've prayed
The tears that I've cried

Lord you know my heart's desire
Oh, to know You
To be more like You

Do what You need to
Help me to trust You
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that You're strong enough to see me through completely

Refine me

Your joy will be my strength
while I'm in these flames
I'm becoming Your reflection
Your kindness will be my song
Though I'm not alone,
Your presence is my consolation

Oh, to know you
I'm longing for you

Do what you need to
Help me to trust you
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that You're strong
Enough to see me through completely

Refine me
Oh God! My God!
Refine me
Oh God! Merciful God!

All for Your glory,
All for my good
To know Your love much deeper
Than I thought I ever could

Refine me, Oh!

Do what You need to
Help me to trust You
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that you're strong
Enough to see me through completely

Refine me,
Oh God! My God! Please!
Refine me,
Oh God! Merciful God!

Your so patient with me
Faithful and sure
To make me into something better.

If you are anything like me, I tend to ask the Lord for something and then expect him to do it for me right away and in the way that I seem is best.  I don't like to wait.  I'm not always a patient person.   I want to get things done and get them done right away. This song helped me to see that it is not about what I think I want or need but that it truly needs to be about what God wants for my life.  As I listen to this song on repeat 20 times a day, it is these lyrics that always stop me and make me think...

Do what You need to

Help me to trust You

Even if Your love brings me suff'ring

Help me to hold on

To know that You're strong

Enough to see me through completely

Do I really trust the Lord enough to be open to whatever He wants to do in my life?  For my friends in the adoption process, this journey is long.  The waiting is hard.  The Lord is doing a work in your life and He is not done working yet. No one said this journey would be easy.  It is not easy.  It is hard.  It is draining.  Be patient.  Trust His timing.  Even when we don't know what is happening and why things are taking so long - we have to trust that the Lord isn't done doing what He needs to in your life and in the life of the child coming into your home.

This is not only for my friends in the adoption process but for all of us, no matter what we are going through.  May we each take some time to relect on what the Lord is desiring to do in us and are we being open to the refining that He is trying to do? 

So, go listen to the song again and re-read the lyrics.  Maybe this can be a step that we take in the right direction of learning to be patient, trusting the Lord, and being open to being refined into something much better than we are today.  Sometimes it is the "waiting moments" of our lives where the most refining can take place.

Family Time

Ladies - time for some sharing!!!

Having some dedicated and intentional family time is so important - cell phones off, iPads off, computers off - true family time.  If we are being honest...that can be hard for us over here. At our house, we are so busy during the week that we recently have tried to set aside Friday nights for family pj party and movie night!!  Yesterday, we watched The Lorax with the boys...cute movie. It is a fun and easy/cheap way to spend time together. Usually, we are all in our pjs as soon as we get home from work/daycare and we are ready for family night to begin. I love how excited our kids are!

What are some of your family time ideas or traditions...small or big?  I would love to get some other ideas...

Also, I started a Facebook page too if you are interested in joining:  Facebook.com/aroadtohere

Fall Comfort Food: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

It is almost fall and my favorite season of the year.  As we are working on growing in our spiritual lives it is also important that we eat well - Ha!  One of my favorite fall comfort foods are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and the recipe I have is super easy…only calls for 3 ingredients!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 boxes of spice cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
1 large can of pumpkin
Chocolate chips (as many as you want to add – I tend to add a whole bagJ)

Follow the directions on the box for heating up your oven.  While the oven is heating, combine the two cake mixes and the can of pumpkin (it’s going to look like you have way too much cake mix – but be patient – it’ll all work out).  Add as many chocolate chips as you want and stir them in.

Put the mixture in greased muffin pans (they do not expand very much so what they look like going in the oven is similar to what they look like coming out).  Use the baking time listed on the cake mix box…That’s it!

Curl up with a cup of coffee, your Bible, and enjoy!

(Picture borrowed from web)