Wednesday's Wink

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

Well, the sun came out on many tomorrows for me...I was blessed to grow up with a Mommy and Daddy. I had a good home-was never abused or neglected in any way. And as I grew in this loving home God gave me, my desires to adopt orphans and in general help children in need - grew too!

I mentioned in my last wink how poor my memory is. My children often want to hear stories from my childhood and I don't have a large variety to share.

This one, however, comes up again and again. I'm not sure why. It's pretty gross. Here goes.

Once upon a time, when I was about 8 years old, my brother (your Uncle) Bobby and his friends liked to torture me! It was cruel-heartless-and about all a fiesty 8 year old could take!!
He and his friends would find and capture some poor helpless frog. Now, I'm not overly fond of frogs...but what they did next was just wrong!!
They would stand in the middle of the road (here's where I remind them how standing in the middle of the road to play is never a good idea) and throw that poor froggy up in the air and then threaten not to catch him!!
I, in near hysteria, would run around screaming and crying and trying to catch that poor creature before it came to it's untimely death-smashed down on the pavement.

Why do I tell my children this crazy story??? Well, it sticks out in my mind as a moment in my childhood (one of few) that I have not forgotten. I am sure, however, that the story has become somewhat exagerated over time. Sometimes I think they were throwing several frogs at the same time..hence the crazy running around. Sometimes I think they did this often-a regular routine. Truth is, it most likely happened only once. It was most likely only one little froggy that perished that sad day. Truth is,also, that it affected me. That running around-feeling helpless-wanting to do something -but not being able to . Certain I should help-but unable to do it!!!!

I held onto that for a long time. For years, and years I have longed to adopt children in need of a loving home. It was not God's timing. I wanted it so badly and would run in circles trying to make it happen.  I thought perhaps it may never be in his plan. In my heart I planned my course, but God determined my steps and for so long my steps did not lead me in that direction.

Until this year. I am 40. 32 years since I welled up with compassion to try to rescue the froggy and maybe even longer since I saw that movie Annie.

I might not remember a lot of things-but I remember this:

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

From before the beginning of me...God has planned my steps and I am so thankful He's in control of the journey!

Have a blessed night blogging friends...wink-wink!



Quiet Time

Each day, our family enjoys what I like to call "Quiet Time".

I need it. I tell the children we all need it-but really-I need it.

When the baby is ready for her nap, all children go to a separate room designated as their

quiet time place. They may read, take a nap or play with very quiet toys. With all children in a safe place,

without the opportunity to fight with each other, I then lie down with the baby to put her to sleep.

Teagan, Mommy, Brogan and Liam-in 2006

Quiet time usually lasts about an hour, so once she is asleep I usually make a cup of tea and enjoy the peace and solitude while I read, crochet or...like today, do a quick post.

Today, I had the pleasure of feeling a warm breeze blow on me through the open window by our bed.

The wind is quite strong and it's sounds lulled the baby to sleep and calmed any stress from my mind.

When I opened my eyes I could see the trees in our backyard dancing to the wind's music.

They were moving in perfect unision, swaying quickly, back and forth, back and forth.

Branches outstretched like arms raised before their Maker!

"You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Today the trees in our yard were clapping their hands, praising God and reminding me of God's amazing power and divine nature!

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood  from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Romans 1:20

Have you had any quiet time today?

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I Wasn't Prepared

Below are my comments to a post I just read...you can read it here and if you have even a few minutes of time-I think it will touch you deeply.

Is God Good

I wasn't prepared to be sobbing right now.

I had no intention of starting my quiet time this evening realizing how spoiled I am
and how ungrateful I am and how I too often do
not take the time to thank God for His blessings.

I wasn't in the mood to feel guilty for the harse words I might have spoken to my children today when I too easily forget that every moment I have with them could be my last.

I came upon your post from Like a Bubbling Brook.

For you-it's what you are living-it's how God is moving in you-healing you-growing you-teaching you-loving you....each day as you mourn this loss.

To me-it's a wake up call.

It's a reminder of how powerful God is!

Not just amazing-faithful and great.

I can't keep fooling around day after day thinking I'll get to God later...I'm busy right now.

It's all about Him-because he is everything!

And I am so sorry for your loss and the pain you are suffering but I do trust that He did do it willingly and I am confident-just by reading this one lttle post that your testimony and your faith in Him is going to speak to the hearts of so many who are lost and one day when you are re-united with your son in heaven he will wrap his arms around you and be the second in line to say, "Well done-good and faithful servant!!!"

With much love,
Shannon

Wednesday's Wink

"The sun will come out, tomorrow! Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow...the'll  be sun!!!!

When I'm stuck with a day..that's gray..and lonely...I just stick out my chin! and grin! and say!!!!!!!!!!

The sun will come out tomorrow!!"

Would you believe I don't know my parents phone number? I don't even know my husband's cell. If it weren't for the magic of caller ID, or phone books programmed into phones, I'd still be looking up their numbers each time I call. 

I have a horrible memory. I upset my Mom at times, when I don't recall anything from my childhood. I know people who can name their friends and teachers in kindergarten. I can not even tell you my professors names from college.

Last year, when my baby was in the hospital from a seizure, I wrote down the wrong birthdate on the admission paperwork. It wasn't even another of my children's birthdates-it was just plain wrong.

That's how bad my memory is.

And yet, I remember the words to that song-from the movie Annie- from when I was-maybe-eight years old.

I think that was the start of my heart's desire to help orphans-children in need-

those without a Mommy and Daddy to love them.

And, so-starts my story to you. An eight year old little girl-no idea where life would lead and doesn't even care-but God knew each step I would take...and obviously, each movie I would watch and how it would affect my life and the lives of needy children 32 years later.

I'll wink again next Wednesday-hope to catch you in my line of sight!

One Wink at a Time

 A wink can say a lot.

It's just a small thing-takes less than a second-

if you are not paying attention-you might miss it.

But..if you catch it..it can say a lot.

It can reassure you that the person you thought was being 

mean to you, is really just joking...

It can let you know someone is thinking about you....

It can leave you feeling accepted and included in a special moment.

Each Wednesday-I'm going to wink at you!

When you put all the winks together-you will have a story.

A story that starts with a young girl and the movie Annie

and ends...well..it hasn't yet.

If you are not paying attention-you might miss a wink or two.

But, know that you are included in my special moments, you 

are in a place where you are accepted, I am thinking about you as I write

and when I say something that might sound mean...well...I'm most likely joking!

Hope you'll be watching-my first wink will be here tonight.

 

I'm Back!!!

Did you miss me?
What?
You didn't notice I was even gone?
Oh..well...I was!
We just returned from a wonderful 2 week holiday in Florida with
the children and my husband's parents.
More to share and pictures to come soon-just wanted to let you know...
I'm Back!!!!!