Everyday Unwrapped

My friend Emily is celebrating the everyday today. And I want to join her.

Time is a funny thing, it can drag by one minute, and fly the next. The older I get the quicker it seems to fly. I am still in awe that my baby is one year old. Didn't we just tell people we were expecting? How does that happen?

Time is unrelenting. It continues to march forward, even when you ask it ever so politely to stand still.

Time won't stop moving, so I better enjoy the moments. Especially the everyday ones. After all, those are the ones that make up a lifetime.

There are countless moments throughout my day, when I'm looking, that I wish I could bottle up. My brain just isn't reliable enough and camera's don't seem to do them justice. I wish I could bottle:

• the comical looks - the way he makes his eyes do that!
• the spontaneous hugs given by little hands without prompting
• the smells of PJ's laced with maple syrup
• the singing done when it seems no one is paying attention
• the funny, funny words that come out of little mouths
• the building of gigantic snowmen with daddy
• the spontaneous dance parties
• the excitement in my little girl's face as she tells me about her day at school
• the snuggling on the sofa as the entire family watches a favorite show

Once those moments are safely imprisoned in my little bottle, I could pull them out and relive them whenever I wanted. Just like the first time.

But, I can't do that. So I try to memorize them in my mind's eye. I try to take pictures. I try to write down the memories. I try to really live the moments so they stick somehow...

That is I try to live the moments when I remember how fleeting they are. Too often, I am too busy to notice. Or too tired. Sometimes I notice, but choose not to join in and live the moment.

Honestly, today it feels hard to unwrap the everyday. It feels hard to create (or even participate) in those moments that make memories. Today I'd rather crawl back in bed and go to sleep.

Which makes this post a good reminder for me. I have been challenged by my friend Emily over the past week (find a few of those posts here and here). I am thankful for the reminder to live in and celebrate the everyday.

And, even though I don't feel like it today, I'm going to try to look for and participate in those everyday moments that make up my life... and celebrate them.

And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who left a comment and entered the drawing for Journey On.

Unfortunately, there can only be one winner. Fortunately there is a winner and that winner is...

Julie D!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Remember, even if you didn't win - you can still purchase the CD at this site. 100% of the net proceeds will benefit orphans so it is a win-win-win!

A Cool Christmas...

Remember in this post, when I did some bragging about my little sister's new CD (It's really, really great. I'm not at all biased, well maybe a little, but its really, really great!!!)

Remember how I shared that when you purchase this CD for $15 you are helping orphans in Ukraine, Zambia and India because all proceeds benefit Lifesong for Orphans.

Then I told you if you want to purchase one of these CDs you need to send an e-mail to info@lifesongfororphans.org.

Guess, what...

Today, (do you feel the anticipation building)...

I am giving you a chance to

WIN one of these fantastic CD'S. All you have to do is leave me a comment with your e-mail address. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 8th.

If you win, be sure and send a thank you Lysa Terkeurst's way because I am offering this giveaway in honor of her One Cool Christmas Contest.

I'm giving away one Cool CD.

In case you are wondering, this CD is a collection of songs of worship and prayer. Some of the songs included on this little project are: This is My Father's World, Beautiful Blood, Make My Life a Prayer to You, Twilight and I am Jerusalem.

Cool huh.

Once you've left a comment here, hop on over to Lysa's blog to find a host of other cool Christmas giveaways!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Why We Should Not Adopt - Reason #2

I finally know what it means to be knee-deep in paper. Ah, the joys of the first trimester of adoption (aka paper pregnancy)!

We are slowly wading through the mounds of paperwork, building steam as we go. The further in to it we get, the less overwhelmed we feel - most days anyway.

Our agency is very organized - that helps.

And, we are making progress - that's good.

Along with the paperwork, payment deadlines loom. Payment for the home study. Payment to the adoption agency. Lots of little payments as we sift through the paperwork. Payments to certify and authenticate. Payments to the Chinese government. It is more than a little scary.

The high cost of adoption is a barrier for a lot of people. It was #2 on my list of reasons why we should not adopt. Adoption is expensive, and we don't don't have that much money sitting in our bank account.

So, I am learning to trust.

Psalm 50:10 states that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Matthew 10:30 tells us God knows the number of hairs on our head.

He is a God with unlimited resources.

He is a God who knows me intimately and loves me anyway.

He is a God who will provide for our needs as we move forward in this adoption.

Obviously we need to be good stewards of what He has given. We cannot act foolishly with our money and expect God to grow a money tree in the backyard. He doesn't work that way.

But, I can trust him to provide for my needs.

When I let go of my financial worries and turn them over to my Father, I start to get excited.

I also get excited when I see His people band together to help lessen the financial barriers to adoption. There are a few organizations out there who offer grants and interest-free loans to families pursuing adoption.

Lifesong for Orphans is one of them.

We are hoping to work with this organization to raise funds once we get a little further down the paperwork road.

When I look at the bills that will be due as a result of this adoption, I get a lump in my stomach. I worry that we won't be able to pay for things on time.

Then I remember... my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will provide.

I need to trust.

Wordless Wednesday - For some reason, I don't think this is going to work...

Looking for Gift Ideas?

I have an idea for you! Allow me to introduce: Journey On.

I am slightly biased regarding this little project. The vocals were done by my sister AND the CD was produced by my dad.

It is a great CD!!!


Even better, by purchasing this CD you automatically become an orphan advocate.

All proceeds from Journey On will be donated to Lifesong for Orphans. That means your purchase will have an impact on orphans in Ukraine, Zambia and India. To find out more, visit http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/. While you are there be sure to check out Lifesong's Christmas Catalog.

The price of one CD is $15. I'm sure Lifesong would not object if you wanted to pay more. :)

To order this CD, visit Lifesong's website. Then find the contact us page. Send an e-mail to the address on the page requesting a CD.

There you go, Christmas shopping done.

The Results...

Thanksgiving went well.

That trash-talking "red mound of holiday meat" never knew what hit it.

But we did.

And it was delicious.

Kory likes to think it was the carving that made the bird taste so good.

I like to let him think that. ;)