.:Taking Care of Babies:.

 

This post starts the beginning of some of my journal from the trip we just took to India.  I felt led to share with you all what the Lord showed me and how He is changing my heart through my involvement in India missions.  Don't ever pray the prayer "break my heart for what breaks Yours" to our God unless you mean it.  He WILL do it. 

All I can say is WOW! If you haven't read this book YOU SHOULD! I finished Katie's book above on the long plane ride to India this time around.   Katie Davis is such an inspiration to me - her book and story wrecked my world and had me praying for the Lord to "enlarge my vision" when it comes to HIS plan, not mine, for my life.  I highly encourage you to order it off of Amazon and/or read her blog here

Her book really fueled the fire in my heart for adoption.  After reading, I was left with so many questions to ask the Lord about my life.  What is next for me/us?  How do you want me to be involved in the adoption crisis in the world?  What would Jesus do if He was in my situation?

" I get to provide a home for children who feel threatened, lost, and unwanted.  Most of all, I get to love children who don't know love otherwise.  I get to accept them for who they are.  I get to present them with my love and then teach them of the Father's extravagant love"   - Katie

THIS is why my heart longs to adopt.  The beauty of adoption is providing a means for allowing a child to understand the undeserved favor of the Lord!  It is a direct example and representation of what God did for us - adopted us as sons and daughters into His family for no other reason than that he loves us!

.:celebrate:.

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

 A week full of concerts and celebrating JESUS!  God has refreshed my spirit recently on how much opportunity we have to worship Jesus through this season. I've found myself really thinking about the lyrics of the Christmas songs I've song since a child.  It doesn't have to be a time of dread or busyness or stress - but can rather be a time to reflect the goodness of our Father that He would let His perfect Son come to earth to be in relationship with us!  The lyrics in "Hark the Herald Angel Sings" explain: "Mild He lays His glory by!born that man no more may die!" The celebration of Christ's birth reminds my heart of how much freedom we have through Jesus if we would just but accept it and live in it! Beautiful!  

Enjoyed a date night at Chubby's Tacos and then hearing The Civil Wars band in concert at the Duke Page Auditorium.  They were absolutely AMAZING!  If you haven't heard them, PLEASE look them up! You won't be disappointed!  Wednesday night included a birthday girl treat for Miss Ashley Smith, one of my senior bible study girls who I'm so proud of!  We went to hear Drew and Ellie Holcomb and Jars of Clay.

  It was a really fun time celebrating Jesus and hearing beautiful Christmas music!  Even got to see the new Mr. and Mrs. Kiser there!  Came back from the concert to see my little homemade chalkboard made by Mr. Taylor:

 Prepping and praying ahead of our Dec 30 - Jan 9th trip to India.  Jake and I are still raising support for this trip!  If you feel led to support us, you can donate at www.globalhopeindia.org/donate  This trip will involve: medical ministry camps, pastor conferences, orphan outreach, and spending time at a school of 28 children who've recently been pulled from child slavery.  I think I'm the most excited about the work that God does in my heart and marriage when we are there!  Please pray for us as we prepare to go into some dark places of India that don't know Jesus!

.:instagrams this week:.

Thanksgiving weekend...a little late, I know!

measuring for the *perfect* tree...

Liam's first tree farm trip

we ended up at the TOP of this mountain to find our tree...what a hike! what a hottie!

LOVED getting to prepare Thanksgiving lunch with Mama! sweet family time...

when we got home - J&B decorating tradition: Phil Wickham Christmas music, glass of wine, fireplace on, and hanging ornaments from the places we've been t/g

I love "us"! Thankful for this season in our life!

.:Advent = HOPE:.

Woo! It's Friday! Been MIA a little lately from Thanksgiving and planning our Global Hope India First Annual Christmas In India benefit.  It was last night and was such a huge success! I will be posting pictures later next week once we "collect" them all!

This morning I've had time to just sit and be still.  It's so refreshing when we get to do that, especially amidst a crazy holiday season.  I'm reminded this morning of how this season of Advent is a really about waiting.  Focusing on advent, rather than the whole commercialism of Christmas is something that I'm aiming to do this season.  Advent really upholds the idea of waiting and hoping.  It's amazing to me each time I read of the prophecies of Jesus (in Isaiah especially) just how much detail was planned for Jesus' arrival.  The prophecies in the old testament I'm sure gave so much hope to God's children, as they waited for an earthly King.  Isn't it crazy that they waited for so long for the Messiah, yet some of them never knew Him?  I think we take for granted that we don't necessarily have to wait, but that we already have that hope! Do we know "how good we have it"? That we have a King, the Messiah,...that He IS with us and in us?  Do we hope in HIM who is consistent+faithful+powerful in us, or in fleeting & inconsistent success + our own strength? Are we urgently waiting HIS power in our life?



 

.:Thankful Thursday:. Sweet Ivy

I'm learning a lot about leaning on His strength and comfort in the midst of emotional times this week.  So thankful to serve a God who has it all figured out already and has already won the tough battles we face! 

This week I am thankful for...

 Sweet Ivy Roberts.  This past week I heard the news that Ivy had gone on to be with her Jesus after a 6-year battle with depression.  Ivy was one of my high school bible study girls and friend, and had moved away a couple years ago to NY.  What a fun, creative, servant-hearted, lovely, quirky, and full-of-life girl she was.  My heart has been broken for her family but also for the fact that such a sweet spirit is no longer on this earth with us.  It's so difficult to understand unexpected deaths - it definitely forces me to just trust in the fact that my God is bigger than sickness or pain and knows the big picture and how He will heal the hurt that surrounds such death.  I'm so thankful that Ivy knew Jesus and that I will get to see her again one day - and so glad that she no longer hurts or is depressed but is sitting at the feet of Jesus and dancing with him daily.  

That His way is above mine! "for as the sky soars high above the earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." (Isaiah 55:9) so glad that He sees the big picture and has my best interest at heart.

I have little words to follow this post...this weekend its on to celebrate my girl Ashley get hitched! Pictures to follow!


What are you thankful for today?

.:Thankful Thursday:.

NOVEMBER is here! This is blowing my mind! Anyone else find it hard to believe it is already November, the month that starts the FUN holidays? I'm so excited about the holidays: good quality family time, a little break here and there, yummy holiday treats, decorating my house, time at home in front of the fire, and homemade pumpkin spice lattes made by JAKE (which in my opinion are better than Starbucks!)

This week I'm thankful for...

Time with my fun high school bible study girls - Monday we toured Meredith since it is on their college list! I feel like these girls are my little sisters - love me some Ashley Smith, Alexa Futrell, & Megan Dionne and am so thankful to get to watch them grow in their faith in the Lord! It is one of my favorite things in life!

 

Ya, I know this pic is super blurry...SO thankful this week for my husband.  He is such a talented, motivated, godly guy.  I just LOVE being his wife!  In this picture he is playing in last weekend's wedding (50 degrees - it was FREEZING!)

 

Taken on my walk today while babysitting.  Isn't it so nice to be able to enjoy such a pretty state as NC? I love living in Raleigh!

Today's coffee date with Jemissa and Jess - LOVE that they have holiday cups out already! 

Liam, my sweet baby nephew, will be here tomorrow! Can't wait to post pics!

What are you thankful for this week? 

.:Thankful Thursday:.

Getting back into my blogging.  Here are a few things I'm so thankful for today...

That I get to be apart of THIS.

. 

Bringing hope to India through village development.  This is a little girl who is benefiting from gifts that many of you have given towards what we are doing in India.  She and her village received clean drinking water for the FIRST TIME THIS WEEK!...take a minute to think about this!  Seeing pictures like this remind me of how awesome it is that I get to be a part of bringing hope to the least of these!

  Celebrating this girl - Ashley Hovis, soon to be KISER! so thankful for my best friend from college and that she has found the man God has prepared for her.  I love Brian and think he is perfect for her! Excited to celebrate them on November 12!

 Time with these little two.  Happy Halloween from Claudia (4) and Bella (10) who I spend time babysitting on a regular basis when I am not at Global Hope India

 

Fall . Loving this weather and the beautiful views! 

(view from Ashley's bachelorette trip to the mountains)

 Oh Katie.  Reading this inspiring book is breaking my heart to the need for orphan care around the world.  Check out her blog. You will be blown away by her obedience and love!

What are you thankful for today?