Giving Thanks

Thank you Lord for the unexpected raise my office gave me today...the extra money will be going straight to the adoption fund!

Worship Night

Our church had Family Worship Night tonight.  The musicians in our church are incredible.  They are so talented and humble, it's amazing!  

I was reminded tonight that it's not about what I GET out of it...it's what I can GIVE! 

The past few months I've barely been able to sing during the worship time.  I had to fight back the tears.  I couldn't say the words without feeling this huge pressure on my heart.  I knew God was calling me to something and I knew I needed to surrender but I just couldn't wouldn't. 

I'm on a 'spiritual high' right now.  I feel like I could spend my whole day with God and no-one else and there still wouldn't be enough time.  Saying "Yes, Lord" feels so good.   I want to see this world through His eyes.  I've taken a step back and am trying to figure out what HE wants my life here on earth to look like.  What I've realized so far is that we aren't meant to be comfortable...and if you are, you need to do something about it!!  We will be comfortable in heaven, this is our time of labour and serving and there is joy and contentment in that!

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Change of topic....  Raya has had a rough day....we are anticpated a seizure sometime in the next 12 hours or so.  She was hard to watch tonight.  It's like she didn't know what to do with herself.  She went from hugging to dancing to growling to laughing to pouting to laying down to jumping to screaming all within minutes over and over and over again.   Tomorrow will be a hard day, she will be exhausted and really dependant.  Monday we will be on back on the positive side of life again.  She is going in 2 week cycles lately.  MRI followup is on Feb 1.


better late than never to start using labels I suppose

A New Blog

Here is a link to our new blog... for now we will still keep this one too....

Our New Blog

the picture of perfection

Raya was eating her breakfast this morning (after everyone else was done).  She's reeeaaaally slow in the morning, and she needs her space!

The rest of us were upstairs frantically getting ready for Bible Study.  I came downstairs to check on her progress and give her a little 'ya better hurry or were gonna be late' speach. 

I rounded the corner to find her sitting at the island, holding her spoon half way to her mouth and singing "I play my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum"

I didn't interupt.  She continued with her song in between mouthfuls of cereal.

We were late for Bible Study. 

And it's okay because Raya needed that time to worship this morning. 

A little girls dream....

I set my alarm to get up early and get some work done.  I've turned on my worship music and am plucking away at my invoicing.  I have to admit there has been more worship and less work this morning but I can't stop myself....and I know it's not a bad thing.

Raya woke up and came in my office with her eyes half open, carrying her blankie and sporting some crazy hair.  She quietly says

"I had a good dream this time Mom"
me "what was it about?"
raya "My auntie Cheremi brought her new babies home"
insert BIG grin here (with eyes still half open)
raya "but I still miss them"

oh sweet Raya, my prayer is that your little sweet dream comes true really really soon.

Is it that bad?

We were getting ready frantically on Sunday morning in our bathroom.  Chris casually says

"What happened to Betti?"
me: "You took her out of the budget when we moved"
chris: "No, I don't think I did, but if I did, I'll get her back in there"
me: "sweet"

Guess who's coming to my house on Tuesday???  BETTI!!  We love Betti! 

And.... I'm going to do myself a favor and not read into the underlying message of this conversation....but I do wonder, is it really that bad?  I'll also answer my question by saying "nope, I don't think it is".  My time is spent schooling Hallie, playing with the littles, building relationships, working, driving the kids to their activities and appointments, going to Bible Study and allowing God to shape me into who He wants me to be. 

The rest can wait...for Betti :)

Today is a Day of Prayer

As most of you know, My sister and her husband are in the process of bringing home two sweet little babes from Uganda.  I'm joining hundreds of others across the world to pray for them and the situation in Uganda.  If you would take a few minutes to pray for them today, it would mean so much to me!!

One of their good friends has posted about their situtation...you can see it here..
http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/  It's a fantastic blog written by a homeschooling mom of many!!

I have copied the excerpt that she has written on my sister's situation here...

Weeks ago I wrote about our dear friends James and Cheremi. James went with Dw to Africa this past summer. He fell in love with a little girl and started the process to bring her home. When James came home (to Canada) Cheremi said, "James I still feel God has a little boy for us." James contacted the orphanage and they said that there was a little boy with special needs that they would let them also have. A true miracle!!


So before heading to Africa James and Cheremi did all their paperwork. They dotted every "i" and crossed every "t". They were told by their Canadian Government that adoption is a top priority and they would expedite the VISAs.


James and Cheremi left as soon as they had the clearance from Uganda and Canada. They both were in Africa together for a week until their joint court date. AFter a week though, Cheremi flew home to care for their three other little children.


James stayed in Africa with their two new children. Only thing is that Canada has now changed their tune. They had said that it would take 2 weeks has now turned into 22 months. In the meantime James and Cheremi are bearing this burden. James has been in Africa now for 11 weeks. Cheremi is home in Canada with the 3 kids.


You who have adopted understand how once you meet your child, it's impossible to turn your back and go home and wait. The thing is that nothing is going to change either way, except we get on our knees.



"All those gathered here will know


that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves;

for the battle is the LORD's,

and he will give all of you into our hands."

I Samuel 17:46-48




Now many could say, but Linny there are others who are in a crisis. Or others would say, "But I don't live in Canada." Or others might say, "there are others who need prayer." Or still others would say, "I'm not adopting and won't ever be, so this doesn't affect me."



BUT I am pleading with you with a prophetic voice for this reason: I believe that this is a pivotal point in international adoption. The Lord has impressed on me that He has been merciful to the body of Christ in allowing a door of opportunity to care for the orphan. But the door is now becoming a window and if we do not get on our knees and plead for Canada (and the rest of the world) to keep the opportunities for international adoption open, then we will see a sudden change in the winds of adoption. I do not type those words lightly. It is that serious.



So what can we do? The only thing we can do is get on our knees and pray. Fast. Beg the Lord to have mercy and move on the hearts of the Canadian officials. Move mightily. Move swiftly. Move for the orphans. Move because He is God and He loves the orphan. Move because He loves them even more than we do. He knows the number of hairs on the heads of all 147 million. He loves them with an everlasting love. He loves them enough to send His only son to die for them.



For this reason I am asking for you to join me this Wednesday January 6, 2009 for a day of prayer (and fasting). If you are able to fast - please join me in that as well.


Maybe some have never adopted and never plan to. It's okay. You can still do something for the orphan. (James 1:27) You can pray with us. If possible you can fast.


Fast for God to move on behalf of James and Cheremi!

God uses the little ones....

This morning I was *really* wrestling with something in my head.  It has to do with a topic that has occupied ALOT of my headspace in the past 6 weeks or so.   I know what the right answer is but it comes at a cost.  If I say 'yes' to *this* it means 'no' to *this*.   I am selfish by nature....but I know in the end the reward is great if I surrender to the calling. 

While I was having a 'ya, but' conversation back and forth in my head Hallie came up to me and handed me a note that she had written for me.  I opened it up and it said "Follow Jesus for this is right'

That was the end of the conversation in my head.