Making a Difference

Today I got up early to drive all the way to Reedley (our old town) to attend the mother's group I used to lead. They are still doing an amazing job, 10 years later. Anyway, as I was driving there we listened to "My Father's House" and Jonny and I did all the hand movements. I sneaked a peak of him out of the corner of my eye and his singing and dancing while Dennis bounced to the music next to him in his own carseat made me all teary-eyed.

The lyrics to the song (posted below) got me to thinking about all the children that live in orphanages without the love of a family or the knowledge that there is a Heavenly father that loves them very much. I look at my kids with such love and thankfulness and want to make sure that they know that they are always welcome at their Father's house.

Lyrics
I don't know where you lay your head,or where you call your home.
I don't know where you eat your meals,or where you talk on the phone.
I don't know if you've got a cook, a butler, or a maid.
I don't know if you've got a yard with a hammock in the shade.
I don't know if you've got some shelter, say some place to hide.
I don't know if you live with friends in whom you can confide.
I don't know if you've got a family, say a mom or dad.
I don't know if you love at all, but I bet you wish you had.

CHORUS:
Come and go with me to my father's house.
Come and go with me to my father's house.
It's a big, big house with lots and lots of room.
A big, big table with lots and lots of food.
A big, big yard where we can play football.
A big, big house, it's my father's house.
All I know is a big, big house with rooms for everyone.
All I know is lots of land where we can play and run.
All I know is you need love, and I've got a family.
All I know is your all alone, why not come with me.
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Dennis is running a fever again. He is cranky, ugh, and only wants Mom. Here is Rachel bringing me my little monkey. Thankfully he loves taking his medicine, and has no trouble being laid down at night (now) even when he is sick as long as I give him lots of kisses all over his face and nuzzle his neck. He kisses back now which melts my heart every time. I love his sweet (yet sweaty) baby smell that is under his chin and behind his ears.

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Tonight I made fried eggs and toast for dinner. That's it. Plain and simple. It was a hit! After frying my 25th egg I assumed I was done because no one else was lining up next to me. I finally sat down with my plate of eggs to eat with Dennis when one of my girls said they would like their other egg now. I had clearly made a last call for eggs and this cook was done.

Rachel sweetly offered to fry a couple more for whoever wanted them. I got up to supervise and just marveled at how good of a job she did. Being my oldest daughter, she seems the most interested in watching and learning from me, and I have no doubt that one day she is going to make an amazing wife and mother. And with my other girls having not one but two positive role models to learn from, I know they will make great wives and mothers too.

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Later in the evening, the kids played outside for a while. Dennis absolutely loved being pushed in the wagon. His smile and shrieking with delight was payment enough for his siblings who kept taking turns pushing him around our cul-de-sac.

Dennis was disappointed when I took him in to get ready for bed.

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I would like to ask that you lift up four particular families right now in prayer. One is considering adoption through a disruption, two are disrupting, and one has decided to try and make things work instead of disrupting (the 11 year old boy). As of now, all of these families have some tough decisions to make and would graciously accept your prayers to fill in the gap. All of these families have their own story and it has been a blessing getting to know them. I do know that the need for families willing to open their hearts and homes to children who are coming from a disruption is growing, and I just want to encourage you to pray about how you can get involved to help these families. If you ever read a blog and you feel like the family is struggling, stop and take the time to leave an encouraging comment. Pray for families that are going through hard times. Think about becoming a respite family which is a family that is willing to take a child in temporarily so that the family could take some time to recharge, collect their thoughts and seek help. Spread the word about the need for adoptive families who are willing to take a risk on a child who carries the weight of the preconceived notion that they are troubled and therefore beyond help.

Personally there is not a (disrupting) child I have met where I didn't think that they would make an awesome son or daughter.