Life Unexpected

It's the end of day 3 of our 4 day vacation...just my mom and I. We just returned from about 5 hours of thrift shopping and bargain hunting all over Fort Myers in our friends' convertible. I have to say, we looked pretty good in that convertible! I am exhausted tonight. I guess because I got burned a little on the beach, and we have once again packed in about 12-15 miles of biking, shopped till we dropped, and have filled every second of our time together with fun. I had to blog tonight to share this funny anecdote that I am sure will make all of you smile. So, we are biking to Fort Myers beach this morning, fully loaded with everything we need for the day on our bikes. Two beach chairs, a lunch, a backpack, iced coffee, iced tea, towels and sunscreen (I totally should have gotten a picture, because that description doesn't do justice to how ridiculous we look!). We get to this huge bridge, which has a big fat sign that says "Walk Bikes on Bridge." As par...

As I write, I am in Fort Myers, Florida, enjoying the best sunshiny day ever. Well, it's the end of the day and it's dark outside, but I definitely enjoyed the whole day until that crazy sun went down. My mom laughed at me, because she had to coerce me to come in for dinner, because I wouldn't leave the outdoors until the sun was officially gone. I have been waiting for sunshine and warmth since the winter began in Maryland. Mom and I started a tradition a few years ago to come to Florida for 3-4 days together right before Easter and stay out our good friends' house. She had decided to make it a special trip for just her and I until I have children. I look forward to it every single year and basically have the same routine every day. We bike to the grocery store early in the morning to get our favorite pastry, an almond bear claw, head to McDonalds for coffee and sweet tea, and then hit every thrift store we can get to...all within biking distance. Then we come h...

My Dad had a guy from his church make this video for our Tea Fundraiser. It's pictures of children we have met all over the world throughout our missions experiences. It's pretty amazing how God has been planting this idea of adoption in our hearts for a long time. I look pretty young in a few of these pictures! Hope you enjoy the video as well as the beautiful faces of children all over who are looking to be loved.

I realize that it has been almost a week since the "Expecting Miracles Tea Fundraiser," and I never had the chance to post about it. We had an AMAZING time! Can I just say that it was a perfect day, except the fact that my mother-in-law couldn't be there due to her getting like 10 inches of snow! The morning started really early. My alarm woke me up at 5am and my gracious sister Kristen also got up with me (I totally owe both my sisters big time). Kris and I half groggy eyed cut cucumbers and apples and put together about 150 tea sandwiches of all different kinds. We had 8 different sandwiches, 8 different desserts, hot little sandwiches, homemade tomato bisque soup (like a huge vat of it), 3 different kinds of tea (all donated by Tea by Two), and the most amazing scones (that a super nice lady from church donated). So much was made by friends of our family, and then of course, a boat load was made by my mom. One of my youth leaders that I had as a teen was there ...

I don't think my night could be complete if I didn't give you a small picture of what is going on at my parents' house. Nate and my Dad just returned from loading up 9 round tables at the church (yes this was done at 11pm tonight). My sister Heather, who is due to have a baby in less than 3 weeks left about an hour ago, after chopping up enough green and red peppers for an army...all to go in little hand rolled pinwheel sandwiches. My sister Kristen has been sitting at the table rolling the 100 little sandwiches...after we just ran to the grocery for the 90th time. And my mother...the ring leader of it all...I am just not sure how to put into words what she has been doing for the night! Oh, and currently my Dad is debating whether he should go to bed. The thing stopping him...a chance to sample the scones. Heaven forbid he misses out on another sampling of our masterpieces! All for what? Our Fundraiser Tea tomorrow! I have an amazing family. I know that I say tha...

For some reason, this week has been hard in the waiting process. It's one of those weeks where I can't stop asking God...how much longer? We were at a lacrosse game of some of our students in our youth group tonight, and I just longed to have a family to be sitting with. I know God is in control...I know his timing is perfect...but some days my heart hurts more than others. My sister sent me this verse this morning from Isaiah 14:24 "Surely, as I have planned so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand...For the Lord Almightly has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" It was a reminder that God hasn't forgotten us and he certainly has not forgotten the orphans in Ethiopia. As I was journaling this week, a Natalie Grant song came on the radio that reminded me not only does God have a plan, but at the mention of his name alone, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the fatherless find their rest,...

Wow...I had thought that when our Dossier was officially in, that would mean an easier wait. Was I ever wrong! I don't know why, but these days of waiting seem to go by ridiculously slow. I guess it's because we are dealing with a system where we have no control over timing or outcomes. Having no control over a situation is NOT fun. It's funny, because I really think I am in this season of surrender. A couple of weeks ago, while at the 30 Hour Famine event with our teens, my car got broken into. It was like 6:00pm at night in this rural parking lot, and the person just shattered the whole window and stole my purse (I know I shouldn't leave a purse on the seat, but I seriously left it for like 20 minutes while I did something in the church). My credit cards were stolen, my license, everything! Not only was my stuff taken, but because the window of our other jeep had shattered the week before (long story on that one too), I actually had nothing to drive. So no c...