Life Unexpected

There have been so many amazing moments we have been able to have with Biruk since bringing him home almost 7 months ago.  Just this past week, as I was sitting on the floor playing with Biruk, we had one of those "mommy/son" moments that melted my heart.  We were watching the Today Show (which we do every morning), when they began to highlight the three US snowboarders who swept the slopestyle ski event at the Olympics the night before.  They proceeded to show the medal ceremony with all three skiers on the podium and the National Anthem blasting in the background.  All of a sudden, Biruk stopped playing, scooted up next to me and grabbed a hold of my hand.  He held it during the whole song!  I am not sure why, but in that moment, I was reminded just how incredible this journey that God has allowed us to walk really is.  Last year at this time, Biruk was half way around the world, sharing a crib with another baby, while we were praying that God would ...

I have been told a time or two that I have A LOT of clothing.  Ironically, when I look into my closet, I often find myself staring at all that I have and wishing I had more, or something different, or something more trendy, or something cuter than what I already have.  So, I stand in front of my closet and I loudly exclaim what I am sure a lot of people mutter on a daily basis, "I have nothing to wear!"  To which my kind and honest husband says back, "Are you serious right now?  Look at all of those clothes!"  It's the story of my life and it's one of the reasons that I have chosen to do the "7" experiment/fast.  It's a fast that has challenged me and created a deeper desire to know God and understand the real things that he wants for my life.  It's a fast from all the excess we find ourselves smothered in.  It's a fast that has forced me to look at the reality of my life...I have a lot. Today is the second week of the second mont...

I have officially finished month one of my "7" experiment/fast.  When I say, "officially finished," what I really mean is that I have moved onto month 2.  Honest confession...I ended the fast 3 days early.  At the start of January, I was so excited about embarking on this journey of "7."  I knew that it would be challenging, but I had no idea just how challenging it would be.  For the first week, my seven foods tasted amazing.  I felt like I was eating healthy, I felt like I was focusing on God, and I felt like I could conquer the world (by that I mean...survive 28 days of going without coffee).  The second week, it got a little more challenging.  I continued to do my best to stay within the fast, but each day brought on new cravings.  I spent a lot of time praying that I would would desire God more than I desired food, Dunkin Donut runs, and the candy sitting a foot away from me at my desk.  The third week, I struggled with more than ...

It's been 3 weeks and 1 day since I started "7."  To be honest, I haven't really wanted to write this blog post, because I have felt somewhat a failure at this fast.  I have felt like a failure for a lot of reasons.  First of all, while I have eaten A LOT of chicken, spinach, apples, bread, black beans, eggs, and sweet potatoes, there have been several times when I have had to veer away from the fast due to traveling, retreats I have been on, and dinner appointments we have had.  Each time I have veered away from the 7 items, I have felt like I have failed...like I haven't done this thing as well as I possibly could, even though the reality was that I didn't really have access to those 7 items.  Guilt...it gets me every time. I have also struggled with hearing God's voice.  To be honest, one of the biggest reasons I chose to participate in this fast was because I so desperately wanted to hear God's voice on several major things I had been personall...

Today marks one official week since starting our fast, "7."  To catch up those who didn't read my last blog, Nate and I are on an adventure to not only simplify our lives, but to draw closer to the heart of Christ, through an experiment/fast of simplicity.  This month we are focusing on food and have chosen seven food items we will be eating for the month:  chicken, black beans, spinach, apples, sweet potatoes, eggs, and wheat bread.  We have also chosen to not drink coffee.  While we have had to make a few "exceptions" this week along the way (which I will have to blog about later), I am learning as I go.  H ere are a few things I have learned in week one... 1.  Coffee has created its own rung on my personal food pyramid.  Seriously.  I consider it a necessity for life and parting ways with it has been painful!  The first four days I had a massive headache, I was a grouchy mama, and I every time I drove by Dunkin Donuts and Starbuc...

Happy New Year and welcome to the first blog post of 2014!  This past year has been one of the most incredible years of my life and I am still in awe of all that has taken place.  It's hard to believe that 10 months ago we received a phone call that would change the course of our life.  My mom and I had just returned from a day out on our annual Mom/Daughter Florida trip, when Nate called with the news.  After a 3 year wait, we had finally been matched with a 4 month old baby boy in Ethiopia!  Two months later we would get the call that we had been invited to travel to meet him, and Nate, myself and my mom, would jump on the plane 24 hours after that call, embarking on a trip that would go down in the history books as some of the best days ever.  That trip would be the one that would captivate our hearts in a way we could have never imagined and we met and held our son Biruk for the very first time half way around the world.  Almost two months later,...

At the start of the Christmas season I heard Third Day's song, "Merry Christmas."  The lyrics are powerful and read as follows: There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn Crying for momma's arms At an orphanage just outside a little China town There the forgotten are But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine It's Christmas time again but you're not home Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights I'm warmed by the fire's glow Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white, Make angels in the snow But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here It'...