Thursday, March 19, 2009

Salvation, Part Deux

I wanted to share more of the story of Lil Bugs salvation last week, but I didn't have time to type more at that moment and then we were without internet for a few days.

Here are the details.

Lil Bug is a very spiritual being. She loves to read the Bible and talk about Jesus and Heaven and anything else she can think of to talk about. She loves going to Sunday school.

I have spoken with her several times about salvation and everytime I tell her that when she is ready, her daddy or I would love to pray with her to ask Jesus into her heart. We talked about what that means...what she is being saved from...the importance of it, etc. Every single time she always says, "Bug mom! He already lives in my heart!" Being that I want to make sure she is not missing an important step, I continue to discuss the details of salvation with her.

Last Thursday she was in bed and we were getting ready to pray. I always ask her to think about her day and identify things that she should thank God for. We discuss those things. Then I ask her to think about her day and identify things she needs to seek forgiveness for. We discuss those things. Then we pray for her family members.

After discussing all these things she said she was ready to pray and ask Jesus to be her Savior. We prayed together and she was full of joy as she made it official.

Immediately after we finished praying she said, "Mommy, I need to pray and ask God to forgive me for my sin. I didn't listen to you at lunch and first I need to ask God to forgive me and then I need to ask you to forgive me so don't leave while I pray, k?" All smiles, I said, "of course!" and listened as she prayed. When she finished she apologized for being a stinker at lunch (several hours earlier) and, of course, I forgave her.

She is growing up so fast. I've had a lot of prayers pertaining to my Lil Bug since before she was born, but the one thing that I have prayed more than anything else (even her healing!) is that she would find the Lord at an early age and live out her days according to His plan. Thank you, God, for answering my prayers once again.

My prayers still continue for Lil Princess. I know she will have a great example to learn from in her big sister.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Salvation

My Lil Bug accepted Jesus into her heart tonight. I am SOOOO excited!!! God is good, always!

Spring Cleaning Bug

Yep, it has hit. I'm doing the nitty gritty cleaning. Last night I hand scrubbed the kitchen and dining room floors. Today I am purging stuff from my kitchen (decor that I am tired of looking at!) and dusting off my plants and generally just cleaning the area.

Perhaps if I pretend it is Spring, spring might actually arrive?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wedding

Last weekend I got fitted for the dress I will be wearing in my baby sisters wedding. The colors shown are different...mine will be chocolate with a cream sash. I'm not a real fancy girl, but it could be fun to get all dressed up for a day.

Mom of 3??

As you all know I have two incredible daughters. I like the way my family looks. I always wanted 3 or 4 kids, but The Designer only wanted two and I've had peace with that.

So why now is my heart pitter-pattering a bit faster at the prospect of having a third child? Especially since the changes of it happening are a million-to-one?

Here is a little background info.
The Designer's cousin, K, has a son, W. W is 20 months old right now. He has never been in the care of K because she has addictions that have landed her in and out of rehab and prison since long before his birth. W has resided with K's grandparents (The Designers grandparents). They are both in their 70's and two of the nicest people you could ever meet. Seriously, I've never met better grandparents. But, should they be parenting their great-grandson? Grandma has bad knees and can't get down to play with W much. Although they adore him and want the best for him, they, in my opinion, might not be the best solution for him.

I've expressed concerns about attachment issues and such to my MIL (the aunt to K) and she has tried to "educate" the Grandparents some. They have always (and continue) to hope that K will get her act together and be able to parent W, but with more and more time passing, the odds of that happening seem to be slipping away.

Not long ago the Grandparents sought guardianship of W and got it. They have discussed longterm what is best for W and I know (from MIL) that The Designer and I have been brought up as potential adoptive parents for W.

I have to say that the idea excites me. The thought of having a little boy makes me smile. W is only 9 weeks older than Lil Princess, so that would pose some interesting challenges, but it is definitely doable. We have 4 bedrooms. We are already working on upsizing from my car to a minivan. I'm home during the day and could provide love to another little person.

The Designer is not so excited. Last night I mentioned to him that our names were being discussed as a possible longterm solution for this little persons' life and he said, "no way!" He likes the ratio of children to parents right now. He likes that we are comfortable and function well as a unit. He likes that we are done growing our family. I asked him to please pray about the situation, at minimum. Begged him to consider that God could have a different plan for us. Asked him to remain open to listening to God speak to BOTH of us and making it clear. He said he would, but he also said he is sure God is done growing our family.

A couple of sidenotes:
1) The red tape everyone would have to go through to make an adoption plan in this situation is intense. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that K would be aware and have to agree or a judge would have to deem it in W's best interest. Those things alone make the chances of this fairly slim.

2) The Grandparents are VERY attached to this little boy. They love him as if they were his parents. They have parented him for the first 20 months of his life. They only way the could go through with an adoption plan would be for them to be able to really think it is in W's best interest because even though he would stay in the family (there is no way they would let him go anywhere else!) they would be removed from his day-to-day life.

So, as I mentioned, the odds are about a million-to-one, but the thought is there, in the back of my mind. I suspect that if The Designer were onboard with this idea, the odds would increase significantly because we could express to the Grandparents our interest and intentions and they would not feel like they are placing a 'burden' on us...by the way...a child is NEVER a burden for us!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

God approval

1 Thessalonians 2:4 Message

God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval--only God approval.

Declaration of Faith
My heavenly Father has entrusted me with the Gospel, to spread it in my circle of influence. Therefore, I do not focus my attention on pleasing men but on pleasing God.
(Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:15-20; Galatians 1:10; Proverbs 17:3)

**Taken from The Complete Personalized Promise Bible for Women.**

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Comfort and Encouragement

Psalm 42:5,8,11 NKJV

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me -- a prayer to the God of my life. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Declaration of Faith
I refuse to be depressed about any circumstance or situation I find myself in. I will never forget that my heavenly Father loves me with all of His heart and is caring for me every second of every day. He commands His lovingkindness in the daytime and at night His song remains with me. My father never fails to be there for me. He is my Comforter who restores to me the joy of my salvation.
(Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 51:12; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 4:4)

**Taken from The Complete Personalized Promise Bible for Women.**