adoption weekend

It was adoption weekend at our church...I L.O.V.E this weekend so much, it tugs on my heart so much. Adoption has always been something that I wanted to persue. I have always "talked" about wanting to do it, more so than ever I really want to do it. I don't know what God's plan for us in this journey...if it is local, international, becoming a foster parent prior to adopting or even the ages. We really need to pray to him and see what he reveals to us. My heart breaks for these children without a parent. I can't help but hope that I would have the opportunity to give them a gift of a mom or a dad. 

 

oh how time flies...

whew..it has been forever, I need to keep up with this more, so much has happened...lets see. Ava met her uncle last week, it was the first time I have seen my brother since June 2007 and he melted her heart. It was so sweet to see them together. 

Ava was a cup cake for Halloween, she. HATED. it! HATED it I tell you, we made it to one house, it was off with in 30 minutes...pics are soon to follow.

Our pastor at church has been talking about "white hot worship", when you are really worshiping the Lord that is when we start to see a change in our church. After reading this I came across this from Francis Chan

Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives 

 

Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one 

 

Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers

 

Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives 

 

Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; it’s only for pastors and missionaries and radicals 

 

Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached 

 

Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God 

 

Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation”

Thoughts? Sometimes I feel like I am unfortunalty a part of this check list...I have some of these issues and I don't want tobe this. Thank goodness for Gods grace for me. 

 

Ava had a birthday!

So just incase no one knew from the post below...Ava turned 2 last Friday. We had so much fun! Youngs for breakast and hanging with the cows in the morning and then Ava, Audrey, my mom and I got the pleasure of going to Butler Springs to see my sister lead worship and hang with my dad. It was a blast! That came has always held a special place in my heart since I went there from when you could first attend daycamp all the way through 12th grade. My have things changed to an extent but it still remains the same.  

Ava, Audrey, my dad, and I all went on this slide...its an old waterslide and you sit on fleece blankets to go down. I had my dad take Ava and then Audrey and I went. It was alot of fun...they never had this when I was younger :)

Once my dad and Christina got home the following day we decided to do the birthday celebration before heading to Michigan. Ava got a instrument set from my sister and it was like a parade going through my parents house that morning. 

I decided to bake her birthday cake..funfetti and strawberry cake with strawberries in the middle, the decorating was courtesy oF Audrey. It tasted great but I am no "Cake Boss"

 

these two are inseparable,they do everything from sharing cars at the store to making cookies with play dough

   

and then when we went to Michigan she was able to hangout with aunts, uncles, and grandparents and most of all..her new bff kate dog. She was obsessed. Kate was obsessed. they ran, played, shared food, and slept together and she was not nearly annoying as our dog ticking her off by licking her and knocking her onto the floor. It was such a great birthday weekend for so many reasons. I was sad that it had to end. 

 

 

god bless

-cb

 

 

U2!

Just last Sunday I got the chance to go and see one of my favorite bands from all time...U2! My uncle bought me the Joshua Tree on cassette in 1989 and I loved them ever since. I was able to go to Michigan and not only see U2 but also hang out with my family which is always a bonus :) Here are some pictures from that night's awesome events. I apologize the picture quality is less than stellar but I was using my trusty iPod since I was unsure in the camera situation. It was hands down one of the best shows I have seen, 65000+ people were packed into MSU stadium and I thought it was one of the best things ever. 

things i have learned in becoming a mom

With Ava's birthday fast approaching well uh, tomorrow it has really made me start and reflect these last 2 years Time goes so fast…really it does, I can't believe today two years ago I was 9 hours into my labor, and literally had team Ava waiting for her arrival. The new kind of love you experience, I have never experienced the kind of love I have for my sweet girl. It's amazing and indescribable.

Patience…it's true patience is a virtue and I have learned A LOT of it.

How much funner (if its even a word) Christmas is. Ooomygosh I have so much playing Santa in the toy aisle. I think I enjoy it more than she does.

How much your music and video library expands…when Ava got a playlist on my ipod I knew there was no going back.

How much your children keep you going…even on the crappiest of days I know that I get to see Ava's smiling face at the end of it and it makes it all worth it.

The act of selflessness.

What an impression you can make on a life, I hope to make the impression on her that my mom has made in my life.

It's been a blast this past year from her and I know I get to experience many more. I am just taking the next two days to really soak it up and realize how much God has blessed me with such an amazing little girl.

god bless- cb

My struggles

Why is it the weekend speeds on by but my week seems to drag so slowly. On Saturday, my sister Christina and I took our sister Becca out to lunch for her 21st birthday and I ended up spending a majority of my weekend in Xenia. I was able to play catch up with my best friend after she did a much needed dye job to my hair. Sunday we had house church, we were talking about the fact that if we have a bad day, view it as a reset button and when you wake up the following day remember it's a new day and a new morning...I am currently having a hard time with this. It is something I struggle with and I let the negativity get the best of me. 

I am exhausted and I miss Ava, I struggle more now with leaving her than when she was a newborn. I think part of it is because she is at a fun but challenging age and she hates it when I leave. There is so much I would like to do with her and not enough hours in my day to do it and it is hard for me. One thing that has really been focusing on and it has been a struggle for me is something Margaret Ashmore said at the Apex women's conference I went to awhile back and she said

"If you study the image of God, it will be imprinted in you"

 

She based this out of vs. 8 from the Beatitude's in Matthew, and it is so true. Sometimes I get so consumed by the negativity in my life...leaving Ava, the stresses of my job, and coming home with what seems to be a mile long list of things to do. Am I reflecting God's image in my day to day life...at work or with people I witness to, in my marriage, or to my daughter. I need prayer and accountability for this, so fellow sisters call me out on it if I am failing in this. :)

God bless

-cb