how beatiful the body of Christ still is:)

I laughed outloud when I signed on my blog and saw my last blog entry. It was written in march, and it was written from tc thomspon children's hospital about how beautful the body of CHrist was while I had four day hospital stay with my foster son Matthew. Now here I am in July..writing the next blog post...About how beautiful the body of CHrist has been to me while I have spent three days at TC Thomspon with Alex my son:) DIfferent kid, different problem. same hospital. Same body of Christ!THis has been a very very long week. Not much sleep. Watching your kid suffer is very very hard. But besides the grace and strength my Jesus gives. The beautiful body of Christ has made this week blessed!From er visit on Mon on, peop;le have been praying for sweet Alex. We have had many visits. Meals. Treats. OUr friend Casey B. filled our pantry up for when we get home. Equipped with Clorox wipes and everything. People have brought snacks. Jenn and others have stepped in with foster son Alex. my mom has come every day to love on little man. People have prayed for us. Brought coffee and treats. Sent balloons. Kelli B and her sweet boys even made a basket of goodies for Alex. The bubbles were a life saver. ONly the body of Christ can make a three day hospital stay easier. If you don't know Jesus, you are not only missing out on a relationship with the King of Kings, you are also missing the privledge of being involved with HIS church!
ON a funny note. Because our foster son Matt is a frequent hospital visitor. All the ER staff knew us by name:)It is hilarious how many staff at TC Thomspon recognize me. IN fact on July 4 the ER doc said..Do you come in every holiday:) so funny.I love Children's Hospital. ONly here do they bring doggies in to visit Alex:)And let you blow bubbles when you get an iv.
God always had different plans than us. I was supposed to bein Haiti today, serving the people there in JEsus name. INstead, God has me here, serving my Alex in Jesus name. ONe cool God story while I have been here. Last night, the night nurse looked familiar to me. she said same. She later remembered why.When I worked with student venture at her highschool, i took her to taco bell and shared the gospel with her. THis was 7 years ago. She still had the booklet, and said she finally gave it to someone else.She said it has changed her life, and now she was teaching kids sunday school! HOw cool is God. I shared the gospel with her 7 years ago when she was in highschool, and now she is taking care of my son:)God is so faithful

The Body of Christ

I know..that might bring to mind the old school Christian song. How beautiful the body of Christ. But oh so true. HOw beautiful the body of Christ has been to me, Todd, Alex, and my little Matthew. When we did foster care training, they had us draw a diagram of the people in our life who could be resources for us as foster parents. I had so many to draw on the diagram. Because I am part of the BODY of Christ. And boy this week have I seen in. Having three ER Visits with Matthew, three 911 calls in two days. a trip to the ICU and a going on four day trip to the hospital brings out the needy in you. And boy has the body of Christ responded. Everyone has fallen in love with our new privledge from the Lord Matthew. ANd they have shown him the love of Jesus like you could never imagine. So while these few days have been tough..YOu guys have been the hands and feet of Jesus. YOu guys have prayed for my little guy. Brough food to me in the hospital. Text me to check on us.Sent balloons to our room to keep him happy and occupied. Came to pray with us. Kept my little boy.Wow. I could go on and on. Thrown me a suprise bday party prayed for and annointed me(my thursday night ladies)...ANd my family. Wow. They have watched my little man and made sure they loved on him(Mammy-you are the best)....They have slept in the uncomfortable hospital room with me and done everything matthew want(aunt nenn...not naming any names you are amazing)So body of Christ. So thankful I not only get the benefit of knowing Jesus.but benefit of Knowing Jesus through you! The best thing that ever happened to matthew is being loved on by this amazing body of Christ!

By wisdom....The Lord laid the earth's foundation

I have been absoltuly obsessed with Provers 3 lately. I read it every day...And am wowed and convicted afresh every day as I study it....We always hear the verse Prov 3:5-6...Lean not on your understanding....Well...That is all fine and good. but whose understanding are we leaning on.....Go on to Prov 3:19-20 and be amazed. we are supposed to lean on the Lord's understanding...which is the same understanding he used to set the heavens in place...Wow..Why do I ever choose to lean on my own understanding instead of the understanding of the one who made the heavens with one word..Glory..ANd God has very much been askinWow. This has been the most intense, most wonderful,'most humbling...most amazing two months of my life...I could never have believed last february during the hardest month of my life what seeemd like the worst thing ever could result in this feb having Matthew..What a blessing! Watching matthew transfrom has been the coolest thing I have EVEr been a part of. When he came to us in dec, he could barely speak 3 words...Now he is speaking in sentences.He learns new words every day...we can go in public without making a scene.He is praying at dinner, lifting his hands to praise the lord, learning his colors, learning to dress himself, learning to run and play like a normal kid...He is going to the zoo for the first time. He is learning to sing Jesus loves me! Wow..God is healing his brain as we speak...IT is amazing to watch. HE can answer questions now. glory glory...IT has been amazing. And Alex is learning too. LEarning to share...Giving his favorite toys to matthew.Praying for matthew.Asking for treats for matthew.Hugging and looving his big bro. Even when matthew is very agressive and picking on alex, alex just keeps right on loving him. THrough matthew, alex is learning to live out the meaning of his name helper of mankind..who is like the Lord! Wow..
But boy have I needed the wisdom and understaning of the Lord in more ways than I could ever imagine! Have I needed to fall flat on my face and say jesus help me more than ever. And His wisdom and understaning even more than ever. Brining a traumatized child into your home is always hard..espically hard if it is a child with disabilites who cannot communicate very well..There have been many struggles.but God has been so faithful. I love how God orchestrated this journey every step. His understanding..His plan for what went on in my life last year was way better than I could imagine!I had no idea when I was leaning on my own understanding, wondering why god wasn't answering my prayers..THat He was waiting on perfect timing to answer..SEnding his perfect child for us to take care of...Matthew is better than I could have asked or imagined! This morning I was reading my bible in my fav pink chair. At 7 matthew slowly came down the stairs. He gave me his huge smile, then ran to my arms, curled up like a little baby...And I rocked my 54 pound little love and prayed for the plans God has for him. Trusting God is hard..But HIS plans are always better!~

Incredible Christmas!

Wow. This has been the best Christmas I have ever had...God has loved on me so much. It was just what I needed after a very stressful first few weeks transitioning to having matthew in our home. (I think it is helpful to have all the extra hands around when Im with family)...But Wow. A white Christmas. ANd getting snowed in at my parents house. Unlimited family time....I couldn't ask for more. But I"m telling you the best gift this year...I have seen a little boy who came to us hardly talking, barely able to communicate, fit pictching........Kind of just there little boy..become....A shiny eyed, running around...laughing, making us laugh, talking little boy....Wow. God has already begun to transform our little matthew. Right before our eyes. It is the most exciting thing I have ever been a part of...And seeing my family and Todd's family love on Matthew. IT is the most amazing thing I hae ever seen. That little boy has us wrapped around his finger.Most of all..My hero is my little Alex. HE has adapted so quickly to having a brother in the house who requires alot of attention. He has loved on, played with, wrestled with and prayed for(and bit..and hit:) our little matthew.....God is so good. Watching Matthew transform with our love reminds me of how much God/s love transforms me:) Thank God today for loving you!

On life as a foster parent:)

So the Christmas story is all about interuptions:) Mary and Joseph's lives were totally interupted by God. They weren't planning to have the son of God. But they said Yes. They said I am your servant. I will do as you say....I just taught my kids sunday school class about saying yes to God. Then God asked me...Will you say yes...Will you say yes to a beautiful boy named Matthew. 4 years old with developmental level of one year old. a cute little boy partially paralyzed. ONe who has seizures. Who is so funny. Loves to smile, giggle and clap. Loves to dance..Loves to get into mischeif:)Will you say yes to interuption during the busiest time of the year:) Will you say yes...or be the inn keeper and say there is no room in this inn.Well God alone gave Todd and I the grace to say yes. We got little matthew on tuesday night. Wow! OUr lives have changed over night. But boy do I love this little guy. HE is so precious, snuggly and hilarious. I believe God for big plans for this boy no matter what medical doctors may say...And wow. Alex has said yes too. He has been amazing. HE loves little matthew. HE has been so flexible in getting a little brother overnight:) He treats him like a little brother. Now I have two little guys running around, wrestling, fighting over toys and getting into mischeif:) Wow! Alex was even in the back seat telling matthew about jesus yesterday:) WEll life has changed for me. I don't sit down. No rest.....Chasing two little ones around. Bed times and meal times have been a process. Nap time..non existant:) but through it all God has been so so faithful. I know his grace is the only thing getting me through. THe only thing giving me the strength is Jesus. I know he has called us to this. and I am clinging to the promise. FAithful is He who called you and He will do it. That is somewhere in 1 thess. Wow. Now i am off too more chasing around:)Believing God to pour into this little guy and my little guys. Merry Christmas!

HOPE

I LOVE Christmas. I love all the cheesiness about it. I love decorating the tree. I love cold weather. I love hot chocolate. I love Christmas music.....espicially the Alabama Christmas cd:) I love christmas lights. christmas cards. christmas gifts..And now I add to that. I love Alex in his footie christmas pajamas. I love watching him look at the tree and lights. I love hearing him see the tree every morning and say Lets celebrate Christmas mommy. But most of all I love teaching him what Christmas is all about....Jesus....I have done a homemade advent calendar with him this year, so todd and I have tried to do fun activities with him every day to teach him the real meaning of Christmas. Yesterday we were really brave. We did an art project..WITH PAINT!It was a blast. we had him paint all over letters that spelled hope. ANd he can already tell us..we have hope at christmas because Jesus sent a savior. Glory Glory...!

I am trying to remember that in the busyness of the season. It is all about the HOPE of Jesus. Saving me from my many sins. A baby..Alex's age when the wisemen came to visit...SAved me from my sin. WOW. This year has been long in many ways. Me wishing and hoping for another baby...But I want to remember my HOPE IS NOT IN ANOTHER BABY but THE BABY.The baby who died on the cross for my sins. Jesus Christ.....He has given me so much hope this year. ANd his HOPE does not dissapoint! Check out Romans 15:13! Have a hope filled Christmas

Like a two year old child.......

I will start this post with some deep thoughts from my time with Jesus this week. And if you make it through all that finish it with some fun details from my time in Missouri(for those of you who care..which is prob just Jenn, my mom and TJ:)).
I have been reading the Psalms of Ascent and it has been awesome. For the past few days I have mediated on Ps. 131! REad it. It describes my 2010 year to a tee! The first part is david saying...I am not going to get involved in matters too difficult for me....Basicaly he is saying. Hey, I"m not going to try to figure God out and what God is doing. Sometimes He is just too big for me to understand and figure out. The next part says..My soul is quieted like a weaned child with his mother. A toddler. .Which happens to be what I have in my little Alex. A weaned child:) So I can totally relate to this word picture. When Alex is really tired and really grumpy and is refusing to sleep, I will hold him in my arms and rock him until he finally gives in and rests on his mommy. That is the best time. To hold his sleeping, finally calm self in my arms. Well...I do this same with God. I spend time trying to figure out why..And God what are you doing? And can't I do things the way I want to do them.And He lovingly gently holds me as I wrestle in his arms..untill my soul is quieted within me!Glory. What a loving abba daddy we have! The last verse reminds Israel..ANd now us. to Put our HOPE In the Lord. Our hope. ...The Hebrew says our waiting.Our patience. Our expectation in him.
I have spent much of 2010 waiting, losing patience and wrestling with God. But I want to trust him, stop wiggling and let my soul be quieted by him. What about you?Is He calming your soul today? Or are you like me...(and Alex in my arms) doing everything you can to get out of the grasp:)
So now for the not deep stuff. I have had a blast in Missouri. Yesterday todd took me to a bakery for lunch and I had homemade donuts to die for. I have swung outside with Alex for a million hours. Alex and I have had a blast with his playdough and train sets. Last night we had family movie night which makes alex very happy. Todd and I have run together, and played cards together. It is nice to be somewhere for 2 weeks where you don't have a to do list. I am having fun just playing with my fam:)
Love you all!