Little Boys Becoming Men

I rounded the corner just in time to catch my son & his buddy stealthily sneaking down the stairs, all dressed out in tactical gear, pretending to hunt down the bad guys. This brings both amusement and sadness to my soul.







My heart laughs because my son & his friends have played like this all their lives...all eighteen years of their lives. Yup, he's not my little boy anymore. He's 6'4" of long, lean, would-be Marine. It brings a smile to my face to remember that he has played thusly all these years. It's always been his mindset. In our house camo has always been a color. Toy guns are abundant, whether they shoot paint, water, or BB's. I am accustomed to airsoft BB's all over my house(can you say "pet peave?"), weird-looking camoflauge suits hanging around, paintball or airsoft guns parts here & there. It is just normal around here.





But as I watched these two tonight, I am also saddened to realize that this time next year, they may not be playing a game. You see they have both sworn in to the USMC this summer. They are awaiting their ship dates for bootcamp, likely January, and then all this will just be a memory. The game will have become a way of life. This time next year, I will be wishing I could catch them at play. Longing to fuss about the war zone in his room. Wishing there would be just a couple of those little white BB's under the bed. It would be more comforting than wondering where my Marine is & what he's doing.

But I have long since given this child to the Lord. He was never mine to keep anyway. We, as his parents, must pour all we have into him and trust God to lead him thru. I pray that he seeks after the things of God, harder than he seeks after the bad guys. I pray that God's plan/mission is ever on his mind. I pray that he remembers whose he is. I pray that he puts on the armor of God before he ever puts on his military armor. That his most valuable weapon is the sword of the Spirit. I pray that he knows his safe harbor, in the time of storm. Our little boys don't stay little boys forever. Eventually they turn into men...hopefully men of honor & integrity. And us mama's? We just keep on praying...some things never change.

Birthday $ Cupcakes!

I have never been one to relish sticking money in a card for gifts. I seem to require a creative touch. Both of my beloved nieces celebrated their birthdays, & a money gift seemed appropriate. I wanted a new presentation & thus the hunt began. Here is the finished product.....



Cute? We loved how they turned out. Every part is useable. I just rolled up 3 pairs of colorful ankle socks, slightly narrowing the roll as I went. This way the inner sock is a little taller than the outer. Next I simply placed the roll into a silicone cupcake liner. The three pair roll fit nicely into a jumbo liner.





Next I rolled up the money(the candle) & used a tiny bit of yellow ribbon(the flame). I carefully stuck the "candle" into the center hole formed by the sock. Tada! Happy Birthday, girls!

Yes!...A Thousand Times....Yes!

The answer was YES! A strong, resounding, unshakable "Yes!" Amid a slurry of question marks & a mountain of unknowns was found a peace that passed all understanding. The question was a tough one, a scary one, a life-changer. Is this our child? Is this the one we have been seeking? Is she the one I have been holding in my heart? Is she the answer to our prayers?



I remember noting, nine years ago today, that there were no fireworks or magic moments...no easy button. But there WAS peace, blessed assurance that this was our child. After receiving the most-anticipated call imaginable, 4 days prior, Ben and I found ourselves desperately needing to hear from God. Knowing full well that our hearts were deceptive and completely untrustworthy for the task at hand, we simply couldn't breathe with out the Lord in those days. We were told by the specialist that she would need to be categorized as "high risk". We prayed together and then apart, face down in the carpet, desperately needing the guiding hand of our Creator God, of her Creator.

Sure there are risks with international adoption, but there are risks with biological births as well. The risks will always be there. Sometimes life is hard, but God's grace is sufficient. He is faithful to be found, to lead, to guide. And He never sends us on a journey without equipping us to handle the hurdles. Oh, we feel very incapable and overwhelmed at the very thought of the task. But He has indeed gone ahead and prepared the way for our timid footsteps; much like the story of Gideon who definitely had occasion to know fear's grip.

Fear and I have always been close, way too close. The story was told that as a toddler, I was occasionally lifted to the top of the refrigerator & encouraged to jump into the waiting arms of my Daddy. Don't judge...we also rode around without car seats or seat belts. My sister was always more willing to jump right off. But me? Not so much. It took a bit of coaxing from my Daddy before I would close my eyes and jump into his more-than-able hands. He would always catch me in his strong arms.

God's peace is available when I jump in faith. When I can't see what's ahead, can't plan for the next step, can't make out the path...that's when He does it. He settles my heart, places me in the cleft of the rock and covers me there with His hand. Then He blesses me richly in unfathomable ways. He deserves all the glory and the honor. He sets us up to soar for His glory. I am so glad I jumped, jumped right into His arms. It was an unforgettable ride. A journey full of twists & turns, where His presence was evident around every turn. I can't thank Him enough for the gift of this child.

He has blessed our family with four awesome kids, each as different as can be. Each with a journey of their own. May they know the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. May they know their promised land in all its splendor as they too obediently jump in faith, when the Father beckons them to "JUMP!"