Home {An Influence Network Link-up}

Today I'm linking up with the ladies from the Influence Network to talk a little bit about Home.

I was born in Cambridge, MD.  A small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland about 2 hours South of Baltimore and about an hour from Ocean City.

 

After my husband and I got married, we moved to the Main Line outside of Philadelphia to finish college.  We lived there for 5 years and loved it.  I loved being close to the city and having access to so many museums.  I loved being able to take the Septa any time I wanted.  Oh, and I loved cheese steaks!

 

When it was time to think about starting a family my husband only had one requirement and that was that we move back home.  So we did!

We bought a little farmhouse on the Maryland/Delaware line.  We technically live in Maryland but our address is Delaware.  (We have to explain that one all the time, even to police officers!)

So that's a little bit about where I live.  If you're new to my life (His Mission), this is me.

And I spend my days chasing after this little punkin.

  

And loving these people.

 

 

If you are anywhere in my area, shoot me an e-mail at mylifehismission@hotmail.com or connect with me through facebook or twitter.  I'd love to meet you.



Summer Hair

It's that time of year.

The time of year when my hair is sticking to my neck and it's driving me crazy. 

I'm kind of new to this whole long hair thing and I'm struggling with not just throwing it up in a messy bun every day.  I'd like to be that girl who can wear her hair down all the time and it look great.  But where I live, with days of crazy humidity, that's just not possible. 

My friend, Moriah, of Oh Tiny Gifts sent Alivea and I these adorable Infinity Scarves from her shop.  Livi and I have pretty much been wearing them non-stop.

 

I've been sporting this great coral chevron one and Alivea has been enjoying this gray and pink stripe one.

These are supposed to be infinity scarves.  They have little snaps on the ends so you can snap it together in the back.  That's how I've been wearing it.  But for Alivea, I've been looping it around her head twice and then tying it in a bow on the top.  I really think the sky may be the limit with these things.

These scarves (or headbands, as I prefer to call them) are super soft and Moriah makes them in an assortment of colors. 

Go check out Moriah's shop.  She also sells super cute scarves for little ones made from recycled socks (I've been told they are clean, though, so no worries!). 

Moriah has also graciously offered a coupon code for my readers.  Just visit her Etsy shop anytime in the next week (before June 18th) and enter KERRYROCKS in the coupon code box at checkout to get 10% off your order. 



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I'd like to thank Moriah for sending me these headbands to try.  All of these opinions are my own and completely honest. 

Hello, My Name Is ___________ (Vol. 2)

Weary.

Some days are just too hard. 

Too many hurts.
Too much pain.
Too many questions.
Not enough answers.
Or just answers that hurt more.

That's what seems to be happening to me a lot lately.

A lot of hurt all around me.

Friends who are hurting, sick, questioning.
Questioning in my own heart, in my own life.
Family members whose lives are messes and whose lives are broken.

Some days are just too hard.

Cancer.  The flu.  Allergies.  Divorce.  Financial Problems.  Infertility.  Being robbed. 

All of these are things that people I love are facing today. 

It's hard.

Tonight, after meeting a family whose 5 year old little girl has an inoperable brain tumor, I drug myself home and starting thinking about this post.  I literally laid my head on my desk and prayed

"Lord, what is my new name right now?"

And He answered with "Sustained"

That is what He is doing right now.  This life is messy, y'all.  It hurts and sometimes it downright stinks.  Frankly sometimes it sucks.  It's not fair and people we know hurt. 

Tonight as I watched this family literally hold onto their bible and profess a trust in Jesus for their daughter, I was in awe.

Jesus is sustaining them and He is sustaining me.

I'm surviving all of this.  It's one day at a time and sometimes it's one hour at a time but I am being sustained.

And so are you.

Surely God is my help:  the Lord is the one who sustains me.

~Psalm 54:4

 



The truth is that life is not about protecting yourself from the messiness.  There is beauty in the messiness.  There is beauty in the pain.  It's hard to see sometimes, but it's there.  And God sees all of it.  And He sustains us through it.  He doesn't call us to hide.  He doesn't call us to avoid the messiness and the hurt.  If anything, He calls us to jump right in. 

And He will sustain us.

What is the Lord doing in your life?  What is He providing for you?  Please link up and share your new name.  Share the name that you are claiming for this season of life.  Use this button and link up below.  I can't wait to hear about the new names you all have.

<a href="http://www.kerrytodd.com/search/label/Hello " target="_blank"><img alt="Hello My Name Is" src="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j370/kerwilliams/bluehellowithdate_zps67bf6c8e.jpg "/></a>

How You Can Use Lemonade to Redeem an Orphan

Today, I have the honor of introducing you to my friend, Rachel.  I met Rachel through the Influence Network and was smitten by this idea she had of using lemonade to redeem orphans this summer. 

She is here today to share her heart for orphans, down-syndrome and lemonade. 

Take it away, Rachel!

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I am thankful and honored to have this opportunity to guest post today.  My name is Rachel and so that you know a little bit of who you are hearing from here are the basics, I am 34 year old wife to a soon to be pastor, (he is finishing up seminary this summer.) I am a mother to five wonderful(most of time) children(one of which is due to be born any day now.) I like taking my kids on adventures and "experiences,"we take a lot of these.  I have recently discovered the love of writing, even though I have been blogging for 6 1/2 years.  Another hobby I have is party planning, I am one of those excessive kid party planners, if you don't like these types just skip my birthday party blog post. Our life is often messy but in the mess we get to see God make something beautiful in our lives.  I would love for you to come by my blog, http://www.beingmadebeautiful.blogspot.com/ and get to know my family and I better.

 

 

 

One thing that you will pick up from me after knowing me for only a short time is that I am a BIG fan of the underdog.  If you give me a good cause that helps people I will want to get behind it. I think I probably drive my "facebook" friends crazy with post, 50% are pictures of my cute kids the other 50% are post about various causes and needs in the world.  My husband often has to reign me in and help me focus because I can easily be caught up in so many good causes. Whether is rescuing woman and children from the sex trade, providing clean drinking water for those who lack this simple necessity, or standing behind the persecuted church in countries where Christianity is illegal you will find me "Amening" and getting fired up. But one underdog that I have loved for as long as I can remember is the orphaned child.  I have two siblings who were adopted and the home I grew up in was a swinging door of people in need, I guess it is in my blood. My heart grew significantly for orphans with Down Syndrome and special needs after the birth and Down Syndrome diagnosis of my first Son Timothy in 2009. Although God has not seen fit through circumstances yet for us to adopt or foster we are doing what we can now to care for the orphan. For a long time I thought that adoption was the only way that I could help the orphan. I spent many, many nights on my computer looking at photo listings of kid is the US and internationally who need the love of a family and I would cry my eyes out. I would feel helpless and often hopeless, thinking there was no way to help these children. But one night God spoke to my heart and said stop crying, there is always something you can do, now get up and do it. So, I began to pray and ask God what he wanted me to do to help the orphan and he ended up leading me to a number of very "legitimate"and wonderful ways to care for the orphan.  I began to see that caring for the orphan was a big job and that there were lots of aspects that I could be a part of. I began an orphan care ministry at our church and we volunteer with two local orphan care ministries. Another way I was led to help has been in the area of fundraising and advocating for orphans. Adoption can be very expensive and there are often people willing and wanting to adopt who do not due to finances. I realized that I could be a part of this redemption.

 

 

Redemption is the act of buying something back, or paying a price to return something to your possession. Deliverance upon payment of ransom, rescue. When you here the word redemption what pictures come to mind? Maybe it is a scene from a movie like Les Miserables where the old priest buys the undeserved freedom of Jean val Jean after he has stolen from him. Possibly you picture someone getting to go back to a pawn shop where they had sold something they loved and getting to repurchase it. If you are a Christian I know when you hear the word redemption you picture Christ on the cross paying the price for the sinners he loves. When I hear the word redemption all these things come to mind but one more stands out and it is the picture of adoption.  A child who has been abandoned by the death, neglect, abuse or abandonment of the biological parent, a child who is all alone in world being rescued through commitment and payment of new adoptive parents.

 

 

After Timothy was born while doing research on the Internet on his condition, Down Syndrome I discovered an amazing organization called Reece's rainbow. They are in the business of redeeming orphans with special needs. Special needs orphans are the bottom of the barrel as far as orphans go, they are often living is horrible conditions with out adequate housing, clothing, food, medical care and worst of all human interaction. Often children with mild and moderate disabilities are left in crib rooms for there whole life, never escaping the bars and white walls. There bodies, minds and spirits never develop under these Holocaust like conditions. In the best case scenarios where they might live in a good baby home or children' home with adequate care when the children reach 4 or 5 years old are transferred to live out their lives in adult mental institutions. Where conditions are often horrible and more like concentration camps then homes. I know this is hard stuff to read especially after seeing happy beautiful photo's of my children living the way children should live in safety, well fed and most importantly well loved.  These photo's below are of children who were transferred to a mental institution, they are hard to look at by please don't turn away these children need us to look to stare to see so that we respond!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUT REDEMPTION CAN HAPPEN, these children are not a lost cause!! When a family opens their hearts and lives to these children miracles happen.  I want to introduce you to Redemption, I snagged these beautiful before and afters from a fellow blogger and advocate, Adeye at www.nogreaterjoymom.com. This family is living redemption through adoption and advocacy. 

This is Dusty, weighing just 20 pounds when he came home and was admitted straight into hospital for malnutrition.  

Today, only ten months later, Dusty weighs over 30 pounds!    He is a little miracle boy for sure.

Meet sweet Gabe. Home for just eight months!  Weighing just 21 pounds at six years old when adopted. He was left in a crib his entire life. He only took his food pureed from a bottle, hated touch, and could hardly sit up on his own.  Weak and malnourished, he needed to be rescued!

Today...a healthy, blossoming, growing boy who loves life!

And beautiful Carrington. Adopted in March 2011 and taken directly from the airport to the hospital.  Carrington was nothing but skin and bones--weighing only ten pounds when she came home. Doctors told the family that Carrington's organs had already started shutting down and she had just 24 hours of life left in her.

But God...!  Just look what He did!  Today, almost one year after coming home, Carrington is healthy and thriving--weighing in at 27 pounds.  Glory to God in the highest!  Another little miracle.

And darling little Belle. Adopted at almost three years old and weighing only 15 pounds.  Belle knew nothing but a life confined to a crib...until her family heard the call and said, "Here we are, Lord!  Send us!"

Today...just 13 months later she is a happy, healthy little toddler who weighs 26 pounds.

  Sweet, little, teeny-tiny Katie.  Rescued just three months ago--hanging on by a thread in a faraway orphanage. God had big plans for this angel! Katie also went straight from the airport to the hospital--weighing a measly 10 pounds 9 ounces at nine years old!

Oh, but just LOOK what a difference family makes!  Today...Katie is doing incredibly well.  She is a healthy weight for her height and is growing before her family's eyes. She now weighs nearly 23 pounds!  What an absolute JOY Katie is to her family!

Ah, handsome boy!  Rescued from Africa two years ago--weighing 15 pounds at five years old-- having seizures, asthma attacks, aspirating on his food, and with zero hope! He received no medical care and was in terrible shape--living on borrowed time, bedridden.  But God had plans for this lovie too...and He sent a very special family to rescue him.

Today...seven years old and doing so, so well.  Weighing 43 pounds, he is the light of his parents lives!  Redemption.

Do you want to be a part of redemption for children like this? Do you want to buy back what evil has stolen away from these children? Then JOIN US and "MAKE A STAND FOR ORPHANS!!" Host a lemonade stand in the month of May or collect change to give toward the redemption of beautiful special needs children around the world.  You can give  directly to Reece's Rainbow and receive a tax deduction. FOR MORE TIPS PLEASE VISIT MY BLOG AND LET LEMONADE BE USED TO REDEEM!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks so much for sharing your heart, Rachel.  And for standing up and doing something.  I took Rachel's idea of a lemonade stand and shared it with my friend and we held a lemonade stand at our church a few weeks ago and raised $217 in change to give to Reese's Rainbow.  That money will be used to fund a grant for one of these precious children and will alleviate a tiny part of the financial stress that families are under in adopting them.

 

Could you host a lemonade stand this summer?  Head on over to Rachel's blog and check it out.  It's pretty easy but makes a huge impact and your kids can get involved too.

 

 

Contented Monday

532.  that Alivea calls bookmarks pause-ers
533.  watching my husband show love to a friend who needs it
534.  new outside chairs to read in

 

 

535.  Alivea setting a freshly hatched butterfly free

536.  Alivea riding on a trailer that Pop-pop Elmer is pulling
537.  the calm water
538.  seeing eagles in the trees
539.  a fish jumping out of the water
540.  seeing a blue heron up close
541.  a cookie shaped like a sailboat
542.  a frozen dessert
543.  broccoli salad
544.  beach days
545.  tilt-a-whirl rides

Hello, My Name Is... (Vol. 2)

 

A few months ago I had this idea.  I was listening to this song by Matthew West.  I was instantly taken back by the simple truth in the lyrics.

 

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief

 

I shared yesterday how we are in a period of waiting and we've had some defeating days.  We've had some days where we think we literally can't take any more. 

 

Don't we all have those days, weeks, months or even years?

These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

 

 

I seriously cannot imagine waking up tomorrow and knowing that I have to face this life with Jesus, without knowing Him as my Father and knowing that I am His child. 

Life is too hard, y'all.  And we will get beaten up and we will be lied to.  There will be voices telling us things that are horrible about ourselves and those we love.  But we can't listen to them.  We can't believe them.

 

We've been saved, We've been changed, and we've been set free.

 

 

A few months ago I had this idea.  The idea of using this song and coming together as bloggers- as believers- and sharing our new names.  I teamed up with the lovely Kerrie Williams of the Williams Post and I know that we were encouraged by each other and ultimately the Lord was blessed by our praise. 

 

We're gonna do it again.  Come back here or here next Friday, June 7th to link up and share your new name. 

 

What have you been saved from?  What are you being saved from?  What lies are you no longer believing?

 

<a href="http://www.kerrytodd.com/search/label/Hello " target="_blank"><img alt="Hello My Name Is" src="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j370/kerwilliams/bluehellowithdate_zps67bf6c8e.jpg "/></a>

Number the Days

We are in a season of waiting.
Waiting for an answer.
We could be waiting for hours, days or months.
We don't know.
That's the thing with waiting.

We've waited before.
Before Alivea we waited for four years.
During the adoption process with Alivea we waited and we stopped.
At one point in the process we had a 6-7 month wait and it looked like the door would be closed on adoption for us. 
Then our agency opened a window and things started moving again.
At another point, a situation arose and I had a conversation with a woman who wanted us to adopt her unborn twins.

More waiting.  That situation didn't work out.

Fast forward about 6 months and we got the call about Alivea.
More waiting as we waited for her due date.
Lots of sleepless nights and stress headaches and lots of "trying" not to get our hopes up.

When she was born and her birthmother confirmed her decision to continue with the adoption plan, we breathed a collective sigh- Denny and I.

And we rested.  Rested from the joy, rested from the emotion, rested from the waiting.

Now, that we are on the other side, I can say with absolute certainty that Alivea was the child God had planned for us all along.

Those other situations and distractions and periods of waiting were painful but they were necessary to get to Alivea.

Alivea was God's plan for us.  We were God's plan for Alivea.  This is our family, the family God saw all along.

We are in that place again.  A place of questions and of waiting.  A place of wondering.  A place of near despair.

Situations have come and gone.

We want answers.
And they haven't come yet.

The whole of adoption is a journey.  And we are on that journey.  We may not have a referral.  We may not have a completed homestudy.  But we are on the journey, if only in our hearts.

It's exactly how a pregnant woman doesn't start being pregnant when she gets a positive test.  A woman has already been pregnant for weeks and she didn't know it.

I am adopting.  We are adopting.  We may not know from where.  We may not know from which agency or how many children or their ages? 

We are adopting.
But we are also waiting and expecting.

Today, I am clinging to this verse.

I don't want to miss this part of the journey.  It's already begun!

*I'm linking up today with my friend Amanda at A Royal Daughter