National Tax Freedom Day

From the Tax Foundation...

America's Tax Freedom Day Arrives April 30 in 2007, Two Days Later Than 2006

Tax Freedom Day, which shows just how long we work for the government rather than ourselves, will fall on April 30 in 2007, according to the Tax Foundation's annual calculation using the latest government data on income and taxes. (Click here to read the full study).

"Tax freedom will come two days later in 2007 than it did in 2006," said Tax Foundation President Scott A. Hodge, "and fully 12 days later than in 2003, when tax cuts caused Tax Freedom Day to arrive comparatively early, on April 18."

However, 2007's Tax Freedom Day is still slightly earlier than it was in 2000, when the economic boom, the tech bubble and higher tax rates pushed tax burdens to a record high, and Tax Freedom Day was postponed until May.

For those of us living in Alabama, our tax freedom day actually arrived much earlier than the national average, occurring on April 12th!

Sunday Scripture

The Preeminence of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1:15 - 23, ESV

Friday Photo

My hubby went to Korea in 2005. It always amazes us to see the English signs in foreign countries, particularly Asian countries. Now, before anyone gets up in arms about this, let me say that their English tends to be much better than my Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. Still, it is funny to see Billboards that say "I Feel Coke!" How, exactly, does one feel coke?

The sign captured in this picture struck me as humorous as well.

Hope everyone has a good Friday!

National Park Week

According to the National Park Service, National Park Week is being observed from April 22 - 29, 2007. America is fortunate to have some incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring national parks.

The picture above was taken at St. Mary's Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana. I had the privilege of working in Glacier National Park one summer while I was in college. God used the beauty of His creation to begin drawing me to Himself. Formerly a scoffer, I began to realize that something so majestic and intricate in design as the places I was seeing could not be an accident. Although God sent someone my way to share the gospel several months after this, His drawing in this place was the start of my coming to know Him.

Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park

So, in honor of National Park Week, enjoy the pictures which are of some of the national parks I have visited, and thank you, God, for the wonders you have made!

Yellowstone National Park

Petrified Forest

Mesa Verde

The Badlands

By the way, these beautiful pictures are available for purchase at photo by QT Luong/terragalleria.com, all rights reserved.

Thursday's Thoughtful Lyrics

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

This is another of my favorite hymns. My heart is prone to wander, and I am so thankful that God has sealed my heart, that His goodness like a fetter does bind my heart to Him.

News That's Weird But True

DNA from unfinished Cinnamon bun nabs thief .

Love my cat, love me!

Another story of being so stupid, it's criminal.

President Gets His Groove Back

President Bush has some fun after promoting Malaria Awareness Day on Wednesday.

NPM: John Donne

Another personal favorite when it comes to poetry is John Donne. Here are a couple of his works that I greatly enjoy:

Death, be not proud (Holy Sonnet 10)

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou'art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy'or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.


Batter my heart, three-person'd God

Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

What poems speak to you? Please share your thoughts.

NPM: Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite poets. I did a major paper on her work during college. Here are a few selections in honor of National Poetry Month.

IF tolling bell I ask the cause

IF tolling bell I ask the cause.
“A soul has gone to God,”
I ’m answered in a lonesome tone;
Is heaven then so sad?

That bells should joyful ring to tell
A soul had gone to heaven,
Would seem to me the proper way
A good news should be given.


GIVEN in marriage unto thee

GIVEN in marriage unto thee,
Oh, thou celestial host!
Bride of the Father and the Son,
Bride of the Holy Ghost!

Other betrothal shall dissolve,
Wedlock of will decay;
Only the keeper of this seal
Conquers mortality.


and perhaps the one I enjoy the most...


SUCCESS is counted sweetest

SUCCESS is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. In honor of it, I am posting a poem about where I live now.

Daybreak in Alabama

When I get to be a composer
I'm gonna write me some music about
Daybreak in Alabama
And I'm gonna put the purtiest songs in it
Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist
And falling out of heaven like soft dew.
I'm gonna put some tall tall trees in it
And the scent of pine needles
And the smell of red clay after rain
And long red necks
And poppy colored faces
And big brown arms
And the field daisy eyes
Of black and white black white black people
And I'm gonna put white hands
And black hands and brown and yellow hands
And red clay earth hands in it
Touching everybody with kind fingers
And touching each other natural as dew
In that dawn of music when I
Get to be a composer
And write about daybreak
In Alabama.

by Langston Hughes

I love poetry. The sound of the words read aloud, the rhythms and rhymes, the nuances of each carefully selected word communicating a picture made from letters rather than sight. I think in our day of digital photo and Internet, this is becoming a lost art.

Tuesday Trivia

Your Vocabulary Score: A-

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

How's Your Vocabulary?

Take this quiz and see how erudite you are!

Georgia Finally Integrates

I grew up in a middle class suburb of Atlanta. I read Gone With the Wind for the first time in 5th grade, and wept at Scarlett's bad choices. I enjoy Southern food, Southern hospitality, sweet tea and kids running barefoot outside. When I hear Ray Charles' recording of Georgia on My Mind and think of the moonlight on the pines, it brings back fond memories.

My grandmother and grandfather were baptized together as teenagers in a "warsh" hole made by damming up a small creek. They were double cousins (no, that's not blood related--her aunt married his uncle). Grandma dropped out of school after 8th grade to go to work so her sister could continue in school. They were dirt poor, but she is one of the most industrious women I know. Having worked hard to create a better life for her children, she never lost sight of her values and belief in God and His ability to change people.

I remember when Jimmy Carter won the presidency. I was a child and didn't know about the politics...but I was proud he was from Georgia. In sixth grade, several students got to eat lunch with the Governor when he toured our school. I was one of them. We had fried chicken that day, and to be polite, we all tried to eat fried chicken with plastic forks. It didn't work out that well, and I think the Governor himself was relieved when we went to the finger-lickin'-good way of doing things.

Georgia football is pretty much the best football there is. There is nothing like watching the Silver Britches hunker down 'tween the Hedges. I marched in the band at UGA. Long before I got there, someone made a stink about the band playing Dixie, so they switched to playing Tara's Theme, from Gone With the Wind. Sweet Georgia Brown was another staple for the after game show.

Atlanta has become a city of opportunity and growth. While I do not support the lottery, Georgia has made good choices with their profits--enabling students to attend college through the HOPE scholarship. When education, income, housing and other ways of measuring one's standard of living are calculated, Georgia fares much better than many of her counterparts in the Southeast United States.

Yet for all my love of Georgia, I am amazed and embarrassed that Ashburn, GA found ways to avoid integration until the year 2007. Read the details here. It is unbelievable to me that in this day and age, a county can have separate proms and homecoming kings and queens based on race. Here is an example of a place where "separate but equal" is still being practiced. It seems to me this is a lot worse than the Imus incident of a few weeks ago that everyone was up in arms about.

My husband and I have been fortunate enough to travel to many parts of the world, meeting many people along the way. The hopes, dreams, feelings and needs of people are basically the same--God, food, water, shelter, clothing, family, friendship.

A Kazakh child crying in an orphanage feels the same emotional loss as an Eastern European child abandoned by her mother. A black child with a scraped knee feels the same pain as a white child. A man without a job, unable to support his family, has the same feelings of shame and loss of respect for himself. A woman watching her daughter or son marry feels the same love. A couple, watching their newborn enter the world, feels a similar pride and joy.

I know there are enormous humanly insurmountable problems throughout the world. I probably should be happy that this town is stepping in the right direction. But, frankly, it is without comprehension that despite how far American society has come, we still have areas where it is okay, yea even normal, to practice racial discrimination.

I long for the day, and at this point am convinced it will only be in heaven as we fall at the feet of Jesus, when people will love and care for one another without regard to race. There, we will be too busy worshipping God to care about skin color.

Watching Dreams

Many months ago, I posted about how children often take everything literally. One example I mentioned was when my daughter, at about age 2 1/2 or so, asked why we stand on the word of God when we aren't supposed to stand on books. This question came about from singing the B-I-B-L-E.

Yesterday, she once again reminded me that she understands things very differently than I do. I woke up after having a disturbing dream. Hubby and I were talking about it, because I often wake up and find my mood is based on the kind of dream I had. It is weird, but my theory is that I am waking up before my body is ready and my dreams are interrupted.

My daughter said she didn't dream. I said, "Honey, everybody dreams, you just don't remember yours." She said, "Mama, I don't have time to watch any dreams. I'm too tired." Apparently, she thinks of dreams as little movies we can watch while we're asleep--if we're not too tired!

Sunday Scripture

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2:12-18, NIV

Friday Photo

Freshly picked cherries outside Kyiv

I came across this picture today on my computer, and it reminded me of the wonderful fruit we had in Ukraine.

When we travelled to Ukraine, we were warned, as we had been on several other occasions prior to travelling overseas, that it was not safe to eat fresh fruits and vegetables prior to cooking them. A noted exception was fruit with a thick peel, such as oranges and bananas. We always try to heed these warnings. On at least one occasion, despite heeding them, my better half fell ill due to ingesting bacteria his body wasn't familiar with.

In Ukraine, partly because we stayed much longer than we had anticipated, these warnings were put to the test. First, our adoption facilitator, Sveta, took us out to her sister's house and offered us fresh strawberries picked from her yard. How do you politely refuse that? We didn't, and had some of the best strawberries I've ever eaten. On another occasion, while in Crimea (an autonomous republic just south of Ukraine), Sveta's husband picked some fresh berries from the hills we were on just outside and behind the orphange our sons were in, and offered us some. We tried those as well.

Since we had already "broken the rules" and these cherries Galya picked of the tree looked so fantastic, we had no hesitation when she offered them to us.

One thing I really miss from Ukraine is the cherries. They are abundant and cheap. Ukrainians use them in a variety of ways, including varenyky. My sons love cherries. They remind them of their former home. Sometimes, I oblige them by purchasing from the local Food World, but I have to cut off my arm to afford them in the States.

By the time we left Ukraine, we were positively feasting on apples, raspberries, cherries and the like. Miraculously, hubby and I managed to stay well.

Thursday's Thoughtful Lyrics

Jesus! I am Resting, Resting

Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For, by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Chorus:

Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea:
Oh, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Chorus

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart,
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings,
Thine is love indeed.

Chorus

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

This is my new favorite hymn. I had never heard this hymn before our family joined Morningview, and I believe more churches should invest in singing hymns of this caliber. The lyrics are wonderful, and I love the melody. I downloaded the song as it was sung by Alisa Dishong from itunes , but I most enjoy hearing it when my daughter is sweetly singing it.

I really appreciate songs that have something worthwhile and edifying to say.

Tiny Drops of Water, Tiny Grains of Sand

Give me the splendid, silent sun.

Walt Whitman

There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.

Mark Twain

To find a seashell is to discover a world of imagination.

Michelle Held

Don't grow up too quickly lest you forget how much you love the beach.
Michelle Held.

Forgiveness

Our church is reading through the Bible together this year. Recently, my daily Bible reading included this passage:

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." Luke 17:3-4, ESV

Now, many of us, including myself, have read and studied this passage numerous times. We know that we are to forgive as our Father has forgiven us--repeatedly. For some reason, though, it struck me the day I read this that not only am I to continue to forgive, I am to do so even if additional violations happen the same day, provided my children say that they repent. Not only should I do so, I must do so.

I don't know about you, but I am guilty of having a suspicious spirit occasionally. When my children lie, and say they are sorry, and yet lie or disobey seven more times that day, I am no longer inclined to believe their apology and extend forgiveness. I question their sincerity, because I believe repentance includes turning from a wrong action or heart attitude to a right action or heart attitude. While I know that as parents, we must examine our children's hearts, and help them by modelling what true repentance looks like, I was challenged that I have been in error to not have a forgiving spirit to them no matter how often they sin in one day.

I desire to be a doer of the word, not a hearer only, so I am encouraging my husband and friends to help keep me accountable in this area. :)

Raising Children Who Love the Word

Yesterday, our family worshipped, as is our usual custom, with other members of our church family. This Sunday was a little different, in that children in the first through sixth grades led the worship. They sang praises to God, read scripture and assisted in collecting the tithes and offerings of God's people, while the adult choir had the day "off" from leading in worship.

My son was very excited to be a part of this. He was especially excited about being one of the ushers who collected the offering. And yes, I have to admit, I was proud of him. He is a boy who rarely stands still, who has a flair for the dramatic, and his quietest moments are usually when he is up to mischief (or worse). Yesterday, he behaved himself and looked like a little man in a boy's body...it was like seeing a glimpse of him serving the church one day in the future.

Afterwards, he commented to one of the godly men in our congregation that his favorite part was "passing the plates" to which this man replied in a quiet and serious voice, "Well, son, I hope the preaching will be your favorite part one day." I was so thankful for his words of wisdom, something I think my child would have let in one ear and out the other had mom said it. The truth of what he said really struck me. My desire is to raise children whose love for their God will compel them to reach maturity and to have a love for the Word that is central to their worship.

How do we, as parents, accomplish this?

Our children attend the worship services with us rather than attend any children's church or go to a second Sunday School class as some churches offer. At their ages, I believe this is good and appropriate.

As their parents, we made some decisions early on that we hoped would turn their hearts in the right direction. Our youngest, even as a new four year old, couldn't just play with any quiet toy or color or sleep during worship, even though items to play with and color were generously provided by our church at the time. She could color or read books, but it was always Bible stories. As she has gotten older, she participates along with the rest of us until the music is over. During the sermon, she either reads her Bible, copies Scripture, or draws a picture of what the preacher is discussing.

I loved her drawing from Palm Sunday. Jesus was standing on top of a donkey walking over palm branches while people were shouting Hosanna. Somehow, the image of Jesus standing on the donkey struck me as humorous.

Our sons read their Bibles and occasionally write Scripture as well. Now, there are times when we know the schedule is the fault of the parents and the kids really are exhausted and we allow them to sleep, but it is rare, and we try to avoid scheduling things that make exhaustion an issue. The idea is that we don't want them to take worship lightly. We want their minds to be set on God. We want them to learn at least what their young minds are capable of learning.

For all this, there are days when I feel I didn't learn a thing or really enter into worship between correcting children, finding the scripture passages in their books, the songs in their hymnals, taking away pens they are playing with, removing Bibles because they are pointlessly flipping through pages as loudly as possible, reminding them to be quiet so as not to disturb others, ushering them to bathrooms (even though we take them before the service), teaching them to pray rather than play, and the list goes on. Just this Sunday, one of my children, who is generally of the sweetest temperament, was spitting on a paper, and when it was taken away, began drooling on an outfit, and our children are 5, 7, and 9. :(

I know discipline is part of parenthood, and it seems particularly momhood (is there such a word?), and I accept it, mostly with joy, hoping the outcome will have been worth persevering for. My question is, how do we get our children to a point where they love hearing the word, learning the word, and worshipping in song and reverence?

Please share any ideas you have and what may have worked with your family.

Sunday Scripture

Isaiah 55 (ESV)

The Compassion of the LORD

1"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.
2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.
4Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.
5Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

6"Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;
7let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD,
that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

We discussed verses 10 and 11 in Sunday School this morning as a footnote to our lesson from I Peter. I love the comfort and assurance we have that God's Word will succeed in accomplishing His purpose.

Male Superiority is Not Dead

I was reviewing my son's math homework last night when I noticed his answer to the following question:

Sally wants to water her garden. Circle the container she should use. Tell why.

Next to this question were two pictures. One was of a small watering can and one was of a large watering can. Boss Boy had circled the smaller watering can. Here is his response:

Because it is not hevy (sic) and Sally is a girl. And girls can't hold it.

From that response, I honestly couldn't tell if he was discussing the watering cans or the bathroom, but suffice it to say, Mom had a chat with him last night.

Well, actually, after turning away so he wouldn't see her laugh, she asked Dad to have a chat with him. Of course, it isn't very effective when Dad asks in front of the boy what he is supposed to say. Finally, my sweetie coughed up this: "Next time, it would be better to circle the large watering can and write that her brother is going to carry it for her."

Thanks, hon, that's not exactly what I meant for you to say. :)

Friday Photo

Rice Paddy at Danau Ranau, Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia is, without question, the most beautiful country I have visited. The lush beauty of the islands is incredible, standing in stark contrast to the extreme poverty in which most people dwell, particularly those outside of the cities. The people we met were friendly, especially the children who tagged along after us learning to count in English or showing us special places in their schools and villages.

Thursday's Thoughtful Lyrics

Taking a different approach from the Excogitating Engineer and his contemplative cohorts, I have decided to think on what is good by posting good song lyrics on Thursdays. Of course, I am wondering whether a song the excogit finds bad will be a song I find good. :)

Please take a minute and leave a comment about your thoughts on what constitutes a good Christian song.

Today's song is:

Blessed Be Your Name

Matt & Beth Redman

Blessed be your name

In the land that is plentiful

Where the streams of abundance flow

Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,

I turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,

I turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, Blessed be your name

Our family recently went through a difficult set of circumstances, and at the time, all I could think was why was something done in obedience to God so painful. This year, God has taught me so much about how what He tells me to do is not always about me. It is about God and His will, which may include using dh and myself in the lives of others, but also the why may be something I will never know this side of heaven.

I like this song because the lyrics reflect that God's name is to be blessed at all times and regardless of our circumstances. I believe this is scriptural. Just yesterday, in preparing to teach my three and four year olds in children's choir, I was struck by how God can and does use any thing, person or circumstance to bring glory to Himself. We were using our voices in different ways and made and sang different animal sounds. Our craft involved a frog, and I was struck by how God used even frogs to show His might and power that He might be glorified when He sent the plague of frogs in Egypt.

I hope that no matter what my circumstances are in the future, still I will say Blessed Be the Name of my LORD!

Where I'm From

I am from a life in books, from Kleenex, laughter and tears.

I am from the big, open room where you dance and dream. From strong women who share everything and don’t speak for years.

I am from the dogwood trees and azaleas blossoming in spring. I am from the first daffodils and the vibrant purple thrift, the popping impatiens and unfortunately planted marigolds, the Christmas camellias and the stately beauty of an old magnolia tree.

I am from Christmas Eve dinners and magical moments, from soaking, cooling car washes with Gramps and kitchen cooking with Grandma, from the Ross’ and the Danner’s becoming the Grimes.

I am from a love of adventure and the unknown, adding family from far away places, enjoying family from whence I came.

I am from the rushing impatience and the need to prove. From the incessant chatter of a mind that always thirsts.

I am from a relationship with my Father, through my Lord, forever and ever without end. A grace so amazing, a love so freeing, a God worthy of worshipping.

I'm from the new South, but unable to forget the old, from fried okra and Mississippi Mud. Go Dawgs and Sweetwater Creek, Amacolola Falls and picnics with ribs. Lightning bugs, caterpillars, roly polies and learning to shuffle a deck.

From a determined red-haired woman who crossed rivers in a covered wagon to teach, from grandfathers whose years sacrificed were more difficult and more honorable, and yet whose vows had a strong permanence.

I am from Frances, whose discomfit never leaves at quitting school early to make a way for others, and yet, in ways, she has taught me more than Franklin ever did.

I am from traveling cross-country, camping and exploring…go west young man, never north.

I am from the warmth of the sun on the gulf coast, memories of laughter and love, flashlights and buckets, fresh gumbo and go-cart tracks closed down for the night.

I am from a place where brothers, sisters, cousins…in a word, family, is important. A tangled mass of knots at times, but strongly woven.

You can find a template to create your own "Where I'm From" poem at Fragments from Floyd.

Still Dreaming of Spring Break!

Always on the lookout for seashells...

Sumo wrestling on the sand...

Note dad's face when victory is secured :)

It's even sweeter when you've conquered two!

Children's Hospital, Kyiv

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

When we travelled to Ukraine to adopt, the process took much longer than we originally anticipated. During the weeks when we were literally just waiting for another appointment to obtain a child referral, we had the privilege of visiting several orphanages and a children's hospital. We spent many days visiting the children's hospital. The benefit was mutual--it helped us pass the time and it gave the children fun visits and attention they so desperately needed.

Young children who were abandoned or found living on the streets were sent here, as well as sick children from the orphanages. If a child was abandoned in Kyiv or the surrounding area, they were supposed to spend one month here before being sent to an orphanage to begin the twelve month wait to be eligible for adoption. Sometimes, there was no space for them in the orphanage, so they would languish at this hospital for up to six months or more...not even beginning the paperwork necessary to start the twelve month wait to be eligible for adoption.



This was an eye opening experience for dh and I. The building was an old communist style building--note the metal bars on the windows. The conditions were appalling--filthy floors, horrid baths and toilets, thin mattresses (sometimes rotting) on metal springs and old dirty blankets. There were no toys, no crayons, no paper or books except what the friend we visited with gave to the girls. There were no adults spending time with the children. They saw an adult at mealtime as workers dropped off a tray with porridge and extremely hot tea for young children and the doctor occasionally. When the children were done eating, the remains of the food and dishes were placed in a wooden cabinet for retrieval, sometimes sitting there for many hours. The downside of this was that workers could pick up the trays without having to interact with the children again. The employees at the hospital seemed nice, and were always pleased to see our friend coming to spend time with the orphans. I have no way of knowing, but I'd like to believe they would have done more had they been given the resources to do so.




In addition to orphans, Ukranian citizens brought their children here for care. The conditions were not greatly better for those children, although they obviously got much more love and attention.

When we visited, we always brought fresh fruit, sausage, sometimes bread, and juice as well as bubbles, coloring books, etc. The smiles from the children made every moment there worthwhile. I will never forget the girls we played with as well as the little boy upstairs who was still in a crib.

The children were precious. Obviously, they had faced difficult circumstances early in their childhood, and some were handling it better than others. But, as with any children, they loved human interaction, and enjoyed playing, coloring and talking. Watching their faces light up upon our arrival and hearing their laughter during our visits made us feel good. Hearing their cries when we left after several hours, knowing they had to while away the time for sometimes hours, sometimes days before another visit broke our hearts.

These children were beautiful to us.The plight of these children still weighs on my heart deeply. We have been given so much, and so little was needed to brighten their day--more than material things, they just needed a human connection. I know we cannot aid every child, but we can make a difference in the lives of a few. To learn more about the situation these children face and how you can help, visit Hopeful Hearts Foundation's website. They regularly send ministry teams to paint rooms, replace beds, provide foods, secure medicine, etc. They spend time playing with the children. They send occupational therapists to work with the children and show the orphanage staff how to help the children with developmental delays. Most importantly, they share the love of Christ with children and adults they come into contact with while working there.

He is Risen Indeed!

Thanks to holylandphotos.org for the picture!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulder

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, I am reminded of the words to one of my favorite songs. I hope that each of you enjoys a blessed day of being with family and friends, and rejoices in remembering the sacrifice our Lord made for the joy set before Him.

As Far as the East is From the West

We've all read about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's condemnation of the Brits, and western culture in general, for allowing a female soldier to be deployed to the Persian Gulf. He apparently questions our "family values". Ahmadinejad criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child. "How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked of the British government.

When kindergartners are proudly interviewed on television reciting martyrdom poems to celebrate their mother's demise as a suicide bomber, and boasting how many Jews were killed by their mother, I believe his culture has lost any authority to comment on the family values of other societies. Somehow, in the fight against the West it is apparently okay to send mothers permanently away from their children.

While this video deals with Palestinian children rather than Iranians, it does give some insight into the radical nature of the culture war and religious war being waged in the world. I do not assume that every Muslim, Middle Easterner, or Persian thinks what is shown in the video is good. In fact, I have had the privilege of being friends with a Persian that would never support this. Still, the radicalism is real and violent and we must be vigilant in our attempts to understand what is happening, defend ourselves, and give the hope of Christ.



h/t: reformedchicksblabbing.blogspot.com

Voila!

5 Minutes for Mom is having another giveaway! This time, a free Presto is the prize. If you have a dear, sweet grandmother like mine who is content to be unconnected in the world of connectivity, this is the perfect gift. You can send her pictures and notes that print right out of the machine over a regular phone line that does not prevent regular phone calls and does not require a computer or any technical knowledge. If you're interested, visit 5 Minutes for Mom by clicking on the link above to register!

Does Better Mean Less?

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Dyson Slim vacuum cleaner. To enter the contest, visit the site before 1 p.m. EASTERN time today.

The Dyson Slim is highly rated, but my question is, does a better vacuum cleaner mean less vacuuming?

Spring Break Photos

The kids had a blast at the beach. Even though the water was cold and we didn't fully get in much, we enjoyed dipping our toes in the water while looking for shells every single day.

We visited the Audubon bird sanctuary while there. We didn't see many birds, but we had fun walking in the woods together.

We went without the kids to Bellingrath Gardens, where I was once more amazed at the beauty of God's creation.

Poost Bog Blagoslavit Vas

Many people have asked what Slava Bogu means. It means "Praise God" in Russian. It is one of the many Russian phrases we learned while spending the summer of 2005 in Ukraine. It is also probably the most important phrase we learned.

We spent 6 weeks and two days separated from our 3 year old daughter as we sought out the children God would have us adopt. While the end result made the journey worthwhile, I have to be frank in saying that after three weeks in Ukraine with the process to adopt a particular child not begun, we were somewhat discouraged. The most difficult decision of our married lives was made during that time when we visited a child that we did not have a peace about adopting. I remember weeping into the night, second guessing ourselves, and to this day remember the child frequently, praying for him as he comes to mind, although sadly, I don't pray for him daily as I was sure I would in the intensity of that moment.

While the adoption process was discouraging, we had the pleasure of staying with a Christian lady and visiting her church several times. This was of great encouragement to us. Singing praises to our Lord in English while our brothers and sisters were singing praises in Russian was a highlight of our trip. Worshipping with people of other tribes and tongues seemed to be a glimpse of heaven. And so, declaring Slava Bogu! Praise God! reminded us of whom we had placed our hope in--the Living God who had led us thus far.

And by the way, Poost Bog Blagoslavit Vas means "May God bless you all!"

To read more about our 2005 adoption journey, visit www.caringbridge.org/al/theoues .