God is blowing me away!

   Well, I have not posted anything in a while, but the funny thing is that my last actual post was on "giving it to God" and that just why I have not had time to blog... He is answering prayers and moving faster than I can keep up! I had decided to give to God the timing of our foster care relicensing , the health and birth of twins in phoenix that I had become aware of, and my daughters anxiety. Well... all I can say is, when God moves in such a way that it just leaves you speechless, it really can make you feel like a fool for all the hours you spend stressing and worrying about it! Guilty! Anyway, lets get at trying to relay the short version of a long story.
   A few days before Christmas I received a call from a friend regarding twins being born that we had decided we would foster. However, the big ol' problem was... we were not even licensed yet to do so. Well, I hung up with her and immediately contacted our awesome licensing worker, Carrie, to update her on the news and to see where we were at in the whole process. I told her, "I know that this is all in Gods hands because we have done all we can on our parts and all we can do is sit and wait for papers to process and be approved." Her response is what blew my mind! She said, "well, funny you should call because I was out the other day and when I got in this morning and checked my email I see that your license was approved yesterday! There are families in front of you waiting and yours cleared!?" And this is where I got goose bumps and could simply laugh! Really God?! Talk about timing! We had no control over our license nor did we have control when those babies would arrive. But, God did and in giving it to Him, He rocked it! And, let me throw in there that my 9 year old that really struggles with anxiety (which breaks my heart) is also baby OBCESSED! She has been so excited about these little ones coming into our home that she is less anxious and more of her old fun loving self! Babies are like medicine to her little heart! So, this week we will be taking on twins, and expanding both our family... and our vehicle! All though driving a 12 passenger van is far from a dream... loving on babies that need it and showing them and my children the unconditional love that Christ has shown me, for sure is!!! So here's to the 6 kids (half of them being under 3), passenger van and many sleepless nights that are awaiting me in the week ahead! If God has proven Himself awesome just in the past week alone... who am I to doubt the incredible plan he has for my family and I!?

Project 6.8

PROJECT 6.8 is worth checking out... and getting involved with! Check them out...

Project 6.8 is a movement in Arizona focused on engaging the local Church in domestic foster care and adoption. Specifically, p68.org is aimed at providing a tangible resource & connection point for this movement, one we believe is very close to the heart of God. We hope this site provides you with helpful information about getting involved in foster care and adoption, upcoming partner gatherings, and much more!


Project 6.8 is a movement in Arizona focused on engaging the local Church in domestic foster care and adoption. Specifically, p68.org is aimed at providing a tangible resource & connection point for this movement, one we believe is very close to the heart of God. We hope this site provides you with helpful information about getting involved in foster care and adoption, upcoming partner gatherings, and much more!

Partner Gatherings Partner Gatherings are fun evenings with food, music and hanging out for prospective and current foster/adoptive families in Arizona. We hold these quarterly and provide FREE childcare. 

Mentor a teen aging out of foster care
Each year in Arizona 500+ teens "age out" with no support system as they were never adopted into a family. Less than 5% of these teens graduate from college and a significant number end up homeless, poor or in the criminal justice system.

These teens are full of potential and often just need a caring adult to encourage them and give them practical advice.
No special qualifications needed. Become a Community Advisor through AASK today!

Adopt a foster family     Monthly calls, notes of encouragement, babysitting, meals, etc. 

Join our Facebook Group 
Go to facebook.com and search under groups for "Project 6.8"

My Precious Girls

AivahLis and Talia...

           

I need you to know how cherished you are, what being beautiful really is.

I need you to know that God is your strength and wants you to remain, all his.

The hurts will come and the world will be there 

to tell you, you don't have what it takes

True beauty lies in faith 

that God sees you, priceless, 

even in your mistakes.

Chorus- 

You are beautiful, inside and out

Through your kindness and your love

You're  more cherished then you'll ever know, even when push come to shove

Forgiveness and love can be hard 

to be received and to be given.

But it is when you can do both

that you are truly living.

You are you, there's no mold to fit.

Stand tall, be strong, and know...

with an unconditional, servant heart

Your beauty continues to grow!

I need you to know that people make choices that may really hurt you,

Don't let that pain to go too deep,

causing you to hurt others too.

Always know you have so much to offer, take the time to share.

Those around you are in need of something, a smile, a hug, a prayer.

Use your hands to bless, your feet to go, your words to heal not harm

Know that no matter where you go, or who you face, gods holding you in his arms!

Chorus-

You are beautiful, inside and out

Through your kindness and your love

You're  more cherished then you'll ever know, even when push come to shove

Forgiveness and love can be hard 

to be received and to be given.

But it is when you can do both

that you are truly living.

You are you, there's no mold to fit.

Stand tall, be strong, and know...

with an unconditional, servant heart

Your beauty continues to grow!

Jeremiah 29:11

"¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

     This verse has been on repeat in my head since Sunday, after hearing it in church. I believe that God has amazing plans for myself, and my family. However, I struggle so bad with having patience in His timing. I have friends struggling and in my mind they should have been healed months ago. I have a daughter with anxiety and I have given that to God, over and over again. But, on the other hand, if everything came together as we saw fit, when we saw fit... where would FAITH come in to play?! Why would we need to rely on God?!
     Today, I decided that, despite how I feel, things should pan out... I will let go of the reins and let God take care of my loved ones, my heart, my mind, and whatever lies ahead for my family. After all, who better to trust than the one who has plans to give me hope and a future!? One who already knows what lies ahead for me?!

   Well, that being said, I will share some things on my mind that I am giving to God. For starters, I received notice from my case manager that our foster care license has been submitted to the state. As soon as it is officially processed we can being to take in children! So, the timing of all that... it's Gods now, not mine! Also, I have been struggling with feeling "lonely" the past couple weeks. I know that God has brought me to a place to be reliant upon him. Its just some days, with Him not physically by my side, that it becomes the hardest. But, again, that is where faith comes in to play... He knows the plans he has for me. Besides, in a few weeks when our family grows and I begin to do some college courses... I will probably be praying to feel a little bit "lonely"! ;-) Another thing I am giving to God is a woman, in Phoenix... she has been living as a prostitute and crack addict for many years. She is currently carrying twins and is due this month. Not only does my heart break for those babies and their health, but also for this mama. There was a long road of pain and self worthlessness that led her to where she is at! I give, to God, those babies and their mother... He has healing, a plan and a  purpose for all three of them! And, last but not least, I have been praying for some friends that have been weighing heavy on my heart. When a person means so much to you it is easy to want to have those "magic words" for them or to want to just step up, play God, and "fix" it all for them. But... today, they too are in Gods hands. If I had the ability to patch up the pieces they need help with, I would, but  I would also be robbing them of the work God is doing in their life and the lesson that they will have learned when all is said and done. In giving them to God, I know He "knows the plans He has for them" and that they far exceed anything I could conjure up for them. 
   So, along with me, take some time and give, to God, whatever it is that is weighing you down today. What can it hurt to let Him have a go at it?! If nothing less, now its His and you can just sit back and see what He can do with it!

To learn how you can get involved and become a foster parent, please go to...



http://www.turnanewleaf.org/

Or, to take a little time to just volunteer for a day, check out...

http://www.childcrisis.org/

Pastors unite to get foster kids adopted

Pastors unite to get foster kids adopted: This Bible verse speaks of children and inspired a Colorado pastor to start a campaign that has changed the lives of hundreds of families.

“Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.”  -David Platt

Just think, if you stepped up for just one child? 

And, through that, you inspired 1 other person to step up. Imagine the difference you could make! 

Our lives are too busy focusing on ourselves, 

and what works for us. 

But, imagine making a difference in the life of just one 

"lost cause", despite the inconviences.

Holiday Preppin'

This year, Christmas has taken on a whole new focus for me. I have, in years past, been so consumed with the decorations, the traditions and all the seasonal "must haves". This year, however, after deciding that I was no longer going to live life for me and was going to stop trying to "keep up with the Jones's", the holiday season is far from stressful. I mean, don't get me wrong... I have my tree up, have already drank more than my fair share of egg nog and can't get enough of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", but there is so much more time on my hands, so much more joy in my heart, and so much more patience with my kids. They are ok to leave the house in mismatched shoes, they are going to throw fits and they are going to disobey... but, with God by my side, we can roll with the hard times and know its all a part of the "mother-hood". Having four little ones presents its challenges but these are challenges that I have come to learn to embrace. The best part of setting up our tree this year was actually letting the kids help (clumped ornaments and all). They are so proud of it too. Taking the time to put down my "to do" list and enjoy the time God has blessed me with, with them was another change I made and would have no other way.

My husband and I have decided to reopen our home  to foster care (we fostered a few boys in the past when our Girls were younger and since have adopted one). We know the need is great and we both are anxiously awaiting the little one/ones we will be placed with. Aivahlis, our 9 year old "mommy at heart", just may be more excited than us though! Our children can't wait to love on a baby that needs a home. Heck yeah we will have sleepless nights and more on our plate but, stress happens in life and if my plate is going to be full... what better way to fill it!? Moments happen and turn into memories... we can choose to be a part of that memory or be too busy perfecting the moment! So, this "Holiday Preppin" time of year... don't forget what matters most! Breathe deep, thank God, and enjoy every moment! 

Blogging Newbie

Well, this whole blogging thing is officially all new to me. I have had a desire for some time now to do one though. First, I wanted it to be some sort of crafting blog, then I decided that my favorite part of using my talents was in the area of party planning! So, that was what my blog would focus on. Well, after a crazy summer of some major changes in my life (more so my heart) I have reached my conclusion! I have always has a heart for "orphans". But, after a lot of praying, seeking God, and seeing a christian counselor and dealing with some past hurts, my heart is even heavier for the broken and hopeless that so many of us just don't have time for. I was there myself... so consumed with my own "little bubble" that, as much as I thought "someone should help those poor people", I myself didn't have the time to. But see, that's where my priorities were wrong. What is God thought of us this way?! What if we only got the time from God that we invested into others? When we stop and give God our all, it's amazing what He can turn it into. It's amazing how He will use you. Doors are opening for my family to be used for God and I sit back and am amazed at how, when I stopped trying to run the show, call the shots, and have it all together, God stepped in and opened the doors that I could not foresee opening. The less I focused on myself, the more time I had for others... and oh my gosh how much more rewarding that is. So, what my point was in all this was that my blog will be about my hands simply carrying out that which we have all been commanded to do... Care for orphans, widows, and "the least of these" through my everyday life. I do not do foster care because "I have the heart to do it"... I do it because Christ, who now consumes my heart, has commanded me to and because He has given me the desire to offer to others the hope and grace He has offered to me! I am hoping, through this blog, I inspire other families to open their hearts, and their homes to the heart wrenching number of children out there that just need a warm bed. Could it be an "inconvenience"? Absolutely! But how more inconvenient is it for them that they have been pulled away from mommy and daddy and now sleep in shelters, offices, wherever they can because we just "don't have the time?! I am really hoping to just encourage people to think about how they can help.
  
Well, being that I took forever just to upload a profile picture I now have to run out the door to grab by 2 little sweethearts from school so, no proof reading... this post is what it is! And if you made it this far in it- I am hoping you caught the jist of  it. I look forward to really getting this blog up and running!