Serving Together

Posted on May 20, 2012 by the Swede

We ended our small group for the year by serving together. We (along with the kids that were old enough) went to Feed My Starving Children to pack food for hungry/malnourished kids. The food we packed was being sent to Haiti. The leader talked about how mothers there feed their children Haitian biscuits made of mud, water, and a little oil/salt to help ease their hunger so they can sleep at night.

It is so difficult to grasp that type of hunger when we have such an overabundance of food.

Here is MissE with some of her small group friends, ready to serve! They did such a great job of scooping rice, measuring veggies, and filling bags.

By the end of the night our entire group had packed 40 boxes, enough food to feed 24 children for an entire year!

The world-wide orphan crisis is largely fueled by poverty and taking steps to help parents/communities feed children is one way we can actively be part of the solution. We look forward to packing meals regularly as a family. It was a great experience for MissE and she came home eager to brainstorm more ideas/way to help raise money to care for orphans and starving children around the world.

Stay tuned for one of her great ideas!!

Mother’s Day

Posted on May 17, 2012 by the Swede

We had a lovely mother’s day on Sunday. We celebrated at my brother’s house with a picnic. He has a fenced in backyard, which is a dream come true for a mother of preschoolers.

My smiley boy made a cake for me and my mom.

The Mother’s day photo.

The sweet girlies.

A weekend with Grandma and Grandpa…

Posted on May 17, 2012 by the Swede

…means two things.

1. Grandma brings a stack of library books to read.

2. Grandpa buys doughnuts for breakfast.

And a having a twin cousin visit means impromptu dance parties in the park.

Book Review: Barefoot Church

Posted on May 17, 2012 by the Swede

Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker (husband to one of my favorite bloggers, Jen Hatmaker) is a book about engaging the church in social renewal and serving the least.

I am all on board with this topic but often struggle with what to do with my knowledge, passion, and burden. It has resulted in a lot of tension in my life.

I was so relieved to read these words.

“Tension is not a sign of God’s absence. In fact, it’s the opposite. Tension is most likely the evidence of his presence. Only when we recognize his presence do we grow in his presence” (p. 125)

I think it is fair to say that I am NOT a complacent person. I am always searching, seeking, and striving. I have been told, and rightly so, that I live with a lot more tension than the average person. I would be tempted to take that as an insult, but I see how tension has produced change in my life; making me a better wife, mom, friend, and follower of Christ.

“There is a tendency in American Christianity to think we can choose a path without tension. Most of us would prefer to chart our journey that way. But God has called us to a join a journey – one that is more amazing, wonderful, scary, awesome, engaging, dangerous, passionate, and rewarding than anything we could ever dream of.” (p. 127)

So, I embrace the path of tension that is indeed scary and dangerous, but full of wonderful adventures!

Do you live with tension in regards to faith and action? What do you do about it?

Here is Brandon’s advice for moving forward.

“Make each right next decision. Take it one step at a time and be faithful in the moment. Here’s a guarantee: It will begin to create tension in your life. But as we discussed earlier, tension is good.” (p. 178)

Garage Sale Fundraiser

Posted on May 15, 2012 by the Swede

We are officially having our first garage sale adoption fundraiser on May 30th and 31st. My gracious neighbor, Jill, is hosting and sharing her garage space. If you have anything you would like to donate just leave a comment or send me an email. All proceeds from what I sell will go straight to our adoption costs.

I would like to sell cookies and soda as another way to raise funds. If you would be willing to donate a dozen cookies or a 12 pack of pop, sign up here.

We are also in need of some folding tables and/or clothing racks to display items. If you have a table or hanging rack that we could borrow, let me know or sign up here.

If you would be willing to help price items, set-up beforehand, help during the sale, or help watch my kids, you can sign up here or call/email me.

Lastly, I have good news. Thanks to several sponsors over the weekend we are now in MEXICO! Check out our progress and sponsor a mile today!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

One Year

Posted on May 12, 2012 by the Swede

One year ago today, with much fear and trepidation, we submitted our application to our agency to adopt from Honduras.

The moment is etched in my mine.

After months and months of talking about it and praying about it, the point arrived where our words met action.

The following day my friend, Karyn, exclaimed, “You’re pregnant!”

One year in means this is one lengthy pregnancy.

Surprisingly, I don’t feel anxious about it today. It feels like the year went by really fast. The paper-chasing phase was draining and I’m so thankful that we are now in the waiting phase. I guess that means I am in the glorious 2nd trimester. I feel good and the waiting hasn’t yet felt unbearable. I think the 3rd trimester is creeping closer, though, as I am now in the full blown grant writing, fundraising phase.

This picture was taken on Mother’s Day 2011, just days before we officially started the adoption process. There is plenty of room on the bench for our sweet child. I am oh so hoping by Mother’s day 2013 that space will be filled.

Explaining the Wait List Number

Posted on May 4, 2012 by the Swede

MissE was really excited to color in our new number.

As soon as it was finished she asked if she could color our next number. I explained to her that we don’t know our next number yet. She asked what number we needed to bring our baby home. I told her that once we got to number one, we would get our baby.

She decided to draw that number right away.

To her credit, she asked how to spell ‘our’ and I told her how to spell ‘are’. My mistake!

I told her I loved the picture and that it really touched my heart. She told me to post it on the computer so that it could bless other people.

We are so excited for the day when our baby can come home.

Sidenote: During this conversation Junior asked, “What baby? Who Honduras?”

He is such a sweetie and, to the best of his knowledge, he is excited to have a new brother (or sister).