Just Another Day. . .

*Abbey looking sweet at Stacy's wedding.*

First of all, I have to thank my friend Jill for sharing this awesome link with me about motherhood. Motherhood is a Calling (And Where your Children Rank). I was so encouraged by this. I think I should start off every morning reading it. Maybe I will!

Today, despite the heat, I decided to do something fun with the girls that we could never do if we didn't live in the city. We walked (with the double stroller) to Turkey Hill in the 90+ degree heat, got slushies, walked to a shady spot on F&Ms campus, and sat together laughing and drinking slushies. We walked home, full of joy, and love for each other. They spent time in our little pool, and I sprayed the big girls with the hose. We ate lunch, then I was hanging Anne's sheets to dry outside on our make-shift tiny clothesline that Trent strung up for me, and it was an instant tent. Much laughter and chasing ensued.

**My nifty city clothesline.**

We didn't do anything extraordinary. We are just living. Of course, not everyday is full of sunshine and rainbows. We have a child who is in the thick of potty training and has the same issues as big sis (holding her poop/refusal to poop on the potty). I'm amazed at how much of my day revolves around bodily functions. I clean up messy shorts at the playground, get peed on, wash wet bedding when someone drinks too much before bed, and there's nothing like someone yelling, "Moooooom!!! Maggie spit up and Petey is licking it!!" This is my life right now. As we go through the potty training craziness again, I'm reminded that it wasn't all that long ago that Annie was there. And I'm grateful for how far she has come! And then I remember that before too long, Magdalena will be there!

*Typical sisterly-love*

I wanted to give an update on where God is leading us regarding our "Call to Adopt". Because, I truly believe it is a calling. As I was processing my thoughts aloud with Trent the other evening, I was telling him how afraid I am of foster-adopt. Mainly because I know there is a chance that a child could be placed with us, live in our home for a number of days (or months) only to be taken away again. I told him that I don't think I could handle that, emotionally.

Isaiah 42:16 (NIV) "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Of course, Trent, being the sensible being that God graciously gave me as a husband said something along the lines of, "So let me get this straight. We're willing to sacrifice financially for an adoption. We're willing to sacrifice our time for an adoption. But we are not willing to sacrifice our emotions? Is that correct?" To which I answered "YES! It sounds too hard." To which Trent responded with a hard stare. I'm coming around to it. I know it won't be easy, but does God want us to do things just because they are easy?

Matthew 7:13 (NIV) "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."

Yes, the narrow gate. The difficult way. I do not know exactly what God has planned for us. I know that I wanted an international adoption. But we prayed for guidance, for clear signs of opened and closed doors. When we received a "closed door" signal with a particular agency, I did tons of research on other agencies and countries that Trent and I might be approved for. I'd say the research was fruitless, yet it wasn't, because our prayers were answered with a resounding "CLOSED".

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

We have signed up to attend an information meeting with a local agency for foster care and foster-adopt in the beginning of September.

Proverbs 24:12 (NIV) "If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"

I'm not sure if the passage below is a translation or a paraphrase, but regardless, I like the wording of the same Scripture from Proverbs.

Proverbs 24:12 "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."

Today I feel thankful for God's forgiveness. For life. For freedom to have "just another day". For each of my special children, their unique personalities, and all the craziness that having three children ages 3, 2, and almost 1 bring!

Oh, and the Big Girls taught Baby how to "Praise God!" When they say, "Maggie, praise God!" She lifts both of her hands Heavenward (and sometimes she waves).

**Big Sisters loving Baby. The feeling is mutual.*

The Women of Titus 2

Do you know this portion of Scripture?

Let me share it with you:

Titus 2:1-5 (NIV)

"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Did you catch it? The older women are to teach the younger women. And, I think that while all of the attributes listed are good, they can almost be boiled down to this "teach the younger women to be content." Almost, but not quite.

I've had conversations with young mothers like myself who feel that they aren't doing enough. That there is pressure to do more. Basically, to be outside the home doing "something". But in Paul's letter here to Titus, he is clearly stating that the young women are to love their children, to be busy at HOME, and to be subject to their husbands. Perhaps some find these verses constraining, but I find them freeing. Praise God that I can be at home with my children! Praise God that I can be busy at home! Praise God that I can love my husband and be subject to him! Praise God for the older women who are teaching the younger women!!

Wait!! Are there older women teaching us younger women? Or are we floundering, alone, lost, and confused. I hope that if you are a young mother reading this, that you have someone older and more experienced teaching you. I know I'm thankful for the older women who have spoken encouraging words to me. "You're doing a great job, Emily." "I pray for you daily!" "I love you!" "I love your family." I am definitely thankful to be in a church where there are many women who speak encouraging words to me on a regular basis.

Last month in our church newsletter this poem was shared, and it really encouraged me. I wanted to share it with you.

"What did I get Done Today?" By Shirley A. Warfel
May 13, 1982
"What did I get done today?"
I asked myself at the close of day.
There were meals to plan -
some exotic dishes,
others labeled "quite nutritious."
There were beds to change and wash to do
and stacks of dishes to name a few.
There were friends to call and bills to pay
and scattered toys to put away.
There's always plenty of mending to do,
and don't forget, Spring cleaning, too!

But, "what did I get done today?"

My daughters and I had quite an excursion,
with venturous tales beyond all diversion.
We hiked to a farm, "so far away",
and watched the baby lambs at play.
We sailed some leaves down a little brook,
and tossed some stones in the minnow's nook.
We picked some flowers in the shade,
and talked about God and all He had made.
We gazed at a butterfly's intricate wings,
and marveled at such a beautiful thing.

We had lunch where the willow bends,
and left some morsels for our "friends".
We held hands and sang and laughed,
and then we even skipped our naps!
We wished some wishes and dreamed some dreams,
and spent some time thinking up schemes.
At supper we relived it again,
as we told Daddy, "how busy we'd been!"
That night we stared in the looking glass,
Oh my, how little girls grow up fast!

Now, "what did I really get done today?"
I taught a child how to love and pray.


So many things in this poem resonated with me. What about you? What did you really get done today?