Are you Crazy?

**Sisters at the Baltimore Zoo**

We've had some busy days around here. Annie must be going through a growth spurt because she is eating like a horse, very tired all the time, and is very cranky. She's been throwing a lot of fits and been very irritable. Yes, she's 3, not 13.

Abbey has had a lot of success on the potty the past couple of days. Praise God! Some of you must have been praying for her! Anne is her biggest cheerleader. Whenever Abbey gets a little poop out on the potty we give her some little M&Ms. Of course, somehow Annie has persuaded Abbey to share some with her after each victory. In turn, Anne cheers her on, knowing that sweets will be delivered if Abbey goes on the potty. We're getting there!!!

I still haven't taken Magdalena to get her blood work done to test for Celiac Disease... Maybe next week?

**Abbey at Splits & Giggles earlier this summer.**

Some days around here are busy, and crazy, and tiring. And here we are thinking about Foster Care and adoption... Are we crazy?

Probably.

But here's what I've been thinking about. God gives us passions. He gives us a heart for something. A heart for the lost, for missions, for teaching, for children, for adoption, for foreign countries. He gives each of us unique abilities and he expects us to use those things for His glory. I think of the story of the man who gave each of his workers "talents" and how two of the three men in the story used them to grow, but one man buried his so he wouldn't lose it.

As I was thinking of this, I was reminded of how I have this idea that I want to provide care for a child or children, but I am worried about how it will affect the girls emotionally. Then the Spirit, as He often does, brought a Bible verse into my head.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

It felt as if God was saying to me, "I gave up the LIFE of my only son! I'm asking you for their emotions."

And again, the Spirit led me to the Scriptures. To the story of Abraham. God asked him to sacrifice the life of his son Isaac. And he was willing to do it!

God is asking me to trust in Him through this. God is asking me to have more faith. To fully depend on Him!

Is this going to be hard? Yes!
Am I going to cry sometimes? Probably!
Will I be stretched through this? For sure!
Am I going to be blessed with a closer relationship with the Lord? I have no doubt!!

As a Christian, I need to be not only yielding to the call of God, but to be excited about it! I shouldn't be dragging my feet saying, "Well, we're doing this foster care thing, but not because we really want to, but you know, God wants us to." What a terrible attitude! The more I think about it the more excited I truly am!

At this point, we still have a couple of options. We could go directly through Lancaster County Children and Youth, or we could go through an agency. We would love if you would pray for us so we would know which direction we are supposed to take.

Also, we are hoping to sell our house in the Spring and purchase something a little bigger in order to have room for a fourth or maybe a fourth and fifth child. We are really praying for the timing to work out. I know the real estate market is pretty brutal right now. It would definitely help us when we are looking for a bigger house because we may be able to get one at a good price, but that also means selling our house at a lower price.

**Gladiolus from my flower bed out front. I would be SO excited to have space for more flowers!**

That's where we are right now. Thinking about transitions and growing our family. Anne is definitely excited. At first she said she didn't want to move, but as we talked about it more, she got excited that we may have a yard with grass to play in. More than that she desperately wants a brother. I don't know what God has in store for us, but Anne prays on a daily basis for a brother. Only time will tell!