Ruthie’s 10th month

Ruthie continues to grow, to learn, and to thrive. She is a tenacious girl, full of life and spirit. This month is marked by snow. We had more snow in March than we had all winter, with the first two days of Spring being most significant. The girls all enjoy the snow but truthfully I’m over it (mainly the pile of snow clothes, boots, hats, gloves, and sleds littered by the back door which spreads into the living room).  

Ruth had a great month and continues to make progress in her speech therapy. They are baby steps, but steps nonetheless. For example, when attempting the /f/ we say to bite her lower lip and all the air comes out of her mouth. While she still isn’t making the sound or getting the air out of her mouth, she is finally able to bite her lower lip. Since she has an underbite this has been a huge challenge. See what I mean? Baby steps. 

She loves taking care of all the baby dolls. She’s a good little mommy. 

She’s becoming a whiz at pretending. 

Pattern blocks with Carrie are always fun. 

Ruthie had her first week in Sunday School three weeks ago. We were a little nervous but shouldn’t have been. Where Caroline goes, Ruth is quick to follow. I’m tremendously grateful for these two sisters. Carrie is very devoted to seeing Ruth succeed. 

Proud sisters! Someone mentioned how their mannerisms are similar and it’s true. What a gracious God we serve. While Ruthie may not “look” like her sisters, they do make similar faces and have body language that makes them look alike. 

We developed a pattern of snow, sleep, snow, sleep. She loves playing in the snow but it definitely wipes her out. 

She slept in the toddler bed a few times. We didn’t take the crib out of her room so she has since gone back to just the crib. But, I know when we decide to make the full transition it will be relatively simple. 

Always such a good sleeper!

Ruthie’s first smiley face. She is so proud of the faces she can draw. She had also started adding legs, ears, and arms occasionally. I’m so proud of how she is developing! What a clever little girl she is. 

These two think cleaning is fun. (Sometimes). 

Playing in the woods with sisters at dusk is always a good idea. 

Oh, and more snow. Thanks, mom, for giving us my childhood toboggan. 

Even mom goes sledding sometimes. 

Ruthie’s a brave sledder!

Catching snow. Her face mask is perfect for shielding her eyes while the snow falls into her mouth. 

Snowmobile riding with Daddy! Trent’s Dad often brings his snowmobiles down to our place once a winter if we get enough snow. I think this is the first year he’s come in Spring, though. 

Palm Sunday at church! See how brave she has gotten! 

Waving palm branches and singing, “Hosanna!”

Technically yesterday was 10 months home but as you can see, she was in no mood for a happy picture. 

Even coffee and farm puzzles didn’t help. 

And her nap was short-lived. I think she may be getting a new tooth as she has been chewing on her finger, had the grumps, and occasionally woken in the night. A little Motrin and a good night of sleep worked wonders. 

Happy 10 months home, my love. I don’t know what we would do without you!

Proud of her sticker. 

Oh Ruthie V.! We love you! Thanks for all the joy you bring. We are blessed to have you as our youngest Hess girl. 

February Generosity

During the month of February, the month of love, we focused our giving on something our family highly values. Life. The life of children in particular.

Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart."

I hear many liberals argue that conservatives say they are pro-life, but don't back it up with money or actions. While liberals may not know many other liberals who are standing for up for the lives of children, I know too many people to count who do back their beliefs up with actions and money. So be encouraged, there are many, many people who are living out their faith!

Our family has been a foster family for children in our community, we have now adopted internationally, and we continue to stand up for the ones who have no voice. In honor of our greatest treasures we chose to give for the month of February to Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services.

"Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services is a gospel-sharing life-affirming ministry that serves women, men, and teens through sexual integrity education, unplanned pregnancy intervention, and post-abortion restoration. With five locations  in Columbia, Ephrata, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Millersville, SVPS is making a difference for life." from SVPS.org 

I personally appreciate how the ministry sees all sides of the coin and are supportive the entire way through, from sexual integrity, to unplanned pregnancy, and perhaps in some ways most importantly, the post-abortion restoration. The CDC reports approximately 700,000 abortions every year in the United States. While I am not judging anyone who has made this decision, I've read enough blogs and talked to enough people to know that often this choice haunts them. As Christians, we absolutely need to be covering these men and women with love and prayers and hope for their future. I'm so encouraged to see an organization like SVPS providing a much-needed service for men and women in our community.

 Throughout February the older girls and I have talked about why waiting until you are married to have sex is the best option. We have talked about abortion. We have discussed moms and dads who find themselves in a challenging situation; ones who feel abortion is their only choice, some who want to place their babies for adoption, and those who want to parent them. Our goal in involving the girls was for them to provide physical items. Even though these organizations surely deserve our dollars, our young children need to see what they are supporting and where the money is going.

On Chinese New Year I took our five daughters out to the mall (a rare treat as it's kind of an ordeal to take five girls anywhere). Each girl picked out two-three baby outfits for boys and girls. We also donated some blankets and other baby items. While I intended to deliver the items in February it just didn't happen. Today, March 12, we drove into Lancaster, braved the construction crews digging up the road, and walked up the street to the Lancaster office for SVPS. We get stares regardless of what we're doing since I've always got my little ducklings with me, but today was especially unique as I had Ruthie in the carrier, three big bags of baby items, Anne carrying Caroline, and Abbey and Maggie carrying bags half their size. 

We hope the items donated will be helpful to those who need them. We believe that every life is valuable and that all children deserve to be raised in a family.

Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Some Thoughts on International Women's Day

Many American women today have become vulgar and crass. Photographs from the recent women's march portrayed women carrying signs with horrible things written on them and women wearing hats made to look like private parts. Their shouted obscenities made me really wonder, what are they marching for? The whole thing was so vulgar I couldn't allow my daughters to see pictures. And if it's not safe for my daughters, is it really what's best for the women you're supposedly advocating for?

Feminism used to demand equal rights for men and women. It appears today that many American women are no longer content with this, they'd like to emasculate, crush, and utterly destroy men.

Part of my issue is that I'm comparing the "world" with Christians. It's not really a fair comparison. First Peter talks about the type of woman Christ-followers should strive to be. I have yet to master the gentle and quiet spirit, but I believe it's something admirable to work toward. It's easy to be vulgar. It's not so easy (at least for me) to consistently reign in thoughts, attitudes, tongue, and actions to be gentle and quiet.

1 Peter 3:3-6 (Berean Study Bible) "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God's sight. For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves."

As far as it being International Women's Day, I would much rather see American women helping women around the world for things that are truly equal, human rights. Like the 1 in every 30 women in Nigeria who are still dying in childbirth. If all those American women marching would stand together to help women around the world, that's something I could get on board with. But women who are out to tear other people down? No. I'm sorry. I just can't get on that train.

This quote from the introduction of Eric Metaxas book 7 Women has stuck with me since I first read it a few years ago.

He writes, “What struck me as wrong about these suggestions [of women to write about : Ex: Sally Ride, first American woman in space] was that they presumed women should somehow be compared to men. But it seemed wrong to view great women in that way. The great men in Seven Men were not measured against women, so why should the women in Seven Women be measured against men? I wondered what was behind this way of seeing things, that women should be defined against men? Or that men and women should even be compared to each other?

“Two interrelated attitudes seemed at play. First, men and women are in some ways interchangeable, that what one does the other should do. Second, women are in some kind of competition with men, and for women to progress they need to compete with men. This thinking pretends to put men and women on equal footing, but it actually only pits them against each other in a kind of zero-sum competition in which they usually tear each other down.” 1. Source: Seven Women, Eric Metaxas, pp xiv

As a mother to five daughters, raising little women is continually on my mind. When I think of what would make me most proud of my daughters, I think it's safe for me to say that there is no career, no job, no particular role that I wish for them, other than to be women of God. Because if they choose to follow after God's heart, it doesn't matter what career, job, or role they have. I wouldn't be more proud of one daughter for being a doctor than a daughter who chose to be a stay at home mom. Regardless of your position, you can reach people with the love of Jesus.

So today, on International Women's Day, I would encourage you to pick up Eric Metaxas' book "7 Women and the Secret of their Greatness" to find out why Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Saint Maria of Paris, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa are all women to admire. I'll give you a hint: all of those women stood up for what they believed was right, especially when it wasn't popular. 

And so must each of us. 

The Narrow Gate

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14 (English Standard Version)

I've been thinking a lot recently about the narrow gate and what it means for modern Christians. I wish that every strong Christian family I know would be involved in some way with adoption, foster care, or orphan ministry. In fact, I recently found myself a little frustrated at what I perceive as other people's selfishness with their time and resources. Then I reminded myself that just because my narrow gate looks like giving up my time, energy and dollars to the care of children, that does not have to be every Christian's road. (Though I truly believe more people should be crossing the street and crossing oceans.) And I can only see a small portion of what others are doing. And perhaps most importantly, at the end of all this life, what others are doing is not as important as if I am following what God would have for me.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

Each of us need to work out our own salvation, with fear and trembling. My narrow road may not look like yours, and that's okay. 

Will I stop promoting adoption because of this revelation? Of course not! Someone on the fence may need just a little encouragement to do what God is asking them to do. And I still wish every family could have a Ruthie. Each one of my daughters has shaped me, they've brought my weaknesses out into the light where they have to be dealt with. 

We only need to look at nature to see that God is incredibly creative. Sometimes more impressive to me is how He works out so many details and intertwines people's lives to draw them together. I love China because of being led, literally, halfway around the world to my daughter. 

God writes the best stories.