Created For Care

Coming up is this most amazing weekend with adoptive moms!  You'll worship, learn from experts and other moms as well as relax in the Joy of the Lord!  Words cannot begin to tell you what this weekend meant to me!  Registration begins September 1st and it will fill up fast!  Come join me!  For more info go here!

It's Been Months...

There really is no explaining, life is just very busy!  As we finished school and soccer season we quickly jumped into the throws of summer, traveling and birthday season around here.  We have a birthday in June, July and two in August, not to mention a VERY ACTIVE two year old!  Oh how precious is he.

While our life and my kids keep me very busy and constantly on my toes, I never forget to stop and thank God for the blessings he has bestowed on our family, blessings that came out of trials and perserverance. God receives the glory for our sufferings and trials, which are so minor compared to the suffering Christ endured on our behalf.  However, I believe it is so important for me to remember where we've been, how far the Lord has brought us and how much we've learned in the process.

As I hear shouts of "mom, I'm hungry", I will leave you with a few updated pictures.  Time goes by so fast...

Trip to the Atlanta Zoo

Family Picture at Recital, the Girls did amazing!

John Asher has always LOVED the water.  But he has a new freedom now that he can swim with his yellow float!

Summer's not complete without a trip to the Emerald Coast!

The boys had a blast jumping waves and getting a mouth full of salt water!

Dance Recital 2011

One year ago..

a very frightened little boy was placed in our arms. 

One year later...

a happy, healthy thriving little boy who knows he is loved by his family!

Happy Gotcha Day little guy!

Few more pictures from the weekend

Created for Care - Reflecting Back

250 moms,
countless numbers of adopted children from all over the world,
lots of wonderful speakers,
10 hours of sleep,
8+ organizations that serve to help orphans and widows
5 good meals (where I didn't have to cook or do the dishes)
4 pages of fabulous notes taken (only to lose my folder)
4 incredible times of worship,
2 great worship leaders,
2 comfy beds in a beautiful room at a gorgeous lodge,
a date with God,
1 awesome friend and several new ones made,
1 Great God we serve
and One amazing weekend!

It was a weekend where lots of healing took place for me and I was able to see where my frustration with God had affected my relationship with my son! I finally came to terms with the fact that our adoption had not been what I had dreamed it would be and my disappointment with God had greatly impacted my ability to bond with my son! While healing had already begun to take place over the last several months, I felt this weekend was an opportunity to truly lay it all down and be able to move on from that devestation. I have always loved my son, but I believe my love for him has increased in the last few months as I was able put aside MY DREAM for what God wanted for us and our family!

I am so excited about what I learned about implementing an adoption ministry and what I can take back to our new ministry formed at our church. I am praying that the Lord will provide financially for this ministry and that other families within our church will step forward and respond to the call of adoption. I also learned more about domestic adoption to help others in that journey.

Being in the midst of other moms excited about the call of adoption, waiting on their babies and being home with their babies was such a thrill! I had time with my precious friend who has a passion for orphans! I met new friends that share that same passion and who also homeschool in the craziness of it all! I cherished the session on special needs as I heard other stories of moms who have dedicated themselves to the call of adopting special needs children. It was refreshing to sit among other moms with a similar calling and listening to how they get through the surgeries, doctor and therapy appointments and how it brings us closer to the Lord and dependence on him through caring for these children!

Probably the best time of the weekend was the time I spent with the Lord in worship. Tears streamed as I sung about who He is, all He has done and offering my life to Him.

The presence of the Lord just abounded in this place and I left refreshed, renewed and exhausted - but a good exhausted! I can't wait for Created to Care 2012! You can bet I'll be one of the first to sign up!

Created for Care

An amazing weekend spent with the Lord and with 250 moms that share a passion for adoption! Here is a video from the weekend published by Andrea!

Created For Care

In five days I will be here relaxing with my dear, precious friend and relishing in the company of 250 adoptive mothers and some tremendous speakers! And I CAN'T WAIT!
Not only do I need seriously need a weekend off from doing my favorite job in the world, but I need a weekend off with my friend and relaxing in the spirit of the Lord!  Created for Care was born out of the desire to bring a few moms together that shared a passion for orphans and adoption.  In it inagural year, over 250 women from all across the country are coming together to relax, talk and learn from each other and speakers that might know a thing or two about adoption and orphans!  It's going to be amazing!  Stay tuned...

Joy in the Journey

JOY: defined as a state of happiness; a source or cause of delight.

If there is one thing I have learned from 2010, it is that there is Joy. Regardless of the circumstances, even in the most trying and desperate times, you can find joy. It may not jump out at you, but if you ask the Lord to show you, he will! From the darkest days of CICU to throwing up and throwing tantrums, God has been ever so faithful to help me find joy, even when I didn't want too! Some days my joy came from just the peace of knowing and trusting Him while other days it came so easy in the laughter of my kids or support of my husband or the hand of a friend!

There has been such great joy in adoption, seeing the Lord's mighty hand working everyday miracles in our family and in our son. There is great joy in parenting, watching your young children develop their personalities and interests. There is even joy in watching them grow older, becoming the young men and women the Lord created them to be.

But best of all, I find my greatest joy in living my life for Christ! Seeking his will, as hard as it may be to follow (or wait, depending on what he is asking), gives me such great peace it brings me joy! I sing for joy for who Christ is, what he did and continues to do for me and how he leads me to serve him.

Now that we are home with our precious son, who we waited on for many years and took several baby steps to bring home, I want to focus on the joy in the journey of adoption, parenting and living for Christ! May it all be for His Glory!

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;let them ever sing for joy,and spread your protection over them,that those who love your name may exult in you. Psalm 5:11

You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of JOY; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

My lips will shout for JOY,when I sing praises to you;my soul also, which you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23

I hear that there could possibly be more of this on the way! In my thirty plus years of living in Georgia, I've never known it to snow this much! Nonetheless, we will enjoy it while it's here, and a like a good southerner, I will buy my milk and bread tomorrow!

Where to begin?

Oh my! I haven't been able to blog in forever and the withdrawals...oh my! Thanks to my absolute wonderful husband, I can finally access my blog again! Since there is no real good place to begin, I thought posting a few pictures and details from the last several months would help me find a starting point.  Fall proved to be a time of great adjustment in our home. Jeremiah's lower back pain esculated one beautiful October afternoon and after six weeks of agonizing, debilitating pain, he had surgery to correct the problem. During this time, John Asher responded to the stress in our home with unbelieveable tantrums, withdrawals, seperation anxiety and lots and lots of crying and screaming. The process we've been through is another post in itself, and while we are still working through some of these issues, I can say that the Lord has been faithful, has not left our side and I can see his hand in every area we've dealt with!
We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with my Mississippi family, many of whom met John Asher for the first time.  Some of these family members had prayed for him faithfully over the last year!
While our Christmas celebrations were kept minimal due to Jeremiah's recovery, we still enjoyed the season and worshipping our Savior.  John Asher's first Christmas at home was memorable, not for all the reasons I hoped, but it seemed that day all of John Asher's issues we had been dealing with came out full force.  In the days that followed, I spent much time in prayer, seeking the Lord for guidance and begging him to show himself in our home, our lives and our son.

The New Year came and so did some resolve.  Through much, much prayer I have seen a turn in John Asher and I praise God for these answers.  While we are still working through some issues, I can see where we have come and how the Lord has guided us and given us wisdom to know how to love and train.  **Because I am still having a lot of trouble uploading photos, please enjoy them completely out of order and hopefully you can figure them out.**

Blog issues!

Hi!  I can't believe I am typing on my blog!  I have been experiencing major difficultites posting anything, especially pictures!  I have no idea how to fix my problem, so if anyone has a suggestion, I would love to know.  This is only the second time in two months I've been able to get on and type, but I still can't post photos.
Anyways, just wanted to say we are doing well and John Asher is growing like crazy!  I can't wait to post photos of him!  He will have been home with us one year next month and turns two next month as well!  We have big plans and hopefully all will be fixed so I can post again!
Much love,
Robyn