Garage Sale Fundraiser for an Adoptive Family

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm having a garage sale at my home on April 9th and 10th to benefit a family who is adopting two boys from Ethiopia. ALL PROCEEDS will be going to this adoptive family. Tiffini is a long time friend of mine whom I've known since third grade. During my cancer treatments she helped my family by organizing meals and cleaning days. It is now a privilege for me to do something to help her and her family.

Adoption is very costly. Though a garage sale can't begin to cover the total cost they will incur, it will help make a small dent.

Tiffini and her husband, Tom, began the adoption process at the end of last year. This usually takes awhile, but God has sped their process along. It's truly amazing! They could be traveling as early as the end of April to pick up their boys.

I only know of a few people who actually read my blog anymore, so I have no idea if this will be an effective way to help raise awareness and money for this adoptive family. Every little bit helps, right?! So, if you are one of the few who checks in from time to time and you want to help, here are some simple things you can do to make this garage sale fundraiser a success:

• Consider donating items. Maybe you have been spring cleaning and have some stuff you are ready to pass along. Please, consider passing it my way! You can bring your stuff to my home between April 1st and April 8th. (If you don't know where I live, you can leave a comment on this blog with your email address, and I will give you directions.)
• Consider shopping at the garage sale. This sale will have contributions from many families. There's sure to be something here that you would like! There will also be face painting and balloon animals for the kids.
• Consider eating at the garage sale. We're planning on having some hot dogs, cookies, and soda at the sale. Stop by for a quick bite!!
• Finally, if you are a blogger or live in the area and know of other families who would want to donate items or visit the garage sale, then please pass this info along!!! Every little bit helps.
• Most importantly, PRAY! Please pray for this family, including the two brothers in Ethiopia. One child is in need of medical attention, so the sooner they can get here, the better!!!

Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to help an adoptive family. You can find out more about Tiffini and Tom, their adoption, and the incredible things God is doing through this process by checking out their blog at http://www.tomandtif-seven.blogspot.com/.

Blessings,

Michelle

P.S. After the event, I will be sure to post how much money is raised.

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Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

The Weight Barrier

Maybe you've heard of it. Not the sound barrier. The WEIGHT barrier.

Though I was warned it would happen, I politely smiled and thought, "Nope, it isn't going to happen to me." But, alas, the weight gain that can creep up on cancer survivors, not only crept up on me, it added over 50 pounds.

Well, I've been working very hard to shave off this added weight. For the first two months I focused on my diet which got rid of 15 pounds.

Then came the blood, sweat and tears. For the past two months I've been working out three to five days each week, usually 60 to 90 minutes each time. I've done cardio, weights, core work, pilates, yoga, water aerobics, lap swimming, total body toning workouts, and (my new favorite) ZUMBA!!! It's been grueling, painful, awkward, exhausting, but above all else.....very rewarding.

Many areas of my body are more tone, more flexible, definitely stronger, and more fit. I have more energy and can actually jog up a flight of stairs without passing out at the top!!! Yet, I've been hovering around a certain weight for weeks now. A woman is NOT supposed to talk about her weight, but this barrier has been plaguing me!

Yesterday morning, I FINALLY broke the barrier!!! I'm still far from a healthy weight, but with all the blood, sweat, and tears I've put into it, I just had to share the news.

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I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14

Happy Loving Day!

Last week my six year old stood beside our school room table with his arms behind his back. He asked, "Mommy, when is Happy Loving Day?"

"Happy what?"

"Happy Loving Day?"

It took me a moment to realize he meant Valentine's Day. "Oh, that's coming up very soon."

"Here, Mommy." He handed me a sweet handmade Valentine: a red heart pasted on white paper which said I love my mom, from Brenner. Then he gave me a great big bear hug.

Ah.....I hang onto moments like that, because it wasn't but a few days before, that this same boy was yelling.........

"I DON'T LIKE YOU, MOMMY!!! I WISH I DIDN'T LIVE IN THIS HOUSE!!!"

I've never before had one of my children say those words to me, except this one. And unfortunately, it is a pattern for him.

I was prepared for this, though I was sure it would NEVER happen to me. I mean really, why would a child whom I carried for 38 weeks, cared for with all of my heart, cherished with all of my soul....why would my child ever dream of saying anything like that!

A few years ago, a couple of ladies at church had a class based on the book, "Discovering Your Child's DQ Quotient." It's a personality book that does a good job of describing four personality types (with the understanding that there's always overlap and no one person is exactly like another). The four groups were appropriately labeled by animals: the bear, the porcupine, the monkey, and the lamb.

The monkey was described, among other positive things, as the child who may choose to use his words to hurt others. This was the child that would be more prone to name calling and saying things that could break a mother's heart. Though I knew Brenner was my little monkey, I was sure that this particular behavior would never arise.....until that dreadful day several months ago when the first words, "I HATE YOU!!" came from his lips. Thankfully, we've nipped those hateful words from his vocabulary, but he still has his moments....typically after he doesn't get what he wants, or he's disciplined for bad behavior. That's when the "I don't like you" or "I wish I didn't live in this house" comments arise.

So, though I was prepared that something like this could happen.....I lived in denial that it actually would happen.....and.....it happened. And I was not prepared for the hurt my heart would feel from it.

So, I keep my little Brenner's Valentine next to my homeschool desk to remind myself that it is my job to love this boy no matter what he says, no matter what he does, no matter how I feel in the moment.

I wonder, is that what God does? Does He hold onto the thanksgiving, praise, and adoration that I give him when things are going well in my life.....to remind Him that it is His job to love me no matter what I say and no matter what I do when I fail Him? No, God loves me in spite of what I say and in spite of what I do. But still, each one of my failings has caused Him pain. Pain that He suffered through His son, Jesus Christ.

So instead of a handmade Valentine sitting next to His desk, God has His resurrected Son sitting at the right hand of His throne. And His Son is daily interceding for me.....He is daily interceding for you......He is daily interceding for my son.....He is daily interceding for us.

Now that's love.

Happy Loving Day!

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I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Eph. 1:17-21

But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:24,25

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27.

Reading Advice

The flu-bug has left the building!

So, today we went to the library. The boys love to get books, though a few of them rarely actually R-E-A-D the books they get.

What are their favorites? Spencer loves Hardy Boys, World Record's Books, Comic Books and Superhero books. Trevor prefers books on Dinosaurs, any kind of animal, and Superheros. Parker is partial to dragon books, 'how to draw' books, and Superheros. Brenner picks up whichever books are on the shelf in front of him and enjoys browsing through the superhero books his brothers get.

But today was a break-through on the reading aspect of books. Both Trevor and Parker found a series of books that are interesting enough that they WANT to read the stories. Trevor has found a series on puppies and Parker re-discovered Amelia Bedelia books. Yay!

As a homeschooling mom, the most taxing part of the job for me has been to teach my kids to read. Though my middle two can read, they are not what I would call fluent readers. So, I'm so thankful that they have found books that seem to make the words leap off the pages.

So, I'm curious. If you've had a child who less fluent in his/her reading, what things did you do to help him/her along? I could use some more help on this.

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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the table of your heart.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman....
Proverbs 7:1-4

Flu Bug--GO AWAY!!!

This is certainly a very resilient flu bug we have captured in our home. After nearly four days of quarantining ourselves, the very elusive critter struck again. I was awakened early Thursday morning by a guttural sound that can make any mom jump straight out of bed from the deepest of sleep.

Poor little Brenner! Besides the flu, he didn't know what hit him.......me! As I jumped out of bed, I landed on him! Scooping him up quickly, I plodded to the bathroom.

Then, this morning, the last of our boys succumbed to the microscopic beast. His has been the most mild case. I am truly thankful for that.

Please say this is the end!

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8

Flu-Bug, Don't Bother Me

Immediately after my last post....in fact, it happened right after I pushed the 'publish post' icon....I heard strange sounds coming from one of the boys' bedrooms. It was late and they'd all been asleep for awhile.

You know it's not good when a child comes out of his room with one hand on his head and the other on his belly with these words on his lips, "Mommy, I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to......."

Yep. Puke. That and other things.

But every gross story has a silver lining, right? I suppose if your going to get the flu, or intestinal bug, or whatever this was, this is the kind you want to get. After 4 hours of puking, followed by 20 hours of sleeping on and off with a low grade fever, it was over. So, with some extra fluids and clean underwear, all was better!

Well, that is until son #2 came down with it two days later.

So we're in a holding pattern here and we're hoping no one else jumps on this GI ride.

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I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13,14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

So Long Ronald!

In the last two months our family has only been to McDonald's three times. Three times! That is quite an achievement for us. Do they give out World Records for self-control?!?

Usually, you could find me zipping through the drive-thru after a practice or game, between errands, while Sean was out of town, on the way home from the park....you name it. If there was an excuse to drive by, I jumped at the chance. Now, these stops weren't always for a full meal deal. Sometimes it was just for a "half and half Tea, light on the ice." (If you aren't familiar with the McD's jargon, that's a large half sweet and half unsweet tea, with little ice. Oh, how I miss my sweet tea.....but I digress).

We've made a real effort to eat healthier, and it's showing. Sean and I collectively have lost over 30 pounds. We're feeling better and looking better! (Though, I admit, I have a long way to go!)

And the boys are eating more variety than they ever have. One of our favorite treats is an afternoon smoothie. We blend together vanilla yogurt, strawberries with their green tops still on, blueberries, uncooked spinach (at least a cup full), a touch of orange juice, and chopped ice. It's very tasty!

Tonight, we had stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, red bell pepper, spinach, green onions, and left over ham poured atop brown rice. Though the younger two picked out the peppers and the mushrooms, they ate everything else...with some 'encouragement.'

All that being said, we still indulge from time to time in some tasty treats. So, I'm off to eat tonight's 'encouragement:' a cookie/brownie mixture we made for dessert!

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For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:4-8