So. I'm sensing a theme for 2010 in my life. It starts with un and ends with comfortable.
The first half, of the first month of the year, has me sweating.
Because there are 350+ days left and I think God likes me perspiring.
I'm not complaining. Actually, the opposite. I'm delighted to participate on a panel at the Blissdom Blogging Conference in a few weeks. {It's the Get Published panel. I'm the Before}.
And I was invited to speak at the Christian Blogging Conference, Relevant, in Hershey, PA, in October. Is it hot in here?
Oh, and I'M GOING TO AFRICA!!! -the real Africa that's a different continent from my family (and I'm more than a little afraid/excited/nervous/thrilled).
As if all that wasn't enough, the other night we sat down to create a Family Mission Statement (post coming soon). We were brainstorming family goals and my 10 year old said OUT OF THE BLUE, "Mom, can you add adoption to that list and put ten lines under it?"
Before I could even comprehend her statement, my son, "Yeah, Mom. We've been talking about it and we want to adopt a kid. I'll share my room."
Me: ::::::::::::::::DEAD SILENCE::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I just wanted y'all to know that I have no idea what I'm doing.
And I'm okay with that.
57 comments:
So did you add adoption to the list?
Delurking,
Kate in Wales, (loving being a mum through adoption!)
God called us to adopt an 11 year old after our 4 biological children were grown. Challenging yet obedience is worth it.
Wow! God really IS pulling you out of your comfort zone! It sounds exciting, though. Who said being a Christian is boring? LOL! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures - especially Africa. My good friend has a heart for Africa and is going to be going in the Fall.
You have me smiling through your entire post! God doesnt give you more than you can handle, right!? How sweet of your children. They must have a mommy with a big heart whom they have learned from. Good luck on your adventures. Congrats for speaking at both conferences!
Oh my gosh, Kristen, that's awesome about your children being so open and wanting to bring a child (or 10!) into the home!!!! God has already prepared their hearts and look! He's using THEM to prepare YOURS!!! I'm going to well up with tears myself!!
When my child bearing years are over, I am pretty sure that is what we are going to do as well. Adopt children and give them a home. Oh, what a beautiful way to show the love of Jesus!!!!!!!! Big hugs to you. You are a courageous warrior princess, Kristen!!!
Wow. I would love to know what your husbands reaction was. How exciting. I'm looking forward to the family mission statement post. And if I could go to a conference on blogging it would be Relevant.
Sounds like Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter has been talking to your daughter.
Wow!
God sure has some great plans for you! I think it's awesome how dedicated you are to your family, your blog, and to your religion! Did you add adoption to the list? You're doing great Kristen, just keep it up!!
I can relate. Just signed up for a mission to Zimbabwe...thrilled and terrified! Also, in the wait for a China adoption, and feeling the call to also adopt from Ethiopia....excited and terrified!
We have some friends who JUST returned (on Sat.) with TWIN boys from Ethiopia. They're SO adorable. And, yes, I will pray(from your post the other day)!
Isn't it comforting to know that He knows what He's doing? :)
You're a gem!
You know that THIS crazy friend is cheering for you to adopt!!!! It will change your life and you will never be the same- well... you'll still be THAT family:) lol
xoxo
Kristen, How exciting!! I am in the middle of an adoption with an agency that is local (I am fairly sure that we live pretty close to each other). The are a very Christian organization, and I'd be happy to pass on their information to you if you guys are considering adding that to your list. :-)
Just drop me an email... they are great, and I love the fact that everything they do is extremely spiritually centered.
kbhawkins00 AT gmail DOT com
Wow! Your life is so exciting as God unfolds HIS plan for you. You are very blessed.
See, I am convinced that our kids make us better people.
Whew! I'm sweating just reading this post. I'm excited to see what God has in store for you this year. Only He is big enough to create plans like these.
Yeah...you have me sweating, too. :) ALTHOUGH...if you want to give up that space at Hershey, I can stumble my way through a talk on cookies! ;)
How exciting! We are in the very beginning of thinking about adoption. How awesome that God worked on your kids before he even started with you! Blessings on the 2010 journey!!!
I have the same feeling of wanting to give a child a loving home...my husband hasn't felt the calling...yet!
I think you'd be a wonderful family to do just that. I predict that the Lord has you going to Africa for a greater purpose than what you originally thought and your children just opened the door WIDE! ;)
Wow what awesome kids you have! We have considered adoption too.
You'll do great at BlissDom, don't sweat it!
Yep, I called that one. So funny when God gets our attention through our kids, isn't it? Let me know what I can do to help you when you're ready. We can always pow-wow at Blissdom...
Wow. It will be fun to see how this all unfolds.
I/we have adopted 4. I can get you hooked up. LOL It's an amazing experience!! :)
Aren't kids great? So...did it make the list?
That is so awesome! I truly believe children are much closer to God than we are since they are still very innocent. If one of my kiddos says something profound, I go and ask God for myself right away. I never want to miss those promptings.
That is truly awesome.
LOL, TEN lines?
That is so precious...you have truly incredible children!
God is so good to us, is HE not? It is very exciting to walk in Faith and step out on the water. We are in the midst of it, too. My husband and I felt an overwhelming sense from God that we needed to resign from our current ministry and pursue a pastorate. Scary! My hubby is done as of January 31st, and we have nothing! But we know that God is in control, and that we are right where He want us. Sounds like the same is true for you. Awesome. Be blessed.
Well, it is a new decade!! Time to do new things. And all of your things are AMAZING!
Sounds like you'll be doing some growing this year! Good for you!
Yes, but God does know, and that's the beauty of it! You're letting Him guide and so you don't have to know. :) (and apparently your children are learning that, too!)
Awesome.
What an incredible time of faith-building this year will be! And your children sound so tender-hearted. Sweet!
Sounds like the Lord has big plans (as always!)
Looking forward to reading how they come to fruition.
Thats so sweet! Out of the mouth of Babes..
XoxoGapGirl
WOW!! You are being stretched! Be encouraged... you have been faithful with what you have been given... God is just giving you more! :)
You can do all of this and more through HIM who gives you the strength!
I am excited for you! It's when we are out of our comfort zone that we start doing the things only God can do through us :)
WOW! Definitely an exciting, overwhelming, and scary thought. We adopted our 3 year old through the foster care system...got him when he was 18 months. (We already had a teenage son at that point.) Now, just a year and a half later, we have a 4 month old little girl, whom we are hoping to adopt. I know adoption isn't for everyone, but it is such a blessing, and like others have said, God never gives us more than we can handle..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."!
Yes, you so should!! We have 3 kids and are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. I can say already it is the craziest thing I've done but has already changed our family in the most wonderful ways!
Oh my goodness!!
Your children have BIG hearts! And God is SOOOO Good. =)
What big-hearted children you have there!
We are in the midst of an international adoption and it is a real journey. But it will be so worth it in the end.
<3
Well, you may feel like you don't know what you are doing. But you do a heckuva job making it all look great!
I have to limit the amount of bloggy reading I do b/c there just isn't enough time in the day to get "it" all done, especially since I HAVE to make sure the home schooling gets done.
But, just to let you know, your blog is one of the ones I look forward to reading every time you update. What an encouragement you are!! Love that you are so open and share what God is doing in and through your life.
Oh, and I am perfectly fine going to Africa--- as long as it's through your BLOG!! :) I am sweating for you just thinking about it!
Our kids made the same request.
Adopt.
Best decision we ever made.
Our new daughter is amazing in every sense of the word!
One more word...
Miracle.
Stretching is always uncomfortable at first, but then you go so much further than you ever thought you could! God is amazing.
well be careful in africa and also have a great time :D
None of us really knows what we're doing. You don't have to know. You just have to be brave enough to follow where God leads you and do it anyway.
Loved your post. I read it out loud to my husband and we just love what you have going on.
God is really doing some amazing things in your life and your family's life.
Your kids sound amazing! I just love their thinking about wanting to adopt and the fact that they've been "talking" about it. Love it!
We love how the kids are wanting to take that step, when most adults don't even think about that their entire lives. What a blessing to have kids thinking about that and being "mission minded.
Of course the kids don't know how much goes into adoption, but what a great thing.
They are truly thinking about other people's lives. Selfless and loving. What a blessing!!!
I have loved your blog from the beginning. It is awesome to see how God has been working in your life and in your family's life over the past 2 years. I am excited for you about this year of stretching and growth and look forward to seeing what God will do in and through you this year.
I just came back from Africa (Ethiopia) and I already want to head back. It is such an amazing place to be. Praying for you!!
I think my favorite part of your post is not that you are uncomfortable...not that your kids asked you to add adoption to the list...but that they had already talked about it. I just love that! So many children need loving forever homes...and if you chose to open yours...you will surely get much more than you give.
Can't wait to hear more about the family mission statement...and about the adoption topic.
And on a THAT family note, I just had to share with you...because you'll understand. My five year old daughter lost her first tooth today at school. They lovingly placed it in a ziplock bag and sent it home with her today. At bedtime, I grab the bag with the tooth, take it to her room...and somewhere between the stairs, and teeth brushing, and pajama changing, the actual tooth jumped out of the bag is now actually, really, and truly lost. My husband with his flashlight, and me on my hands and knees trying to find an off-white tooth in off-white carpet...well past kid bedtime. What a mess. Thankfully the Tooth Fairy knows we are THAT family.
Wow that was out of the blue. Maybe you could adopt a pet instead?
Girl, I told you this was coming :) I can't wait!!! Isn't living in the Spirit an adventure!?
so excited for your holy perspiration. obviously god is giving you lots of opportunities to trust him.
We adopted 9 and 11 year old girls from Ukraine in June 2007. We'd like to adopt 2 more (or I'd be really happy with 4 more) in the next few years. Adoption was such a huge blessing for us and it's such a great picture of God's relationship with us. I'm so excited for you and your family as you pursue whatever it is God has for you!!!
Just got back from Africa...get ready for comfortable with an "un" at the beginning:)
DO IT!!!!! whooo-hooo! I don't think many of us set out on the adoption track knowing exactly how it will look or (th biggie!)WHERE th money will come from! On the way, you will meet the MOST encouraging fellow adopive families, and be friends for life with them (most of them through blogs, peps you will never even meet!!!!) Can't wait to have you on the journey! Oh, and is there any bigger blessing in life than the priviledge to love and raise a child!!!!
How exciting! Life can be so boring just being comfortable. At the end of our lives, do we want to say "that was a nice, comfortable life" or do we want to say "THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! GOD IS AWESOME!!"
Kristen:
I know that this is going to be your best year yet! You and your family have so much to share, and now God is giving you a bigger voice... go for it!
Blessings!
Sonja
I read this right after you posted but wanted to come back and leave you a comment. What a wonderful year you have in front of you. Isn't it just like God! I will definitely be excited to hear of all of your adventures and lessons you have before you.
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