Monday, January 31, 2011

Technical Probs:

If you have ordered a Ugandan Necklace or "Verse" this morning, can you email me at abbaschildren@gmail.com? I had trouble with the paypal buttons, but have changed it now. The Shirts of Hope buttons are working correctly! Thanks!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

SHaBLAM...

So... Thanks to my friends Josh and Hilary Helms who designed the "logo" for our Giveaway... I'm now entering an area of "blogworld" I have long only looked at from the outside... haha.

As if you didn't already see it when you pulled up the blog... feel free to browse etc. I'll be doing my usual blogging here... but you can find all the details with my nice billboard. :)

We truly appreciate all the help. I see us rounding 3rd base on our adoption expenses and I just KNOW God's provision is ALWAYS there... and ALWAYS enough. Thanks for spreading the word!

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Funnies....


So, I have decided that I could write a book, along with any mother, of the funny things that happen... and sometimes the sweetest things that happen within the walls of a home when "nobody's looking."

Here are 2 funny stories. One, you may have already read in a FB post, and the other JUST happened.

Funny Strip #1:
While we were driving down the road, Z... my 4 year old... says "mom, when I get big like Daddy, I'm gonna get a real gun." Me: "Really? What are you gonna shoot?" Z: "Chickens... and pigs." KG: "And COWS!" Z: "KG, we don't eat cows. Right or no momma?" Me: "Um.. yes we do." Z: "Ok, I'll shoot those too." haha. First, I don't think they shoot those animals unless they are diseased or something. Second, no field will be safe with this guy & his gun!


Funny Strip #2:

As a parent, I always dread the possible "blood spill" situation. Tonight, we had our first official "significant amount of blood" situation. We have a situation. ha.
Z comes screaming in "E! He fell out!" The Mr. and I both go running. E is screaming, blood all over his face. :( I scoop him up, comfort him, get a rag... try to asess "the situation." Luckily, it is just a REALLY good busted lip and red nose. According to Z, "he fell right out onto his head." Wow... could have been much worse! As he is calming down, we give him ice, etc... I ask him why he was trying to climb out of bed (he has never done this before). He said "It's not my bed." "Um... you have been sleeping in it for over a year now, whose bed do you think it is?" E said "My little sisters bed." melt.my.heart. He asked for a big boy bed. SWEET BUGGER! (We are saving and planning on that being a joint BDAY present for the boys... because Z still sleeps in a toddler bed and needs a bigger one too) What a sweet kiddo. THEN... we get him all set to go back to bed and walk in to find this:





Z says "I put those there in case he falls out again, it will be more cushy!" LOL. Crash pad! Awesomeness!

Here is a pic of the mended and smiling... heart as big as Texas boy:



The Mr. Doing the "clean up!" Go oxi go!


These are the things I don't want to forget as a mommy! Crazy good times...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Lessons Learned....



No, I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth... YES we did decide to return home after our weekend away! I can't tell you how amazing it was. We went away to a place we didn't feel like "we have to do this... and that... and see..."... I'm sure it would be classified as boring for some. We spent most of our time inside the condo, reading... talking... praying... and watching Bear Grylls do really ridiculous things (does he REALLY think he is stranded?) We spent the second most time at Wal-Mart getting firewood and frozen dinners...ha! It was GREAT!

We were able to pray and discuss, and pray some more about decisions we felt were pressing on the McB family. The big takeaways:
1. I didn't realize how much I made independent decisions apart from the Mr. and consideration for my family... and how that impacted our schedule...attitudes... etc. Not that I "have to" run everything by him... but that God put him in my life as protection and he often has insight into how "i really am doing" that, at times... I don't even have!
2. The best things in life are the hard things. While it was GREAT to be away, I was reminded that the greatest gifts come with the hardest challenges. You can't pull it apart. Mixed within this life is a swirl ice cream. Aren't those the BEST? Yes, I'll have the swirl... both good and bad... hard and easy... trials and victory.
3. Deep down, do I truly believe I can't make it without the help of my Father? Things get busy, I get tired, and for some reason I believe I don't have the time to spend QUALITY & QUANTITY time in the word. I would never say "Of course, I can raise these children plus some on my own! Sure, i can do this... or that... without the help of my heavenly Father." BUT WHAT DOES MY BEHAVIOR SAY? I grab a "snack" from God here and there and justify it because "I'm a busy mom of 3 kids 4 & under." WHAT IN THE???
4. I can't have it all. I can't have a smooth running home, home school, have a healthy dinner on the table, run a ministry at church, help at our "vocational" ministry, be a great friend, take care of my neighbors, keep a healthy body, have a great career, etc.... The question is... what is God asking me to do RIGHT NOW. And the truth is, I will have the time to do the things He is asking me to do.
5. I am married to the best thing walking. :) (and hopefully you feel the same way about your spouse!)


ON A Different NOTE: This weekend I am going to announce our fundraiser(really, I PROMISE!) I'm just trying to iron out some minor last details! Much LOVE!!!
Mrs. McB

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Purpose of it all...

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8


As I wrote a couple of posts ago, I'm in a time of "evaluation" and feeling the Lord whisper to be "be still." Now, if you know me AT.ALL. you know how hard this is for me. So many times we hear "you have to take care of YOURSELF" ... or "you need some YOU time"... or... "if you would do.... then YOU would feel...." While I agree... in some ways... I don't think our culture or even our Christian Culture knows how to handle this very well. God has made it clear to me that it is important to "be still"... AND "know that I am God." The purpose of self care, being still, getting rest, etc... is so that we can ultimately know God more intimately and therefore bear much fruit. The purpose of self care isn't self or self-indulgence! It is to allow us ... our old, tired, grumpy bodies to be formed into His image: so that we can bear the fruits of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." The purpose of self care is to ultimately glorify God, not self. I know, I'm raining on the parade. This revelation came to me after praying for days that God would help me understand where "self-care" fit in His purpose for my life. I want to walk that path VERY.CAREFULLY. It is so easy to think "Oh, if I spend this $$ on "A", then I will be more joyful to serve!" or "If I were able to go away and "do what I want to do" then I would be fulfilled to come home and do His service." OR maybe it looks like "I deserve a break!" No... friend... we deserve DEATH! ha. (ah, rats, lighten-up... right?) I have fallen into a pit of thinking I "need" or "deserve" this or that... when ultimately what I need Jesus. Now, He does give us breaks, and rest, in His time. The Mr. and I are going away this weekend and that is what prompted this entire thought process. I don't want it to be about ME... I want it to be about GOD making ME into his likeness. I want HIM to show us things through intimate communication with him... about our marriage, our children, our church, our ministry... I want Him to bring our hearts closer to each other and to Himself. And THAT, is what brings great JOY... and laughter... and FUN! I am then able to enjoy His provisions because I'm focused on HIM and NOT me! So, I think the purpose of "taking care of myself" isn't me. It's HIM. It's about prayer...deep prayer. It all starts with Him. We are getting away .... "Just the three of us."

I hope you enjoy your weekend... and when we get back we will be sharing about some exciting fundraising news!

Mrs. MCB!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Adoption News... or should I say... Un-news?



Well, it has been a while since I've posted about our adoption process... Yes. We are still in the process! ha. It's strange how with E, it is all we posted about... and this time I have found it so much easier to just "go on with life" as I wait. No counting. No staring at the phone. No numbers. I know, some may think that it isn't "fun" or I'm not "celebrating" the process. I am... in a different way. I notice that I'm overwhelmed and very easily consumed with thoughts about her... where she is... HOW she is... and the story unfolding. I pray daily... or multi-daily... if that is a word. I envision how we will fix her small little corner of where she will sleep, the closet that needs to be fixed to make space, etc. It's so much more internal. Maybe because the unknown is more than I can carry, so I don't. I just wait. We are trying to prepare for her in different ways... like getting much needed rest, considering medical treatments, and ensuring our marital relationship is in a place that can handle the change once again. Those are the things we are doing to prepare.

On a technical side... things are at a complete standstill right now. We do not anticipate getting our referral before March. However, if We haven't gotten one by then... You may see me get crazy!!!! (crazier?)

In the meantime... we are trying to raise the money we need to pay for our travel expenses to Ethiopia 2xs. SOooo... in the next week we will be announcing a really FUN & Cool way that you can help! It will be tied into Valentines Day... and we are EXCITED!!! So stay tuned!!

That's that... the update on good ol' AJ!

AJ,
I am so excited to meet you. I really do hold you in my heart... and I even think you are making my hormones imbalanced. ha. Very impressive. Right now, as I allow myself to think about it... I want to hold you as you sleep, and I wonder what you will smell like... and I can't wait to stroke your soft little skin. Just yesterday your oldest brother, Z, was asking about you and almost cried. He said he misses you and prays for you during the day as "you sleep in Africa." Although, last night He prayed you would come with a twin brother!!! yikes! I'm happy either way!
You are loved, wanted, and pursued... not just by us... but by your heavenly Father who has great and wonderful plans for you. I know this is true. I can't wait to be a part of that plan! We love you and want you home...yesterday.

Love , mommy-to-be

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Keeping the Pace with Grace...

In November, my self-view was changed. I was awakened to things about me. How dependent upon God I truly am. How terribly inefficient, weak, and incapable I am: physically, mentally, spiritually. How much I NEED: God, my husband, my family, and my mentor friends, & margin.
I'm sure my calendar looks like many of yours:(only my kids don't have "activities")

While many moms can keep that pace, I can not. I have become awakened to my "Martha" side of things (once again) that are, while great things, are stealing my ability to care for the priorities God has set in my life. The Mr. & I have had "wide open" doors for other families, commitments, etc during our evenings that have stolen away precious time together as a family. We have been home only long enough to "recover" and then "go back at it." I'm certain this is NOT how God intended the family to function. Run here, go there, invite them, this meeting, that class...

God gets my attention in crazy ways. This time, it was clear He was saying "STOP IT." My body practically came to a halt on its own... couldn't. keep. up. Irritable, rushing here to there, emotionally checked out, joy... stolen...physically unable to go or think. I'm grateful for a husband and some close friends that can help me analyze myself... emotionally and spiritually, and give me guidance when I need it.

Over Christmas with my parents, I spent a lot of time sleeping & praying... and God showed me just how TIRED & Needy I am... once again. He reminded me that I must not forget that ministry doesn't only happen outside of my house... but MOST of the time "should" be inside this house with the children God has entrusted to me. How did I not realize that Satan used my very passion to lure my heart away from the actual calling and "real life ministry" HE had given me? My passion to serve orphans, adoptive & foster families actually took away from my time alone with God, and focusing on a healthy home life so that He can "set" more children into our family if He sees fit.

I've seen this in my life before. I step back or something "takes me out of the game" for a while (be it... having a baby, adoption, move, illness, etc) and I get "rest." THEN I "feel better" and automatically assume it is "time to fill up my schedule again." It's like a mentally ill person who takes their meds, feels better, stops taking their meds... and spirals into insanity again. I want to shy away from insanity.

Keeping the Pace with Grace... that's my theme for the year. God gave me that theme when I wasn't really asking for it. ha. I desire MORE THAN LIFE to give my all... hold onto nothing more closely than HIM... serve Him, others ... LOVE like crazy... Him... others... And only HE can reset my pace. HE must tell me "yes" to this and "no" to that. HE must give me approval before I say "yes"... or fill my schedule with practically ANYTHING. That even means "fun" stuff too. I refuse to be eaten alive by business. I'm actually praying that if I am doing anything that will distract me from the things HE wants me to do most... I will feel physically ill.

I have recently "resigned" from 3 things I was doing regularly. I am "shedding the weight" of my schedule to free up time to respond spontaneously to the things God has for me. He wants to use me, I want to be used. I just don't want to be a chicken with my head cut off. He can't use chickens without heads. (I suppose He could... if He really wanted)

So... Here are my priorities... that I believe are Biblical... in a particular order...
1. God: praying, knowing His word and His will
2. Husband
3. Kids
4. Ministry: specifically our ministry partners, and adoption ministry at church.

That's it. If I can not "keep the pace with Grace" then it is not about HIM... it's about me. I don't want to be about me. I want to give my life away for HIM... with Grace... joy... energy... and the greatest of love. I want HIM to be Glorified... and If I'm crazy & irritable... it's gonna be hard for anyone to see Him through that sin. So... Lord... Set my pace... reveal to me the things you want me to do each day... stay on the front of my mind so that I filter all things through You. Help me to say NO when it is not Your best for me and my family. Renew my joy and passion for my home and help me to use the time we have to make much of You.

love... one weak, jacked-up, madly in love with you Mamma....





Thursday, January 6, 2011

McB Christmastime...


As many of you know, when I am visiting my family in rural East Tennessee, there is NO internet and therefore NO blogging, etc. I have to say that God used that time to teach me quite a bit in the silence and stillness of Christmas. It was a much slower pace than usual, which was much needed. We kinda hibernated and didn't see many people or do a lot. We just enjoyed being together as a family! So, check out some cute pics from our Tennessee Christmas!

Watching for Santa on Christmas Eve....

"What God Wants for Christmas" ... the excitement of opening baby Jesus!

Too cute not to post!


WE had a WHITE Christmas! It was simple and AMAZING!




I only suffered a MINOR concussion after falling off the sled trying to "snow board"
SNOWCREAM = Awesomeness (and as a friend says... safety never takes a vacation)

My 3 beautiful and amazing children!...