update

Today is the first day of winter and it feels like spring outside. The high is supposed to be in the 80's. When the weather is this warm, it's difficult to believe it's almost Christmas even though our tree has been up all month. Speaking of Christmas trees... Last week we finished The Sign of the Beaver, which was a story about a white boy and an American Indian boy becoming friends in the 1700's. We've enjoyed studying how the Indians would not waste ANYTHING. Now days it's a common practice to throw away anything extra, especially food, and not think twice about doing so. My eight year old is very much into recycling, reusing and composting. She asked the question about Christmas trees, "The Indians wouldn't cut down a tree, use it for a month and then throw it away. Why do we? Does God want us to?" Wow. I have never pondered that before. Maybe it's time to get an artificial tree.

We received a letter last night that Obama passed a bill in early December that will help the Haitian children who were paroled out of Haiti after the earthquake, which was Rose. We will receive further info later but that was exciting to hear they are going to help, because adopting a non-US citizen is causing much confusion to everyone we talk to.

Thinking back on this year I do have to say that this has been the hardest year we've faced. Last year was hard financially but this year has been hard physically and spiritually. Also harder than having 4 babies 5 and under...
I never knew that having two little ones 11 months apart would be such a challenge! Rose was 14 months old and JoJo was 25 months old when we brought her home to live with us last February. When birthing your own child there is an ample amount of time to adjust. You have 9 months of pregnancy, then you bring home a baby who mostly sleeps all day for a few months and a sleeping baby isn't very challenging to a two year old. Jojo felt threatened with Rose and immediately they both learned how to fight over me. If I have one in my lap I better make room for both of them. If time were turned back I would do it all over again because I love them and they are worth it. I'm not complaining. I am being real though, and this has been hard. A verse that has been resounding in my mind is
2 Cor 4:17, " For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Whatever trials we face, and they will vary from each person, we need to remember the Lord is working through us, training us to become more like Him. We need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him, Matt 16:24-27 says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul. Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."

Justin Rizzo from IHOP-KC "Are you sowing to the spirit or sowing to the flesh? You're doing one or the other all the time" Based off of Gal 6:8

Be encouraged and allow the joy of the Lord to fill you today!