Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Dear Rwanda.....
Dear Rwanda,
Will you share your daughter with me? Among the thousand hills, next to the Cypress tree.
Will you reach across the sea? From a land that bleeds of loss and tragedy.
Will you invite me to your table? Where the soul drinks from of the beautiful redemption of many.
Welcome me in.
To marvel among the trees.
To hear the whispers of the hills.
To be witness of beauty left untold.
Meet me on the road where the red clay covers victory left undone.
Let me take your hand in mine.
And take her along with me.
She awaits for me, under that Cypress tree.
For the thousand hills she will always be part,
Dear Rwanda, let me now fill her heart.
Will you share your daughter with me? Among the thousand hills, next to the Cypress tree.
Will you reach across the sea? From a land that bleeds of loss and tragedy.
Will you invite me to your table? Where the soul drinks from of the beautiful redemption of many.
Welcome me in.
To marvel among the trees.
To hear the whispers of the hills.
To be witness of beauty left untold.
Meet me on the road where the red clay covers victory left undone.
Let me take your hand in mine.
And take her along with me.
She awaits for me, under that Cypress tree.
For the thousand hills she will always be part,
Dear Rwanda, let me now fill her heart.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Secret Is Out...
So, Mark tells me that he heard that the "secret" of having a good blog is to include lots of pictures on it. I have to admit, I am attracted to a blog when I can scroll along and put a visual behind words. We didn't want this blog to just give general facts and updates. We really wanted it to be a place where we were able to write about the contemplation of our souls. But, I want a "good blog" and surely no one just wants to spend time reading only
about our deep thoughts and complexities. So, today I present pictures. Pictures of us. And we will post updates or funny stories now and then. We have 3 children who help make our lives fun and we want to recognize what a wonderful gift God has given to us in each other. We feel SO SO grateful to have a family who is growing and learning together about how the Gospel calls us into a life of mission. With that, here's some pictures...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wanted: A Comfortable Pair of Shoes.
Well, we have progress. Progress toward our journey into the world of adoption. Progress toward learning to trust in Jesus more. Progress in knowing ourselves a bit better.
So this week we had some Big questions answered. We didn't know if it would be possible for us to attempt an independent adoption. We didn't know if we could find any help in this. We didn't know if we should follow through with our home-study appointment. We didn't know a lot of things. We laid them down before our Lord, and He has wonderfully given us answers to all of them. One at a time--as we committed to continue to walk where He was asking us to.
We are excited. It has been a productive week. Rwanda is a place that grows in our hearts more everyday. It's hard to think the finish line is still so far away. And now that we have a starting place, an even bigger road is ahead of us. A road I don't even fully understand. I know that it will take a BIG God, and we have that, so I've decided what I need now is a really comfortable pair of shoes for the journey He is taking us on!
So this week we had some Big questions answered. We didn't know if it would be possible for us to attempt an independent adoption. We didn't know if we could find any help in this. We didn't know if we should follow through with our home-study appointment. We didn't know a lot of things. We laid them down before our Lord, and He has wonderfully given us answers to all of them. One at a time--as we committed to continue to walk where He was asking us to.
We are excited. It has been a productive week. Rwanda is a place that grows in our hearts more everyday. It's hard to think the finish line is still so far away. And now that we have a starting place, an even bigger road is ahead of us. A road I don't even fully understand. I know that it will take a BIG God, and we have that, so I've decided what I need now is a really comfortable pair of shoes for the journey He is taking us on!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Here, There, and Everywhere...
Honestly, this past week or so....we'll it's given me a ton to think about, contemplate, and ponder over. I've started five new posts, but never finished one of them due to incomplete thoughts. I'm learning it's good to have expression WHILE life is happening, but that thoughts are sometimes best expressed AFTER the lesson has been learned. Right now, I'm still learning a lot of these lessons, and this week, my emotions have been taking me here , there, and everywhere.
I wondered,"How will we combat this constant battle over finances?", after learning through a conversation with the agency that will be doing our home study with, that our start-up fees for our adoption had just dramatically increased due to certain policies they adhere to.
I contemplated, "Why am I the one that has to give up something I want to do just because I'm trying to do what God has asked me to?", after having to make the VERY tough decision that we will not be able to attend the family "reunions" trip(one on Mark's side/one one my side) we have been planning and saving for for over a year and a half.
I've witnessed that, "some might not understand or be willing to hear what our hearts are saying," after finally pursuing what has been years of pondering how we might move into a neighborhood where we can be more effective in, help neighbors in need, and build a above-garage apartment to house a person in who doesn't have a home.
All of this, took me some time to process...and many more thoughts will be shared from what has been birthed through these experiences of ours.
But here's where I sit after a week and a half of thought: My God, my very good God, does not stand by in idle abyss while this life of mine is happening. He has, in my moments of doubts and selfishness spoken His Spirit into my soul. He reminds me that he is BOTH the maker and partaker of these dreams of ours. He also reminds me that seeking Him and truly living out life by His accord, means sacrifice and knowing that sometimes you may "stand alone" among people. And with these things that I have learned, I am satisfied and know that that the "here, there, and everywhere" places that I have been are a welcomed process for my soul.
Tiffany
I wondered,"How will we combat this constant battle over finances?", after learning through a conversation with the agency that will be doing our home study with, that our start-up fees for our adoption had just dramatically increased due to certain policies they adhere to.
I contemplated, "Why am I the one that has to give up something I want to do just because I'm trying to do what God has asked me to?", after having to make the VERY tough decision that we will not be able to attend the family "reunions" trip(one on Mark's side/one one my side) we have been planning and saving for for over a year and a half.
I've witnessed that, "some might not understand or be willing to hear what our hearts are saying," after finally pursuing what has been years of pondering how we might move into a neighborhood where we can be more effective in, help neighbors in need, and build a above-garage apartment to house a person in who doesn't have a home.
All of this, took me some time to process...and many more thoughts will be shared from what has been birthed through these experiences of ours.
But here's where I sit after a week and a half of thought: My God, my very good God, does not stand by in idle abyss while this life of mine is happening. He has, in my moments of doubts and selfishness spoken His Spirit into my soul. He reminds me that he is BOTH the maker and partaker of these dreams of ours. He also reminds me that seeking Him and truly living out life by His accord, means sacrifice and knowing that sometimes you may "stand alone" among people. And with these things that I have learned, I am satisfied and know that that the "here, there, and everywhere" places that I have been are a welcomed process for my soul.
Tiffany
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Other Side of Fine Explained
Mark and I are tired. Most of us are. Yes, we are tired from our busy days, managing our jobs, our family, our committments. But that's not what I mean. What that is--is life. What we are tired from is living in a world where being "fine" has become the norm. We live in a place that has become too "fine." So much so, we are desensitized to the fact that seldom does "fine" describe our current state. But we say so anyway.
I'm conviced that we have hidden, most of our lives, behind the comforts of "fine." It's a place where the reality of who we are or what we feel safely nestles into the shadowed corners of a stale subsitite.
This is both a challenge to us and to you alike. Life cannot be lived in the confines of "fine". True and pure relationships can never develop if we can't share our deepest fears or greatest joys with those we are around. God never intended for us to experience a "fine" life. His Spirit enables us the deepest kind of every emotion. It's good for us to share each other in this way. It's necessary. It's the way He made us.
So, we are stepping out of that shadowed corner. We are attempting to let our thoughts and feeling define us. We are rejecting the notion that "fine" is an okay thing to be. We are wanting to live on "the other side of fine."
Tiffany
I'm conviced that we have hidden, most of our lives, behind the comforts of "fine." It's a place where the reality of who we are or what we feel safely nestles into the shadowed corners of a stale subsitite.
This is both a challenge to us and to you alike. Life cannot be lived in the confines of "fine". True and pure relationships can never develop if we can't share our deepest fears or greatest joys with those we are around. God never intended for us to experience a "fine" life. His Spirit enables us the deepest kind of every emotion. It's good for us to share each other in this way. It's necessary. It's the way He made us.
So, we are stepping out of that shadowed corner. We are attempting to let our thoughts and feeling define us. We are rejecting the notion that "fine" is an okay thing to be. We are wanting to live on "the other side of fine."
Tiffany
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