Forever Friends

Well, me and the rascals went apple picking yesterday with Roo's "Home-Preschool Group".  The group was designed for moms to participate in educating their children socially and academically without paying a stranger to do it.  It is pretty genius!  As we were waiting for everyone to arrive the children greeted one another and looked for others to arrive.  Moms were trying to greet everyone, we have become really good at fast talking, you know.  It was very calm and normal.

It wasn't until I saw another school group, the same ages as all 20 of our children, that it hit me.  These women are amazing!  In the short time that I have known them, we have experienced loss, births, Godly transformations, sin, and forgiveness. We love Jesus and it shows.  This group of women think of each other and pray for each other continually.  Anyone of them will drop what they are doing and come to my aid (and they have)! We live in community with each other learning from one another, encouraging passing clothes, making each other dinners it is the best experience I have had with a group of women.

And the best part is the kids!  Because they are so use to seeing the mommies, they are comfortable around us, in case they need to ask for help or need reminders of how to behave.  None of the children try to act out to get attention, because they have all the mommies attention, so there is no need.

I just feel so blessed to be able to go through life with an amazing group, I love each and every one and thank God that you are here with me during this time.

(some pictures taken by J'na and M'nda)

"The Rascals"

Praying for my heart to break for what breaks YOURS...

 There are well over 143,000,000 worldwide and as many as 163,000 right here in the good ole US of A in need of adoption, 500,000 here needing foster homes. There are an additional 20,000,000 "displaced children" in the world.  The combined count of these categories makes the orphan population the 7th largest nation on the planet (slightly larger than the population of Russia).  In Eastern Europe, less than 50% of the orphan population will live to see their 20th birthdays, and of those that survive their 20th birthdays, 50% of them will end up in organized crime, drugs and/or prostitution.  In Africa, homeless children are armed and used for war.  And in some countries, unwanted children with Downs Syndrome are used for terrorist acts of bombing. (source)
 In Haiti, Africa, places in S. America, Asia, Eastern Europe there is NOTHING!  You are a FORTUNATE orphan if you have access to the few poor overcrowded orphanages available. Even still you are probably malnourished. Those not in orphanages are often forced into child traffic, slave labor, criminal activity, abuse, begging, uneducated, sick, and expose to the elements.  

Boys will be boys?

So, I have wrestled with the continual comments regarding boys.  You've heard them ,"boys will be boys" or "wow, you have your hands full, he's ALL boy".  These comments confuse me- my son is a boy (that's not confusing), but why do people give behaviors the excuse of being a boy.  I clearly see a difference in my children.  Roo does jump off higher things, chooses a fighting game over just about anything, and touches things I wouldn't with a ten foot pole.  But I am determined to transform my boy from an immature and flighty youngster into a honest caring man who will be respectful of women, loyal and faithful in marriage, a keeper of commitments, a strong and decisive leader, a good worker, and secure in their masculinity.  Above all else, my ultimate goal is to give him an understanding of scripture and a lifelong passion for Jesus Christ.  I know I can't do this with my own mommy super strength, so I pray and pray and pray for him every day multiple times a day. I pray for salvation, growth in grace, love, honesty, integrity,self-control, humility, purity, joy, self-disciple, responsibility, generosity, kindness, hope and on and on.                      

And just the other day, we were out with a group of children looking for monarch caterpillars, when God showed me that He has his hand on Roo and He does hear my prayers.  See, Roo was picking up dead bugs or very close to dead (during our adventure) when he gave that up to hold hands with a little girl.  Not just any little girl, but a little girl who has always greeted him with a few whacks to the head. Someone he has forgiven and loves.