Sustaining Grace

In the past 24 hours, I have learned of 3 very sad situations involving adoptive families.
One of these families adopted 2 Liberian children from Acres of Hope shortly before we did. The husband died unexpectedly this week ...he was the father of 6. God's sustaining grace is at work in the life of this beautiful family in the midst of their heartache.
here is a link to their family blog http://lazydranch8.blogspot.com/

I also learned of a young 28 year old mom who was tragically killed in a car accident last week as her husband was flying home from Africa where they planned to return to do mission work. She and her husband adopted 2 children from Ethiopia .Thankfully, the children's lives were spared in the accident but now her husband and children face a new season of life without her. It is obvious that God's grace is sustaining this precious family.
http://cold-water-news.blogspot.com/

Finally I learned of a couple in Liberia right now to bring home 2 little boys and a little girl. Their baby girl died of malaria while they were with her. In the midst of their great sadness, I am sure they will have stories to share of God sustaining and carrying them through this great loss.
All of this sadness reminded me of the following John Piper poem.
Not grace to bar what is not bliss,
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain,
And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain.

What a comfort it is to know that He sustains us and orders our trouble and pain. My devotions yesterday focused on the following verse.

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4

At the time I read this I confess I did not fully appreciate the significance of it, but 24 hours later I am so thankful for the word of God that speaks life and truth to every situation we will ever face.
If you feel led, please lift these families up before the throne of grace.
So grateful today for the bedrock truth that He is sovereign in all things,
MamaB

Looking back and forging ahead...

On January 19th our Tapestry of Grace(TOG) coop of 6 families came together for our unit celebration. It was basically an opportunity for the children to present information regarding all they have learned since we began studying this time period in September before we move on to our next unit of study. It's also a wonderful chance to be together as families and to give the dads a front row seat to observe all we and our kiddos have been busy doing these past 4+ months. I will confess, the thought of having to pull together an event in January, just after settling down from holiday festivities, was a bit wearying to me and I was tempted to do as little as possible in preparation for the big event. In the end, the Lord graced us all with the energy and ideas for a successful celebration. I think we all walked away from that evening so grateful for the effort exerted, and very thankful for the opportunity we had to step back and take in all that our children (and us moms!) really have accomplished and learned. I'm so blessed to be walking this path with these godly ladies and their precious children!!!
Forging ahead( and learning right alongside of my children!),
MamaB.

G wrote a short essay about Francis Scott Key. We almost missed a huge blessing in studying about his life because the book came in to the library the week after we needed to read it. We decided however to read it anyway because I had assigned G this topic to report on. We were encouraged to learn that due to his moral convictions, Francis Scott Key set all of his slaves free and convinced many of his friends to do the same. Not only this but he grew concerned about the well being of all these freed slaves and was actually an integral part of establishing the first colony of freed slaves in you guessed it...LIBERIA!! He spent 25 years of his life raising money in helping this country begin on a firm foundation. It was a neat personal connection to our historical studies!!

C gave presentations about George Washington , James Madison, and Johnny (Appleseed) Chapman.He did a great job incorporating his IEW skills, a writing technique Mrs. B has been skillfully teaching a group of students in one of our Home Schooler's Day Out classes. I just love it when the kids are able to carry over skills learned into other areas...(in this case not just in writing class :)

Can you believe this strapping young man is our 12 year old?! Where has the time gone? P did a fine job reporting on Napoleon ,the Congress of Vienna, and Simon Bolivar .

Coop kiddos enjoying a delicious meal together!

Mrs. B came up with some very fun games that highlighted the period of time we were studying.

Our time line(we are using TOG-Year 3 )...from George Washington up until the James Madison's presidency. Each card represents a topic studied and a presentation given by one of the coop children.

Special Delivery!

A few Sundays ago, our friends the L family, invited us to join them in their monthly bread distribution at a local Seniors apartment complex. M was out with the big boys and I was hesitant to attempt this with the 4 littles(G was with us but somehow I didn't snap a picture with her in it) .... I am so glad we accepted their gracious invitation. Each month the L family procures surplus breads from a local distribution center which they then share with the homeless ministry and then their friends in this apartment building. They have been doing this for several years and many of the residents wait for their special friends on "Delivery Day". The routine goes like this: we head into the sitting area, drop off our coats, and visit with the residents there offering them bread and hugs. Then we take the loaded wagon up on the elevator and go floor by floor floor knocking on doors with the announcement, "Bread Delivery".... the kids hold out a loaf of bread or a package of English muffins and then ask if the recipient would also like a hug...of course, most are glad to receive the love of 7 little people! Next one of the children asks, "Can we pray for you?" Several of the residents did agree to allow the children to pray for them(many did not realize the kids meant they would pray for them right then and there!) and how precious it was to hear their little voices praying to the One who can truly fill the hearts of these dear people. The common theme for prayer was for health...we continue to pray that God will meet them even in the midst of their failing bodies and that they will recognize that their greatest need has indeed been met: their need of forgiveness which has already been provided for through the death of Jesus on the cross.
L became quite comfortable and told me,"It's okay Mom, I don't need your help...I can do this on my own..." As I stood back, he did do a fine job and even prayed for one lady who had just lost her brother the day after Christmas. What a blessing it was to hear him ask the Lord to comfort her in her sadness... he has even reminded us to pray for her during our morning prayer time.
Thank you L family for including our family in this wonderful opportunity to see God at work!

Miss E and L with a new friend.

Mercy and Joy with another dear lady who shared some very interesting details of her childhood with us.

This sweet woman really enjoyed the company of Odesco and L.

Time Marches On...Another Milestone...

Well, It's official. Our oldest is really growing up. I know he has been taller than me and had facial hair for awhile but yesterday he had his braces put on. Another 'rite of passage' for our young man! And another rite of passage for us: A Monthly payment plan to the orthodontist :)

One of the things I love about homeschooling is the time our kids get to have time together. Now, I will be the first to admit that many of these times are laden with 'opportunities' at learning to compromise and practice conflict resolution skills!(and for Mommy to work on developing a meek and quiet spirit in the midst of it all :) But, there are also many sweet moments of seeing the kids working together and enjoying each other. Here P is having "Buddy time' with his 2 littlest brothers.

Just before getting his braces...bye bye gappy teeth :)! The picture below P and one of the sweet assistants from the office-this was taken after the 'bracelets' (Mercy's terminology!) were put on. It's hard to see, but they are really there.

Growing Pains

Well, Christmas is officially over in the B house. Believe it or not, we had one final pollyanna celebration with M's family on 1/6/08.The family festivities officially began back on 12/23 when we had a large pollyanna gathering with my blended family. It was the first time in 6 years that we were all together (minus 2 nieces). It was wonderful to all be in the same place at the same time...my mom even opened up a 'time capsule' we had all contributed to at the last reunion 6 years ago. It was fun to see how much the kids had grown as she called them up by name and held a string up that represented their height or waist size 6 years ago. The adults were all quite relieved we didn't have strings representing our waist sizes :)!!We are just so blessed to have a blended family that enjoys being together.
Christmas Eve we attended our church for a wonderful program delivered from the perspective of Mary and Joseph-it was written by our pastor's 17 year old son which made it even more special. The songs and dramatic readings were quite moving. After this, we spent time at our neighbor's home-always a treat to get caught up with our neighbors who we never seem to see once the days get shorter. Then we headed down the street to another friends--such fun to be together and enjoy the richness of this Christmas season. Christmas Day we stayed home and were visited by Mimi and Pop-Pop and by my Las Vegas brother and his family. We were even blessed to have a visit with the K family who joined us for dessert...
The Thursday after Christmas, the big boys went across the bridge to their cousin's house and the girls had 2 of their cousins spend the night. It was a special treat to have our one niece with us since she and her family are on a sabbatical from their mission work in the Honduras. Hopefully we'll get to spend some time with them again before they head back over the wide blue ocean.
From 12/2907 until 1/1/08 we were in Maryland visiting our dear friends the C's. Between our 2 families there are 13 children so there is no shortage of activity and fun. Their oldest son just got engaged on Christmas Eve so it was fun to see him and his bride to be planning their early spring wedding! I still can't believe I'm old enough to have friends with kiddos getting married-yikes how quickly the years have flown by!

So, I guess it should come as no surprise that after almost 3 fun packed weeks of time off from school that our transition back should be a bit rocky.We have had many 'opportunities' for growth since we started back last Wednesday. Getting back into my old routine of early wake up and exercise time has also been a major challenge. I'm feeling those growing pains again...I was reminded of this prayer I saw on my Mom's computer desk:

O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers
But give me power equal to my tasks.
For I want to be stretched by things too great for me.
I want to grow through the greatness of my tasks,
But I shall need your help for the growing.


Truly, mothering and schooling our 6 blessings continues to stretch me beyond my capabilities...this task is too great for me and I am so inadequate for the job. Yet, I take great comfort in knowing that "His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in my weakness-when I am weak, then I am strong for Christ's power rests more perfectly on me." This is a good place to be at as we begin a new year...a place of utter dependency and helplessness. Apart from Him I can do nothing but I can do everything He has called me to do because He who called me is faithful...I just need to speak these truths to myself over and over again as I am tempted to become overwhelmed and struggle with unbelief.
Thanking Him for the growing pains and His all sufficient grace,
MamaB

PS: Some household funnies:
**Before our Christmas break Mercy and L were having 'buddy time' in L's room while I attempted to do school with Odesco. I could hear a rather spirited interchange between these 2 and soon after L came stomping down the stairs begging me to make Mercy be quiet since she was 'sturbing'(disturbing) his peace as he tried to draw. I told him he needed to be long suffering to which he replied, "But Mooom, I AM suffering !!" oh, never a dull moment around here :)!!

** Odesco had his check up last week. This boy has grown! He grew 6.25 inches in height and 15 pounds in just a little over 1 year!! I told the doctor I feel like I am watching a puppy grow into his paws and he responded, "Yeah, a Saint Bernard!!" He is also on his 3rd pair of sneakers since coming home...it's amazing what balanced nutrition will do!

** The other night Mercy was making up songs...she was very excited to sing one to Daddy and I...I wish I had written the words down but it basically was about being happy where God puts you and that you need to obey God and your parents wherever He sends you.
For those of you who have followed our adventure this past year, I think you will understand why I had to wipe a tear away. Another evidence of God at work in our little girl's heart.

Our friends the McD's came over the bridge for a visit. This picture cracks me up... Mercy looks like a stylish granny, G is our pioneer girl and M is the resident flower child.

Cookie decorating with the cousins during their sleepover. L was sound asleep on the couch and missed all the festivities.

The adults- minus 3 (Jeff, Doug, and Rich where were you??)..didn't realize how hard it is to get a decent picture of everyone together...

Okay so my brother bought this shirt for himself...don't be fooled- it's just not true-is it Mom?? :) (Actually, we all took turns wearing it!!)

"The Lord has restored the years that the locust has eaten"...I so remember those lonely, quiet Christmases during my teenage years ...God has overwhelmed us with His mercy and goodness in giving us such a wonderful blended family!

The cousins- minus 2 who couldn't make it.

L was quite insistent that we make a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake this year, so we did :)

P and Las Vegas cousin, T with one of the gifts we bought for the family.It's a game called Speed Stacks. It comes with a timer and the kids competed all day...they are still playing with it. I even tried it-it's loads of fun. Believe it or not this is actually a competition sport!!

Christmas Day with Mimi - She gave them sewing baskets! Maybe they'll learn how to sew from my very accomplished seamstress mom and the girls can teach me :)

Fun in Maryland at the C's house~ Mercy and Odesco teach M the fine art of coconut bashing!

The little boys had a ball together...one big slumber party in the finished basement!

The girlies had their own corner of the basement too.

We had the privilege of babysitting a friend's little 15 month old. I have forgotten the joys/challenges of this age, the nonstop motion, and need to keep them attended to every second. It's been a while since I've had to prepare a meal with a little one on my hip :) Keeping C safe and attended to was no problem with the doting, watchful eyes of the 4 above! After C went home, 3 of the littles were begging for another baby in the house!! Mercy and G are bargaining for a Liberian baby and L said, " Mommy, I wouldn't care if you had a boy or a girl...I'd be happy with whatever God gives us!" Hated to burst their little bubbles but I did break the news that a baby is NOT in the picture...our quiver is full :) I told them that we would have to hear God speak directly before we would ever expand our family . Mercy took that as her cue and loudly prayed that God would speak to Mommy and Daddy. These kiddos are too funny!!

Daddy gave buzz cuts to the little boys while I was out running errands. Odesco is pretty handsome bald although he was having some misgivings about his bare head on Sunday morning as we prepared for church. He put on a hood and refused to take it off until he and Daddy had a long heart to heart...now he seems just fine :)

Our final Christmas Celebration... fun 'at the house with all the phones'. At least that's how I describe it to Mercy and Odesco so they know which Aunt/Uncle we are visiting! Uncle Paul collects old phones and has quite the collection-the kids have a ball playing with the real working switchboard and ringing/answering the many phones situated throughout the house---yep, even in the bathroom :)!! Above is G enjoying the coveted role as swtichboard operator.

Uncle Bill surprised all of us with these beautiful wardrobes for storing American Girl doll clothes and accessories. He made these from scratch...what a special keepsake for our little girls-he made G and Mercy their very own! Samantha and Addy don't have to share closet space :) Thanks, Uncle Bill-you made 4 little girls feel very special!!

Mercy has really been trying to figure out the B family tree... she was inquiring of one of my sister in laws who 'borned her.' Here she is asking Grandmom B whose belly she was born out of! She really has a true interest in this and has had me stumped a few times when asking details about my side of the family. She doesn't seem bothered at this time that she has a unique heritage from the rest of us. I'm only sorry I won't be able to fill in all the gaps for her regarding her own Liberian family tree. Thankfully we have a shared heritage in the Lord :)