Memorizing Philippians

Someone on Facebook posted this link challenging us to join in memorizing the book of Philippians. I read the link, and thought to myself, "no way". I kept coming across the link and felt more and more convicted to do this. I will do it! If you want to join me, pray for me, or give some memorizing pointers, leave a comment.

The first segment to memorize by next week:

(New Living Translation)

Philippians 1

¹ This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Different

by Vincen Tabatha

How are we so "different"?

If "different" is just a thing.

If we all have certain features,

What does "different" bring?

People filled with hatred,

Can't possibly see,

That there's not really "differences"

Between you and me.

Looks can't show "difference",

If they're just there to be seen.

If you don't look like someone else,

Why are they so mean?

If being "different" is what is wrong,

I'd rather not be right.

And I'd want to finish living,

Doing the "different" fight.

A child from my son's middle school recently passed away suddenly. That's what the info sheet he brought home said. When asked about it I learned there are many rumors and speculations that he had committed suicide because of teasing and bullying. A few more questions brought about the fact that he was physically different than others. I am so sad about this.

Today I read a great post here, about her son's Jesus heart.

I think of my children, all of them different. A few with physical differences, a few with differences unseen. All in ONE FAMILY, there are seven people who are all different from each other. And you know what? God created every single one of us, and loves us all EQUALLY.

Simplify

I have been working on simplifying my life the last few weeks. So far it's going slow. Here are some things I have done so far...

• Started a token earning system for the kids. They have to do chores to earn them, and can spend them on a special treat or activity, or tv/computer time. They can lose tokens by naughty behavior.
• I am editing my memberships to the several yahoo groups I've been part of. I get lots of emails in my yahoo box and most of them are from group discussions that I never even read. I just spend my time deleting. So I am taking the time now to remove myself from the groups I don't need to be part of anymore (like some Haitian adoption groups) and editing some so I don't get the emails.
• We bought a cabinet like the one below to go in the family room (it's not the prettiest thing but it was pretty inexpensive) to store stuff I don't want the little guys into (games, puzzles, playdough, craft supplies). Now I have the storage space for the stuff to put it where it belongs (dishes in the china cabinet, shoes and coats in the closet, etc.)

• I am going through everything and packing unused or unwanted items in boxes for an early spring garage sale. We are storing all the packed boxes in a room in the studio.

Here are some goals I have for the near future:

• finish painting the girl's room. It's more than halfway finished
• start doubling up on recipes and freezing meals
• continue organizing and purging

Feeling better

(please excuse the grainy webcam pic!)

I'm feeling better the last few days AND so thankful for a friend C. for putting the MAT application on the website for me. I have seen a lesser amount of emails coming in for that, which is good for my time management.

I was getting sick of my hair the last few months, and decided to go short. I had it short when J. and I first met in high school, and it's been short off and on. I thought it would also be better for time management. Just trying to get life in order for big things to come!

First

I admit, I haven't been the best mommy these last few days with me being in a funk and the earthquake news. But I wanted to share something that just made my day.

Today, for the first time ever with out any prompting, E. hugged me and said, "I love you Mom." He will say I love you to someone if they say it first but he has never said it all on his own. It made me feel instantly better after a bad day!

What a week, already!

I got sick on Friday night, it just came on all of a sudden; backache, headache, sinus ache, chills. I went to bed as soon as the kids fell asleep. (they were sent to bed early!) Then I was woken up by two little boys. They usually sleep pretty well, but they chose the night I felt like crap to wake up at 2 am. And of course my husband was working, so I was on my own. I texted him to complain, and see when he would be home. He got home after we fell back asleep, but I heard him tell me he was taking Saturday off! I was so thankful to hear this. I slept in, and laid around most of the day. I missed the homecoming of Isaac and Robert. I went to bed early again. Sunday I still felt bad, but better. J. went to work and I survived. We actually went out to Sarah's house for a little party to welcome Isaac home. It was so fun to see E. and I. together again. They seemed to remember each other, and by the end of our visit were hugging each other!

Yesterday was I was busy catching up on emails. I have had a LOT of people inquire about becoming a host family. I need to figure out a way to get the host family application on the MAT blog. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm not very computer savvy. Sarah suggested maybe scanning it and having it on a jpeg file. I thought that would work, but it's a four page application. We have had a lot of activity with MAT, and a lot of drama with Haitian kids and immigration. Please pray. I took a break from the computer to help E. with a potty accident. He had waited too long to get to the bathroom. As I was changing his pants, I returned to the living room to see S. with a bottle of curry powder (he had climbed in the pantry cupboards). There was yellow powder all over my keyboard and the floor! I was not happy. I felt like I just could not catch a break. I spent last night ordering some childproofing items online at One Step Ahead. And I also bought this... I am sure the boys will love it and it will be great for their occupational therapy! I did have a wonderful chat on facebook with a woman caring for our daughter in Africa. I was so glad to get to know her better and hear a great little story about her personality. (if you want to read my private blog please send me an email- on side)

Today started off poorly too, with both big kids missing the bus, at two separate times! How does that happen? L. forgot to set his alarm, and when he realized he had slept in he didn't want to wake me up. He thought he'd be in trouble! L. is very responsible most of the time, and has never slept in before. I would not have been upset, but now I was, since he didn't let me know he needed me to wake up and drive him to school! J. was working out at the gym and I knew he would be home soon. I waited for him to arrive and he got L. off to school in time. All the other kids were up early, so C. was ready for school in time. Except I noticed she had not changed her clothes! I made her go change, and got her out the door. THEN realized she had come back in to grab another piece of bacon as the bus drove by. Thankfully J. was able to take her to school on the way to work.

I was in a pretty bad mood this morning. I don't like waking up to children fighting, not doing what I ask, or them talking back to me. I don't like feeling overwhelmed and buried in paperwork. I don't like burned toast or bits of burned sausage in my scrambled eggs. And I don't like when my 2 year old won't stay out of things and has knocked three of my pottery dishes on the floor by climbing on the table! I don't like that he doesn't "get" that it's not safe to climb up or into things. (we have still not determined if it's a cognitive delay or just that he's a very active two year old boy) I don't like waiting for papers for our adoption. I don't like that UNICEF is causing hang ups for adopted children from Haiti to come home to their families. I don't like that my house can never stay clean for more than a few minutes. I don't like that this precious little girl lost her life way too soon. I don't like that there was a devastating earthquake in my boys' country of origin effecting millions of people, some whom I know well.

It really helps to blog about my rough times. But the best therapy is reading God's promises. I especially loved reading this verse in the Message translation:

Philippians 2:14-16

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

Wow! Is that convicting or what?

Please pray for adopted children

There has been so much happening the last few days. Things are not looking good for Haitian adoptions. Please please just pray!! Last night we had 5 of our kids leave and now 2 of them are being held in "protective" custody 3.5 hours away in a GROUP HOME. One of these little boys has to take medication every day and we only packed a few days worth. The family was going to take him to the doctor right away. We have two more babies flying out this morning.

Daryl has not yet gotten to PAP. His charter flight keeps getting pushed back. He is now scheduled to arrive tonight as long as everything is still a "go". He is still going to try get to the embassy, but we have been told they are no longer issuing any humanitarian parole's. He may get turned away right away without even trying. PLEASE pray things change. If he gets turned away from the Embassy he is going to try get to CAP to help out there. We have some people stateside that are still trying to help get all our kids out. We just don't know what is happening with any of it.

Send to all your prayer warriors you know!
Robin

UPDATE: Daryl is in Haiti. He is riding a bus to get to Cap. tomorrow. Please pray for him!