His ways are not my ways....

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

For this I don't understand....But I hold tight of this verse.  Today we got "the call"  saying Baby girls next of kin was licensed and ready to take her.  
My heart sank.  Thank God I was in a store...and had to keep my composure.  

I still don't understand why she was left...abandoned by everyone, even this next of kin...If it were me...next of kin, I would have been at that hospital in a second...spending days and nights with her...but no one did.  Just us...the foster parents who so badly want to keep her.  Those are my thoughts...and my plans....
But in Isaiah His thoughts and plans are not mine.

I've spent the day praying over her...praying for our family...praying that God would intervene if He saw fit.  
 Tomorrow is the day. [unless GOD!]  4pm.  

If i'm not answering my phone or text...please forgive me...its just how I do when i'm sad...

Trusting that His ways are higher than mine. I mean after all if His Grace is an ocean, were all sinking.

Pray for us.

thanks friends.
Gina
P.S.  Foster care is hard.  It hurts.  But I know the pain I feel is nothing compared to the blessing it is following Jesus' will for our family.
 

He hears the quietest crys of our hearts.

Today is a day that I had my feet running before they even hit the floor.
Not my kinda day,
However i do enjoy fulfilling my roll as a mom and wife and getting done all the things that need to be done while the kids are at school.
Somedays its just sitting holding baby girl...
other days its running a marathon.

Todays a marathon day.
Thankfully the boys have been a huge help in getting breakfast for everyone.
I Got up,
made myself look more than presentable...because well we were meeting "mom" again for the first time ever.
Helped Emma with "her decision" of her outfit...she needed a little help.
Did Em's hair...she tries. :)
Got baby girl dressed.
Asked the boys to help pick up some things around the house.
Off to take the kids to school.
Run baby girl to see her mom...

And here is what this blog post is really about.
On my way to her visit...
A song came on...as i'm talking with Jesus already...asking for His filling...
Asking to be everything this mom needs us to be, to see we are a good fit for her baby...
Asking to love the unlovable...
The song that came on was by Toby Mac...it was our party song...
It made my heart smile. However...
 I simply said in the quietness of my heart...
"Lord it would be so encouraging to me if you played Addison Roads "Hope Now" when I get out of her visit....
just to let me know everything is okay or going to be okay..."

You see the song "Hope Now" has always encouraged me...has always been played when things may seem like its not going the way we thought it would...For instance..our house.
We bought our house on faith.  But that faith was questioned a few times...We met with the home owners attorney and the homeowners for a meeting...We walked into that meeting full of confidence and hope in Jesus...that this was what he wanted for our family.  We had never been inside the home. Nor did we want to see inside...we wanted the surprise to be just that a surprise on closing day. I really felt strong in my heart this was Him leading us to step out in faith.  And well when we left that meeting we left discouraged and questioning what we believed was God's leading. On my way home from that meeting...the Lord used that song by addison roads "hope now"...to encourage me...that my hope now is in Him. He can do anything...he can move mountains...and change hearts...And you know what..He did. He moved mountains, changed hearts...we purchased our home...without seeing the inside first...We did not have an inspection done...and we couldn't have been more blessed. 

So we left baby girls visit...we did not get to meet "mom".  I was on the phone for a minute when I left...had to call the hubs.  Got off the phone and suddenly i hear..."Hope now!" The tears started streaming down my face.  HE heard the littlest...probably seeming so silly to some...quietest cry of my heart.  Thats My JESUS!  The one I serve.

I've seen Him move mountains...and I know I shouldn't be shocked when he does little things like this...but This little sweetie means more to me than I can even express into words...see we've been praying for her before we had ever seen her...He has knitted our hearts together.  The power of prayer my friends.

So today, i must run my marathon with love and compassion...

As i was reading back on my blog almost a year ago...this really does minister to me again...right where I am at today...one year later.
READ THIS... <---click that friends!

Hope you are blessed today.
Gina

this girl...

So this girl woke up today with a "stomach ache" and loose bowels...per her.

 I said okay, well your getting old enough to decide if this is sick enough to stay home. 
She himmed and haughed a few seconds...
and then said yeah, i probably should stay home so i don't get my friends sick.

So we do our normal whirl wind drop kids off at school...tell teacher em won't be in class...get any school work that she had to get done today.
take Kevin to parent visit...
come home...

I get Em started on school.
2 minutes into it...
Em:
"mom can I go jump on the trampoline?  I think i need a break."
Me: "um no."

5 minutes later....
Em:
"mom can i go play with my bunny?"
Me: starting to think i've been taken a little advantage of.."um no."

5 minutes later....
Em:
"mom...can i watch tv?
Me: "em no...if your sick you can't do those things...you gotta just sit and rest...and if you aren't sick then maybe you should have went to school.
 Em: okay.

I proceed to mopping the floors...and i'm talking to jesus...and then quietly He says to me..."maybe she just is feeling like she needs more time with you..especially with all the craziness of kevin and how much he requires of you."

Me:"Em....come over here and sit with me"
Em:
okay...runs right over, puts her arms around me and holds on tight...
Me: i'm thanking God for his beautiful wisdom of what she needed...cause my flesh had no idea...we sat and read the bible together while we snuggled...
Man i'm thankful i'm not doing this parenting thing alone...Obviously i have a great husband along my side...but god's infinite widsom is so beautiful..and perfect.


And then i read this...i just had to put it on my chalk board...a great reminder.
James 3:17-18
 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Hows your day?

XOXO!
Gina

Raising funds...we tallied it all up!

a couple of weeks ago we sent out a call to our friends here,
our facebook friends,
and our church family...
to help support our brothers and sisters in ethiopia.
as francis chan put it so well in his fearless message...
"how do i live responsibly while my brothers and sisters are suffering."
responsibly as in 40% of my income has to go to savings...and 10% to tithe[which the only way we budge on is by increasing our tithe, because the lord calls us ALL to be tithing.] and the other 50% to bills and spending money...
so I ask you again...
how do i live responsibly while my brothers and sisters in ethiopia are suffering?
I can not.
I choose not to.
and many of you have come along side to choose to not live the "responsibly" as the world sees it...
but responsibly as we are called to...and that is to care for our brothers and sisters and orphans and widows.
So....
Heres the euchre party...

our funds raised for Ebenezer Grace childrens home is $1101.00!
that is great. such a blessing.
please continue to pray about giving to this ministry...to maybe do a euchre or game party or cupcake sale...
or my emme is selling bracelets that she made for the orphans...she has such an amazing heart.
she's selling them from $1.00-$5.00 whatever people want to donate.

Thank you friends! you rock!
Gina

[victory] is His!

[victory]

I'm praising Him for victory.

This week has been a week of...

victory in attitudes 

from the littlest.

victory in being able to choose joy

from the littlest .

victory in sweet affection 

from the littlest.

victory in tender words...

mama-bear i love you.

from the littlest.

victory in parent visits.

Our agency is helping.

victory for ezra's baseball team.

they won the championship!

[it was a long season.]

victory in seeing God's hand in this life.

I'm praising the one who has brought this victory.

Love to you all.

Gina

just having a little fun....

While we were waiting for Em to finish her swim class... [she rocked it btw!]
K and I had some fun with my camera... and yes we were making funny faces...hence my eyes!LOL!

and because I have a tendency to do this to make kids laugh...I know lord help these kids! LOL.

He's meshing well with our family.  Praise God.  

Working on potty training.  Learning to love. Learning to trust. Learning to hug.Learning to say please and thank you. learning to pray.  Praise God.

XOXO!
Gina

I just LOVE...

how the Lord works.  He's so amazing!

Today I went to test drive a new car..well new to us...cause among many other things that have broken in our house since we came home from ethiopia...so is my husbands car...its almost overheating everyday.

Poor guy.

He drives 250 miles a day...not a good thing to have an overheated car in the middle of nowhere ya know?!

Anyway...

So as i was saying i went to test drive a car and i met this sweet lady...

God opened up the door for us to be able to chat...

about our ethiopia trip, 

about buying our house on faith...

about christian school and homeschool...

I don't know if we'll end up with the car...

but I've prayed for her...just that the Lord would continue to encourage her.

The Lord is so good...

I LOVE how he opens up doors, to just encourage one another..

please pray a special blessing on this lady...she could use more encouragement from the Lord...

her name is jennifer.

during my devoitonal today...I was once again...

Overwhelmed by his GRACE in my life...for his forgiveness...how sad for those that don't have jesus to ask for forgiveness for their actions or thoughts...

have a blessed day my friends!

Gina

So dear to our hearts...

This video, my husband put together from our trip...He taught on Sunday and shared this video.  I was in tears a few times.
I just love how each part of it has such a special part in our hearts.  I love to see the hand of the Lord.
Hope you love it!..

Ethiopia 2012 from Tony Giraud on Vimeo.

Be blessed!
Gina
please be in prayer about supporting this ministry....1]by prayer 2]visit 3]donation...more to come on this.  

You can help us help the people of Ethiopia!

My family and I have our plane tickets! EEEKKK!! So nerve racking!  God is doing amazing things already.

We have a layover in Egypt which we have booked a tour for the kids to see the pyramids.  It will be so neat to read to them the scriptures while looking at them to understand that they were built in biblical times.  I'm also thankful we found something to do while we wait for our 11 hour connecting flight.  Hopefully this little outing will give them enough energy to get back on the plane for the next jont.  Ethiopia! 

So we asked the beautiful family that runs the orphanage if they are in need of anything for the kids there, or the families that are being sponsored by people just like you.  And she did give us a list...Would you pray about helping us stuff our suitcases to the max for these beautiful people?

Needs for the orphanage:

Shoes for girls sizes 10-11 all the way up to 3-4's.

Boys and girls clothing mainly for older kids...preteen, teenagers to young adults and pretty much anything in between....but if you feel God laying a specific size that is not listed here on your on heart...listen to Him, He will have a plan for it!

The orphanage gets a lot of infant clothing donated...so that's why that's not being requested.

Samaritans purse shoe box items...small toys, tooth brushes, small books, coloring stuff....all that you would put in one of those shoe boxes...


Our Needs:
We still could use monetary [$$] donations for our trip....this is costing every bit of the initial we felt God calling us to save.. $10,000.00 plus more...So if God is laying it on your heart...There is a donate button on this blog, or contact me for our mailing address.  We still have many expenses to pay for...Lodging at multiple locations for just over two weeks, transportation,  food for 5 people for two weeks, Tony taking two weeks completely unpaid, immunizations $1,000.00!  We had not idea!  and others...

oh and i still am selling headbands to raise money for this trip...like this... completely customizable [you pick your colors]...just email me if you want to buy one...$25.00 per headband for woman or a lot smaller for you daughter for $15.00.  :)

FEED [1] Orphan Money... Also still accepting donations....items still available for purchase.  contact us if you need more information.

Prayer!  please pray for us.   pray for our time there.  pray for our hearts to be opened.  pray for safety.  pray for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone and everyone we come in contact with.

Pray for health for our family.  Specifically Emma has to get a lot of shots, and her little body doesn't hand shots well.  But as a friend said today...God's got this!  Amen, he does...but we covet your prayers.

Pray for wisdom and discernment and filling of the holy spirit with our entire family.

Okay, I gotta go run sweet Emme to the doctor now, cause she is sick, again....

XOXO!  
WE really do love you guys!
Gina
P.S our travel dates are June 3rd-June 15th.  :)
  

Where the sweat stops the tears begin...

This morning i was running/walking/running/walking on the treadmill.  I'm not a runner.  Never have been.  So wish I was and always had been.  This is my first year of trying to learn to run and run correctly.  The best description of running for me is like a toddler who just learned to walk that really wants something bad and trys to run...there feet go every which direction and there knees start to buckle maybe even bow in a little...yep that's me.  sad I know...but i'm working on it.  learning to not be so lead-footed when running...man that's hard too!
Anyway enough about that...I was working out this morning..while little bubba took a nap...and i was just pouring with sweat.  I mean I'm just gross.  and i'm almost done...my 30 minutes was about up, and this song came on "how he loves us" by John Mark Mcmillan and i was walking for my cool down and just singing to HIM...and the Lord, not through just this but through the course of my bible study this morning and my constant praying for little bubba and GODS will for him and our family...through getting our passports done...putting feet to our faith because of his faithfulness and LOVE in our lives...spoke to my heart....which is what I was asking for today[earlier in my study with him] litterally it just broke me down to a complete sob.  I couldn't sing anymore verbally but my heart was still singing as loud as it possibly could to the one who loves me!  Loves me enough to give me a husband who loves him...who loves me enough to give me my beautiful sweet and sometimes fiesty kids, and who love him....who loves me so much to give me bubba [and how much he has taught us through this]....and who loves me enough that I can trust in and walk next to and who reminds me just when I need to be reminded yet totally sideswiped by his LOVE for me!
I hope your day is totally blessed!
XOXO!
Gina

oh baby...

This past Sunday we had baby boy dedicated to the Lord.  This is something the Lord layed strong on our hearts.  Especially if he is to leave our family to go with his family.  I wanted his life to be dedicated to Him...
I wasn't prepared to be so emotional.  But as the pastor spoke before hand that we wanted to dedicate him before he went to his grandma...i started to feel emotional.  I was like...whoa.  slow your role...as my man prayed over this baby boy and then the pastor...the tears were fierce.  i did my best to hold them in.  This little man is so special in so many ways...not only is he sweet even if he does like to throw some crying fests my way...and my love for him is strong...like my own babies...but he has helped answered many questions in my heart.  Could we ever adopt?  Could we love another child as our own?  Could we fulfill the calling God has placed on our family and still go to Africa this summer[another calling on our lives].  All with the answer of yes. 
So as we gave his life over to the Lord asking God's hand on him always...we still continue to pray YOUR will be done Lord in this situation. 
I'm sure many are wondering what if it doesn't work out with grandma?  They will call us first.  And yes we will take him back.  Is it a guarantee that he is going to be with Grandma?  Not yet...we can not get a hold of our DHS worker...to find out if the home study was approved or not. 
I asked my husband...honey what was the point of having this sweet little guy only a month?  His answer "

⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42


Not that we do this for a reward..but it blesses the Lord.  That is why.  
So thankful for his Biblical answer!


Today as I took baby boy to see his mom...I was early and praying for the visit...the Lord lead me to this scripture.. 
 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV)



I was so thankful for this.  The Lord new exactly what I needed today.  Took him to see His mom...got there a little early.  As she walked in she was already irritated.  I was not surprised..but said good morning and showed her her baby boy.  She asked for our case worker and then walked away with him.


As I headed out to the car, i passed by the room...and the mom with her newly done hair and nails was picking at her nails instead of paying attention to her baby boy.  I couldn't believe it.  I left in tears.  I called my husband and in tears said I don't understand.  He asked me what is wrong.  I told him, i don't understand how someone who hasn't seen her baby in 4 days could not be bothered with him.  I don't understand how he has to leave our car and go into some other situation that is unknown when we love him so much.  I don't understand why she is his mother?  My husband comforted me...with gracious words...I hate calling him in tears.  I hate crying.  i cried out to the lord and said once again...Lord your will be done.  
Please family.  pray with me.  pray that something changes with this situation if its God's will.  pray that this moms heart is softened.  pray that she learns how to love.  pray for me.  
I'm thankful for where the lord has taken me and softened me towards this mother...but still so difficult sometimes to understand.


The Lord after the visit opened up opportunity to share with a case worker why we do this.  Why we love these babies even if we have to give them back. to love them something fierce even when mom hates.  That its only by the grace of god none of us have traveled down the same path this mom has...by His grace we are saved.  [so thankful for that!]

So here's to another week with baby boy and my awesome kids and amazing husband...thank you Lord! 
Have  a blessed day friends!
xoxo
Gina

The most perfect day

for the most perfect day.

Today I had different plans. I had plans of taking the kids to school and coming straight home. Wrapping gifts by a beautifully lit fire in my fireplace while listening to Christmas music and then watching a Christmas movie. Oh and baking while in my jammies.

`So now for reality!

[its okay, i put on my big girl pants to handle it! ha.]

I took the kids to school and hit the grocery store....we seriously had no milk...and tony well he was out of his necessary desserts [popsicles]! So after that I was torn on what to do....I was already out of my Jammie's so do I go somewhere else or head home? I asked the lord. He spurred a conversation on with my mom....and off I went to go do some Christmas shopping. I thought id be in and out in less than an hour....nope I didn't get home until after 12....came home and his my husbands presents....wrapped. Couple of presents....baked some breaddy goodness.....
This is not the image of mine...I forgot before we dived into it!LOL...(oink, oink!)

source  <----click that for the recipe!

[I did change out the rum for vanilla extract]

can.not.wait! to eat it!
Cleaned.
Did some laundry...
Listened to Christmas music...
Watched a Christmas movie...

Got totally spoiled as the Mr picked up the kids from school!

And now I sit at Em's dance class...
Did some Christmas cards.
Made a phone call.
Organized my Christmas list.
And now blogging.

The most perfect day indeed. [could only be more perfect if my kids and hubby could have been home with me too!]



I thank the lord for the joy of the lord in the simplest of things.

Xoxo!

Gina