The Body of Christ (Thankfulness Challenge - Day 6)

I am thankful for my church, both past and present.

Earlier this year, Hope Bible Church, the church I had been attending for nearly 20 years closed its doors. I first started attending this church my freshman year in college. I made life-long friends, met and married my husband, had Austin, and went through our entire adoption journey while attending this church. Hope Bible Church was and continues to be a very cherished and special part of our family, and we will never forget the spiritual growth, friendships, love, and encouragement that we received during our time there. The church was home to us, filled with our closest and dearest friends who literally became like family to us.

We have yet to find a new church to officially call our own, but in the time being we have been attending Calvary Bible Church. I am so thankful to have found a place where my family and I can worship and grow in our relationship with God. I look forward to each Sunday and all the different opportunities to fellowship and learn from the body of Christ. I don't know if this church will become our new home, but I am truly thankful to be here.

Orphan Sunday

Today is Orphan Sunday. It is the one day out of the year when churches all across the globe rally together to answer God's call to care for the orphan.

Whether you belong to a church or not, would you consider how you can help a child in need?


Creation Groans from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Found this picture on the Facebook page of Children's HopeChest.
 What is missing?

Who Doesn't Love Weekends? (Thankfulness Challenge - Day 5)

I am thankful for weekends. :)

Just when the difficulties of the week are about to do me in, good old reliable weekends come along to provide the R&R I need to gear up for the next week.

Sometimes weekends can be just as hectic, if not more, but there's something about no school for the kids and no work for the husband that makes everything A-OK. :)

Case in point. This was our schedule today - we had a piano lesson, errands, a soccer game, a friend's birthday party all the way in Chino, and then we ended the night with a double date. Crazy day, but it's all good because it's the weekend. I love weekends!

What are you thankful for?

Big Brothers Rule! (Thankfulness Challenge - Day 4)

I am thankful for my brother.

My brother is no longer with us, but he will always remain a part of me. I am so thankful to have had him as my big brother for the first 17 years of my life.

My parents immigrated from Korea in 1970 with hardly anything but the clothes off their backs. They worked tirelessly taking on two or more jobs at a time just to sustain our family and build a better life for us. My brother and I grew up as latchkey kids, and as a result of our life circumstances, he had to grow up fast. Even though he was only a year and a half older than me, he took on a lot of adult responsibilities, and took the role of big brother very seriously. There were times he liked to use it to his advantage, and it resulted in some crazy bouts of sibling rivalry which often drove my parents insane. But, there was never a time I doubted his love for me, and I'm sure he would agree that we had a great brother-sister relationship.

As his little sister, I wanted to follow in his footsteps so you would rarely find me playing with dolls or barbies. Instead, my brother and I would be building forts, shooting BB guns, playing with G.I. Joes or rushing home after school to watch Voltron and Robotech. Sam and Austin definitely owe it to my big brother for having a wife and mom who can actually a give them a run for their money at video games, and voluntarily watch The Military and History Channel. :)

I think of him often and value the many things he taught me as a big brother. He possessed many qualities that I greatly respect and admire, and in many ways, his influence has shaped me into the person I am today.

Through his example, he taught me:

• what it meant to be a leader.
• the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
• what it meant to be courageous.
• the importance of loyalty and pride toward family, friends and country.
• what it meant to take and accept responsibility for himself and others.

And just for fun, I thought I'd also add these to the list of things he taught me:

• to appreciate Elvis, the Beatles, and the music of the 50's
• how to drive a car
• how to bake
• how to handle and shoot a gun
• how to make homemade bullets
• and many other things that may surprise, frighten or disturb you! :)

I miss him a lot, but I am grateful for the many memories I have to share with others, and especially with Austin and Bethany. I know he would've doted over his only niece and nephew, and that he would've gotten along really well with his brother-in-law. I really think he and my husband would've become great friends, with the exception of the occasional friendly debate over current events. ;)

The neat thing is that I see similarities in Austin and Bethany's relationship, and honestly, I love it! She wants to do everything he's doing. Whether it be playing chase, fighting with their Nerf swords, or running and jumping around the house, she keeps up with him and can give him a run for his money just like her Mommy. :)

My prayer is that their relationship would be just as close as the one I had with my brother, and that it would last for a very very long time.

So far, I say it's looking pretty good, wouldn't you? :)

What are you thankful for?

Giving Thanks (Thankfulness Challenge - Days 1, 2 & 3)

It seems with each passing year Christmas items begin hitting store shelves earlier and earlier. In fact, when I rushed out early Halloween evening for Bethany's last minute costume change, Target "Team Members" were busy stocking shelves with Christmas items. I love Christmas just as much as the next person, but it's barely November and Thanksgiving is already getting the cold shoulder.

So in order to do my part to "save" Thanksgiving, and to take on the challenge given to me by some of my fellow adoptive mommies/bloggy friends, I'm going to do my best to take part in sharing one thing I'm thankful for for each day of November. Some posts may be short and sweet, but others may fall victim to my rambling. :)

Since I'm off to a late start, and I hate the thought of skipping days, I'm allowing myself make-up days by combining three days worth of thankfulness into one post. My blog, my rules. :)

Day 1
I am thankful for God's protection. I got into a car accident on the morning of Halloween as I was on my way to check off a bunch of errands. Needless to say, none of those errands were completed. I'm thankful neither Bethany nor I were hurt, and that I got things squared away with the insurance company, auto body shop and rental car company just in time to pick Austin up from school.

Day 2
After a long day of taking care of my sick little girl, Sam and I were able to go out during the evening. No it wasn't a candlelit romantic dinner for two, but a two hour informational meeting on middle schools in the area. By the time we were finished with the meeting, I was hopelessly confused as to what middle school would be right for Austin, and my stomach was growling. I haven't had much of an appetite lately (so unlike me), so Sam suggested we go out for a late dinner. We ended up at one of our favorite hole in the wall type-ish places. My appetite slowly returned, and I was thankful for good food and the best company a girl could ask for. :)

Day 3
I'm thankful for my parents! They have experienced a lot of heartache and tragedy in their lives (more than any one person should), but their spirits have never been broken, and they continue to give of themselves sacrificially. They have and continue to do so much for me (and my family), and they are one of the greatest examples to me of how deeply and fiercely parents should love their children. They are examples to me of true strength and perseverance, and I am so thankful to be their daughter!

What are you thankful for?

Halloween

If you haven't noticed yet, I love to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries.... I love the planning and thought involved in making it a special occasion for whomever it involves. But there is one holiday I have yet to embrace, and that's Halloween.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not a Halloween grinch. In fact, I think it's a fun time for kids, and we participate in it every year. If my kids wanted to carve pumpkins, make treats, or pass out goody bags, believe me I'd be all over it; but if they don't, I wouldn't be self motivated enough to do it on my own like I do for other occasions. Aside from wearing costumes, the only thing we did this year were goody bags for Austin's class.

Who knows? Maybe as Bethany learns more about the goings on of Halloween, you'll see a lot more Halloween spirit from me in the following years. :)

Before I actually do start sounding grinch-like, here's some proof that a good time was had by all! :) Hope you all had fun with your families as well.

This was supposed to be Bethany's costume, but she woke up with a runny nose Halloween morning and was not in the mood to wear a head piece.

(Thank goodness I took a picture awhile back when she was happy)

Instead of forcing it on my sick baby, I did what I could last minute.

Off we go to get mommy some candy! ;)

Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe

Be afraid, very afraid.....

See, I'm having fun. :)

National Adoption Month

Last year, a fellow adoptive Mom and an adoptee herself, put together a very special video celebrating adoption. In honor of this year's National Adoption Month, she has made another video with even more families participating (you can spot my little ones at 1:27).

This video is such a blessing to me, not only because we were able to be a part of it again, but because I have gotten to know many of these families. It is so BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING to see how God has brought them together through adoption!

There are an estimated 143 million children waiting to be placed in loving homes, and our dear Bethany used to be one of them. Please take a moment to watch this video, and consider how you can help a waiting child.



If you would like more information on how you can help, please visit http://www.holtinternational.org/

Other ways you can help:

• become a foster parent - http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/
• adopt a child in the U.S. or internationally
• sponsor a waiting child in the U.S. or internationally
• make donations to organizations and agencies that advocate for waiting children
• volunteer at organizations and agencies that advocate for waiting children
• pray for these children!