Kids & Church

Why is it that kids are always relegated to junior church or sunday school during the morning service?  For a few months now we have been discussing the possibility of moving closer to town and therefore, probably moving churches as well.  Neither of these things is likely to happen tomorrow (and actually probably not for a few years) but most likely it will happen eventually.

In our current church there is Sunday school prior to the service and then clipboard activities that correspond to the sermon for kids ages 3 to 10.  Nursery is provided from infant to age 3 if you choose to use that option (which I do from about 10ish months until 2 1/2 ish).  I like the system.  I know it is hard to have young children in the service, but I like that my kids are hearing the same sermon that I am.  I like that I get to help them pay attention by working with them to get the correct answers to the questions on their sheets (well for my kid right now it's just coloring them, but someday we will get to answering those questions!).  Sure I may not get as much from the sermon as I would if they had junior church/sunday school then, but I am learning with them and they are seeing me learn.  That is important is it not?  Some mornings are definately more challenging than others, especially since my child is only just 3 and still not quite at the level to fully understand the clipboards.  But I still love that time I get to have with her in the service.

So I was looking at the other churches in our area, especially the ones we've talked about going to eventually, and all of them have the children leave during the service.  And I couldn't help but think that I would miss having my kids beside me.  Sunday school is a good thing.  Kids need to learn on their own level and at their own comprehension.  As hard as it is to get to church for Sunday school, I make that effort because I believe that those lessons are valuable to the kids.  But I love having my kids beside me during the whole service and I would definately miss them sitting beside me. 

I never really thought it was odd until I read this blog about parenting in the pew.  And then I got curious to see what other churches around our area did.  I guess our church is just unique this way because it's been this way for a long time and I just naturally thought that most other churches did Sunday School at a seperate time as well.  Only time will tell what we eventually decide to do, but this is one more thing that will make it a particularily difficult decision for me.

Happy Birthday Angel Baby #1

Today is a bittersweet day.  Today is the birthday of my good friend Allison.  Although we live many miles apart, you are still a cherished friend!  Today is also the birthday of my first angel baby.  Two years ago my life was changed forever.  Two years ago my precious baby, whom I do not know whether it was a boy or girl, left this earth for Heaven.  Two years ago my baby left my body for the arms of Jesus.  While he/she is safer there then they would ever be here, my heart still hurts.  There is rarely a day that goes by when I don't think of my two angel babies and today I celebrate the birthday of one of them.  So Happy 2nd birthday my sweet baby!  Enjoy celebrating your birthday with Jesus today!  And happy more than 2nd birthday Allison!

Joy & Brokenness

My heart is joyful and yet broken at the same time.  We are in the midst of 40 Days for Life.  40 Days for Life is a worldwide event where people pray, for 40 days, for the end of abortion.  It is moving and powerful and wonderful stories of lives saved always come from these events. 

And then there is this story.  The story of a surrogate mom who was faced with the choice to flee her state or be forced into an abortion.  I am thankful that the woman carrying this baby values life and was able to find wonderful parents for this child.  I am broken at the choices of the biological parents.

Pray to end abortion.  If you are close to a 40 Days for Life event, volunteer.  If not, just pray.  God is not held to our locations.  Prayers from around the world can make an impact.

A Glimpse of the future

As Dan & I venture into this new world of international adoption, it just seems that God brings about so much affirmation and encouragement at just the right times.  I know that the road ahead is not going to be easy.  I know that it could take years before we hold our children in our arms.  But I know that God has called us to this and that He will hold us every step of the way.

I've included a link to a documentary preview and shows just how fragile the system is, and how important adoption is for these children and their families.

It's starting to become real!

So we've finally done it.  After almost a year of it not working time wise, we've finally registered for the Alberta International Adoption Course.  So now we are headed to Edmonton for a weekend in February to take this course.  It's kind of surreal actually... and so very exciting that we are headed in the "right" direction.  There hasn't been a lot of new information to share as we went through the holiday season.  We've had a couple things we've been praying about but no answers thus far as to what direction we are headed yet.  I'm know we will have a ton more information to look at after this course so I am very much looking forward to it!

One year

How fast a year goes by.  My baby is now a year old.  Her birthday was on Friday the 11th but we didn't "party" until Saturday!  It's so crazy that my second baby is a year already!  So happy birthday Brooklyn!  You are loved and special and we love you so much!!!!

Brooklyn on her day of birth, January 11, 2012

 

 

Brooklyn at her celebration of her day of birth, January 12, 2013

Merry Christmas

I think I write this every year, but I love Christmas.  I really love Christmas.  Christmas was always my favorite holiday of the year, and it still remains that, but with two babies in heaven now Easter has taken on a new significance as well.  However this post is about Christmas, and more specifically Christmas for those who don't have family. 

I've started sharing some of our thoughts about adoption this past year and while I don't really have anything new to report, I am always somewhat saddened at Christmas that there are kids who have no family to celebrate Christmas with them.  I know that Christmas is not the same all over the world so it doesn't have the same hoopla that we have here in North America, but it still saddens me that there are so many kids around who don't get any sort of celebration with family.

We bought the Third Day Christmas album this year (my attempt at finding Christmas music my husband actually likes!) and they have a song called Merry Christmas on it.  I quite literally cannot get through the song without tearing up.  This year is Brooklyn's first Christmas and it is so fun to watch her with the Christmas tree and various other decorations, and Maddison, being almost 3, is actually starting to understand Christmas now so that is so fun too!  And I cherish these Christmas's with my kids and the memories we are making for our girls.  And I know it will be the same once we have our adopted child(ren) here too and the thought of that just makes me smile, and cry, all at the same time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muQhSwVBkAo

Merry Christmas!