Twice Adopted

A scared girl searching, with no skill or home
And a daughter she's had who can never be her own.
She's young and all alone.

The baby's life right now is uncertain
A child brought by God into this world.
Her future seems bleak as she sleeps unknowing
As the plans of God are unfurled.

A man and woman who want children so much
But together no child would there be.
"Adopt a child" says a very dear friend,
"And I know just the child you should see."

The mother gives up her dear daughter
The couple are now mother and father.
The baby now has a new family
Wonderful are God's plans for me.

My life has been spared by a couple who cared
And God did the same thing for me.
He sent His Son to die in my place
Now I am His for eternity.

Adopted by the One above; adopted because of His great love.
Adopted by two families; adopted because of their love for me.

Dedicated to the parents who loved me and are no longer with me: Ray and Doris Baker. I miss you and I thank you.

Friends

Today I had lunch with my friends, Noonie and Shirley. This was no ordinary lunch...it was a special lunch celebrating our birthdays (mine on Jan. 5 and Shirley's on Jan. 6) and anniversary (Noonie & Jon on Jan. 6). I don't know when it started, but a few years ago we started celebrating our special days together...well, at least us girls. We have done a date thing together - going to a nice place and having a very nice dinner celebrating the two birthdays and the anniversary - but it has been mostly just us three gals. This year Noonie wanted to treat us, so we went to lunch after Bible Study.

It was so nice and we just had a great time sharing what we did during Christmas holidays, what we did on our actual special days, had a picture taken of us (Noonie gave Shirl and I a frame for that picture), eating a delicious meal and then sharing what our goals are for 2008.

What better way to kick off the new year by spending it with good friends! We celebrate each other and that starts out the year with a smile. After all the busyness of the holidays where we are focused on our families and celebrating another birthday - that of our Lord, Jesus Christ - it's a nice time to get together and remember how blessed we are to be friends and sisters in the Lord. Be thankful for the friends you have and take time out just to enjoy each other.

And as Noonie said in my card, "Onto 2008!"

"Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done,
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done."
(Count Your Blessings: Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr./Music by Edwin O. Excell)

More than I thought

I have been feeling a little letdown since summer ended. And I figured out it was because we were no longer in fast mode of packing things, going on trips, traveling to and from Oregon. All of a sudden we were in a house with no cat running around, no kid to wait up for and no sound at night - quiet. It is quiet in this house. And I realized I missed my daughter more than I thought I would. I knew I would miss her, but she is so far away now. It's not just a day trip or overnight trip. Not like my other daughter who is 3 hours away. She is 12 hours away - and I don't drive 12 hours; I barely drive 3 hours.

I never thought I would be so glad to have a cellphone and be able to text. I had to learn this because my girls text and if I wanted to communicate, I had to learn. I may not be as fast and I may not "misspell" a lot just to make it short (although I'm learning some shortcuts), but I'm thankful I can keep in touch with them in this way. Yes, we do still talk on the phone, too, and we have Facebook and emails, so we should never lose touch, right? These are all good things to try to keep in touch with, but they can also be disconnected in some fashion anytime you aren't expecting it - no connection through the hills, system is too busy, power lines down.

But God is in touch all the time. He never sleeps - "he who watches over you will not slumber"...Ps. 121:3b; He sees everything - "he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens"...Job 28:24; He is always there - "and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"...Matt. 28:20. We can move anywhere and stay in touch all the time because He moves with you. You can never run away from Him and you can never hide from Him. So why try? It's truly a comfort to know that my Heavenly Father loves me so much and will never leave my side no matter what.

I may not be with my girls all the time, but I know my God is with them and watching them and will protect them. He loves them so much more than I do, and I would do anything for them. He already did everything - He gave us His Son, Jesus, who was willing to die for them and for me because of His love for us.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Approaching the empty nest

With a name like "robbin" I guess this is appropriate talking about an empty nest. I've been watching my friends go through it and, lo and behold, on the Today Show, there was a segment called "Flying Solo - Coping When Kids Fly the Coop." There are three stages of feelings when parents become emptynesters: Stage 1 - Grief; Stage 2 - Relief; Stage 3 - Joy. I think I have all three stages of feelings rolled up in one - and she isn't even gone yet. On the one hand, I'm feeling sad because I see all my days of parenting flash before my eyes: toddlers, elementary school, junior high/high school, the open houses at the schools, birthday parties, all their friends and overnighters, going to the volleyball/basketball/softball games - here and away (All-Stars), wedding - one daughter launched.

And now our other daughter is heading to OR to go to school. My husband went up with her once to find a place to live - she came back. We drove up there with a van full of stuff - she came back again. We are taking one more trip to take her cat, her bike and the rest of her stuff - this time she won't be coming back with us. I know that's when it will hit me the most (although I feel tears right now as I'm writing). So...on the other hand, I'm happy and relieved. I'm happy for her and relieved (proud) that she has been heading towards this goal for a long time and is achieving her dream of living on her own, finishing college and just plain old growing up. She is excited and a little scared because she knows no one up there but, knowing her, she'll have friends pretty quickly.

I am looking forward to using another room for myself. I'm looking forward to not wondering if she is coming home at night (she would let me know most of the time). I'm looking forward to having a fur-free home. And as one mom on the show said, "I'm looking forward to...like in September...we're going to be like newlyweds." But most of all, I'm looking forward to see where God is going to want me to serve Him as I'm feeling like I need change in my life right now as we head towards this empty nest...along with my husband, of course.

Although the full-time parenting here at home is done, we will never quit parenting our kids. They know we love them unconditionally and that we are there for them no matter what. Just as God is here with us and guiding us along life's way.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

Lifted Hands

Norma Pierce, a wonderful woman of God, once shared: Lifted hands with open palms, when singing or praying, are a symbol of an open-handed way of living! Saying, "I love you, Lord, my hands and my life are open to You. Take whatever You need from me. Give me whatever You want me to have. I have learned that You are utterly trustworthy. So my lifetime - abilities, possessions, questions, future, past, children, husband, parents, relationships - everything is open and available to the ebb and flow of Your will."