Threes

I was looking through my photos and found some pics I've never posted.  Three pics each of 2 of my grandkids.  

This is Dax.

He's going to be a big brother!

His baby brother's name is August Hosea.  

We may get to call him Gus.  Can't you just picture twin beds in the same room with "Dax" & "Gus" over their beds?  I foresee some laughing and talking from that room in the future.  I hope August has red hair, too...but it will be ok if he doesn't.  Dax is such a sweet boy--he'll be a great big brother!

This is Olivia.

She is now a big sister!

Her baby sister's name is Hadassah.

Olivia is already an awesome big sister.   

These girls have matching bedding for their beds!

Olivia can't wait til Hadassah moves into her room--which will happen when Hadassah learns to sleep through the night.  (Hurry, Hadassah!)

Don't you love her expressiveness?

Ever-Changing

One of my life goals is to always be growing, ever-changing.  I never want to become critical or set in my ways.  This past Tuesday, my prayer partners and I talked about growing old....not older...old.  We decided we wanted to be full of grace and love, flexible and thankful.  We wanted to be able to celebrate the differences we saw in people instead of comparing and being cynical or grouchy.  We wanted to hold things loosely and not become so attached to things that we're unwilling to move on or let go.  Mainly, we want to trust God with our lives.

When I was in my 20's, I watched one of my spiritual mentors grow older--Mrs. Somerville.  I erroneously thought that when you reached about 55-years-old, you just had it all together and had life figured out.  It was actually the perception people that age gave me.  I remember Mrs. Somerville laughing at me.  She told me she'd be trying to figure it out when she died.  And I guess she was.  I admired her.  She chose to go to a retirement center on her own and once she was there, she started a Bible study group.  She was full of grace.

Well, I'd like to tell you that I'm still growing and figuring things out.  I had a major breakthrough tonight.  I've had a difficult relationship in my life.  This past week, Amazon was offering a free kindle book, "Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People" and I downloaded it and began reading it.  One of the questions Elizabeth B. Brown asks is, "What do you need from this relationship?"  Wow!  I began writing in my journal and came to the realization that what I was seeking from my difficult relationship was value.  And it was as easy as that!  (Knowing Truth does set you free!)  I immediately saw that I've spent years trying to find my value in the wrong place.

But the next question brought some healing:  "What have you gained from this difficult relationship?" And I already knew the answer to that question.  I hoped to never be that difficult person in anyone else's life.  And I hope I haven't.  I hope to finish well...full of grace, love, flexibility and thankfulness. Thank you, God, for this difficult relationship.  Help me to be ever-changing so I'm more like Jesus and less like Becky.

Kisses from Katie

I just read this most amazing book!  My niece told me about it and I downloaded it on my Kindle to read.  It wasn't a book I was reviewing, but one I read for pleasure...or so I thought.  This book has actually made me uncomfortable with where I am and where I should be.

The story is about Katie.  On her 16th birthday, Katie told her parents she wanted to spend a year doing mission work before she went to college.  During her senior year of high school, her parents allowed her to take a 3-week trip to an orphanage in Uganda--hoping she'd get the notion out of her system.  Her mom actually went with her.  But instead of getting the notion out of her system, she found where she wanted to be.

I won't spoil the story for you, but I will tell you (because it's on the first page of the book), that she begins adopting children after she moves there...at 19 years old.  She now has 14 children.

You have GOT to read this book.  I downloaded it yesterday and was up until 3 a.m. finishing the book.  And my life, my ministry, my outlook will never be the same.  You can also follow her on her blog, but please read the book first--it will mean so much more!

The name of her ministry is Amazima which means TRUTH in the Ugandan language. Andy & I have both decided to buy books for people in our ministries to read.  I think it will change lives right here in Borger.  I've added a banner to the right >>>>>.

PLEASE go buy this book and read it!!!!!

Having Your Eyes Opened

Numbers 24

    ²And Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in their tents according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him

    ³And he took up his [figurative] discourse and said: Balaam son of Beor, the man whose eye is opened [at last, to see clearly the purposes and will of God],

    ⁴He [Balaam] who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered, he says:...

This hit me between the eyes this week.  (No pun intended.)  Remember Balaam?  The man whose donkey talked to him?  (And he didn't react as if it was strange!)  He had gone with the instruction to curse Israel.  But each time he spoke, he blessed them.  This was the third try to have him curse Israel.  He didn't even pray this time.  He just lifted up his eyes...and his eyes were opened.  They were opened to the purposes and will of God.  They were opened to the vision of the Almighty.  They were opened...and he blessed Israel...again.

No one opened his eyes...except the Spirit of God.  He didn't even open his own eyes.  We can try and try to open someone's eyes to the Truth, but we don't actually have that power.  Instead, let's ask the Spirit of God to do that work.  But first...let me ask Him to open my eyes.  That my eyes will be opened to the purposes and will of God.  That they will be opened to the vision of the Almighty.  That they will be open...to bless and not curse.

Olivia's Version of Old McDonald--2nd Post

She just couldn't get away from the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle!  She's a hoot!!  (And beautiful!)

Olivia & Twinkle, Twinkle...

This is Miss Olivia performing for me.  I love when she gets to the part, "Up above the world so high..."

The Wright's Have Moved

Well...it's official.  The Wright's have moved.  They were living in a townhouse and moved into a house.  They're still in Dallas and just a a few miles from where they were.  Their neighborhood is beautiful.  I'm so proud of the house they've gotten...I know they were tired of townhouse living.  But they had to wait until this little doll got to the United States of America before they could make the big change...or deal with more paperwork.

This is adorable Hadassah.  Lots of people have asked me if that is her Ethiopian name.  No...it's Esther's Hebrew name in the Bible.  And Hadassah (Esther) was in Ethiopia.  Interesting, huh?  Our Hadassah's middle name is her Ethiopian name:  Melat. (pronounced: May'-lot)  Hadassah Melat.  I think it's beautiful.  SHE'S beautiful!

But then...all four of the Wright kids are beautiful!  I took pictures of all three bigger kids holding Hadassah.  And this was the best.  Ha!!  The big Wright kids love their new sister.

Granny (my mom) went with me to help Jay & Amy move.  She did all of the packing of the things that were left at the townhouse.  She will be 79 years old next month...and she can still work circles around me!  It's really kind of embarrassing.  And she was thrilled to get to meet her new great-granddaughter.

People in Jay & Amy's church entertained the three oldest Wright kids Friday and Saturday while we worked.  They had a blast!!  They got to go see The Lorax, eat a multitude of junk food, shop, go swimming, and visit at a friend's house.  The people at All Saints Dallas are pretty special people.  I enjoyed getting to meet several of them.

Aunt La-La also went with me.  Granny packed...I loaded, transported, and unloaded...and Lindsey helped Amy unpack it and put it up.  It was also La-La's first time to meet Hadassah.  She even had her saying, "La-La" before we left! You can tell they fell in love with one another. 

Even though we helped pack, move and unpack, it was really all about #4.  (Great shirts, Mindy!)  We got to spend some special time with all of the family...but we want/need to get to know Miss Hadassah.   And she is a hoot!  She's never still and will be walking before we know it.  In fact, if you hold her hands, she tries to run!  And that pretty much sums up her happy personality.  She fits right in with the Wright family.  And I could tell she's feeling much more secure and comfortable with everyone.

By the way, the Wright's house is great---4 bedrooms and 2 baths.  Amy is still within driving distance to Central Market. ;)   And they met a neighbor across the street who is their age and from Amarillo!  I think they're really going to like this house and this neighborhood!  Now if Amy can just find everything....