Thankful Thursday

"It is at our mother's knee that we acquire our noblest and truest and highest ideals." Mark Twain

Today is my beautiful mom's birthday. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my mother with love and thankfulness. I wish I could capture in words all the reasons why I love my mom but I just can't find adequate words to convey the feelings of my heart.

Wishing you happiness today and always, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

Today is my dear friend Jennifer's birthday. I'm embarrassed to say I don't have many pictures of us together or of her by herself, so I posted a picture of us five years ago at her wedding.

Jenn and I have been friends for 12 years and have been through a lot during those years. Jenn has so many God-given talents that I marvel over and well, yes, am envious of!

Wishing you a very happy birthday, Jenn!

How firm is your foundation?

See all this mess??? Last Monday morning a man showed up on my front doorstep with a crew of at least six other men to begin foundation repairs. I was NOT at all prepared for the extensive work and utter mess that would ensue and is still taking place.

When we first saw little cracks and noticed a bit of sticking with the doors it was easy to overlook them. We figured it was normal. Every house shifts and settles to some extent--especially in a climate as hot as San Antonio.


But then we noticed a large crack outside in the bricks and big chunks of paint falling off the walls. More and more cracks appeared. It was time to acknowledge the problem...


Just as we suspected, we did have a foundation problem and it was going to take a lot of money to fix. This was crushing news for me. For nearly 13 years I have been living with A LOT of things I've wanted to have fixed or changed in our home. Laying down this kind of money for a non-gratifying fix was not what I wanted to spend money on. However, I was reminded in order for any of the other changes to take place, I had to get this fixed first or else it is all in vain...


I don't know much about foundations. I had even wondered what would happen if we didn't have the repairs made. Would the house eventually collapse??? I doubt it... I know they are putting in 18 beams but don't ask me what that's supposed to do. I just hope it does the trick...


All of this has gotten me thinking about the importance of keeping my spiritual foundation strong. Unlike my house's foundation, I am confident my spiritual foundation was correctly laid but I need to do more to keep it strong and safe from cracks and costly repairs. One area, I know would help to prevent issues is to spend more time in the word really learning about God, His will for me, and the son he sacrificed on the cross for me.

"My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever." Psalm 73:26 (God's Word Translation)

Thankful Thursday

"The circles of women around us weave invisible nets of love that carry us when we're weak and sing with us when we're strong." Sark

This Thankful Thursday I am thankful for my "big sisters" Trina, Kim, Ellen, Carolyn & Denisa. These women are amazing wives, mothers, Christians, and friends. I love each one in a very special and unique way. I am thankful for their example, counsel, wisdom, and friendship. They are all very busy and unfortunately we only really all get together to visit on birthdays. However, I know without a shadow of a doubt and actual experience that they'd clear their calendar in an instant if I had a need.

So, today I celebrate these women whom I love so much and the chance I got to spend with them at dinner on Tuesday.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

One of the things we heard a lot before we brought Lindy home was how kids love to hear their stories and how important it is to capture AS much of that as possible for them. I try not to lament over the 11 months of her story that I don't have and relish in the parts I do have. She has already started to ask questions and it probably won't be long before we will give her more glimpses of her story.

The funny thing is that "my story" is a bit foggy and I've had every opportunity to hear it. I am beyond close to my parents but I'm not sure I've really heard the full-blown version. I've heard bits and pieces and I think I'm okay. :o) That's up for debate with those who know me well. This Thankful Thursday, I am thankful that my dad shared more of my story with me yesterday as he called to wish me a happy birthday. My story is not dramatic or earth shattering but it is unique to me. My dad lovingly told me things I had not heard--some sad, some funny...I am grateful he took the time to reflect and share. It made the day sweeter for me.

Thinking again of Lindy and her story, one thing I know is that in August of 2004 on or near my birthday I hopped off the fence I'd been sitting on for so long and decided we should proceed to adopt from China. It was time. Honestly, it was past time...Thousands of miles away in China, around that VERY same timeframe, a man and a woman whose names and faces I don't know shared a union and a baby was conceived. Approximately nine months later, on May 8, 2005 (which was Mother's Day), a beautiful baby girl was born. The day after she was born, our paperwork was logged in and months later we were matched with that child. I love knowing that she was formed near my birthday and at the same time I finally chose to embark on the journey. For me, it is the perfect intersecting of our stories and how God knit us together...

Along with what I've documented here, I am thankful that we are one month closer to our next daughter. Nine months down...

What are you thankful for today?