Pray for My Niece Telma

I have blogged about my niece Telma before. Click HERE for a little more of her story.
Since her surgery in 2006, there has been no further surgery, and not much hope in the world's eyes for her back to improve. We have been contending for a miracle over her life.

This morning my brother in law Derek flew to Florida with her to spend two days at the Lakeland Healing Revival. We believe that God, the Creator is capable of re-creating her spine and totally healing her. Please join us in prayer. The God who raised the dead, healed the blind, deaf, and mute, and made the lame to walk is the same God I love today!

If you're tuned in tonight and tomorrow night, please be interceding on Telma's behalf as you watch the services.

Revival in Lakeland, Florida

If you haven't been watching, please tune into GodTV
We've been tuning in the past few night to watch what God is doing in Lakeland.
(you just click on Programming and Watch Now, you may have to sign up to get a login and password if you haven't already.)

You don't want to miss this. If you can get there, go. We're still believing for a miracle so that we can get our children there.

More later.

Heard at the Dinner Table

Last night we cooked on the grill and ate outside. For some reason that makes everyone happy!
John had the mower tuned up and purchased a second used mower so that both boys could run a mower this year and get the lawn done more quickly.

Taylor has added some inches to his height since last summer and is now ready to get behind a mower this year! He did a great job, and with his analytical personality, mowing in nice straight rows appeared to give him great pleasure.

At dinner, I commented on how nice the lawn looked and asked Taylor how the new mower worked for him.

He commented that it was just fine and then said, "I named her Dorothy." (I chuckled, thinking how cute it was that he named his mower) He then casually said, "She's a smoker."

I laughed so hard that I cried. Then I replayed it in my head about 5 minutes later and laughed hard all over again. This may only be hysterical to me because I know my son and because of the tone of his voice and the perfection of the comic pause between the two statements, or it make make you laugh as well.

No offense to any non-smoking Dorothy's out there.

New Adoption Blog

My dear friends Amy and Malcolm are beginning the adoption journey for the second time. Please check out their blog and join in supporting them financially!

Busy Day

We're headed out for yet ONE MORE post placement visit for our adoption. The state of Missouri requires that we have one every 2 months until finalization (typical of most states). And since we still wait for our finalization date, it's time again. We head to our social workers office to sit and tell her how wonderful Elia is and how great we're all doing with her in our lives. We write her a check so she can add it to our file for the judge.

Next I teach 3 Art classes at the Daniel Academy. The 5th and 6th graders are excited because they are beginning illustrations for the books they have been writing in English class. We'll be sending them away to get bound and copies made should they choose to buy them!

After school I take Isabelle and her cousin Sophie to meet up with Shelley Paulson at the horse barn to go riding on Maggie Sue!

Tonight John is playing with his brother at Sophie's Christian school.

In the midst of all of that, I have a list of other things to squeeze in somewhere!

Breathe in breathe out, enjoy the day!!!

Did I Mention...

That it is 1:00AM and I can't sleep.
I'm going to start reading Bittersweet (a gift from the Lovely Mrs. Smith) and hope I can get some measure of rest tonight- or tomorrow I'll be cranky!

Sunday Evening

Happy Birthday to our dear friend, Shelley Paulson! Shelley got to be on the other side of her camera this time, as her student Nick Loux photographed her at her party. Oh, and that's a wind chime that she's modeling on her head.

Here are a few more of Nick's photos from the evening.



Ring Around Elia!
She LOVED the trampoline.

She's walking everywhere now.

Dried Bananas and Intercession

Today I woke up knowing I could not possible make it to the prayer room. Although I have what we call here at IHOP a "Sacred Trust", which is a written commitment between God and me regarding my schedule, I am a mom. I'm afraid too many times in my life, I have equated what I do in ministry as a measure of my love for God. The Lord is shaking me up a bit on this.

This morning I woke up and said to John, "I am not going to the Prayer Room today, and I know that Jesus will still love me." I said it and wondered why I even needed to say that out loud. I think I am in the process of convincing myself.

My life has been altered in the last year by the entry of the most beautiful little girl in the world. There are things that I used to do without thinking, that I now have to process through the filter of "momma of a wee girl." I love her, I love being her mother, I love that she runs to me with open arms and giggles when she lands against my chest. Every day for the rest of my life I will be grateful that she is my daughter.

Today instead of feeling like a failure for not being able to do it all. I dropped the older kids at school and came home. The whole way home I had to talk to myself and tell myself that it was alright. When we got home my wee girl and I put on the webstream, she ate Cherrios and pitter pattered around the house, while I picked up the remains of the latest hurricane that has swept through my house. I put her in her chair, while I washed dishes and let her bang away with her favorite kitchen "toys." I mopped the floor while consistently repeating "yucky" every time she tried to play in the dirty water bucket.

And I prayed.

I scrubbed dried bananas of my floor and thanked the Lord for my children, prayed for my husband, asked for grace and strength for a dear friend who is walking into an incredibly awesome, yet difficult and sacrificial season in her life.... disinfected my daughter's hands after she sneaked by me and into the dirty water bucked and prayed some more. I asked the Lord to change and soften my heart. I asked Him to speak to me in the mundane. I asked Him to receive my weak offering poured out from a heart full of love.

I felt the Lord's presence as I mopped my nasty kitchen floor. I felt His pleasure and His approval. None of my prayers were grand, but all of them were from the depths of my heart.

Meet the Weathers Family

I was made aware of an amazing adoption story this week and I'm asking you to please pray for and consider giving to this family as they truly walk out James 1:27 in their lives.
Please visit
The Weathers Family Blog

and their adoption blog
Adopting William

Random Assortment of Louisiana Photos

Elia playing in the prayer room.

Isabelle and Elia at the Bridesmaid Luncheon, looking out the 9th story window. This kept Elia entertained for quite a long time.

Taylor in a tree at the rehearsal. Tay loves being in trees, and Louisiana trees were especially wonderful to climb.

John at Rehearsal.

Rehearsal Dinner, a rare picture of the whole family! Dinner at 8:30PM- a little tricky with a sleepy baby.

Nick took this one. I like the lights in the background.


Being goofy just before bedtime. The kids found these Chinese hats in the room where we were staying. Elia was too tired to cooperate for this photo, but we tried.

THE DANIEL ACADEMY PRESNTS "Tilly" by Frank Peretti

Based on Frank Peretti's novel by the same name, Tilly presents the deeply moving story of forgiveness and reconciliation between one woman and the child she aborted nine years ago.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

7pm - THIS Friday and Saturday Night

Metro Christian Fellowship Building (Wornall Ave, Kansas City)

Family and Friends: Isabelle has a short speaking part and Taylor and Isabelle are both part of a large walk on scene.

South African Face Painting

The groom was from South Africa, and to add to the festivities they had a South African face painting booth at the reception. Isabelle was the first in line!

Wedding Photos

Taylor and Isabelle have at times been mistaken for twins.
I love love love this picture!


Isn't she yummy. I have a few more of her I'll post later on.


Dancin' with Daddy while eating a bedtime snack.


This doesn't happen very often. Notice my angel wings, they passed them out at the reception and near the end the kids insisted that I wear a pair of wings!


The good news is, he didn't drop me!



Nick ate. The food was amazing! The martini glasses were from the potato bar, mashed potatoes with toppings, very fun idea.
Nick refused to dance with his mother. Can you believe it?

Spelling Words- Who Writes These Lists?

A Couple of Taylor's 6th Grade Spelling Words for this week:
opthalmology
antediluvian

(Yeah, I know you use those words all the time don't you! What I'm thinking is that by the time Taylor MIGHT want to actually use those in a sentence, which may be NEVER, he'll use spell check and be just fine!)

The Grandview Police are Nice

I was going down Grandview Ave. into Grandview the Friday before we left for LA to get a haircut. For those of you from hometown, PA, this is kind of like Main Street.

Anyway, the speed limit is 25 mph. As hard as I try to remember, it just never "feels like" it should be 25mph. It feels more like a 40mph road to me. And that is exactly how fast I was driving. I was feeling just fine at 40mph until a policeman on foot pulled me over. Yep, I said that correctly! Have you ever been "pulled over" by a policeman on foot? He walked across the street toward me, waving his little speed gun. For real he and his buddy were standing on the sidewalk clocking cars.

At first I actually thought he was waving me to turn into the side street because of an accident ahead or something. Not the case.

He kindly told me that I was going 40 in a 25 and asked for my information. I had my license and my OLD insurance card. Oops! No, not oops for me, it actually was good news for me to have an expired insurance card. The nice policeman sat in the back for like 5 minutes writing his little paperwork, only to come up and say that to "save me some money" (yes that's what he said), he would write me up for an expired insurance card because it was "cheaper," and if I could present a valid card to the nice folks at Grandview City Hall, they would "rip up my ticket" (yes, he said that too).

Anyway, I really like the Grandview police and I think they actually like me too!

On a side note, that was the first time that I have ever been pulled over by a police man. And I can still say I have never had to pay a traffic violation!

Unbelievably Gorgeous!

I love this little girl. She's becoming a quite an incredible young lady! She blows my mind with her fiery passion for Jesus, her pursuit of the Father, and her willingness to lay all of her gifts at His feet. She is becoming quite the singer/songwriter and guitar player. She is hilariously funny and all together sweet. Quite a lovely package!

Crawfish Anyone?

These poor little guys get cooked alive.


Here's Taylor getting a peel-n-eat lesson from our friend Rick Cloud.

Dinner with Daddy! For real, get a look at the trays these things are served on!

Isabelle getting down to business!

Nick made a movie of these little guys!
He tried one, but didn't chow down like the rest of us!

Our Southern Beauty

On our trip to visit a Bayou in Monroe, Louisiana, we stopped at this beautiful home that was set up as a "Bayou Museum". Elia liked playing peek-a-boo on their amazing front porch!

I May Not Make It Through This Post

I'm sitting on a very comfy couch in LaHOP at 9:19PM, John is changing guitar strings, my little one is sweetly tucked away in bed, and my three oldest are playing a set together in the Prayer Room. Nick is leading on acoustic guitar, Tay is singing at the piano, and Isabelle is singing beautiful harmony.

I cannot even begin to tell you the emotions swelling in my heart tonight. I think I may be the happiest mom in the world. I cannot believe I have been given the honor of being a part of these incredible children's lives. Thank you, Father for trusting me, give me the strength to lead them with love and wisdom.

Excuse me while I soak in the presence of the Father for a while.

Thank You Very Much

Today the Mother of the Bride is treating the ladies involved in the wedding to a spa day. We could choose a manicure, a pedicure, or a 30 min massage. I opt for the massage. My nails are too short to make them even look pretty, I'm wearing close-toed shoes, and my neck and shoulders are screaming, "ME, ME, ME, pick ME!"

On a side note:
Elia is walking all over the place right now and is pretty stable. She is talking more and more each day. She loves the fact that she can walk around the prayer room here without anyone caring. Last night she played the djembe during the worship set.

Louisiana

Things to blog about when I have photos to back them up.

1. A Crawfish Boil (and yes, we did eat them!)
2. A Trip to a Bayou
3. Prayer Room time at LaHOP

Blogging from LaHOP in Sunny Lousiana

We're on a ministry trip in Louisiana all week. We've come down to help our friends Rick and Cyndi Cloud celebrate their daughter's marriage. We have the privilege of staying at LaHOP, which is a beautiful Southern home, bed and breakfast meets house of prayer.

We'll post updates this week and I'm sure some great photos as it is absolutely gorgeous down here. I think we need a quick trip out to buy a USB cable as ours didn't get packed.


PS) My dad is home and recovering well.

THE CALL- Alabama LIVE TODAY

The Call Alabama can be viewed live all day on God TV
For stage side updates go HERE!

Just Add More Soap

Recently my husband decided that one thing he could do to help ease some of the load of the housework, is to do laundry. He really was super aggressive and went to town last week, tackling the monster called laundry.

He would proudly announce from time to time the number of loads he had washed. Mind you, he doesn't fold, so the pile kept mounding in the family room on the couch no one sits on. Come on, you have one of those don't you. I bought this couch just to keep the laundry comfy!

At one point he proudly announced, "The laundry's done!" Having done laundry many, many times..... hmmm let me do the math- maybe 5,732 times in the last 18 years..... I thought to myself, "Buddy, the laundry is only 'DONE' for like 30 seconds." I didn't burst his bubble though.

Here's my math:
7 loads/week x the 10 years we've had 3 or more children
5 loads/week x the 6 years we've had 2 or more children
4 loads/week x the 2 years we had no children
AND an additional 3 loads x 3 weeks x 18 years for the weeks in a year that the stomach flu or some other veritable tragedy increases the laundry load from time to time.

So, back to the story

Within a few hours after his big announcement, he walked past the hamper in the hallway, and loudly exclaimed, "HEY, what is WRONG with you people, this thing is half full already!"

I was bragging on John and sharing his new undertaking with a friend. He commented to her about the hamper filling so quickly, and she kindly told him that he was lucky it stayed empty that long.

He then relayed his trick of getting it done quickly, "You just fill the washer really full!"

We both looked at him and our eyes got big! My response to this was, "Ok, no wonder some of Elia's clothes had dried food on them still. I had to throw them straight from the 'clean' basket to the hamper, and I was quite puzzled."

He said, "Oh NO, I just thought if I added more soap, it would all work out!"



I love my man!

Jesus in the Car

I love this story!
Dad, I know you'll love this. You get to sleep in your OWN BED tonight- horray!

I Like This Kid

Here's a few more shots from the field trip. The best part of the day was spending time with my incredible son.

Isabelle is Sick

Please keep her in prayer. She has an early diagnosed pneumonia.
She's a pretty sick puppy and isn't happy about it at all.

Prayer for Tricia

I posted about Tricia awhile ago. She is a Cystic Fybrosis patient who recently gave birth to this beautiful baby girl and has been waiting for new lungs. She is in surgery receiving a double lung transplant right now. Please PRAY for this beautiful family!
You can read their story here.

City Market Field Trip

I had the privilege of being a driver/chaperon on Nick's recent photography class field trip! The first part of the morning at City Market in downtown Kansas City. It was delightful. Colors, textures, smells, sounds- an incredible sensory adventure. Here are a few of my shots.


Great deals on fresh produce. Silly me, I had no cash on me. What was I thinking?



The spice guy might have been my favorite. He had three or four long tables full of bags of fresh spices. It smelled heavenly!

The nut booth was a hit too. Lots of great textures here!


I'll share a few more photos later on.

Elia Jane