A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I'm running behind again...my mom told me that if I were Lazarus and Jesus would've told me to "Come Forth," I would've come fifth. (I know you are laughing!)

I'm (still) learning that it takes a lot of energy to parent four girls. I am a quality time person, so I want to spend a lot of time with my family--both as a whole and as individuals. Sometimes that leaves me with a full love tank (reference to "5 Love Languages") but a very messy house. I'm still learning how to maintain a tolerable cleanliness--you would never confuse our house for a new subdivision's "model house"--but I very much want to be a "model home." One that model's Christ's love.

I have a variety of things on my mind lately for blogging. There is the "normal" life stuff. Savanna turned 14! Audrey is busy taking SATs and ACTs and thinking about her college resume. Riza and Yuly are learning to skate...

And then there are adoption topics. Like how things are SO MUCH BETTER than a year ago, but I am sometimes completely caught off-guard by a difficult day (or series of days!)

There are Yuly updates. There are lots of positives I could tell you about. In one year, Yuly grew 6 inches! It is amazing to see her physical growth. And then there is her academic growth. Her reading is really taken off thanks to a trio of dedicated teachers who have poured lots of time and energy into helping her. And her spiritual growth...she tells me that she really desires to live for Christ and to follow Him. There is nothing as exciting and humbling as standing next to her in church listening to her sing "Our God is bigger, our God is greater, our God is higher than any other" and wondering if she would know to worship God if we had not listened to the call of our God to bring her home.

I could tell you about daily life things...how Todd is a horse EVERY NIGHT and the girls get a horsey ride to bed. About being season ticket holders to FSU Women's Basketball and what fun that is. About spending a little time with my grandmother on her birthday and singing hymns to her...and one week later celebrating her new life while saying goodbye to her life on this earth.

And all of this is wrapped in my walk with Christ. He daily calls me to follow Him. I fail at this more often than I succeed, but still I want to listen to His call for my life and follow Him with abandon. It was almost easier to follow God in big things (like adoption!) than in the daily breathing in and breathing out of life. Of showing patience to the kids. Of investing to others. Of persevering in teaching the girls to be kind (a big one in our home right now).

I'm thinking of blogging again to let you know some of the things God has been showing me...

(P.S. The pictures are from Valentine's day. We have a traditional "candy trail" that leads to breakfast which typically includes pancakes, bacon, and chocolate-covered strawberries!)