You Are Mighty Because You Mother

All the things I had to say about Mother's Day pale in comparison to what this video says. I think I'll watch it every morning, before I put on any mascara of course.

Mighty from Journey Box Media on Vimeo

Kinda Makes It All Worth It

Angie graduates from 5th grade next month and she may be the only kid at the ceremony without a baby picture in the slideshow. These are the kind of things adopted kiddos miss out on. But sometimes we make up for it by celebrating random days that other children don't have, like the day I brought her home from the orphanage, Talita Cumi, or the day six months later when we had the audience with the judge and the adoption became final. Yesterday, was our second anniversary of our "Adoption Day" and we celebrated with a family favorite--Papa John's pizza, we even splurged for cheese sticks! 

Many of you remember Angie's terror at coming to live in the U.S. and how she acted out for more than six months at the thought of this change. Yesterday, on the way to pick up the pizza she said in perfect Spanglish, "I'm used to living in the United States now." I smiled and replied, "You should've trusted us, huh?" To which she answered with a sheepish grin, "Yeah, I'm sorry."

Later, after we prayed for the pizza and for our little family on this special day she said, "Mommy, thank you for adopting me." ...cue heart melts...

We may not have photos from her infancy, but here are a couple you probably haven't seen of the first day we met her, December 24th, 2009, her third day in Talita Cumi. Sorry, they're a little out of focus, we didn't know she was going to change our lives forever, at first sight. 

What a difference a few years, a lot of food, and a lot of love makes.

Thank you each who have helped us love her for these three and a half years. We'll be needing your help for the next many decades as well.

So Proud of These Two

Pride has such negative connotation, and with good reason. A quick search will tell you that in the Bible it accompanies jealousy, deceit, corruption, destruction, and many other vices. But that same word-study would also lead you to Paul's frequent positive use of being "proud" in reference to others. It seems like pride in one's self goes just a step before a fall, but pride in others is more akin to respect. And that's what I mean when I say that I'm so proud of Jon and Angie.

I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd marry someone so handy. Honestly, I didn't even know such ingenious men existed. Pretty much weekly, Jon dives into a project the likes of which he's never done before. And even though I'm much cheaper than he is, these are all projects I'd gladly pay someone to do, but am so grateful we don't have to. A couple weeks ago he spent an entire Saturday, which was previously booked solid with activities and errands, changing the starter in one of our cars. Next, after various professionals failed to come up with a good approach for repairing the wall between our living room and family room, Jon decided to cut a hole in the hardwood floor, he'd laid himself, to solve the air return problem. And then, when he learned there was no pre-fab duct work to connect to the hole he'd made, he brought home sheet metal and we built our own from scratch.

He changes the oil in the cars, he replaces the heating element in the water heater, he switches out the plumbing in the shower, he drywalls, he amazes me regularly. And as much as I try to hurry him along with the "good enough" motto I perfected in Bolivia, he still never cuts corners. If it were up to me, our list of home repairs might get checked off a little more quickly, but we'd surely have to repair all the same things again within a month or two, as I'd leave all sorts of important loose ends untied. I'm so glad the Lord didn't give me someone like myself to partner with, but someone who complements me so much better.

Also inspiring awe, Angie is taking big kid steps way out of her comfort zone. As most of you know, "Louisville is the only place that cancels school so kids can learn to gamble, smoke cigars, and drink mint juleps," for Oaks Day, the Friday before the KY Derby. But instead of dropping her off to enjoy the infield at Churchill Downs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes gave me the alternative to leave her with them for the morning for a Superstar Athlete competition. Even though she didn't know a sole in attendance she stayed and played like a champ. And because she'll so quickly tell you that I've never missed a sporting event, or birthday, of hers, I snuck back early to join her for the award ceremony.

Each child participated in six events, and I think with the commotion and minor language barrier Angie may have been at a slight disadvantage understanding some instructions. But when it came to one sport, you didn't have to tell her twice what to do. She's ridiculously fast, and natural at a lot of sports, but tennis isn't one of those talents you can really be born with, you either work your tail off or you lose. And for that reason, I was more proud of Angie for winning first place in the Tennis Serves Accuracy competition than any race in the world, because it showed she'd worked hard at something that didn't come easily to her, a big accomplishment for someone who's usually quite content to rest on her innate athletic prowess.  

Now back to keeping these two well fed and encouraged, so they can finish the dry wall and secure that college scholarship...

Angie - Improving by Leaps and Bounds

Angie had her first perfect week since coming to the States in December! By perfect I don't mean it was devoid of eye-rolling or grumbling, let's be realistic. It was, however, free of tantrums, screaming, crying, wreckage, and injuries. Woohoo! Of course, there was this pair of new shoes, that she just had to have for picture day, on the horizon if she stayed positive all week. I'm glad no one let on just how unlikely those shoes are to make an appearance in her school photos. But more than just a demonstration of what Angie can do when motivated by shoes (am I the only woman in the world who cannot identify with this?), I think it's becoming safer to say we're really making some progress.

There are so many factors contributing to our improvement, it's hard to credit just one. Prayer has been huge, thank you all for helping us with these transitions by lifting us up. After nearly five months in one place, with no major family upheaval, there's finally some stability. Routine, structure, and downtime are keys to peace in Angie's life. School's getting easier as she learns the system and her English is coming along. She still has a way to go, but I think, little by little, she's starting to trust that the whole world, including Jon and myself, is not out to get her. And likely, one of the most important ingredients in this recipe for recent success, has been that Angie has a playmate.

Even coming home from school's better with a friend!

Her friend, our next door neighbor Jada, has become almost a permanent fixture around our house between the hours of 5:00-8:00pm. We add a fourth place setting at dinner most evenings, and we're learning her dietary druthers; her favorite food is spaghetti, but she doesn't like tomatoes, and on a hungry day she only eats about a third as much as our munchkin. Angie might prefer they play a little less Barbies and a little more basketball, but for the most part the giggling and squealing are endless, and the combination of laughter, biking, and roughhousing leave her ready for bed at bedtime, a wonderful treat for any parents. She's calmer, happier, more motivated, more patient, compliant, and secure. Literally, the poster child for having a friend. 

Thank you Lord for this step in the right direction! Next, while we're on a roll, she could use a friend at church, and some good news on her visa. But for now, we're content with the peace in our home, even if it's sometimes a rather loud and raucous kind of peace.

"A friend loves at all times..." -Proverbs 17:17

New Life

Spring finally sprung, and just in time for Spring Break. We were even fairly toasty on the Colorado slopes, as we took Angie to ski the real mountains for the first time.   

The trip was reminiscent of my snowy spring breaks from years past, when I tried to keep up with my classmates vacationing in Florida tanning their way to beauty, by refusing sunscreen and returning like a pink raccoon. Angie, however, was born with the perfect perma-tan, so she won't be nearly as bitter that her break was a little less UV-damaging than those beach goers. 

Off the slopes we enjoyed warm weather to visit with family, celebrate spring birthdays, and remember Christ's resurrection. It was Angie's first Easter in the States, so I wanted to kind of protect her from the holiday's commercialism that hasn't yet reached Bolivia, nor probably much of the world. 

Our church's newspaper ran this awesome article about Easter activities that shine the light on Jesus. We started the week by looking up Bible verses to find the ingredients to a cookie recipe (I'd recommend adding a little extra honey or throwing in some sugar, but otherwise they were good.) For our small group, we made really yummy crescent rolls filled with cinnamon, sugar, and marshmallows, called Resurrection Rolls. And then on Easter morning before the traditional egg hunt, we created a scripture scavenger hunt for Angie and her cousin, Rachel. We had no idea how any of the ideas would go over with our moody tween, but were pleasantly surprised when she volunteered, "That was Fun!" after each activity! 

 And then, after I spent a week in Seattle with CVM (more on that trip in my next prayer letter), I came home and we started a garden. We may have jumped the gun a little on tomatoes and some of the other vegetables, but it was worth it. Jon's dad packed some Zinnias in Angie's Easter package, one of my favorites from growing up, so we planted those around the yard, as well as our Tulip bulbs from Valentine's day, some new rose bushes that Jon's had his eye on, and carrots, broccoli, and strawberries. We'll invite you over when it's harvest time. 

Whether it's new life in the form of buds on the trees, sprouts in the ground, or Christ's return from the dead, spring is full of it, and beautiful for it!

Tonight, after we put Angie to bed, we'll silently cheer the UofL Cardinals on in the NCAA championship. Tomorrow, we'll do it again for the LadyCards. What a week! And what a difference from last year! It's been a lot better on our relationship to have UK out of the picture this go around, and Jon rooting with me for the Cards. March Madness is just another celebration of the fresh possibilities of spring! Go CARDS!

"Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.” -Hosea 6:3

I'm Sorry About Spring

I feel I owe you an apology.  It might be partly my fault spring has yet to come.

When I went to Bolivia, I wasn't sure if I was a hot or cold weather person. Uh, 72℉ is about right... There are really people who prefer warmer or colder than that?!  But I guess more than a preference, it's probably an aversion to the alternative. Anyway, it didn't take me all three years in the sweltering wet heat of Santa Cruz, to learn that I have a cold weather affinity.

This winter has been my first cold one in a long time, and I've loved it. Scarves, hats, gloves, blankets, the fireplace, hot chocolate, chili, SNOW, cuddling, down comforters, skiing, sledding, wearing my hair down, socks, close-toed shoes, and not sweating, are just a few of the perks I've savored these past months. So, when everyone else started begging the groundhog for warmer temperatures, I was anything but ready to let go of all this, and may have canceled out some of your prayers for spring with my own for more snow.

Taking after her momma in her cupcake decorating skillz.

It turns out however, that it's not the hot or cool that I prefer, it's the changing of the seasons. The variety of activities, the variation in wardrobe, the stability of predictable change that comforts me. And now, while even I impatiently await spring (what good is snow if it doesn't stick?) I'm enjoying a new season in a different sense of the word.  

In the book Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas says, 

"If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there's no question -- stay single. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can't imagine a better thing to do than to get married." 

Marriage, and even more so parenting, take a lot of time. But both force you to face character issues you'd never have to face otherwise. I don't regret waiting to start a family till I was in my 30's, because I now see that I'll never have that freedom to serve like Jesus whenever, as often, and as radically as I did when it was just me.

Look who's learned how to knit, really well!

It's been an adjustment to replace soup kitchens with social studies assignments, but it's been an eye-opening one. The day-in and day-out discipleship of doing life with family is  far more sharpening than serving once a week in a superficial way. It's also more difficult to hide one's flaws. But I pray the rewards are deeper and more enduring than a plaque, or a thank you card.

I'm so glad I'm moving into this family-phase of being more like Jesus, than free to serve Him, with three of my dearest friends (above), all recently on this road with me. And I'm thankful that God allows me a job in ministry, and time to serve with my family, so I don't have to choose, but instead can balance both serving Christ and becoming more like Him. Afterall, Jesus didn't have a wife and kids, but he made taking care of his mother a priority, and he sure emphasized taking care of the little ones.

Happy Easter! Enjoy whatever season you're in, 'cause it probably won't last forever, spring really will be here soon...

"...if you truly want to love God, look right now at the ring on your left hand, commit yourself to exploring anew what that ring represents, and love passionately, crazily, enduringly the fleshly person who put it there. It just may be one of the most spiritual things you can do." -Sacred Marriage

Putting Down Roots

It's funny how "settling" can have such negative connotation, but "settling down" or "settling in" is positive. To some it may seem as though I'm settling by living in the States again and being fairly domestic, after serving overseas for the past few years. On the contrary, we may finally be settling down and settling in, but life's full of challenges, opportunities, and joy.

Over the past few months, the search for two things in particular have been plaguing us as a family. The dining room table above is the result of a very long Craig's List obsession to find something in our price range that could help us host lots of friends or family for fellowship and food. We tested this beauty out on Saturday night with an awesome time of sharing between three CVM families with experience in missions. Twelve of us enjoyed Jon's first pork tenderloin on the grill and hours of great conversation while our six kids played basketball in the backyard, watched a movie, and ran a bit wild.

The photo below tells the more compelling story of our hunt for friends for Angie. She's finally made some amigas at school who she has so much fun with that she says she actually looks forward to going to school, although you'd never believe it by the way she drags her feet in the morning. We're still praying to find those special kids Angie will bond with at church. But on Saturday, God's clever combination of perfect spring weather, the $20 bike we found at a consignment sale that morning, and the neighbor kids being outside, left nothing to chance. It was finally the day for Angie to befriend Jada, the 9 year-old she'd been too shy to meet for nearly a year. And boy did they ever hit it off!  Her and her little cousin on the scooter, spent all afternoon in and out of the house, exploring, riding, playing, and laughing with Ange. Sweet, sweet, long-awaited music to our ears.

While on the lookout for big tables and little friends, we've been staying busy with lots of other fulfilling activities as well. We started a young married couples' small group at our house on Wednesday evenings. We just finished Andy Stanley's iMarriage DVD series, and are getting ready to dive into his more recent one Staying in Love, if anyone's interested in joining us. Ruby and I have been helping my dad coach the South Oldham High School girls' tennis team this season. And Angie's in a little Saturday tennis league of her own. When homework allows we join Lost Sheep Ministries on Thursday nights. And I just got back to my guys at Jefferson Street Baptist Center last week, hoping to make that a regular visit as well. Jon and I would love to get plugged into volunteering in Southeast Christian Church's tech booth next, but we need Angie to make some church friends first, so she'll be content in childcare for so long.

We're also loving being so close to family. My uncle, Byron, and I trained together and ran the Irish Classic 10K on Saturday. Yesterday, we had my parents over to watch Little Women, after spending almost a year reading the book with Angie. Now, we'll be seeing lots of Team Spears as we get together to cheer on the UL men's and women's team in March Madness.

While we still pray for, and consult with, our Bolivian partners, friends, ministries, and especially sponsor kiddos (one of whom, little Juan Carlos, is having surgery this week), and Angie still sometimes craves Bolivian food and warmer weather, I think we're finally starting to live more where we are than where we were. And it feels really good...