5 for Hope: A Great Weekend...

Monday, June 1, 2009

A Great Weekend...

It is always amazing how God uses different situations in our lives to bring our focus back on Him. This past weekend was a perfect example of His presence in EVERY aspect of our lives.

On Friday, Brian took the day off work so that we could travel to Traverse City, spend some time with my parents, and allow Grace the opportunity to compete at a larger skating competition. Needless to say, she was SO excited and had been counting the days ever since we put it on the calendar. It was particularly special because Grace's skating coach, Miss Stephanie, was not only coaching Grace, but competing herself at this competition. It was so neat for Grace to see her as both a coach and as a competitor. And it was fun for Brian and I to get to know Stephanie's mom a little better. I always so appreciate conversations with other, more experienced moms. I always feel like there is so much more to learn... :-)

Anyway, Grace had such a wonderful weekend. She loved every minute that she was at the rink and was so excited to share this time with her grandparents. The weekend was a true blessing in so many ways. My parents and my grandma were able to see Grace perform for the first time, and Grace continued to grow in her relationship with her coach. As a mom, it is such a wonderful thing when you recognize that God has placed special people in your child's life - that are true examples of Christian character. It is hard to describe the admiration that Grace has for Miss Stephanie (though I am sure it is apparent in the photos... :-) She admires Stephanie as a beautiful and accomplished skater, and has such respect for her as a coach. She wants to be just like Miss Stephanie, and I can't think of a better role-model for her. (The hug she received from Stephanie after completing her program meant more to her than any medal or ribbon could have...) I never expected figure skating to play such a major role in the development of Grace's character, but it certainly has become one of the biggest joys in her life. In fact, this evening at dinner, as Grace was trying to convince Brian and I that she needed an "expanded skating schedule", Joel stepped up as a big brother and reminded her..."Grace, Coach VanWieren told me at basketball camp that you have to keep your sports in order... like... God comes first, then family and friends, and THEN basketball - or for you, skating." Another example of a coach being a great role-model for Joel and a perfect reminder for us all to keep a balanced perspective.

Joel is enjoying playing his violin at Farmer's Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is well on his way to reaching his goal. He is thrilled to be able to donate money to Hannah's Hope and just can't wait to return to Guatemala some day. He is loving the beautiful sunny weather and spends every spare moment playing outside with his friends.

Ana continues to keep us on our toes with her spunk and curiosity, yet is a true joy. She is just so funny and is constantly coming up with new things that make Brian and I wonder, "Where does she get this from?" All day today, she kept putting her hands down the front of her pants. I thought she was just starting to recognize that she didn't like the feel of her diapers. I never thought to ask her what she was doing. This evening, however, when Brian asked her why she was putting her hands in her pants, she replied, "Daddy- not pants... hand in pockets!" So all day, I missed the fact that she had gotten used to wearing pants with pockets and today she did not have any... Crazy girl... :-) And does she ever love her brother and sister. She is constantly asking where they are, what they are doing, and wanting to be right there with them. She is giving hugs and kisses all the time now, and just seems so happy. I can truly say she has fully adjusted to life as a part of our family and we can't imagine our life without her. We continue to be thankful for God's perfect plan and how His presence is so evident each day.

1 comment:

SusieJune 4, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Oh my goodness, where's the baby? Wait...slow down...were not suppose to be at the toddler little girl stage yet...its too fast, but like you, were enjoying every second and praising God for his perfect plan for our family. I miss you so, can I come our for a visit? Susie
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Favorite Family Verses

The grace of God will not take you where the will of God can not sustain you.

I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul..."
~Psalm 131: 1-2~

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
~ Phillippians 4:13 ~
(Brian chose this verse to be engraved in Jen's wedding ring.)

"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us."
~ 1 John 4:12 ~
(Jen chose this verse to be engraved in Brian's wedding ring.)

Our Thanks to You...

For those of you who have gone through the adoption process, you understand what a blessing it is to have a "cloud of witnesses" that surround you, uphold you in prayer, and agree to give up their time to assist in the incredible amount of paperwork that accompanies this decision. We have been incredibly blessed by the love shown to us by our friends. Many of you have spent hours filling out letters of recommedation, have made countless trips to the bank to have documents notarized only to find out that they need to be renotarized (and renotarized, and renotarized). Many of you have prayed for us, not only over the past few months, but the past few years, as well. Words can not adequately express our gratitude to you for the wonderful gift of your friendship. Thank you, from our entire family, for helping us to bring Ana Hope home to our family. And now that we venture forward, as a family of five, we continue to be blessed by your friendship, your prayers, and your constant support in caring for our family.

About All God's Children International

The following is "Heather's Story" as described in her mother's book The Strength of Mercy" (Jan Beazely). "Many years ago, when I was just eighteen, God called me to walk into the fields of the fatherless in Romania. There I was honored to find my sister Hannah. I had no way of knowing that Hannah’s adoption was just the beginning of what God had planned for my life. My call became my family’s mission as well. We were probably very much like your family, very ordinary, and one day God just asked us to answer His extraordinary call. Many people have asked me, “How did All God's Children International begin?” My answer is simply this... The first time I walked into a Romanian orphanage in 1990, I was overwhelmed by what I saw and I wanted to do something. Hopeless little orphan faces stared up at me and hardly responded when I reached out to touch them. I remember praying with tears running down my face, “Lord, there are so many…and their needs are so great… How can I even begin to help them all? God spoke back to me clearly. “Heather, you see the multitudes, but I know each one by name, all I’m asking you to do is to try, just help them one at a time.” So that is what I did. A month after completing Hannah’s adoption for my parents, AGCI officially became a Christian adoption and relief agency. I returned to Romania to help give the children I left behind the second chance they deserved. One child became two. Two turned into three and now over the last 16 years we have been privileged to give thousands of second chances to orphaned children not just in Romania, but Bulgaria, Russia, Guatemala, Nepal, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Macedonia, India, China and now Ethiopia. Through our foreign adoption services, our orphan relief and child sponsorship programs, as well as our Hannah’s Hope children’s homes, AGCI continues to make a difference in little lives. We have indeed grown over the years, but my passion to rescue and care for children has never changed. I continue to help them one at a time. I understand now that the compassion I felt was there for a reason. God’s voice is never silent concerning the orphan. If you listen you can hear Him whispering in the darkness at night. He continues to shout from the rooftops at daybreak. He fervently lays before the world His concern for the orphan. So never overlook small beginnings, never dismiss the vision God plants in your heart concerning a needy child. I believe that you are not reading my words by accident, but rather by divine appointment. Thank you so much for listening to my heart. I am praying that I have encouraged you to ask, “What can I do?” For somewhere in the world today an orphan needs your help… they wait in the fields of the fatherless hoping for a second chance. There is nothing in life more overwhelming then to walk through orphanage doors around the world and hear the heartbreaking echo of the orphan's cry. Nothing more unforgettable than to watch countless children run toward outstretched arms longing for just one embrace. Nothing more painful then to gaze into silent orphan eyes pleading for someone to come and care. And there is nothing more humbling than to witness such desperate need and then not be able to give every orphan child the second chance they deserve. Together we can soothe their cries, provide the embrace they long for, and send someone to care."