Christmas Traditions Part 1

I have been reading up on several adoption blogs and have come across some pretty great families. Everyone is working so hard to raise money to bring their children home. It just doesn't seem fair that it costs so much. There are so many people in this world who want to adopt but money always stands in the way. I pray everyday that God will supply the money these families need. If you have an adoption blog, I would love to read it. Just post it in the comment section or email it to me at thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com.

Christmas is coming! I LOVE Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. When I was growing up, it was the only time that I saw my entire family in one day. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It was the greatest day of the year. We had the best traditions when I was growing up and I want my kids to grow up with Christmas traditions as well.

When I was a kid, we would wake up early and open our presents. Santa had been there and we couldn't wait to see what he brought. I will admit I wasn't very fond of Santa. My mom said I would cry because I didn't want Santa to come in my room to look at me when he dropped off the presents. I am not sure what kind of creeper I thought Santa was but my Mom promised that Santa would just leave the presents at the door and Mom and Dad would bring them inside. Years later I found out Mom and Dad would be shoving presents under the couch that they were wrapping at 2 am when I would come in crying. I don't know why my parents kept up the Santa story when they knew it scared me, but they did. Aw, memories!

After we opened presents at our house we would go to my Dad's parents' house. Funny, Santa delivered presents there too. As a matter of fact he was still delivering presents there when I was 16, but hey, who is going to turn away presents no matter who they are from!?!?

My Grandma and Grandpa's house is where I got my first bike. It was so great. It was pink and had streamers on the handles and had Sea Princess written on it. I even had a plastic basket with plastic flowers to carry home groceries from Thriftway. It is also where we got fudge. My Grandma was an amazing baker! She could make cakes, pies, cookies, fudge...whatever you want. Every year she made the most amazing peanut butter and chocolate fudge. It was the kind that would melt in your mouth!

Both of my Dad's parents have passed away but I will never forget my Christmas' with them. I wish they could have known my children and my children had known them. They would have loved them. We still have Christmas with my parent's, Uncle Rick and my brother and his family but I will forever miss the look on my Grandpa's face while he watched his grandkids open their presents. It was pure joy. I see that look on my Dad's face now while he watches his grandkids.

Christmas didn't end at my Grandparent's house it kept going, but that is a story for another day. I would love to hear your traditions. Is there something special you do with your family every year? Are you starting new traditions?

Mary

None of us know what the future holds, but we do know that whatever is forthcoming will require living in faith. ~Elizabeth George

I have recently begun a journey through the devotional "Nurturing a Heart of Humility" by Elizabeth George. This particular study is about Mary the mother of Jesus. I originally picked up this study because I thought, "Lord, I need more humility in my life." I know we all have our prideful moments and God has definitely been teaching me about humility but He has taught me more than I ever thought He would.

Sometimes we have a way of saying, "I know this needs to be fixed, so Lord, through this Bible study I give you permission to fix it." When in reality He says, "There is something we need to work through instead, but I will use what you "think" you need to show you what you REALLY need." I guess that was my first lesson in humility! ;-)

The thing that has struck me the most about Mary through this study is her obedience. When the angel came to her and told her she would be with child, she asked "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" I don't think she questioned that it would happen she just didn't understand how it would happen. After she was told the Holy Spirit would come upon her she said, "be it unto me according to thy word."

Now, I don't know about you, but if an angel showed up (1) to tell me I was pregnant (2) when I had never known a man (3) I may have asked for a sign. I think this really shows the maturity of this young girl. She was 14 or 15 years old yet she show the maturity of an old saint. How I desire to have that kind of faith. Everywhere we read about Mary in the first 2 chapters of Luke she is obey quickly and without question or complaining. When Joseph said, "We're moving to Egypt." They went. Immediate obedience. I think that if Mary had complained or not believed she would not have been Jesus' mother. I think it is funny that Mary didn't have to "pray about" becoming the mother of the Messiah. She knew what she had been called to do and she did it.

God had called Mary to what seemed impossible, but He knew that she had the faith that would be required to raise His Son. 33 1/2 years later she would watch as her Son hung on the cross for the sins of those who had spit in His face and beat him beyond recognition. How she must have felt that day will have to wait for another blog posting. The point is she did the work of the Lord knowing what the end result would be. She was an educated woman. She knew the Scriptures. She knew what would happen to the Messiah and she knew her baby was this Messiah.

Blind faith. That is all you can call it. I wonder everyday if I have what it takes to follow through on this journey of adoption that God has called us to. Like Mary, I can say "How can this be, when we don't have $45,000 to pay for it." I can believe in the promise that it WILL happen. I can say "be it unto me according to thy word." I don't know what will happen, but I pray that I have the faith of Mary to live whatever lies ahead of me.

An Amazing Opportunity

We have been presented with an amazing opportunity this week. Our adoption agency, MLJ Adoptions in Indianapolis, is having a meeting with the Director and Secretary General of IHNFA which is the Intituto Hondureno de la Ninez y la Familia. Anyone who is interested in adopting from Honduras is invited to come on December 16th at 7:00 pm. Scott and I will be there and we would love for you to come with us.

I am so excited about this opportunity! I love when God is working but you don't quite know what He is up to. I can't wait to find out!! Please pray that God will open the doors to make this adoption a smooth process and we will find out more concerning our adoption.

Christmas Gifts

T-Shirts make EXCELLENT Christmas Gifts!

These shirts are perfect for anyone and it educates people about the need of adoption.

PLUS, all proceeds go to the Todd Adoption Fund!!

It is a win/win anyway you look at it!

T-shirts can be ordered by clicking on the right hand side of the blog. Don't wait because we will be placing an order soon.

All t-shirts are black with red and white writing. Women's t-shirts are 100% cotton.

Gift wrapping and shipping available for FREE!! Just include the mailing address.

My Landmark Family

This weekend I attended the funeral of an old friend. He was 38 years old, married and had 2 kids. He was the type of guy that knew everyone and made everyone feel like they were his best friend. He just had that type of personality.

Last I heard there were over 800 people that attended his viewing and funeral. He had recently gotten his 1000th friend on Facebook and I guarantee he knew every single person, most of them were probably at the funeral. He was loved by so many. That was evident. All you had to do was look around. Every single one of us had a story to tell.

There were 2 things I learned at the funeral yesterday. 1. I don't have enough pictures of my family. 2. I want to love people where they are. I don't want to take my relationships for granted. There were so many people at the funeral that I had not seen in over 15 years. People I didn't recognize and those that didn't recognize me. People who have been a huge part of my life yet I never took the time to tell them.

If nothing else, Darrin's death brought us all back to the place we began this journey. The kind of place where time stands still. The place where we pick right up as if we had never left. There is a bond that holds us together. A bond that has kept us together through the years. We may even bleed blue and gold. Who knows?!

So, even though I don't make it home much these days, and even though we have all grown up and have lives and families of our own, I love you all. You all have made an impression on my life in one way or another. Let's not wait so long to get together next time.

Concert!!!

The Ascension Quartet

Saturday, January 15, 2011

6:30 pm

Hope's Point Baptist Church

1703 Miller Avenue

Shelbyville, IN 46176

Tickets are $10 each. Children 5 and under are free.

Tickets can be purchased on the right hand side of this blog.

Call 317-512-5600 or email thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com for more information.

All proceeds will go to the Todd Adoption Fund.

God is Still Working

Last week we received an email from a family that wanted to give $500 to our adoption fund. I am super excited that God keeps providing. He continues to confirm that what we are doing is right. It does my heart good to know that I am in the center of God's will.

Yesterday, we were approved by our agency for the country of Honduras and siblings. I am really excited because I now feel that we have a few things set. It was really exciting to receive our approval letter. I can't wait to see what else God has in store.

Make sure you check in tomorrow!