Chasing Fireflies

I love fiction and a sweet friend showed me an amazing author, Charles Martin. I have read a few of his books and am currently reading Chasing Fireflies. I always think about doing book recommendations on our blog, but never get around to doing so. I have read so many good books that I have found on other blogs:) I am not finished with this one yet but I think you'll like it. It takes place in the south, as do all his books I think.

Here is a quote from the book that I just loved...a foster father shares this wisdom with an abused and orphaned boy.....

Unc walked up next to me and hung his arms across the fence railing. In his hands he held an empty mason jar with holes punched in the lid. He stood there a long time turning the jar. Inside, a single lightning bug fluttered off the sides of the glass. Every five or six seconds, he'd light his lantern. Unc turned the jar in his hand. "Scientists say that these things evolved this way over millions of years." He shook his head. "That's a bunch of bunk. I don't think an animal can just all-of-a-sudden decide he wants to make light grow out its butt. What kind of nonsense is that? Animals don't make light." He pointed to the stars. "God does that. I don't know why or how, but I'm pretty sure it's not by chance. It's not some haphazard thing he does in his spare time."

He looked at me, and his expression changed from one of wonder to seriousness, to absolute conviction. "Chase, I don't believe in chance." He held up the jar. "This is not chance, neither are the stars."

I was hurting inside, and the streaks shining on my face didn't scratch the surface at telling how much.

He tapped me gently in the chest. "Neither are you. So, if your mind is telling you that God slipped up and might have made one giant mistake when it comes to you, you remember the firefly's butt."

I just read it and it reminded me of my conversation with Caleb yesterday who is such a deep thinker and a sweet emotional boy. He asked at the end of the day if we had heard anything about B and Y....when I said no....he just lost it and cried and cried.....repeatedly asking "Why won't God let them come home?" In my attempt to share that I understood his frustration and how difficult it is to trust God's plans....Caleb said "The only plan of God's that has worked so far has been getting one document and even that isn't helping...." Oh Caleb, what a hard lesson to learn for your tender heart...I may have to share with you about the firefly's butt.

Dreams

Recently we all woke up with very vivid dreams....

Hannah....woke up after dreaming Strawberry (her new bunny) fell into our pool. How scary! In the dream she was able to jump in and rescue to bunny. Still scary!

Caleb....woke up very emotional after he has dreamed he found at a thrift store (we are thrift store people) his lost stuffed puppy, Shelby. In reality, we lost Shelby about 2 months ago on an out of town trip. He got Shelby when he was born and has slept with him every night...so we were all sad when he was lost. Wish the thrift store dream could come true.

Natalie....dreamed she and Beau "snuck" away to Ethiopia, without permission from Gladney...ha!ha! This is my 3rd such dream:) In the dream we get to meet and love on B and Y...who are so beautiful and sweet and soft...the dream didn't last long enough:( Oh but the dream was so real and soooo good....can't wait for the reality.

Beau....dreamed he hired a maid and cook for his wife, sent her away to be pampered at a spa, and let her sleep in for the remaining weekends of the year:) I love Beau's dream:)

Reality...no new news on the adoption really. We are still waiting for the last document, praying for a miracle, hoping (blegging) we can go to Ethiopia SOON!

Life in pictures

While we wait...and pray for a miracle....we live and enjoy each moment we are given....here is a glimpse of what we have been up to lately.....

I surprised the kids (and Beau) with bunnies....Hannah is in love and carries them everywhere. The bunnies even joined us for story time tonight. Two bunnies...a Mommy and a Daddy...and we look forward to the "lessons" that these bunnies will bring...we hope to have free bunnies to give away in 4-5 months:)


We enjoyed a beautiful day at the arboretum with friends and beautiful flowers....it is my favorite picture day of the year:)

And Caleb turned 7 a couple of weeks ago....we didn't really do the big party thing this year. But we had lots of fun celebrating him in many fun ways. For his birthday he wanted a Nintendo DS....we told him it was too expensive for us to buy but he was welcome to continue saving his money. Well he had been saving money for quite a while and after his birthday had over $100 and needed $25 more. This week he got a card in the mail from his Aunt Yvette and it had a $25 gift card in it. He did the math and started screaming and jumping up in down yelling "I get my DS" He got so excited that he started crying and fell to the ground. I have never seen him so excited....he learned a great lesson in saving money and delayed gratification. Now he needs a lesson in not playing his DS all day:)

Over spring break we got to spend a few days with some of our favorite buddies at their lake house with their kids, two of which are beautiful Ethiopian twins....

While at the lake house we also got to meet up the Baggetts...who have four beautiful children! Both of these families have met and loved on B and Y for us....so it is surreal, priceless and kinda weird to give them hugs in person knowing they hugged our babies:)



Caleb loved their youngest son and had to have a picture with him:)

And we will continue to live life full of gratitude...just looking at these pictures my heart is full of thanksgiving.....and we will keep praying for miracles and peace....we will keep you posted:)

"LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." Isaiah 26:12