Closed doors, open windows

A little over a year ago we closed the door to ever having biological children. I am not doubting God's miracles, we are just no longer pursuing anything with doctors. The day we made that decision was not easy for either of us, and of course he was on the boat-this made it even more difficult for him. Over the past year we have grown in our marriage and for that I am ever so thankful. God continues to show us it is not our way, but His.

After 10 grueling months of living in a travel trailer- whose idea was that?- we decided to buy instead of build. The main motivation for this was that Lance happened upon a house almost exactly what we wanted to build. (God thing!) Words can not express the feeling of being back in a house again. I know the saying says "home is where the heart is", but that tin can kept getting smaller every month!

We reopened our home for foster care with the intentions of just that, foster care. We know that in the future we want to pursue private adopt. However, we want it to be on God's time and not ours. Over and over again He proves that when we push something to happen before it's suppose to we usually get more heartache brought on by ourselves.

Last night God brought sweet twin girls into our home. People may not understand why we do what we do, and that's okay. If you know me from forever ago, then you know my heart is and has always been for children. Especially those who go without the necessities. About 9 years ago my husband started praying for a wife and I started praying for a husband. (Of course neither one of us knew this until about a year into our relationship.) I know God made us for each other, because Lance has that huge heart for children just like I do. All you have to do is hear it in his voice when I tell him we received another call for a placement. (He will deny, deny, deny, but don't be fooled!)

Who knows how long we will have these twins in our home, but I'm pretty sure they'll forever be in our hearts. One of the blessings of opening our home is hearing, "Will you hang it on the fridge?"

When it seems God has closed the door, remember there are still windows to open!

Ode to 27

On the eve of my 27th birthday I reflect on how much my life has changed in the past 7 years as I went from the "teen" years to being a "real adult". The year I turned 20 is also the year I "screwed my head on straight" according to my Papaw. Why? Because I met the love of  my life! Lance has definitely made the past 7 years of my life amazing! (Technically we met in March of that year.)

The verse comes to mind from Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it."

I'm in no way OLD! I'm only pushing 30 and 30 is NO LONGER "old"! (I don't even think 50 is old anymore!)

 I am celebrating the fact that I have grown in the past 7 years, all thanks to the christian raising from my parents & the love of a husband I never thought was possible.

In this year I am excited, because I am healthier than I have been in the past 7 years, in love more than I could ever imagine, and grasping the understanding that it's not my will, but HIS.

So, here's to 27. May it be a great year and bring many new opportunities!

(My cake that my love made last year) 

Tied Off

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2 NKJV)


There are days when I wonder where is God leading us next. And just like a child I also ask "Why?" Over a month ago we allowed a stranger, an angel into our home. We have shown her love and planted a seed which we may never see the fruits until our meeting place in heaven.

This angel is still here with us, but we don't know how much longer. There's a term Lance uses on the boat: "Tied off". This usually happens when they have come upon bad weather or rough winds. They have to shove into the nearest bank and wait it out. During this time him and I get to talk more often than other times, because, well, basically he's bored. Lol.

This thought came to me today. Maybe God gives us times in our lives to "tie off" to the nearest tree trunk or piling. During this time we should take the opportunity of being "bored" to talk to our heavenly father more frequently. I stumbled across this verse in Hebrews (see above) as I started a new devotional today focused towards foster care. I know I didn't stumble across it accidentally, but am "tied off" to it for the next 31 days. God continuously reveals and reminds me of why Lance and I are called to be foyer parents. I just need to take the time to listen.

The Power of Prayer

I am witness to the power of prayers. I have to say the most influential body of believers were those at FBC Gueydan. That group of believers BELIEVED in some prayer. I saw the affect of their faith. I have seen my own momma healed by prayers and I have seen families changed by prayers.

As I reflect over the past 2 years of our marriage I can see how prayer has helped us to grow. At first our prayer was to be blessed with our own biological children. Now our prayer is to be blessed with the opportunity to have children in our home. Some, no, most people don't understand our prayer and that's OK. Something I don't share with many people is that according to the fertility specialist invitro is our closest step to biological children. I am not completly comfortable with this idea, so it's one reason we haven't taken that route. I know my God is greater than any doctor and can perform miracles, but I also know he prepares us for things we do not know.. just like he did the Israelites. I just know that I don't want to miss his blessings, no matter what form they come to us in.

I think the knowing we wanted "noise" in our home happened when we hosted the Junior High girls for a D-NOW weekend. We had SO much fun with them in our home! After the fumes of the hairspray, the smell perfume, and they actually left our house we missed them. (I know, who misses teen girls in their home?) I think it was just the fact of having "noise" in our home, besides the 2 of us. Don't get me wrong we are enough for each other,but it was nice having others to share with.

Lance and I are truly blessed in more ways than we ever thought imaginable. This is one of the main reasons we feel lead to be foster parents. There are many children out there who are dealt a bad hand in life based on other peoples choices. We want to be the safe haven for them. We want to show them and share with them the love of Christ. Yes, we hope to adopt in the process... but as a co-teacher described a foster home she once knew... we hope to be a home with a revolving door.

The power of prayer can bring people a long way. Prayer is our way of communicating with the Most High. When we pray we need to remember that it is communication... as I tell my students: communication takes place when one person listens and one person talks and then the roles are turned. Sometimes I think we confuse communication with us being the only ones to talk and God to be the only one to listen. He speaks... we need to take the time to listen.