Friendships

I have been focusing a lot of my prayers, study and thoughts on the subject of female friendship lately. Through different circumstances, friendship has been brought to the "front burner" of my mind. I have realized a few things about myself.

- I am not good at friendship.
- I have not had a "bossom" friend since childhood. We were both tomboys, so I'm not sure that counts.
- I do not know how to have healthy friendships.
- I have never had healthy friendships modeled for me, until I came to Bethlehem.
- I needed help in friendships.
- I must become whole, healthy and true in my relationship with the Lord to be a good friend to others.

There are more things, but they seem redundant, unless I explained them fully.

This is what I have been doing to understand myself (with my faults) and, with the Holy Spirit and the Body of Believers, grow in healthy friendships. First I have confessed and repented to the Lord, concerning my faults. I have gone to a particular friend (the one who brought up the subject with me) and confessed my inadequacies and sins. I have continued to make my time in the Word a priority. I have also gone to my "mentors" (Titus 2 in action, folks) to seek counsel and reproof in this area. They have seen my desperation and desiring for wisdom in this arena. (I'm sure I look absolutely helpless, because I am.) I am so blessed to have their wisdom and patience with me. They have been AMAZING help and here is some of what they have said that has guided me:

- Learn "why" you are not a good friend, then move on.
- Confess your sin. Repent.
- Read your Bible.
- Learn "what type" of friend you are.
- Pursue friendships that will help you grow in godliness,
- Step away from friendships that hinder your growth.
- Understand who you are in Christ.
- Read your Bible.
- Read a good book on friendship.
- Realize that each of your friendships will look different and have different boundaries.

I have also been listening to "seromonettes" on friendship by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Karen Loritts. I am still seeking wisdom in this area, because I want to be a good friend. Two women in my life said, "Even at our age (over 50), we are still learning about female friendships. They are hard."

Do you have any resources that you would like to share?

Rainy Days

Recently we have been having some dreary weather mixed with some WONDERFULLY warm weather. Here are a couple of pics from one of our "pj's all day" rainy days.

Brother and Sister playing with with play dough. Brother never lasts long, and ends up on the floor picking up all his pieces of play dough. Who would have thought that theses fun things would be full of so much teaching? :)

Then there is this guy. Seriously... I want to go wake him up and just kiss his cheeks right now, due to looking at this picture. Sweet baby boy.

Today is another one of the dreary days. But instead of play dough fun time, it's Mommy's favorite (totally sarcasm here)... LAUNDRY DAY!

Amazingly busy days

Obviously I have not posted in a LONG while... too long actually. I've hit a blogging fog. Ha!

I have been mulling through thoughts concerning adoption, child-rearing, schooling, etc. to post, but presently, my life is so full of all of those things that I feel as though I cannot put down words that are well thought out in actual post, that would be worth reading.

Much of my life, at the moment, is on constant repeat: Wake up (much to my dismay), feed kids, diaper change, potty assembly lines, school, (try to) exercise, laundry, nap, feed kids, diaper change, more naps, laundry, clean up, clean up, clean up.....wait - the repeat is stuck! It's this constant loop that I cannot seem to get out of and sometime find it hard to find joy in the midst of. If I look hard enough and seek wisdom from outside myself, namely Christ and the body of Believers, I am pointed to joy. The Word soothes, convicts and restores my soul. Anyhow, here are a few little updates on our family:

Big Sister:

-Will be 8 in a little over a month. I cannot believe it! What a gem of a little lady I have growing in my home. I love her to pieces.

-We are almost done with this school year! And, yes, we will be doing summer school... we always do. But I am really excited to go through Little House on the Prairie, as a fun and laid back curriculum during the summer months.

-She is still praying for a little sister. :)

Brother (#1):

-He is 3, strong-willed and is as busy as a bumble bee. Many days are filled with much correction, and the Lord is teaching me so much about my sinful heart and need of Christ, as I teach this sweet boy.

-He can ride a Razor scooter like a 6 year old. He's amazing.

-He is speaking more like a human and less like an Ewok.

Baby Brother (#2)

-9 months old and a perfected Army crawler. He is fast!

-Love to eat, no matter if it is approved by the FDA or not. We are pretty sure tree bark is not on the food pyramid, unless it counts, as a grain of sorts. Ha!

-He is losing his rolls, though is still the cutest chubber ever. We are still in "baby-awe" of him.

I would post a photo of them, but my computer is having a few little (or maybe not little) issues with uploading my photos from my camera. I will try to work on that *pause* between diaper changes. ;)

Brothers

Bath time has become even cuter these days.

Funny Story

Our family was at Costco making our weekly trip for free samples *cough*, I mean milk, formula and the usual stuff. We were making our way through the maze of eager sample receipients, heading toward the exit, when a couple stops us.

Lady: "Excuse me, can I please ask you a question?".

*insert Janice's thoughts, that happened in less than 5 seconds*
Dadgummit. Can't I just get through one shopping experience without getting stopped by curious people?! Seriously. Ugh!

Wait. I have a horribly selfish attitude. Ok. Regroup. Try that again.

Do I have time to answer the multitude of questions about adoption right now? I guess I have time, but I kind of want to get out of this crowd and maybe get some ice cream.

Wow, this couple looks like they own a Harley. Well... maybe not the lady, but the man, definitely. Take that back, I bet he drives a Chopper bike.

Janice, focus!

*insert quick prayer*
"Lord, help me be kind and considerate of their questions."

Whelp, here goes nothin'.

Back to scene -

Me: "Sure thing! What's your question?"

Lady: "Do you know where the baby wipes are? We were waiting to see someone with small children, because we just knew they would know where Costco keeps their baby wipes."

Me: "Oh sure, they are all the way to the back and on the left side."

Lady: "Thank you, so much."

Me: "You're welcome!"

We walk a few paces to another isle, and as we turn in Kevin leans in and quietly says, "I was preparing myself for adoption questions."

I reply: *giggle* "Yeah, me too."

Please read this!

Dr. Russell Moore says all this (about adoption and how it relates to Chrisitians) so much better than I can. Please, please, please read this!

http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/12/dont-adopt/

Bloodlines

Our Pastor has a new book out. I recommend it. I will read it. I have no doubt it is good. Here is a short documentary concerning the book. Racism is close to our hearts, as parents to black children. May God give us eyes to see one another as images of God, FIRST!

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.