Only a Mountain

God asks us to have FAITH. I've been claiming this verse and clinging to the promise that nothing is impossible when we call upon Him:

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matthew 17:20 

I catch myself singing this song around the house randomly. It's been an encouragement to me as we continue to follow God and trust HIM in what seems impossible. This is a fun song that's upbeat, and so full of truth that we can command the mountain to move - even when it seems so enormous in front of us. 




Big thanks to American Idol's Jason Castro for this awesome song that this mama is singing all day long!

Empowered to Connect

Michael and I headed to Empowered To Connect in Nashville during September.

We've always loved Dr. Karyn Purvis' book The Connected Child , but to get to go and hear hear and learn about WHY children from hard places struggle with attachment, bonding, food, sensory issues, and lots more was REALLY eye-opening. I love Karyn Purvis and I pretty much want to put her in my pocket!

Show Hope did a  FABULOUS job of putting on this event and the whole weekend was such a great time of learning for Michael and I. Another great thing was that we got to hang out with our friends Lori and Steve who are waiting on Korea's cutest little boy Davis! You can follow their journey to Davis here: The Mini Adventures of Lori and Steve ! Also, we got to meet our friends Julie and Steve for the first time - they came in from California for the conference. (Yeah, this thing is a BIG DEAL!)

Watch this video about what every adoptive parent should know.

Here's another great one - about food and why a child who has experienced malnutrition (prenataly or postnatally can really be an issue for a child from a hard place.





There are a LOT of fanstastic resources available for you at the Empowered to Connect Website. You can watch more videos and get lots more info - what an invaluable resource for adoptive and foster families! These resources were not available for families who adopted years ago and were walking this path without much connection or guidance. Everyday I thank God for the blessing of the Adoption Community and for the resources we have to parent our children from hard places WELL!

Check out the Empowered to Connect website for more resources: http://empoweredtoconnect.org/resources/

#$%@ People Say To Transracial Families - Adoption Funny

This is hilarious, because it is pathetically true. I want to say you'd be shocked at some of the things that have been said to us (and some in front of our kiddos), but this will paint you a little picture.





Let's think before we speak people. We don't mind talking about adoption - as a matter of fact, we LOVE IT, but please be sensitive that adoption is born from loss and some things are private and are not shared with the random lady in the grocery line.

Paula

Never Once Did We Ever Walk Alone

God is using this song to really speak some truth into my life. While our lives don't always make sense to us, or especially to the world around us. He has a calling on our lives and when He says GO, we can't say NO, so we step out of the boat and say YES to the ones He puts in front of us daily... knowing that HE is with us.





As we step out in obedience, Lord, we are asking you to be with us. You are Faithful, God. You are Faithful.

Lyrics to Matt Redman's Never Once

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us


Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us


Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say


Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/matt_redman/never_once.html
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful


Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone


Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful