I Heart That Kid

Someone showed up at our house at 7:00am to release a wild raccoon.

I registered Bebe for Kindergarten this am.

She was most excited about the raccoon.

He was awfully cute.

She wants to name him tonight.

And take him to Kindergarten.

I heart that kid.

Puttin’ the “Fun” in Fund Raisin’

First, I want to take the time to personally thank each and every one of you for your prayers, comments and support. I am truly overwhelmed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So I’m pretty sure my last post was self-explanatory. MP and I have been given a heart for orphans- ALL orphans (every little fellar needs a family), but specifically Uganda. We have wrestled with the decision on whether or not to adopt for a few months now and have finally said, “Yes, Lord. If you call us, we will go.” And now? It’s like the Lord got us all stirred up til we said “yes” and now He has given us the “Thank you for your obedience, now here’s some patience, take a number, and please wait.” And we are blanketed by peace in this decision. Not so secretly I’m breathing a sigh of relief. I’ve been thinking this whole time that we’ve got to run off and go get a child, now, now NOW! But we haven’t been given a sense of urgency at all. We’ve done that to ourselves. I’ve been so caught up in the who? what? where? of it all, that I’ve failed to ask God, “when?” And really, the timing is all His.

So what now?

Now? We take a step back and put it in His hands. We pray. A lot. We pray for our potential future child/children. We pray for our current children. We pray for good health. We pray for each other. We pray we have the strength to remain in His will, when our own ways just seem easier. We pray that He will provide the funds needed to get us there. I don’t know if you’ve looked into adoption, but while our love is limitless, our funds; however, are not. Kids ain’t cheap, yo.

So today, we start with the basics. First, WE GOTTA GET TO AFRICA! We have been introduced to a need that we feel equipped to meet and that’s for us to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are going to Uganda in September 2011 for Missions to work with the very same children who may or may not become our own. So what can you do? Well, pray. Or if you feel led, give. We take both *smile*. This is the part I have the hardest time with: The Fund Raising. Right now, we need to try to raise the approximate $3,800.00 needed for this trip.

If this is something you want to assist with, PLEASE email me at usillypickle@comcast.net and I’ll be happy to give you our address. Please know that at this time, I have nothing to offer in return other than a hug, a heartfelt "thanks" and maybe a funny Facebook quip or two. I love you all. *smiles*

In Him,
~cp

Joseph Loved a Son That Wasn’t Biologically His:

And That Kid Turned Out Just Fine.

“In you, the orphan finds mercy” Hosea 14:3

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” Matthew 18:5

Well. There are so many other people in the world that can do that. You know, people with no kids already. There are plenty of people with more money, bigger homes, etc? I mean, I want to help, but I’m sure it would be a lot easier for other people.

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17

Oh, I WILL! I will tell others about these afflicted children. Surely, I can raise awareness. I’ll talk about them and pray for them. I might even buy a cute tee shirt that says something catchy, like “I HEART Orphans!” You know, with “heart” SPELLED OUT! Ha! Cute.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Well, I suppose I could send a little money each month. I would go on a Mission trip, but I only have so much vacation time this year, so you know, there’s that. But maybe next year, when we haven’t already planned a vacation, then we’ll talk about going. Ooh, maybe Mexico? NO, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC! Yes! THAT’S where we’ll “mission”.

“A Father to the fatherless, defender of widows is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.”

Psalm 68:5-6

“Set the lonely IN FAMILIES”? Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Slow your roll, Haus Cartwright. You mean BRING ONE HERE?! You want us to take in a “lonely?" Sure I saw the documentary about the Ugandan Children’s Prisons, but see -I already have two kids. And my husband and I both work full time. Mornings are crazy enough with the two kids we have. And kids ain’t cheap, yo. And, AND! Do you know how much church we would miss with THREE KIDS?! Yeah, I just don’t think we’re cut out for adoption. It’s just not “for us”.

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:5

Oh. Well….I never really thought about “Christians” as being adopted thru Jesus. But what would our friends and family say? What about strangers at WalMart? Think about this- a Ugandan child living in an all white family in MISSISSIPPI? What would people think?!

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27

Honestly, I am scared. The process is time consuming and confusing. There is a huge language barrier. We would have to fly to Africa. That’s like, 8,000 miles away from my home, my kids, and my Keurig coffee maker. You are asking us to bring back a child that A- has never been to America and B-speaks no English. That’s a lot of change. And I don’t really like “change”, per se. Right now, we’re a typical “All American” four unit family. And it’s easy. Having another child is more expense, more time consuming, more kids fighting at one time. We already don’t get to sleep in our own beds most nights.

“For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, “Abba, Father””. Romans 8:15

Yeah, but….

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3

I’m afraid I may not love this child like my own. How can I? Sure they came from someone’s womb, but it wasn’t mine. Of course, Your Word doesn’t specify they would come from “my” womb either. But, I didn’t feel them kick and move. I didn’t get the “pregnancy glow” or the stretch marks now that I think about it...hmm? Regardless, I didn’t birth them. They won’t even look like me?! How will I know that this child is even mine?

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.” Isaiah 43:5

Yeah...well....I get that all believers are called to aide the orphans and widows, but not everyone is actually called to adopt. Some people just can’t for very valid reasons, such as health conditions, finances, etc. If not everyone is called to adopt, then why do I feel like we should?

“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 8:12

Yeah, but wha…..

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

What if I just don’t? What if I like having all this extra money and extra time? What if I prefer to keep the extra rooms in my large house as extras? What if I don’t want to share my family or our wealth or our resources? What if I consider vacations and deer camp as necessity rather than luxury? What if I’m not ready to give up more of ME for someone else?

“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food and prosperous ease, but did not aide the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50

Blink.

Blink. Blink.

Gulp. Blink.

That pretty much settles it then.