Tuesday, January 15, 2013

God is moving...

God is moving hearts...
and our FSP is moving...
we are so grateful for
every dollar sacrificially given
so that a little boy
with a broken heart
can come home
to good medical care
and love
and family
and hugs
and a repaired heart

Thank you for helping us give Hannes
a home
and a
family.

He is chosen.
He is loved.
He will be redeemed from a life in a crib
to a full life in a home.

God sets the lonely in families.
God will not leave him as an orphan but will send us for him...

Our adoption is expected to cost $25,000 so your support 
is so appreciated!

Thank you for helping to make this possible!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Joy in the Journey

Giving Thanks to the Lord for all things - 
daring to find joy in 1000 things in 2013

3 yellow gifts of fresh mercy

31.   lemons that take the marks away
32.   sunlight kisses on my face
33.   yellow note reminding me: The Word of God is my sanctuary

Something above, below, and beside

34.   Thankful for the crisp air that makes all things fresh
35.   The rag rug that was made with love, warm for my feet
36.   My husband, beside me in all things

Things about yourself that you are grateful for

37.   My love for all things Jesus
38.   My heart for the children, little and big
39.   The wisdom gained from struggle

3 Startling graces of God

40.  to love me in spite of who I am
41.  to give me children I love wholeheartedly
42.  to make all things beautiful




Find the Joy Dare at www.aholyexperience.com


Sunday, January 13, 2013

If not us...

I found a song I am loving:  Audio Adrenaline's Kings and Queens - check out the song...



I picture all the little lonely ones in cribs in orphanages around the world, just waiting for God to bring them someone to love them, to be precious to someone...  
if not us, tell me, who will be Jesus to the least of these...

If not us, oh but why not us?  We will bring another one of these precious children into our home to love them both AS IF they had been born to us...

You may not be called to adopt, but there are things you can do to be Jesus to them:

Sponsor a child:
 World Vision and Compassion are two places you can do that...

Give to Reece's Rainbow:
they advocate for and give grants to some of the least of these...

Become a Foster Care family:
good, loving homes for children in your neighborhood are desperately needed...

Help Hannes come home where he will know that he is LOVED!

These could be our daughters and our sons...

they ARE our daughters and our sons - this rejected daughter has BECOME my daughter, this rejected son will BECOME my son... 

Break our hearts once again...

The ones we left behind in South Africa, the ones we will be leaving behind this time too...they break my heart...

Every child has a dream to belong and be loved...

Oh yes they do - they crawl into your lap, they hug you, they want any affection they can get - to feel loved and like they belong even for just the length of a hug...

...these are the lives that the world has forgotten

Pray about what you can do...


Lyrics:

Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Chorus:
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

CHORUS

If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these


Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Sour gifts...

Today's Joy Dare...

Counting 1000 gifts in 2013 with just 3 a day...

Today's gifts are:

28.  sour  -  people in broken communion...



29.  sweet  - sugar cookies in the shape of a heart...


30.  just right - giggles at the end of the day...





Wednesday, January 9, 2013

30 Days and Counting...


Until we board the plane to go to Hannes...

If you would like to help us bring Hannes home,
there is still time to make a tax-deductible donation:
http://reecesrainbow.org/47351/sponsorvanheerden

 
Counting 1000 gifts...

22.  Dusky light - the sunset pink atop the mountains
23.  Surprising Reflection - my words out of the mouth of my child
24.  Lovely shadow -  the cross made by the street signs on the corner
25. Held - a little hand
26. Passed by - flowers peeking out
27. Sat with - cuddle time for my little with a fever

Monday, January 7, 2013

Joy on January 7

Today's Joy Dare... are you following along?  

Counting God's gifts to me and my thankfulness for what He has given me.

 Today is for counting 3 graces from people you love:

19.  Breakfast on the bed
(i do love that cinnamon butter!!)

20.  I'm sorry Mommy
(said the new one)

21.  I just love you Mom said this one: