I just...

sat in my son's room for an hour praying and trying to help him get settled.  The issue??  We asked him to shower 4 minutes early.  Having two mentally ill children (who think they're adults) is mentally and physically draining.

The good side of this is that it has FORCED me to turn to God for renewal and refreshing.  Sometimes I think God puts us in a spot where we NEED Him.  I've spent more time in prayer over this past year than I ever have.  Although I'm too close to the situation to see a lot of change,  I do have a clearer sense of God sustaining me.

At Shepherd the staff is reading Soul Shift by Steve DeNeff and David Drury.  I liked this quote.  "When you don't know who you are, you act like someone you're not---a person who is less than you are meant to be.  And it will be harder to live like that than being who you really are.  Acting is always harder than being. ....You rob yourself and the world of what you could have offered if only you had been who you were meant to be.

Pray with us that our kids discover who they are meant to be and don't let past hurts and traumas determine their future.  

Grateful!

Thankful today for time with family, good food, beautiful weather, a fun trip to the Memphis zoo, SPRING, two dependable cars, a nice home, awesome neighbors, our dog, Mei-Mei, strength to keep pushing on, good people to minister with at Shepherd, and loads of fun memories!

Remember to take stock of all the great things going on in your life!  I certainly need to do it more often!

We're Still Moving Along!

We've been hanging out with my parents for this week of spring break.  It has been a nice change.  I so miss travel!

As I've been praying and pondering as to what we could do in our situation (and not receiving any clear answer!),  God has repeatedly pointed out to me that there will be times in life that aren't pleasant.  Times from which you want to run away and hide.  Times when the world shouts at you ways to go that would be so much easier.  God doesn't say, "Take the short cut!"  He says, "Do it my way and the end result will be for your good."  There is a possibility that our story won't ever have a happy ending BUT that doesn't mean that I don't want it to be written.  Lead on!

You can pray with us for wisdom in decision making.  A place for Mitike this summer.  A job for Matt that will be a good match for what he likes to do.  Continued progress with his right arm, hand, and speech. A softening of Mitike's heart and attitude's.  Pray for China that he will not allow circumstances to control his emotions/feelings.