before the morning

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture


ch ch ch changes

So my mom might have a been a little bit of a David Bowie nut...anyway.

The title doesn't lie. There are BIG changes coming to this little blog (some of you may have realized I upgraded to a .com already, but that's nothing in the grand scheme of things). I will ask you all to pray, however, that I let God decide/guide the direction of this blog. After all, it's sole existence should be to glorify him.

Here's the fun part for you! You may be part of the supercooltotallyexclusive design selection committee. I know. WAY exciting! You're welcome.

Stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel (for now!)

ineedthesemorethanair

I might be a little dramatic, but seriously, if someone in blogland wants to donate to the heatherneedstoms fund...

They are calculus Toms!
Toms.
In red.
With calculus.
One for one.
Be still my beating math teacher heart.

doppleganger

So I have never been told I look like any celebrity out there, ever.

Until the other day when Rachel left this:


So I did some googling and I think this is who she means:

Anjelah Johnson

To which I have to say...THANK YOU she is beautiful, but I'm not so sure of the resemblance ;) What do you think?















My husband is the real star of this post, however. He gets "you look like ________" all the time. His top two right now:

 
David Spade
Eric Foreman















But the other day a friend (who has never met my husband, I met him on my Honduras trip) asked if Eric had ever been in movies, because he look just like this guy:

Jack McBrayer

I think he is way better looking than any celebrity ;)

hot stuff!!!

the one you've been waiting for

I have kind of avoided this update because I am not sure of how people are going to take it. Which is very unlike me, to worry about what others think, but here I am admitting that to you.

A year and a half ago we started our journey of foster-to-adopt. When we started it, we felt like we heard clearly from the Lord that this was to be our path. I don't think we heard wrong. A dear friend of mine told me that sometimes God takes us down a path, just to help us avoid another path that is not in his plan for us. When Eric and I started down this road, we envisioned that in a year, tops, our house would be filled with the sound of little footsteps, and that has obviously not come to pass. However, many other very good things have happened during this time, things neither of us would trade for the world.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. - Isaiah 55:8

We have decided that we haven't decided.

Confused yet? Just hang on.

We are not even certified for foster care yet, after a year and a half. We are not stopping the process, but we are not actively pursuing it right now either. And by that I mean I am not calling our social worker or emailing her to find out what is going on. I am not calling or emailing her supervisor either. We are leaving this part of adoption completely and totally in God's hands.

Here is what we are doing:
We are researching.
We are looking into several different types of adoption, and several different agencies.
We are still very excited about, and committed to, adoption.
That. has. not. changed.
Our hearts are for the orphan.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:27

I should say orphans.
Because we believe (and it has been confirmed to us through God, his Word, and his people) that we are going to be parents to many.

I don't know what many is (and Lord, I probably don't want to!) but Eric and I are willing to do whatever it takes to further God's kingdom.
To be molded into the image of Christ.
To serve.
To love.
To give God all the glory, because he is worthy!

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  - 1 Timothy 1:17

So I hope that I haven't disappointed anyone, but it doesn't really matter because I know - in this - that I am not disappointing God.

I promise, when we know more, so will you ;)

beautiful things

This is my new favorite song. I heard it for the first time the other day at a concert some friends invited us to. Their friend was raising money to go to Africa. I immediately fell in love with the song...only learning the story behind it later.






All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
Making me new

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of the dust
(You are making me new, making me new)

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of us
(You are making me new, making me new)

Oh, you make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of the dust
(You are making me new, making me new)

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

the family

Before I get started talking about all the amazinglywonderfulonlyGodcoulddothat stuff that happened on my trip to Costa Rica, I thought it was high time I introduce you to my family there. I say they are my family because that is how Eric and I feel. We love this family so, so much. It's hard to believe that we have only known them since 2009, because it feels like they have been a part of us forever.

Meet the Jones' Family!
Timothy and Keiry (pronounced "Katie") are two of the most amazing people/parents I have ever met. Their love for the Lord and for each other is unparalleled. They just celebrated their 23rd anniversary, which just happens to be three days after our anniversary! Timothy is hard at work translating the bible into Cabecar. You can read more about that here. Keiry is the glue that holds this family together, I want to be just like her one day!

Now for the most beautiful children on earth!

The oldest is Rebekah. She is in college to be a dentist! All of the Jones' kids are hard workers, but I have never heard a single complaint come from Rebekah's mouth. Hannah is next, and she is also in college. She is a business major. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Mark is number three and the first boy. He is in his last year of high school and he exemplifies what it means to be a man after God's own heart. He is also a very talented guitar player (Eric and Mark get along very well!) Ruthie (Ruth) has more personality in her pinky than I do in my whole body. This girl is hilarious, loves to laugh, and has a passion for horses and Jesus. John is the quintessential 9 year old boy! He has the most contagious laugh, but he is probably the most sensitive of the kids too. I love to watch him worship. Abby (Abigail) is the baby. She is the most adorable child on the planet and very thoughtful. It has been incredible to see her growing up every year.

I could write a novel on this family. The most incredible thing to me, other than how much they love God, is how much they love each other. The sibling relationships are absolutely wonderful. Honestly, it makes me a little jealous sometimes! I love my siblings, but I can see the difference being raised in a Christ-like home makes on the interactions between brothers and sisters.

I'll be honest (but then when am I not with you?) I am still processing the trip. I am still going back and reading my journal about everything that went on. I am still seeing God do things, long after we are home, as proof of his sovereignty and grace. I have a lot I can share, but a lot that I cannot, so I am really praying about my words before I present them to you.

(and yes, for all my anxious readers *cough*Deb*cough* I will post an adoption update soon ;) )

home...sort of.

I'm home.
Well, my body is at least.
I'm pretty sure I left my heart in Costa Rica.
It's somewhere in the mountains.
I'd like to go back and find it.

I also miss this:



I'm processing still, but I'll be back super soon to fill you in on all that God did on the trip.
I am not lying when I say it was incredible.
God is awesome.