WALKing His Path: Are you stuck living on Friday?

So I am sure you are wondering what my title means, so I will explain. With just celebrating Easter, I have had much reflection on sacrifice and resurrection. I was reading a devotional last week and it was saying about Jesus dying on a Friday. We all know the story...the pain, the suffering, the ridicule until his body could not withstand any longer, resulting in his death. During that day, and the time to follow, he took on the sin of man and faced everything we are faced with. Do you find yourself being stuck in your suffering, your temptation, your pain ? When we are in a period where we feel like everything is closing in around us, and we are afflicted, it is sometimes hard to see out of it and see past the dark clouds. How must he have felt to have endured all that for us and for everyone to see, it was the ultimate sacrifice and act of humility. It never says, that our days will be easy and perfect and that we too will not endure hard and trying times, but what we KNOW is that Sunday came, and Jesus was not dead. Our pastor preached a message yesterday on "resurrection power." There is so much power in the resurrection. I find myself struggling and trying to "hang in there" at times and wonder, how long is this going to be like this? But I find peace in the fact that Sunday is coming. Christ has risen from the dead, he has trampled death. Regardless of whatever Satan tries to throw at us and how much he beats us up, let history speak for itself, and know that Sunday came, and that Christ is alive the same today as he was then.

God has really been helping me get through those hard and confusing moments lately. We continue to see the fruits of our family. It seems like every time we have a moment or an "episode" with one of the girls, we come out the other end stronger and more aware than when we went in. We met at the lodge yesterday with numerous other families who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting. It seems that each of the families have similar stories to share. We have all had moments where we have wondered, " am I prepared and capable of this" and moments we have not understood things, it is comforting to have that support. It has been good for the kids to have all these other kids to be able to get together with and share the "life in America" things that they are dealing with as well. I have learned that you can never assume anything with the girls. I think some times my expectations may have been too high for them in some regards. You see them as what they are, 13 and a 14 year old girls. In some ways, they are mature beyond their years, and have developed and a "toughness" to survive and have also had to grow up quicker than normal kids. But it is so evident that there is so much they have never had or experienced before. I sometimes assume they know how to do this, or do that, but reality is, even though they should know these things at their age, they haven't been taught or shown. They are like dry sponges, wanting to absorb everything they can. It has been good for Russie and I to sit back at times and see how far they have came in a short amount of time, and to see them do things that they have learned from us and from the people and surroundings here. They are gaining confidence and gaining a sense of what a family is all about. I know what it feels like for me to be going through this adjustment period, and experiencing all these new emotions,and trying to deal with them. I cannot imagine what it must be like on their end. They have never had anyone in their life that has loved them consistently and cared for them the way a parent should. They have never been able to trust people completely. They have never had an environment where they didn't live in some kind of fear. They have never been told that they have been a "good" daughter, or have never had little sisters and a brother. There are so many things they have never had or known before. It is sometimes hard to remember this on a daily basis, but God is reminding me, to stop and remember where they have came from and realize they don't know what these things are to be like until they are shown or told. It is a constant learning experience for them and for us. We are thankful for the depth of God's love and how he has showed us his love for those who are labeled "unlovable."

We were excited this week to celebrate Lena's ( Russ and Lori's daughter ) 15th birthday. It was a special day because this is the first birthday she has had in America. She was glowing and was excited. We had cake and ice cream for her with the family and then went roller skating. Everyone had a great time and shared in her excitement. We are excited to be celebrating Laynie's Birthday this week too. She will be 5 tomorrow. I have no idea where the last five years have went and how I ended up with this beautiful, independent, and smart little girl. She has been such a blessing to us and has brought a completely different dynamic to our family. She is the strong willed child, who is determined and knows what she wants. You cannot change her mind and we have learned there is little use trying to. Although is a a bit more stubborn than me, I see so much of myself in her. I tell her all the time, that when she was born, she stole my memory. I used to have a sharp memory and never forgot anything, well that is not the case these days. I always tell Laynie to remember things for me and she always does. We are having a party for her at Delgrosso's on Saturday. I hope she feels special and as blessed this week, as we do to have her in our family.

Here is the link again for the song I posted on my last blog, a few have said they were not able to listen to it, and also a second link to a song that Russie made me stop everything I was doing one day and listen to it., and some pictures from the week

Christ is Risen - Matt Maher - Lyr
Laura Story - Blessings

Also, as I was writing this, I got an email from Janna, the lady who did our home study for us, she sent me this link on youtube for a video a family had made that adopted through their agency. I do not know this family but they are from PA as well. It is a long video, but within seconds I was in tears and had to stop it half way to pull myself together. It may not effect you the way it did me, either way, it is a great video and I enjoyed watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E2GDzxCBEg