my heart...

 

(photos from easter sunday)

 

as our family approaches many changes in our life 

(& have currently approached one, since we are in uganda getting amos)

my heart has been so so sad. 

michael & i both don't handle change very well, but the change of moving away from memphis has been a difficult change to embrace. we will be leaving the only home our boys have ever known, all our dear friends, the place michael & i started our relationship & family & a sweet sweet season for the barkers.

 

2 weeks ago i realized i was grieving this loss. i didn't have much of an appetite & i felt sad all day long. 

i know He has good for us & not harm. i know that He has amazing plans ahead for our family.
things i wouldn't believe if i saw them now. i have much peace this week. thank You Jesus!

 

i grieve for my boys (jude mainly) because he really doesn't handle change well. we had some guys working on our flowerbed a few weeks ago & he stood at the window & cried because he didn't want them to "change" our yard. :( sweet boy. we tried to explain to him that they were making our yard look better & it would be good, better than what we had. he just cried & cried & didn't understand.

so it is with our gracious & good Father... He brings along new things & works in us to make things "better than what we have" & we don't understand & we cry & we try to hold on tightly to the things/places/people/season we have now. but we HAVE to trust Him. there's nothing else we can do. 

 

He knows what's good for us... & we do not. years, months & even just weeks from now i will look back at "our flowerbed" & see how the Lord uprooted many things in our lives & planted new things. & it will have felt uncomfortable in the moments of His working, but IT WILL BE GOOD!!!

i know this to be true.

al

i'm learning... (guest post)

Hi! It's Megan again from The Unlikely Housewife.  I wanted to share some of the things I've learned in the brief 4 years that I've been a mom and some things I am still learning. I am a mommy of 2 amazing little ones. Eden will be 4 in July and Owen will be 2 in just a few weeks! I am so delighted to be their mommy. Staying home has very difficult moments, but I would never ever trade it for the best job in the world. I feel like I already have the best "job" in the world. I am no pro and have lots and lots and lots of shortcomings.  These things are not universal for every mom, but it works for our family.

~ I have to get up early. Our entire day runs so much better when I am up, showered and have spent time in the Word and prayer. This doesn't always happen, but it has become more and more apart of my schedule. It has gotten a little more difficult since my sweet Eden keeps making her rising time earlier and earlier. I know that I need time in God's word to be prepared for the day and I do not want sleep (with exceptions of... new baby, rough night, sickness) to get in the way.

~ I cannot get stressed out over the house. I say that, but I do! My husband reminds me all the time that I have a 4 and 2 year old and the house isn't always going to be clean. For instance, the other day I cleaned my floors and after just the afternoon there was playdough, sand and food all in the kitchen. I looked at it and wanted to cry at first, but then realized I had rather my kids remember having fun than having to keep things tidy all the time. This can be a struggle for me.

~ We are our children's primary educators. No matter if we homeschool, private school or public school Don and I are the ones that are responsible for the things that influence our children and shape their worldview. While I am excited about that it is also a huge job! Thankful for the Lord's help and grace

~ Play with them as much as you can! They are only little for so long. I can get so focused on the things that I need to do for the day and feel like I have to get everything on my list checked off that the day can slip by before I know it. As I grow as a mom I am learning more and more the balance of housework and time with the kids.

~ They are constantly watching me, especially Eden. She notices and comments on the clothes I wear, my makeup, my jewelry, the things that Don and I talk about, things we listen to, things I say to friends. It is crazy how aware she is about everything and interested. I know it is so important to be instilling in her kingdom values and not things of this world.

~ I greatly need to plan my days out. I don't do this minute or even hour by hour. But I do decide what we will be doing during our school time in the morning, what fun places we will go, playdates, crafts we will make. If I just let the week happen it's usually not the best week in our house.

Those are just a few quick things I've learned and we are doing as a family. I could go on and on, but I will leave you with that. Thanks for letting me share with you all. Al's friend Britney will be up next week! I leave you with a few picture of my sweet babes. Have a happy weekend!

"Look after Orphans and Widows" (guest post)

Hello, I am so delighted to be guest posting for Al while she is in Uganda. I am Megan from The Unlikely Housewife and I have know Allison for about 8 years now and have been so blessed by her friendship. As most of you know Al and her family are in Uganda where they are adopting a precious little boy Amos. I cannot wait for you all to see his sweet face. So precious!! I wanted to briefly share on adoption:

James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I am so struck by how clear the Lord puts it. He says to take care of them. Nothing confusing about that. I do think this looks different for everyone in the body of Christ. Some are called to adopt, some to support adoption, some to foster care, some to be a mentor and Christ-like example and some to visit and bring encouragement. I believe a huge message that James is communicating is that as the body we are not to forget about anyone especially those we see in need. And that we are all to be apart of caring for orphans and widows. So, with a convicted heart I encourage you to ask yourself what you can do to be more a part of caring for orphans and widows.

Galatians 4:5-7 says, "to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Adoption is a beautiful example of the Gospel. I was lost and alone and Christ came and called me beloved and called me his daughter. Earthly adoption portrays that. Not that the family adopting is that child's savior, but that family has said you are no longer alone you are no longer fatherless and motherless you are our son or daughter now. So beautiful!!

I wanted to leave you with what The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL did a few years ago when challenged by a sermon their pastor David Platt preached. In the sermon on James 1:27 he states, "... I (David Platt) wondered why could we not take our county and say, ‘We’re not going to let a child in our county be without a mom or dad for a night, without someone who will care for them and love on them, maybe for a short time or maybe for a long time." As a result of that 70 families signed up to help look after orphans in their county. Amazing!!! That is so encouraging!! Here is the full article

Let us all be diligently praying for the Barkers as they are bonding with Amos and as they prepare to bring him into their home. As well as prayerfully considering how each of us can be more apart of adoption and caring for widows. I know the example of the Barkers and others in my life have greatly challenged me with how to care for orphans and widows. Have a beautiful day!

granola bars & little boys

i got this recipe from my friend mel. 

YUM YUM YUMMM!

make them right this second... you won't regret it.

the goods you'll need:

*2 c old fashioned oats

*1 c raw nuts

*1/2 c raw seeds

*1 c shredded coconut

*1/2 c ground flaxseed

*1/3 c peanut butter

*2/3 c honey

*3 Tbs unsalted butter (i use earth balance)

*2 tsp vanilla

*1/4 tsp cinnamon

*pinch of salt

*1 c dark chocolate (i use about 1/2 c)

how to make the yumminess:

*preheat over to 300 

*toast oats, nuts, seeds & coconut on a cookie sheet in the oven until golden brown, about 15 mins.

*meanwhile, bring peanut butter, honey, butter, vanilla, cinnamon & salt to a simmer in a small saucepan. reduce heat to low.

*transfer toasted mixture to a large mixing bowl & add the flaxseed.

*pour the wet mixture into the bowl & stir until fully combined. add the chocolate chips.

*transfer the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. use the back of a spoon to pack it in really well.

*bake for 30 mins.

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we are in uganda, africa at this very moment to bring our amos home!

i have thought many times about seeing our boy for the first time
& learning his personality.

i've thought about the emotion that i would feel when i held him for the
first time...

but now it is actually happening!!! we are, at this moment, loving on our little one.
what a joy & an honor to be asked to welcome this sweet boy into our family forever!

Father, give our family grace for this transition!!!

MAKE US MORE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!

our Father has gone before us & He is sovereign in all things! :)

keep praying for us!!!

al

WE'RE ON OUR WAY!!!!!!

we are currently packing up the car & driving to the airport!!!

we're finally going to get our amos!

God is faithful & good, His timing is perfect!

we're so looking forward to this month together as a family of 5!

please pray for us. 

pray for the moments of frustration & being exhausted... that Christ, through our weakness, would be glorified & that we would be sanctified. 

pray our little amos would attach to us quickly.

pray jude & sammy would just fall in love with their little brother.

pray for wisdom for mike as he leads & shepherds our family.

pray that i would be humbled & after this long trip... would look more like Christ!

-------------------

i am not planning on updating the ole blog while we're in uganda, but i will have a few "scheduled" posts & i have some dear friends that will be doing guest posts so stay tuned. :)

we CANNOT wait to return home with our dear amos & tell all of what the Lord did in our lives & show you pictures of his cute chubby little face!!!!!!!!!

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leaving you with a picture of us with our dear friends the gales. 

i cry when i think about moving away from them. ah i will miss them greatly!

(embracing the camera here.)

al