you have a Father

"Every fiber of our being was created to receive love and give it away.  Nothing in life is more natural than walking in the love of our Father and passing that unconditional love on to others."

Jack Frost

Do you know that you have a Father who loves you with an undying love?

Do you know that your Father is absolutely for you?

Do you know that Father created you to be in relationship with Him..that there is nothing that you can do that will please Him more than to simply love Him and enjoy His presence?

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was reading a book called Spiritual Salvery to Spiritual Sonship, by Jack Frost.  It had been recommended to me because of some of the issues that one of our children still struggles with.  In many ways, she sees herself as an orphan, rather than a precious daughter.

The book has been so helpful in understanding what makes this precious child afraid to trust.  But it has also been incredibly helpful for me personally.  Some of the unhealthy patterns that Frost mentions in the book are patterns that I have seen in my own life (resisting authority, frustration for not being noticed for my "good deeds", an "everyone else has it better than me" whiney attitude...and on and on and on).

Can I just say that reading this book has been very eye-opening?!

Can I also say that reading this book has been an absolute gift from a loving Father?!

I'd so love to send this book to someone else who would benefit from reading it.  But, be forewarned, although you will be totally encouraged by the outrageous love of our Father that is portrayed in the pages of this book, it is not primarily a feel-good book.  It's also not a book of empty psychology or empty religion.  It is a book that speaks the truth (sometimes the hard truth) in love.  It will challenge you and call you on to love and to be loved.  And it will encourage you to put your absolute trust in your absolutely wonderful Father...each and every day of your life.

So, if you'd like to read this book, just leave me a comment.  I'll pick a name from among the comments sometime next week.

A special friend

We have been so blessed by Yana's friendship with S.  She is a young Ukrainian woman, who has taken Yana under her wing, and showed her great love.  

She lives a little ways away from us now, but on Saturday, S. was able to come and visit and to take Yana to the home where she stayed when she lived close by.

It's a great place for Yana to visit, because they have all sorts of animals.

Have I mentioned before that Yana LOVES all animals?!

And here's Yana driving the golf cart!  Yikes!  I'm kinda glad that I didn't get to witness that!!

Uh...have I mentioned before that Yana LOVES all sorts of animals...(even slimy ones)?!

Thanks S., for being such a wonderful friend to Yana!  We appreciate you so much!

five years...with our precious Yana

I will never forget the moment that I met our precious Yana.  She was walking down a set of concrete steps.  It was very cold outside and she was wearing a winter jacket with a fuzzy hood pulled up around her head.  Sweet little curls snuck out from under the hood, and her little grin lit up her face.  She was absolutely perfect.

When Yana joined our family, we were overjoyed by the way that she fit right in.  We now had two sets of virtual twins, and it was so much fun!!  (even if it was a little bit exhausting :) )

Lily had been praying for a sister...Yana was that very special answer to her prayers.

 Yana...what a delight you have been!

We are so grateful that God brought you to our family.

You are our beautiful,

animal-loving,

picture-drawing,

Ukrainian princess.

We love you, sweet Yana.

You are an absolute treasure!

Thank you, Father, for five wonderful years with our precious daughter.

Daddy David

Revealing the Father's heart

to his children.

Oh how grateful I am

that my dear ones

have a father

such as this.

Happy Father's Day, sweetheart!

We all adore you!

David

by Lily

D addy to me

A lways kind

V ery lovingly bringing up his kids

I mage of God

D ealing with arguments

(hehehe...David and I had to chuckle at that last one...our kids never argue, do they?!)

Mama, I see Jesus.

Mama, I see Jesus.

He's up in the sky.

Mama, I see Jesus building a house.

He's building a house for poor people.

They are sad, because they no have anyplace to live.

But Jesus is building a house for them.

He love them.

The house is red and green and orange and yellow and pink.

It's so pretty one.

Mama, I hear Jesus.

He say, 'Grace I love you.'

He say, 'Mama I love you.'

He love you.

Crime scene investigation

THE EVIDENCE

(found in the school room, on the morning of June 5th)

THE WEAPON

(found next to the strands of hair on the above-mentioned morning)

THE SUSPECT

(after she was taken to a hairdresser to cover up the crime)

Gracie made some new friends on Friday night--three sisters, who all had cute little bangs.  So Saturday morning, Grace decided that she should have some, as well.  lol!  She actually didn't do too bad, except for a chunk of hair that is now missing on the right side of her head.  But, I'm not complaining!  The hairdresser told me that her last little kid "fix" was for a girl who had given herself a reverse mohawk--she had cut a straight line from her forehead all the way to the back of her head.  Oh my!

Sweet Gracie, you're beautiful!

(with or without bangs!)

just another way that my sweet Lily-girl blesses me...

One day, when Adam was about 6 years old, I had gotten out the ironing board to iron some clothes. 

"What is that?" Adam asked.

Yup.

My 6 year old had no idea what an ironing board was.

And there is a very good reason for that.

I

hardly

ever

iron

And here's a little proof.

Some of these clothes have been hanging there since last summer.

Nope.

 Not joking.

Last summer.

But, guess what?!

Lily has decided that she LOVES ironing!

She had been begging me to teach her how to iron for months.

I was hesitant, because I didn't want her to get burned.

And well,

teaching someone to iron is a lot like

ironing.

And I wouldn't want to do that!

But, I shouldn't have worried.

Lily was on her own after only a couple of demonstrations.

And I have to say.

Her ironing is MUCH better than mine.

And look at this!

Just a few things left, that need some special care.

Hmmm...I guess that I better get on that.

Of course, I could wait until tomorrow...