I'm So Glad They Did!!

What would have happened if my sis and her hubby would NOT have listened to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to adopt Isaiah into their family?

This weekend my sister Shauna and her husband and 5 beautiful children came over for the weekend. They came for several reasons, but one of them was that they had been asked to share at the First Baptist Church in Prineville about what the Lord was doing with their lives and what He had done and how He brought them to Isaiah.

Isaiah is their precious boy that they adopted from Uganda. It will be 1 year on November 11 that they have had this boy officially in their family.

I was AGAIN so touched by the story of how the Lord brought Isaiah into their family, I NEVER tire of hearing how God moved in their lives and how he provided the way, the hearts, the finances, and the desire to SACRIFICE and bring Isaiah into their family.

I began wondering why this boy and his story had such an effect on me??? I wondered....do I think he is more special than the other 4 of her children....I wondered....do I think her deserves a family more than any other child.....I wondered....is it because his skin is a different color that brings us to tears every time we hear of his story....

Well, I just feel like the Lord answered my questions. He resolved these things in my heart and in my mind....

What if.........Lily was in a orphanage somewhere and the Lord laid it on Shauna and Justin's heart to go and get her and they DECIDED NOT to?

What if.......Ashton was an unplanned pregnancy and they DECIDED NOT to have her?

What if...... Hunter had a different color of hair and skin than their other children...would they DECIDE NOT to keep him?

What if.....Dawson were taken away at birth and they didn't get him back for a couple of years....would they DECIDE NOT to find him and go to the cost of rescuing him???

Well, when I thought of it in these terms I realized it is NOT that Isaiah is any more special than any of Shauna's other kids, or any child for that matter, but his story and God's Story of how He brought this little precious boy a FAMILY and how He provided a way for them to afford to rescue him, and how He laid it on Shauna and Justin's heart to trust in the Lord and go get this boy that they did NOT know. I'm so glad they did not let fear of the unknown stop them, and that they CHOSE to trust God and trust His Word and to open themselves and their family up. Each child is soooo incredibly precious and they each have a story that is beautiful, but when WE are given a choice and we choose to do what is out of the ordinary, or quite risky and we still choose it that is such a beautiful blessed story.

Isn't that what God has done for us....He CHOSE us!!! He chose to lay down His very LIFE for us....so when He lays something on our hearts or asks us to do something.....I would think WE WOULD RUN TO DO WHATEVER IT IS!!! For GOD to love us so much that He laid down his life for us I want to LOVE HIM BACK and I want to show LOVE for the people that He has put in my life and in my HEART. I want to do it because of WHAT HE DID FOR ME AND WHO HE IS!!!!

ps...Shauna has a blog and many posts about her journey to Isaiah.

http://www.theevergrowingvaughanfamily.blogspot.com/

What Now??

James 4:13-17 (The Message)
13-15And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."
16-17As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.

We showed our house on Wednesday!!! Of course just the idea that we are showing it was exciting and scary at the same time. And then AGAIN without looking for it...the Lord just showed me this verse. So, my mind is all settled down and I'm trying to say it and mean it, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." So I have NO idea what we would do if the place sold, of course we have dreams and ideas, but it really is in the Lord's hands. We are so blessed to serve such a mighty God that even WANTS to handle our lives, and He cares so much about us. And when we do know what is right and He shows us then I pray we do it QUICKLY for if we don't it is evil. That is a pretty heavy....but, it is God's Word, and I am trying to live by His Word, as it is THE TRUTH! So I'm praying for the Lord to show us His will, and praying that WE DO WHATEVER IT IS HE SHOWS US.

I'm excited....there are times when I get scared and think I really like my house, I really like where I live, I really like how things are going, and then I remember....God is so amazing and He gives good gifts and He is the one who put us here and gave us these amazing friends and this amazing place to live, and why shouldn't I trust Him to continue bringing good to my life. Just because there are changes coming why is it my nature to just automatically assume it's going to be bad. God is the Creator of this entire world and every person in it...when I remember THAT FACT I am in awe and I CAN'T wait to see what He's got coming our way. I should trust Him and believe Him and He says that He is good, and He loves us and He wants to give us good gifts. If He created those beautiful mountains that I get to look at everyday and enjoy, then I can't WAIT to see what HE has created and has in store for me everyday.

Matthew 7:11 (New International Version)
11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

One last thought on this.....I get all sentimental when I think of our house selling....and I was pondering WHY this morning and I realized I DO enjoy this house, it just works REALLY well for us, the house itself, the location, the property. But the thing that I LOVE about this house is....there is LIFE and LOVE in this house....there are friends, and family, and KIDS...lots and lots of kids, and there are memories and there is activity and when I remember WHY I LOVE this house, I realize...it's not the house....it's the LOVE, the LIFE, the JOY, the ENERGY, and ALL THAT is from our LORD and I don't need this house to have those things! I have the LORD and He provides it all....even the HOUSE itself.

Arms Wide Open - Misty Edwards

I got the following post from another blog...

http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/

it is sooo good!!!

Ridiculously in love...



Remember when you first fell in love?


Remember how you would have literally done anything for that person?


Remember how, without batting an eye, you would have sold everything you had, packed your suitcase, and moved to the ends of the earth just to be with them?


Remember how all you cared about was spending time with them?


Remember how they were in your every thought, your every dream?


Remember how it practically hurt when you were away from them?


Remember how you couldn't imagine your life without them in it?


Remember how just the thought of talking to them made your heart do flip flops?


And remember how other people would roll their eyes and shake their heads, but secretly wish they too had that kind of love?


That, my friends, is the same kind of passionate love we should have for our Jesus.


Only all too often, our relationship with Him resembles something closer to this...


"Dear Lord, we could really use your help. Please give me good health, please bless us financially, please keep us safe, please provide for all of our needs. And Lord, I have these bills to pay, and on top of that we could really use a new washing machine. oh and God, can you please hurry? Amen."



What do you think would happen if we treated that person we were madly in love with the same way as we treat Jesus? What if we said we loved them, told them they were the most important thing in our lives- but ACTED as if our needs were the only ones that mattered? What if all we did was ask of them- but were never willing to give of ourselves?


Do you think that relationship would last? Do you think that relationship is even real?


My challenge for you is to fall in love with Jesus with total abandonment. You know- ridiculously in love. A love so deep that you'd be willing to give it all away, be willing to risk it all, and be willing to follow Him to the ends of the earth- because nothing else even came close to mattering as much as Him.


Jesus- I love you that much.

Roller Coaster

This weekend was just a rollercoaster of things and EMOTIONS:

We had a moving sale.....we called it a moving sale to imply there were some big items to sell, and also a step of faith on our part that if we are going to move....we have 1 part done so far. The sale was a good effort, we went through a lot of stuff that needed going through, but the sale was quite disappointing. It was a lot of work. The kids were SUPER. They helped a lot and they worked really hard. There was a lot of set up and tear down. We are so grateful to have a friend who knows a lot of people and he took several of the big items off of our hands to bless others with, so we didn't have to move it back in or store it any longer. So we do have LESS stuff which feels pretty good. We got rid of ALL our baby stuff....and the last time I did that, it was 2 weeks later that I found out I was pregnant with Reece. Hmmmmm........(smile).




My dad had surgery last Wednesday, and things were not going so well, I was pretty scared and upset on Saturday...he has now improved...he still needs prayer, but things are defineately looking up. Saturday things were NOT looking good and I called the sisters a.k.a. prayer warriors and Dad has made much improvement. Whew!!! We don't know what to do with ourselves when he isn't feeling well enough to boss us around. We joke and get frustrated with all his bossing, I mean we are all in our 30's and 40's for heavens sake, but we don't know how to live without it....it's like vegetables...they aren't always the favorite thing, but you just need it in your life.




He needs to do a lot of this...when he gets out of the hospital. A little rest and relaxation is in the orders. Now WE are going to BOSS him. He doesn't take orders very well, but he just may be up for it after this little episode. We have to take advantage while we can!!!




Charlie worked hard...here are the results. He is just working working and we are thankful thankful. This guy is amazing the way he can work. I don't know how he does it, but I'm so glad he does.







We went to a going away party of some of our dearest friends' daughter who is off to college...she has grown up with Lashae and it is exciting and sad to watch her leave the nest. Brooklyn is the beautiful blonde in the middle and it was her party. She left on Saturday morning, and Sydney is leaving on Thursday. Oh how I love these girls. I'm so excited for their lives ahead of them and this new chapter, but I miss them already, and I feel for their moms who are feeling that empty place in their nest. It's bittersweet! Mostly sweet, we hate to see them go, but wouldn't have it any other way.

These girls are forever bound to one another. They love eachother and they love the Lord so strongly. They each have a very personal relationship with their Lord and Savior and that is the ONLY thing that REALLY counts. They are so smart and full of life and Love.....take a good look at this picture, because each of these girls is making a HUGE impact on our world. I'm not just saying that because they are "my girls"....it is the TRUTH!!! These are girls that are changing the world...right where they are, and everywhere they go, they are making a difference. They are lights that are shining EVERYWHERE they go.

Thankful Thursday

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed...so it is a perfect day to post about what I'm thankful for!!

I'M SOOOOOOO THANKFUL FOR:

*My dad getting through ANOTHER surgery...poor guy...it's been a rough deal, but he is through the worst of it once again.*

*For an upcoming garage sale that will be over by Saturday, and give us some playing money, and rid us of some JUNK*

*My kids that are awesome and have been extra helpful this summer.*

*My sisters and the fact that we can text so while dad is in the hospital everyone is communicating VERY well, and I can send same text to 3 sisters and get 3 very similar, but individual responses.*

*A new song I heard yesterday that was just about God's Love for me, and it just blessed my socks off and made me bawl like a big fat baby.*

*Friends!!!!*

*Amidst a VERY changing confused world that God's Love, God's Word, and God Himself NEVER change, He is faithful and True and Good and Loving ALWAYS.*

*Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.*

These are just a few highlights of what I'm thankful for today.

All About Reece

This is a post about REECE!!!! He is just ONE of a kind. He is the cutest, funniest, naughtiest, most energetic 2 year old there is. He keeps us laughing and humble and frustrated all at the same time.....every day...all day!!!



This is how mornings with Reece start out....He MUST have his coffee...which is Chai Tea. Some mornings he has been laying in bed and literally yelling..."I need my coffee". It is so obnoxious, but also a bit funny. If I could only stop laughing long enough to discipline him...but since I can't I just get him his coffee...because I know how it feels....when you need your coffee, you just need it!!

This is Reece in his cowboy boots and basketball shorts. Reece hardly EVER wears shoes, but if he does, it is the slip on cowboy boots. He has his own sense of style...and he has LONG hair ( I just can't seem to part with it), and he rarely gets it combed, but on special occasions when we make a production of it and comb his hair and tell him just how handsome he is, then we get it looking good and he doesn't want anyone to touch it. We all instinctually touch his hair when it is combed because it is so pickin cute, but then he FREAKS OUT....and we have to re comb. He must figure that when he allows himself to look spiffy he doesn't want someone messing it up.

The next pictures are of him and his little friend Laney. She is the cutest little girl. She is just a few months older than him. They don't get to see each other too often...I'm just not good with the whole play date thing...sorry Reece. I love Laney and her mom; her mom and I get to run together, so we get our social time in by running early in the morning and we don't bring the kids, but we talk about our kids the whole time so I know this little precious quite well and I am prearranging a marriage. Hehe!!! I just figure, I love the girl, and her parents and the little baby brother, so it's only the right thing to do....Laney's parents don't know this yet, but that's ok. we have time.....the kids are only 2 and 3 years old.

Happy Birthday Meme!!

Today is my mom's birthday. Last night her and I and some of our dearest lifelong friends went to dinner to celebrate. We had a very nice time, good food, good friends, and a birthday celebration....it just doesn't get any better than that.

Mom, I'm blessed to have you as my mom. You get more beautiful with each passing year. I hope and pray you have the best year ever THIS YEAR!!!!

Here's the Skinny

Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.



Let's just get down to the nitty gritty. Some are wondering...(including ourselves)...what in the world happened??? How can we be soooo financially devastated in just a matter of a few months??? Well, we were NOT prepared in the the least for even ONE thing to go awry, let alone several things to go....

1.) We are making LESS than a 1/3 of the money we were making 3 years ago. Many months have been even LESS than that. Ugh.

2.) All construction costs...bonds and insurance have doubled....DOUBLED!

3.) We currently have to make a minimum of $800.00 in medical bill payments that we did not have before, on top of the $444.00 we pay for the lousy insurance we have.

4.) We have 2 more drivers in the Brewer nest in the last 3 years...that will age you and cost you. haha.

5.) The economy stinks...it has hit everyone HARD, we were already teetering and making it by the hair of our chinny chin chin.

DO THE MATH!!!!

As things have changed we have adjusted as much as we can...we have really buckled down the hatches...I mean BUCKLED DOWN, but it was just too little too late, and once things start to snowball it just goes and builds and doesn't take long before you are overwhelmed. We were caught off guard and kept thinking...oh the NEXT big job...we will do this or that.....WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE NEXT BIG JOB!

So that is just the simple facts of the situation...BUT we have so much HOPE it is almost CRAZY!!!

Psalm 31:24 (New International Version)

24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.


Psalm 33:18-23 (New International Version)

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.



We are also thankful and counting our MANY MANY MANY blessings. We have had things sell that weren't even for sale....we have had things sell for more than the agreed price....we have had constant work.....we have had reduction in medical bills ( it helps to not have any money sometimes...haha) ....we had many areas we were able to cut back on. We have had so much generosity extended our way I can't even tell you. Our kids have been working jobs and making their own money and they love it.

We have not gone one day without...NOT ONE DAY!!! We have more than we need, we are just getting to understand the difference between what we really need and what we just want. We still have more than enough, we have ABUNDANCE!!!

God has supplied EVERY need and beyond.

Philippians 4:19-20 (New International Version)
19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Brewer Update

Quick Brewer Update

Psalm 37:3-7 (New International Version)

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.


* We survived fair....actually it was a great year...very calm....our kids did very good on the sale of their pigs.....thanks to our awesome awesome friends*

* We are trying to take it somewhat easy this week knowing that school and sports are right around the corner*

* Charlie is working very hard...this is a blessing*

* Lashae is still trying to figure out what she will be doing for sure this Fall*

*Kole is lifting weights and gearing up for football*

*Charsie is ready for another year of homeschooling...however we are doing the online homeschool so it will be different from what we have done in the past.*

*Luke will be going to the Powell Butte Charter School this Fall. He is very excited about this.*

* Reece is working on potty training and NOT SCREAMING...all our eardrums are in bad shape due to the fact that this child has a HUGE problem with screaming.*

* We have no direction or answers yet in regards to our house and property, so we are patiently...(or trying to PATIENTLY) wait for some guidance and direction and some open doors.*

*** Charlie would like to go back to Africa soon....Lashae would like to go to India soon.....and I would like to just be on board and the support that a wife and mother needs to be in all this..***

So for me...all this stuff on the Brewer Update means.....pray....pray.....pray......pray for wisdom.....pray for direction.....pray to keep my mind on God and not my plans and my directions and my ideas, but to be open to what it is the LORD in all His wisdom and love and care, has for us. I need to be quiet and still before the Lord and listen for His voice, not my own head. I need to trust the Lord in all His ways and in His wisdom and especially His timing. If I think too much, and forget to just keep my eyes on Him...I get confused and clouded and anxious and worried and it is a pit and a dark place to be.

Psalm 37:23-24 (New Living Translation)

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Happy 47th Charlie!!

Psalm 149:4 (New Living Translation)

4 For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

This is Charlie!!! He is my man, and I'm the luckiest girlfriend (this is what he has always called me) in the world! Charlie turned 47 yesterday. This guy is the bestest in the whole world.

Charlie has had 47 action packed, fun, hardworking, and completely goofy (proof is in the above picture) years. His years have been full of love, friendship, and family.

Charlie has done a lot, accomplished a lot, experienced a lot; he's been through good times and rough times, but he has the most amazing positive attitude no matter what the situation. I've been told MANY times by people who have seen Charlie react in stressful or dangerous situations that they ALWAYS want Charlie around in a crisis. He has a very calm and common sense way about him, he can think through things and knows how to take charge without freaking out.




My favorite thing about Charlie is his love for the Lord. He has always loved Him, and followed Him, but in this last year the Lord has done a work in Charlie's heart and he is totally sold out for Jesus. He is walking more closely with the Lord, and His heart is forever changed. He came back from Africa renewed!! His priorities and his passions have been changed.

He has a love for the orphan...the one in this picture in particular...her name is Esther. His heart is broken over the things that he has seen in Africa, but he has new hope in how much joy faith in our Lord can bring. He loves to pray for people and with people, he loves bringing it all before the Lord.

I know God has big ole plans for this 47 year old, and it seems that this will be the year that there are some big changes. So far things are looking grim by the worlds standards in his life...work is sparse, and finances are upside down, but I just know that God is going to use these bleak circumstances to show just who He is in Charlie's life. I think we are going to look back and see God's work all over Charlie's life. I'm excited that I get to be a part of it and a front row seat at that.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 (New International Version)

32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Pig People at the County Fair

As I mentioned earlier this week...it is time the the county fair. Oh the joy of the Crook County Fair. Ya gotta love it and hate it all at the same time. One of my favorite things about fair is observing the people. I'm kind of like one of those old men that like to sit on the bench at the mall while their wives are shopping away.

The thing I have observed about fair is this....it brings out who we all REALLY are. It's all exciting and a bit stressful, there are kids and animals involved and goes on for several days....so the REAL us comes out. You just can't hide it under fair circumstances....

Here's what I've concluded so far.....

The prepared....are totally prepared with every tool strapped to them at all times.

The early ones....are really early, and 10 steps ahead of the herd.

The later ones....they are late....they are fine and they are used to it, they are just late.

The cranky ones....are just flat cranky. It just comes out.

The intense personalities....are extra intense...and they want everyone else to be intense.

The competitive ones...they are just that. They are scoping out the competition, and competing on everything...from their animal, to their decorations, to their pig sprayer in comparison to anyone else pig sprayer.

Fast walkers....these are the ones that walk EVERYWHERE with a purpose...they are moving out quickly even to go to the potty.

Slow walkers...these ones are on a stroll everywhere they go, they are just taking it all in as they wander.

The kickback ones are just having a good 'ole time...nothing to get all worked up about.

Dirty....these are the people that come to fair all clean, but it takes them about 10 seconds and they are just a mess...if there is something dirty they just land in the middle of it somehow.

Clean...They folks are perfectly cleaned and pressed at all times....doesn't make sense to me as we are around pigs and dirt and all that goes with fair, but these folks know how to keep it all clean and tidy.

Of course we are all a combination of several of these things which is what balances it out in the end.

It's funny how there are all these different people and personalities, and we are all there for the same thing....to have a little fun, teach our kids a few things, and survive the experience and then look back on it, and rave about how it was the best of times, and really the things we got the most upset by are the things we look back on and laugh the hardest at.

I can still remember and laugh about the time I got brand new cowboy boots right before fair and my big 'ole heifer steps right on my foot and dented in the toe right before I was to go out and show, I was crying my eyes out, off partly because my brand new boot had a dent in it and partly because my 1000 lb. heifer had camped on my foot. My dad told me to get my fanny out there, dry it up, and show that heifer (he was the intense competitive type) and so I limped out there with my dented boot and bruised foot and did quite well. We have laughed our heads off about this whole drama to this very day.

It's fun to watch families interact....and at fair it just brings out all the family dynamics. So I'm going to head down to the pig show to watch the people...I mean pigs of course.

It's Fair Week

The kids and pigs are ready for the Crook County Fair. Thank goodness for Charsie who has kept up with the chores and the exercising and the meetings and the feeding and watering of these pigs. Kole and Lashae have been busy all summer working, so Charsie has once again held the fort down and done an outstanding job. She has also had some assistance from Luke and Reece....she lines Luke out as usual, and Reece just causes chaos and acts like he's helping.

What a Fun Weekend!!!

These are the summer days that are soooo much fun!! My sister and her 4 wonderful boys came on the spur of a moment to bless us once again.

We just did simple summer fun things.....

Older kids went on a hike...then came home to hang out and play some crazy game....

The older boys went camping out on Powell Butte....I was VERY apprehensive about that little plan...and they had a great time.

The middle kids...rode bikes....rode horses.....swam in my mom and dad's lake.....

The younger kids....rode bikes....scootered.....played in sprinkler....went to my parents and played in the lake.....slept on the deck outside...

Us mom's ate....prepared food....found swimsuits....tennis shoes....cowboy boots....scooters....sleeping bags....more food....

Marlece seemed to fit in a little beauty treatment time for me (THANK YOU SO MUCH), and also cut everybody...including friends (that are like family) hair.

We did A LOT and never left Powell Butte....it's funny just how much entertainment is sitting right in front of us and we have over looked it many times.

I wish summer would last longer, this is my kind of of weekend!!!!!