Lindsey A

Just like Maddie Kate's speedy adoption process (from the time we heard about her birth mom and to the point of holding Maddie in our arms was less than 4 months!), my sweet new friend Lindsey's adoption has been very quick! Our good friends the Worley family first found out about Lindsey little more than a few months ago. Now she is a part of their family and will be "officially" adopted very soon!

There is plenty more to this awesome story, but basically I can sum it up by saying that God's plans are so much greater than our own! I have gotten to see God's hand all over Lindsey's placement and adoption! It is super exciting! Jamie, Lindsey's new mom, laughs that she would've never imagined that she would "give birth" to a teenager!

It has been so great getting to know "Lindsey A" better! She has such an awesome personality and a contagious, enthusiastic love for God! (I think we share a lot more than just our name.) We have been dubbed "Lindsey A" and "Lindsey B" by our families. Some people think "A" and "B" is like "1" and "2" but actually it is because of our middle names, "Anne" and "Beth"!

I thank God for Lindsey and her wonderful testimony!

This is her blog...http://landoflindsey.blogspot.com/

Mr. Smitty

During phase 1 of our Texas trip, we passed through Shreveport, LA to visit some very special friends. We go way back!


Mr. Smitty and his daughter, Andrea have known me since I was just a little kid. Andrea was my mom's best friend and they have been through thick and thin! Andrea was diagnosed with brain cancer a long time ago and because of all the treatment, she has no short-term memory.

It is very heartbreaking to visit Andrea and her dad. It is crazy that because of their conditions, they are both in the same nursing home together. Mr. Smitty had a stroke a few years ago that caused him to loose movement in the left side of his body. He is such an amazing man of God and I look up to him so much! He has had a very rough time, feeling useless. Every time we see him, we encourage him and tell him that his life has purpose and that God is not finished with him yet.

I had a moment alone with Mr. Smitty while we were visiting. I was telling him that I liked the nursing home and that it seemed very nice. I told him that I look forward to visiting when we come through at Christmas. He said, "Well, I'll be here. I'll be here 'til the day I die." Oh! My heart aches for this man! I told him that I look forward to heaven someday and that I feel like such an alien to this earth. "This isn't our home," Mr. Smitty said "It's our home away from home."

I wonder what It would feel like to be Mr. Smitty. To know that each day, you are either a day closer to dying or a day closer to Jesus coming back.

Mr. Smitty is a person who inspires me to wake up each morning and live it like its my last. To open my eyes and say, "Thank you God that I'm alive! Use my life for your glory!"

Wow.

The last few months, I have found myself beginning many of my journal entries with the word 'wow'.

For example...

"Wow! Thank you God!" or "Wow! Look at what God did!" and "Wow! I really need to update my blog!" ; ]

Even if I didn't start out a particular journal entry with the word 'wow', looking back at what God has done in my life usually induces a 'wow' or two.

At this point, I should probably change my blog's name to "WOW! My God is so great!"

My goal for the coming days is to post more of what I like to call, "Wow God!" posts. I don't have too many exciting things to blog about as you have probably noticed. The only thing exciting about my life is God! He is my EVERYTHING!!

So without further blabbing...prepare to be wow-ed!