best of 2011
Each year Ginny & I work together on some patchwork Best of List. I truly love this time of year- as it begs one to look back as well as ahead. You’ll need to remember the caveat with the following list: to be on our list does not mean that a thing was introduced in 2011, but rather that it came upon our radar or was particularly loved by us this last year. We’ll be ringing in the new year 8 hours ahead of you Americans; which also means 2012 will last 8 hours longer for us than you. Now…
the grace of giving
My mother is a gifter. Take whatever you’re thinking up a notch. There is no such thing as Christmas shopping or birthday gift shopping; for with her there exists no day where the ones she prefers have moved to the background of her mind. Each day it seems she is looking for something that will be special to another or communicate her love for them. And many times she fabricates holidays in order to give these gifts. Happy 1st day of fall….I got these for you. And if I were to go all Dr. Phil for a minute on my own…
all that I have
Disclaimer:: I assure you that I tried my best to steer away from this lesson because it almost seems obligatory for each and every Christian to rail against the consumerism of Christmas or the lost meaning of Christmas or heaven forbid you tell me Happy Holidays- apparently I am supposed to go Chuck Norris on you because that is somewhere in one of the gospels. Christmas is the new gay marriage. And by now I can safely assume that you have read your fair share of Christmas rants. But, nonetheless, if I am anything, dear reader, I am honest and…
unraveling mystery
Ginny has managed to do a better job of updating the day-to-day on her blog. We have now been in Kramatorsk, the region where Lena’s orphanage is located for three days. We get to go and be with Lena in the orphanage for two 90-minute periods within each given day. These times with her have been a balm for our parent hearts- the ones that spent the week before away from all of our children. Being with her, has grounded us in a focus, where before we felt untethered- waiting to be told what to do, where to go, what…
from Kiev
Snow is lightly falling outside the window of our downtown apartment in the capitol city of Ukraine. No, it’s actually not the Ukraine, but the same still slips from my lips when I’m not trying. We were invited to come and make official the relationship with a girl we have been calling our daughter for almost a year now. What began as a plea to others asking them to pray for the children we were working with through 99 Balloons became my wife actually praying, then my wife not sleeping, then my wife waiting on me to catch up. Lena…
Each year Ginny & I work together on some patchwork Best of List. I truly love this time of year- as it begs one to look back as well as ahead. You’ll need to remember the caveat with the following list: to be on our list does not mean that a thing was introduced in…
My mother is a gifter. Take whatever you’re thinking up a notch. There is no such thing as Christmas shopping or birthday gift shopping; for with her there exists no day where the ones she prefers have moved to the background of her mind. Each day it seems she is looking for something that will…
Disclaimer:: I assure you that I tried my best to steer away from this lesson because it almost seems obligatory for each and every Christian to rail against the consumerism of Christmas or the lost meaning of Christmas or heaven forbid you tell me Happy Holidays- apparently I am supposed to go Chuck Norris on…
Ginny has managed to do a better job of updating the day-to-day on her blog. We have now been in Kramatorsk, the region where Lena’s orphanage is located for three days. We get to go and be with Lena in the orphanage for two 90-minute periods within each given day. These times with her have…
Snow is lightly falling outside the window of our downtown apartment in the capitol city of Ukraine. No, it’s actually not the Ukraine, but the same still slips from my lips when I’m not trying. We were invited to come and make official the relationship with a girl we have been calling our daughter for…