We Got Through Winter and Are Headed Into Spring....

These last 3 months have been full of things...some very hard to deal with, some just annoyances and some just beautiful. I will focus on the beautiful.
We are watching our oldest Rose bloom and grow this year by leaps and bounds. God has been pruning him over the last 8 years and we are so proud of the outcome...(although He certainly isn't finished with him yet, we see God's healing in Jason's heart and mind). 17 has been a good year for Jason. 15 was horrible, 16 was a little better but 17 has been a blast! Our son, who has multiple health issues, is one of the most generous and kindest kids I know. He is always wanting to help, thinking of others and being empathetic when someone is hurting. When we first adopted Jason....he was a ball of energy, a bull in a china shop racing through life with the biggest stubborn streak a boy could have!! We had been told that with his challenges it is a challenge to "see" others needs, to be empathetic but Jason has surpassed that and although he still doesn't always "get a clue" sometimes when it comes to social situations, his kindess is overwhelming.  In fact, he started working this past February and is doing exceptionally well at his job. He heard that an uncle in New York, whom he was close to, was sick and sent him a whole paycheck to help with medical bills. We were so amazed. He still has some struggles, some which may never go away but he continues to mature. We are working more and more toward independence....He will be 18 in June. The future looks brighter than it ever did for Jason right now. To God Be the Glory! This is the verse for Jason right now.

"...To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory." Isaiah 61:3

Son #2 is going through ROUGH WATERS right now. It is a very challenging time. Unfortunately, Steven has had a minor run in with the law and was removed from his IT Academy at his school for breaking the law. I thought it was ironic that they added this electives to fill the semester...Law and Society!!! Russ and I continue to watch the repercussions of his past be peeled away and see the Lord fertilizing the soil and pruning off the branches of his life that are strangling his growth. We have faith that he will come through this. We have to be patient and though it is painful to watch, we just have to step back and let the Lord deal with him. We do our job---setting boundaries and giving limits and direction with him. Showing unconditional love despite our feelings(that is hard). He is a very smart kid...he just can't stand the word "no" right now. Here is our verse for Steven in this part of his journey. Actually it is for Russ and I as well. Isaiah 30: 26

 26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals their wounds.

I continue to be amazed at how God continues to grow us and stretch us in so many ways. Russ and I have had some challenges but continue to stay close to each other and hold on to dear life to the Lord. I have had some major health issues recently but see God at work. A friend said to me today when I told her what was going on health wise...."Wow..God must trust you a lot with this gift." Well, I am not sure about that but I do know that I trust HIM a lot!  Without His continuous love and peace in our hearts, we just couldn't get through some of the things we have experienced over the years. To God be the Glory! "Phillipians 4:19 says; " My God shall suppply all my need." and I know that is not just monetarily either.

So....here are some more good things that have happened to us these last few months:

1. Reconnected to an old friend from college. Even though she has had very difficult circumstance in her life recently, God is working and holding on to her through thick and thin.

2. A couple of adoptive moms and I who are in the area are meeting once a month for lunch. We have kids with similar medical/emotional needs and pray with and for each other for peace and clarity. It is a GREAT time together. We really understand each other.

3. I continue to lose weight slowly which is a good thing. I am enjoying my water aerobics class which I get to about 3 times a week. Lots of fun since I am the youngest there and the older ladies are a hoot!

4. Russ is still enjoying his job and is excited Spring is coming. His favorite time of the day for himself is walking our beautiful and sweet Lab/Chow mixed dog, Cheyenne at night. He gets some quality time with the Lord then!

5.We continue to LOVE our SS class that we teach...5th/6th graders. They are a hoot and testing the limits left and right! WOOHOO!

Even though days can be hard, we are very blessed. We have two boys who we love and adore(even through the hard times), we have jobs, we have a roof over our head, we have surrounded ourselves with a "village" and we have opportunities all the time for fun and creativity! It is amazing what good things have come our way. We are very blessed.

This is us with some of our kids from church....enjoying the wonderful Christmas lights in our city!

SPRING IS HERE....that means EASTER is upon us. I am including this devotion today from D365, a website that has great Lenten devotions as we prepare our hearts for celebrating our Savior's kept promises.

LENTEN DEVOTION: What Easter is All About:
Love has its reasons, they say. Love has its purposes too. It's not out there "just because," only to make us feel good, or even, as it does sometimes, to drive us crazy. Love intends a result; love has an end in mind. When we say "God is love," we need to remember that.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order... that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17

For many years, there was someone at NFL games holding up a sign that said “John 3:16.” Usually it was a guy wearing a rainbow wig or some other outrageous outfit in order to draw attention to himself and, of course, to his message. A professor of mine once said he felt this weird need to stand next to this guy holding up a sign that said “and 3:17!” just to show how much these two thoughts go together.

God loved the world enough to send Jesus. But this Jesus was not sent here to tell us how bad we are, to condemn us, to point the accusing finger at us. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us — loves us all. Jesus came here to help us, to make things right in this world God created. Jesus came to save us.
Jesus, show me again how much God loves us all. Tell me again and again that you have come not as a judge and jury, but as a brother and a friend. Help me to be that kind of friend to others, too. Amen.

 Along the Journey,
Lisa