Bittersweet News

So friend, I have some bittersweet news about Miss Maribel.

This morning I was thinking about how I could help continue to spread the word about Maribel's adoption in hopes of having friends join in by praying, sharing with others and even giving to her adoption grant at RR.

I went ahead and messaged Ashely via Facebook to let her know about a post I want to do this year around Mother's Day. Ashley wrote me back to let me know that Maribel will not be coming home to live with them. Her biological family has taken her back home to live with them.

And friend, I don't know what to say. {I'm usually not ever at a loss for words.} This has taken me by surprise.

Honestly, I have so many mixed-up emotions.
I'm sad for Ashley and Seth.  So very sad.
Happy that Maribel gets to live with her biological family and stay in her homeland.  
Hopeful for her future. Sad I won't get to know about it via good old Facebook.

We'll never know why she was placed in the orphanage or why her family has reclaimed her. Or even why now.

Ashley is amazing. Here is part of what she wrote me: "The only comfort I have about this is that God has a plan for her. We are still praying and will continue to pray for her-that this is God's will and that she will have a good life with her biological mother."

Part of my message back was - "I don't understand.... but I have learned that we don't always understand what happens in life. All we can do is stand on our faith that God knows what has happened and He is indeed in control."

So, even though I have more questions than answers and more bitter than sweet I will trust in the One who is watching over sweet Miss Maribel tonight as He has every night.

And yes, Ashley, I do believe that the Lord has a plan for her life.

It Is A Poverty

Hi friend!

I've been wanting to share with you something I recently read. It's a quote (I can't remember where I saw it) of Mother Teresa's that made me stop and think.

I understand the gist of it. I'm just not too sure what she meant by "It is a poverty".

So, I'm gonna put it out there for discussion and hope you'll let me know your thoughts. And do you even agree?

Ok, so here is the quote -
  "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." 

My first reaction was -  ouch! 
My first question was - does this apply to me in any way?

And than I started to digest it a bit more and wonder about that one word - poverty.

The definition for poverty is: the condition or fact of being deficient.
In other words - lacking. And not a little, but lacking big time.

So, what kind of "poverty" would need to be present so that a decision would be made to put self-wants above the life of a child?

 {I'm almost in tears right about now. It breaks my heart that any one, including me, could put our own wants and desires above the life-saving needs of any child.}

Is the deficiency she speaks of about money? Well no, I really don't think that's it. 

I truly think that what Mother Teresa was talking about was a poverty, a deficiency, a lacking big time of .....
.... compassion
.... love
.... prayer
.... action
.... empathy

And, honestly? I think the whole meaning of what she is saying goes even deeper. See the words - to decide? That implies that there isn't a lack of knowledge; but an act of the will. Deciding to give our own wants priority over helping a child with life-saving needs. At the very least, it's about keeping (ie deciding to) our eyes and ears closed to the plight of so many children around the world.

So, friend, what is your take on what Mother Teresa was getting at?Agree or disagree I'd love to know.

A Baby Step

Today I've taken another step in following my God-sized dream! A dream I wrote about at "Finding Hope & Joy" last summer. {FH&J is my other little place here in bloggy land}

So, today I've created a Facebook page called "Miss Maribel's Place". It's just a place to let friends know about the quilts, pillows and home decor items that I enjoy making. 

It's not much. But, it's a start.
A baby step sized start, but a start nonetheless.

As I pursue this dream I am learning to let God lead. And honestly, that is one of the hardest things I'm learning. I joke that I am my family's OFP. I'm the self-titled Official Family Planner. And as such what can I say? I have plans people!

Plans of what to sew, modge-podge, paint and make.
Plans of what my etsy shop should look like.
Plans for a whole product line and it's tag line.
Plans. Plans. Plans.

It can start to drive me crazy because life just doesn't keep up with my plans. Not to mention there aren't enough hours in the day to fit all these plans in.

And that's where trusting and following God's lead is oh so helpful. In fact, that's where my One Word for 2012 ~ PEACE ~ falls right into place. When I wait until He reveals His plan and follow it - it brings me peace. No frustration, hassle or ggrrrrrr from my lips. Just calm knowing that He knows best.

So for now, it's just this baby step.
And the next? Continuing to sew quilts and pillows.
And after that? I don't know. But He does.

I plan  ( *giggle* there I go planning again *wink* ) on sharing with you the awesome ways God has been  providing some of the materials for my quilts and projects.

There are some pictures on my Miss Maribel's Place Facebook page of the things I've made so far. Go ahead and visit me there if you'd like.

Hey! Did You See The Rainbow?

I love rainbows! And a double rainbow just makes my heart dance.

I guess I get this from my mom. In fact, since we live only a few miles from each other, more than once we've called each other to say, "Quick! Go look outside and see the beautiful rainbow! It's over to the east."

When it's raining and the sun starts to peek out (which happens pretty often here in the Sunshine State) I start scanning the sky for a rainbow.

Rainbows amaze me as they hang shimmering in the sky. So pretty!
It takes a little bit of dark clouds, a bunch of raindrops, some sunshine....
and wha-lah!  ....
all those colors lined up to form a bow in the sky!

It also amazes me how many people just don't see it.
They never look up.
They don't venture outside.
They keep driving. {Well, ok, when driving it's good to keep eyes on the road.}

Maybe they just don't care.


Well, today, I was looking at a different rainbow and it's gotten me thinking........

You see friend, I was watching a video at Reece's Rainbow.

I love looking at the beautiful "rainbow" of children featured there. Wanna know what gets my heart dancing? Seeing that another sweet one's "forever family" has found them. Love the "My Family Found Me" page.

So, how about you think of this post as me calling you and saying, "Quick! Go look on Reece's Rainbow and see the beautiful ministry video they have there. It's on the right side of the homepage."

Please, look up .... look up www.reecesrainbow.org
Please do venture outside .... outside of your comfort zone.
Please don't keep "driving" ..... put it in "park" and check it out.

You do care, don't you? Yea, I know you do.

So could you pray for these little ones? Share on Facebook? Send a donation to Reece's Rainbow or a family's adoption fund? Or maybe even consider rescuing one of these precious little ones and give them a family.

My heart would just about be doing cartwheels if I saw you on the MFFM page!!