Precious baby L

On July 23rd, 2009 I was pulling into the parking lot of a local farm supply store, when my cell phone rang. It was dh, saying there was a call from dcfs, about a baby girl, 7 wks. old. After numerous other calls, and saying no to placements of so many, were we finally ready to take this little one into our hearts and home? I quickly called the sw back for more info. She said they had the baby at their office. Her mother was young, this was her first child. They had no idea what direction this case would go.  The sw called us even though we were only supposed to get calls for "foster adopt" situations, but this was clearly not that. I called dh back, and we had to make a fast decision, as this baby needed someone. At that moment, we both agreed, that yes, we would take her. I remember driving over to the dcfs office, wondering what this experience would be like. I waited in the waiting room, and two women came out carrying this little one in her car seat. I looked down at her, and immediately fell in love with her angelic face. I brought her home to dh, and we both looked at her and couldn't believe how beautiful she was. I remember one of the first times I held her in my arms, she looked up at me and smiled!! She was so aware, and so social, for such a young age. She hasn't stopped smiling since! She has brought so much joy. She is so loved by us all.

Today was another part of the roller coaster ride I've been on, but I think I stepped off today. Although, I still feel like I'm riding. As I was getting ready to head out to the relinquishment hearing, I got a call from the GAL. She had just heard from baby L's attorney who said that the relinquishment may not happen today, because baby L's mom had to go to another court hearing in another city on some criminal charges. She said she was supposed to meet with her at 1pm, but didn't think she would make it. I was advised not to go, as nothing would happen, but I decided to go anyway. When I drove up, I saw baby L's great grandmother, so I knew her bio mom must be there. Then I found out that the attorney presented her with the open adoption agreement and relinquishment right then and there and she signed it! Talk about waiting til the last minute, because the hearing was at 1:30. She has 48 hrs. to change her mind, but because the attorney is out this week, she has until next wed. to let someone know if she changes her mind. The sw said not to worry, because noone ever changes their mind, and if she did, it would mean termination trial, which would be worse for her anyway.
I also just found out that baby L's mom requested one last good-bye visit. She has made no effort to see her since before Christmas, but wants a good-bye visit, and she wants us to facilitate it. She doesn't want a social worker or transportation person like they usually have. When I told dh this, we both felt a sense of sadness. Although we are so glad things are finally moving in a positive direction toward permanancy for baby L and us, the thought of her mom having us bring her for a good-bye visit with us there is very bittersweet. I can't imagine it. I think partly because I cannot comprehend what her mom's life must be like. I cannot comprehend relinquishing a child. My heart would break into peices. And, my heart breaks for her. The good-bye visit seems like what so many that adopt an infant domestically might experience. There are so many emotions there, both happy, and sad. I really wish I had some sort of idea of what she is thinking, or going through right now.

On the flip side, I am so thankful, and grateful to God for this day! Baby L is such an amazing blessing to us. She walks around the house saying "hi momma" all the time now, and she loves hugs and kisses and snuggling up on my lap with her blankie. I can't imagine if things had gone the other way what we would all be going through. God is so good and so gracious. He has carried us through, and I have grown so much along this path. It's feels like a miracle.

Today!!!

In just a few hours I will be sitting in a court room waiting to hear the fate of sweet baby L.

Lord, I know you go before us, and you have it all in your hands. We thank you for this precious child, and all the time we have had with her. We pray that if it is your will, Lord, she will be become legally free today, and be able to be adopted by us. We ask that today's hearing goes smoothly, and that nothing hinders the proceedings. We thank you for placing her in our home and blessing us with this sweet child of yours. We thank you for the awesome God that you are, who knows everything we need.
In Jesus' name, Amen!

More soon!!!

Babies update!!!

The image above resembles the little ones in my house, both in diapers, both drinking their bottles, often tumbling around, giggling at each other, or pulling each other's hair, and this mommy has to break it up. Never thought I'd see the day I'd be breaking up fights between a 13 month old and 22 month old!

So, wednesday, April 13th is the day!!! I talked to baby L's social worker today, and although she continues to sound vague, she said that this wednesday, in court, there will be a hearing, establishing relinqishment. She said that this means the relinquishment will be final at the end of the hearing. So, unless I hear something tomorrow, the next day we will be attending this hearing. There is no way I would miss it. I need to hear for myself that it is actually happening, because it still doesn't seem real.

The baby girls are a handful! They are into everything, needing constant re-direction. We are exhausted! But, we are still so very thankful for them both, and I am in awe of God's hand in this entire process!

Hopefully wednesday I will have a positive update to share after the hearing! And...I believe my big girls are VERY overdue for an update of their own soon as well!

Ooooh...A new favorite BLOG!!!

Last night at our monthly homeschool moms support group, we continued our discussion of a book I read a few years ago, when choosing a method of homeschooling. It was all about the Charlotte Mason method, and I loved it, and I believe it played a huge part in my falling in love with homeschooling. Yes! I am in love with homeschooling...and one reason is that when using the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling, you realize that you are not engaging in just the role of "teacher" to your children, but you are embracing an entire lifestyle, with your family, and I am head over heels in love with my family!
I think when I first read the book, I was mostly inspired, and my eyes were open to what "educating" your children really could look like and be. It's not anything like the box I was educated in, in public school. It was more about finding out what drives our individual children, how to inspire them, and how to facilitate a passion for learning in our children. Not just a passion for learning the basics, but a passion for  life, nature, and God .

I cannot wait to read this blog. We discussed Mother Culture last night at our meeting, and I shared this quote from the book :

"Mother's should cultivate their souls, that in turn, they may cultivate the souls of their children",  Billy Graham.  I love that! And, to see it on this blog, got my heart skipping a beat just a bit.

This author has so many nuggets of wisdom to share. I highly recommend the book, "A Charlotte Mason companion", which you will see on this blog. It is where my homeschooling journey began, and it is something that I hope will continue to carry us through.

Go check out this blog, read about "mother culture, be inspired, and be blessed!

THIS blog will no doubt become a favorite of mine, and a regular place to visit!

Flowing with milk & honey

FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY! Part 1




"The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey" Numbers 14:7.







Although I live in the great country of USA, I actually dwell on a parcel of land in the woods of Tennessee. But the land where I really live every day and night is in the "land" of my family life. This is the real down-to-earth land where each one of us lives our lives. What is our "land" like?



We get a glimpse of what God wants it to be like when we read about the land He promised to His people, Israel. Although these promises are literally for Israel, for God gave the land to them for an everlasting covenant,* they are also a type of how He wants us to live. Let's see how God describes His land.







IT IS A GOOD LAND (Exodus 3:8)



It is a "good" land. In fact, Numbers 14:7 tells us that it is "an exceeding good land." Tov is a common Hebrew word but it has a big meaning. The Lexicon in my Bible says it means, "pleasant, beautiful, excellent, bountiful, lovely, delightful, joyful, fruitful, precious, sound, cheerful, kind, sweet, correct and righteous." ** Read these words over again and say them out loud. Do they describe the good land of your home?



God intends your home to be a good land. He intends your marriage to be a good land. Motherhood is an exceeding good land. It is where you are meant to dwell, enjoying the blessings of God--your husband, children and the security of your home.



God instructs the older women to teach the younger women "good" things--how to love their husbands, love their children and to be keepers and home etc. These are the "good" things of the land (Titus 2:3-5).







IT IS A DELIGHTFUL LAND (Psalm 106:24)



Not only is it a good land, but a delightful land. God uses many descriptions to describe the land He chose for His people. .



"The most beautiful inheritance of the nations" (Jeremiah 3:19).



"The glory of all lands" (Ezekiel 20:6, 15). Did you know that motherhood is the glory of the nation? When God judged Ephraim He took away their glory. What was their glory? Conception, pregnancy and birth. Hosea 9:11 says, "As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird--no birth, no pregnancy and no conception!" The Hebrew word is tsvi and means "beautiful, prominence, splendor, pleasant." It is translated "the beautiful land" in Daniel 8:9 and 11:16 41.



"The pleasant land" (Psalm 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19 and Zechariah 7:14). The Hebrew word for "pleasant" is chemdah and means "delightful, precious."



"A delightful land" (Malachi 3:12). Chephets is a different Hebrew word and means "pleasure or delight." God gave marriage and motherhood for our pleasure. Of course we all experience many challenges and heartaches along the way, but as we embrace them as our Promised Land, our attitude changes and we begin to experience pleasures and delights galore.



The first home was called a delight. This is the meaning of "the garden of Eden." It was the prototype of all future homes. This is one of your great priorities--to make your home a delight for your children, for your husband when he comes home each evening, for folk who come into your home, and even for yourself. Make your home a place where you delight to be--your favorite place in the world.



Psalm 106:24-25 tells us that even though God gave this delightful land to His people, they didn't believe in its goodness. In fact, "they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His word. But murmured in their tents, and harkened not unto the voice of the Lord."



There are many women who despise motherhood, often because they have been indoctrinated by society to despise it. They are told that it is demeaning and they can do a lot better with their lives. They despise God's way for marriage. They are taught that they must keep their independence and live their own life. They groan and complain about motherhood in their home. They criticize and whine about their husbands. Consequently they don't enjoy their marriage, or motherhood. It's not a good land to them! All because of their attitude. All because they have been indoctrinated with deceitful lies from the enemy. If only they would open their eyes to behold God's plan, they would see all the good things. Motherhood would become pleasant to them. Their marriage relationship would become delightful.



May the "land" where you live become a delightful land to you.



Next week we will talk about how it is a land that flows with milk and honey.



Love from Nancy Campbell



www.aboverubies.org







PRAYER:



"Dear Father, please save me from despising the good land you have given to me. Thank you for choosing this land for me. Unfold your truth to me so that I can walk in all the blessings you have planned. Amen."







AFFIRMATION:



I'm embracing the good land of motherhood. It's my Promised Land.











* Read all the promises where God promised the land of Israel to His people for an EVERLASTING POSSESION. It belongs to them by God's divine order:





Genesis 12:7; 13:14-17; 15:7, 17:8; 18-21; 17:8; 24:7; 28:13-15; 35:10-12; 48:4; 50:24.





Exodus 6:8; 15:17; 32:13; 33:1-2; 11:9; Leviticus 26:42.





Deuteronomy 1:6-8; 6:23; 11:9, 24, 26:15; 30:4-5; 32:49; 34:1-4; Joshua 1:3-4; 1 Chronicles 16:15-19; Psalm 105:8-11; Isaiah 14:-2; 60:21; 61:4-5.





Jeremiah 3:18; 7:7; 11:4-5; 16:14-16; 23:3, 7-8; 24:7-8; 25:5; 29:12-14; 30:3, 10-11; 31:3-14, 16-28, 35-37; 32:15, 21-22, 41-44; 33:10-16; 46:27-28; 50:19-20.





Ezekiel 11:17-20; 20:5-6, 40-44; 28:25-26; 33:24; 34:11-16, 27-31; 36:8-12, 22-28; 37: 11-14, 21-28; 39:25-29; 47:13; 50:4-5, 19-20.





Amos 2:10; 9:14-15; Zechariah 2:4-6, 12; 10:6-10.





** Read the Scriptures where God calls His land a "good" land:





Exodus 3:8; Numbers 14:7; Deuteronomy 1:25, 35; 3:25; 4:21-22; 6:18; 8:7, 10; 9:6; 11:17; 30:5; Joshua 23:13-16; Judges 18:9; 1 Kings 14:15; 1 Chronicles 4:40; 28:8; Ezra 9:12; Psalm 85:12; Isaiah 1:19; Jeremiah 2:7 and Ezekiel 34:14.

Nancy Campbell-Above Rubies

Surprises on the farm...

We have some new critters coming to the farm, and some have, sadly left. One we thought was gone, but alas, has shown back up minus one body part. Oh, farm life!

In the next few days we will know if the rabbit Miranda decided to breed did, in fact end up pregnant on her wedding day. If no babies appear, back to her husband she will go!

We also have a long road trip to make to bring home our newest farmyard member. We are very excited.

It is also time to start thinking about breeding and milking our goats, which is the reason we decided to get goats in the first place. Then, the foster babies came, and there was just no room for milking goats. I am slowly getting mentally prepared to get that started now!

Stay tuned...soon I will show you a peek around our farm, with pictures of all these cute critters, and hopefully our newest ones as well! Yeah for spring!

A baby boy...

As I was out doing my monthly grocery shopping today, my cell phone rang. It was my husband. He had something to tell me about a baby boy. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: Hello?
DH: Hi. Well, I wanted to let you know that "they" called and wanted to know if we'd take a newborn baby boy.
Me: What?
DH: Yeah, and at first they said it would just be for the weekend, but then they said it would be a little longer, but it is temporary, oh, and I told them yes, I hope that's okay.
Me: What?!?! Are you kidding...you said yes!!?? I never say yes to a foster care call without calling you first.
DH: Well, you love kids, so I thought it was okay.
Me: And where are we going to put this baby? We don't even have an extra crib right now.
DH: We'll make room.
Me: I can't believe this, I really don't know how we'll handle three babies at once...
DH: April fools...!!
Me: Thank God! I really was not looking foreward to that, and oh, yeah, you got me good!
DH: Laughing...