Antioch Adoptions Auction

The Antioch Adoptions Benefit Auction for Orphans is coming up on November 6! Cliff and I are excited to attend this event and support this amazing ministry. What makes Antioch Adoptions so amazing is that they place orphans into Christian families without charging any fees to the adoptive family! Of course because Antioch Adoptions is an adoption agency like any other, they still have real costs even though they don't charge the family for the adoption. We feel so blessed to be working with them!

The annual auction is important because Antioch Adoptions relies on donors to provide the financial resources to place orphans into families. Can you help?

Do you have something you could donate for the auction?
Click HERE to access the procurement form.

Would you like to attend this event with us?
We'd love that! Comment and let us know or send us an email. Tickets go on sale soon.

Also, please continue to pray for the amazing staff members at Antioch Adoptions, that many adoptions would be finalized in the coming weeks and months, and for the success of this event!

Sharing Our Story

A few Sundays ago at each of the services at the Mars Hill Ballard Campus, Mackenzie and I had the honor of sharing about our struggles with infertility and the call God has put on our lives to adopt. It was a very full and emotional day, but we were very thankful to have good friends come to support us throughout the day, which meant so much.



Throughout the day we had several opportunities to talk with couples also struggling with infertility, people who had friends and family members who had adopted or had been adopted, and even a birth mom who had created an adoption plan for her child through Antioch Adoptions.

We’re thankful for the work God is doing in our lives, the ways in which he's comforted us through various people we've met, and the opportunities he’s given us to comfort other people facing similar struggles and decisions.

Camping Trip

A few weeks ago, Mackenzie and I filled our Honda Civic with camping gear and supplies and went on a three-day adventure along the Washington Coast and around the Olympic National Park. We've been to the Washington Coast before, but never to the Olympic peninsula.

And believe it or not, this is only the second time we've been camping since we've lived in Washington. The first was for our second anniversary. It wasn't exactly a disaster, but we did get rained on quite a bit, and in hindsight it didn't seem like we packed all the supplies we should have. That wasn't entirely the reason we hadn't been camping again, but I think it kept Mackenzie from wanting to do so anytime soon.

But we wanted to take a short trip this summer and knew we needed to do so with a small budget, so we decided to give camping another go. I'm happy to say our second experience was far better than our first.

We stayed at Kalaloch Campground, literally one block from the beach. Even in August it was cloudy and cool, but we kept a warm fire going at all times while at our site. We even did most of our cooking over the fire, which I think was one of Mackenzie's favorite things. We went with a few of the tried-and-true camping favorites (hobo stew, franks and beans, smores, etc.) and even tried making bacon and coffee over the fire.

While we were there, we took a few hikes along the beach, as well as a few day trips to the Hoh Rain Forest, La Push, and Ruby Beach. Driving just a few miles from the coast, the sun would start to peak out and the temperature would increase by at least ten degrees--weird Washington weather.

My favorite part was lunch along the Hoh River. We found a spot just off the beaten path, stuck our feet in the freezing cold water, and enjoyed the view.

On our way home we took the northern route and stopped along the way to explore Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, and Port Townsend. We're already making plans to go back.

Trip to Friday Harbor

As I started to write a post about our trip to the Washington Coast a few weeks ago (coming soon), I realized I hadn't written anything about our trip to Friday Harbor in July with my parents. This summer has just flown by (due partly to the fact that warm, sunny days have been few and far between, which unfortunately, was the case on our trip). But we didn't let that stop us; we never do.

We had a great time exploring San Juan Island: watching for whales along Lime Kiln Point, having breakfast and dinner at Roche Harbor, visiting Mona the camel at the San Juan Vineyard, and hiking through the English Camp and American Camp. Check out some pictures from our trip below.

Garden Update: Veggies are Thriving

In lieu of writing about how our garden is growing, I thought pictures would tell you more!

No, I'm not Laura Ingalls...

but I am enjoying my new adventures in canning!

For my birthday last year, my parents gave me a cooking class. I chose from a number of them and selected a class on canning. I loved the class, typically enjoy cooking, and was excited to apply my new learning.

In January I made citrus marmalade and enjoyed the process, eating my creation, and sharing it with friends. Now that we're gardening and bringing in quite a bit of produce, I'd like to take a more serious approach.

My goal this summer is to can most of our tomatoes (we don't really eat them fresh), make blueberry jam with all the blueberries from our bushes, make applesauce from our apple tree, blackberry jam from our blackberry vine (if it produces enough), and pickled jalapenos. Many of our other veggies we look forward to freezing to use throughout the year. I'm also in the process of learning how to dry and store our herbs.

So far this year I've made and "put up" three pints of preserved lemons, four pints of lemon marmalade, two pints of pickled carrots, quite a bit of strawberry jam, five pints of sliced peaches, and I think next on my list will be blackberry jam once our blackberries ripen!

Check out a few of my products...

preserved lemons

lemon marmalade

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions as we pursue adoption, so I'll do my best to answer them!

How long do you think the process will take?
We don't know! That is the challenge and excitement of adoption. It could be a year, it could be many years. What we do know though is that it will all happen according to God's perfect timing. That is to say, we certainly have days where we're discouraged or anxious for the arrival of our children, but ultimately we find peace in placing our trust and hope in Jesus and not in the day our kids are welcomed into our home. (That will be an exciting day though!)

Why are you guys pursuing adoption?
We are pursuing adoption, because we feel called to do so. While we struggled to get pregnant and later learned that medically speaking our chances of getting pregnant without medical intervention are very slim, we feel called to pursue adoption. That is to say, if we do become pregnant, we would still pursue adoption of other children into our family.

What age of a child are you interested in adopting?
At this point, we are planning to adopt an infant or a very young child or sibling group. We are open to God changing our hearts about this, but for now, we're looking to grow as parents with a very little person.

Do you have any specifics that you told your agency - race? gender?
We are open and excited to welcome a child of any race or gender into our home and family.

Are you adopting domestically or internationally?
Antioch Adoptions, our fabulous adoption agency, serves families in western Washington and most of the children they place are from within our state. While in certain instances, children have been placed by Antioch from other states across the country, all the children are from the United States.

We may eventually adopt internationally, but for "Round One," as we like to call it, we'll be adopting domestically.

Where are you in the adoption process?
We recently finished our PRIDE classes, which are classes for people interested in becoming foster homes or adoptive homes. This is a requirement of both the state and our agency before we can move forward in the process. In October and January, we'll be taking two classes through our adoption agency. After that we'll complete a home study, where a social worker will evaluate our home to determine whether placement of a child would be appropriate. From there, we'll be waiting on placement.

Other questions? Ask away!

Cliff the Builder

My husband is wonderful for a number of reasons, but I love that when he gets an idea in his head, he works tirelessly until it is completed! That was the case most recently with the four additional raised veggie beds he built a few weekends ago.

The catalyst for these beds came when we planted sugar snap peas again this year and they took over our veggie beds! So we decided that having a bed for our tall crops (beans, peas, cucumbers, etc.) separate from others would help all of them receive enough sun for them to thrive. We went ahead and built the new beds this summer so we could begin our winter crops in them now and then have our tall crops in them next year.

Check out Cliff's handiwork...

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Photo courtesy Matthew R. Throssell

For one of my favorite date nights on record, Cliff bought tickets for us to go and see "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." I'd never really heard of this show and certainly didn't know what it was about, but it had come recommended from Cliff's parents.

Cliff surprised me with tickets and we attended the show two weeks ago. It was awesomely hilarious! The show was witty, the music was creative, and the venue for this show was small and you really felt part of the spelling bee. They even had audience members participate. Couldn't have been better!

Haven't seen it? You must go.

For our Seattle friends, you can buy tickets for $20 by clicking HERE. The show runs through August 14th.

Adoption Update: PRIDE Training

We began our PRIDE training on Monday, July 19. PRIDE is a Foster Parent and Adoptive Parent Preparation Course offered by Washington state. Completion of this class is the next step in our adoption journey. Essentially, this class fulfills a requirement of the state and our adoption agency, Antioch Adoptions.

To be honest, we weren't exactly sure what this class would cover. I thought it would mostly involve information about adoption and foster care law, whereas Cliff aniticipated it would be more about how to care for and meet the unique needs of children in the foster care system. After the first night of our class, we realized we were both right.

The class we are attending is taught by a social worker who works for Washington State's Department of Social and Health Services, Children's Administration (DSHS/CA). Over the course of the five nights, we will learn about the foster care system's organizational structure, foster care and adoption law, attachment, discipline, connections to birth parents, etc.

We're excited to learn about how adoption works in our state, learn about the unique challenges that some children in the foster care system may have, and connect with other people who are interested in adoption or foster care. We also will have opportunities to hear from children who were part of the foster care system, foster parents, and adoptive parents.

As always, we would love for you to ask us any questions you have and pray for us as we continue on this path. We pray for God's grace that we could be patient as we submit to his perfect timing.

Treasured Memories

Growing up, we moved a lot. Often when I talk with people about where I grew up and my transient childhood, they instantly guess I was a "military brat"; however, that is not the case. My dad was a college basketball coach.

The number of times my family moved proved difficult at times, but certainly had its benefits: I feel pretty comfortable in new situations, enjoy meeting new people, and have traveled much of this country. Occasionally, I think back to making the move from Alabama to the suburbs of Chicago just before starting high school and am amazed that I made it those first few weeks with my southern drawl, but I did. I actually met my wonderful husband there and am continually amazed at God's plan and provision for our lives.

One of the places growing up that continually felt like home was my Nannie and Pop-Pop's house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Because my mom was a teacher and my dad often had more time off in the summer, we would head up to the Cape after school was out and spend many weeks enjoying the beaches, lakes, and time with family.

While my Nannie and Pop-Pop are no longer living and I haven't been back to the Cape in years, I have so many memories of that special place - the penny candy store; riding bikes around the many cul de sacs until dark and my parents forced us to come home; the "treasure hunting" we would do in my Nannie's basement; taking donuts to the beach in the morning; the crazy picture in my Nannie's house of the sea captain whose eyes always followed us; walking out on the rock jetties; and many more. It is such a treasured place in my memory that Cliff actually proposed there, knowing how important it was to me.

Now that I'm an adult, one of the things that takes me back instantly to the memories of the Cape are hydrangea bushes. There were hundreds of them all throughout my Nannie's neighborhood. I always loved the flowers - particularly, their amazing and different colors. The blue ones were my favorite and still are.

When we moved into our home four years ago, we planted two hydrangea bushes. I was desperately hoping that they'd bloom and do well here, and thankfully they have. This is the first year they're large and maturing with numerous blooms. As I walk past the hydrangea bushes each day, I enjoy memories of my Nannie and Pop-Pop, remember the time we spent on the Cape, and look forward to making sweet memories with our kids one day.

And the winner is...

A few weeks ago, Mackenzie and I decided to offer a chance to win a free copy of Russell Moore’s book, Adopted For Life, which has had an amazing impact on us. (By the way, the audio version of this book is now available from Christian Audio. And there's even a Kindle edition, too, if you've converted to e-books like my dad.)

Well, today’s the day we get to announce the winner. Congratulations to Karene Hill, a member at the Mars Hill Ballard campus. And thanks to all who participated in this giveaway.

If you come across any other resources you think would be helpful, please send them our way.

Ten Things I Like About Costco...

1. COMBO PIZZA - If I ever come home from Costco without their version of a supreme pizza, Cliff will disown me. :) It is huge, $10, has lots of delicious veggies, and warms up beautifully for lunches and leftovers. Hard to beat.
2. MEAT - Their chicken breasts, flank steak, organic ground beef, and rotisserie chickens are all so delicious. I also appreciate that they're prepackaged in meal size portions, so I don't have to come home from the store and separate it into one pound packages. Love that!
3. BEDDING - We bought our favorite sheets ever at Costco. They are flannel and so deliciously soft that we use them even in the summer! Recently we bought a new mattress from Costco and we couldn't be happier.
4. BAKERY - The croissants, apple turnovers, and ciabatta bread are the best around.
5. PRODUCE - I appreciate the huge variety of produce Costco offers, but the prices are what really catch my eye.
6. CAR WASH - I've never been much for paying to have my car washed, but after running one of our cars through the $8 wash, I'm sold. It did an awesome job and was very quick!
7. TERIYAKI SAUCE - The Soy Vey teriyaki sauce is incredible. It will transform any piece of meat into something truly amazing.
8. MOCHA FREEZE - Love, love, love it! Worth every penny of the $1.59. Such a nice pick me up on a warm afternoon...like today!
9. BOXES - I like that they pack my items into boxes and not into bags, which makes loading and unloading the car much quicker. Unique too - maybe that's why I like it.
10. VARIETY - Anywhere I can buy dog food, my mattress, flank steak, rugs, books, organic quinoa, and hopefully one day diapers is my kind of place!

I have to admit, it seems a bit odd that a two person household would have a Costco membership since they sell things in such bulk, but we love it!

What are your favorite Costco finds?

Happy Father's Day!

We are blessed to have dads who love and encourage us and have done that our entire lives. They are both men who we respect, enjoy spending time with, and are excited to see as grandfathers. We know they will love our children deeply, because they have taken such good care of us.

We thank God that He blessed us with these men as our dads. Happy Father's Day! We love you both so very much.

Book Giveaway: "Adopted For Life"

As Mackenzie and I shared, Russell Moore's book, Adopted For Life has been a tremendous resource for us as we've started pursuing adoption. So much so that we wanted to give you all an opportunity to win a free copy.

To enter to win:

• Visit the Antioch Adoptions website.
• Find the Scripture reference on their homepage. (While you're there, you can also check out some of the amazing stories from this ministry and learn how you can help support them.)
• Email that Scripture reference to me at cliffe@marshillchurch.org and include "Book Giveaway" in the subject. One entry per person.
  

I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, July 7th.

Time Flies

Six years ago today, all the preparations came to an end and Cliff and I were married in Naperville, Illinois, with treasured family and friends in attendance. It was a wonderful day, a point of great celebration in our lives.

These six years that have followed have been full of many highlights, as well as difficult moments that God used and continues to use to teach us to rely on Him. I am so thankful that God brought us together years ago and my prayer is that we can enjoy many decades of marriage to come.

Last night we had the opportunity to celebrate together. Cliff planned a wonderful evening. We started by heading to dinner at Spring Hill in West Seattle. The restaurant opened a few years years ago to great acclaim, has been noted in many national culinary magazines, and has been on my list to try for awhile. It certainly lived up to its reputation.

As we looked over the menus, our server brought us complimentary glasses of sparkling wine to help us celebrate. Before our entrees arrived, we enjoyed homemade bread and a crab cake that melted in our mouths. For dinner, Cliff ordered the halibut which he described as the best piece of fish he's eaten-not even a hint of "fishiness". I had a hangar steak smothered in caramelized onions and served with homemade french fries. Delicious and particularly enjoyable as all of the food is homemade and/or local.

We absolutely loved the delicious food, but the unassuming and unpretentious atmosphere really made us feel at home. We could not have enjoyed our dinner more.

We then headed out to the Washington Dance Club for a Tango lesson. We arrived to a somewhat empty ballroom, where we signed in and got ready for our lesson. There were about ten other people there for the hour long class. The instructor did a good job of walking us through each step, but doing so with patience and a sense of humor. Even though I have dance experience, I don't know a thing about ballroom dancing and was certainly out of my element. We did our best to keep it lighthearted and had a great time together.

After the lesson, many other people began showing up for the social dance that followed. There were some very skilled and serious dancers that arrived. Cliff and I took one Tango tour of the dance floor and then left the rest of the evening to the professionals. We had a great time laughing and learning together, but that will likely be a once in a lifetime experience for us!

Our evening echoed what the last six years have been like:

• full of new experiences
• moments of uncertainty and challenge
• me learning to look to Cliff as the leader
• accidentally stepping on each others' toes, then asking for forgiveness
• laughing together

I look forward to many more! Happy 6th Anniversary, Cliff! I love you.

Where are we in the adoption process?

We get this question a lot. The truth - the very beginning. I guess for me it will always feel like the beginning until that sweet baby is placed in our arms.

A couple of weeks ago, we took an important step in the process having our pre-screening interview at Antioch Adoptions. We met with Michele, the Executive Director, and answered a number of questions ranging from why we wanted to adopt, to our family backgrounds, to our marriage, and certainly much more. We expected to share all of this information, but I appreciated how conversational and practical it was. Michele shared her experiences as an adoptive mom with us and honestly and openly answered our questions. We also met with a pastor at Antioch Bible Church for a pastoral interview to confirm that we are in fact Christians, as that is one of the criteria of them placing a child into our family. We feel very blessed to have such skilled, compassionate, and God-fearing people surrounding us in this process.

Our next steps are to attend a number of trainings, which we hope to do this summer and fall. Specifically:

• Equip 101, which is Antioch Adoptions' pre-PRIDE training for families planning to adopt.
• PRIDE training through the state.
• Equip 201, which is Antioch Adoptions' post-PRIDE training.

I appreciated Michele's honesty in laying out our timeline, which could range from 1-3 years. Certainly according to God's perfect plan, things could go much more quickly, but could also go more slowly. Our prayer is that we wait humbly and patiently for God's timing and not be overcome by our desire to be parents.

We are so excited about how God will use this amazing ministry to impact our family and others. We would ask that you pray with us for the staff of Antioch Adoptions, financial provision for this ministry, and for us as we await the arrival of our children.

"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"
Psalm 27:14

Goodreads: Social Media For Readers

I enjoy Facebook and Twitter as much as the next social media fanatic, but in many ways my favorite social media site is Goodreads. This is a great site for bookworms like myself, who enjoy keeping track of what they read, reading and sharing reviews and ratings, seeing what friends are reading, and discovering new books.

There are many other features that I haven't even explored yet, but one of my favorite organizational options is the customizable bookshelves. The site allows you to create different bookshelves to arrange your books anyway you like. I try to keep mine simple: currently reading, to-read, and read. My "to-read" list is a bit daunting, but it's good to know there's never a shortage of books to read and things to learn--keeps me humble.

Teresa, my best "Goodreads friend" (and a great friend in real life, too), pointed out recently that my "read" list has been heavily weighted with theological books. That's not a bad thing, of course, but she encouraged me to throw in a piece of fiction every now and then, which I definitely plan to do after finishing the Re:Train program next month.

If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to join Goodreads, add your books, and add me as a friend, so I can keep up with what you're reading.

Riding the Re:Train

Last August, Mars Hill Church, our home church for the past four years and where I've been working for the past two years, started a Masters of Missional Leadership program called Re:Train. The program is designed to provide a seminary experience with a heavy emphasis on practical application. Pastors and professors from all over the country, including Dr. Bruce Ware, Dr. Gregg Allison, and Dr. John Piper have traveled to Seattle for one weekend out of the month to teach what's typically weeks worth of material in two intense days.

I was blessed to be accepted into the program this year as one of the seventy students in the inaugural class. It's been a challenging, but enjoyable experience. Along the way I've had the opportunity to learn from some amazingly wise, Christian men, read many challenging and helpful books, and think through what it looks like to put all of this into practice.

I'm currently working on our final assignment: a thirty-five to fifty page Master's Thesis, which will serve as a synthesis of what I've learned this past year, as well as a vision and plan for my life in ministry this coming year.

Following Mackenzie's example (part 1, part 2), I thought I'd share some of the books that have had the greatest impact on me this past year.

God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
In many ways this is a more accessible version of Graeme Goldsworthy's Gospel and Kingdom. They both explain how the sixty-six books of the Bible fit together to form one, unified story--God's story of creation, the fall, redemption, and consummation.

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges
Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but many Christians act as if their sin isn't grievous to God just because it might not be as "obvious" or damaging to those around them. This book does an excellent job of dispelling that myth and aims at helping people see just how desperately we all need God's grace.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance by Bruce Ware
The Trinity and Jesus' humanity/divinity are two of the more challenging doctrines of the Christian faith. How can one God exist in three persons? How can Jesus be fully man and fully God? This book is extremely helpful in trying to understand these important truths.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
Piper is an amazing writer; his writing is both poetic and easy to understand. This particular book does a great job explaining why Jesus is worthy of our worship.

The Assembly of "The Way" by Gregg Allison
This book hasn't actually been released yet, but we were fortunate to get a sneak preview. I'm sure glad we did. It was an amazingly thorough explanation of all that constitutes a church--doctrine, discipline, government, sacraments, etc.

Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro
I read this around the time that Urban Meyer took a leave of absence from the University of Florida football program because of some health concerns. I kept thinking, "Man, he needs to read this book." And so do all leaders who push themselves beyond their limits without seeking God for renewal and strength.

Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy
In this book Goldsworthy builds upon his premise from Gospel Kingdom that Scripture is one overarching narrative and explains how this should impact the way a preacher preaches.

Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon
I hadn't read much Spurgeon before this book, and my expectation was that it would be a thick theological read. But I was surprised to find that this book (a collection of lectures) was extremely personal and pastoral in nature.

Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper
Like Spurgeon's book, this was a helpful and practical look at what it means to be a pastor. Piper covers a variety of topics, including how to prepare a sermon and how to grow and mature as a pastor.

The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
From what I can tell on the blogosphere, this is going to be an important book for everyone in vocational ministry. The premise is simple, but the application is essential: ministry is about seeing people grow in their relationship with Christ; putting in an inordinate amount of emphasis on systems and programs can detract from this purpose.

The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel
I think this book is a helpful companion to the above book. Finzel not only explains what these mistakes are (putting paperwork before peoplework, dictatorship in decision making, success without successors, etc.), he also provides practical solutions for correcting these mistakes.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
I'm curious to know how many good ideas are out there floating around that never gain any traction, and as the Heath brothers would say, stick. This is another one of those simple, but essential books. It explores how to create and cast vision in a way that causes others to jump (and stay) on board.

In My Google Reader...

A few years ago, I enjoyed clicking through my favorite blogs every couple of days and enjoying the wit of a particular writer. That was until Cliff observed me doing this daily clicking and immediately set me up with a Google Reader account. I love how efficient my husband is!

Since the beginning of my Google Reader, I now have many more blogs that I keep up with and learn from. I always love finding a new recipe, discovering a new way of looking at life, or laughing at a picture posted.

These are some of my favorites:

The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond is hilarious! If you've never read about the life and hysterics of The Pioneer Woman, you must. From cooking to homeschooling to decorating to photography, she makes me smile.

Passionate Homemaking - I always appreciate Lindsay's ideas about how to better care for my home and family.

Practical Theology for Women - This blog is excellent! Wendy applies the Truths of Scripture to every day life.

Molly Piper - This blog is written by the daughter-in-law of Dr. John Piper. She writes candidly about her life as a wife and mother and the challenges that she has faced in losing a child. Her faith, strength, and humor are very encouraging to me.

I also read many blogs that my friends write, which I enjoy immensely. As I read them, I am always thankful that I get to benefit from their wisdom, humor, and experience in real life and not only in cyberspace!

What blogs do you enjoy?

Mackenzie's Book List...Update: Part 2

When choosing books to read this year, I did so before we learned of our infertility and before we felt compelled and called to adopt. Since that moment, there have been a number of resources that we've accessed to learn about adoption, understanding our call as Christians to care for orphans, and what that means for our family.

Books I've read that weren't on my initial 2010 reading list:

Adopted for Life by Russell Moore
This book was instrumental in shaping our understanding of how adoption is a joy and brought us to a crucial understanding of how we were adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Absolutely phenomenal book. Read Cliff's thoughts here.

Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis
This book was not as moving as others I've read, but it did provide some helpful perspective on the role that others can play in supporting an adoptive family. To care for orphans doesn't necessarily mean adopting one; there are many other ways to love and care for the fatherless.

Hannah's Hope by Jennifer Saake
As I mentioned in my review, apart from Scripture, this book has been the most helpful to me in processing our infertility.

Why Was I Adopted? by Carole Livingston
This book was recommended to me by a friend of a friend who was adopted as an infant. She remembers reading this book frequently with her sister and she shared how helpful it was in helping her understand adoption. I came home after that coffee date and looked on Amazon to find the book was out of print...one new copy for over $1000 and a couple of used copies for less than $3. I'm sure you can guess which one I purchased! It arrived yesterday and this book is truly a treasure...we're sure our kids will love it!

Mackenzie's Book List...Update: Part 1

Early this year, I posted about the books I planned to read in 2010, which I'd never done before. I created the list initially because I'm finding more and more that if I'm not intentional, things just won't happen. So far, I'm glad I've made the list. I've certainly added to it and read books beyond this list related to what God is teaching me at this moment, but here are my "quick takes" on the books I've read so far and what is still on my list...

Books I've read so far this year:
Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit) by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears
Great book! I'm thankful that I get to hear from Pastor Mark each Sunday. I included more details in the review I wrote a few months ago.

Womanly Dominion: More Than A Gentle and Quiet Spirit by Mark Chanski
This book was a great reminder of the role God has called me to as a woman and as a wife and the priorities which He's outlined for me in His Word.

The Majesty of the Law by Sandra Day O'Connor
To be honest, I had a hard time with this book. I just couldn't get in to it. I am fascinated by politics, law, and government, but for some reason had a hard time with this one. Maybe it just wasn't the right time to read it...I think I'll give it another try.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.) by Barbara Kingsolver
This is one of my new favorites! I did not want it to end. I adored her entire chapter on squash! Read more of my thoughts here.

Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck
Excellent book that opened my eyes to the importance of eating food that is "real"...food our grandparents or great-grandparents would have eaten. (No more margarine for our family!)

From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out by Nancy Twigg
This book was a helpful reminder, but nothing too surprising. I appreciated Ms. Twigg's emphasis on starting with prayer and submission to God in all things and not simply on the behavior modification of organizing my home. Read my previous post on this book here.

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp
I'm reading this book now and am learning so much about how to care for, talk with, and love other people in the midst of struggles. Excited to keep reading...

Books that I haven't read yet, but will soon:
Humility: True Greatness by C. J. Mahaney & Joshua Harris
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

Antioch Adoptions Banquet

On May 8th, Cliff and I had the opportunity to attend the annual Antioch Adoptions Banquet. This year was the celebration of their 10th anniversary and the fact that they've placed over 300 children into forever homes--AMAZING! It was a very special evening and we were very thankful our friends Samson and Liz joined us. Their company definitely made it even more fun!

The evening included stories of families who adopted children through Antioch Adoptions, celebrations of the blessings of adoption, many encouraging speakers, and a delicious meal. (We had a few empty seats at our table, so Samson and Cliff did a nice job of making sure none of the food went to waste.) They had also put together two slide shows, Orphan Montage and What is Adopted?, which were both informative and touching.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was seeing the adoptive families together. Not only had many of the children in attendance been placed into their families by Antioch Adoptions, but they also had a special job--they were the ushers who showed us to our table. It excited me to think that one day our children may attend and seat guests at upcoming banquets. What a joy that would be!

It was a very special evening and we were excited to support the amazing work God is doing through Antioch Adoptions.

Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice

A few months ago, as I was driving to work on the West Seattle Bridge, I had a crystal clear vision of Mackenzie and me standing on the stage at the Ballard campus dedicating our adopted child. What's strange is that I hadn't been thinking about adoption at all. I was just driving to work, listening to the radio, and thinking through my coming day. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, this picture popped into my mind.

Well, the floodgates immediately opened and I started bawling uncontrollably to the point that I almost had to pull over, which if you've been on the West Seattle Bridge, you know is nearly an impossible feat.

I'd never experienced anything like this before. Where had this come from and why had it come now? To be sure, adoption had been and continues to be a prominent topic of conversation for Mackenzie and me, so it was definitely on my mind. But until that point, our conversations had centered around the immediate next steps--not the hoped for eventual outcome and what that would entail.

It was clear that God was giving me a glimpse of what he had in store for us. He was showing me that being parents means more than just passing on our DNA; it means raising our children to know, honor, obey, and love Jesus. That's why we dedicate babies--not to secure their salvation (only Jesus can do that), but to promise to love and lead them in a way that points them to Jesus. In turn, our church family promises to support, encourage, and help us as we raise our children.

Mars Hill typically does baby dedications on Mother's Day and Father's Day, so two weeks ago, we watched twenty families at the Ballard campus stand before the congregation, introduce their child, read a few verses they had selected for him/her, and pray that God would help them raise their children in a way that glorifies Jesus.

It's a cute spectacle to say the least. In true Mars Hill fashion, many of the kids are decked out in Chuck Taylor's and spiky hair, but there's a fair share of pink bows and frilly dresses. Most of the kids either squirm, cry, or grab for the mic as their parents try to read their selected verses. Some of the kids even helped lead worship this year.

This year at the end of the service, Pastor Bill Clem, our campus pastor, acknowledged that for couples like us struggling with infertility or those who have experienced miscarriages, Mother's Day and Father's Day can be difficult emotionally. But he encouraged us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice," just as we would "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). And as Mackenzie shared, by God's grace, we were able to do just that. We're thankful for how God has blessed so many families in our church and hopeful for the day we, too, will stand before our church and dedicate our child to the Lord.

Take Time to Smell the...Lilacs?

As I was out in the yard today, I noticed how many of our plants are blooming and how big everything is getting! I think this year I am most excited by our four year old lilac bushes that are blooming for the first time.

It makes me think about what our yard looked like when we bought our home four years ago--a 7,000 square foot lot with three trees and nothing else. It has been a lot of work and since landscaping can be quite costly, we've been diligent in finding free plants on Craigslist and scrounging from friends and neighbors.

As it all finally starts to come together, I will definitely admit that watching these plants grow from year to year is rewarding. I snapped a few photos of my favorites to share.

Just for Fun...

A Walk in Our Garden

potato

radish

spinach

Our garden is doing fairly well at this point. We've planted most of the seeds and many are beginning to sprout and show signs of the bounty yet to come. I was thrilled to harvest one of our radishes on Saturday! It was deliciously peppery and a beautiful, pinkish red. I look forward to having more homegrown veggies on my salads in the coming weeks and months.

How is your garden growing?

Language Land Mines

I've often felt that political correctness is politeness run amok--especially since politically correct terms seem to change on a daily basis. I don't enjoy the feeling of cautiously tip-toeing through conversations afraid to step on language land mines.

But being a recovering English geek, I am aware of what people say, how they say it, and how both effect the people to whom they're saying it. I want my speech to be edifying, not offensive (Ephesians 4:29).

And I've become even more aware of this as Mackenzie and I have shared our struggles with infertility and our pursuit of adoption. There's an element of vulnerability involved in both cases, and what people say and how they say it can have a significant impact.

With infertility, it's a matter of people wanting to ask questions and offer encouragement, but not really knowing how to do either without prying or somehow offending us. In terms of prying, we generally assure people that we're open to answer any questions and to share as many or as few details as they're comfortable with.

The encouragement piece is a little trickier. In most cases, the people offering encouragement are ones we love and who love us; consequently, they don't like seeing us hurting and want to assure us that everything will work out. This last part is true, but how everything will work out might be different than they or we think. I'm hesitant to share specific examples of the things people have said because I know they meant well, but I do want to reiterate that our hope is in Jesus and what he's done for us on the cross (namely, saving us from our sins and restoring our relationship with God the Father), not our ability to get pregnant.

What Mackenzie and I are currently working through is the language we'll use if/when we adopt. Russell Moore's book, Adopted For Life, (one that we both highly recommend) has been greatly helpful in this. He and his wife adopted two boys from Russia who were born three weeks apart, but not from the same biological parents. Moore explains in chapter two that one of the most common questions people asked him and his wife was "Are they brothers?" And each time someone asked them, he would emphatically reply, "Yes, they are."

Now to be sure, he knew what they meant. He knew it was a well intended question to learn more about the boys and their origins. But more importantly, he knew how essential it was for the boys to know that through adoption, they were in fact brothers--not to mention his sons.

That's one of the most beautiful things about adoption. People with no natural, genetic relationship are transformed into a family. And what's better is that this is a picture of our renewed relationship with God through his Son, Jesus. The Apostle Paul uses the image of adoption to explain the Gospel in several places: Ephesians 1:3-14, Galatians 4:3-7, and Romans 8:12-17.

In another chapter Moore stresses that "adopted" is a past-tense verb, not an adjective. He explains that "the term 'adopted kid' assumes an ongoing difference, something that differentiates him from a 'regular kid.'" But adoption is an act that happened in the past; it doesn't define a child anymore than being born premature makes a child the "premature kid" (to use another one of Moore's examples). Adoption is a part of their story, not their identity.

I don't share all of this with you so you'll watch what you say when you're around us, but to share with you what we've learned these past few months--how infertility and adoption are far different from what we could have ever imagined (and we're just getting started with the latter). Neither fit well into the plan we had for our family. But we've started to realize that this isn't Plan B; this is what God intended for us all along. And throughout this experience, we expect to learn things about him and ourselves that we never would have otherwise.

Happy Mother's Day!

Cliff and I feel so blessed to have moms who love and encourage us well. Even as adults, we continue to learn from and seek the wisdom of our moms. As I examine my own heart and desire to be a mom, I am overwhelmed by the high call of motherhood and the great energy, sacrifice, prayer, and selflessness required of moms.

I appreciate Mother's Day because it gives me a specific day during the year to thank my mom and mother-in-law for being two women who I deeply love, respect, and admire. I'm also incredibly thankful for my friends who are moms, as they allow me into their lives and the lives of their precious children to learn from them, laugh with them, and pray for them.

Thank you for being such excellent examples to me.

The Difficulty of Mother's Day

Last year was the first Mother's Day in my life where I had a desire to be a mom, was actively trying to become a mom, yet was not a mom. It was the first Mother's Day where I felt an ache for a child.

This year marks the second such Mother's Day. I still have a deep desire to be a mom, which I know comes from the Lord, but much is different this year.

• This year I know that the road to motherhood will look different for me than I once thought.
  
  
• This year my heart grieves for other women who desire to be mom's, yet aren't.
  
  
• This year I have a deeper understanding of God's plan for my life and the peace that can be found in trusting that His plan is far greater than my own.
  
  
• This Mother's Day we feel a profound call to adopt children, and I am thankful for the deep sense of direction that provides.

I have a friend who shared with me early in our struggle with infertility that it is possible to feel two emotions at one time: to rejoice with others, but still feel a longing within yourself. This is where I am this Mother's Day--rejoicing in the gift of motherhood, thankful for my mom and friends who are moms, sad that we are not yet parents, but praying that God would bless us with a child according to His perfect plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Next Steps in the Adoption Process

Many of you have asked, "So now what?!?!" in reference to the next steps in our journey toward adoption. To summarize, there are many and they could take a long time.

We submitted our paperwork, and are now waiting for a phone call to set up interviews with Antioch Adoptions. If approved, we would then participate in PRIDE (Parents' Resources for Information Development Education) trainings through the state, complete a home study, and then wait for the child God has planned for our family. The entire process can go quickly (nine months) or can go more slowly (years).

For those of you that know Cliff and me well, the waiting game is not our strength. Nothing about this process is easy, expected, or accommodating to a couple of Type A planners like we are.

We are certainly learning what it looks like to submit to God's timing and not our own and to wait patiently. We would truly appreciate your prayers as we embark upon the very beginning of this huge and complex process.

I Like Control

This week our car went in for an oil change and came out with hundreds of dollars in additional repairs and a long list of things that needed to be fixed or replaced, including new tires.

Expensive and not on my "to do" list. Stressful for me.

This week our washing machine has been sitting in the middle of our mudroom, because it is not draining properly and there is likely a clog in our main line somewhere. We tried to remedy the problem, but the tools we have are not adequate for the job. We need a plumber.

Out of my control, messy, and distracting. Stressful for me.

This week, I've officially come to terms with the fact that the mattress we purchased on the cheap six years ago is terrible and I believe causing me to have some minor back pain, which I'm sure will only become worse if we don't change the mattress.

Annoying. Stressful for me.

I often think about this fictitious, perfect time when all things are paid off, we have no surprise expenses, nothing ever breaks or becomes ineffective, and on, and on, and on...That just isn't reality in this life. (Thankfully it is in heaven!) The truth is, we live in a fallen, sinful world full of trouble, problems, inconveniences, and turmoil. Our cars, washing machines, mattresses, and our bodies, are failing. It is a good reminder to me that God is in control. He created everything that my eyes can see, my ears can hear, my fingers can touch, and everything beyond that.

A few months ago, during a particularly difficult moment of frustration over things not going my way, Cliff pointed me to Psalm 121. It has been a source of encouragement to me over the last few months, as well as a source of conviction. This text also provided an opportunity to confess that I don't always look to God for my hope or trust that He will keep me.

I pray this Psalm for myself and for you today--that we would be encouraged in the Truth that God keeps us and that ultimately our hope is in Jesus and not in a "perfectly" tidy home, life, job, bank account, etc.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Antioch Adoptions Banquet

We are excited to attend the annual Antioch Adoptions Banquet on Saturday, May 8, to celebrate the amazing work God has done through this agency! This year marks their 10th anniversary; celebrating more than 300 children placed into Christian families without charging families any fees. We are praying this agency is the vehicle by which God brings children into our family.

Would you like to join us in celebrating the amazing work God has done through Antioch Adoptions? Tickets to this celebration are $40 per person and tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.

The Mission of Antioch Adoptions: To place infants and children regardless of ethnicity, age, or special needs into Christian adoptive homes, and to remove financial, perceptual and practical barriers to adoption.

Suffering Well

Below is an exert that appeared on the Resurgence blog from Pastor Mark's new book, Doctrine. It explains that we image God (i.e. think, feel, act like him) when we suffer well.

When the clouds of trial, pain, loss, hardship, hurt, and tears roll in, we must never forget that our Lord Jesus Christ imaged God well even when suffering. When Jesus was hurting the most, as he hung on the cross for our sins, he reflected the mercy and justice of God perfectly.

Jesus invites us to not waste the worst moments and seasons of our life but rather consider them treasures to be invested purposefully in glorifying God by imaging the character of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is Jesus' point when he says, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'

Thankfully, unlike so many half-true theologies that speak only of the victories of Christian life and how to image God when we are winning, Jesus shows us that if our aim is to image God, then when we win and lose and as we live and die, every moment is a sacred opportunity to be captured for his glory, our joy, and others' good.

From Doctrine, Chapter 4. Image: God Loves (pgs. 141–142).

We Submitted Our Adoption Paperwork!

It's hard to believe that we attended the Intro to Adoption Class at Antioch Bible Church just six weeks ago. Since then, we've been sorting through all the paperwork and preparing to take the next step in the process: mailing a rather full envelope off to Antioch Adoptions, which Mackenzie did yesterday!

A few weeks ago, we also went to the King County Courthouse to have our finger prints taken as part of our FBI background check. Let me tell you, the courthouse is not a fun place--nothing says "welcome" like metal detectors. (And while Mackenzie was getting her fingerprints taken, I witnessed an intoxicated man yell, "I'm 'bout to sue somebody. I don't need no identification," to the woman behind the counter.)

Moving forward, it takes about a month to process the packet and schedule a pre-screening appointment, which is a 2-3 hour meeting with a pastor from Antioch and a member of the adoption ministry team.

Please pray that God would continue preparing our hearts and our home for the child (or children) he has chosen for us, and help us be patient as we walk through this process.

People God Brings

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I’m sure it wouldn’t be a surprise for me to tell you that there have been some pretty low, lows over the last few months, but you might be surprised to know that we’ve also experienced some of the most encouraging moments as well. We have been amazed at the peace we have that comes only from God, but also the people God has brought into our lives.

On Thursday, March 18, Cliff and I had an appointment with a doctor at the University of Washington. After discussing the results from Cliff's most recent round of tests, he gave us a treatment plan, which included putting Cliff on some medication, putting me on some medication, and scheduling follow up appointments with him and with a local fertility clinic. We left assuming that we’d move forward. Why wouldn’t we? We had said we wanted to do some of these treatments, the doctor felt like they could work, they weren’t as expensive as some of the other options, etc.

But frankly, we left feeling overwhelmed and unsure. We prayed and asked others to pray with and for us, that God would make clear to us His plan—seek medical intervention, seek adoption, or do both simultaneously. We decided to take until Monday to fill any prescriptions or move forward with any decisions.

On Saturday morning, we typically get together with our community group from church. On this particular Saturday, a new family walked in the door: mom, dad, and daughter. We welcomed them, learned their names, and were excited they’d joined us. As we began talking, I shared that Cliff and I were facing infertility, were praying about whether to pursue adoption or seek medical intervention, and that we were praying for people to speak into this decision.

At that point, the wife from the new couple, said, “We adopted our daughter three years ago.” She went on to tell us that she previously worked for an adoption agency and has been praying for a couple to walk through adoption with.

God answered our prayers. He didn’t answer our prayer by audibly speaking to me, but He answered it by strategically placing a family in our life to comfort us, provide wisdom, and encourage us through the complex process of adoption.

It is moments like this that remind me that nothing is coincidental...nothing.

I am so thankful that God has a plan—a plan that is far greater than our own.
I am so thankful for new friends (and “old” friends alike).
I am so thankful for people to speak into our life from their own personal experiences.
I am so thankful that God uses the trials of life to bless others.

We feel quite blessed to see God at work in such a powerful way.

Book Recommendation: Hannah's Hope

In mid-January when we were right at the beginning of learning about the severity of our infertility, I did an online search for resources written by Christian women who had experienced infertility. This book was mentioned on almost every blog, so I went ahead and purchased it. I am very thankful I did.

Hannah's Hope is written by Jennifer Saake, a woman who has experienced ten miscarriages and failed adoptions. She and her husband created a nonprofit organization, Hannah's Prayer Ministries, to help couples struggling with infertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss. She deeply and personally understands these painful struggles.

As you can probably assume from the title, the author frames her book around Hannah from the Bible. Hannah is a woman deeply saddened by her inability to conceive. 1 Samuel 1-2 tells the story of God's work in her life. Ultimately, Hannah does give birth to a son, Samuel, whom she gives over to the Lord. Samuel came into existence according to God's perfect plan for his life as well as for Hannah's.

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that Mrs. Saake emphasized the fact that God does allow some couples struggling with infertility to become pregnant; however, that is not always the way God answers the desire for children. Some couples have the honor of adopting children, and others choose to love the children of friends and family. I appreciated at one point in the book she mentioned that, "God may surprise you by the ways He answers your heart's cry." Even though we may be surprised by His plan, it is ultimately far greater than our own.

In this book, Mrs. Saake addresses the anger, sadness, and hope that sometimes come with struggling to have a child. As she writes, she does so from personal experience, but more notably using biblical truth.

One section of this book that could be very helpful for many people is the section at the end of each chapter entitled "Burden Bearers." This section is written for friends, family, and church leaders who are supporting or counseling people struggling with infertility. Each section offers useful tips about what to say and what might be hurtful, whether intended or not.

I would most definitely consider this book a "must read" for anyone who has a friend or family member dealing with infertility, anyone who has walked the road of infertility, or anyone who counsels people struggling with infertility. While the cover of the book is distinctly feminine, Cliff initially read the book to gain a deeper understanding into what I might be feeling, but found it incredibly helpful for himself.

Apart from Scripture, this book has been the most helpful to me in our struggle with infertility.

Ellis Update: Pursuing Adoption

For those of you who didn’t know, Cliff and I have been trying to get pregnant for the last year and a half. For the first nine months or so, I wasn’t too concerned that we weren’t achieving a pregnancy and kept telling myself that it would take time. But in August of 2009, after about a year of trying, God used a sermon from Pastor Mark which dealt with infertility, a passage I read in Job 39, and the news from several friends that they were pregnant to help me realize my sin of self-reliance and my true feelings, which I had been blind to: I was sad we weren’t pregnant. That sadness coupled with conversations with Cliff, the urging of good friends, and much prayer prompted me to see my primary care physician for my annual appointment and to discuss our infertility.

That led us to see four different doctors, most of them fertility specialists, and complete a myriad of fertility tests for both Cliff and me before we were told that medically speaking, we have “less than a 2% chance of getting pregnant without medical intervention.” The doctors’ suggested course of treatment, based on Cliff’s abnormal semen analyses and my low progesterone levels was In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We have decided not to pursue IVF because of the cost and our own comfort level.

One doctor suggested Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), which is much less expensive than IVF. He put together a plan for us to try, and I was excited about the chance to at least try this procedure. But after prayerfully considering this option, both Cliff and I just have a “gut” feeling that we aren’t to pursue medical intervention for our infertility at this time. We are not opposed to medical intervention—just don’t feel called to pursue it.

On March 8, 2010, amidst many weeks of doctor appointments, we attended an Intro to Adoption class at Antioch Adoptions, which is a ministry of Antioch Bible Church. This amazing ministry offers adoptions at no cost to Christian families living in Western Washington. We learned about this ministry when we attended Antioch Bible Church before becoming members at Mars Hill Church.

God did a work in us at the Intro to Adoption class; we both left feeling very excited by the opportunity to adopt children. Since then, as we’ve prayed for clarity over whether to adopt or pursue medical intervention, God has overwhelmingly pointed us toward adoption and we are thankful for that direction.

Cliff and I have had a difficult few months, but have been amazed at how God has carried us through this. At no other point in my life have I ever felt such a deep connection to Jesus and comfort in my suffering. We have learned a lot, have been humbled by the love and support of friends and family, and are joyful about what God is doing in and through us.

We pray every day for the child or children God will bring into our home, whether through adoption or biologically. Our prayer is that ultimately, our hope is in Jesus, not in our desire for a child through adoption or pregnancy—that we would rely on Him for our comfort and peace.

In the coming weeks and months, we plan to give you periodic updates on where we are in the process and what God is doing in the midst of it. In the meantime, your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Please pray that we would keep our eyes on Jesus and not become entirely focused on our desire for children. Please ask us hard questions. Please know that we want to talk about this openly and honestly and that we’re thankful for friends and family to do that with. Please share with us what you’re struggling with and how we can pray for you.

A verse that has been of great comfort to us in the last few months and is written on our fridge indefinitely is James 1:2-3:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Tulips!!!

The beautiful, bold colors of our tulips are beginning to show. I love watching their tiny little heads emerge from the ground and then surprise us with their color. We have a number of varieties, and from year to year I can't ever seem to remember what color they are. My confusion actually makes things quite exciting, because each spring I am surprised when they do finally "pop"!

Favorite Restaurants

Cliff and I have been doing a weekly date night for at least the last two years, usually on Friday evenings. That typically includes going out to dinner because we both enjoy good food and trying new restaurants. Cliff usually comes up with a creative idea to try a new spot, but much of the time when he asks where I might like to go, I just smile and he knows that I'm dreaming of an old favorite.

These are some of our old favorites:

• Buddha Ruksa - The crispy garlic chicken is their speciality and a food I believe I could eat every single day for the rest of my life! I rarely agree to eat Thai food anywhere but Buddha.
• Mission - Another West Seattle fave, this chic Mexican restaurant has a charming atmosphere, delicious guacamole, and a mean margarita!
• West 5 - Yet another West Seattle gem, who has the best happy hour as far as I'm concerned. Their nachos are amazing and the Mai Thai for $4 is huge, delicious, and comes in a fun glass - what could be better?
• Elliot Bay Brewery - Can you say root beer on tap and a Whiskey BBQ burger? I can and do every time we go to Elliot Bay!
• King's Hardware - A great burger joint in Ballard where we sometimes go on Sundays. How can you not love a place that has a Peanut Butter Burger? I've tried it - pretty good!

Do you have any favorites? We'd love to give them a try! Well that is if Cliff can get me to go somewhere other than Buddha Ruksa!

Marginless Living

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your long list of "to do's" or stressed looking ahead to the next day, week, or month? I do. Usually because I've chosen to say "yes" more than I've said "no." Recognizing that life is busy, my dilemma becomes how I honor God in each moment of what sometimes feels like chaos.

Earlier this year, I attended a mid-week class at our church taught by Pastor Bill Clem (the Mars Hill Ballard campus pastor) on Spiritual Disciplines. He taught on Worship, Fasting, Sabbath, Solitude, and many other disciplines we as Christians can and should practice; not out of duty to be "good" people, but out of a desire to become more like Jesus and deepen our relationship with Him.

One of the things Pastor Bill shared that really resonated with me was the idea that most of us are living marginless lives. When we read a book, the designer of the text has placed open space around the outside edge of the page and space between paragraphs to help the reader access the text and be able to slow down, jot notes, or take a moment to think. Pastor Bill went on to say that many of us do not have these margins within our own lives - we pack our schedules so tightly that we don't/can't take the time to stop and pray with a friend, call our families, or be available to help those in need. He also noted that this marginless living was not only about our time, but we also do this with our money, so we don't have any "wiggle" room to bless others. That was very convicting for me. In many ways, I am living a marginless life.

So that begs the question...how can those margins become part of my life? How can I align my priorities so I'm not just running from one "to do" to another?

Lately, I've been praying that God would open my heart and build in me an understanding 0f the important versus the urgent and the necessary versus the unnecessary.

I am thankful that this week is my spring break; that I have some time to hit the "reset" button and focus on what is really important. In that, my desire is to have God-honoring priorities: time with God, time with Cliff, working in our home, and time with friends and family. I am praying that God would continue to teach me what it means to live a life with margins and how to honor Him with my priorities.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matthew 6:33