New Beginnings

Jeff and I are starting the journey of adoption.  We are not sure how long this journey will be until we bring home a little one.  I have been reading so many blogs about adoptions...some of the journeys were long...really long, while others seems to happen right away.  We believe that God has a wonderful plan for our family and that he wants to grow it right now through adoption, so I am sure his timing for this will be just right.  We are praying a lot and seeking God's direction.  There have been so many directions already placed before us in taking these first steps.  I was recently told about an apoption ministry in Tyler, Texas.  It is called Loving Alternative.  Here is the link http://livingalternatives.org/.  I contacted them, so our first step is to fill out an adoptive couples questionare....waiting for the papers in the mail.  After our questionare is reviewed and accepted, they will send us an application.  That is all I know right now. Obviously this is not the only place we are going to look into.  Even though we are pretty excited about this place because it is connected through YWAM, Tyler, TX.  As many of you know I did my DTS, Discipleship Training School, in Perth, Australia in 2003.  I love it when dots are connected to past experiences.  We are watching a tv show called "Touch".  It is all about how our lives are connected in some way to people all around the world.  It's a pretty incredible show.  Anyways, maybe this is just like one of those connections.  We believe God is guiding us in each step and nothing is coincidence.   Would you go on this journey with us as a prayer partner? We could use all your love and encouragement as we walk this path God is leading us down.  

Lissa

Ephesians 2:10

Eufaula Lake Adventure

This Saturday Jeff and I joined in the adventure my sister, my mom, and all of their men planned....exploring an Oklahoma lake.  My brother in law, Wes, who just moved out here found a great lake to visit for the day.  Eufaula Lake was such a great find, a perfect family friendly lake.  We also discovered a great camping location.  We are now in the process of making Memorial Day camping plans! Yeah!  Here are some pictures to give you a glimpse of our day.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  The day was filled with...soccer, playing, frisbee swimming, fishing, relaxing, and exploring, We came home relaxed and happy from such a lovely Saturday!

Cooking has become a passion of mine.  I have kind of become obsessed with food actually.  My desire is to create healthy dishes for my family on a budget.  I am still in the process of learning, but this is a project I will conquer!

I always, always have project up my sleeve.  I think I am a pretty creative person, but I get bored easily and so I start a project and then I don't finish.  Or I have a problem committing to something, so I start a project then I find something better I like.  Not such a great trait...need to work on that!

I have a really great life.  I am probably the luckiest women alive.  My husband is fabulous and I get to live every day life with him.  I love to be adventurous and explore the world, but for now our lives are pretty ordinary.  We have 2 ridiculously crazy dogs that act like children most of the time.  I just love them though, they make me smile.

Exercise is so important for so many reason...you feel better, look better, and you walk in life a little more confidant. My cycles of exercising...work out a lot to stopping for a long time, work out a lot to stopping for a long time, work out a lot to stopping for a long time, work out a lot to stopping for a long time...see my pattern. Well I have so much more consistant, now that we are eating healthy. I believe fitness and eating right go hand in hand.

Yep...we are trying to start are family. We have been trying for over two years now. It has been a struggle to say the least. Lots of disappointment. We pretty recently found out the reason we have not conceived. I have endometriosis and PCOS. Yeah...I know CRAZY! Jeff and I have decided to try holistic methods of getting pregnant and healing my body. It will take time. While we wait for God to do his work, we are at the beginning stages of looking into adoption. Who knows maybe this is the reason for God not healing me yet. His ways are higher then ours. Lets trust in Him!

Blog world

So today was a pretty chill day.  Confession...I stayed in my pj's till after lunch because I got caught up in creating this blog.  I am super excited about figuring out how to set it up though.  I know that sounds crazy, but I have been trying for over a year to start blogging.  I would always get caught up in designing a cool web page and get frustrated because I didn't like how it looked then I would just give up.  I think maybe I have created 3 to 4 blogs that never went anywhere.  Well luckily Google upgraded their blogger and for some strange reason I was able to figure it out.  I think I made a pretty sweet blog...I am proud of myself.  I think I just have stuff to say now too that I can't wait to share.  Maybe the timing is just perfect.  I can't assume people really would want to read what I have to write, but even if this is for my own sanity it is going to be worth it.   I think I can process stuff so much more when I write it out.  I also can express myself better in word on paper than speaking them.  Well here is too a new venture of my blog life.  Raise your glass!

Our chosen road

This is our journey.  It is a not a path we would have chosen, but it was chosen for us.  The Lord knows us better then we know ourselves and I believe our times our in His hands.  There is a poem by Robert Frost that seems to remind me of our journey we are on.
  

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference. 

I know we are going to look back on this season and see God's hand all over it.  We will be able to see how He is guiding our steps each and every day.  For now we are learning to trust Him in such a deep way, because right now we do not see and from what we can see it is tainted with heartache and questions.  We had our plans, but God must have bigger plans.  For that I should be grateful.  It is not easy though.  Yesterday I came across a verse that gave me hope and new perspective.  

  

Ephesian 2:10 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

He has designed Jeff and I for a special purpose.  Just maybe I think we are beginning to see a glimpse into what it might just be.  I want to look back and say just like the poem...I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Pray that we will have courageous and trusting hearts!

~Lissa