The Passy Fairy

Yes, the Passy Fairy made a visit to the Hatcher house! Jaida is now "passy-free". And yes, the Passy Fairy was LOOOONG over due! We brought passys with us to China not knowing what her needs or wants might be and she made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with that plug you put into your mouth! Well, 5 months after we were home, she found one and stuck it into her mouth and never went to sleep without it until Wednesday when the Passy Fairy came and took all her passys to the babies in China that have none. In our house you decorate a box or bag and fill it with your passys. The Fairy then comes and takes them while you are sleeping. The fun part is, you get to go to the store and pick out a toy afterwards! Jaida has had her eye on a new high chair for her babies so Wednesday she said, "I want to decorate that box for my passys." Well, of course I could not find a box on hand and I didn't want to lose the moment so out came a paper bag. She took much pride in this project and painted a beautiful creation. She said she wanted the Fairy to come at nap time so when she woke up we could go to Target to get the high chair! I started to put the bag filled with her precious passys on her night stand but oh no, she would not have that Fairy coming INTO her room! I tried to place it outside her bedroom door but that was still to close. Down the hall by Sam's room was where she placed it, then decided that was still TOO close! She ended up with it in the office which is at the opposite end of the hall from her room! She then told me to close the door really FAST (she meant hard)! Needless to say, the nap never occured, just alot of whining and wanting the passys and worrying about whether the fairy was nice and if she was a girl. Through all the angst the Fairy still managed to come and off to Target we went! She was thrilled with her purchase and sweet big sis Julia bought her a new baby doll with her own money to go with the new high chair! So, going to sleep has been a little labor-intensive since Wednesday but it will get better! It was one one of those bittersweet moments in life when you know it is the end of something. She still looked like such a baby with that "thing" in her mouth and even though it was annoying it was sweet. I will miss those ole passys!!!!

And the final score was........

No, it was NOT 17 to 17 it was actually 20 to 19...... and the Eagles won!!!!!! They took the score off the board before I could snap the picture after jumping up and down wildly as if I had just won the lottery (I was NOT the only one by the way- I don't think there was a single Eagle fan still seated)We will get to that in a moment though but first I want to share with you a neat story. One of our biggest "hang-ups" when we were trying to decide about home schooling was the fact that our kids wouldn't get to experience playing sports on the school level. This was something Will and I both really enjoyed about our middle school and high school years and we didn't want to rob our kids of this pleasure. This may sound silly to some but not if you love sports like our family does. We prayed about this and came to the conclusion that if God wanted us to bring our children home to learn than He would fill that gap with something else or somehow the sports thing would just work out. Well, wouldn't you know there is an entire home school league called the Augusta Eagles and there are many sports to choose from on the middle school and high school level...and more in the works! How about that! God does not disappoint and He surely does reward obedience. Julia has really enjoyed playing for the middle school girls team and they have had an excellent season! Last night's game was a low scoring, but exciting game, with a big come back from the Eagles to tie it up at the end of the game. (I have to brag a moment, forgive me, Julia made the basket that tied it up) 17 to 17 and to overtime we went. At the end of overtime it was still 17 to 17 and we began yet another overtime to which at this point most of the parents had suffered slight heart attacks, hoarse voices, and bitten down fingernails. The Eagles ended up winning the game by 1 point with just 2 seconds to go by a great shot from the coach's daughter Megan! Way to go Megan!!!! We were all so proud of them. They are a great group of girls! We feel so blessed that God provided what we thought was a lost opportunity for our kids and showed us yet again, He really does take care of the details we so often fret over.

As an aside, the other 2 kids immediately found a playground out back to keep busy until the game started-Jaida in the sand and Sam playing football with Poppy and some other boys.

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As in Philippians 4:13. This is one of my favorite verses. Simple and to the point. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I have been conjuring up this post for some time so I apologize in advance if I ramble. I think I have to write this down so that I can refer to it and my convictions on the days I am feeling weak. I read an incredible book about 8 or 9 years ago by Chip Ingram entitled "Holy Ambition". It changed my way of thinking. In an unjust manner, I will sum it up in a a few inadequate words- it tells you to get out of your comfort zone and make a difference for God. So began my quest.

There have been some times when I wish I had not read that book! I like comfortable. Don't we all?But each time a leap of faith was taken, I experienced my God in a new and wonderful way.

I heard Him loud and clear for many months about adopting again. It took me some time, but we did obey. Scared, questioning, doubting, but obedient. So many things about this adoption have worked in a way that could only be God and His mighty hands orchestrating the process. I grew less scared. We are now weeks, ok maybe 2 months if I am really honest, away from holding our precious son in our arms. I missed him so much over the holidays and there are times I don't think I can wait another second to actually touch him. Then the "what ifs" hit! Those things that lurk below the surface ready to shatter your faith. Those things that make me ask "Why are we doing this?" Now these "what ifs" are all very real possibilities so I don't want to stick my head in the sand but these "nastys" are NOT from God. They are there to try to lure me away from my loving Father and His promises. So I am wrestling right now with all the unpleasant, scary, challenging things that could come with an older child adoption, a child with some medical issues. Life is comfortable right now. Ahhhhh! In our comfort zones we don't need to depend on God because it is well, comfy! It is outside that delightful spot ,where we are hanging on by a thread, that we depend on God..... "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. So I have been clinging to that promise here lately. Whatever comes our way with this child God has ordained into our lives, I can do with His help. He will equip me for this call. Gosh when I write all this down it sure does seem simple. So why do I still doubt and worry? What new aspect of God does He want me to see about himself through THIS experience? That excites me. But what will I/we/Xin have to go through to get to the other side? Where we go, "Wow, that was tough, but God was right there all the way and we certainly learned a thing or two!" Only time will tell and I can not sit in my comfort zone and be useful to God. I am jumping in. So, fears... GO AWAY! I've got the BIG GUY on my side!!!!!!