Cousins

You girls are blessed with some amazing cousins.  We do not get to visit with everyone, but we do get to see Frankie, Micah, & Ruthie more often.  Abi, since you & Frankie are 6 months apart; and Jillian, you and Micah are 6 months apart - you often form partnerships with each other.  (Sorry, Ruthie - I told your mama to stick with the pattern so Stella would have a little partner, but . . . now she really has some catching up to do).

Whenever we are together, you guys automatically separate into these little teams.  Too cute.  I remember a few times at the zoo when you guys were each other's partners, and whenever Tia Sarah would say, 'Where's your partner?  Stay with your partner.'  Frankie would holler, 'Partner!  Come here partner!' You guys are just so darn cute together - when you are playing/sharing nicely.  Surprisedly, that is more often than not.

It's fun how you guys think of each other.  You draw each other pictures, make crafts for each other, want to call each other on the phone.  It's like you have made permanent impressions on each other's hearts, and you're still so young.  Watching you guys is like looking at this amazing picture.  So many things stand out, and are so different - but it's the individual beauty seen collectively in the picture that makes it so memorable.

Now adding Stella, Chloe, Claire, and Ruthie to the mix is fun.  Frankie & Micah already felt a protectiveness with you little ones, and always wanted to hold you, help you, and carry you.  Sweet Ruthie now has 7 'older' ones to protect her, play with her, touch her & 'borrow' her toys.  I'm curious to see how you guys continue to grow up together & knowing that Frank & Sarah are raising your cousins to love God with all of their mind, heart, body & soul = I really cannot wait to see how you all will glorify God & make an impact on His Kingdom.

 

The Dedication

This past Sunday Papi and I had the honor of dedicating you - Jillian, Stella, Chloe & Claire - to God with family, friends, and our local congregation as witnesses and participants in this dedication. (Abigail, you were dedicated with Frankie & Marley when you were a baby.)  What does that mean?  We recognize that you are God's.  We are acknowledging that your life is His, and it is our desire that your life glorify Him in all ways.  It will be our commitment to you and God to help you on your journey as you discover the amazing and personal God who created you and has a plan for your life.

Tia Kelly and Padrino Chelo are your Godparents.  Papi and I have asked them to come alongside us in in loving you and raising you in way that pleases God.  They are also there to hold us accountable to how we raise you.  

Padrino Chelo came over from the Dominican Republic with his family and his mom and dad.  He came not only as your Godfather, but he dedicated his son, Joselito as well.  Papi is his Godfather.  Kinda crazy I know.  Padrino Chelo is Papi's best friend, and seeing them together is a real treat.

Grammy and Tia Kelly came up early spend some time and help prepare.  Grammy cooked LOTS of delicious food so that we would not spend the entire time in the kitchen, and our family CANNOT be together without eating lots.  Tio Frank & Tia Sarah came with their kids & you were more thrilled about playing with them than anything else.  Plus, you girls LOVE baby Ruthie.  Having everyone in the house, sleeping over - taking over - I wasn't sure what to expect.  God is sooooo good.  The weekend was more than wonderful.  A truly special time.  We are blessed beyond belief, and it is my heart's desire that we honor God and acknowledge Him.

Chloe, Stella, Abi, Claire, & Jillian posing before we go to Church.

Padrino Chelo, Don Jose, Rosmely, Joselito, Dona Nadira

Frankie & Micah 'warming' up for church

Stella & Jillian - ready.

Pastor Rick, and Pastor Allen were officiating the service.  Allen is Papi's closest friend here in Dublin.  Rick & Allen are both men who love Jesus and we were joyed they were a vital part of this dedication.

Alexa & her parents stood with our family.  They truly are our family here, and Alexa is like an older sister to our girls - she is my saving grace (and sanity) here in Dublin.

We took about 280 pics - these were the best family ones -ugh.

Love One Another

Pure JOY is watching you girls not just play together, but ENJOY each other.  My heart melts as I watch you care for each other, help each other, remember each other, encourage each other - basically LOVE each other.  There have been times when I worry that having a larger family will make it easier for one of you to get lost in the cloud of pink; but as I watch you girls together it is confirmed (once again) that true love multiplies itself, and there will ALWAYS be enough.  As I pray for each of you individually, and for us as a family; I sense that God is showing me that our family life is where and how you girls are learning to LOVE.  A tad scary since 1 Corinthians 13 portrays love as being patient, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs - among other things.  Not that the 'other' things are a piece of cake, but those 3 mentioned are a wee bit hard for mommy sometimes.  My prayer is that by the time you read this, you'll be SHOCKED to think that I struggled in those areas.  Hey, miracles do happen.  Lord knows I have AMPLE opportunity to work on these issues.

Anyway, getting back on track . . .

My and Papi's desire is that we would create and foster a home where the Holy Spirit dwells, and where LOVE abides.  Our desire is that you girls would grow to love the Lord with a passion and single mindedness that would become holistic.  Now, with us, with your sisters, here in Dublin is where you will learn to grow in love - not just ours, but your heavenly Father's.  Pretty cool, I know.  Yep, our desire is that:

"This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our sisters (everyone). 

Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and  in truth." 1 John 3:16 & 18

Girls, as you 'travel' through this life - who you ARE because of your love for God will be your testimony.  Because:

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:12

Watching you girls together is a testimony to me of God's love, and I am excited to see what God has in store for each of you and for us as a family - because our desire is to LOVE much, LOVE always, using God's LOVE.

Why I NEED To Be Near Stella - ALWAYS!

Need I say more than the title??? (said with eyes rolling)  You can probably tell by her lack of tears that this happens FAR more than it should.

Barranca

This post is about women who have changed me.  But to tell it adequately I need to introduce you to a man who introduced us.  Rafa was one of the first people I met when I moved to the Dominican Republic.  He was a 'volunteer' leader for Young Life.  I had NEVER seen someone with so much passion & dedication - as a volunteer.  Rafa is amazing.  His story in a nutshell is:  He was living in Santo Domingo attending university, was invited to Young Life, heard about God, began a personal relationship with Jesus, and was so fired up about other young people experiencing what he did that he moved back to his home town - Barranca - to begin Young Life.  Yes, he was a 'volunteer'.  So got a factory job, would work that job until there was a camp, and if he couldn't get work off to go to the camp he would quit his job.  After camp he would find another job, until there was another camp.  Talk about dedication.

Rafa, Charo, Tracy & Arturo

Well, after I had been in the country for just a few months, there was a camp planned.  I am not sure how I was recruited (if you heard my Spanish you would understand why), but I accompanied Rafa to Barranca to speak with parents about an upcoming camp.  I was to be the female leader, and Rafa thought it would be good for their parents to meet me. gulp.

I take public transportation into Barranca, experience a miracle by finding Rafa's house, and we set off to walk around the neighborhood & talk with parents.

Within a few minutes after we set off, the electricity went out.  This is an everyday occurrence.  No one knows when or for how long, but the electricity goes off.  So I followed as closely to Rafa as I could down a dark & muddy path to Hilda's house.  When we arrived, I stood there and smiled.  Rafa talked about the camp, I smiled, they asked a few questions, I smiled, Rafa pointed to me, I smiled, her family stared at me, I smiled, and we left.  I am surprised they didn't think I was a robot since all I did was stand there, smile, and occasionally shake my head in affirmation. Yes, I'm pretty sure I looked as idiotic as I felt.  

After that camp (which is a WHOLE-nother story).  I slowly began to build relationships with some of the girls from Barranca.  I lived about 1 hour away - public transportation. 

I eventually began to go to Barranca once a week to attend their Young Life club, sleep over, and lead a Bible study with 5 young ladies.  I didn't realize at the moment that I was forming not only life-long friendships, but a life changing experience for me.  Many of these girls lived in homes like this.

 And I lived off of this street in Santiago.

I later moved into a 'nicer' neighborhood.  So the obviously different living arrangements were staggering.  I usually stayed with Any & Anita.  What a great sense of humor God has that I stayed with identical twins, and later had my own!!  When I first met Any & Anita I could barely tell them apart.  Now I couldn't imagine mistaking one for the other.  They lived in a 2 bedroom house with their family - of 5.  When I came to visit, they girls willingly shared a single bed so that I could sleep by myself.  

-It was in their house that I used a chamber pot for the first time.  

-It was in their house that I first slept under a mosquito net.  

-It was in their house that I first saw a tarantula crawling on the wall in the night.  

-It was in their house that I first said a prayer of blessing over a meal & realized what that meant.

-It was in their house that we talked about Jesus, our love for Him, His love for us, how we could live that daily, and how we could help each other live that daily.

-It was in their house that their mother cooked meals for me, and gave out of her poverty.

-It was in their house that God was with us - in our discussion & in our hearts.

-It was in their house that my life was changed for eternity.

-It was in their house that I became sisters with Dominicans.

I am tearing up thinking about those days, and I'm not even a crier.  Those 'girls' grew into amazing women of God, and I am so privileged to have them as my friends.  It is humbling to think how God allows me to be a part of such holy things.  How He entrusts me with divine duties.  Not because I am so good or knowledgeable.  But because He loves me, and knew that I would be changed and transformed more to His glory by obediently following Him.  

Charo, Tracy, Anita (on left)

Hilda, Julia, Any (on right)

I feel that way with you girls.  It amazes me that God would entrust you 5 precious girls to your Papi and me.  We don't deserve it, and I can assure you I don't know what I am doing most of the time, but God gave His children (you girls) to us.  It is an awesome/humbling privilege.  

Jillian is 5 - Finally!!

Jillian - you are finally 5 years old.  Everyone else in the family has a March, April, May, or June birthday & you have had to wait all the way to October.  There were some days I wasn't sure you were going to make it.  You have asked countless times, 'Is today my birthday? Tomorrow?  Next week?'  And when I said no, your reply was 'my birthday isn't until forever.'  I know sweetie, it has seemed like forever for your birthday.  I promise you it will not always seem like forever.  In fact, quite the opposite.  You'll be thinking, 'It's October 5th already?'

You, Jillian, are an amazing little girl.  Your energy, love & intensity are unmatchable.  You have a delicately balanced need for equal social & alone time.  You LOVE to talk, play with your sisters, take care of your sisters, help me clean the windows (I think you just like to spray the Windex), candy, dancing, playing with your animals.  You have an infectious smile, and an abounding love.  I am SO blessed by you, and so humbled that God would entrust Papi and me to be your parents.  WOW!

Jillian, we love you, and are so excited to see what God has in store for your life. It is our prayer that you would grow to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, and with all of your soul!

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6-7

For You are my rock and my fortress, for Your name's sake you will lead me and guide me.    Psalm 31:3

Wordful Wednesday

Gotta love the mess in the kitchen in the background.  Love even more that my girls are 'playing' with me & loving it.  My sister was in town visiting & brought this with her for us to play - and ROCK OUT we did.