literal angry birds

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We have birds that make a home by the corner of our house each spring. I've always loved birds...the sweet melodies they bring and watching them in flight is a testament to our Creator.

But THESE birds TERRIFY me.

On more than one occasion, I have referred to said birds as "Killer Attack Birds."

You see, they swoop at your head to defend their nest. And there's not just one. It seems like fifty appear any time you set foot outside. (Okay, it's probably more like four...but you go out there and tell me how many it feels like when they are chasing your head with their sharp little beaks.)

Last spring AND summer, I walked everywhere outside with a giant umbrella shielding me, while the sun was shining.

If I had to walk by their nest, there was no walking. I SPRINTED. WITH my umbrella.

I can recognize their angry chattering from anywhere.

Which happened a few weeks ago, striking terror in my heart. Yes, they're back.

If you've learned anything about me through this blog, it's probably that I'm a nerd and love to research things.  I love finding out answers to questions and gathering new information.  I know...I'm a nerd.  :)

So last year, while the birds were attacking, I started reading up on attack birds.  Let me tell you, there's some scary stuff out there.

Like this one person who had to wear a helmet to walk past this birds nest because the birds repeatedly ripped out chunks of their scalp.  Apparently they targeted certain people.

Or that some birds are so protective that they will take on snakes and owls relentlessly.  They aren't scared.

I read somewhere that if you were looking at the bird, it wouldn't attack.  It only would attack from behind.  Sneaky little things.  So they suggested taping eyes on the back of your head.  I considered it for a while.  Honestly.

I got so worked up about these birds that my life (well, my life outside) was ruled by fear.  These little birds had control of my heart.

The chattering returned this year, and so did the fear.  Immediately. 

I did more research.  Listened to bird calls.  Tried to find out what kind of killer attack birds were oppressing me.  I sat far away from them and watched them in flight.

It turns out that these killer attack birds aren't so killer after all.  They are common barn swallows, doing what birds do to raise their families.  They aren't out for blood.  They don't deserve all the anxiety and fear that worked up in my heart.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" - John 8:31-32

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Many Christians are wrongly ruled by fear.  

Fear of sharing the gospel because of what people may think.  Or not knowing the right words.  Or losing friends. 

Fear of stepping out in obedience to God's call because it's not popular.  Or it won't make you rich.  Or it makes you uncomfortable.  

Fear of serving because it puts you last.  Or it's dirty.  Or it breaks your heart and you just want to be happy.

And the more we give in to these fears, and feed them with worldly ideas, the more they grow until you are consumed and can't see past them.  Just like the birds that ruled my heart.

But once I learned the truth, I was set free from fear.  God's Word is our truth.  When we trust in Him and His word, the chains of fear are broken.  We are free to live victorious lives in Christ, bringing Him glory in EVERYTHING.  

Will you let go of your fears today and completely trust in Him? 

"The fear of man brings a snare,
      But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe."

-Proverbs 29:25    

Whom are you serving?

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

- John 20:11-18

I cannot imagine the agony of the cross that Jesus bore for me. 

Yes, there was immense physical pain as they ripped His skin from His body with a cat-of-nine tails, pierced his bone and flesh to that tree, shoved a "crown" of thorns deep into his scalp, and left Him hanging there to die, gasping for each new breath. 

Yes, there were emotional wounds, as the crowd unjustly mocked Him, spit on Him, misunderstood him, and stripped Him of His clothes and dignity. 

But can you imagine the unbearable, unspeakable pain as God the Father, who had been with Him from the beginning, turned His head away, unable to be in Jesus' presence because He bore the sins of the world.  

My sins.

Your sins. 

They were nailed to that tree, and God forsook them. 

He paid a debt that He did not owe.  Our debt.  Settled, once and for all. 

As we ponder that wonderful, brutal, life-giving and taking cross this Easter, I wonder if this is where it stops. 

Are we weeping into an empty tomb?

Are we serving a dead god, or a risen Lord?

You see, the cross was not the end of the story.

3 days later, Christ triumphed over the grave, raising the dead to life.  That's you.  And that's me.  I once was dead in my sin.  But one glorious day, I understood the price that was paid through Jesus' blood.  My sin, wretched, dirty, and worthless, was wiped away as I called on Jesus to be my Lord and my Savior.  And now I walk in newness of life. 

Because He didn't stay dead. 

Too often, I think we leave Christ hanging on that tree.  Dead.  Buried. 

But HE IS ALIVE!

He has called our names and sent us into this world to tell others that, indeed, our Savior LIVES.

Let us not miss Him. 

He has risen.  He is ALIVE, so that we too can be alive in Christ.

Praise the Lord!

got love? adopt.

Look what came in the mail for me...

I am so excited!  Kelly, a super sweet momma, offered one of their fundraising t-shirts for a giveaway on Amy's blog for My Week in Review.  I was thrilled when I found out I won!!

These shirts are super cute, comfy, and come with a great message, plus the satisfaction of knowing your helping to bring a child home.  Please go check out all the great got love? stuff they have to offer here!  Get your shirt orders in by April 24 to receive by Mother's Day!  Kelly also is selling Scentsy to help their little one come home, which would make great Mother's Day gifts too!!


Got love? Adopt.
 

My Week in Review

My friend Amy at Filled With Praise hosts this fabulous weekly link up each Friday-Sunday to help us stop and reflect on our week, and what we can learn (because there's always at least one little nugget of truth waiting for us!). Before you come join us in the fun, here's my high, low, and lesson learned from the week...

{High}

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Crazy, I know...but my highlight of the week was cleaning out my closets and drawers!  More in the yard sale pile, less everywhere else!  It's fabulous!

{Low}

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The terrible tornadoes that ripped through NC yesterday barreled right through my hometown. Twenty two people were killed. There is so much destruction. Please pray for families as they try to put their lives back together after this awful storm ripped them apart.

{Lesson Learned}

While our circumstances change, God never does. He is ALWAYS there and capable of meeting our every need.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

Coupon info and class ideas?

I've heard from many of you interested in learning about coupons - and I don't blame you... it's AWESOME stuff. :)

I've also heard from many of you that you think I should have coupon classes online to help bring our little one home! 

I think that's a GREAT idea....but here's the problem.  How in the world do I do that?!  Any ideas?  Would you be interested?  If so, what would work for you? 

Let me know if you're interested, and I'll start working on something.

And for those of you who can't wait to get started, check out Hot Coupon World.  It's a forum of coupon users from all over the place.  It's a little overwhelming at first, but it's a great resource!

provision. even in the little things!

It's confession time: I'm a little crazy about our grocery budget. I got in deep a while back with coupons and haven't really looked back. You can read more of that story and see my shopping hauls (when I remember to post them :)) here. For 2009, my entire grocery budget was $600. For the year. And I did it. With money to spare. (And yes, this included ALL groceries, health and beauty supplies, cleaning supplies, and paper products.)

We've moved since then, and with the new area and grocery stores available to me, I upped my budget. To an exorbitant $15 a week (or $780 for the year). It's not easy, and takes a lot of planning on my part (both for shopping and preparing food) but to me, it's so worth it to know that I am using the resources God provides us with to the best of my ability, and frees up more of His money to give and be about His business. To stick to this budget, I only buy what's on sale, and when it's on a great sale, I buy a lot. With coupons, of course. And with the stock in the pantry, I fill in what we need to make meals that week with the fresh items I've bought.

Now, I know you've probably seen or heard about that crazy show, Extreme Couponers. Please, please, please do not group me in your mind with them. I am NOT a hoarder, I buy what we can reasonably use before expiration dates, and I follow all coupon rules. Not so on this show. But, that's a side point...

All this to say that I am very careful what I purchase. As you can imagine, when we're running low on a necessity, with no sale in sight, I start to get a little panicky thinking about having to pay full price for something that I know I could get with a sale and coupon for significantly less a little later. But, you do what you've gotta do.

We're almost out of toilet paper. I've been desperately combing through ads looking for a good sale, and trying to figure out the best deal. I even (briefly..) considered putting a box of tissues in the bathroom until I could find a good deal, because of course I have extra boxes of those. :)

And then today, Ryan came home from work with a box that was shipped to me from FedEx. I looked at the return sender, and it was from a company that pays me to do surveys and product testings. I was excited because the box meant I had been selected to test a product=free stuff and extra money! I opened the box and you know what was inside?

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EIGHT glorious rolls.

I think God was trying to catch my attention.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

- Matthew 6:25-34

Worry less, trust more. God knows me intimately, and as I continue to seek His face, He continues to provide in ways I don't even understand yet.

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

waiting. not so patiently.

I haven't updated in a while because, well, there's really been nothing to update about! Thank you for the sweet notes and thoughts for those who want to know what's going on as much as we do- and unfortunately we have nothing to share at this point.

Well.. I do have a little news.



We've eaten our first 4 strawberries! And they were DELICIOUS! I'm super pleased. AND, we have lots of little pea pods, and my tomato plants are flowering. Everything is growing and doing great in my little garden. I LOVE IT!

Anyways, back to the adoption front. From what we do know, I think when we DO finally know anything new, it will be about our child. I *think* we will be seeing a picture of their sweet face and learning where they live. I have no idea how long (or short!) from now that will be. When we first started the process I thought we would make our first trip in April of 2011. I guess I was wrong! Ryan thinks we'll travel in May. Who knows, really?!

I keep reminding myself that GOD knows.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
-Isaiah 55:8-11

Adoption puts you through the fire, and I am hoping to come out more like Christ. I've realized lately how much control I like to have in my life. I don't like not being able to see the next step. I like things orderly and planned, and I can mix in a little faith...but don't ask me to jump in the dark! I want to be able to SEE the next step, the next plan.

But, I'm learning to breathe. Because while my plans sound great to me- God's plans are so much better. While my thoughts make sense to me- God's thoughts are so much greater. If I want to be part of His plan and purpose - which I do, more than anything - I've got to let go of what I know and understand, and surrender to what I can't comprehend.

I would much rather live a faith-filled life for the glory of my Savior, than a safe life where I can be in control. So... who's jumping with me?!

Spring Frenzy!!

In addition to sunshine, lots of flowers, and new life everywhere you look, spring brings us lots of occasions to celebrate those we love! Fast approaching are:

*Easter*
*Mother's Day*
*Father's Day*
*Graduations*
*Birthdays*
*Anniversaries*
*Weddings*
*Just Because*

Our little one, which we haven't seen or met yet, is waiting for us in Eastern Europe. I love hand-making personalized cake keepers and snack keepers to bring us a little closer to our child being home forever.

These make great gifts for just about anyone! They are $25 + shipping, and more details can be found here. Just contact me at ourheartforadoption@gmail.com to get started today!

We also have delicious, fair-trade, roasted to order coffee for sale through our Just Love Coffee store

AND

Super cute tees (in multiple colors) through our Adoption Bug store!

For even more gift ideas, Stacy is hosting a Spring Frenzy here, where other families that are adopting have great gifts for sale too! Let the ones you love know that not only did you find a thoughtful gift for them, but you also helped bring home a child to their forever family!

Check out the Spring Frenzy here, and shop for a cause for all those holidays coming up!

My Week in Review

My friend Amy at Filled With Praise is hosting this fabulous weekly link up to help us stop and reflect on our week, and what we can learn (because there's always at least one little nugget of truth waiting for us!). Before you come join us in the fun, here's my high, low, and lesson learned from the week...

{High}

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Getting back into a workout routine! I always feel better when I'm working out regularly, but it's so easy to push it so far down the to-do list that it usually falls off. I'm trying to keep my life balanced!

{Low}

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Lots of muscle soreness from resuming work outs! I now remember muscles I forgot I had...mainly because they are screaming at me! :)

{Lesson Learned}

When you aren't using your muscles very much, they don't just jump right back to where they used to be when you need them (or want them!). This is also true of our minds!

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." -1 Timothy 4:7-10

I must not let myself become complacent in my relationship with God, but constantly be in training to be more like Him! I want my spiritual muscles to be always ready for action!