So, January has come to an end, which means that 2016 is well and truly underway, with different ministries gearing up ready to go. Still, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of the things I am grateful for this month.
1) My family
I am extremely grateful for my family this month. I was grateful to be able to spend time with my immediate family over my birthday and my dad's birthday. I was grateful for the opportunity to spend time hanging out with my middle sister before she headed overseas for a year. I was grateful for how welcoming they were of my housemate when she came to spend a couple of days with us for my birthday. I am grateful that my parents have a very open-handed, God-trusting attitude towards raising the three of us. Especially as it means that middle-sister is able to spend a year serving God in some wonderfully diverse places around the world with a wonderfully diverse team of people, while youngest-sister spent 10 days serving in Cambodia.
I was grateful to be able to spend some time catching up with extended family, especially the cousins that live in Bali. It was a joy to spend a little bit of time getting to know them better. I am also very grateful for how supportive they always are of my immediate family - even though our beliefs and attitudes towards life and the things that matter are fairly radically different.
2) My housemates
I am super grateful for my housemates this month. Particularly my name-sharer. I had a great time hanging out with her at my family home, watching her cram three visits to Yogurtland and 9 (she thinks maybe 12) different flavours into three days with us. I enjoyed watching k-drama, swapping stories and laughing over silly things. I'm grateful that my housemates are such awesome people that I've missed them when we've all been away on holidays. I'm so super keen to spend time hanging out with them, sharing life and faith with them this year. I'm also really looking forward to getting to know the newest addition to our household better.
3) My church
I have to admit, all the time I've spent away from home this month has really highlighted to me just how grateful I am for my church. I found myself wishing each Sunday I was away that I could go (and ended up leaving beach mission for a couple of hours so that I could...), have deeply missed catching up with many of the women and children there and have loved the time I have spent hanging out with some of the families there. I loved being able to host a dinner and an afternoon tea for a couple of the families. I am grateful for and encouraged by the time I've spent hanging out with the minister's family, as well as for my chats with him and his wife. The wisdom, godliness and spirit of support and encouragement in the church is so uplifting. I am eternally grateful that God brought me to this church family, and am keen to serve God alongside them this year.
4) Old friends
I was very grateful for the myriad of opportunities I had to catch up with old friends this month. Friends from school, church and Year 13. I was particularly grateful for the opportunity I had to get to know an old high school acquaintance and her new husband better, as well as the opportunity I had to catch up with my Austrian Year 13 friend. It is a constant source of delight to see how time and distance do not necessarily mean friendships will be lost. And it is always so reassuring to see that when God is the foundation of a friendship, then the relationships will last for eternity, no matter what happens here and now.
So, those are 4 things I am thanking God for this month. What about you?
Showing posts with label grateful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grateful. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Unadoptable?
So, I'm a massive fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her story. I always have been. She shared my name and her life was one of adventure - why wouldn't that appeal to a young girl? So, when I noticed that some friends of mine had some of the seasons of the Michael Landon's TV series adaption of the books, I immediately asked to borrow them.
Today, I was watching some episodes - right about season 5 (please note: the seasons I have borrowed are incomplete, I've only got about half of the first five seasons, so being at season 5 is not actually impressive) - when I noticed two of the actors shared a fairly unusual surname. I was intrigued. Clearly, they were related. Maybe even twins, they looked close enough in age for it not to be unlikely. So I went looking.
And I'm very glad I did. Because the history I found for them was far more interesting, and far more touching, than just being twins. And it's been bringing a smile to my face all day.
Patrick and Matthew Labyorteaux (usually spelt with the 'y' dropped) are the adopted sons of Ron and Frankie Labyorteaux. Which, is cool enough, after all, two people deciding that they had enough love to share with children "not their own" seems to be an increasingly rare thing. But as I kept reading, I discovered something else very quickly:
Both boys had been, at a very early age, deemed to be unadoptable.
I am unsure, from what I've read, whether it was at three weeks or three months that Patrick was diagnosed as being psychotic. He couldn't keep food down and was nervous around people. So, yeah, the agency figured nobody would ever want him. It was not long after that Ron and Frankie came along. They were looking for an older boy who hadn't yet had a chance at adoption (this is the group that finds it the hardest to be adopted), but in the process, they heard about this unadoptable baby boy and decided to adopt him.
Within two years, Patrick was far enough along that his parents decided to adopt another child. This time, it was 10 month old Matthew. He had a hole in his heart, was autistic and a liking for temper tantrums. Few of the doctors held out hope that he would ever be "normal". He didn't learn to walk until he was three. He didn't speak until he was 5. And there were always the tantrums. I've heard of people who have walked away from their adoptive children (even their biological children) for less.
And yet, Ron and Frankie decided to stick it out. I saw an interview with Frankie where she is quoted as saying "spent months on the floor with Matthew screaming and me holding him down telling him that no matter what he did I would love him". Then Patrick started acting therapy. He began working on commercials. At one of his auditions, Matthew was asked if he wanted to test too. And so began their acting career. From all accounts, the acting worked wonders for them. Both boys went from being shy, to being confident. And Matthew learnt to control his temper.
Matthew is now the most prolific actor of the two, and Patrick is married. They may not be super famous, or celebrities (although, they appear to have come close to this status during their Little House days), but if you'd told the agencies looking after them as babies where they'd end up, you would probably have been laughed at. These unadoptable baby boys have grown to be men with successful, love-filled (from all appearances) lives. And all because two people decided that they were worth more than others thought and chose to extend love to them.
I think you can probably see why their story has brought a smile to my face. But I'm not sharing it with you just because it is a sweet story. I'm sharing it with you because as my mind has been turning this story over, I began to notice something.
It's so very familiar.
Troublesome kids considered to be unadoptable and not worth much, given a second chance at life? Shown unconditional love and support from people who owed them nothing? If you haven't yet twigged to the fact that I began to see myself (and the rest of the human race) in Baby Pat and Baby Matt, and that I began to see something of God in Ron and Frankie, we might have a bit of a problem.
But really, the parallel was just too strong to miss. After all, there I was, a rebellious, sinful human being who wants nothing to do with the God who Created her and is only hurting herself. Who any righteous and holy person could quite justly cast aside - and most definitely would not adopt - when boom! along comes the aforementioned God who Created her (and everything else), and adopts her. At an enormous personal price. Then, while I'm busy kicking, screaming and having a right old tantrum, there He is, holding me and telling me that no matter what I do, He will always love me.
And so, I don't know about you, but today, I'll be going to bed with a smile on my face. Not just because across the world, may decades ago, two loving and compassionate people adopted two unadoptable boys and never gave up on them. I will be going to bed with a smile on my face because of what the story of this family has reminded me about God. His character and His love for me.
I will be going to bed grateful because God adopted the unadoptable, loved the unlovable, and declared worthy what would otherwise have been unworthy. I will be going to be grateful because God is no petty mortal (or Greek god) that He would be turned aside by my foolishness and faithlessness. I will be going to bed grateful because God is God and
"those [he] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8: 29 -30 - go read the rest).
Today, I was watching some episodes - right about season 5 (please note: the seasons I have borrowed are incomplete, I've only got about half of the first five seasons, so being at season 5 is not actually impressive) - when I noticed two of the actors shared a fairly unusual surname. I was intrigued. Clearly, they were related. Maybe even twins, they looked close enough in age for it not to be unlikely. So I went looking.
And I'm very glad I did. Because the history I found for them was far more interesting, and far more touching, than just being twins. And it's been bringing a smile to my face all day.
Patrick and Matthew Labyorteaux (usually spelt with the 'y' dropped) are the adopted sons of Ron and Frankie Labyorteaux. Which, is cool enough, after all, two people deciding that they had enough love to share with children "not their own" seems to be an increasingly rare thing. But as I kept reading, I discovered something else very quickly:
Both boys had been, at a very early age, deemed to be unadoptable.
I am unsure, from what I've read, whether it was at three weeks or three months that Patrick was diagnosed as being psychotic. He couldn't keep food down and was nervous around people. So, yeah, the agency figured nobody would ever want him. It was not long after that Ron and Frankie came along. They were looking for an older boy who hadn't yet had a chance at adoption (this is the group that finds it the hardest to be adopted), but in the process, they heard about this unadoptable baby boy and decided to adopt him.
Within two years, Patrick was far enough along that his parents decided to adopt another child. This time, it was 10 month old Matthew. He had a hole in his heart, was autistic and a liking for temper tantrums. Few of the doctors held out hope that he would ever be "normal". He didn't learn to walk until he was three. He didn't speak until he was 5. And there were always the tantrums. I've heard of people who have walked away from their adoptive children (even their biological children) for less.
And yet, Ron and Frankie decided to stick it out. I saw an interview with Frankie where she is quoted as saying "spent months on the floor with Matthew screaming and me holding him down telling him that no matter what he did I would love him". Then Patrick started acting therapy. He began working on commercials. At one of his auditions, Matthew was asked if he wanted to test too. And so began their acting career. From all accounts, the acting worked wonders for them. Both boys went from being shy, to being confident. And Matthew learnt to control his temper.
Matthew is now the most prolific actor of the two, and Patrick is married. They may not be super famous, or celebrities (although, they appear to have come close to this status during their Little House days), but if you'd told the agencies looking after them as babies where they'd end up, you would probably have been laughed at. These unadoptable baby boys have grown to be men with successful, love-filled (from all appearances) lives. And all because two people decided that they were worth more than others thought and chose to extend love to them.
I think you can probably see why their story has brought a smile to my face. But I'm not sharing it with you just because it is a sweet story. I'm sharing it with you because as my mind has been turning this story over, I began to notice something.
It's so very familiar.
Troublesome kids considered to be unadoptable and not worth much, given a second chance at life? Shown unconditional love and support from people who owed them nothing? If you haven't yet twigged to the fact that I began to see myself (and the rest of the human race) in Baby Pat and Baby Matt, and that I began to see something of God in Ron and Frankie, we might have a bit of a problem.
But really, the parallel was just too strong to miss. After all, there I was, a rebellious, sinful human being who wants nothing to do with the God who Created her and is only hurting herself. Who any righteous and holy person could quite justly cast aside - and most definitely would not adopt - when boom! along comes the aforementioned God who Created her (and everything else), and adopts her. At an enormous personal price. Then, while I'm busy kicking, screaming and having a right old tantrum, there He is, holding me and telling me that no matter what I do, He will always love me.
And so, I don't know about you, but today, I'll be going to bed with a smile on my face. Not just because across the world, may decades ago, two loving and compassionate people adopted two unadoptable boys and never gave up on them. I will be going to bed with a smile on my face because of what the story of this family has reminded me about God. His character and His love for me.
I will be going to bed grateful because God adopted the unadoptable, loved the unlovable, and declared worthy what would otherwise have been unworthy. I will be going to be grateful because God is no petty mortal (or Greek god) that He would be turned aside by my foolishness and faithlessness. I will be going to bed grateful because God is God and
"those [he] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8: 29 -30 - go read the rest).
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Thanksgiving #47 - Puffs of florr, egg spills, and yummy goodness
So, yesterday afternoon, after I finished my exam, I came home via the shops, grabbing some cake mixes and some eggs.
I was so excited! After a week of stressing and exams, I was going to spend my afternoon doing one of the things I love most - baking!
I love it so much.
I love measuring ingredients, I love mixing ingredients, I love "taste-testing" the mixture, I love putting the mixture into whatever cooking container is necessary to bake it in, sliding it into the oven, waiting while the house slowly fills of the delicious smells of whatever is baking, and then eating a little bit of whatever was baked just after it has come out of the oven.
Most of all, I love sharing what I have baked with other people and watching their reactions of enjoyment and delight.
And, yesterday, I had the joy of baking 25 strawberry cupcakes in order to share later today at the wedding of some very dear friends of mine.
I had so much fun.
And I realized, I am so grateful that I am able to cook.
First of all, I am grateful that I personally have the capability of preparing good food for people to enjoy.
I am grateful that I have the wide range of ingredients at my disposal that I do.
I am grateful for packet mixes, because they mean I can still bake even if I don't have hours to spend on it.
I am so very thankful for my nose and sense of smell, and for my tastebuds, because it means I can enjoy the smell and taste of my food.
And I am very grateful that God decided food should smell and taste good.
And sure, baking can make a mess. Especially when a complicated recipe is in use.
Sure the bench can end up covered with drops of eggs, puffs of flour, spills of sugar, splashes of melted chocolate, smears of margarine and eggshells. And sure my hands can get stick and my cheek caked with a but of dough and my clothes covered with floor.
But somehow, the fun and delight of baking for others makes all that mess not only unimportant but a joy - even if I do whine about having to clean it up!
And so, today, with Christmas on the 47th day from now, I just want to take a moment to thank God for baking and baked goods.
And keep an eye out for news and celebrations of the wedding!!
I was so excited! After a week of stressing and exams, I was going to spend my afternoon doing one of the things I love most - baking!
I love it so much.
I love measuring ingredients, I love mixing ingredients, I love "taste-testing" the mixture, I love putting the mixture into whatever cooking container is necessary to bake it in, sliding it into the oven, waiting while the house slowly fills of the delicious smells of whatever is baking, and then eating a little bit of whatever was baked just after it has come out of the oven.
Most of all, I love sharing what I have baked with other people and watching their reactions of enjoyment and delight.
And, yesterday, I had the joy of baking 25 strawberry cupcakes in order to share later today at the wedding of some very dear friends of mine.
I had so much fun.
And I realized, I am so grateful that I am able to cook.
First of all, I am grateful that I personally have the capability of preparing good food for people to enjoy.
I am grateful that I have the wide range of ingredients at my disposal that I do.
I am grateful for packet mixes, because they mean I can still bake even if I don't have hours to spend on it.
I am so very thankful for my nose and sense of smell, and for my tastebuds, because it means I can enjoy the smell and taste of my food.
And I am very grateful that God decided food should smell and taste good.
And sure, baking can make a mess. Especially when a complicated recipe is in use.
Sure the bench can end up covered with drops of eggs, puffs of flour, spills of sugar, splashes of melted chocolate, smears of margarine and eggshells. And sure my hands can get stick and my cheek caked with a but of dough and my clothes covered with floor.
But somehow, the fun and delight of baking for others makes all that mess not only unimportant but a joy - even if I do whine about having to clean it up!
And so, today, with Christmas on the 47th day from now, I just want to take a moment to thank God for baking and baked goods.
And keep an eye out for news and celebrations of the wedding!!
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