...or if pears are to your liking...
no, perhaps grapes? 
But our favorite one is the cherry plate - because Dad HATES cherries and Mom loves them. So, when the kids set the table - who gets the cherry plate? They laugh with glee because they always give it to Dad and think it is soooo very funny that he is eating off of a plate representing the fruit he dislikes the most. 
If any of you have found a plate with peas on them let me know - he hates peas too. Then we could have two sets of dishes for him. LOL
Some enjoy changes. The thrill that comes along with everything being different and new.
Some have grown used to life changing. Careers and employment that keep life in flux have acclimated some to a life that changes every few years.
I am neither one of those. Enjoying change does not describe me. I have evaluated this in the past several weeks. Perhaps it is because I am growing older. I think when I was young - I enjoyed change; but then again...
I have come to evaluate the familiar and have found myself evaluating how much of my trust and security is in this illusion of 'sameness'.
How much of the world would have been reached for Christ if missionaries and preachers of old had been unwilling to venture far from the familiar?
It is so easy to say that God has full control over everything in my life. That everything I have belongs to Him and is at His disposal. It is an entirely different thing altogether to actually have that statement put to the test.
Change is good for me. It helps me to evaluate the important. It is taking me out of my comfort zone and places me in a position of vulnerability. Interesting how much I cling to God when I feel most vulnerable. Ah, to realize yet again, "Christ is all I need."
"That I may know Him..."
Blessing,
~Martie
The thermometer read 104 degrees - it was five o'clock in the morning and her cry assured me that she was very sick. A tepid bath was drawn and taken; a bottle made and drunk. The fever came down a bit - and plans were made to take her in as soon as the doctor's office was open.
They seemed to understand. They made sure that the doctor saw me before I left. He too had noticed my tears and asked about my other daughter. I tried to tell him; but I tried even harder to make my voice stop shaking as I related the memories. He assured me that he would call me with the results in an hour or so - or told me I could wait in the waiting room if I was more comfortable with that. A call would be fine.
The phone rang - the test results had given us answers and an antibiotic had been called in . The doctor himself called me back - and asked me to call him in the morning to let him know how she was doing. I am not sure if he was doing that for his benefit or more for mine. Either way, I was grateful. 
I headed out alone to pick up the medication. Alone with my thoughts and memories. The reminiscing quickly led to a conversation with God.
Somehow I seemed to know that God understood my thoughts, feelings and fears. However, truth told me that a focus on 'what ifs ' would only lead down a road filled with spiritual detours.
Once again, I was faced with the choice to place my life, my plans and my wants on God's altar and allow Him to work in my life. Would I entrust even my new little one into the hand of a God who loved her even more than I could ever love. 
Moments earlier when I was committing my little one to the Lord and trusting Him to do what was best - He was ushering this little one into His arms open wide - and a couple was left with broken hearts, broken dreams and the reality that death comes unexpectedly.
Recently, my girls and I had the opportunity to go to an afternoon tea. What a wonderful time we had together. I love activities that promote the feminine side of womanhood. So much of our culture seems to want to pull us away from the fact that God made little girls to be girls - and there is a difference between boys and girls.
So, we got up and prepared ourselves for the tea by dressing up. We had the most fun dressing up our new little one - for she was invited too!
When we arrived at the tea we found the theme to be "Windows of the Heart". All throughout the room there were different decorated windows hanging down. The girls and I had a fun time picking out our favorite window decoration.
Our tables were set with a lovely tea pot that was used to serve us our tea. We ate dainty little sandwiches and fruit cups. We enjoyed homemade scones and tea cookies. It was fun to eat together and enjoy the company of other ladies - and ladies - in - waiting.
The afternoon was filled with games and giveaway prizes. Several ladies took home new tea cups that they won on their afternoon outing.
Our china cabinet now houses three new tea cups. Each of the girls were invited to bring their own special tea cup. We made a trip down to the local thrift store and came home with a few new treasures. The girls now have their own special tea cup for future use and also for a keepsake - reminding us of the wonderful afternoon together.
(I brought my special tea cup as my tea cup for the day)
(Rachel's tea cup)
(Abbey's tea cup)
(Our new little one's tea cup - you can't tell from the photo - but it is a very small cup!)
God really spoke to my heart to make sure that I stay clean before Him - free from attitudes and sin that hinder His light shinning through me. When I am not right before Him others around me can not see the Saviour they so desperately need. What a challenge the theme was to my heart! Each lady was able to take home a special made tea bag. How appropriate the verse on the bag - as the theme was keeping our lives clean - so others can see Christ!
The drive home was fun together - just us girls. Talking about girl things and giggling and laughing together. What fun God gave me when He blessed me with so many girls. 
July 1, 2003 - The little boy we had been waiting to adopt for 2 years finally became what he had been in our hearts from the first day we brought him home - a Spurgeon!
His adoption was such a beautiful picture of God's graciousness and sovereign working in our lives. How special it was to me as a Mom to have Ally's birthday be Zak's adoption day.
So many of our friends and relatives joined us at the courtroom that day. Zak was just hamming up all of the attention and both his Mom and his Dad had butterflies in our stomachs. We had waited for this day for so long and now it was finally here.
The judge had me come to the stand - raise my right hand and swear in that my testimony was true and accurate. I sat there and listened to the questions - answered them as accurately as I could. They went something like this:
JUDGE: Do you understand that this adoption will make him legally and solely your responsibility to care for and provide for him to meet his needs?
~
ME: Yes, sir.
~
On July 1, 2003 - my life long dream of adopting a child came true. I had always - for as long as I could remember - wanted to adopt someday. I left the courtroom that day blessed. God had heard my prayers - and answered them. He also had done it on a very meaningful day. It made me realize anew that God' plans are not my plans - His thought are not my thoughts - but His way is ALWAYS best. Somehow, adopting Zak on Ally's birthday brought such significance to her life.
