A Magazine Worth Reading!

I love a good magazine.  And I especially love when I stumble upon a new magazine (well, new for me anyway).  One that's different than others.  One that challenges me in new ways.

A couple of months ago, a lady shared a magazine with me.  A gift.  I brought it home, eager to read it, but tossed it on my pile of items-to-be-read-sometime-soon.  For several days, the magazine didn't get my attention.  But one evening after my day's responsibilities were done, I opened the magazine up.  I couldn't put it down.  And for the first time, I chose...willingly...to read it almost cover-to-cover.  It had my full attention.

I was encouraged by this magazine.
I was empowered by this magazine.
I was inspired by the ideas in this magazine, by the Scriptures shared, and by its simplicity.

It was like no magazine I had ever read before.  This magazine is a cross between "Real Simple" - "Country Living" - "House Beautiful" - and - "Good Housekeeping" - with a dash of "Daily Bread."  You'll find encouragement, inspiration, advice, and hope.

This magazine..."life:beautiful"...makes a great gift to the ladies in your life.  My mom just got her first copy in the mail this week for her birthday.  Check it out.  I think you're gonna like it.

Cute DIY: Felt Poinsettia Pin

Looking for a cute accessory to jazz up your holiday style? 



Check out these adorable felt poinsettia pins from Tidy Mom blog.  Click <here> for simple, step-by-step instructions on how to make your own.

Becoming Friends (Part Two)

A couple of weeks ago, a sweet elderly Amish lady became friends with Mya and me while grocery shopping.  Click <here> to read details about how this friendship began.  And as the previous blog post mentioned, "Rebecca" asked us if we'd enjoy going for lunch with her before Christmas.

My gut reaction - Of course we'd love to go to lunch with her!  

A new week meant another trip to the grocery store.   As Mya and I made our way to the appropriate aisle in the grocery store, there stood Rebecca, diligently working.  She greeted us with her normal bright smile and expressions of joy and excitement for seeing Mya again.  She quickly reached into a box and pulled out a card for us; a Christmas card with a hand-written note in it.  Inside that card was an invitation [again] to gather together for a meal.

We exchanged phone numbers this time.  Discussed possible dates to get together.  And arranged for me to call her.  The idea of sharing a meal together was becoming a very real possibility.  The very next day, we connected on the phone.  And as I chatted with this sweet lady over the phone, sometimes straining to understand her words because of the "Dutchy-ness" in her voice, plans were finalized for us to pick up her and her husband at their home and travel together to a local restaurant for supper.  As we repeated the details of our adventure before ending our phone conversation, she giggled with excitement.  I couldn't help but smile, too.

The paths of two very different families crossed, over that meal.

As I type this post, I smile as I think back to our time with Rebecca and David.  An elderly Amish couple, filled with so much love and generosity and kindness.  I don't think our paths crossed randomly with Rebecca and David.  This felt like an opportunity to learn something from them.  And it ended up being a chance for us to begin sharing with them a bit about us and about our family and how Mya joined our family, as well.  At times, conversations were minimal and maybe even a little awkward...but other times, there was laughter and non-stop chatting among us.  People stared at us.  But it didn't matter.  I wondered what they thought or what questions ran through their minds.  And in the end, we realized how much we actually had in common with a couple that seemed so different from us.  I love when that happens.

There was no life-changing event that took place during our meal with Rebecca and David.  I couldn't help but remember, though, that this event wouldn't have happened if Mya hadn't said hello to Rebecca...weeks ago.  We never know just how much we're impacting those around us.  I am so thankful for Rebecca's love for little Mya.  Each time we continue to see her at the grocery store, we're greeted with the same bright smile (...and often a small gift or two...), and today, she whispered to me how much she loves seeing Mya; how much it makes her day.

Rebecca's love and generosity is a true gift to us.  Maybe more than she'll ever know.  And I hope to be just like her when I grow up.

Filler Items for your Amazon.com Purchase!

With the holidays right around the corner, Amazon.com might be just the site you're looking for to get your last-minute shopping done.  If you're like me, you enjoy getting free shipping on your online purchases.  But what I don't like is when the items in my shopping cart don't quite total the $35.00 (in the case of Amazon.com) needed to get free shipping.  And if you're like me, you end up finding an item...sometimes costing you an amount that takes you well-past the $35.00 mark.

Well just recently, I learned about a super cool website that allows you to type in exactly how much money you have left to spend to reach that $35.00...and it provides you with a list of items currently for sale on Amazon.com that match that exact amount.  How cool is that?!?!

Here's the website.  Check it out:  http://www.filleritem.com/

Becoming Friends

A year or two after Brandon and I got married, I started to routinely venture to BB's Grocery Outlet for our weekly grocery needs.  But it wasn't until a few weeks ago that something special started to happen each week when Mya I would travel there for our groceries.  

About 8-weeks ago, Mya randomly said, "Hi" to an Amish lady that works at the store.  With a warm smile and a sweet personality, we quickly learned that this kind lady's name is Rebecca.  Instantly, Rebecca and Mya clicked.  They briefly chatted.  Exchanged smiles.  And the joy on Rebecca's face was obvious.  Our conversation that day ended as Rebecca asked if we'd be back again.  (Of course! - I love BB's.)  

Mya talked about Rebecca the rest of the shopping trip and would peek around the corner of each aisle that day looking...hoping...to see Rebecca again.  

The following week, we anxiously anticipated seeing Rebecca and chatting with her again.  I asked Mya on our car ride to the store if she remembered Rebecca.  She seemed to.  And as we entered the store and made our way about six- or seven- aisles in, we looked for her.  

But this time, we couldn't find her.  

We finished our visit, looking for her along the way.  No luck.  I asked another employee if a "Rebecca" was working (...I know, it might have been a long shot...but worth a chance...), and she said she was.  We quickly found her and were greeted yet again with a warm smile.  And to our surprise, she remembered us and insisted on presenting Mya with a special treat...bubble gum and pretzels.  (Any 3-year-old's dream!)  For the next seven days, Mya requested a piece of her "Rebecca gum" each time we'd climb into the car.  

A relationship was forming between them.  And I loved watching it develop.

Our very next visit to the store, Rebecca surprised Mya with another special treat...a fun drinking cup with a spiral-shaped straw...filled with M&M's.  (Again, any 3-year old's dream!!)  I kept insisting each time to Rebecca that she did not need to do this.  That she did not need to present Mya with gifts and special treats.  But each time, she insisted with a joy-filled smile, as she patted my shoulder with a certain reassurance.  She just wanted to do it.

And just this last visit, I made my grocery trip by myself.  And as I rounded the corner and spotted her diligently working in aisle seven, I greeted her.  Her warm smiled greeted me back.  She wondered about Mya (who was home with Daddy), concerned why she wasn't with me but quickly reassured and glad to know she was okay.  Next, she leaned in close to me.  She had a question.  Would Mya and I like to go with her to lunch sometime before Christmas?  (Of course!)

Over a few short weeks, this relationship with Rebecca has blossomed in unexpected ways.  And we have been blessed abundantly from it.  

You see, Rebecca is quite old.  I imagine she's in her '80's.  (I've yet to ask but am curious to find out when the time is right.)  Love and kindness radiate and pour out of her and because of that, I want to know her more.  I want Mya to know her more.  

And I secretly hope that our lunch date works out.  

I'd love to find out what life's been like for her.  I'd love to learn from her.  I'd love for her to share her wisdom with me.  And I'd love for Mya to be able to witness all of that.  We have so much to learn from other generations.  From other people.  People with different backgrounds, different races, different cultures.  And I love how our paths can cross with someone...so randomly at times...and how much we can discover having in common with one another.  I find it to be so beautiful.  And so enriching.  

I have no idea how long we'll get to know Rebecca.  While our paths continue to cross though, I hope to continue learning more from her.  And I can't wait to take a moment to let her know how much she blesses us each week.  I'm excited to see Rebecca again this week!  

Holding Her for the First Time

This past weekend, we celebrated a day special to our family.  The day we held Mya for the first time...THREE years ago.

You see, we had been on an adoption waiting list for just shy of two years when we got the call that a baby was born and its birthmom wanted to meet us.  I cannot even begin to describe the emotions involved in receiving that phone call from our caseworker.  The phone call in which she told us that a birthmom wanted to meet us face-to-face.

We had anticipated this moment for soooo long.  We never knew quite what that moment would feel like, but we sure loved dreaming about it.  And when a date, location, and time were in place to meet this woman, this potential birthmom of our child, we were elated.  We were literally on cloud nine.  Certainly, we still guarded our hearts, knowing that she might not choose us, that she might change her mind, that it wouldn't work out.  But the Lord filled us with such hope and thanksgiving.

We met at a local restaurant.  We were nervous.  And excited.  Ecstatic, really.  And we didn't know what to expect.  What it would be like to meet this woman, this person that would make such an incredible decision for her child.  But it was beautiful.

I can immediately flashback to that day when I take the time to think about it.  I can visualize the booth we sat in.  I can remember that I sat on the right-side of Brandon.  This potential birthmom sat across from me, wedged in between our caseworker and her caseworker.  I can remember ordering a sandwich but having little-to-no appetite.  I can remember the caseworkers facilitating the conversation, at times, and the conversations just flowing very naturally at other moments.  I can remember us sharing our likes and our dislikes and laughing together and relating to one another.  And I can vividly remember the moment that our future child's birthmom would look us in the eyes and tell us that she wanted us to be her child's parents.  That her child was a little girl.  And she asked us if we wanted to meet her that same day.

I can remember leaving the restaurant and driving back to the adoption agency.  I can remember talking with our caseworker and her making sure we were okay and checking in with us.  I can remember Mya's birthmom requesting a moment with her baby...by herself...and feeling nervous but extremely hopeful.  And I can remember when the invitation came to us...from her birthmom...to meet her child...our child.  And I can clearly remember holding Mya for the first time.  I can remember Mya's birthmom gently handing over her baby girl and placing her into my arms.  And the tears just flowed.  Tears of joy, thankfulness, and completeness.  And yet, tears of sadness for this other mom who was giving up her ability to hold her child for much longer.  Forever.

And each year, we love to reflect on that day and celebrate it.  We go back to that very restaurant.  We talk to Mya about that day and remind her of her birthmommy's decision and of how much we love her.  And just this past weekend, we enjoyed a meal together...as a family...with our daughter...in that very restaurant.

And I can't help but feel like gratitude and joy are overflowing from my heart when I reminisce about the timing of everything and about the timing of Mya's home-coming being so close to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Fortune Cookies

Ever since experiencing my first fortune cookie as a kid, I fell in love with them.  There's something so fun and silly about cracking open a cookie (which, by the way, I also love to eat!), unwrapping a little white paper, and discovering your "fortune" for the day.  I'm not a superstitious person, but I find such joy in reading those little papers.  

************

In the midst of our journey to become parents...in the midst of the months and months of waiting and longing, first through infertility and later through the adoption process...we were blessed with such support and love from our family and friends.  Encouragement and love would appear in the most random ways...at the most perfect times.  Cards in the mail, emails, a visit from a friend, lunch with my parents, tickets to concerts, opportunities to attend retreats and hear amazing speakers.  Each way blessed our lives richly and helped us to keep going...even in those moments when we questioned God and wondered if we'd really ever become parents.  

And I will never forget an instance when a FORTUNE COOKIE...a random source of encouragement and wisdom...gave me that boost to keep believing that I would one day become a mom.  

My dad invited me to join him for lunch at a local Chinese buffet.  Like every other visit, our meal concluded with the delivery of our check to our table...on a little black plastic tray...with two fortune cookies.  And our tradition was to crack open those cookies and read our fortunes aloud.  On that day...in the very midst of months of waiting, doubting, and hoping, my fortune said this....

I'm pretty sure I nearly fell off my chair.  The words that bounced off that tiny piece of paper resonated with my heart and soul.  I couldn't believe that such encouragement could come from a fortune cookie.  But it did!  And just this morning as I opened our desk drawer, I noticed that fortune just laying there.  I had kept it.  Had forgotten about it.  But for some reason...even though it's been there for YEARS ever since...I noticed it again today.  And it spoke to me again.  

I love when we're blessed in the most random of ways.  From the most unlikely sources.  Whether it's from a fortune cookie, billboard, tv commercial, or song...a post on Facebook, a text from a friend, or the laughter of a perfect stranger...you never know who's life you're making a difference in.  And just when you need some encouragement, look for it...or it just might find you...like in the case of my fortune cookie.