I've Been Having a Party and You Weren't Invited

Yep, I am realizing that I've been having a party and you weren't invited.  Actually I am glad I attended this party quite silently without inviting you.  It would not have been a party you would have wanted to attend, I guarantee it!

I do believe I have been having a pity party. 

When talking with a friend last week, she made a statement that has had me thinking (and convicted).  She mentioned that sometimes there comes a time when staying in our places of darkness, depression, ungratefulness, and on and on seems the most comfortable place to be. 

Sick as that sounds, the more I have thought about that, the more I realize that to be true.

Yes, there is a time to recognize loss, to grieve, to mourn the things of life as we have known them.

However, I have also been reminded that once that time has passed, staying in that place becomes comfortable because it causes my focus to turn inward which is where I feed the carnal, self-centered, self-focused place of me. 

To trust, to believe, to focus on others, to look for things to be thankful for in the midst of the difficult takes energy.  It takes sacrifice... of self. 

The final blow came when the following thought and challenge smacked me right between the eyes... 

"Instead of wallowing in what I can't have, I'm making the choice to celebrate what I can have."  ~~Lysa Terkeurst

She is talking about food, but it has been so much more for me.  I have been focusing on the "can't have's" in basically every situation in my life right now instead of the "can have's". 

And the party of that focus has not been a place to invite anyone to.

This realization is not an easy one to own.  It is humbling to admit.

But... in the realizing and admitting... a new energy has surfaced.  A renewed excitement for all that is happening and will be happening is beginning to take place.

Now, if you'll please excuse me.  I've got some party hats and streamers to put away. 

There is celebrating to be done, but it doesn't include a stagnant party of pity and wallowing in what I can't have.  Instead the celebrating is a focus, noticing and counting of all that I can have (and do have)! 

And in the considering and counting, it is turning out to be quite a celebration!

What about you?  Is there an area (or areas) that you've been considering all that you can't have instead of focusing on all that you can have in that given situation?  Maybe it's time for you to put away a party hat or two with me?... 

One Year Ago... Today

* The courtroom was cleared.

* We had a lawyer representing us.

* We were sworn in before a judge.


One year ago today was adoption day. Our little guy officially became ours... forever.

It is hard to imagine our lives without him. We have been forever changed.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of Adoption Day

One Year Ago... Today

Sacred in the Ordinary: Bonding Brothers

I am tempted to search for the extraordinary. I catch myself longing for the incredible. I fight the urge to notice the spectacular. In doing so, I risk missing the most extraordinary, incredible and spectacular of all... the sacred in the ordinary.

My Moment...

Our little guy entered our family and home in March. School was still in full force. It didn't allow for much time for the two boys to become acquainted with each other.

School starts again Monday. My biggest goal this summer was that the children have time to bond... particularly my teen son and the little guy. As I saw this scene I took a moment. I have noticed other times of these two together as well. I believe bonding is taking place.

What may seem like an ordinary moment became quite sacred for me. I am eager to watch these boys continue to grow together side by side and learn... from one another.


What moment did you notice this week?

Read more about my thoughts behind the Sacred in the Ordinary.

Leave a comment or do your own post linking back to here. Be sure to come and leave your link in the comment section so I can come enjoy your sacred in the ordinary moment.

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -Alexander Woollcott

Adoption Day

In less time than it takes to be pregnant...

* A young lady asked us to consider adopting her one year old son that she realized she could not provide for.

* We prayed, discussed and prayed some more.

* We made a trip to the Midwest to pick up the little guy we only knew through pictures. We had never officially met him.

* We spent four days spending 22 hours in a car traveling home... a car seat nestled between our two older children in the back seat.


* We converted a teen and adult home to accommodate a baby.

* We moved our teenage son to the basement as he willingly gave up his bedroom for the newest little guy.

* We hired a lawyer, a private investigator and an adoption agency.

* We completed piles of paperwork and scheduled required appointments to satisfy the process.

* We quickly fell in love with the newest member of our family.

In less time than it takes to be pregnant... lives changed forever. Just four months ago we added a third child and fifth member to our family.

TODAY

* The courtroom will be cleared except for our invited guests.

* We will stand before the judge.

* What we have known in our hearts will become legally official and recognized by the courts...

We are a family.


Rejoice with us...

Today is Adoption Day