I'm Ready for 2016

Stunning vacation home Mr R and I were blessed to rent on the Maine Coast
to celebrate our 30 anniversary

Throughout my life I've made a mistake. That error is this: I've all too often thought peace meant getting away from hard or tiring circumstances. You know...taking a holiday, a vacation or at least a good nap.

This past year the Lord has been teaching me otherwise. Peace ~ real peace//lasting peace ~ will only come in accepting my current circumstances and trusting God. I can hear the echo of this sentiment in Jesus' words from the garden, "Not My, but Thy will done." I want to live like Jesus. And, I want to die to self like my Savior did.

So, I'm ready for 2016.
I'm ready to let go.
I'm ready to give up control.
I'm ready to back off.
I'm ready to surrender my expectations.
I'm ready to stop clutching.
I'm ready to stop grasping.
I'm ready to stop holding my breath.
I'm ready to stop insisting on my way.
I'm ready to stop striving for perfection.
I'm ready to stop fighting to lead.
I'm ready to stop panicking.
I'm ready to stop insisting.
I'm read to stop worrying.
I'm ready to stop demanding.

With God's promised help,
I'm ready for 2016.
I'm ready to trust Jesus.
I'm ready to trust Jesus with the outcome.
I'm ready to learn how to forgive.
I'm ready to breathe deeply and slowly.
I'm ready to exercise regularly.
I'm ready to serve others.
I'm ready to get rid of stuff.
I'm ready to be okay with messy and dirty.
I'm ready to spend more time in my Bible.
I'm ready to start blogging again.
I'm ready to pray about writing a book.
I'm ready to plan purposed times of rest.
I'm ready to trust Jesus.
I'm ready to let my kids make mistakes.
I'm ready to fight my anger.
I'm ready to learn how to watercolor.
I'm ready to eat less.
I'm ready to try to get to know my neighbors.
I'm ready to fight anxiety.
I'm ready to work to know God.
I'm ready to give my husband grace.
I'm ready to trust Jesus.
I'm ready to listen to my children.
I'm ready to stop interrupting my husband.
I'm ready to get my camera out more often.
I'm ready to pray more.
I'm ready to fight my fears.
I'm ready to learn to love lavishly.
I'm ready to strengthen my organizational skills.
I'm ready to trust God with how my kids turn out.
I'm ready for 2016.

None of these are New Year's Resolutions. I will fail. I will slip and stumble and slide and fall flat on my face. I'd prefer to think of these as places of grace for myself. When I fall, I'm going to put a hand to the ground and push myself back into a standing position, relying on the Lord's strength to do so. I'm going to keep on trying. I'm going to bathe these dreams in prayer. When I mess up, I'm going to confess any sin to God, set my account right with the people I love and try again. "God is my helper and the uplifter of my life" (Psalm 54:4 ESV) He's my solid rock, not me. I'm ready to stand on Him and throw myself joyfully into the waves that will come in 2016. God is with me and for me. I'm ready. I'm ready for the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).

365 People Photos: Numbers 131-134 -- Water Babies

365 People Photos: Number 130 -- One I'll Frame

In my last post I mentioned that I was an English major in college. Needless to say, a mind trained to recognize symbolism sees a wealth of material in this photograph. I'm not even going to dip into meaning I see in this picture. Before I share my thoughts of deep meaning hidden in this unposed capture, I'd love to know, what, dear reader, do you see pictured here? What strikes you about Brielle's real-life effort to make her way into the building behind these massive doors? I'd love to know!

365 People Photos: Number 128 -- Strength...and Vulnerability

With Zhenya's wedding behind us, I had the chance to do a newborn photo shoot today for friends. As I began to edit the pictures tonight, I couldn't get beyond this photo. Perhaps my attraction to this particular capture hearkens back to my past. I was an English major in college, and I see symbolism here. What a vivid representation of the the newborn's vulnerability and his daddy's strength! I even love that Dad's ability to protect his family is even apparent in the callouses on his hand. In order to get his best chance at life, this little guy will need his father to shelter and protect him until someday he is a man. God has been good to give this newborn a father who is all in.

365 People Photos: Number 128 -- A Horse and His Girl

Kirsten and Magic are off to a great start. Today she rode him for the first time since we bought him. God is so very kind!

365 People Photos: Number 126 -- Guard Duty

As I was making an adjustment to my camera settings during this mini session with our newest grandtreasure, their family dog ambled into the area. I quickly adjusted my focus so that I could get her furry front legs in focus with little Jillian just a blur in the background. Now this has turned into one of my favorite photos from visit there.

365 People Photos: Number 125 -- Daddy's Littlest Girl

 

Even an 8 pounder looks tiny in the arms of her father!

365 People Photos: Numbers 123-125 -- One Kiss Leads to Another

I love the sweet heat that flows between Aaron and Anna four years into their marriage!

365 People Photos: Number 121 -- The Best I Could Do

On my last night with Aaron and Anna's family, I was outside toward sunset with their two oldest girls. Brielle asked me to draw a picture of her with sidewalk chalk. I'm afraid my best effort was a bit simplistic. Thankfully, after this moment of contemplation, the 3-year-old was happy with result, although I didn't manage to catch her delight with my camera. God abounds in steadfast love!

365 People Photos: Numbers 118-120 -- Happy Sister

Brielle has been so gentle and loving with her newborn sister. I never would have imagined that a photo shoot with a 3-year-old and a baby who is only 3 days old could be so effortless! I thank God for the opportunity to capture this brand-new sister love!

365 People Photos: Numbers 115-117: Unexpected Treasure

When I packed to come help our oldest daughter with the birth of her third child, I packed a few lightweight scarves. My hope was to have the chance to use them to photograph Anna and Aaron's newborn daughter. This afternoon I dug the scarves our of my suitcase. Baby Jillian was sound asleep and I had my chance to take some photos. As I was photographing the newborn, her oldest sister was playing with one of the scarves. When I glanced over my shoulder, I was stunned by how beautiful the 3-year-old looked draped in pink. I snapped these shots as Brielle danced around the room in a world all her own.

365 People Photos: Number 114 -- Rain, Rain Go Away

Where Brielle and Evelyn had been happily playing in the driveway an hour ago, now a deluge has begun. Little Evelyn was fascinated by the downpour.

365 People Photos: Number 113 -- So Summer

Evelyn and Brielle playing in their family's driveway this morning as I weeded the front gardens. God is so good to give us the warmth and color of summer! Shorts, sundresses and flipflops. Life just doesn't get much better!

365 People Photos ~ Number 112: I Heart These Sisters

Our two oldest Russian daughters through adoption, Sarah (almost 21) and Zhenya (22).
I thank God for them daily.

A Joy So Small

Three years ago today I became a grandmother.
Three years ago today I learned that that God is even greater than I had understood Him to be.
Three years ago today I experienced His goodness in a 6 pound, 7 ounce bundle named Brielle.

365 People Photos: Number 111 ~ My Daddy Loves Me

In my last post in this series, I commented that sometimes a picture taken from behind can tell a powerful story. For this adoptive mama, this is one such photo.

The bond between our daughter, Zhenya, and her daddy is plain to see in the loving grasp of their hands. I can only imagine that for a girl who had no father figure until God placed her in a family through adoption, the security in having a dad who treasures you must be deliciously reassuring. Being loved by your father must communicate to a former orphan that your life has value, despite all the subtle messages to the contrary up which you've received.

In reality, as touching as this photo is with its tale of a father-daughter relationship, this picture represents something far more significant than earthly adoption. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the payment for our sins, we have been eternally adopted by God. And with that familial relationship, our Heavenly Father tells us that He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). What a promise! I don't know about you, but I need the loving grip of the hand my Abba-Father for each step of this adventure called life!

(If you would like to know more about Zhenya's growth into womanhood and her upcoming marriage, please visit our family blog: Unto Him We Live.)

365 People Photos: Number 110 ~ A Girl's Best Friend

God has made our Kirsten (age 20) such an animal lover that recently she lugged our long, lanky mutt, Bella, out on the deck to view a particularly beautiful sunset.

365 People Photos: Number 109 ~ Love...Laughter

Auntie Zhenya and Evelyn (20 months) at the zoo in April. This photo makes my heart sing! I am such a blessed mother and grandmother!

365 People Photos: Number 108 ~ Courage in a Small Package

I was surprised by Evelyn's willingness to walk bravely up to this alligator statue at the zoo this week. I don't think I would have approached all those teeth ~ even if they were brass ~ at a year and a half old!

365 People Photos: Number 107 ~ In a Toy Store

Recently Grandpa and I visited Ohio. On a rainy morning, our best bet for an outing appropriate to our two-year-old and one-year-old granddaughters was to just go stroll around the local mall. Of course, I took my camera along and was looking for all possible photo opportunities. I loved when little Evelyn absent-mindedly picked up a teddy bear from a basket of the cuddly creatures. This little pixie was so overwhelmed by the wall-to-ceiling contents of the store that I'm not sure that she even realized what she had in her hands. I eventually had to rescue the bear because little Evelyn was tugging at the tag as she stood in awe of her surroundings. This little girl is truly a masterpiece lovingly crafted by the Maker of All!