Explorers

Nearly every day, rain or shine, mama and cubs go exploring. Our latest discovery is a half mile path that connects our yard to our "way-back-yonder" neighbors who own some of the woods behind our Hallelujah House. The cubs love shuffling through the leaves and seeing their breath in the cold air. Eva's favorite thing is running ahead singing and running back to hold Dre's hand while he makes it over the logs. Dre's favorite thing is trying to take the logs back home. What is up with boys loving branches and sticks? Not hard to please that little guy. Sorry these pics are lower resolution, they're taken while in motion and with a camera phone. : ) Hard to keep up with these two!

Half the time we spend out there exploring it looks like this... the girls waiting for Dre to get another stick. (or sometimes waiting for him to climb out of another ditch he's fallen into... because he saw another stick he wanted.)

 

This day Dre decided he loved logs, Eva decided she's afraid of "heights."

"Mommy let's us splash in the creek in 30 degree weather!" (ignore that stick in E's face. oops. photographer fail.)

The key to our many successful hikes: thick rubber boots.

Moments after this picture was taken, he noted the bigger stick (that would be the fallen tree) on the ground and spent the next 10min trying to get it onto the path to take home.

What's he saying? Oh, he's probably just yelling "stiiiiick!"

Not afraid of heights today, I guess.

This is really cool... there are several ancient civil war trenches that cut through the forest of our backyard. The kids think they're the coolest because that's where all the leaves gather and they like to wade through them. In the summer this practice shall be outlawed though because of the certainty of the presence of snakes.

Someone is trailing behind... probably because he stopped for a rock. (You thought I was going to say stick, didn't you?)

Sissy stopping to scold the "whoever people who left trash in my clearing."

 

 

I just love that my cubs are happiest when exploring, I know the feeling! It's so fun to see them falling in love with the things I loved as a child and growing curious and desiring to learn about "The Great Outdoors". It was while wandering in the woods as a kid that I learned to notice God's handiwork and started thinking about Him and talking to Him. I'm hoping to plant those seeds of delight in the details (that grow awe for the Creator) in my cubs, and hopefully watch them sprout as they explore.

Risky Business?

Justin Taylor (he's over at Between Two Worlds with the Gospel Coalition) did an article once about his family and their trans-racially adopted children. His theme of God's sovereignty is my favorite part. Have a read:

The Risk of Transracial Adoption?

From an article I wrote a few years ago for Modern Reformation:

We don’t regard our transracial adoption as something especially noble or sacrificial, or anything like a social statement. This is simply the way that God in his providence has designed our family to expand, and we sense his great grace in the way he has knit our family together.

But some people still wonder if transracial adoption is all that wise. What if they are called names in school? What if their friends tell our children that my wife and I are not his “real” mommy and daddy? What if our kids have an identity crisis, unable to figure out who they really are?

All of these things may indeed happen with our children.

But the truth is, all of our children are going to face various forms of challenges, and we simply cannot predict with any degree of certainty what particular obstacles they will deal with. Nor can we prevent all of them.

Will our kids be eloquent and persuasive, or stammer with stage fright? Will they be the star athletes, or the class klutzes? Will they be leaders or followers? Trendsetters or always one step behind? Will they be healthy or sickly? Will they be mocked for following Christ and swimming against the culture stream? We simply don’t know, and there usually does not seem to be much purpose in planning our lives around the minimization of challenges we cannot control.

It’s important to recognize that in the midst of talking about spiritual adoption, Paul listed a requirement of kingdom citizens who are to be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—we will receive an inheritance “provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rom. 8:17). To be a Christian is a call to suffer: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). If we’re surprised at suffering then it’s because we haven’t read our Bibles closely enough: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet. 4:12). If a disciple wants to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master, then we are going to be maligned like Jesus was (see Matt. 10:25).

Now with all of this said, no one wants to create situations of undue suffering for their children. There are times when transracial adoption may be unwise. For example, we have American friends who are in the adoption process and who will be serving in cross-cultural missions in the Middle East. Being an African American child in a white family in an Islamic country that already stigmatizes adoption would be exceedingly difficult.

As long as sin remains—this side of the return of Christ and the ushering in of the news heavens and the new earth—racism will remain. There is virtue neither in overstating or unstating this reality. But the idea of having qualms about transracial adoption (or interracial marriage) because it will create opportunities for more racial prejudice doesn’t ultimately make a lot of sense. As John Piper has commented, “It’s like the army being defeated because there aren’t enough troops, and the troops won’t sign up because the army’s being defeated.”

Eva (quirk &) Quote of the Week and Grace Moments

This is Eva yesterday. And those are cheap toy sunglasses from the pediatrician for doing well at a check up.

She's been wearing them for 3 days only removing them to sleep.

Recently, I asked her why she needed to wear them all the time...

"I wear dees open glasses just like Mommy. Mommy has glasses, Eba has glasses."

So we've been shopping and to the park, all the while with my little "Lady Ga-Goggles" insisting she needs her "open" glasses. (open = not sun glasses) I guess she wants to be like me. (happy grin) I'm glad she isn't imitating some of my "uncute" habits - not getting dressed until 2pm, having a doughnut for dinner, talking too much, etc. Instead, much grace is visible in this little four-eyes' life as she's "catching" many good things from Mummzie and Dad as well as Lady 'Lage and of course all her little friends. Please and thank-you are a normal part of her vocabulary as well as "How you doin' , Mommy?" and "It's ok. We'll twy again!" Her happy voice is often heard encouraging her dolls and toys and disciplining them in love. She chants scripture while jumping on the couch, sings about amazing grace while trying potty, and when she knows Mummzie is having a hard day she is no longer fearful, but gently pats my back saying, "Is ok, Mom. It be all better. Mommy sad, but she be happy-heart soon."

That's my girl. Praise God for early work in her little life!