Fun Songs

Do you remember this song?

If I were a butterfly, I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea, I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were an elephant, I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo, You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus, I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were a wiggly worm, I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear, I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile, I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

The power of music transcends ages and time.  When the evening hours drag and bedtime seems forever away, I often start singing with the babies.  Maybe it is to quiet my own heart and keep my sanity in check.  Then again, music proves to be another way that God’s truth is planted into the hearts of little ones.  We sing “Zacheus was a Wee Little Man”, “God Told Noah to Build him an Arky Arky”, “The Bible”, and so much more.  Tonight, I pulled this song from the deep recesses of my memory.  In the days when I was a 3^rd grade classroom teacher, I sang every day with my students.  This song was a favorite.  I think it may have been because it was longer than others and kept us that much more away from the books.  In any case, it was fun to sing and be reminded of how much God loves us and how special he made us. 

Singing always makes a difference in our home.  What are some songs that are your family favorites? 

Things

Things I Thought I Would Never Do

•   Raise seven children 
•  Homeschool my children in high school
•  Own so much technology and be tied so tightly to them
• Think about submitting an article to a magazine for publication
• Be excited to speak in front of adults
• Own a twelve passenger van

Things That I Hope to do Someday

• Own a DSLR and take really good pictures
• Take a trip to Ireland with my sweetie
• Write a book 
• Have a clean house for more than two hours
• Present with more purpose the ministry of fostering and adoption
• Spend a weekend with my sister and no one else

Father to the Fatherless

I escaped (yes, I use that word occasionally) to run a few errands and grab a bite to eat.  As I left, our daredevil 3yo lay peacefully in the crook of my sweetie’s arm – quiet, calm, secure.  Sweetie is Daddy.  There is no doubt about that.  He fills his role selflessly and with purpose.  I am truly blessed to have watched him grow in that role over the last eighteen years.  I can still recall some of our first moments as parents.  I remember him leaning over the warming bed where our little angel, only a few minutes old, lay.  His finger caressed her hand and tears welled in our eyes.  He would be there to protect her and love her no matter what.  We had no idea where life would take us.  Here we were with a 6lb 6oz precious gift.  We now held the titles of Mom and Dad.  But what did that really mean?

Casting Crowns new album presents the song, “Just Another Birthday”, that brings up the question, what about the fatherless? What about those whose father chose to stay distant or even dangerous?   Listening to it in the car, I began to tear up.  Our family is a two parent, secure, loving, accepting, and nurturing home.  However, we have the privilege of fostering three children long term who may never meet the man who fathered them.  What will that mean to them?  They are blessed to have my sweetie in their life, but what questions will be raised as they grow older?  If God so chooses to send these children back to their biological mom there will be no daddy in the picture.  We know for a fact that one of the dads has signed off for good.  He does not want to deal with his child at all.  How sad to choose to miss out on one of the greatest roles God ever ordained. 

Being a parent to these children demands sacrifice and time.  The role of fostering brings parenting to a whole new universe.  But, how can our roles of mom and dad truly be fulfilled in these lives whose own universe has been invaded and turned inside out?  I struggle with that.

One thing that will never change is God’s role as father.  He will never choose to leave or give up responsibility.  He keeps us safe and knows all that is going on.  His love is deeper than we could ever imagine.  When we need his strong arms to hold us or carry us, we can count on his strength.  He does not lie or come under judgment for he is perfect.

Our little ones are blessed with an earthly foster father who loves them and wants them to be with him forever if that is how God leads.  I pray each night that they will learn to love their heavenly father with all their heart and that they will know how much that heavenly father adores them no matter what. 

Family Day

If you knew me, even a little, two and a half years ago it hurt to remember, and it saddened me that I would forget.  I didn’t have any pictures.  My memories were few yet precious.  Her small body would only be a picture in my mind.  Despair and loss was not a place where I wanted to stay.  Yet, little ones, no matter how young or small, are precious gifts never to be forgotten. 

My sweetie and I labored over hurt as a challenge to be conquered and a new beginning to be established.  Our story is not new or unique.  Many others have experienced the loss of a little one whether before birth or after birth.  Yet, there seemed no way to adequately remember these little ones without a grave, without a picture, without a ceremony. 

Family Day began for our family on that first February 20 after Julia died.  She would have been born that week.  My sweetie purposed to set aside that day to celebrate who God had put into our family and to remember those little ones whom we will meet in heaven. 

Yesterday was our third Family Day.  Julia would have been two.  We started the day with baked French toast and enjoyed the day off of school with some special activities.  I took the kids to the park for a mini photo session.  We blew up our favorite print to 4’X3’ and mounted it on a foam background to hang in our office.  I love it.  My Princess painstakingly made a special dessert of ducky cupcakes which were delicious.  One of our favorite dinners is pulled pork, so we prepared that in the crock pot in the morning so I didn’t have to worry about cooking later.  After dinner, my sweetie surprised us all with some little gifts for each of us. 

I didn’t cry, and I don’t know how I feel about that.  We made good memories, but in the back of my mind I remembered my little ones.  I know that my life would not be the same with them here.  I would not be able to foster other little ones as we do.  I know that God’s plans are perfect.  I truly wish he could have fulfilled his plan another way, yet I can truly say that I am thankful for what he has done.

Family Day is a good way to remember, to be thankful, and to look forward to another year. 

Chocolate Party

My little one finished reading The Chocolate Touch this past week.  We, of course, had to complete this fun unit with a few chocolate delicacies.  Now, I wish I could take credit for planning this book around Valentine’s Day, but sadly I can’t.  That was the least of my concerns.  In any case, it worked to my benefit as we scoured the half-off display at Walmart for choice chocolate to add to our party. 

The babies were gone on their visit with their bio mom, the big girls had work to finish at home, so my little man and little one headed out with me to party at the bookstore with some chocolate candy and Ghirardelli’s hot chocolate.  One can’t go wrong with that.  It was a great way to celebrate a sunny Friday afternoon in the middle of winter.