A couple years ago my sister had this poem framed for Gracie's birthday. It's in the girls room and we read quite often. I just love it and thought I would post it here.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Beautiful Poem
A couple years ago my sister had this poem framed for Gracie's birthday. It's in the girls room and we read quite often. I just love it and thought I would post it here.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Letter from Rusty
As for what Leslie and I believe to be the most important things we can impart to our girls, we feel that we can offer them a home and a place of belonging. We believe strongly that we can give them a Godly sense of value and worth that they might not receive in their Chinese environment. We believe we can meet their material needs to the best of our ability. But ultimately, the most important thing that we can offer is a Christian environment where they will have a chance to learn about the love and grace of Jesus Christ and have opportunity to make Him their Lord.
Our greatest desires for Laurie Alice and Gracie are that they will choose to serve the Lord and that in the grace and freedom of the Spirit they will find their divine gifts and callings. We want to see them excel in life. We pray that they will be wildly successful in whatever they put their hands to, but ultimately we would love to see them excel in charity and compassion for others.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
We did it again.....
Last year in kindergarten Gracie had to complete an “All about Me” collage (we were allowed to help) and I’m not exactly sure what happened but Rusty and I took over the project with fever and determination. We cut, we pasted, we argued over the best placement of the pictures. Gracie’s “All about Me” would be THE NUMBER ONE collage of all the kindergarten classes. Oh yes, she was there and I even gave her a magazine and a pair of scissors and let her cut pictures although I had NO intention of letting her use them. It also came out beautifully and I think Rusty and I even high fived.
For thanksgiving Gracie and I had to decorate a cut out turkey her teacher sent home. The turkey sported a pink tutu with matching accessories along with a wand and to finish her off I added pink and silver glitter to her outfit. I think Gracie was there with me although I vaguely remember some tears being shed because just maybe she mentioned wanting to pick out what her turkey would be dressed in….. I don’t know it’s all a haze now. At the end of the year we received a scrapbook with Gracie’s work and there they were, the “All about Me” page the turkey. I have never been so proud.
I admit, I’m awful when it comes to projects like this. I am NOT competitive at all but when it comes to school projects both Rusty and I get a little crazy. Please pray for us!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thankful Thursday
I am thankful that Gracie really likes school and doesn’t mind getting up in the mornings as much as she did last year. She of course loved her kindergarten teacher but every morning was a battle getting her ready for the day.
I know I mention my husband a good bit whenever I post Thankful Thursday’s but I just can’t not mention him (is that even a proper sentence, LOL). He is such a good man and I am always amazed at the way he handles adversity in his life. He will not let it get him down nor does it hinder him in his ministry. He stays positive. I have a friend who refers to him as an “oak” and he really is.
I am thankful for our missionaries. I have always had a burden for missionaries and even as a child wanted to be one. I’ve never made it to a foreign mission field but I guess being a pastor’s wife and supporting my husband as he pastors our congregation is a mission field of sorts. I have recently started reading this blog and I love it. I posted on her blog and she responded back to my message and I just thought I would post it here.
From Me:
Your blog has now become one of my favorite to read. I found it through your daughter-in-laws blog "Bring the Rain". I've added your blog under My Favorites on my own blog.
I have always had a passion for our missionaries and I have cried after reading each of your post. I am a pastor’s wife and one of my favorite things is to be able to fellowship with our missionaries when they are on furlough and they speak at our church. I never grow weary of their stories and hang on to every word that they say just as I do with your blog. It is like a breathe of fresh air AND I love that you are so human and express so well how you felt when your husband said it was time to go to Africa. I laughed at your response. I sure wish this blog had been around when my husband and I planted our first church. WOW, did I need some encouragement in those days :)
I look forward to reading every day. You are an answer to a prayer and MANY, MANY souls are going to be blessed through this blog.
September 10, 2008 3:28 PM
Congo Hope said...
Hi Leslie,
I really appreciate your taking time out of your ministry life to comment. You are so on the front lines. I have a special place in my heart for ministry wives. God lift you up today with the Right Hand of His Righteousness. Beth Moore once said, "Easy lives do not make for good stories." But who wants to go through what does make for a good story? Not me! Not anyone. But how else can we feel, talk, walk and practice the grace of God without His stretching us taught until we either break and choose to run away or break and fall into His lap? You pastors' wives are such precious commodities. And I must thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all missionaries for LOVING MISSIONARIES. Many generations do not even know what a missionary is because missions has taken such a back seat in the local church at large. Thank God that is not the case in your church. Malachi 3:16, 17 Amplified version
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ruth Bell Graham Video
I love this tribute video to Ruth Graham, and if I can be half the woman that she was then I’ll be doing alright. Just give me Jesus!!!!
I hope you are as blessed by this video as I was.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fist Day of School
Dear Gracie,
You had some concerns about starting first grade this year because daddy has moved up with Ryan to the middle school and is no longer down the hall from you. You were also worried that you wouldn’t be able to go to the restroom whenever you needed to. Well, you have a wonderful teacher who is pregnant and therefore very much in favor of bathroom breaks. Daddy still gets to take you to school and you seem to be handling the fact that he isn’t there very well.
You are super smart and an excellent reader. I am always amazed at your wide range of vocabulary. You have been and always are very eager to learn new things. You ask us tons of questions about everything.
Your best buddy is our neighboor Logan who unforantley has moved. You are pretty bummed out about it but he only moved about three miles away so hopefully you guys can still play some together over the weekend. You have an active imagination and you and Logan play outside together for HOURS with almost no toys. A couple weeks ago it was raining and you and daddy had just come home from the grocery store and you were so upset when you walked in the door. We had this conversation:
You: “well, this is just great, it’s raining which means daddy can’t grill our supper and this was supposed to be my marrying day”
Me: “your’e marrying day, what do you mean”?
You: “this is the day I was supposed to marry Logan and now it is ruined because of the rain”.
Me: “wow, I didn’t know you and Logan were supposed to marry today”
You: “well yes, we’ve been talking about it all weekend and today was supposed to be the day and now we can’t get married and I know tomorrow he isn’t going to want to get married and I’m going to have to talk him in too it again”.
You cracked me up with this one!
You want to be a babysitter and an artist and live in Saluda, SC when you grow up. I honestly think though you will either be an attorney because you do love a good argument or a missionary because you always ask me if people have Jesus in their hearts and you love to talk to total strangers. I’m hoping missionary, and even though it will be difficult to send you on the mission field I prayed to the Lord that if He would bless us with a daughter I would in return raise you up to be a Christian and I would freely give you back to Him to use in service. I would never try to keep you here for selfish reasons.
You are so beautiful; funny and sassy and passionate and full of life!!!!!!! I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You take all the dull moments and make them interesting.
I love you!!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Four Months
Ever since you learned how to hop (about two months ago) you love to do it. Just this morning you hopped your way from the van to your classroom. When we get to your hall you love for me to lift you up so you can look through the big window and see Miss. Nancy and all your friends.
Within the past week you have started putting me and Daddy in time-out whenever you get mad at us. You shake your finger and scold us in mixed up English/Chinese baby talk. You are so funny with your little forehead all scrunched up. You take our hand and lead us back to our room where you then shut the door and leave us standing by ourselves. You will come back and check to make sure we are okay and when you decide we have been back there long enough you lead us back into the living room. You LOVE to play this game and it distracts you from whatever it was that made you mad.
You love to copy your big sister. Whatever she eats, wears and does you want to do the exact same thing. The other night when Gracie wanted to wear socks to bed we had to put socks on your feet too, but not just any socks they had to be Gracie’s socks. You looked so cute with your stripped Hello Kitty socks on.
You’ve just started to lick your finger whenever you turn the pages of the books you are reading. Gracie did the same thing when she was your age.
You love to wear dresses and spin around. You run to the big mirror in our room and look at yourself and touch your dress and face. You are so proud of yourself in your fancy dresses. You also love shoes and especially your white church shoes. I think you would wear them everyday if I let you see them.
You say so many things now. The words are not very clear but we get the gist of what you mean. Although this morning you said “go-go” plan as day. You even made the g sound in “go” perfect!! Me and Daddy and Gracie were so excited for you and clapped and cheered.
You are such a sweet sweet child. You love to snuggle with whoever sleeps with you. You press your cheek to my cheek and you rub my arm and face. You also like for your back and tummy to be rubbed to help you fall asleep. The other day you sat in the bathroom while I took my shower. You took my hand and helped me out of the shower and handed me my towel. You love to wear deodorant just like Mommy. You also say “thank you” without being reminded.
Your teacher tells me that you play well with the other children and are good about sharing. When your classmates become upset you are very concerned about them and will console them.
You LOVE candy and cakes and cookies, unlike Gracie who isn’t fond of sweets. You will eat most anything although you are not big on green beans or broccoli unless you can dip them in lots of ranch dressing.
I love that when I pick you up from school you run to me and get so excited to see me. When I ask you about your day you just talk and talk to me and use your expressive eyes to tell me about it and you use lot’s of hand gestures.
You are a joy to parent and I’m so happy to be your mommy.