Chosen

Lately many of the blogs I follow have been chatting about adoption, specifically Africa and the orphans in that country. Reading their stories and experiences has been breaking my heart. But in some ways, it has also forced me to look inward and examine exactly what adoption means to me. Being an adopted child, not internationally, but right here in Louisiana, has played a major role in my life. Whether I want to admit it or not, it was tough being told at age 11 that I was adopted. Imagine everything that you know as true, all of a sudden, isn’t any more. Your parents aren’t related to you. Your brother isn’t your brother by blood. Everyone has been keeping this HUGE secret from you all this time. It took me until nearly the age of 26 to finally realize the best part of being adopted.

I was chosen.

Ephesians 1:3-6 says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.”

Just as God chooses to allow us to enter into His family as adopted sons and daughters through faith in His son Jesus Christ, my parents chose (and were chosen by God) to add a daughter to their family through the miracle of adoption.

To know and feel this love in my heart is an amazing thing. My parents went through a tough time and miles and miles of seemingly unanswered prayers while trying to start a family. But God had a plan. He planned to place a beautiful baby girl (me, of course) directly into their laps as an answer to prayer they had forgotten to pray. And in their infinite wisdom, they chose. They chose to keep this precious gift and to raise her as their own. So much their own, that telling her any differently seemed like a lie. I was as much theirs as the next one, a little brother, that God blessed them with a mere 16 months later. And our family was complete.

Today, I awake and thank God every day for blessing me with this family. They are the miracle I hope my birth mother prayed for. To this woman, I also say a prayer of thanks for being strong enough to give me up. The greatest gift, the gift of life, can never be repaid. I hope she knows that.

To parents considering adopting a child, I hope God answers your prayers. It will not always be easy, but with your love and His, your child will be forever thankful.

Who wouldn’t want to be chosen?

Weekend to be thankful for!

My Friday, Saturday and Sunday were full of things I am thankful for!

Friday night John and I met our friend Malcom at Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. He was in town with his school's basketball team. It was great to be able to visit with him. I am thankful for the friends God has placed in my and John's life.

Saturday, my mom's family came to town to help paint my grandmother's house. Nanny couldn't remember the last time that her house was washed, much less painted. So Mom, Dad, Aunt Donna, Kimberly, Kristen, Brett, Ricky, Michael, Skippy, Ed, Blair, Sunny, John and I pitched in, picked up a paintbrush and joined in the fun. I have never laughed so hard in my life. The work was hard, but my most sore part was my tummy from laughing.

I am thankful for my family. It is an amazing thing that we can all come together for two days to paint a house. We all get along. No one stands out. No one fights. No one argues. We smile and laugh and visit and make fun of Mom singing Christmas carols. I am thankful for the amazing memories we are making as a family with my 81 year old grandmother. This is a special time that I will always remember.

Saturday night, we went to Presentation for Hyacinthians and it was announced that I will be a Maid for the 2011 carnival season. I am thankful for the opportunity that was given to me by Freda. It is going to be a great Mardi Gras. Seeing the tears in her eyes was priceless and I am thankful to be a part of her reign as Queen.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Thankful Thursday

Thursday's thankful for is....My friends who blog.

I absolutely L-O-V-E reading what you all are up to, your daily adventures, entering your give-aways (thanks McCall!!) It keeps me endlessly entertained.

I'm sorry today is such a short post. It's actually Friday and I have lots of things on my To Do list at work.

Have a great weekend! I'll be back at some point with my thing I'm thankful for Friday post.

Wednesday, Nov. 17

Since Wednesday was press day, aka Crunch Time x2, I didn't get to blog. In fact, I confess, the blog didn't even cross my mind. Looking back though, I know what I was thankful for yesterday.

My job as editor of Point of Vue Magazine.

Really. I'm not just kissing ass; my bosses don't even know I have a blog.

My job is probably one of the most fun jobs there is in the world. Part of what makes it the best are the people I work with. When the day turns into night and we are all still here, it helps to have people around you that understand you and get you. Stuff can get pretty silly, fast. It helps to be able to laugh at one another.

Also have I mentioned I get paid to do something I really love? How cool is that! I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I always listed it first under Any Hobbies? Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined that it would one day become my job.

I get to be as free and creative as I like. I have a whole space to write an editor's note, that it turns out people love to read. I get to meet and visit with super cool people, and write stories about them. We have an amazing team of freelance writers, columnists and photographers that help make this a cool product.

It has been such a blessing to be involved in the magazine from it's 5th issue, over 3 years ago. Having worked in sales first to help build the magazine up to where it is today...thankful barely begins to describe it. I look forward to the many years to come.

Tuesday, Nov. 16 - small businesses

Ok, so we are going to call this post Tuesday, because even though I paused to think about what I was thankful for...I forgot to blog about it. (It's truly been a crazy week.)

Tuesday, I am thankful for small businesses.

I love small mom and pop stores, where the shop owners know your name, know your shopping style (don't bug me when I'm shopping. I'm a big girl and know what I like. I'll holler if I need help.) and will actually remember to call you when something you like comes in.

On Tuesday, I went to Cherry Books, a locally owned book store in Thibodaux, to get my dad a Christmas present. They regularly host book signings by an impressive amount of local authors. Last week mom and I went to get my Christmas present, Holly Clegg's new cookbook, signed. It's an amazing little place. If you ever get the chance to stop in, please do so. They have a great children's book selection and reading area. Story times are loads of fun too.

Small businesses are definitely the way to go these day. I have made some really good friends shopping locally. And small stores and boutiques will usually fess up about sales and kick some great deals your way. After all, they know their customers!!