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| pout if she wants to |
Lydia Beth turns three tomorrow. That hardly seems possible to any of us. We came home from Austin to find Lydie running a little fever but decided to go forward with our picnic plans today. After our riverside luncheon we came back to the house for dessert. I'm not gonna lie, we're hoping for a re-do on the singing/cake portion of the celebration. Today's attempt ended in singed bangs from leaning into a burning candle while pouting. Also, maybe it is true that the collective gasp/scream we all let out might have startled our birthday-girl just a tiny bit.
Take two cake/candle/singing scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The very first words I heard upon opening my eyes this morning came from Phoebe in her Elmo voice:
"Mamaaaaa der's a cockroach on my toast". Never a great way to start a day. When I got to the kitchen Isaac informed me that he "let her go". I was unaware of our catch and release policy.
Burning bangs and cockroaches aside we had such an amazing weekend.
When people from three corners of the country (Virginia, Texas, California) all end up in one place it is a gift. I found myself wishing I could stop the clock and/or not sleep. The conference itself was challenging and beautifully done, but being with people that share deep truths and experiences was even more wonderful.
As adoptive parents of Haitian kids with much more than that in common, we talked about the weeks following the earthquake and traded stories. It was good to cry and remember and marvel at all that took place. We got to talk about hurt children and the pain and grief of walking that road with them. We got to talk about our experiences and hopes and dreams without any blank stares from anyone. It was a weekend of being totally understood - of listening and agreeing and encouraging ... of empathy and community and love.
Every speaker we heard said something that stuck, we found the content challenging and truthful and unashamed. We left feeling like there is more we (personally) can do and excited to see how 1,000 people (collectively) from around the country will affect their home congregations and rally support for the cause of the orphan. Pure and undefiled religion is this. James 1:27
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Oh How He Loves -
(Song performed by Crowder here)
(Song paraphrased/performed solo by Lydia Livesay at bedtime tonight here)
He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Story behind song here.
