Everyday Living

Bookends: Bringing Lucy Home

April 15, 2015~ Bookends, Faith

Adoption and orphan care is very near to the heart of God, as he speaks directly to it many times in his Word…

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world”
James 1:27

“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation”
Psalm 68:5

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”
John 14:18

It would be a futile attempt to try to ignore the commands in scripture to care for orphans. It is everywhere! Butch, Seth, and I became involved with an orphanage in Togo, West Africa. As we traveled there in 2011 to help build facilities to accommodate the children who were left with no one to care for them, two little brothers stole our heart! We wanted to bring them home. That was impossible, so we support them monthly to meet their basic needs! You can read more about the orphanage in Togo here: God Is Great. Within my own family, we have two great nephews who have been adopted from Africa and what joy they have brought to our family! You can read more of their adoption story here: An Unexpected Journey.

I first “met” Jennifer and the Phillips family when Katy told me of an adoption journey that had literally taken a family half way around the world. I knew that Jennifer had written a book about their story of heartache and hope, and immediately my interest was peaked-I had to get my hands on it!

Jennifer, thank you for your willingness to share your love for the world, for orphans, and mostly for our God in your book “Bringing Lucy Home”.

I am sure that adoptive moms are warned that many roadblocks can stall the process of adoption. But I am almost confident that no one could have known to warn Jennifer and her husband Brian, sons Joshua and Andrew, and daughter Sarah Kate what their journey would entail. Jennifer’s book is a living testimony that giving God your “yes” does not always mean smooth sailing. It means heartache. It means sacrifice. It can even mean separation from family.

Jennifer’s story begins in the heart of a young college student when she was given the opportunity to see much more than just her hometown, and travel to China. That trip took deep root in her heart that would eventually bring her full circle to her love for her daughter, Lucy. Several years later after she married Brian and had three children, they answered the call to go to Australia to work with a ministry. And while they were there, God called them to something even more than they ever expected: to adopt from China. Ok, let me sort this out: an American family, in Australia, adopting from China. Should be easy, right? Not hardly.

Jennifer does an excellent job through her humor and storytelling of welcoming us into her family, the adoption process, and China with them. They landed in Guangzhou, China around Christmas time and everything seemed to go as planned…until. Brian would take Joshua, Andrew, and Sarah Kate back to Australia to settle back home and into the school year, and Jennifer would take Lucy to the United States for her passport. What happens next is unthinkable, even for the adoption agency that walked with Jennifer through this process. The plea for Lucy’s passport was a continual “no”, even going down different avenues to get that passport in hand! Can you imagine? Being half way across the world, separated from your husband and children, with your newly adopted (and most precious, I might add) daughter from China, with circumstances looking bleak as to when you would be reunited?

In the book, Jennifer opens wide her heart and lets us in on what God is showing and teaching her through all of this. She includes excerpts from her blog that make you feel like you are living out the story with her! As much as your heart aches for her, when she and Lucy finally get the long awaited passport and are able to reunite with the rest of her family after 53 days, you rejoice all the more!

There is much to be learned from the process of adoption. Seeing the commitment and heartache that accompanied the Phillips family reminds us all that following Christ may be costly, but it is always, always worth it.

I highly recommend that you order this book from Amazon here: Bringing Lucy Home. And follow along with Jennifer’s life now via her blog here: Bringing Lucy Home.

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Tablescape Tuesday: Dogwood Dreams

April 14, 2015~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25

Years before I entered the blogging world, I was tablescaping my dining table for get-togethers in our home! Family and friends have always been so sweet with their comments about the table setting when sitting down for a meal. My late and dear friend, Bonnie Jean, was one of my best encouragers. She would often come for dinner and notice every detail and ask questions. I always enjoyed sharing with her the stories and memories of the pieces that would make an appearance on the table. When I joined Facebook, I would occasionally post tablescapes and people were so generous with their comments and likes! One of those is a sweet friend, Margaret who always commented-she even encouraged me to share my tablescapes in a book! Last August when we began blogging, I knew that I would share table settings, but I never thought it would turn into a weekly series called “Tablescape Tuesday” and that it would become such a creative outlet for me!

Since dogwoods are in full bloom now, I wanted to share a table with you that spotlights their branches! Dogwoods in the South are one of our most beautiful trees in spring! I enjoyed reminiscing as I pulled this together for you! So today, let’s go back at least three years for this energetic spring tablescape!

Dogwood is the star of this spring setting! The centerpiece is a moss-covered crystal cake stand with a bird’s
nest covered by an etched glass cloche. Along with the dogwood
blooms is a pair of crystal candle holders! The height of the vases keep the branches above site level when guests
are seated, so no view is blocked! Being able to see one another is
important, because next to the food, conversation
is the best part of get-togethers!

Placemats were found at TJ Maxx and the turquoise stemware was
a true find at Tuesday Morning. The Tracy Porter “Artesian Road”
pattern has made several appearances on the blog, as well as
the wicker chargers and tortoise flatware! Very simple setting but the dogwoods give it the “wow” factor! I absolutely love cutting something from our yard to use indoors!
This just says “welcome, spring!” On this particular Sunday, we had 14 guests! An interesting camera shot that is not usually seen on the blog! The dogwood branches were cut from this tree in our side yard! The dogwood bloom is a masterpiece of the Creator’s hand!

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”
Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬

Dressed for Spring!

April 13, 2015~ Outdoors

“This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere”
-Maltbie D. Babcock

Our very old water oak loses a few limbs from time to time.
This dogwood, so far, has escaped being struck by a large branch!It has often been said that the dogwood bloom is a reminder of the
cross of Jesus!Azaleas are popping out everywhere with a wide variety of colors!The large pink blooms appear to be a “pride of Mobile” variety!Our snowball bushes are near their peak!With a close look, you can see raindrops hanging on the petals!Our friend, Joann’s natural landscape!A close look at the red azaleas that are seen from a distance in
the previous picture!The white azalea blooms almost resemble clusters of fairies!Life-giving water-refreshes and restores!Black Creek below Noccalula Falls! April Wisteria really makes a statement!It seems these large wisteria vines enjoy being hosted by a big pine!The blooms look like clusters of grapes!Our friend, Joann has mastered the art of relaxation!Maybe Joann doesn’t get to use the hammock as often as she
would like, someone has to keep the lawn mowed!Something about the color of the sky above the dogwood bloom
makes this photo special!We are convinced that we need a few of these Yoshino Cherry trees
in our landscape!The little ones are looking for a big meal before
siblings hatch and demand their share!Certain types of Japanese maples add wonderful contrast against the
shades of green that are abundant in spring!Oreo thinks he is hidden!Tulips…they depart too soon!