Blessings in Special Ministries

 My dear Readers,
  I have been so excited to write this post!
One of my favorite parts of blogging is that when I feel sad that such a good thing is over-vacation, volunteering, Christmas, etc.- I can always relive it on here when I write it all down! That may sound goofy, but it is fun! My other favorite part of blogging is the off chance that someone reading this might be encouraged. Or feel pressed to adopt one of the precious orphans I feature. Or, just- enjoy the life stories I so love to share!
 
  So. I can't wait to share my first visit to Scottsdale Bible's Special Ministries' Bible study with you!
First of all...it was amazing!!! It was kind of like meeting Bridget, in my opinion. (here's a link to that blog post if you're new here! :) ) I think they're similar because  in both of these encounters, I felt like God was so clearly there. This Thursday I felt so sure that God has planned for me to be there it was just exhilerating!
   For those of you in AZ, you HAVE to visit this Bible study. (Thursday nights, at Scottsdale Bible Church, 6:30-8:00) It is the most amazing thing. All the people there are just precious! They had just met me, and yet several of them mentioned me in their prayer requests.
  I wasn't even there but a few seconds when a girl came up to me and started talking to me all about sign language, and how she would love to hang out with me, and how she was so glad I was there. Then later, as I was interpreting she just came up and started signing everything I signed! I don't think I have ever made a friend that fast in my life! She was so sweet. But they were all sweet. They all were so sweet to me from the minute I walked in the door- I felt so loved!
 And as I was detailing all of this to my mom afterwards, she told me that that was the beauty. That is the beauty in Down Sydrome and some of the other challenges these people faced. They are so pure and loving. I wish all of us could be as kind as that!
   I loved interpreting. Love love loved it! It's the best feeling in the world to know that you are making God's word more accessible to someone. And I love it. But the hardest part about it was the prayer requests at the end. Each person told their table leader their prayer request, and then the table leader would pray for each of the people and each of their requests. There were about 7 tables....and each person had about a dozen prayer requests! Fingerspelling all those names and trying to make sure my friend understood what I was saying was quite a task! And I'm so glad that I got the oppurtunity to do it. Because listening to each of the people at my table's prayer requests was the best thing in the world! Caregivers, parents, friends, family, pets, others at the table, ME,- they each had so many people who they loved, and who they wanted to pray for. I think one of my favorite things I got to relay to my friend was when I got to tell her that one of the people at our table had requested to pray for her. By this time she was watching my signs more attentively than when we started,and I knew she got what I was saying when she smiled.
  
  These people at Special Ministries are living like Jesus. And it was such a blessing to be able to spend time with them. I can't wait to go back next week!
 
    I just feel so amazingly blessed that God has allowed this.
   And moments like Thursday night are such beautiful reminders to me that I am exactly where God needs me. Some days I wish with all my heart that we could adopt a dozen little children with special needs. And some days (like when Mason was recovering from surgery) I wish we didn't have to go through surgeries or therapies at all. But if we adopted a bunch of precious children, I couldn't have volunteered with Special Ministries. And if we didn't have to go through surgeries or any of the other things Cerebral Palsy comes with, I wouldn't be the same person I am today. We wouldn't be the same family,either.
 And right now I really am so glad that we are exactly where God needs us! Because in His plan is an amazing place to be.
 Your Blogger who probably just shared way more information than you wanted,
 Claire
 
 By the way- here is a link to SBC's Special Ministries site. I encourage you to contact Amy Daniels if you want to get involved! She's amazing!

Dear Readers
  Have you ever felt like you just wanted to escape to a deserted island with your closest dear ones? Although no one ever really means this (how would you get healthcare, food, evangelical oppurtunites, etc??) I know sometimes my family jokes about it. When the weight of the world come crashing down full force, it can be easy to want to escape to your own tiny nook free from troubles!


   "For the Lamb at the center of the throne
            will be their shepherd;
      He will lead them to springs of living water.
   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." ~Revelation 7:17

Doesn't that sound just like your island? Except even better.  Some days God gives us little glimpses into what it will be like, and I think Christmas generally does! The time to be goofy with your family is always  much appreciated in my house.

I tell Cate I want pictures..and this is what she does! haha love that girl

She does this,too...





Christmas baking makes for some goofy pictures,too!





And then there's the silliness that comes in a box full of gingerbread!

I thought you might like to see the final project just for fun...

This one's me being goofy...giving aerial photography a spin!
I thought this one turned out really pretty,though

Another birds eye view! Haha this one looks REALLY goofy!





And the triplets who wrapped all their gifts up in ridiculous boxes!

I looked forward to the sugar cookie decorating ALL DECEMBER. We finally did it on Christmas eve!

EVeryone pitched in--this is a very serious project, people! Haha





I hope everyone had a smiling-ful Christmas! And I also hope it provided a much needed breather from everything going on. I always feel like the world rushes,rushes,rushes, and while Christmas certainly isn't free from that, it does allow you to take a deep,collective breath and just 'be'.
  But my prayer is that this week, as everyone adjusts to going back to school,work, etc, it will be joyful! My mom always says joy is a choice and it is definitely a choice I'm working to make as we go back to school tomorrow.
  God has been amazing with already providing me an oppurtunity of joy. I started volunteering at our church's Special Needs Ministries this past weekend, and it was beyond amazing. I loved every minute and fell in love with the kids and the ministry. But not only that, I now get to interpret their Bible Study for a Deaf woman who attends. Those of you who know me know that this is a dream come true! I am thrilled and CAN'T WAIT for my first Bible Study this thursday. I will be blogging about it, I promise! Prayers would be appreciated. :)
  Also, I wanted to give a shout out to anyone reading this. I have fallen in love with Marcia (the orphan mentioned in my previous post) and feel desperate to get her out of the orphanage. I have emailed Jeanette and the blog "Life Rearranged" to request that she advocates for Marcia on her blog. If you or anyone you know would like to help this dear child find a home by featuring her on your blog, leave a comment! I would love that more than anything. You can also visit  this link for all the information you need on her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 Have a joy filled week, my friends. I am forever thankful for those who read my thoughts on here!
Your thankful blogger,
 Claire

Featured orphan- sweet Marcia

Dear Readers,
 It is a new year! I can't believe it. 2011 seemed to go by so quickly... and yet here we are! Happy New Year, everyone!
 This is my very first blog post to feature just one (it's so hard to choose!!) orphan from Reece's Rainbow Adoption Ministry. I will feature one each month with the hope that his mommy will be reading this! But even if you aren't a featured child's mommy or daddy, I just ask for you to remember these and the millions of other orphans around the world in your prayers. (By the way, I have had this written for a while, but waited to publish it until today, January first! haha yes, I'm goofy that way. :))

 Her name is Marcia. She is four years old and a little cutie, isn't she? Here is her diagnosis:

'Marcia has a mild form of paraparesis, pelvic organs dysfunction, instability of hip joints; stemming from her main diagnoses — compensated hydrocephalus (treated with a shunt) and operated spina bifida.'
  Marcia can walk with help, and doctors have a good outlook for her future mobility. She is delayed in speech, and is being seen by a speech therapist. Also, Marcia understands commands and is very smart! She loves those who take care of her at the hospital, and loves to cuddle. Don't you just want to scoop her up?

  Marcia, though, doesn't have a mommy to cuddle with. She didn't have anyone to love her back to health after they put the shunt in. And after a hard hour of speech therapy, Marcia doesn't get to run into the always supporting arms of her mother. It is reported that she is failing to thrive at the orphanage. She would benefit from an adoption quickly. Do the words 'failing to thrive' rip your heart out as much as they rip out mine? Sweet, dear Marcia is longing for a family, but because of her diagnosis of Spina Bifida this may never happen. If it doesn't, she will remain bedridden for the rest of her short life, suffering in an institution.

  This past week (Christmas week) my friend's dad died after valiantly fighting cancer for a year. We went to the funeral and saw a lot of people we hadn't seen since moving from that side of town two years ago. Just being in that place, seeing all these people look so much older (imagine- while we were gone kids kept moving up a grade! :) ), and having one member of our little community missing made me realize just how fragile life is. We are so breakable. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow. Marcia is not guaranteed another birthday, and neither are you. So why can't we give it all away? Why do we hold our money, our time, our homes, from people in need? Why do we hold grudges when we could love freely?
  If I were to die tomorrow, I would want to know that my life had made a difference. If Marcia were to die tomorrow, I would want to know that she had had the best few years she could. And living in an orphanage is NOT the best way to spend your life. In fact- it kills it.

  Please, please, please- consider your life. Consider the commands God has given us, and consider the days you might or might not have. Why don't you give it all away for Him when you can? Let's let this new year be filled with crazy, insane, give-it-all- away moments for God! Why don't we bring Marcia home.
Your Blogger,
 Claire


                                                         

                       

Christmas.

It's almost Christmas!! I'm so excited. I love everything about this season- from October to December I'm in Heaven!! Although I love Easter dearly, I feel very close to Jesus around Christmas.
We should feel this way every day, I know, but at Christmas I feel like just the reminder that Jesus went through the same things as me and walked on this earth's dirt comforts me. a lot.

Jesus blesses each of us, I believe, with little encounters to remind us of Him. I wish we could just see Him now, but these gifts He gives us can be pretty sweet. So I have a story to share.
My family and I were at the airport, and this girl came up to us- just dying to say hi. She was in a wheelchair, and someone I presumed to be her brother told us-as she came up excusing herself profusely-that she just really wanted to say hi.
So she introduced herself, and then as we told her our names she just kept shaking her head and telling us how much she loved us, and how much she was praying for us. And she meant it! It wasn't just an ' oh, I'll be praying for you...'. It was an 'oh! I love you! I just LOVE you! And I'll be praying for you because I love you.'

How often do you get that from a stranger?? Not often enough is my guess. I was touched by dear Bridget, to say the least. I've been thinking about her these last few weeks, as I promised to pray for her, too. She embodied Jesus' love- unashamedly and freely giving it to all. It blessed my heart to meet her.
After we met her, Mom and Dad told me what her parents had told them. Bridget had been a junior in college when she was in a car accident. She suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury.
My first thought was sadness. Even as a freshman in high school, I have dreams. I know she probably had big dreams and goals, too. How would I have felt if that had happened to me? Life really is so fragile. But I remembered this Bible verse as I thought of her recently...

 "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

 Hope. A future. The life Bridget lives today may not be what she imagined when she was my age, but her life is in perfect alignment with God's vision. And it is beautiful. I know my family isn't the only one she has touched, and my prayer is that she will continue to be able to touch many more. She is following God's perfect plan, and is living proof that Jeremiah 29:11 is true. God does NOT mean to harm us. He gives us a future. As hard to see as that may have been for Bridget's family after that accident, it is clear that He has a perfect plan for her and that He is using her in amazing ways to bring people to Him.
Isn't it comforting to know this is true for each of us? Whether we minister from a hut in Africa, a classroom at home, or a wheelchair at the airport, God has a plan for us. And it is perfect.
May you rest without worry for the year 2012 as you enjoy this Christmas. Your Blogger,
Claire

These are the faces...

 Dear Readers,
 I don't know if you have heard of the international adoption ministry 'Reece's Rainbow'. But it is a beautiful organization started to bring home precious babies with Down Syndrome. It also has 'other angels' with a variety of disabilities- ranging from Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, or Osteoimperfecta to Fetal Alchohol Syndrome, Autism, Deafness, Blindness, etc.  I have seen and heard a lot about them, and while my brother was in surgery looked them up in depth. I looked into the eyes of probably hundreds of children- all living in either an orphanage, nursing home, or mental institution. These kids have no hope- and how could they? They spend their lives drugged and tied down to a crib. Their only interaction is when they are fed and diapered. 'Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world!' That song is so true- and for every one of these sweet kids. That same Jesus who loves those kids calls us to care for the widows and ORPHANS. So what are we doing for these precious ones?
  I'm going to be featuring one orphan a month. I ask you to pray with me for him, and to make donations to his adoption grant fund if you are able. One orphan. Once a month. That is the least we can do! And maybe..just maybe...you're the next featured child's mama. It's not fair that these kids' future looks like this- they live in a 'baby house' until they are 5 or 6, and then they are sent to a mental institution where they get no interaction and are next to grown adults sucking their thumbs and rocking back and forth. Most die within their first year there. That's no future.

 Please look at these pictures. It will hurt. You will fall in love with each one.  I cried as I went through them. But please know- this could be you. Or your daughter. Or your son.  And God never gets to look away from their pain- so neither should we. Let yourself cry and please let your heart be touched.

Poor Kolina has nothing to smile about.

This is Lauren, waving and saying "Hi Mama! I'm here waiting for you!"
(She has a kind of common dwarfism that I forget the medical name!)

Dear Marcia has Spina Bifida and is waiting for a forever family.
Are you her mama?

Dmitry has already stolen my heart! Has he stolen yours?

This little boy belongs to God!

Here is a loved child of the King.

Have you ever seen such beautiful eyes?

Isn't Diane a little babydoll? She actually has 'babydoll syndrome'.
Are you going to bring this brown eyed beauty home?

Kyle has already been transferred to a mental institution and
is going to be bedridden for the rest of his short life if someone doesn't
rescue him.

Sweet Sophia dreams of a mommy and daddy...

Cutie

I'm in love with dear Tara!

This sweetie has Cerebral Palsy and is facing imminent transfer
to a mental institution. Is Olga your daughter?

These are the faces of neglect and abandonment. They are the faces of hopelessness. And they are the faces of those who we need to be fighting for. The faces of people who need us. Please don't forget these faces...
     Prayers work! Let's pray these babies home! Your blogger,
 Claire

The joy not just of the season, but in your heart!

                                    

From the day of his (Jesus) birth, the forces of darkness began plotting against the Babe in the manger. Why? Because the adversary and his wicked hoards knew that this was the Child who would ultimately crush Satan and bring an end to wickedness in this world. God is so grieved over evil, that he sent his only Son to die in order that righteousness and peace, truth and love would prevail... in order that we might escape the clutches of hell and be welcomed into heaven. God permits what he hates to accomplish that which he loves.

Celebrate the defeat of darkness by singing this verse today from the Christmas carol, "Joy to the World": No more let sin or sorrow reign, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings known far as the curse is found!

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day: to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray, O tidings of comfort and joy!    

 From Joni Eareckson Tada

Dear Readers,

 It's the most wonderful time of the year.....there'll be much mistletoe (ing) and hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near! You all know the words. This season is filled with warmth, joy, family, and the celebration of Christ's birth. Of GOD coming down to earth to save US. Wow.

  Now, I've been working on this post for a while. I am having a very hard time deciding if I should write about how for those in orphanages, nursing homes, hospitals, the homeless, etc. this Christmas season still hurts. And sometimes it causes even more hurt. Or, I could just focus on the pure JOY of this season. And as I type that up, I think I will focus on the joy. Because anyone can walk out the door and find suffering every morning. I think the biggest trick is to find joy amidst your suffering.

 

   I think everyone has their own traditions that bring the most joy. Even if they're little things they still hold so much meaning! For example, one of my favorite things to do at Christmas is to go through and watch all of our Christmas cartoons and holiday specials. My family does this year after year, and it is so much fun! I also love making batches and batches of goodies for neighbors, and I have been bugging my mom to make sugar cookies and oatmeal lace cookies since September! Those two are my favorite and they are a lot of fun to make. We have a huge stock of red and green sprinkles ready, ha! 

For anyone who has ever had to spend a holiday away from home, you know how hard it is.
No matter where you are, you will always miss those small little details that make Christmas so special. That is a big reason why those in hospitals need your love and prayers especially during this season. Can you imagine Christmas dinner at the Ronald McDonald House while your child is on chemotherapy or critically ill?? Many families face that this Christmas.

This weekend my friend, Breana, and I got to help with Ballet Academy of AZ's Holiday Festival!
It was fun- I love my little ballerinas!!

This is from last Christmas. What does a thirteen year old do with her new camera? :)

Let's DECORATE!!

Family time is my favorite part!

Excuse the man in the back...this was on our way home from our Thanksgiving trip to MS.
See- we LOVE getting ready for Christmas as soon as we can! We were all wearing Christmas shirts. :)

Sorry for having to use so many recycled pictures...our computer is messed up and it won't hold my pictures!
But there will be more Christmas to come, I promise! Now, please don't think I'm trying to give the impression that my life is perfect. I hate it when blogs look like that. But I wanted to share a little of the JOY of Christmas today. And these bring me joy! I hope they brought you some, too, as you enjoy the cold weather and hug your family today! Your blogger,
 Claire

Okay- I have a prayer request! I want to start always including prayer requests in my posts, so feel free to comment and leave one and I will include it in my next post! But my brother, Mason, is having surgery today. It's been so encouraging to see all the comments of prayers on Facebook! I just wanted to mention it on here. :) Thank y'all!



   

Road trip!!!

 Dear Readers,

 We are at Grammie's house in Tupelo! Yes, we made it safely. Through AZ's mountains and plateaus, then New Mexico and the millions of Indian art bill boards ( I DO mean millions!), to Texas, the never ending (it seemed) Oklahoma, Arkansas,  and a little dip into Tennessee, we finally arrived to Mississippi! I have to tell you- it was a lot of fun. I love road trips, and even if I left home with a less than thankful heart, God used this trip for amazing things and left me feeling very thankful! Let me give a few examples...and a picture or two...

 

  My mom is amazing at contenting kiddos. I guess her camp counselor comes out, and there was not one whine for most all of the trip. We sang Christmas songs the whole drive- seriously, I think we clocked hours! Miles! Days! Ha my throat is so sore...but it was worth every minute! As we sang 'Away in a Manger', we were driving through Texas. It was dark, so we couldn't see the   ranches we were passing.

 But all of a sudden we were hit with the smell of cows- big time. And it became so real to us- Jesus wasn't born in a cleaned out, white washed stable. Our King came into the world in a filthy barn, with cows and their manure all around Him. He was laid down to rest in a manger- where slops had been set earlier that day, and lay down on straw- which the animals used for bathroom tissue! Now I am a huge animal lover, and I actually do like the smell of cows and horses for all the pleasant memories they bring up. But I wouldn't exactly want my baby- or my precious King- to have to lay down next to it.

  But that was just a beautiful reminder of all He gave for me- for all of you! He didn't come into this world as He should have, and He didn't leave it as He should have. He was ridiculed and shamed the whole way.

 And yet He did it all for US. Isn't that something BIG to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

  Another blessing was just being with my family. This isn't exactly something anyone gets to do often, with busy schedules, etc. So just being with them was a blessing! Even if we were in a cramped car, or sharing a one bathroom hotel room, I felt so blessed to be near these amazing people I call mine. Even if I don't always show it (I can be grumpy, after all!) I love them SO much and they are my favorite people in the world. God blessed me too abundantly with them.

And don't you all think I'm going to go into a big adoption rant now? About how you all should offer this blessing to a child aching for it somewhere in God's Kingdom?

Well...I would, but think that's up to God this Thanksgiving! What do you feel called to do? I just ask that you remember them and pray for them at your table this year.

Your thankful Blogger,

 Claire  ~Pictures at bottom!~

Mom and I had braiding lessons in the car! She made it a ridiculously fun trip.

The boys who had to go cross country without braiding lessons and hours of Christmas carols, bless their hearts.

In Texas!

Sorry it was blurry- taking pictures in a jolting car was a challenge!

A very foggy drive through Texas...what a beautiful reminder that God is with us!

Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about Christmases past! Did you know that striped ornaments originated in the 1940s due to lack of paint from the war?

Cracker Barrel was so much fun- on my list of places we HAD to stop for! hehe

Mom and Dad even made our short hotel visits an adventure!

Another Uhaul picture...possibly about to cross the Mississippi!

Fun car ride! Where's Benjamin?

Dad and Mason cross the Mississippi river! I love this bridge!!

The fall foliage and winter trees made me smile. What a blessing from God that we got to enjoy them.

We cheered when we crossed into Tennessee! Mainly because it was my first state line picture- I had tried and tried and missed them all. :(





It was a LOONG drive, but I really enjoyed being with the best family on earth!

P.S---the Egg  bowl is coming up, my friends! GO BULLDOGS!!