FAREWELL SUMMER (THROUGH MY IPHONE LENS)

Monday is my last official day of Summer.  And I've got to say, it was one of the best in my memory.

Starting with flying all the way to Philadelphia to meet with my dear, dear friends for 5 days.  Next up was Downton Abbey reruns late into the night and being in complete awe with the Lord and His story unfolding before us through adoption and birthmothers.  Sleeping in, eating breakfast at 11:15am every morning, and laughing with my family.  Then, a quick one-day trip up north to a friend's cabin for the 4th of July.  Fireworks, laughing, BBQ's, carnivals and fun.  One of my faves.  Then, a roadtrip to California.  Much needed beach time, an escape from the heat, and complete relaxation.  More sleep, more babysitting bugsy, more cooking.  Driving one kid to practice and picking the next one up.  Next was a fabulous weekend trip to the cabin we've gone to since we were littles.  Memories and cool weather and relaxing and golf cart rides.  Fast forward some more sleeping, babysitting, driving and relaxing.  Finishing an absolutely fantastic summer with dear friends sleepovers.  Talking til 2am, pool time and just a whole lot of fun.

Wowwwweeeee, God sure did bless me this summer.  SO thankful I got the opportunities I did.  Now I'm so ready to partake in my Junior (!!!!!!!) year of high school.   What the actual heck?  I have no idea what happened to time.

Goodbye summer, you've been so good to me.

(photo dump :: no particular order, obviously.)

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I HAVE A DREAM

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." MLK

In my life, these words have become wildly true.

When you have a black brother, a black sister, a black daughter or a black son, and you are white, these words become a once unknown, now passionate truth for you as a white person.

It stays lit inside my heart.  It touches my soul in a deep place.  Reading these words 50 years later, I am overwhelmed.

Dear friends, because of the hope we have in Jesus Christ MLK's words have become true for us today.

Yes, there is racism.  Yes, there is oppression.  Yes, there is judging and there are stereotypes.  Horrible things still happen in the name of racism.  But because of the blood of Christ that covers all things... that takes the blame... that Loves like none other... we can be One with Him.  Little white girls and little white boys can joined together as sisters and as brothers with little black girls and little black boys.  Hear me today, friends.  Today in the United States of America white families open their homes to children of other races.  50 years ago this was unheard of and insane.  Jesus Christ's blood covers all things.

He takes the blame for every racist moment of this oppressed time 50 years ago.  He takes the blame for buying and selling humans based upon their skin color.  He takes the shame and carries it on His back and it dies with Him on the cross.  Jesus Christ was the same King He was 50 years ago, yet today He has made MLK's dreams become reality. 

If you are white, black, brown, purple, yellow or pink, let us celebrate.  Let us celebrate that the King of Kings has changed hearts time after time after time after time... all to bring His people as One with Him.  All to bring glory to Him.  

Thank you, MLK, for pressing into Jesus and fighting for what is right and true and holy.  Thank you for helping to set people like my brother free.  Thank you for your example and thank you for never giving up.  

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BROKENHEARTED

With my mom working with birthmoms, we are now around so much hurt and brokenness and diversity that it is sometimes so surreal... I have so many wakeup calls.

Tonight, there is a woman with her two young children sleeping in the airport so that she doesn't have to sleep in the park.  

Hear me, friends.  A young woman with two young children.  Both still in diapers.  Her home is a park.  What are we doing, friends?  As pro-life... as Christians... who are we and what are we doing for those in need?  Sometimes, it is not always giving money... most of the time... it is Loving.  W/ a capitol L.  

And I am sitting here in my perfect home complaining because we currently have a security guard outside my home... all because we had electrical problems and now have an exposed wire that apparently needs guarding.  I was out of power (out of A/C in 100+ heat) for three hours recently and it drove me insane.  All while a woman with two young children is sleeping in an airport tonight so she won't have to sleep in the park.  

Recently we had another birthmom in our home for the dinners we always do with the adoptive families and her.  She sat on the bar in the kitchen, looking around, saying over and over, "You have such a beautiful house." & "Your house is so big."  In our community, our house is not the biggest.  It has so many imperfections that we want to see this way or that way.  But to have these people come into our lives that are used to living in 1 bedroom apartments with who knows how many people... wow.  

And to hear tonight that someone is sleeping in the park every night absolutely broke my heart.  Not only for her... but for the way in which I live my life. 

It takes huge wake up calls and eye-openings 

from only the Lord to get you to the place where you literally say to yourself... 

oh.  Wow.  I cannot believe I live in this way.  

I cannot believe I complain about everything all the time.

I used to think only Africa could open my eyes and help me to see things with a different view.  Little did I know so much was living right in my own backyard... so much hurt and so much brokenness needs love from me and the light from Jesus.  

And it hits you... like nothing else, sometimes.  What in the entire world?  That God would choose to place me in this spot at this time with these people.  My life becomes a whole lot of me-centered jealousy until I am once again pointed to the Cross.  I do not deserve any of this.  

And as my baby brother sits in the bath tonight... with a full belly and clean clothes... I am reminded once again.  This woman's sweet babies have probably not had a bath in days.  Let alone a place to rest their heads at night.  Absurdity.  I am out of my mind grieved for these people.  

What I have is much, what I need is less.  I am beyond blessed beyond anything imaginable.  Speechless tonight and brokenhearted for those that have nothing.  Lord knows I needed this story to transform me.  Pray.  Give.  Love.  <3 div="">

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