Thankful List for September -celebrating in the "happy news" moments with our adoption community -mourning in the "sad news" moments with our adoption community -Fall Line orders and getting to share a percentage with another family in the adoption journey (go see the Fall Line here and read their journey here) -talking with friends who are at the beginning of the adoption journey -continuing to trust that He has a plan for Aida as the wait gets longer -"You call me out upon the waters, The great unknown where feet may fail, And there I find You in the mystery, In oceans deep, My faith will stand. And I will call upon Your name, And keep my eyes above the waves, When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace... Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, Let me walk upon the waters, Wherever you would call me, Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder, And my faith will be made stronger, In the presence of my Savior" -Hillsong United And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -going to see Despicable Me 2 as a family (thank you Kelli for the coupon!!) -labor day! -cute new haircut for Libby -the amazing crowds at BSM Wednesday lunches -cutting back on my McDonald's $1 Coke habit and surviving to tell about it :) -good start to preschool for Libby -Friday nights and Party for the Nations -Cracker Barrell's Apple Cinnamon pancake mix (and Ben surprising me with it) -"He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." (2 Samuel 22:31) -tea parties -Ben and I learning our lesson about Libby and scissors -playing baseball with Tuck -playing football with Tuck -Joseph threw his arms around [his brothers]. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Behind what you were doing, underneath everything that was happening, God was doing something good. God was making everything right again." -The Jesus Storybook Bible -mail from Dianna... one of my favorite things -Libby's Western day at school (her excitement over every second of it) -Mommy/daughter date...Libby finally getting to watch the Little Mermaid (thank you again Kelli!) -Tuck getting to go MSU game at Cowboy Stadium -www.scripturetyper.com -Facetime and how it allows me to "see" my Daddy on his birthday -lunches with Meegan, Vicki, and Kasi -first hot chocolate of the season -Emma Kate and Carly taking our kids to Chuck E Cheese -the invasion of Monopoly in our home (and I will admit, I'm thankful that I've somehow managed to not play it yet) -watching Ben with the kids at Gymanstics Sports Center -Mimi and Pops visiting! -clean windows and a newly framed mirror thanks to their efforts!!! -celebrating Tuck's birthday with friends and family -6 years with our sweet boy -rain! -lots of birthdays and birthday celebrations throughout the month -“... be radical about grace and relentless about truth and resolute about holiness...” - Ann Voskamp
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Thankful List for July -adoption announcements from friends= sweet pictures of kids who have forever families adorning our refrigerator -our little Aida turned 18 months -"Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me." - Jesus Calling -overhearing conversation between Tuck and neighborhood boy. Caden: "who is that on your refrigerator?". Tuck: "my sister... but not Libby." (wish I could post her precious face) -"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:2-3 And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: Our trip to Georiga (the July half) -swimming kids -S’more making -the sweet treat of seeing my dear friend Dianna and her kids for a few hours while they were home from MercyShips -celebrating the day Andrea was born -being able to help my dad in the kitchen -making peanut butter pie with my sister -Cooper playing ball with Tucker -bike rides with my mom -Eric always being willing to take the kids swimming -watching cousins play together -returning home and to Ben -Ben’s welcome home gifts to the three of us: baseball cards, bubbles, and real tulips (I have no idea how he managed to find them for me in July)… he knows us and loves us well -Sequence -Tucker's note to me -4 free meals from chick-fil-a (cow appreciation day) -Ben to Libby “Who is your favorite princess?” Libby: “mommy” -air conditioning -Faith Youth helping break up our cement (making progress on summer projects while giving money to a good cause) -laughter of kids in the morning -blankets stacked in our bedroom (daily reminders of the beautiful women who made them) -Vacation Bible School -truth and conviction: “Hospitality means if there is room in the heart- there is always room in the house. And if we’ve really welcomed Christ into our lives it means our lives are evidence that we’ve welcomed the strangers and the neglected and the outcasts.” -Ann Voskamp -conversations with Julie Lindsey -movies with friends -Great news at Libby’s cardiologist check up (we are so thankful for Dr. Muyskens, our amazing cardiologist, and for continued improvement with Libby's heart) -smell of sausage sizzling -celebrating birthdays -finding kids playing happily together -“… that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him…” –Deutronomy 30:20 -lunch and dinner with new friends -tea parties -Tuck: “Mom, let's have snuggle time” -the joy of lots of kids in our house throughout the month -Libby’s hairstyling abilities
-Tuck playing Sequence and baseball with college students -good bye dinner with Staci -Carissa and Kelli’s help -Tuck’s excitement in finding his name on the wall at the library -spray park with Melissa and Drake Exactly a year ago, I posted my first "thankful list". At the time, we had no idea the extreme emotions the next year would hold from the excitement of our early referral to the heartbreak of changed plans and a little girl left indefinitely stranded. But God, in His infinite wisdom, had me begin the "thankful list" when He did... knowing how much my heart would need it in the months to come. I am so glad this list has helped me count our blessings when at times I have not "felt" thankful at all. June Thankful List -putting a package in the mail for Aida (it included a book with us reading to her, a dress, two wooden toys, stickers from Libby, football from Tuck) -Ladonna’s sweet and perfect and generous gift of toys for the package -Brenda Sander's thoughtfulness to offer to take the package, meet/ check on/and love on our girl for us -Kind words sent from a missionary friend (that we only know through Facebook) who translated for that visit -The over 100 pictures that came from her time with Aida -The encouragement and peace of mind coming from the stories of that visit -"Let trust and thankfulness stand guard, turning back fear before it can gain a foothold." -Jesus Calling And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -finding kids reading -Tuck got his first Libray Summer Reading Prize (he was excited about the sand bucket, I was excited about all the free kids meals to various eating places) -celebrating birthdays -listening to the conversation and laughter coming from the kid’s table -neighborhood kids in our house -Zack and Sam’s sweet wedding and watching the kids dance at the reception -picnic outside with a rare nice breeze -the kids “disco” party -fajitas with the Weaver’s -Chris Weaver and Josh Tiller's help with our fence project -good bye lunch with Jessica (thankful for all her hard work as the BSM secretary, grateful she got a great job on campus) -Kelli helping me cut out and deliver stuff -Chick fil A is open!! -"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise..." Psalm 8:2 -The Voice finale with the Tiller’s -Ranger’s Game pre-Father’s day outing! -Ben taking care of all kinds of things while we were gone -4 kids hiding under a desk -swim lessons *our trip to Georiga and Florida (the June half): -kids doing great on plane ride there- earning their "wings" (my parents generosity for flying us home) -Stone Mountain (Libby dancing, Tuck catching fireflies, playing with cousins) -breakfast with Grandma Howerton (being able to take her to run errands) -Tuck reading to Nana -the HUGE burger -making pizzas -Grandmother, Aunt Carol, and Aunt Kathy meeting Libby for the first time -Target and car time with Katie -getting to see Ben (and the surprise it was for the kids!) (Ben’s parents generosity for flying him to Florida) -the surprise one day trip to Disney World: Magic Kingdom and the amazing gift it was for us from Ben's grandmother (my favorite things- watching Libby bring laughter to a room when she and Micky “bumped noses” and she squealed with delight, Tuck saying it was the best day ever, never waited more than 30 minutes, riding the 1st ride- Dumbo) -watching the kids at the beach -Tuck’s excitment over getting to drive a boat
Thankful list for May: -a little piece of good news early on in the month that gave us some much needed hope -on the day of more incredibly hard news from our adoption agency, I read “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7. We continue to trust a plan that we don’t understand, continue to try to be thankful for circumstances that we don’t like... its not easy. -this funny row of family portraits by Tuck -new pictures of Aida…so thankful for them even while it is so hard to watch her growing up -the gift of a video from our agency -"if you learn to trust Me- really trust Me-with your whole being, then nothing can seperate you from My Peace. Everything you endure can be put to good use allowing it to train you in trusting Me." -Jesus Calling And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -incredible Andrew Peterson concert (if you ever have the chance to see him in concert take the time to do it) -The Tiller’s watching our kids, the Doley’s watching our kids -Tucker “Mom, can I get up early to spend time with God?” -Krista cutting out stuff for me -end of the year BSM leadership party… so thankful for these students and their hard work and their desire to serve their campus -Mother’s Day Tea at The Learning Center… bittersweet- my last one with Tucker and my first one with Libby (apparently our kids have the same "I'm taking a picture head tilt" as their mom -how special my family made me feel on Mother’s day -the incredibly timed, encouraging, and thoughtful Mother’s Day card from Katie -Ben was gone for just a few days… I’m so thankful it wasn’t longer, thankful when he returns! -finding two sweet kids in the same bed -"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." -1 Peter 1:8 -one of my favorite events of the year… watching our students participate in the Go Now commissioning service (so proud of them for answering the call to go) -Libby's haircutting skills bring laughter on a sad day (her haircutting tips: use blunt children's scissors and for an "edgy" look cut bangs and layers only on one side of your face)
-thankful for the BSM intern this year, his hard work, heart for the nations, and how well he loved our kids -camping weekend with friends at Lifelight: incredible view and scenery, Morgan’s new faith, watching Tucker watch the Newsboys. How a wet tent, muddy surroundings, sunburn, and a weekend of port-a potties will make one really appreciate a dry, cool, clean house. -much needed encouraging email from Dianna -3 months of enjoying Tucker going to Worship with us (thankful for this article that led us to consider it and gave us some practical advice on how to move our children in that direction) -children laughing when they should be sleeping (I know I will miss those sounds when they get older) -celebrating our anniversary… we didn’t get the trip to Africa we hoped for but we are thankful for a night out, thankful for ten years. Thankful for the friends who watched our kids so we could go. And I’m oh so very thankful for him (but you can read that here) Thankful List for April: -our first Buckner Ethiopian family picnic day -hearing the heart of a 19 year old Ethiopian girl adopted at age 16 -watching Tucker attempt Ethiopian dancing; watching Libby only care about the popcorn -meeting other adoptive families -news on our “time frame” (a lot longer than we wanted to hear… but it was news) -“From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I’m mismanaging things. But you don’t know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtains to allow you to view Heavenly Realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight.” –Jesus Calling -The year we had with our adoption coordinator, Leah, and all the support she offered us a long the way. We will miss her!! -It's been over 6 weeks since we got the call about the "snag" in our adoption process... thankful His plans are better than ours -“Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, who is the help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11 -our families "focus" for the month of April (planned in January) and Bible verse... seemed pretty much perfect And a few other random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -My dad got to stay a few days into April -cleaning tables at church with Ben -gift card to Red Lobster and friends who watched our kids so we could go on an almost free date -grace and forgiveness from a friend -my fun putt-putt and snow cone date with Tucker -friends who are so willing to give up time to help me -Meegan and Lauren's great job at the photography workshop (and yes, I attended a photography workshop on how to use my nice camera and then took every one of these photos with my phone) -“if anyone would be first, He must be last of all and servant of all” -Mark 10:35 -Love and Respect conference -the rare joy of Libby falling asleep in my arms -Tuck’s prayer “Please, let the man that shot three people come to know Jesus. And please raise the 3 people from the dead” -that Meegan and I have a “usual spot” -pizza and “The Parent Trap” (the original) "Ultimately God's kingdom far outweighs in signifigance the personal comfort of my children. As much as I adore my children, as crazy as I feel about them, I betray them if I put their happiness and comfort over God's overall purpose in their lives and in our world." - Sacred Parenting -Tuck learned to tie his shoes -Libby’s love for coloring and painting (though I have to admit we would love it a lot more if she would keep the coloring and painting strictly to paper) -Libby’s current love for mermaids and her creativity (even though she has never seen the Little Mermaid) -celebrating Ben (and the amazing man that he is) and the day that God introduced him to the world -the way our college students celebrated his birthday -giving gifts -this blog by Jen Hatmaker... it reminded me how thankful I am for my mom, mother-in-law, and sister who work so hard in the education system impacting today and tomorrow, the teachers who so greatly influenced my life, and for the teachers who have and will make a difference in the lives of our children.
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AuthorWe are a family of five (Ben, Beth, Tucker, Libby, and Zane). We started this blog during our 7 year journey to bring home a child through adoption. This is our story of how God is faithful in the good, the bad, and all the in between. Archives
June 2020
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