He loves your prayers...

Psalm 102:17-18

"He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,

And shall not despise their prayer.

This will be written for the generation to come,

That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD."

Day 14 Prayer Request

Please pray that I will stop and ask for God's wisdom first instead of jumping to address a situation on my own.

Ann (Momma to 6)

Day 13 Prayer Request

Please pray I will take time to enjoy the small moments.

Danielle (Momma to 3)

A Blessing...

She flushed a toy down the toilet again.  This is the third time.

And I'm plunging with every single flush, and saying a little prayer.  Maybe this time will be the last, but not my will - please, Lord, Yours!

I asked the Warrior Daddy if he felt God changing his calling.  Maybe a plumber?  Our eyes connect, communication without words.  We are good at this communication.

And as I'm plunging for the fifth time today, with half a day to live before bedtime, all I can feel is thankfulness for this toilet.  I wouldn't have to plunge and clean if we had a hole in the backyard, but I am so stinking blessed!  I have a toilet.

Day 12 Prayer Request

Please pray for my family as I leave today for a mission trip for 13 days.  Please pray for my husband and mom to have patience and understanding with the kids, and for safety for us all.

Faith (Momma to 6)

Grace Kiss

She comes up to me and presses her cheek right next to mine, leaning in close for a squeeze. She turns her forehead slightly, pushing into my right cheek bone.  Our eyelashes brush. 

I stop writing, turn and look her in the eyes.  She grabs my face with her long fingers, placing us forehead to forehead.  She smiles large, begins swaying our heads back and forth .   

She leans back.  "You done?"

I smile back. 

I am not really done.  There are piles of books to organize, calendar schedules to create, school hours to log.  It's one of those days when the list keeps growing as I dig deeper into the chaos. 

And the pressure inside is growing, and starting to infiltrate. 

But her eyes entice, and He is beckoning.  And I barely recognize this Grace Kiss in time.

"Thank You," I whisper as she grabs my hand and leads me away. 

 

Day 11 Prayer Request

Praise the Lord!  Yesterday she came to me in the middle of the night and told me she was scared.  Such a Grace Kiss to this Momma's heart!  My beautiful one is listening to her body and seeking help from a safe, trust place - ME!

Reagan (Momma to 4)

Day 10 Prayer Request

Please pray our adopted child will stop trying to earn our love by trying to be perfect, and lying when she fails.

Faith (Momma to 6)

Learning to Know You

This poem from a dear friend who can understand the look in my eyes, even when I don't speak.  God has connected our hearts through our journeys with our special needs and adopted blessings.  Thank you Grace for sharing your heart.

 

It is hard to understand you when

I never held you close to stare

into new baby eyes

that knew we belonged together

or smelled that sweet scent

that told me you were flesh of mine.

I could not see your first grin

and learn what made you laugh

or cry without the need of asking.

Nor can you know what my smiles or frowns mean

or understand why I like quiet in a walk

when you like noisy things.

So we try to find ways to fit

Groping for a right word

Grasping at looks and touch

that will say, "this is right."

"You are mine."

"I am yours."

Unexpected, those times arrive

only to melt like a light snow,

But something moves between us

Telling us we have a beginning,

Tentative sprouts that can flourish and grow us into

family.

 

Day 9 Prayer Request

Please pray that I will listen before I lecture and show my children that I care about what they have to say.

Ann (Momma to 6)

Day 8 Prayer Request

Our youngest, 18, will leave for college in a few weeks.  Please pray that she will transition well (change is hard for her) and find Christian friends on campus.

Sue (Momma to 7, Mimi to 2)

Day 7 Prayer Request

Please pray for an addition to our family of a little biracial/black girl who is the perfect fit from God.

Marie (Momma to 4)

Covered Lips

The other day, I reached right down and covered her mouth. I noted that look in her eye, anticipated her words, and interceded.  Hurtful words had been spewing all morning from the girls in this house,  and quite frankly, I was tired of it.  Tired of the ugly. Tired of the disrespect.  Tired of the contention.  Tired of my reactions...

And in that brief moment, grasping her beautiful face, I imagined Him holding His hand right over my lips.  

How many words have I blurted without discernment? How many of my utterances have filled her mind, while the enemy swooped right in and whispered a lie? 

I'm guilty of listening to, believing those filthy lies.  The enemy is a master at twisting words into ugly and disrespect.  Isn't causing contention and celebrating antagonistic reactions his game? (2 Cor. 11:3)

She is so young and delicate; her emotions so easily swayed. 

I wish He would reach right down and cover my mouth  at His note of that glint in my eye, when He knows the words that will slip right out!  I long for His intercession.  I pray for a metamorphosis of my reactions. (James 3:1-12)

A smile emerged from underneath my palm.  Her eyes fixated on mine for a wonderful second.  We both felt the warmth of His touch. 

Day 6 Prayer Request

Our 26 year old is a single mother.  She and her daughter are moving from our home into a condo this weekend.  Please pray that she will be the kind of mother she wants to be.

Sue (Momma to 7, Mimi to 2)

Day 5 Prayer Request

 Please pray that God would continue to heal the wounds of their hearts, and they would believe "they are good enough!"

Sue (Momma to 7, aged 18-38; 4 by birth and 3 girls by adoption, AND Mimi to 2 adopted granddaughters; ages 1 and almost 2)

Day 4 Prayer Request

Please pray I will surrender my own hurts/thoughts and "bend down" to understand hers.

Reagan (Momma to 4)

James 1:25

"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."  James 1:25 (ESV Bible), (emphasis mine)

I studied James 1:25 today, and am so intrigued with the Greek verb, parakupto.  Para means "alongside", and kupto means "to bend" (www.greekwordstudies.blogspot.com). 

What if I applied parakupto to my girl?

To bend down (to eye level), alongside (my precious one). 

To passionately bend down alongside my precious one. 

To look carefully into her heart and her reactions, with curiosity and precise care.

What may I find hidden deep within her?  Will my finding be the clue to understanding?  If I seek, with a glimpse of her perspective and my discernment, will He reveal hope?

When I apply parakupto to my study of the Word, He transforms my life.

Day 3 Prayer Request

Please pray for a way to heal a hurt heart of our adopted child.

Marie (Momma to 4)

Invitation to Prayer for Adoptive Mommas

The Bucket List.  I remember writing mine twenty years ago.  I wrote a list of 20 have-to-do before I die activities, from a 20-year-old perspective.  I can't locate the list, by His divine plan, but I remember a few.  

Make a quilt.

  

Float through the air in a hot air balloon.  (Never going to happen).  :) 

Teach in my own classroom.
 

Marry.

  

Have a baby.

  

Adopt.

 

Run a marathon. 

I guess the rest weren't really worthy ideas since my amnesic mind simply forgot.

So, with my big 40 approaching fast, the "run a marathon" dream has taken flight, and by His grace I am signed up, injury free, and in training.  My great friend Beth has accepted the challenge to run those early Friday morning long runs and complete marathon alongside me.  One thing I love about Beth is she is always up for a good cause.  And since this will probably be my one and only marathon, I want to run for a reason.  That is where you, the reader, and you, the chosen-by-Him adoptive Momma are invited to join us. 

You are officially invited to join us in a Prayer Pledge for Adopted Mommas. 

I need prayer!  Each and every day, as I live with my fabulous 4, I need prayer!  I know I am not alone.  I can almost see your ambitious, broken heart.  It isn't always how you dreamed or planned, is it?  Some of you adopted out of your heart's longing to cherish, nurture, love, and be loved.  Some of you adopted because God placed that precious one right in your lap and said, "This one."  Some of you adopted because you take the command of James 1:27 literally and answered His call. 

May I whisper one little thing to your heart?

"You are special." 

"You are chosen." 

"You have been called." 

"You are loved." 

"You are not alone."  

Ok, that was five whispers, but all accolades your Heavenly Father wants you to remember, and know, in the depth of your heart. 

Please pray.  I will be posting a new prayer request each day from a special adoptive Momma.  Our needs may be various, but we have the same Wonderful God, and sister, He is almighty (Rev. 1:8), full of purpose (Jer. 29:11), and He listens (John 9:31).  I am super excited and honored you are joining us.  Beth and I will be praying each day and together for each week's prayer requests in the breaking dawn hours of Friday morning.  Yesterday, June 17th, our training officially began.  We have 18 wonderful weeks of prayer until that October 20th marathon date.  Thank you for joining us. 

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
Luke 11:9-10 (ESV Bible)

   

Day 2 Prayer Request

Please pray I will say edifying words to my difficult kids.

Ann (Momma to 6)

Day 1 Prayer Request

I don't know why He took this stubborn girl and gave me such a noble calling. Adoption is admirable. I still gaze with starry eyes when I witness a new little one embraced by his forever family.

But, He called me - broken, to parent the broken.  And I wish I could take away my plastic, put together face to reveal a similar likeness.  What you see beneath my mask is weariness, insecurity, loss. 

...but, He is near.  He is opening my ears.   He sustains me with a word.  He is my Helper.  I have determined to set my face like a flint straight towards Him (Isaiah 50:4-9). His eyes beckon, and I am not afraid.  He sees me as He created me.  And He sees my precious ones just as He created them.   

Please pray I will give Him all my moments. Please pray I will learn to relinquish my plan and surrender to His.

Reagan (Momma to 4)

Running Shoes