FORTY

This man.

Today is his birthday.
Today he turns 40.

I never get tired of celebrating his life.
He is such a gift.

He lives everyday all-in and out-loud.

No matter who is around and no matter what the situation,
Keith doesn't know how to be anyone other than Keith.
And I love that!

He has such an amazing heart.

He loves Jesus and has committed his life to serving His church.
He cares deeply about people and desires to help them live out their calling.
He supports and sacrifices for his family and I am certain there isn't anything he wouldn't do for us.

Together, we have two boys.
One five. One fifteen.
They both adore him and I pray they grow up to be just like him!

This man.

There is no one in the world I love more.
There is no one in the world I would rather do life with.
There is no one in the world I have more respect for than this man.

Happy 40th Birthday, Keith!
You make me smile.

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intend(ed)

And just like that, he's five.
Happy Birthday sweet Miles.

In five short years, you have changed my world.

Because of you, I learned to speak the languages of adoption and special needs.
Because of you, I see the world through completely different lenses.
Because of you, I have meet some of the most precious families who serve their children with special needs without abandon.  They love with such a fierce sacrificial love, it is like getting a glimpse of Jesus with skin on.

Because of you, I will never be the same again, and I am forever grateful!

I was hoping that by the time Miles turned five I would understand him better.

Instead, God has been teaching me to understand Him better.

God has been so gracious to give me a glimpse of how He sees disability.

As Jesus went on His way, He saw a man who had been born blind.

His followers asked Him, "Teacher, whose sin made this man to be born blind?

Was it the sin of this man or the sin of his parents?"  Jesus answered,

"The sin of this man or the sin of his parents did not make him to be born blind.

He was born blind so the work of God would be seen in him.

We must keep on doing the work of Him who sent Me while it is day.

Night is coming when no man can work.

While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."

{John 9:1-5}

A man.

Born blind.

People walked by him every single day for years.
He could not see them and my guess is a lot of them acted like they didn't see him.

But Jesus.

He could not see Jesus, but Jesus saw him.
He saw him!
He saw who he was designed, purposed, planned, and intended to be!

A man.

Born blind.

Born with a disability so the power of God could be [seen, displayed, illustrated] in him. So the glory of God could be displayed through him.

God has a purpose in disability.

He allows it and sometimes even authors it.

“There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose."

-Alan Redpath

I've never doubted that God has a purpose for Miles.

But this year, God has changed my word from purpose to intended.

in-tend

(1) to have in mind for a particular use
(2) to design or mean for a specific purpose
(3) to have a purpose or design
(4) to destine

Miles is exactly how God intended.
God has a particular use in mind for Miles and the gift of Autism allows His glory to shine in a way that Miles without Autism cannot.  It magnifies the glory of God in the most beautiful way.

"I have thanked thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn.  I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.  Thou divine Love, whose human path has been perfected through sufferings, teach me the glory of my cross and the value of my thorn."

-George Matheson

A man.
Born blind.

He lived in complete darkness all of his life and one day, one encounter with Jesus, light cuts into the darkness.  God used a man who was born blind to show us our need for Jesus.  Our need for the Light of the world.

You and me.
Born blind.

We are all broken and born with a disability called sin (Romans 3:23).
But Jesus sees us.  Really sees us.
And because of the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, we have the opportunity to be be healed.  To have our blind eyes opened by the Light of the world.

No one goes unnoticed by Jesus.  No one!
His love, grace and mercy is available to you and me.

You don't have to have it all together.
You don't have to have all the answers.
Jesus already knows you are broken and wants to make you whole.

Jesus is asking you the same question He asked the blind man…
"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

"For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation."

{Romans 10:9-10}

Jesus, the Light of the world, wants to shine in and through your life.
Sin has made you blind to Jesus, but it has not made Jesus blind to you!

If you, like the blind man, have already declared "Lord, I believe",
What challenges are going on right now in your life?
What has God allowed that He has a particular use in mind?
What has He intended that will magnify the glory of God through your life in the most beautiful way?

Do you trust Him?

The best thing you can do is spend less time trying to understand your situation and more time getting to know the God that designs, purposes, plans, and intends to use your situation to reveal His power and His glory.

"We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him accept His invitation to live according to His plan."

{Romans 8:28}

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MY 40TH BIRTHDAY… RUINED!

Moses.
He ruined my birthday.

Between the Bible study I did this past year on the Tabernacle and the Chronological Bible study I am doing again this year, I have spent much of the last two years camping with Moses.

I watched Moses' family hide him the first three months of his life because the king of Egypt ordered his people to throw every Hebrew baby boy into the Nile river.  I followed Moses' sister, Miriam, down to the river where she placed Moses in a basket to hide him and watch over him.  I looked on as the Pharaoh's daughter disregarded her father's order, rescued Moses and adopted him as her own son.

Moses was rescued from the very river that was suppose to be his grave.
Born a Hebrew.  Raised as an Egyptian Prince.
God had a plan and purpose for Moses' life before he was even born.

The word got out that Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew and he panicked.  He fled to the land of Midian and ended up spending the next 40 years as a shepherd.  A shepherd spends a lot of time alone, watching over and protecting his sheep.  A life of solitude.  What better way to learn to hear the voice of God?

God showed up in the wilderness and told Moses to go back to Egypt and free His people from slavery.  Moses spent his last 40 years leading the Israelites toward the land promised to Abraham.

Moses' first 40 years [as a prince] and second 40 years [as a shepherd] were preparation for his last 40 years [as the leader of Israel].

Today is my birthday.
Today, I turn 40.
And all I can think about is Moses.

Moses did more for God in his second 40 and third 40 than he did in his first.
I desperately want that to be said of me.

I see so many people slow down as they get older.  At a time in their lives when they have more time, more resources and more life experience, they step aside.  They quit serving, quit volunteering, quit teaching, quit discipling.  The older they get, the less of a difference they make for the Kingdom.

Just like Moses, God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us.
God is using your circumstances, good and bad, as preparation for what is to come.
I can't help but wonder how God is going to use my today in my tomorrow.

Keith and I talked about taking a trip for my birthday.
Some place fun.  With friends.
But all I can think about is Moses.
He completely ruined my 40th birthday!

God put it on my heart to celebrate my 40th in a way that shows what I want the next 40 years to look like-- to be about.

So, in a few months, Keith and I are headed to the Dream Center in Los Angeles to spend the week doing short-term missions.  We get to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving and loving on people.  We will spend the week surrounded by people who have come to a place where Jesus was the only way out of the pit they found themselves in and I am just beside myself.  I could not possibly be more excited.

All my birthday money this year is going here, to the Carney family.  Jason and Lacey Carney live in Malawi, Africa with their 6 kids.  They, like Moses, obeyed God's call to go.  They walk by faith everyday, trusting that the God who called them will also provide their every need.

I am so thankful that Moses ruined any and all plans I had for my birthday.
Doing something that reminds me that it's not about me is the best gift I could receive.

Praising God today for what He is going to do in my second 40!

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A GIFT WORTH CELEBRATING

The first time I met Keith I was 5 years old.

We were at local burger place and he was sitting in a booth with his Dad.  He had white bandages wrapped all around his head covering up the stitches he just received at the hospital.  Apparently, when you throw a brick up in the air and it lands on your head, it hurts.  And bleeds.  And stitches are required.

I used to make fun of the little boy who hit himself in the head with a brick.

And 17 years later, I ended up marrying him.

Life with Keith Harmon is fun, crazy and never ever dull.

Keith believes that every morning should begin with a ice cold Dr. Pepper, that ice cream should be eaten every night (preferably with Magic Shell) and that Haribo Fizzy Cola gummi candy should be ordered by the case.

Keith is a man of integrity, a hard worker, a team player, a servant leader, a faithful husband, a loving dad and a great friend to so many.

He doesn't complain, he easily forgives, he is careful not to let anyone out of his circle of love, and he has committed his life to telling and teaching people about Jesus.

Today is his day.

It's his birthday.

He is a gift.

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ONE REMEMBERS, ONE CELEBRATES

Today is Miles' birthday.
Today Miles is four.
Four and still in diapers.

Is potty training in our future?

Nope.  Not yet.

Developmentally, he's just not ready.
His self-care skills are still too delayed.

I don't stress about it because, well, it is what it is.

But I get looks.
When I have to change him in a public restroom, I get the "that kid is WAY too big to be in diapers" look.  Which is completely understandable, especially since his legs are so long they actually hang off the end of those infant changing tables.

It doesn't bother me.
It's kind of true.

He does look to big to be in diapers.

And the taller he gets and the more he weighs, the more difficult changing him becomes.

And not just in public, it's hard even at home.

A couple of months ago, I was changing a nasty diaper that was completely filled from the front to the back.  You know the kind.  Well, since his core is still weak, he can't help lift his legs up, so I have to do it for him.  So, we were on the floor and I had both ankles with one hand, grabbing wipes and cleaning him with the other, and the nasty diaper off to the side.

He kicked his leg, freeing it loose from my grip, and his foot lands smack dab in the diaper.  He now has poop all over his foot, and still too much poop on his booty to be lowered down.  I grabbed his ankle and tried to clean his back off enough that I could lower him at least a little.  Miles, realizing he has something on his foot, starts rubbing both feet together.

So, now he has poop on both feet and he is still a mess.

I am starting to dry heave at this point because his feet are up by my face and I can smell it.  Like, really smell it!

I guess I had him in the air a little longer than he liked because he kicked his leg again.  Only this time, instead of his foot landing in the diaper, his poop smeared foot lands right on my face.

ON MY FACE!

Being a mom is hard.
And messy.
Real messy.

Today, as I celebrate Miles' birth, the messiness of parenting and the realness of adoption collide.  And my heart is heavy.

If you've never adopted, you might not fully understand.

With Alex,
I can tell him what it was like when I was pregnant.
I can tell him about the day he was born.
I can tell him who came to visit and how happy we were.

With Miles,
I've got nothing.
I don't know a single detail.

But that's not what weighs so heavy.
The weight comes from knowing that there is someone who does remember.
Someone who knows all of those details.
Someone who carried him for 9 months, heard his first cry, held him in her arms, and was still brave enough to make the decision to give him the chance at a different life.

I could never ever forget the day Alex was born.
I could never imagine having to make the choice that she made.
So today, I can't help but put myself in Fikirte's shoes.
And it's heavy.

Usually, the remembering is part of the celebrating.
But with adoption, she gets to remember and I get to celebrate.
And sometimes that just doesn't feel right.

Even though Miles isn't potty trained.
Even though we get 'looks'.
Even though I may get an occasional poop smeared foot to the face.
I get to be mommy to the little baby she named Misikir.

I get all the hugs.
I get all the kisses.
I get to tuck in him at night and hear him say cute words like norning (morning) and Minals (Miles) with the sweetest, softest little voice you've ever heard.

She gave me an amazing gift.
She gave life to the little boy that has forever changed my life.
I could never repay her.
I could never thank her enough.

So tonight, when I put Miles to bed, I gave him two kisses.
One kiss from the one who remembers.
One kiss from the one who celebrates.

Happy 4th Birthday, Miles Misikir.
I wouldn't want to the me before you.

{THIRD} BIRTHDAY

Today we have the privilege and honor of celebrating Miles' 3rd Birthday!

Three years ago today, we were at youth camp with our students from FBC Orlando.  We prayed daily for the little boy that God would place in our family.  We didn't know who he was, but we knew our family wouldn't be complete without him.

It would be four months before we would see Miles' face and hear Miles' story for the first time.  And it would be another four LONG months before we would see him face to face and hold him in our arms.

We were given a few pieces of the early months of Miles' life.

The months that we missed.

And days like this always make me wish I had more.

I wish I was at the Mekelle Hospital where he was when he was 7 days old.
I wish I had more pictures of the first 2 weeks of Miles' life.
I wish I could have been the one to clean the ink off his little one month old feet.

But more than anything,
I wish I would have had the privilege of meeting Miles' birthmother, Fikirte.
To thank the woman who gave Miles Misikir life.
Her sacrifice is one of our greatest blessings and she will always be one of my heroes.

So, a thousand Thank You's, Fikirte and Happy 3rd Birthday, Miles Misikir!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

Alex turned 12 this week.

We spent the evening tonight celebrating his birthday with lots of family and a few friends.

Alex LOVES baseball cards.

He is a big collector.

So, this year, he wanted a Baseball Themed Party.

We couldn't find any invitations that we loved, so we made our own.

We took unopened boxes of Cracker Jacks, attached his party info to the back, stuck on address labels and mailed them.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILES!

I can't believe Miles turns TWO today.

It just doesn't seem possible.

He is such a blessing to us.

I can't even begin to imagine doing life without him.

Miles has so many people in his life who love him and would love to help us celebrate him, but he's not at a place yet where he can handle all the attention.

So, we had a small party yesterday at our house with our immediately family.

We didn't want to overwhelm him.

I even started singing 'Happy Birthday' to him several times a day for the last week in an effort to help him get ready.

It didn't work.

He was overwhelmed.

Happy Birthday Sweet Miles!

God has big, big plans for your life.

After all, you were His idea!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Today is Alex's birthday.

Today he turns ELEVEN.

Keith and I feel so blessed to be his parents.

He is an amazing kid.

Very sweet.

Very tenderhearted.

Very caring.

And, very funny.

He loves to laugh and loves to make people laugh.

This is the first birthday he gets to celebrate as a big brother.

And what a fantastic big brother he is.

Alex, we could not be more proud you. You are very special and God has BIG plans for your life. Keep your eyes and heart fixed on Jesus. Chase after Him with all you have and all you are. We love you and we celebrate you today.

LET'S CELEBRATE!

Today we are celebrating Miles.

It's his birthday!

I can't believe he's already ONE!

A year sure goes by fast when they're only home for four months.

Miles, we love you so much and can't imagine our lives without you.

God truly blessed us when he gave us you and we thank him for you everyday!

Melkam Lidet!