Fostering

This picture was taken around the same time we started trying to have another baby. What seemed like such a simple thing to do turned into many tests, tears, brokenness, and lots of asking God why. 

For six years now we have prayed for a second child and for some reason or another it has not worked out for us. We've tried everything that we can afford and went (and still are at times) going through the many ups and downs that couples go through when they are told they can't have anymore children. Yet every month I'm eager to take another test just in case. I've had my children's names doodled on a notebook for years now and just will never believe that they won't exist. I've been jealous of friends and family who have had no issues getting pregnant. I don't want to be- I'm happy for them. I truly am. I'm just sad about it sometimes. 

I will be the first to admit that initially our curiosity with foster care began out of the desire to have more children and give our son a sibling but then God changed my heart. I was very afraid in the beginning, always finding the negatives to the situation. 

We started our foster journey in January 2016 and as aggravating as it has been at times because of the long process I think that God did that on purpose. We needed time for God to show us what he was up to. It's not about us. It's about children needing a safe place to live and someone to love them and provide for them. We have so much love to give and instead of thinking of the situation as scary and not ideal, we now think of it as a beautiful opportunity to pour God's love into another human being to take back out into the world. 

After all, that's what God did for us. Ephesians 1:5 says, "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." 

Over the past year I have learned that the children we so desire may not come in the way I always imagined but rather in ways I never even dreamt of. My heart aches for these children now and I am beyond excited to love on them for however long that might be. I hope and pray that some of you out there may have this desire as well and want to do something about it! 

If you have any questions at all or want to know how to get started to foster/adopt please contact me. I would love to send you in the right direction and pray with you. If we don't do it, then who will? 

WHATEVER

I am ugly. I am fat. I am not good enough. I can't hang out with them because I am not pretty enough. These are all the lies I have told myself growing up. I have always had self esteem issues and I don't really know why. No one ever did or said anything to make me feel this way; I just did. I would cry looking in the mirror at myself. I remember weighing 115 lbs and telling my friends "no" to beach trips because I didn't want anyone to see me in a swimsuit. I missed out on so many fun opportunities because I was insecure. My husband tells me I am gorgeous every day but I'm not sure if I will ever actually believe that he truly thinks that. That's not good. 

It's pathetic, isn't it? I have always been so incredibly hard on myself. For the past couple of years I have been trying to love myself more and realize that no one is perfect. Every girl has something they don't like about themselves and for every one of those girls there is another one wishing they could look like them. I still struggle with insecurities at times but I am learning that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by my God and I am trying to see myself through his eyes. I am a child of God and I am trying to be more positive about myself. 

The truth is that I have cellulite and stretch marks from having a baby. I am a few pounds overweight and my nose is kinda weird. My 2nd toe is longer than my first and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am starting to see lines on my 33 year old face BUT... I think my eyes are pretty and I have a fun personality. I am sweet, smart, and creative. God made me that way. 

Knowing this struggle within myself, it only made sense that I say "yes" when I was asked to be a part of the "Whatever Ministry" for middle and high school girls and their moms. I have a passion within me to help encourage young women so they don't feel the way I did when I was younger. The Whatever Ministry promotes the beauty of modesty as a lifestyle. We seek to help young women discover their true beauty, value, and purpose in Christ through fun and informative events throughout the year. 

I encourage all of you moms our there who have daughters or nieces or just know someone in this age group to bring them them out to one of our events. On September 17 we are having our annual "Whatever Gathering" in Mobile, Alabama. Miss Florida 2015 will be speaking and we will have a fashion show, praise and worship, food trucks, a philanthropic market for shopping and so much more! 

I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and purchase you and one other person a ticket. Come spend a Saturday with us and see what we are all about! I promise you won't regret it! I hope to see some familiar faces there :) 

Oh, and have I told you lately how beautiful you are?? Well...you are and I love you! 

Love, Em 

Check out our website here: http://whatevergirlsevent.wixsite.com/whatever

Purchase tickets here: http://whatevergirlsevent.wixsite.com/whatever/the-gathering

"Finally, brothers and sisters, WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is noble, WHATEVER is right, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." Philippians 4:8 

Politics & Prayer

It’s time to talk about the forbidden word… politics. Eek. It’s scary. It’s controversial. It’s the topic of many debates over our family’s dinner table. Let’s face it… our options are pretty scary at this point. Although, I try not to publicize my personal preferences, I have felt it heavy on my heart lately to say that we as America need to PRAY. Pray hard that no matter what decision is made that God take over and lead our President. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had terrifying dreams about ISIS coming into our country. I have had nightmares where I was driving to work and the interstate was shut down because they were coming through blasting everyone away. I got out of my car and ran as fast as I could into the woods, horrified. These dreams have shaken me. However, we cannot live in fear.

On Easter Sunday, our local Press Register published an article that shared the thoughts and burdens of minister’s hearts across the state of Alabama. I loved every single word of it. It shared how we live in an increasingly mean-spirited world where ideological, political, and sectarian differences lead to violence and oppression. Reverend Thack Dyson’s prayer specifically stood out to me.  

“I am praying this Easter for a turning of the hearts of those who can’t reconcile with others, who don’t share their same political and religious beliefs. I am praying for a tolerant and accepting spirit among all of God’s creation so that we won’t let anything, including religion; keep us from doing the right thing. Mindful that this transformation must begin with me, I pray that I’ll always be moved to seek, and serve Christ in all persons., loving my neighbor as myself, and that I will strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.”

What a powerful prayer. No matter what our personal opinions or fears are about who’s running for President, we need to pray that God lead us to vote for the right person. Pray that God take control of the White House and help that person make the right decisions for our country.