Pondering Orphans this Christmas

Most of you will likely pretend you never saw this post, because it’s kind of an uncomfortable topic for lots of people. But I’m going to say it anyway. Recently, Nathan and I began praying that God will break our hearts for the things that break His. And He is. Our hearts have been heavy for orphans for some time now and the burden is not getting lighter. Literally millions of kids all over this world will go to sleep tonight without a momma and daddy to tuck them in or give them a kiss goodnight. When I look at my Libby, Caleb & Sara sleeping peacefully in their warm beds each night, I frequently wonder why we are the blessed ones. What if that was my child crying, cold, hungry, abandoned? Wouldn’t I be on the first plane out to get to my babies if I knew they were all alone in some other city in the world? Wouldn’t I spend everything I had? Wouldn’t I do anything to get them back? And if I simply couldn’t rescue them, wouldn’t I pray, pray, pray that someone else would go for me?


Christmas is the time of year that we celebrate God sending His son Jesus to be the ransom for sinful humanity. In a spiritual sense, we are all orphans wallowing in our own filth, abused, cold, sick, and dying alone. But God has compassion on us, even while we are still pathetic, squalling, unlovely orphans. He offers us adoption, a chance to become a beloved part of His very own family. He was willing to sacrifice that which was most dear to Him, His only son, to ransom us from our sinful state. If adoption is that important to God, shouldn’t it also be that important to me?

Libby’s Sunday School Christmas program this year has been particularly moving for me. The words to one of the songs the kids sang were “I’ve been blessed to be a blessing. I’ve received so I can give. And I must tell the world what God has done, ‘cause I’ve been blessed to bless someone.” The chorus to the last song they sang says, “Carry your candle. Run to the darkness. Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn. Hold out your candle for all to see it. Take your candle, and go light your world.” As many times as I have heard these same songs rehearsed over the past 3 months, they never fail to get my attention.

There are two families we know who are at this moment going through the final steps to bring four precious children home from orphanages in another country. God willing, they will all be home soon to celebrate their very first Christmas together. These families are a light to the world by sharing the blessings they have received, and mirroring God’s unconditional love for us to their new children. Obviously, not everyone is called to adopt, but we are all called to serve. For years now, we have been praying that God would open the doors so we can adopt. While we wait, we’re looking for ways to help orphans and families who are adopting. Just last week, our church deacons gave us their blessing to organize an orphan/adoption ministry in our church. We’re nervous and excited about the opportunity, and we’re praying for God’s leading. As crazy as it may be to run with candles, we’re sprinting for those lost in that darkness. I have a feeling we won’t need to look very far. . .

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…" James 1:27

Caleb & Libby in the Church Christmas Program

Libby has been practicing singing in the choir for the kids Christmas program at church for the past few months. The performance was this past Sunday and she did great! Caleb also sang with his Sunday school classmates before the older kids performed their play. All of the kids did a super job! I finally got it all posted to Youtube yesterday - after I unhappily discovered that my Sony Handycam video camera is not compatible with Windows Vista on my laptop - no matter WHAT tricks I tried. I finally gave in and put the video on the old desktop computer that is still running Windows XP. Using the desktop, meant I didn't have a decent movie editing software, so the Christmas program is divided up into approximately 3-4 minute clips. I'm starting to seriously consider making the switch to Apple after all. . . :)
Here's the link to the kids:
Caleb Part 1


Caleb Part 2


Libby Part 1


Libby Part 2


Libby Part 3


Libby Part 4


Libby Part 5


Libby Part 6


Libby Part 7


Libby Part 8


Libby Part 9 (final)

Smashed iPod Lives to Play Another Day

Yesterday, my inquisitive little Caleb-man decided it would be a great idea to stand on the little art stool and mess with the porcelain nativity scene characters. I told him to get down before he broke something or fell down - too late. Just then the stool flipped and he came crashing down on my iPod touch - you know, the one I just got this summer? He had been playing a game on it and then abandoned it on the floor while he climbed up to play with the shepherds and wise men. The glass was cracked in several places and there was a nice little dent across the back, but it was still running. I was pretty mad and I guess I yelled a little when I thought it was done for. Caleb was heartbroken and kept apologizing for breaking it. As frustrated as I was, I really couldn't stay mad at him - he was so pathetic! It was an accident, after all.

After a little online research, I figured my options were to have the glass replaced at the Apple store for a good chunk of money, buy a new iPod for an even bigger chunk, or I could buy an inexpensive replacement glass faceplate and do the repair myself. I was feeling brave and a bit cheap, so I ordered a replacement part from Amazon.com.

When I got home from work around 8:30 tonight, I was elated to see that the new faceplate had already arrived! I got the kids to bed, watched a couple of how-to YouTube videos, and then began surgery. I used a small flat blade screwdriver, a hobby knife, and a tongue depressor to open it up. It took me a good bit longer than the guys in the YouTube video, but I finally got the faceplate off. Then I got the itty bitty little digitizer ribbon cable attached and snapped the new glass into place. Presto! My iPod is now as good as new!

Nathan spent the last half-hour "testing" it (playing games), and it works great. At least I know how to fix it the next time Caleb lands on it.