Oh the people you meet...

Meet Ms. Security Crossing Guard Lady

(picture from google to protect the privacy of the real one, but she closely resembles her)

In the past 8 months I have had many encounters with a certain crossing guard. Like twice a day four days a week worth of them! You see, my morning 'Driver' job for little girls to preschool and daycare has me passing one school twice in a matter of 15 minutes. Its a busy time of the morning commute and the 20MPH sign is flashing through the school zone both ways. It must be said that while it was a busy time, and it is a school zone, I hardly saw many children at all. I rarely had to stop for her to do her actual crossing duty.

Since the beginning, she has enjoyed scolding me, or at least that is how I felt about the whole situation! She takes her job very seriously people! I almost recommended her for security at the royal wedding! I know the importance of driving carefully, especially in a school zone during peak times, and I appreciate her job, but my oh my did this lady get on my nerves!

Let me explain. She wears her bright lime green security vest, her top hat and dark sunglasses that resemble the ones police wear accessorized with enough authority to run the country! Her eyes are constantly staring someone down, her brow in a frown of disappointment and her hands pointing at a car with her famous condescending SLOW DOWN* wave. Just this week for the first time, I got a 2 and a 0 thrown at me!! Two weeks ago when it was raining, I got the closed umbrella pointed right at the 20MPH sign! Oh ya, she means business!

The first time, back in the fall, when she deemed my speed more than 20MPH, I felt bad and wanted to disappear. Her scolding had me shaking in my boots! Then in the very same week, as I kept my eyes darting back and forth furiously between the road and my speedometer to make sure it was 19MPH or less, I got her condescending slow down wave. Well Ms. Security Crossing Guard Lady, I wasn't going over the speed limit!! For those of you who know me well, I'm okay with admitting when I am wrong. As a young child I pretty much weighed the consequences with the actions, and if the actions seemed worth the consequences, well I went ahead and did it. I even reminded my mother to spank me when we returned home. But I digress. I wasn't speeding and Ms. Security Crossing Guard Lady didn't even appreciate my 19MPH or less when I was doing it!

This winter I tried to make friends with her in my head. I tried to ignore her condescending slow down wave, and her scowl, and her head shaking, and her pointing, etc etc. I almost got her a hot chocolate on a freezing cold day when I felt bad she was out there in the frigidness. Then I pictured her refusing it, assuming I spit or put something else in it. Some days I smiled at her while she gestured her usual gestures. Some days I completely ignored her, while others I went 21 MPH just because. Oh, I can be passive aggressive with the best of them! Other days I did 18MPH because I wanted to see what she'd do with that. Let's just say she wasn't very consistent in her guessing of my MPH, and quite frankly, that got to me! Mind you, I was rarely the only car in line, and while we made eye contact many days, these gestures were not just for me. She's generous!

So all this to say, yesterday was my final day as 'Driver'. I no longer have to see Ms. Security Crossing Guard Lady and her many gestures of, well, safety for the kids, I hope!

*She is mouthing it as well, but I'm pretty sure she wants you to hear her yelling it at YOU!

"My nane taught me how to ti my shos."

Remember this?

Well this came home from school with Matthew yesterday.

Annie said I should have it.

It will go in my special box for sure!

My Hope is in You God, but my Joy is in...

...Bulgaria (with Randall)! Far, far away! My great friend Joy (as in the Joy in Harper Joy) went to Bulgaria with her husband Randall for 27 months. They joined the Peace Corp and are now pursuing their passions of travel and service work. I am very happy for them and I know they are happy too, but I miss them! We have Skyped and texted, but its not the daily chitchat we are used to. The plan is to meet up next summer in Bulgaria and travel to Greece. I'm quite excited for that!

A little trip down memory lane...

Pool party

Halloween (Fancy Nancy and a Lightbulb)

Polo Match


Ipswich Triathlon

July 4th


Camping in New Hampshire


Building Harper Joy

3Day Walk Boston


A trip to Maine

Andrew and Amanda's wedding

Rob Bell in Boston

Boston

Mustard and Ketchup :) ~ My 28th birthday

I love you guys! Miss you and think of you often. I pray your time in Bulgaria is blessed with many lessons and experiences. My hope is that you'll enjoy yourselves, learn A LOT, your marriage will continue to blossom, and in 26 months (1 month down!) you'll return to Massachusetts!

Dear God,

Thank You for placing these two wonderful people in my life when You did. They have both been such a blessing to me, as friends and family. Their love of You and their walk with You inspires me to be more Christ like. Their honesty and unconditional love for me has been amazing. Its been such an adventurous journey with them in my community. I cherish all of our memories made so far and I look forward to many more. Please keep them safe and happy God, and stay close during the hard times. Fill their Peace Corps journey with lots of joy, faith, hope, and love. And please squeeze me in there too!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

"I will wait for you" by Poet JANETTE...IKZ

First, I LOVE this poem. Second, how did this girl know my story? Oh I'm not the only one whose impatient and takes things into her own hands?! My favorite words come in the criteria she sets for knowing when its 'him' and the promises of where she'll be. Last but not least, I am reminded {AGAIN} that I need to die to self. EVERY.DAY. And I'll be busy while I wait, because these Ladies have BIG shoes to fill.

And I will know you

Because when you speak

I will be reminded of Solomon’s wisdom

Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses

Your faith will remind me of Abraham

Your confidence in God’s word will remind me of Daniel

Your inspiration will remind me of Paul

Your heart for God will remind me of David

Your attention to detail will remind me of Noah

Your integrity will remind me of Joseph

And your ability to abandon your own will, will remind me of the disciples.

But your ability to love selfishly and unconditionally will remind me of Christ.

...

And you will know me and you will find me

Where the boldness of Ester meets the warm closeness of Ruth

Where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary

Which is engulfed with the tears of a praying Hannah

I will be the one drenched in Proverbs 31, waiting for you.

But, to my Father, who has known me before I was birthed into this earth

Only if You should see fit.

I desire Your will above mine

So even if You call me to a life of singleness, my heart is content with You.

The One who Is.

You are the greatest love story ever told, the greatest love ever known.

You are forever my judge and I am forever Your witness.

And I pray that I am always found on a mission about my Father’s business.

I will always be Yours.

And I will always wait for You Lord

More than the watchmen wait for the morning.

More than the watchmen wait for the morning,

I will wait.

Tarsha's Treasure Chest is INDEED overflowing!

Julissa, Tracy, Johanna & Ben Corey!

Hannah, who is SO excited to have some girl cousins close to her age! I told the girls I'd greet them at the airport with big hugs, so of course I did! :) The Grandchildren (all a little overwhelmed!) Johanna is saying Hola to a familiar face, Abuleo! Johanna held right on tight to my hands. She was a little timid. Julissa was looking for that familiar face too! Liam (3) Johanna (8) Hannah (7) Julissa (12) Isaac (7) and Drew (4)

If this is what we have waited 2+ years for, it was WELL worth it! Our Peruvian Princesses are home with their forever family! I'm so thankful, grateful, happy, pleased (you get it People ~REALLY EXCITED!) and honored to be a part of this story of HIS love. To see His hands and feet bring orphans to a family, my family, is amazing! I have a huge respect for my sister and brother in law, Tracy and Ben, for following Him and taking His word to heart.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world ~ James 1:27

Dear God,

Thank You for adding to my family, in this way, with this journey and with these two precious little people. Please help me to model Your love, give me the grace and patience to be Your hands and feet so they may follow, as well as the peace and understanding when it comes to my part in the journey ahead as Tia Tarsha. Surround Ben and Tracy as they parent their daughters and show them what Your followers look like. Hold them all in the palm of Your hand as they learn trust, acceptance, unconditional love, and family life.

Thanks again God. Only You could orchetrate such beauty from ashes! I'm assuming Your only going to 'send' me to Beverly, MA in the next few months, and I'm good with that. As a matter of fact, I'm so blessed to be choosen as Julissa and Johanna's Tia Tarsha, I couldn't ask for more!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Once Upon a Time, Here's the Story, Dear God

Dear God,
Please take over writing my story for me. My plot thickens at the wrong time, my main characters fail me, half the time the cart is before the horse and I'm just not a good author. I'm slow God, please forgive me, but I think that You should actually be the main character?! This makes a lot of sense, so I'm going to (try REALLY hard) sit back and watch this story unfold as You write it. After all, You are the Author of Salvation and Creation. I must admit I really like the chapters I let you write before. You never disappoint and always fascinate. I also like that book about Your life, death and resurrection. I have been reading it a lot lately and learning more about Your love for me, how you served and sacrificed, and how You call us to do the same.

God please be patient with me as I hand over the pen, pencil, marker, crayon, the hidden colored pencil, highlighter, typewriter, laptop and any other writing utensil I use to co-author my story. Give me grace to grant myself when I fail and to bestow on others who will fail me.

Thank You God for these last few bad chapters when I had writers block and a cramped hand. Its funny, I kept feeling like I was between a rock and hard place. Now I understand I was just where You wanted me, in the palm of Your hand, which is quite cushy! :)

Here I am Lord, take my pen and send me!
In Jesus Name,
Amen

This is LOVE ~Tia Tarsha and the Peruvian Princesses!

There are no words to describe how I fell in love with these precious girls. I loved them before I went, but once I met them it was like they were my own. It was all about seeing their smiles, hearing them say Tia Tarsha, and trying to talk to them in spanglish. We made do, thanks to Papi Ben who was translator for us. They love Justin Bieber so we listened to him and watched his videos on You Tube A LOT! I taught Julissa her English ABCs, which was so fun. I sang them to her and she chimed right in and wrote them down phonetically so she could remember. We did hair ("mas, mas, mas" = more straight Tia Tarsha!) shopped, and ate ice cream like it was going out of style! My Dad communicated his love and affection for the girls with ice cream and coins. He would buy them ice cream twice a day and then give them the left over change. The girls haven't had their own money, so this was so much fun. The counted it repeatedly and locked it up in the safe above their bed. They would bring their money shopping, but encouraged us to use ours instead! They are smart, sweet, stubborn and silly! They have personalities as big as Texas. They have style and schedules they like to keep. Julissa asked questions about los Estados Unidos and her bedroom there, when she would get done high school and go to college, but Johanna didn't really seem to care. Johanna says "sank you" instead of thank you in her little accent and its just about the cutest thing. It sure did make my Dad laugh and encouraged the coin giving, which worked well for both of them! Johanna also says sorry with rolling r's. She calls Julissa "Juli", which between her whine and pronunciation sounds like Jew-lee.

Friday night was hard to leave. I had two little girls giving me lots of hugs, tears and telling me "no bye." I told them I would see them at the airport in a week and that I would have big hugs for them. They told me they loved me (music to my ears) and they would miss me.

I came home Saturday night and I missed them. I wanted to be able to walk right on over to their room. This Sunday at 2pm they fly into Boston and I will meet them with big hugs! Tia Tarsha will be so very glad to have her sister, brother in law and Peruvian Princesses home as a forever family! I see many sleepovers in my future. Its a good thing I like kids :)

This is LOVE!

Papa with Julissa (12) and Mama with Johanna (8)

Julissa Gabriella and Johanna Grettel

Tomorrow my sister Tracy and brother in law Ben will meet their daughters, my nieces Julissa (12) and Johanna (8). This won’t happen the usual way parents 'meet' their children, such as on an ultrasound machine at 20 weeks gestation or in a hospital room with doctors and nurses after being pregnant for nine months. Tracy and Ben will travel to an orphanage in Chincha, Peru where the sisters have lived for nearly 6 years. This isn't a story of the American dream family where the 2.5 children come as babies and live happily ever after with a white picket fence. This is a story of God’s love. This is a story of His idea of a perfectly planned family and His plans for us to be His hands and feet here on earth. This is the story of adoption. And let me tell you, IT.WASN’T. EASY! Being ‘paper pregnant’ for longer than an elephant is pregnant (22 months) wasn’t comfortable, waiting months and months for an unspecified date wasn’t exciting, and relying on humans in 2 countries to process paperwork wasn’t reassuring in the least. But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable, excited and reassured all the time. He calls us to seek Him in everything and know that He is God. I have watched as Ben and Tracy did this, and I am so amazed that tomorrow they will see and touch His work! When I think of their 800+ days of waiting, planning, waiting, paying (in time and money) for agency mistakes, waiting, praying and OH, MORE waiting, I am in disbelief that it will all come to fruition tomorrow! I know the many tears shed, anxiety and fear filled days and feelings of a huge weight on their shoulders will all be worth it when they get to put their arms around their daughters and hold them! I long to be a fly on the wall and for there to be a video camera to capture it all, but mostly I just want there to be a peace for all four of them that surpasses all understanding and a bond created immediately. I want the girls to feel elated and safe and for their parents to become free of all the adversities they have faced in the past 2+ years. God can do this! I will travel to Lima, Peru on March 19 with my Dad to meet Julissa and Johanna. I can't even imagine what this will be like. I have met a niece and 3 nephews as newborns and fallen in love immediately. And while I have fallen in love with Julissa and Johanna through pictures and stories of phone conversations with their parents, what will it be like to meet them in their country at 12 and 8 years of age? How will they know I love them? Will they love me? These girls were orphans for years, but all along God knew they would be my nieces, and Tracy and Ben's daughters. I can't fathom the depth of His plans for the future, but I know God has orchestrated the events of tomorrow and the rest of our tomorrows, and I know it will be more than I could ever ask for or imagine. Dear God, Thank you for being infallible and overwhelmingly generous. Today I Thank you specifically for our Peruvian Princesses. Thank you that the uncomfortable wait is finally over and we get to be with them. Please prepare them like only You can for tomorrow and the next few months as they adjust to family life in America. Be with their parents as they enter uncharted territory. Be with them as they travel and communicate in these early days. Let the journey be smooth and memorable for all of them and reveal Yourself so all the glory will be Yours! Lord I pray for more uncomfortable times like these have been so we can be drawn closer to You. I know tomorrow will be just as You see fit and we will be completely amazed! ~Your Favorite Daughter~

No, slow, grow, or go?

When the situation is wrong and you are wrong, God says "No."

When the situation is wrong and you are right, God says "Slow."

When the situation is right and you are wrong, God says "Grow."

When the situation is right and you are right, God says "Go."