A surprise for our eyes

Thursday night, we were coming home from a friend's house, and I caught a glimpse of the moon behind some trees.  It was massive and a deep orange color.  It caught me off guard and made me gasp.  I told the girls to keep watching as we drove down the road... waiting for another break in the trees.

After several minutes, there was finally a clearing and there it was!  Abby came up out of her seat and exclaimed:
"Mommy!  Jesus did that for us!  It's a surprise for our eyes!!! Ohhhhh....  Dear Lord, thank you so much for the big orange moon!  Amen!"

I thought I was going to start bawling.  Her genuine excitement and appreciation for the creator's creation moved me so much... it was a beautiful moment and has made a very special memory. 

Our Father gives us surprises for our eyes every day... we simply have to look for them, recognize them, and appreciate them!  Have a blessed weekend.

Not So Super

I totally super glued two of my fingers together today... BIG TIME!

After a split second of panic, I realized there had to be some way to get

them apart.  As I tried finger nail polish remover and ice... (not together)

Don googled it and of course, there it was... LOTION!

How simple is that!  So he brought down the bottle of peony by Bath

and Body Works and several globs and moments later...

they were free.  So tuck that away in your brain for future reference!

The Lake in May

The presence of the Lord at the lake always fills me with joy.  His beauty is everywhere... in the rock cliffs, the green lush trees, the birds of the lake, the laps of the waves, the colorful sunsets, the laughter of the children, the peace that settles in our spirits, the love in the warmth of the sun, and the calm from His breath in the breeze.  I simply love it.

All of our children and our dog, for that matter, love the water.  The joy it brings them fills me with joy.

Friends joined us during this past week's trip. We love to share it with friends too.

I think Don likes it too... just a little bit! :0)

More to come...

Simply Beautiful

My mom sent this to me.  It's the most beautiful commercial I have ever seen.  Not one word is spoken... yet many are heard.  Enjoy and have a very blessed and safe weekend!

Note: PAUSE music on blog on bottom left first. And get your tissues...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p916yeFa2Xk&feature=related

Yeah... It's been like that!

Be Mindful

This week has been so busy.  And I have been so very tired... all week. 
Anyway... Abby has gone almost two weeks without a seizure!  PRAISE THE LORD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!  Marc continues to crack us up constantly and Brenda continues to bloom.

My heart is full... full of wanting to share God's love and live for His kingdom.  So I ask you to just be mindful of that today and this weekend.  Love on someone for the Lord.  Make muffins for a neighbor.  Send a card to someone.  Buy coffee for someone.  Make dinner for someone going through a hard time.  This may seem harsh (and it is to myself too) but... think of someone else... and love them.  Love is a verb.  Loving someone can become addictive.  Why does it feel good to do good for someone?  Because the Holy Spirit who resides in us, and Christ who lives in us, is HAPPY when we allow them to love others through us.  We are vessels... but we get the bonus gift of His blessings.  Wow.  We are so lucky!

Love to you.


P.S.  Thank you, Chris, for the Mother's Day wish!  Hope you were full of love and blessings as well!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day dear friends (and mom).  I am overcome this year, with joy, contentment, and awe.  Last year, on this day, I was the mother of one.  This year, I am the mother of three.  As I watched them eat lunch on Thursday, all three in a row, I was just amazed at the beauty and sweetness of the family God has woven for and given to me.  That was and will remain the best Mother's Day gift ever.

"Here's the magic soap: Your own attention is what spiritualizes things. 

Attention to the meal you cook, the clothes you wash. 

Attention is love.  And that's transformative."  body & soul magazine

My New Blog

"And B Makes 3" will no longer be one of my blogs.  Since B is here, and my family blog is now private, there is no need for B's seperate blog about our adoption adventure!

So what did I do?  Yes, I started another blog!  It's actually been on my heart for a while now and so it is now out there.  My family blog will be just family stuff and my "Do something for the kingdom!" heart will be expressed and shared on http://www.somethingmorethanyouandme.blogspot.com/

I am very excited about.  I hope you'll visit, follow, be inspired, and share it with your friends!

Have a great weekend.

Trip One of Four

Brenda and Don will be traveling to Latvia on June 13th for the first of four trips.  This first trip is to go to court and request them to grant her another 90 day visa.  Then they will be flying home on the 16th.

This means that Brenda is here to stay.  She won't have to return to Latvia without us.  This is the sweetest bonus gift God could have given us.

It hit me last week in the car as we were returning home from somewhere.  IF that teacher would not have said horrible things and caused her confusion... she would still be there... right now... this whole time.  IF she would have not been confused during that interview with the psycologist and simply answered "yes" for all the questions... she would have been there... waiting for us... during this whole process.  How amazing is it that God used that attack to get her quickly back to us... and to stay?

My heart smiles a deep smile full of awe when I think of God's sweetness.  We never even prayed for this, because we didn't know to, we didn't know it was possible.  It's never been done before like this.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church of Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  Ephesians 3:20,21~

The Power of TEN

How often do we wake up and ask, "What can I do for you today, Lord?"

I am guilty.  I get up and start going through the motions.  And before I know it,

half the day is gone and I have not even spoken to my creator, much less asked him what

I can do for him that day.  I am his servant.  I am his hands and feet.

So I am sharing a challenge with you today.  I am giving you an idea of something you can

do for the Lord today, for a friend... a sister in Christ, and for another Latvian orphan.

It's THE POWER OF TEN challenge. 

And it will change this child's life forever.

I have a friend, Jama, who has been led to host a 13 year old girl from Latvia, Sabina.

It recently came to her heart and after much prayer, she is moving forward, trusting God.

She is single.  She needs the $2500 hosting fee. 

When I prayed with her about it, the money was one of her hurdles.

I assured her that God could provide money and to not let the enemy give her doubt about that.

Are there 10 of you out there who have $10?  Do you have 10 friends in your work place, church, bible study, mom's group, neighborhood?  Do you have 10 minutes to email them, call them, walk to their cubicle, or ask them in the break room for $10 each to help bring an orphan to a loving Christian home for five weeks?  I thought you might!  Do you know what that would do!? 

That would raise more than $1000!

And 110 people would be a part of touching this child's life!

Is that not amazing?  Is that not EASY? 

 Is that not the kind of thing we should be doing every day!?

I think so! 

So I challenge you... be the Lord's hands and feet today and help

bring Sabina to a loving home.  Collect the checks and mail them in!

** Checks should be made out to "New Horizons For Children" **

and mailed to:

New Horizons For Children

3950 Cobb Parkway 

Suite 708

Acworth, GA  30101

*** Please put "Jama Acuff Hosting" on the memo line of checks.

All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about the hosting program of New Horizons, go to http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/

THANK YOU for being part of such an exciting program that

changes the whole course of a child's life!  BIG, BIG, HUGS TO YOU TODAY!

From vine to table

I just ate my first tomato from one of my two plants.  It was the best tomato in the whole universe.  I had forgotten what a real tomato tastes like.  From the vine to the table took just seconds... then into the mouth and wapam... TOMATO!  This one plant has about 20 on it right now and the second one will be ready in days.... I'll be watching it closely!

Time to worship

Worship is not a place you arrive at in a car.  It's a verb.  It's a passionate verb.  It's a place you arrive at in your heart and place where you lift it up and offer it back to your Creator and Savior.  Worship is my favorite thing to do.  Whether it's quiet praises in the leather chair in my room, the car, the kitchen while I cook, or the shower... or whether it's voice and hands raised... worship is the best way to draw close and feel the presence of God... the God... The Holy and Living God.

I encourage you to close your eyes and listen to this worship... and go to that place.  Happy weekend dear friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1D9AKqoSIU