Rise up

This week, little Kayleigh Anne Freeman passed away, when I found out my heart was broken, I was really sad for her parents.. I don't know them but I was so touched by their story.. it really got me thinking about how life is really short, we don't know when we are going to die..

I kept thinking to myself, "what can I do to honor you God, can you please use me today to bless other and tell them about you.. can you please give me strength and courage to be able to stand up and tell others for you... Kayleigh has been so brave for 11 months...this life is short.. I cant just keep walking my life knowing that I am saved and not tell people about you.. I NEED TO DO SOMETHING.. I want to honor you God, please present me with an opportunity"

and that is all I prayed...

little did I know that God would present me with an opportunity.. their was a Evangelical preacher presenting the word at my school, I usually ignore them and walk on..but I was so drawn to the truth and words that he was saying..I stopped thinking oh, I will only be here for 5 minutes, but that day I stayed for 2 hour talking with people about Jesus, presenting the truth to them, praying and crying for this Generation of young people who have turned their eyes away from Jesus.. I was blessed it was tiring and hard to be sharing the gospel..but I for the first time had courage like little Kayleigh..

I sat there quite for so long, finally my body begun to shake, and I could not keep quite about the love of Jesus.. I eventually went back the next day and met with more people, met some AWESOME Christians and it was really good to talk with other people..

then Friday came along by this time I found brother Jeb on the Internet and was e-mailing him back and forth, and so I planned on staying at school all day like from 11:30-5:30 and I did.. it was AMAZING to see God at work.... and their was a spiritual battle going on at my University... but God gave me the words to say, he gave me a sense of peace..and to just simple love on people like Jesus loved on his disciples when he was here.. their were other Christians there who were talking to people and stayed all day..

overall I am still in complete shock at all that has happened this week, I always wanted to talk to people about Jesus but I never knew that I would be doing it..
When I was in Thailand it was so easy to talk to the Thai people about Jesus, even though there was a language barrier somehow it was easier..and I was afraid simply to stand up for what I believe in..

but not any longer.. I feel strong, I am amazing at God and the wonderful work that he has done in my life, he opened my eyes and showed me that people all around me are searching for meaning of life, searching for a God who loves you..

The eyes of the non-believers I could see that they were searching..but were so blinded to the truth... the Devil is still at work here on earth and we need to not forget that..we as Christians need to get off our couches and tell others about Jesus, people are perishing without ever hearing the love of Jesus.. American Christians are so stuck on going to church and keeping our God within our community of believers... yes that is important but yet we need to not be only with believers and building relationships with non-believers..
People are searching and trying to figure out why they are not complete, and it is because they do not have Jesus, they may not know that and need to be told....

what if we all stood up for what we believed in and told people about Jesus, how much of an impact that would make?

God is good!!!!

Just from that little prayer I said this week, God used me in ways that I can not even begin to comprehend......... the courage I had to take a stand was not from me... it was From God....... I am glad to know a God who loves me so much that died on the cross for my sins and for the sins of the world.. and the people of the world need to hear the truth....

can we rise up as Christians and proclaim the good news?



Lindsay

He is still here....

And this Rainbow reminds me that God is still here on earth performing miracles, working in the lives's of his children, healing, giving his people vision,...

he has not forsaken us..

he is still here...

his presence can still be soon on earth thousands of years later!

hot coco delight

Mr, feisty has been really sick this past week and has not wanted to eat.. the little man is already tiny for his size.

so tonight I was cleaning up the kitchen and helping feisty eat his unwanted dinner.. finally he ate enough and I asked Charlie if he wanted hot coco, which is an all time favorite... and Feisty starting shouting "hooot coococooo, Hot Cocooooo" and so I asked him if he wanted some and of course he shouted "Ummm YEA"....


little did he know that he was getting a hot coco delight!!

so how do you make hot coco delight??

A little of this:

with a little bit of this:

Heat up the water,then you top it off with a little extra of this:

mix it up in this,

and

and he drank it all... I am learning young, when the babe's are sick..you give what they want but you add in other unknown nutrients that he does not know he is drinking!!

Time,

wow does time fly!!

what have I been up to lately?

-Studying
-visiting the hospital
-reading LOTS!!
-listening to God
-playing with my younger brothers
-changing diapers
-walking around Seattle
-enjoying the rain and the sunshine
-preparing myself mentally for Anthony's Transplant
-taking lots of photo's
-volunteering at my old youth group every Thursday
-and most of all, spending quality time with the one's that I love! and wishing that Anthony and my mom could come home! that are being held hostage by the doctors. they don't want to send him home until Feisty's fever goes away....

oh and I have a secret... (My parents might get to adopt feisty sooner than what they think).... if that is what God has planned!!

I am going to get better at blogging but this quarter has presented me with lot and lots of reading...and not time to blog.. :(.. I miss blogging..

I was looking back at some of my old post and it is amazing to think that I have had this blog for as long as I have!!

Time.. Cherish it... because you never know what is going to happen in two seconds, 1 month or 5 years...

It is amazing how time does fly! it amazes me that two years ago this year, I was a graduating senior.. This past week as I walked my college campus with a renewed sense, as to why I am on this Journey of obtaining a higher education..

It has not by any means been the easiest years of my life, I have taken what God has blessed me with, A full ride scholarship, and not really used the gift that he has given me to my full potential.... you see, I never thought I, Lindsay James, would be going to the University of Washington... I never thought I would get in.. I never thought that it was even possible for me to get in..and everyone around me was telling me I would never get in.... I remember two years ago this time of the year........

I had all my applications to the five colleges that I had applied to.. four of them were private Christian colleges and one a public state university. I did not want to go to a public university.. I desired to grow closer to God, by going to a University that taught about God and I could stretch my learning.. I got accepted in all 4 private colleges......but I still did not know if I got into the UW... I didn't want to go when I applied to to college...... let me tell you.. I DID NOT WANT TO GO....even though I almost said yes, to one of the private colleges something told me not to and just wait... So one of the few times in my life I waited....

I remember the day so clearly, I was sitting with my friend in the lunch room talking, when my mom called me and said that I finally got a response from the University of Washington.. I told her I didn't want her to open it, but all of a sudden I wanted her to.. so she did, and she began to read the words " You have been accepted"... and I cheered.. for some reason I felt relieved.. I knew at that moment I was supposed to go there... I don't know what changed my heart..and told me to go there...




I talked my dad into letting me go on a visit to UW.. so we spent a long day in April of 2007, wondering around UW aimlessly, attending classes, eating the food, being with the people, experiencing the culture, and knowing that I was meant to be there.... scared as heck to go to such a huge University... But I listened to my heart...and announced to all my friends and Family that I was going to the UW!!!!

And after going to this university for almost 2 years, it has taken me this long to really be grateful to be able to go there, I love it, studying all the time, reading books, attending the classes, staying up late, walking the Ave (A place that has a lot of different food places and stores), being with 40,000 other people who are walking the same journey as I am, riding the buses, meeting new people, seeing Gods creation, drinking coffee, registering for classes online at 5:55 AM, fighting for classes, wandering around the University book store looking for the text book, eating Tator tots from by George cafe, walking around campus getting lost, seeing the Cherry tree blossom every spring, sitting on the grass studying, waiting in the lines for hours during lunch time for hours just to get a subway sand which, running into people you haven't seen in a long time.. it is all apart of the college life....



This summer, I am going to make up the credits that I need in order to apply to my major this fall and be able to graduate on time.... it is a hard decision to make, but I know it is the best one for me at this time.. although I would rather work at a summer camp with amazing kids..... I need to be in school taking care of myself, ensuring that I can do what is best for myself and for my future... Pray for me as I attend college this summer, that I do not grow tired and that next school year I can go full force and not grow tired from going 2 strait years without a big break in between...

Although this week started out roughly it has allowed me time to spend more quite time with my Jesus, to Pray, to read his word..and to reflect on all that has happen....and sort my way through this mess.. tonight I feel surrounded by God..I feel free and able to let go of someone that I have been close to for the past 6 years..there is nothing that I can do but pray that God can have his will in this situation...and that is all I can do..and honestly it feels great to know that I am not alone and I have a God who cares so much to love me even when I make mistakes and to teach me life lessons about friendships... and he is the ultimate friend, he is all I need in this life to make it through..he has already won and defeated my battles for me..

He died on the cross for my sins and for the sins of all many...

and that is all I need to be reminded of when my world feels like it is falling apart, it is all I need to be reminded of when I out of place, when I am angry, when I am crushed, when I need to let go of someone that I love.. when I need to trust that everything will work out for the good... and a miracle will happen out of this mess...
But again I remember,

He died on the cross for my sins and for the sins of many...
and that is all I need

To be honest..this past week has been HORRIBLE... every spring break for the past two years have not been so good......

My friend moved into my parents house 2 months ago....and last night our relationship ended.. I am not going to go into details on a public blog.. but basically there was a miscommunication, words got twisted and feelings got hurt..

and it is hard to let go of someone I have been friends with for 6 years..and that person is choosing to end the friendship.. I am frustrated....and although it may be hard.. I need to let go..and learn from others and my own mistakes.. so that I can live at higher standards....and let me tell you, I have made mistakes in my 20 years.. said words that were not nice....and I am sorry for that.but I can only be sorry for what I did..and I cant deny the fact that I still have feelings..and I got hurt in the process.

I am not perfect...there I said it. I AM NOT PERFECT.....

and either are they.. but I am not going to bring them into this... they already made up their mind.. and twisted the truth....and told lies..... so the last thing I need to do..is let this hinder me.... all I am is saying is that life right now pretty much stinks.........

and I am tired........I am honestly not doing okay over this situation..
I realized today that I reacted in anger because that person was completely ignoring me, yelling at me..and I reacted..then later that person left their wedding ring here. my human side wanted to mark it with black marker..but I knew that was not okay.. at least I have some common sense when I am overly upset...

The worst thing that a person can do is be in the same room as me and completely ignore me.... it makes me angry..it pretty much shows me that I am not human..and that who I am is not real.... who I am does not matter..and that right there does not fit well with me.. I try to include people..I try to fix things.. but you know... when someone does that to me..when I have tried to walk beside them when they needed housing, stayed up late many nights crying together, laughing, dreaming about our future, and hoping the best for each other, supported them when all I should of done is run away..but I stuck around for 6 years.... .. it hurts..it really shakes the core of who I am....

and so now I am going to lift this situation up to God, because I cannot fix anything, I cant force someone to want to reconcile, I can always be the person pursing the friendship.. it needs to go both ways........ I pray that somehow God works in a miraculous way..and changes that hearts and opens the eyes of everyone who is involved in this situation..that somehow, some way..it can honor God.. and I don't know how it can..but I pray that he can continue to guild me and strengthen me into the person he has created me to be....and help me to be strong..and not be angry at the situation....

I pray for those people that their hearts will be soften..and will take responsibility for their part.and that God can guild them into the right path.. and deal with them as he needs to, so that they can become all who God has created them to be.... I pray that for myself also..

I am done.. this probably makes no sense..all well.. it is my blog.. :P

I love this song..Living in the Valley, and seeing all the ways they the has blinded the eyes of the people by leading them astray to be involved with drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gangs and other various trouble that people get blinded to.. I have become used to the things that happen and I see because I am living in the city.. I am used to walking down the street watching people make drug deals, used to seeing women standing on the streets offering their bodies to men, I am not saying that it is okay, but I see ti EVERYDAY.... but I cant do that anymore.. I am being called to a new level if my ministry, a new level of Living, a new time that God is calling me out and saying "Lindsay I have called you to tell my children about me, I have called you to pray for my people, to serve my people, to walk along side my people and show them who I am"......... WOW.. I cant ignore what is happening in Seattle, I need to allow God to use me in ways that I have never been used before........... and I know that he is calling me out and challenging me, because he is beginning to tell me what I need to be doing, and yes I am not perfect, I haven't listened to that still small voice when he told me to get up in the middle of a meeting and go and pray for this women who was passed out.. I said to God, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? and couldn't help but pray for her from my chair... but I need to be willing to get up, what do I have to loose by praying over a women in a meeting?? nothing..

God is the King of these people, and knowing that all is well........ God is the King of this City...and He is leading me serve him and follow his call for my life..so that I can become the women of God that he has called me to be.....


I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

2 Timothy 1:3-8



That is the passage that I have been stuck on for the past 2 weeks reflecting on it, praying, and meditating on this passage.... it is powerful, and amazing!!! Do I know what God is calling me to, but I feel it coming..and I am excited to what is happening in my life...

(all the pictures were taken with my cell phone....



wow..I think I forgot to post or something.. but anyways.. Mr, Feisty is 3 years old today!!! it is amazing.. his heart is doing REALLY good.. Praise GOD!! for that..he doesn't have to go back to the heart DR until May..... :)...


It is amazing that he is 3, he has been through so much this year, but I see God working in his Young life, allowing him to just be a kid.. it is amazing to see God work in his life.. I love him aloe..he is pretty much the most amazing Mr, feisty..and not to mention he now says my name..which is a big deal for a three year old who doesn't really talk, except now he is starting to talk ALOT now..so it is fun... hearing him say new words.. :P......


So school has been really good I love my classes!! I was sitting in my 250 person lecture today, and all of a sudden it just hit me how much God has blessed me, how he has given me the opportunity to get an education...and how fast life goes....all of I sudden I was thinking wow, I am going to be a junior in college next year..I remember when I was a junior in high school... it his me, that God has continually taken care of me, I am not hungry, I have a roof over my head, I can buy 400 dollars worth of text books each quarter, I don't know how it is done..when I don't work, I just go to school and fully rely on God to provide all of what I need..and in 2 years of being in college there has never been a moment that I have not been cared for... never a moment that I am without what is needed... it is hard to fully rely on God with everything trusting that he will take care of all my needs, but he does...and that is why today I have felt BLESSED... I have felt so loved by Jesus, like he is reaching down and saying "Daughter, I am proud of you, for doing what I have called you to do, it has not been easy, but through these hard times you have been taken care of, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you"... there is nothing better than a reminder from Jesus, showing us how blessed we truly are......



Tonight, I was listening to Jeremy Camp's new CD, and started listening to one of his songs called There will be a Day, it is pretty much amazing! here are the words:

There Will Be A Day lyrics

I try to hold

on to this world with everything

I have But I feel the weight of what it brings,

and the hurt that tries to grab

The many trials that seem to never end,

His word declares this truth,that we will

enter in this rest with wonders anew

(Pre-Chorus)

But I hold on to this hope and the promise

that He brings That there will be a place

with no more suffering(

Chorus)

There will be a day with no more tears,

no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place,

will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we'll hold on to you

always I know the journey seems so long

You feel you’re walking on your own

But there has never been a step

Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart

Cause joy and peace he brings

And the beauty that’s in store

Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

(Pre-Chorus)

(Chorus)

I can’t wait until that day where

the very one I’ve lived for

always will wipe away the sorrow that

I’ve faced To touch the scars

that rescued me from a life of

shame and misery this is

why this is why I sing

(Chorus)

This song is amazing, it brings so much peace and hope..and as we are getting closer and closer, to transplant.....knowing that no matter what happens, Jesus, has a plan for A-mans life,..

Tomorrow is feisty's surgery.. I pray that he is okay.. and that nothing will go wrong.. I know that God is in Control... but pray for the doctors and nurses, and any medical staff that will be touching feisty...

Also pray for my mom, as she will be with his birth-mom all day tomorrow...pray for patients and love... for her..and for my mom to to be a light into feisty's mom life....

AND ON A HAPPY NOTE... THE JUDGE HAS AGREED WITH THE PARENTING PLAN..AND HE IS GOING TO BECOME A JAMES!!! HOPEFULLY BY THIS FALL..he will be with us forever!!

OH I CAN'T WAIT TO SAY HIS FULL NAME and to be able to post pictures of him..because he is one photogenic baby..he even poses for pictures... he is 10 months old!! (8 at corrected age) and he is posing for pictures..

All I have to say, is that in one month I became so lazy from being on winter break.. I am so tired.... but honestly I love all my classes..and I am done three days of the week by noon..and then the other two by 4:20..the reason I am out so late is because I am taking an Amazing class to enrich my education... :P..... the Class is Dinosaurs...that is right.. I am so excited for that class and to learn about dino's!!!!!!!!!!! I don't agree with some of the stuff that they are teaching me.. such as evolution... but when I went to the UW I knew that I would have to pick and choose what I accept as true information..and I am okay with that..it has really challenged me beyond a new level of thinking.. BUT I feel the excitement that I used to feel when I was a child..it is something about that class that brings out the inner child in everyone who takes it!!! I am so excited!!! my other three classes are just as good if not more challenging! I am talking Spanish, Comparative social change (Sociology), and Intro to cultural studies (English)...

It is pretty much amazing!! but man oh man..I have to get up at 5:30 in the morning in order to make it to school on time..... it is so crazy... but it is sooo worth it..

I should be in bed..but I bought a diffuser from target last week and it fell over now my room smells like a overly smell mess oily mess and it wont go away...so I cant sleep... Coffee is my new friend..... white chocolate mocha coming right up!!!

A-man is still home! which is amazing... KNOCK ON REALLY HARD THICK WOOD.. he does have clinic tomorrow so hopefully his blood cultures will come up negative..and we wont have to be admitted back to the hospital.. this Saturday he will be home for one month..that is so amazing! next Monday he will break the record for how long he has been home... since my parents first took him into care at the end of June....

Mr, Feisty has been full of D-R-A-M-A! last week he has tube's in his ears, and this coming Friday he is getting a small heart surgery to check on his heart and to make sure that his heart is functioning just fine.. to be honest I am scared and praying that nothing goes wrong during the surgery.... I say any surgery having to deal with the main artery in your body is not a small surgery.. but then again I love my feisty man... and don't want anything to go wrong.. he is also turning 3 this month.. he is so little.. he is my peanut... and is starting to talk it is so much fun to see him grow and to see him express himself..and to just be able to be a kid!!! he is definitely my little mini-me.. ...he loves himself some sissy time.. and when he wants to he will say my namebut now very often.... this month Mr, Feisty is the longest placement that we have had in the past 2 years.. and he has almost been with us a year in 4 months...time sure does fly by... it is crazy...

lately I have found myself praying more for the Birth parents of these two baby's and praying that God can work in their lives, that he can have his will in the lives of their birth parents.... I believe we will be able to adopt A-man but nothing is final until we are standing in front of the judge and my parents say his new name A-man Wesley James. and Mr, feisty we don't know what is going to happen.... all I know is we need a bigger house and a room set up for a little girl.... because my parents are wanting to take care of Feisty's older sister "Dotty"... I want her.. I want her to come and live with us she is a ball of energy just like Feisty but she is 10 and pretty much the cutest thing.... but before we could even take her in... we need a bigger house... and living in the city is not cheap... so finding a house that is just right for us is going to only be given by God's will.. it will be so much fun to set up a room for "Dotty" if she was able to come and live with us! .... I keep praying that we find just the right house..

Okay I need to go to bed, because for 1, the smell has kinda gone away and 2, I need to be up in 4 1/2 hours.....

Seattle Traffic... everyone loves it!!.. we didnt move more than 100 feet for about 30 minutes....

Sometimes in life we forget the little things that matter...

WE are still home with A-man!!

he has been home for a LONG time this time. so praise God!
he has Clinic tomorrow, which means that he has Chemo and his RSV shot to make sure he does not catch it... his little body can not fight off infections since he has no B cells...so it is going to be a long visit to Children's..but it is worth it.. because we got to have him home Christmas!!!

Next Monday I start at school again and this time I have a different motive, I am not going there to compete with 40,000 other students but rather to learn and to really enjoy what I am learning. YES! I still want to become a Social worker and I still feel the call to be one, but God is calling me to take a different route than what I had planned... It is scary and hard to let go of my dream and to take a route that I am being called to take... But I have to listen to the sweet voice of my Savior... so I am going to get in contact with the Sociology Department and talk with an advisor... I am scared and my stomach turns as I am writing this, I have many questions as to why all of a Sudden I am changing... but today God was telling me to look up English classes and to switch out of my Psychology class. ( I dislike psych ALOT...The only reason I was taking it was because it was one of my requirements)....... I found a English class that is called "Intro to Culture Studies English 207".... and It has ONE, that is right ONE spot left open I stared at the class title...felt at peace about switching, and I stared at the screen for a minute asking myself if this is what I am supposed to be doing...

why since I was a freshman in High school, has God been telling me that I need to become a social worker, I based where I went to school based on the social work school ratings in the country.. UW is number 3 in the country... for their social work Program.... I pretty much based my life around the reality that I was going to become a social worker...I was still staring at the screen ready to drop my psychology class...and I did it I CLICKED and I got into the English class many people might think it was just pure luck that I got into that class, but no... It was purely God, showing me to let go of all my dreams and follow him, to follow the call that he has place on my life. it is hard to let go of the way I set up my life, I had a 5 year plan to be graduated from college with my masters, and I was going to do that and no matter what happened I was going to do it... but now I know it isn't about my plan but rather about the plan that God has for me, he ultimately gave his life for me... So why cant I let go of what I had planed.. I know he See's the bigger picture, he See's my potential, he knows what he has called me to do, he knows the ministry that I am going to be in... I don't know..no matter how much I want to say that I do.... but I don't.... so in that single click I allowed Jesus to begin taking control of my life and Leading me in the right direction, it is a small one but in the long run I KNOW, that it will be the right one... I am relieved to be out of Psych, It really hit me tonight when I ordered my books tonight.. and I was not getting a Psych book..

For I know the plans I have for you,
" declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you
and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and
come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

This past Christmas was the best one that we have had in years... I am so thankful that A-man was home, I was so happy that this Christmas was so different than last years... last year we were crying and hurting because three short days earlier, the baby girl "N" who we were told my parents would adopt was taken Away... we were so sad and thought that Christmas was over.. but we got a call that a baby girl needed a home until she would go to live with her adoptive family.. that baby Girl I will call Gracie, she was our christmas miracle last christmas, she was so tiny and precious, in no way did she replace "N" but she was a reminder of why my parents are foster parents... Gracie was full of Grace and I would look at her face and pray for her and pray for "N".... and thanking God for our Christmas miracle of 2007!! I know Gracie blessed us that christmas, it was God's grace showing my family to love Jesus and be thankful for him in all circumstances... it Was Jesus showing us that he had a plan for my family.

In 2008 we have lived at the hospital for most of it, prayed and prayed for A-man fought for his life never gave up, Loved on Mr, Feisty and Charlie, I started my second year of College, my Grandmother moved in to help out, life has flashed before my eyes, and this christmas we prayed we would all be home for Christmas, and that was all we wanted was to be home, all 9 of us, Mom, dad, Tina, Charlie, Mr Feisty, Donell, Grandma, me and A-man, that is all we wanted and we got that... this christmas I realized what Christmas was about, yes reflecting on the birth of our savior and rejoycing in that miricle of life, but it was also just being together as a community celebrating in the birth of Jesus, we sung happy birthday to Jesus, we opened presents together, saw the joy of Christmas in Charlie's eyes when the Elf came to bring our christmas Pajammas, seeing the joy that Christmas brings. and seeing the Love that is within my family no we are not perfect but this past year God has stretched our family, and through that I have seen God at work.. I have seen how close knit my immediate family has gotten... This years Christmas Miricle was being at home with A-man, and being with the whole family... Chrsitmas of 08 was the best one yet...and I hope next years A-man will be a James.... :)

(A-man looking out the window reaching for the snow
being thrown at the window by Charlie)

Today a-man turned 10 months.. that is amazing!! he is growing so big and had been home for 14 days!!! that is amazing!! and the thing that is most amazing is that hopefully his blood counts are high enough that we wont have to do chemo this week!! which is a gift, if he does not have to have one..that means we get a-man for Christmas ...... he has a little cold..but other than that he seems to be doing great.... My Christmas wish this year is that we are ALL home for Christmas and that A-man does not have to admitted into the hospital..it is almost that time.. where he gets a blood infection..but I PRAY that he doesn't...

SNOW!! it has not snowed this much in Seattle since 1991 and I was a little 3 year old.... so it is pretty much AMAZING!!! Last night My dad, Charlie and myself were outside for 2 hours sledding on out street.,...Charlie said "That was awesome, bro.. we were going a million miles".................. it was a lot of fun.

And Mr, Feisty..is my little mini me that follows me around the house!! it is cute...the other day he decided that he wanted to sit on my foot..he was my leach..that was stuck!! he is so stinking adorable.. it is amazing that we have had him almost as long as we have had N in our care.... he has grown so much, okay so not in height or weight because he is still one 23 pounds... but he has grown so much by opening up and starting to talk... I taught him how to sign and say "I love you"....... but he Say's "I ove oooo" it is cute.... oh and "Ba-NANA"... that is his favorite fruit... the words that he says most are Mom, dad, and no ...... sometimes he will say something out of the blue... it is the little things that count... it is being able to see the joy in his Eyes and to see how this little 2 year old has changed and have seen what a little love can do........... who knows what is going to happen to Feisty..whether my parents adopt him or not... it is all in the hands of God... but I pray Gods protection over his life... I love my little mini me....and I am thankful that this Christmas I have gotten to spend it with him.. to see the joy he has by every little thing... he is a blessing....the next few months are going to be crazy with him as he has ear tubes put in and some surgery on his heart....

A year ago, this is what my family looked like... our hearts where being torn apart...because out little N was leaving... it is hard to think that it has been a year... it hurts that we haven't seen her.... but I pray she is safe..and that she know she is always loved....... little did I know that a year later...God would trust my parents to take care of Mr. feisty and A-man... and this is our 5th Christmas with Charlie... it is amazing to see how God has everything planned out.... who knows next year by Christmas:

-A-man will have had his transplant
-A-man could be adopted
-Charlie will be in kindergarden
-I will be in the major that I supposed to be in at college
-my parents will be another year younger!
-who knows where Mr. Feisty will be... but next Christmas we will know...

God never ceases to amaze me on how he keeps taking care of my family.... we have had a rough year... with taking in A-man... but it has been worth every since minute... it has been worth only being home with everyone here at the same time for 3 out of the 6 months since A-man has been in my parents care... it has been worth it by seeing God work out every detail... it has been worth building relationships with people at the hospital, showing them what God's love looks like... it has been worth EVERY single minute.... even the times when we thought A-man wasn't going to make it..but he did....... it has been worth every moment when Charlie and I begin to talk.. it amazes me the things 5 year old come up with "Lindsay, why did God make A-man sick?"................. "Lindsay, how is Jesus going to come back?"........ God has been faithful this year.... and next year I know he will be just as faithful in providing for all my needs, the needs of my 3 brothers, my grandma who stays to help out, and the Needs of my parents........

FREEDOM!!! what is that??? what does it truly look like to be free? to be free from the burdens of this world??? to be free in Christ.. to be free to worship and to love him?? what does that look like??

a couple weeks ago I was at my dad's work for the youth's Christmas party.... it was there that I saw freedom..the way that the party was set up was that there were table to stand at, and then the rest of the floor was set up to be a dance floor.... to be able to dance... one of the youth said " we may be homeless, but we can dance"... that Night God showed me that through all circumstances to praise him with all that you have, and you can find freedom through Christ because he can take all of your burdens away.. no matter what you are going through you can still praise me and find freedom in my name.... I heard him say "Lindsay, you may not know what lies ahead for your life, but dance".. and that is what I did.. I danced.. I don't dance good..but I danced!!.. it was a liberating experience to be able to just dance.. and not care about everything around me.... it was an image that I don't want to forget.. the image of all the volunteer, paid staff, and youth dancing together..... and the image of freedom that can be seen in dancing..

It was also later that night that I fond out I did not do so great in Economics.. but that is okay... I am changing my major to Sociology... I never thought that I would write that but I am... it is crazy.. I am going to become a social worker..but not the way I thought...I am going to get my Bachelors in sociology, and then apply to social work school to get my masters... I know that Iam going to become a social worker but the way that I thought so, is not the was it is going to happen.... I am scared at making a major change.... but in the end it will all work out.. God has worked many miracle so far and I know he will continue to.

so what I am going to do, is dance and Praise him through all circumstances, I can't do it alone, but with him I can DANCE!

It is so rare that we get snow where I live..and I proud to say that it has snowed in the rainy city of Seattle!!! it was a good day to stay at home, and play with my brothers... and three of them were home.. A-man came home December 8th and has been home since then..today A-man was looking out the window, as Charlie was throwing snowballs... A-man was so intrigued with the snow being thrown at the window.....

Last night it all of a sudden hit me that A-man's transplant is coming up.. it scares me to death... that he is getting a transplant....the thing that scares me the most is the fact that there is always the possibility that he will not make it... I pray and hope that he does.. I know God has a plan for A-man...and whatever happens is in the hand of God..... In February, my parents are meeting with the transplant team to discuss about the transplant..... this spring he will get the transplant... and we will be in the hospital for 4-8 weeks......

another thing hit me, A-man is turning one!!! soon... well in 2 months.... but for a baby who is a miracle baby...it is a big thing!! it is a big thing that he is rolling all around the floor...and getting all over the place..and and he has a tendency to bight now... which hurts ALOT.... but he is getting so big...he was just a LITTLE 4 pound peanut when my parents first got him at 4 months....now he is 13 pounds....he has nearly tripled in size since we got him......

A-man loves to play under the Christmas tree, he is fascinated with it..he will play with the fake Christmas tree, yes I said fake Christmas tree....that is a big thing in the James house..... to have a fake Christmas tree, but for A-man's health we got one.... I would rather have A-man home and healthy that a tree where he would end up back in the hospital... but for now we are home snowbound... not going anywhere.....

we just got the call from the docs that A-man has ANOTHER positive culture.. so my mom and him are heading to the hospital as I type this... if anyone reads this PRAY..that he will be home for Christmas...... who knows?? only my saviour who has a plan for A-man's life. and I know he makes no mistakes........... he created A-man, he created his body to be like it.. no matter what happens GOD IS STILL THE SAME.. he does not change no matter the circumstance......... whether A-man is home or at the Hospital..

HOLD ON, still that is what I feel Jesus is telling me.. I was listening to this song.. written by Josh WIlson... I have no idea what I am waiting for, but I am holding on.. thats all that I can do.. and this song said the samet thing,

It is once again not me Monday! Hosted by the one and only McKmama

I absolutely did not find the cheese that my mom hid in the refrigerator, and ate it at 2 in the morning

My mom and I did not laugh loud when we were looking through old videos and pictures and found one with my Grandma dancing, it was no so funny we had tears rolling down our eyes.
I was not up until 4 am, talking with my sister and her boyfriend. I am getting way too old to stay up until 4 in the morning… especially on a church day.. I was not tired at church, and to make sure that I wouldn’t fall asleep, I did not use Mr. feisty as an excuse to go to children’s church because we can’t leave him in the Sunday school. I did not have any fun with Charlie and Mr. feisty in children’s church in the end…. I did not finish Charlie’s project by coloring in the last 4 stars on his advent calendar… because he didn’t want to do it anymore, and was getting frustrated at it..

I was not flabbergasted when my brother was having a grown up conversation with me last night as we were eating dinner and getting ready for bed, I was not almost in tears when he asked me “why did God make A-man sick?”, I did not tell him that “God makes no mistakes”. Charlie didn’t in turn ask me about his adoption and why he was adopted… Charlie did not ask me “how will Jesus return to the earth when he comes back?”… I was not impressed with Charlie, okay so I can’t deny this one because it was simply and amazing teachable moment that I was able to spend with my little brother…

I am not in the library at my school doing the not me Monday, because we are supposed to be doing only school work, but in reality I am not doing my school work…