My Foster Parent 'Faith Walk'

After our third child was born, Mike and I made a decision--if God called us to have any more children, we would adopt.  After several years of prayer, we knew our calling:  foster and adopt a local child.  We have now been licensed foster parents for over two years.  So, how many kids now live in our home?  Three--the same three we've always had.  Here we sit, our family of five, and wonder if we chose the right path. Used the right agency.  Made the right decision.

Billboards screamed "Foster Kids are Our Kids!" The tears welled, my heart ached, but the phone didn't ring.  The goal of being a child's forever family remained nonexistent.

How could God call us to something and not use us?  But, you see, God has used us--for while no one else lives here right now, we have had the opportunity to foster four children.  Temporary placements--not our plan, but each time that was the outcome.  Four lives that forever changed our inward focus on self.  Four lives that very likely will play a role in what vocations my children pursue.  Four lives for whom we continue to pray.  Not one, but four.

When our journey began, I never imagined I could be "strong enough" to be someone's momma for just a brief moment in time.  But, God has stretched me. Used me. Grown me. Changed me.  I guess we followed the right path after all.

Guess Mom was Right After All

I love my mom.  And, when I grow up, I hope I can be like her.  Patient.  Humble.  Genuine.  Joyful.  Selfless.  Steady.  Smart.  Fun.  Involved.  

Above all else, she is quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Because of those qualities, I can look back at my life and see the humor my "know-it-all" attitude has added to her life over the years.  Here are a few examples:

When I was in grade school, I wanted my name to be “Jill Smith”.  Nothing misspelled, nothing mispronounced.  Do you know how many ways there are to spell LeAnne?  Leann.  Leeanne.  Lian.  Leanne.  LeAnn.  Leighann.  Leigh Ann.  Lee Anne.  And, whatever way my grandma chose for that year's birthday card.

• I will never give my child a name that can be spelled more than 1 way.
• What did I do?  Named my kids Kaitlin, Connor, and Kylie.

And, while I didn’t consider my last name anyone’s “fault”,  I could never figure out why “Ivaska” was so hard for people to spell or pronounce.  

• I can’t wait to have an easier last name!
• What did I do?  Married a Klopfenstein.

When I was a senior in high school, I was determined to go to Ithaca and study journalism. 

• I am going as far away as possible.  I would never go to college around here!
• What did I do?  Went to University of Iowa--2 hours away.  Completed my last 3 semesters of college at Bradley--and lived at home.

When I was 17, my mom said to me, “What is your future husband going to think about how messy you keep your closet?”

• My closet will be clean when I’m married.  That has nothing to do with how I keep my closet now.
• No comment (Although, I really wish I had responded with “I’ll marry someone who doesn’t care about the mess in my closet” because then I'd have gotten it right).

I’m the oldest of 4.  And, with 4 kids in the house, I was called Laurel, Joel, or Mark more than once.

• I will never call my kids by the wrong name!
• Sigh.

So, for all the times I erred and my mom's silence--and patience--proved her to be correct, I'm glad she put up with me.  And, I hope I can give my kids the same chance to look back and see that mom was right, after all.

Sitting at His Feet (finally!)

Five months ago, a pretty big change happened in my life--I became a Pastor's Wife!  Ok, so maybe the career change was a big thing for my husband, too.  After spending 2 years convinced (and finally ok with) the fact that going back into ministry probably meant moving away, God opened the doors for Mike to join the staff of a local church.  We didn't have to leave our home or our school.  In fact, the new church is so much closer to home that many neighbors and the kids' classmates attend. God continues to shower His blessings upon us as we transition into our new church home.

The biggest change, perhaps, has been in my life.  While I treasured my 'to-do' list at our previous church, my duties were the focus of my morning.  If I made it to our sanctuary, I often arrived late and stepped out early.  I focused so much on our nursery ministry and its workers that I spent very little time making sure I was being fed and growing.  "Balance" was not a focus of my Sunday morning church experience.

It took several weeks at our new church before I truly realized, "It's ok to be sitting in the service! This is where God wants you!"  My guilt has turned to joy as I weekly experience corporate worship and phenomenal teaching. I'm allowing God to lead as I plug in and still make certain I am fed.

God desires my service...yet He treasures my growth. 

Prepare for Tomorrow Today

(I wrote this in December for Brenda Garrison's newsletter right before Mike and I went to Disney World where he ran the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge. Thought I'd post it to my blog as motivation for me to start working out soon!)

I am a great procrastinator.  Even now, I am proud of myself for writing this article early (as in, not writing it the same day it will be published).  For whatever reason, I will think about plans and intentions for days on end...when, suddenly, the moment nears and I find myself rushed, stressed and a little clueless.

Sometimes I pull off amazing feats of wit and wisdom, reveling in the adrenaline rush that comes when I accomplish tasks at the last minute.  I feel smart, successful, and worthy of praise.  

Other times, I miss the mark..and therein lies my regret.  Specifically, this week’s regret:  I’m not running a 1/2 marathon this week.  A 1/2 marathon I signed up for back in March 2011.  A 1/2 marathon at Walt Disney World.  A 1/2 marathon I planned to run alongside my husband.  So, while I am still going to Walt Disney World this week with my husband and getting a neat shirt, I won’t be running.  Injury?  Nope, worse....laziness.  Because you can’t run a 1/2 marathon if you haven’t done any running of any type over the past 9 months.

Long distance dreams require constant discipline to reach our goals.  Whether it’s my walk with Christ or a run with my husband, my long-term desires are not accomplished when I procrastinate.  I cannot grow in my relationship with Christ if I do not spend time daily in the Word.  And I cannot reach a finish line if I don’t get off the couch and step outside, willing to experience all that God has in store for me today.

The Sameness of our Savior

One of the most popular movie lines of all time (it ranks on AFI’s list as #40 out of the top #100 movie quotes) is known by young and old alike, regardless of their knowledge of the movie itself:

"Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Forrest Gump, 1994

We say the line to be clever.  Or factual.  To be funny, or even to encourage someone.  Because, quite frankly, we just don’t know what life holds.  And what better way to sum up life’s complexities than with a comparison to chocolate?

While the quote is great, another comparison can be made that is very sad indeed--we treat God as if He is a box of chocolates.  We act like God sent a different Savior for each individual.  “She has the God who showers her with blessings!”  “I have a God who is distant.”  “Lord, your plan looked great-but why did you reveal a surprise?”

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, it is critical we realize the biggest truth God has given:  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrew 13:8).  Our all-knowing God sent us a Savior who could connect with each of us on a personal level.  Not because Christ could change, but because He is enough to meet the needs of every--very different!--individual.

God truly loves us so much that He sent His Son--not so we would have a top #100 verse to quote (John 3:16), but so we could know how much He loves and values each of us.  We don’t know what life holds, but please cling to the truth that God is with you and for you all the time.  May your relationship with Christ be the sweetest, most special treat you ever accept and enjoy.

Just Trust

Ever had a season in life where you know God has a plan and a purpose, but you just don’t know what it is? Then–in His own timing–God reveals it bit by bit. You may be overjoyed. Or overwhelmed. Encouraged. Perhaps still confused. Content. Impatient.

Boy, wouldn’t help along the way to know what it is that God desires of us? I’ve thought, “Reveal yourself, Lord, and I can follow you more completely”.

And then I listen to my 8 year old daughter read from her devotion book:

God made a promise. But do I believe it? I say, “Do, something, God, and I will trust you.” God says, “Trust me and then I will do something!” *

God has such amazing plans for me–and for you–and He simply asks us to trust Him. It’s so easy in my sinful humanity to ask for a sign. But keep in mind:

• We celebrate Christmas–Christ’s Birth! God did that “something” for us.
• We believe in the Resurrection–again, my celebration at Easter means I need to show my belief and trust God completely year-round.

In John 6:30 the crowds say to Jesus, “Then what sign will you do, that we may see and believe you?

Do you know what day the crowd asked Jesus this? One day after He fed over 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish! The day after He walked on water & the crowd couldn’t figure out how Jesus got to Capernaum because they knew He had not gone by boat. Signs were all around, yet the people wanted more before they would give Jesus anything. I can’t pretend my response would have been any different.

As 2011 comes to a close, God has laid this upon my heart:  JUST TRUST. May He lay the same upon your heart as well.

*Book excerpt taken from Jesus Wants all of Me-Bedtime Prayer Edition. Barbour Publishing, Urischsville, OH. Copyright 2007

The Grace {and Power!} of Prayer

Have you ever stopped to think about your relationship with Christ--not in its current state, but how it originated?  Maybe you aren’t a Christian, but someone has spoken words of life that are stirring your heart & mind to look into “this Christianity thing” a little deeper.  Regardless, the question is the same:

Who prayed for you?

A few years ago at my uncle’s funeral visitation, my dad shared one of the neatest things I have ever heard:

     “When I was little, my dad told me his grandpa had 

       prayed for the next four generations, that they would know the Lord.  YOU,            LeAnne, are that 4th generation.”

Here I was, mingling in a room that contained my parents, my dad’s parents, my aunt & uncle and cousins.  A room that contained my sister, my brothers, and my husband.  A group gathered together to celebrate and remember my uncle, who, despite his limitations, had loved the Lord with all of his heart.

A room filled with people that my great-great grandpa had prayed for so many years ago.  Did his prayers impact who we decided to marry?  Did they play a role in the Christian heritage passed down from generation to generation?

How could his prayers have not had an impact?

The room contained something else--three very young children.  My children.  The 5th generation.

Who is praying for them?  And, who is praying for the generations to follow?

Sometimes, life is not about where we are--it’s about where we’ve been and where we are headed.  So much of Thanksgiving is about the now.  This year, I want to be thankful for how I got to this point in my life.  And, I want to be the next piece of the prayer chain in lifting up the next 4 generations of my family.

For whom will you pray?

“We will not hide these truths from our children, but will tell the next generation of the glorious deeds of the Lord...that they in turn might teach their children.  So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.” Psalm 78:4a,5&6