sinful heart + His goodness and grace! = blessings!

yesterday I was so emotional... my sinful heart was not in the right place, you see,  not only are you as a foster parent dealing with scarred children (yes even ones that are only months old) but you also are dealing with a flawed worldly system. I am just the type personality (maybe to a fault) that when I need to ask a question I need someone RIGHT then.. patience is a fruit of the spirit right?? well, God has and continues to work on me.. I am a work in process!!! BUT after I finally got someone to answer my questions the Lord immediately convicted me of my sinful heart.. I was reminded and repented! a few hours later I was talking to Doug while he was on his way home  (get this picture... 2 fussy babies, lane peeling potatoes beside me, L hanging off my leg, and J playing on the fridge phonics, Alexis asking every 5 minutes "when is Caleb coming home from six flags?", and Andrew saying "Jake and the never land pirates!!") mind you it is 5:45 pm! As I spoke to Doug I got teary eyed at just how good God has been to us!.. I could not help but reflect on the "gifts" that He has given us lately through people! I went back to 1000 gifts when Ann Voscamp reminds us to LOOK and pay attention to all the gifts... It's grace! beautiful grace!!! I wanted to record these so as the time went on I could go back and see all he gives! yes, most of these things are material things BUT each person behind these makes my heart smile and will forever be etched on my heart!

while we were at the beach I met a sweet coulee from Kansas and we had the opportunity to talk and share where else other than.... the bathroom!!! what a sweet memory as she told me about her kiddos now getting older and realizing how the time flies.. she was precious and we were not at our campsite at the time but she left a big bag of charcoal with the sweetest note and ask if we would use it! yes, mam.. we cooked hamburgers that night on it! a few minutes later when we returned her son came over a gave our children a boogie board.. what a blessing because we had JUST said hours before when we go to town we need one more boogie bard... well He provided! Doug needed a pair of sunglasses and was getting one of those headaches so he said when we go to town I need sunglasses.... well.... not even hours later Alexis pops up from the ocean and she is holding a "like new" pair of sunglasses... BTW... just like the style Doug wears... you can't tell me God is not in the details of our lives :) then my new friend Brenda! oh.what.a.sweet.heart.... and spoiler !!! she made  sure that we were lacking nothing ! Brenda and her husband, sister in law and brother in law were to our left... we had so much in common! and she was just like talking to someone I had know for years! you see, the spirit recognizes the spirit! we stayed up late a couple of nights just talking! they were so generous they gave us a 5 gallon bucket, crabs (fresh), macaroni salad, tomatoes, firewood, baked beans, smores!!! and most of all a sweet memory!!! then the cutest couple to our right was celebrating their 2 year anniversary... why in the world did God allow this couple to be beside the family of "all the kiddos"  plus the Hedrixes kiddos too!!! well... our kiddos did not matter o them, they were so gracious!!! they had the cutest yorkie "Annie" of course the kiddos fell in love with Annie... I really think that they will come to griffin not only to see us BUT to attend the Griffin fair :) it was sweet to see them.. it reminded me of the short period that Doug and I were the couple with no kiddos!!! then my Alabama friend Rachel! she was having a "mommy time out" one night on the beach... I strolled down to get something out of the water and then we engaged in conversation.. what a sweet spirit! we talked and talked just about life and it was a blessed time! I really hated when we left that I had not written down my Facebook name BUT she has such a great memory she found me!!! I was so thankful! now we can keep up even miles away! then the couple that was in "the BEST campsite" well in our eyes at least ... stopped us one night and ask us about L.. (yes she was the ONLY black person at the beach so we really stood out every where we went... I hope God reveal to her that God used her in sooooo many ways to minister to others!) we stopped and he said that God kept putting foster parents and adoptive parents  in his wife and his life... he really felt like God was calling them to look further.. oh how I wish I had got their names... God knows it!  that next evening he had caught a shark and fileted it.. he stops Doug and gives him one of the filets... we used more of the firewood to cook it... and we were able to share it with 3 other campsites.. just typing this makes me thankful, joyful and prayerful! I have now many more to pray for and what a privilege that is!!!

I can't end on the blessings of all those... we are sooooo blessed with the Hendrix's!!! we have become such great friends... this was the 4th time we have been on this "annual" trip!!! NO doubt this is a tradition!! we all look forward to this time together.. we did 5 night together this year!!!! What a heart Faith and Steve have!!! Faith and I could talk for hours! about nothing! I love our time when we sit (would love to make money at that one year ) in our chairs and look and look and look for dolphins or sharks!!! getting shells brought to us, getting sandy, taking LOTS of pictures, telling the kiddos " your too far, come back this way!" then the tradition of Hungry Howie, the sunset coastal grill, then after you are STUFFED eating an ice cream at burger king just because its cheap!, going to dollar general, looking for ALLIGATORS!, playing Dutch Blitz, smelling LOTS of smoke around the campfire, seeing the "different" pairs of kiddos as they walk and play at the beach, and admiring our suntans !!! I am so thankful the we said YES to a beach trip years ago!

then as we returned home I could not wait to get our hands on J, J and C.. I was thankful that Kathy was able to keep C! she brought them so much delight, love, cuteness, and STINKY diapers!! he he!! we had to put J and J in respite care but the lady was so sweet I called to check on the girls it was a sweet reunion.. our house was finally complete!

then last week J need some MUCH needed shoes and being honest... she needed GOOD ones.. I put out on Facebook that I was looking for that size and honestly did not have lots of money to invest... as foster parents there is not always resources, they are very limited!!!  the next day I had someone I had know since a little girl sent me a Facebook and said they wanted to buy the shoes... I wept!! I was thankful that God uses us even sinful hearts to care for others!!

I see grace all in this! His grace.. it had nothing to do with  "stuff" it has to do with HIM and HIS glory!!! may I continue to remember His goodness when my heart is even in the wrong!