Happy Valentines Day!

I love my Valentine from Caleb at Sarah's Covenant Homes in India!!

Check them out on my side bar it is a wonderful investment of your prayers and earthly treasures.

Veterans Day Idea

Here on the bottom is our Michael all geared up and on top is my brother-in law, Dave, in another hostile territory.

Just thought I would send out and idea that my kids and I have done for the last 4 Veteran's Days.

Since my young ones came from a country at war, and Caleb had vivid memories, I thought it was a good idea to talk to him of our love and respect for our service men, both those serving now and those whom have served.

Good thing I taught him early on as he has two new brother-in-laws who are service men and have both seen active duty:)

Caleb has learned to respect and honor, not fear. Not an easy thing for a child who has had military men point guns at him just for asking for food!

So on to an idea we wanted to share.

Each Veterans Day we bake cookies, bread, or some such thing and deliver them to men we have met in our neighborhood who are veterans. We have brought cookies to numerous WWII vets, Korean vets, and some of the present hostilities vets.

Each year we get to see the surprise on these men's faces as the see someone honoring them! This should not be. I am honored to have had them serve for me and my family, and I am thankful I can show a kindness especially on this day that is meant to honor them, not just be another vacation day.

Let me know what you think and if you take some 'sweet' action this Veterans Day!

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Praying that you all had a wonderful Sunday and were blessed to hear the Lord's word preached and fellowshiped with wonderful believers as we did.

We were also blessed to attend our local Sanctity of Human Life Rally at our courthouse. It was nice to see a small crowd attending on this cold Sunday. Did you know that if a woman is considering abortion, that is she sees a 3D ultra-sound she is 70% more likely to choose life for her child? Wow, that number just amazed me! We will be happily donating to this wonderful project.

David and I as young parent with our first born, Danielle.

As the parents of a child from an unplanned pregnancy, we know how hard the choice can be. We have personally walked that difficult path. We have been shunned by our friends. We have walked alone as those in authority pushed for us to end the life of our child. We have walked into churches to have people turn the other way. We have heard the unkind remarks. We have heard people say our marriage was doomed from the start. We have parented at a young age and learned by trial and error. We have pinched every penny possible to make ends meet.

I thought long about posting a very personal issue, but as I stood there listening today, I was reminded how difficult it was and how it was people from the church who actually made it harder on us. I just wanted to use this opportunity to encourage you to be the one to make the difference in the life of someone in this difficult position.

When they find themselves in this position, it is not the time to judge or lecture. I promise you that they most likely have heard it all and more importantly have known it in their hearts already for a long time. Guilt they know, love is what they need.

As a couple who has been in this position, we can also tell you that we are very proud of all these women who choose life!! Choosing to parent a child is a difficult choice, but choosing to place your child for adoption is heart wrenching. It was not the choice we made, but we faced it.

Now as adoptive parents, we at times find ourselves in tears over the choice our children's mother made!! She choose life!!! Hannah would not be alive, except for the choice she made.

If we believe what we preach, we should recognize these women have made a wonderful choice for life, and we need to honor and encourage them in this amazing adventure they are undertaking, whether to parent or to place for adoption.

Show love as we have been shown love!!

Oh---and by the way we have been very happily married for almost 25 years, and our daughter that so many said was too much of an inconvience.....well she is a beautiful treasure who loves the Lord with all her heart, she will soon be joining her life to another to continue this wonderous circle of life!!

Was it worth it all?

You bet, we have NEVER EVER looked back!!!!

Haitian Blog

Here is the link to a blog I have read a few times and definately have revisited since the earthquake in Haiti.

Missionaries with a first hand account. Just wanting to pass it on.

Woven Together With India

I just love the way God intertwines our lives together!!
So back this summer when I was preparing for my marathon, I presented a ministry that I was hoping to support with my fundraising--Sarah's Covenant Homes

I have so enjoyed supporting this ministry and watching the children as they change and grow under her care.

While I was training for the marathon with Nichele and talking about my fundraising, she mentioned her sister-in-law, Faye, was going to be going to India in January. I really did not know Faye at that time, but wondered if all the places in India to minister it would be the same place.

It was!!! Faye is now in India helping to minister to these special children. You can follow her progress here on her blog. I was overjoyed to be able to send some things with her that can be used at the homes in India.

Interestingly, Erinn and her friend Grace had traveled up to a fundraiser and ministry opportunity last year, I did not even know about SCH then, but that was who the ministry was.

You gotta love God's tapestry--the way He weaves our lives together into something amazingly beautiful.

Praying for Haiti

Since hearing of the major earthquake in Haiti, I , like many of you have been praying for their country.

This morning God brought to mind this orphanage (God's Littlest Angels) there in Haiti that some friend of ours adopted their two beautiful daughters from.

This picture is borrowed from their website.

I thought I would pass on this information in case anyone was looking for a way to make this tragedy a little more personal to help their children pray for this country.

I believe they are all safe, though shaken up. They are presently preparing for an influx of children from this disaster.

Human Trafficking

I missed it---Yesterday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day!!

A wonderful site to visit if you are interested in finding out ways to get involved in ending this practice is at Make Way Partners

Unbeknownst to many Americans---slavery did not end with the American Civil War!! It continues today in many forms in many places around the world!

I encourage you to find a way to get involved today!

My Aching Feet

Ohh!!! My aching feet!!

Now mind you, I am not complaining (too loudly) after all it is for a good cause!! But boy do both of my heels hurt! My plantar facitis is full blown in both heels, hence Drew's beautiful taping job and my night time foot splint!

I am happy to say that we have raised almost $250 together for Sarah's Covenant Homes. I am still praying for a bunch of last minute donations to help out this wonderful ministry (click on the short cut on the side bar to find out more about the ministry) You can read about my marathon for ministry here http://jdelightinginhim.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-adventure.html

So you still have 16 days to join in this effort to help out a wonderful ministry and push me through all 26.2 miles!! Wow that sounds like a lot!!! LOL!!

New Adventure!!

My exciting new adventure actually began 2 months ago when I decided to run/walk the Portland Marathon.


At first I was reluctant as my knee causing problems again and I was reluctant to cause any further injury to it. But as I was continually being asked to do it and really encouraged by my over-active husband, I finally gave in and signed up.


At first knowing that David was so excited was enough to keep me going. I also enjoyed fellowshiping with the ladies on our long walks.



But as time moved on, I just kept coming back to why am I doing this, what is the purpose?

Our church used this marathon and the 5 guys doing it last year as a fund raiser to start their disabilities ministry. Now there is a purpose. Through the funds they raised, they sent some people to training and purchased supplies they needed for start up.


During my walk this week God gave me a purpose for my marathon training!!!

I will be walking/running to raise funds for Sarah's Covenant Homes!!! http://sarahscovenanthomes.blogspot.com/

This ministry has set up family-style homes for abandoned children (orphans) with special needs in India. Right now they are working to raise funds for another run of surgeries that some of the children need- http://sarahscovenanthomes.blogspot.com/2009/08/hyderabad-on-monday-more-surgeries.html These surgeries will be done in the next weeks. On top of this they are working on bringing a new set of children to the homes. All of this along with the everyday expenses of running their homes, God has placed them on my heart to run to raise funds for them.


Now I may be great on ideas at times, but the detail are usually a bit of work for me!! So right now I am asking that if you would like to sponsor me in the Portland Marathon (October 4) run/walk post a comment or email me at djordan3940@charter.net I will work on getting a meter to show the progress on the sidebar.


Thanks ahead of time for taking the time to consider this. It will definitely make working towards and finishing the marathon a more enjoyable experience for me and I will know it is going towards a good cause!!!

Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters

I found this story on the Voice of the Martyr's blog site and it just made me cry-- North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534728,00.html?test=latestnews

It makes me think of all the discrepancies between our freedom and the persecution our brothers and sisters in Christ face daily around the world.

Such as:
*That we have many Bibles at our home.
*That we have too many for us to read each one.
*That each of us has our own Bible we read daily.
*That if something were to happen to it I could just go to the store an buy a new one.
*That if I want to, I can give a Bible to whomever I choose.
*That we have a church we attend regularly without fear of persecution.
*That I can invite whomever I would choose to attend with me.
*That I can teach my children the Bible legally.
*That sharing my faith will not land me in jail.
*That singing praise and worship songs on our back deck with friends is OK.
*That having friends come to our home for Bible study is not called seditious.
*That praying before eating at a restaurant will not be followed by jail time.
*That posting my thoughts on faith here on this blog is legal.

Just as the woman's family in this story is also paying for her 'crime', we, her brothers and sisters in the Lord should be putting in 'prayer time' on her behalf and the many others around the world who suffer similarly.

I am presently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan--thanks to all those who recommended it-Laurel--I am only in chapter two at the moment, but am struck by the straightforwardness of the book. My favorite line so far--It is not all about you, so get over it already! Now that is not an exact quote but you get the gist of it. How I know this is true, but forget so easily. Lord change my heart, let me hurt for my brothers and sisters, that I may step out of myself and be part of your larger plan.

Swimming With Watoto

Aren't these beautiful children!!

Now when I go to the park or the pool, I usually do not have too much trouble finding my two beautiful African faces in our predominately white community. Today I was having a 'little' more trouble than usual!!! Caleb is on his back a little to the right of center in the picture.
There is a children's choir from Uganda called 'Watoto' in town and we were invited to the gym and pool with them today. Hence the problem trying to pick mine out of the pool. Hannah is at the bottom of the picture holding on to the side. We do have one of the best swim teachers in town living right in our house (Erinn), but alas my youngest do not know how to swim. What is that saying about the shoemaker's kids not having shoes!
Interestingly, after listening to the choir sing on Sunday, Hannah told me she wanted to be an 'African Girl' when she grew up!! After I got over my surprise I informed her that she already WAS and African Girl!!! To which she gave me a huge toothless grin!!


If you are interested in the ministry of Watoto you can visit them online at http://www.watoto.com/ They have built self contained communities where the orphan children are raised in home-like settings--8 children to one mother. To raise the next generation to fear the Lord and serve their country.

Sarah's Covenant Homes

You will hopefully notice the new picture on the sidebar. It is for a ministry that I have been following and hope to soon be able to help participate in funding. I invite you to go on over an see the amazing work being done in India to help those who have no voice and whom many would want to pass on by as too much work.