Who, What, When, Where, Why?

Lately, I've been rather consumed with these questions. 

After being so closely involved with the work of Harmony Outreach during Lori's adoption, after meeting the great folks in our area who are giving so much to Heart for Africa, after reading about the needs and mission of The Apparent Project in Haiti, and after seeing the beautiful HOW? Jewelry and learning about the vision behind it - I want to help.  I want to sink my teeth into something.  I want to use my creative energy for the greater good.  I want to make a difference and know I've not wasted my life.  I want to share God's message of redemption.  I want to help those that are hurting.  But........the reality of life grabs hold and sqeezes some of the life out of these wants and replaces them with -  I also want to be the best wife and momma I can be.  I want to keep my house semi-clean (the word "semi" gives me lots of freedom!).  I want to learn more about Jesus.  I want to have some time to just "be still and know".

In my past - I have tried the "do it all" approach and I'm just not cut out for that.  The one thing I've learned in my 40 years - is that if I try to fly to high, the crash landing stings really bad.  So, this week as I've pondered where I can best serve the needs placed before me - I know that God, Hubby, and Kids must remain priority.  If I also fit in a little time for "me" to rejuvinate - that doesn't leave much left over.  Do I raise money for Africa?  Do we dive in to adoption again?  Do I host HOW? and Apparent Project Jewelry Shows?  Do I collect cereal boxes to send to Haiti? (interested? - click to read the blog post)  Do I raise money for a mission trip?  Do I take the kids on a mission trip?  Do I go with Jay to the Clean Water conference? 

My devo today was from an old book that I found on the shelf yesterday.  An old fave - My Utmost for His Highest by O. Chambers.  Love it!  Today, it talked about how no matter what we do, unless we are found to be "approved unto Him" - it's all vanity.  How true!  It goes right along with our Wednesday night study of Ecclesiates.  So, instead of trying to answer all my own questions - my real desire should be to seek Him and His "wants" for my life.  No matter what it is - whether big or small - if it is His plan - than this life will not be wasted.  I think I need to ponder that for a while.  I have a tendancy to bite off more that I can chew and those experiences leave a bitter taste in my mouth.  I'll let you know what comes out of all this.  It should be interesting.

Apparent Project
Heart for Africa
Harmony Outreach
HOW? Jewelry

Tears

For some reason, I've been a little teary-eyed this week as I watch God unfold His plans in our life and all around us.  Amazing.  Simple conversations, taking opportunities, unexpected texts, swirling thoughts, compassion blooming, urgency needed, complacency fading. 

Updates from the Lancaster House

(from Jay)

Many of you have asked about Lori and how she is doing. After her staph infection and brief stay at children’s hospital, we have been on infection-watch…dosing her with heaping amounts of horrible tasting antibiotics (7 bottles worth in all), and watching for the signs of the infection returning. At our one week follow up, our surgeon gave us the news that he ‘wasn’t happy’ with her incision site. It was puffy and spongy, and he was worried about the infection returning. He informed us that if it didn’t look better in a week, they were going to reopen, and clean it out a second time, put her on IV antibiotics for several days and send her home with a PIC line for six weeks…a bit extreme we thought. However, at our next follow up, which was a week and a half ago, we got great news. He was happy with the site, and sent us home. We are to still watch for signs of the infection returning over the next couple weeks, but we are clear, and so far she is doing great with no signs of returning infection. Maybe we will get a week or two without having to go to Children’s hospital!  Praise the Lord for his healing and grace!

On another front, an organization that we are learning more and more about is the Heart for Africa group, led by Janine Maxwell, who wrote It’s not okay with me. The organization focuses on feeding the poor in Africa, orphan ministry, and helping young men and women develop skills to be independent. A local chapter of the group from Cape Girardeau is in the middle of their annual events this month. This past Sunday, we attended the Heart for Africa brunch at the Venue in Cape, and it was wonderful. This coming Saturday night is their big banquet and dance, also at the Venue. We actually splurged and bought tickets, and are excited to be going. Janine Maxwell is actually going to be present and speaking that night. We highly recommend everyone that can to go check it out. Leave a comment if you would like to know how to buy tickets.

Finally, some of the young men at our church, Miner Baptist, are putting together a night of worship scheduled for March 18th. We will be having it at the Studio One Youth Building at Miner Baptist, but the whole community is invited. Our band will be leading the music, and I cannot express how excited I am to get to serve in this way. Last night we took to time sit in a circle and discuss the event, its intentions, how to encourage a spirit of worship with those attending, praying together and carefully discussing which songs to play. We then dove into practice, which was so much fun. I actually found myself at one point in a song stopping to just sit and close my eyes and listen…it was great. We have several new songs to learn in a short time…but I’m confident we can bring it together. But I want to invite everyone who would like to enjoy a fun night of contemporary worship to come out at 6pm on Sunday the 18th. It should be a great time of worship, prayer, and testimonies.

Random Thoughts from the Hospital

On Wednesday, as we were fixing Lori's hair - we noticed that it was sticky behind her right ear. On closer inspection, there was a scab around her incision site with some drainage. Gross, I know. We left it alone and looked at it again later that night. It was still draining. The next morning, a phone call to her cochlear implant audiologist office left us in a rush to get to St Louis. We made arrangements and headed north. After checking her out in the office, they admitted us to the hospital and scheduled surgery for Friday morning. The next day, they came to take her back around 10:00. A few hours later, they let us know that they opened up her old incision, cleaned out the site, moved the implant device up about an inch into her thicker musculature, and cut out any infected skin. The culture did test positive for your basic run-of-the-mill staph. Since admission, she had received antibiotics through her IV - so they wanted to keep her and continue the meds. Looks like we'd be spending another night.

During a calm moment, Jay and I left the girls with Lori in the room and went to grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria. We asked the question of "why are we here?" and shared some thoughts. I thought I'd share some with you.

As we sat in the admission waiting room (for 3 borrrrring hours!!), a commercial came on the tv talking about how everyone has a story. Lori does for sure. And being in the hospital provided us several opportunities to share her story. We were able to stand outside the room of an ill little boy and encourage his parents who are just finishing their Home Study as part of their own adoption. The fears and uncertainties of adoption are setting in and plaguing their thoughts right now - we were able to offer the reassurance that God will see this through. Our nurse asked about Lori - I love how people are so free to ask about her - since it's obvious by looking at us that she is adopted. This gives people liberty to ask a few questions. We told her story again, and this nurse shared how her brother and sister-in-law had just announced that they were going to adopt. I came away from that conversation hoping that by seeing Lori - this young lady would be able to encourage and support her family through their adoption.

Another thing we talked about is that as children, Jay and I rarely spent time in a hospital. Maybe a rare visit to ailing grandparents through the years - but nothing significant. However, for our children, things have been vastly different and we are so grateful. As we hope to raise kids who are compassionate and caring, we love the time they get to spend in the hospital. We love that they get to hold her hand as they place the IV, that they know how to silence the IV (vital information at 3 AM), that they know how to order a meal, that they know how to maneuver a bed with lots of bells and whistles, that they know how to find a bathroom, that they know how to call a nurse from the room, that they know how to locate a vending machine, and cup of coffee, etc. I could go on and on. We love that they have spent long, mindless days staring out of our 8th floor window - knowing that many families spend weeks and months with no end in sight as their kiddos fight for their life. We love that they spent time talking and playing with our "roommate", who was a 4 year old little girl who had been there a lot longer than us - and never once during our stay did she have any family (none, nada) with her.

I love that Madison now says she wants to work in a Children's Hospital. Maybe the Lord is using this season to prepare her for her future.

Lori is doing well - she looks a little crazy - with a big patch of hair shaved off, a ghastly scar behind her ear, and a puffy face. This too shall pass. She's running around like nothing ever happened. We are blessed and grateful. Now, if she would only swallow the meds without a fight!

A New Year

2011 was certainly a banner year for the Lancaster's.  So, so many things happened.  Some great - some agonizing.   Some pushed me to "my" limits (only God really knows what my limits are.....), some things were thrilling and full of excitement.  Others brought grief.  However, no matter what, we trust that each day's happenings come to help us reach the person Christ desires us to be.  So we try to remain thankful and grateful for the grace and mercy to get through whatever may come. 

I did read some great books during 2011, and made a promise to myself to be intentional during 2012 with slowing down a bit and reading more.  I love to read and can devour a good book in no time.  Some top picks for me lately have been:  Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God, the biography of Ann Judson, The Help, and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.  I have really enjoyed autobiographies this last year of great Christians that have paved the way before us.  They inspire me.  They help me feel like ordinary people can acoomplish the extraordinary.  I've also enjoyed reading everything I can find about China.  I want to help Lori understand the life she was born into.  I want to be able to give her some answers - someday.

Speaking of Lori - during these last few months - we've seen many of Lori's friends from China come home to their Forever Families.  We've also seen several of them continue to live life at the orphanage.  These kids need families - I'm using this moment to make a desperate plea for our readers - if there is any way you could offer a home to one of the least of these - now is the time.  They need you know.  Please pray for them.  At the very least - they need good, committed intercessors praying on their behalf.  You could be that for one of them.

As 2012 enters, we say Happy New Year to Lori's parents - wherever they may be.  We also wish our friends and family a very happy new year and hope each of us pursues the purpose God has planned for us. 

As a family, we have all recently sat down and talked about adopting again.  All the kids are in agreement that we have room for one more.  The majority have asked for another girl and most of us agree that China would be our country of choice.  I know this is absolute insanity.  I get that.  But, we just can't shake the feeling that this is the way God is leading.  So, please pray for us as we seek clarity for what steps to take next.   Adoption is VERY expensive and time-consuming.  Those parts of it scare me.  One common theme I've met with lately is that we should seek to replace our fears with faith.  Amen!  There is one particular little girl that has caught our attention.  We have sent off asking for more information on her.  We'll keep you posted.....

For the Glory of the King

My oh my - it's already Christmas time!  This year has surely flown by. 

Many of you know we are back at our "home" church - and were so blessed to make it back in time for our kiddos to help in the Christmas Play.  Chloe was an angel, Sam was a Sheep, and Jax was a Camel.  Annie was Jr. Director and Maddie ran the lights.  The play went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time.  Afterwards, one mom came up to me and said that when Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and Sam went up to the manger - she leaned over and asked her husband what kind of animal Sam was.  The husband replied that he thought he might be a Panda.  (hilarious!)  To which I replied - since "Joseph" was from Vietnam - maybe so!  Leave it to our crew to inspire an Asian Nativity right here in the Heartland.

As for the rest of the Month - we've been completely blown away again this year with Sheet sales through Lori's Linens.  I want to be careful to give thanks to God for blessing our little business - because it certainly is not due to our superb salesmanship.  It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to tell our adoption story over and over and to play a small role in helping other families bring their little ones home. By the end of December - we'll be close to the hitting the mark for 900 sets sold!

Thanks to all our friends and family for all your support this year.  It's been a CrAzY year (and that's putting it mildly :-)

Merry Christmas!

Weird

It's been a weird week packed with lots of emotion.  Every once in a while weeks like this come along and help refine us and force us to truly decide where we stand on certain issues.  Even though in America, we do not face persecution as believers do in other countries - we do face opposition to our beliefs.  The opposition we've faced recently has been good.  It has made us own up to our decisions, back them up with Scripture, pray for Grace and gracious words, and to love on people despite the differences.  All that said - I'll be honest in saying that we have felt a little beat up.  As many of you know - especially if you've ever ridden in a car with Jay - music is very therapeutic for this family.  This week we have focused on 2 songs that we wanted to share with you.

This one puts a smile back on our face and we've decided this is our family's new Theme Song!

This one humbly reminds us that His grace is greater than all our sin.  Hallelujah!  We stand in awe of a Mighty God.