Hearts 4 Hearts Girls

I was shopping at BJs today and browsing for gift ideas for my daughter's November birthday when I found these really great dolls. They are called Hearts For Hearts Girls. There are six dolls from different cultures all around the world. They are made for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these dolls actually go toward the organization.

Each doll is supposedly based on a real girl from that country. The website explains that "each of them has an important story to tell about life in her country, inspired by real girls who are strong, smart, courageous, and determined to rise above challenging circumstances."

In a world that is feeding immodesty and "it's what's on the outside that really matters" to our children, I would feel good about giving my daughter one of these dolls and supporting such a worthy organization.

Just thought I'd share...

My Newly Medicated ADHD Honey

The past month has been one thing after another. October is soccer season and both kids are playing. It's been fun to watch them both develop their "soccer skills" since last year. They seem to be having a great time! It must be the time of year, but I remember last year around this time wondering where all my time was going. I guess we are still adjusting to being back in school and with that, all of their extracurricular activities. It's all good. Atleast life isn't boring!

I wanted to write an update since my last ADHD post back in September. Adam had his appointment at the doctor to evaluate him for possible medication. Since the beginning of October he has been taking 20 mg of Vyvanse. Initially it was hard to decipher how exactly the medicine was effecting him. There seemed to be a little bit of a placebo effect where you think you see a difference but then maybe you just think you are seeing a difference.

This is his third week on the medicine and I think we are both cautiously optimistic about it. There have been definite circumstance where he has felt better focus and clarity in his thoughts. We just attended a wedding this past weekend. Trying to have a conversation with someone in a room full of conversations was always VERY difficult and overwhelming for him. He would sometimes sort of withdraw because his brain was so overwhelmed. It was exhausting! But on Saturday at the wedding, he noticed a marked difference in being able to concentrate. We'll take those small victories!

I feel like over time, we will have a better sense of the medicine's impact. His body is still getting used to it and he is trying to decide the best time to take a 9+ hour extended release pill. Especially since he needs better focus once he gets home in the late afternoon/evening. He goes back to the doctor for review beginning of November. Meanwhile, he continues to evaluate things with a counselor on a regular basis.

We thank you for your prayers as we continue to figure out what is best for him!

Inconvenient Love

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

LUKE 6:31-35

There are times in my life when it's easy to love. My love for my children is as close to unconditional as it gets. When everyone is in agreement, when people are kind to you, when you feel like it, love is easy to give. There are even times when I have myself convinced that I love people without any strings whatsoever. Perhaps this is how I would like to be, but more times then not I have something to gain.

Over the past few years I have been intrigued by the idea of loving people without strings. Loving people when I have nothing to gain. Loving people like Jesus did. I read a great book on the topic called 'Love Walked Among Us" by Paul Miller. I have written about love before on this blog. It's been an area in my life that I have felt called to grow in, to understand better, and to live out in my life. Perhaps that is why I was so impacted by a line in a book I read recently.

"Inconvenient love...it is what Christians are called to." --Joanna Weaver

I had never heard love put quite that way before. Inconvenient. How often do I allow myself to be inconvenienced so that I can love someone else? Any Mother can tell you that inconvenient love is a part of being a Mom. It's probably the closest I have been to loving inconveniently, and yet, they are my children. I have good reason to love them that way. What about other people, strangers, other people's children, neighbors...even serving in my church?

May this idea of "inconvenient love" challenge you to cut the strings we often attach when we give love away.

May we re-evaluate how we decide when, who, and how we love others.

Because part of loving is sacrificing. Giving up our own interests in order to love others the way they need to be loved and allowing ourselves to be inconvenienced so we can put someone else first.