Love Is In Bloom

      The other day, the kids and I went to the Library to play with the toys and look at books. We had a really good time, but on our way to the car, Evelyn fell in the parking lot and skinned her knee. Later that night, when I tucked her into bed I told her how sorry I was for her that she had gotten hurt, and she just looked at me with the sweetest smile and announced "But, I have a Band-Aid now!" Princesses were staring back at me from her knee, where she had been hurt. She was looking on the bright side and it struck a chord for me deeply. In a way, all of us Blooms have a Band-Aid now. This is our story, how we came to meet the Sunshine baby and how we said goodbye.              Exactly 40 weeks before our now gone foster daughter was born we were at a CALL information meeting. . The Call is a Christian organization in Arkansas that opens homes of foster parents and encourages them along the way. My husband and I had been praying about what God's next step was for

            Six months ago, I became a foster mom and the emotions of it all were new to me. It has been both tough and wonderful. I prayed that God would help me to turn to healthy places with all that my  heart was going through and he has given me a lot of perseverance to make time alone at the gym a priority. I wanted this time of stress to make me stronger and healthier in every sense of the word. At first, I wanted to eat chocolate cupcakes all the time to cope, so I knew I needed a new method! Working out has helped me have time to put my mind on Christ, while at the same time moving my physical body in a healthy direction. Through my work out times, I have been amazed at all the spiritual lessons I have learned. There are many that come to my mind, but I am going to focus on the most recent lesson I have been learning.             Once a month I have been meeting with a trainer, so that I can learn how to use all the gym equipment and start new exercises I haven't tried be

Psalm 123:5-6 "...My cup overflows with blessings. Surely, your goodness and love (mercy) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."              Something I have learned in my relationship with Christ and journey of faith is that faith is tested time and time again as we have to choose to believe God means what He says in His word. Every verse is true, even when we can't see it from our current perspective. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is choose to believe,when it cannot be seen. The truth will come to light as we trust in the character of Jesus and that he is fully good and right in all that He does. As we put our faith in our loving God, all that we go through is for His glory and our GOOD.             What is good for us in God's eyes, many times is opposite from what our human nature thinks to be good. For me, in my motherhood I have been put on a journey that doesn't always seem like &qu

         On November fourth I wrote a letter to God. This is what I wrote: "I don't want to compromise. I want every part of my life wholeheartedly devoted to you, Jesus. I don't want to be lukewarm in my life with you in any area. I want to be sensitive in my spirit and have a contrite heart. I want to be a genuinely repentant person and also be genuinely changed. I do not want to cower away from purification and conviction. I want to see my flaws as they are, repent, forgive myself, and be changed. Lord, let me be a person who when I read your word, I make it a part of who I am by the power of your spirit." The very next day I would become a foster mom and a little love would steal my heart instantly. I wish I could say I have whole heartedly trusted Jesus through this, I wish I could say I haven't lived in fear. I wish I could say I didn't let my emotions get the best of me. I wish I could say a lot of things that I simply cannot. I can say, though, that Go

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and he will direct your path."           When I first became a mom, I was overwhelmed by the many different ways to be a mom. From how children are fed, to how they are schooled, or how they should or shouldn't sleep, and so on, the list felt endless. How was I supposed to know what the right path was for my life as a mom and my specific children? I knew that if I drowned myself in endless books and articles, I would get some insight, but if  I was going to do what was best for my family, I would need to seek the Lord and see what His agenda was for my family and my motherhood. He knows our children better than anyone and He has not left us on this crazy journey alone. God cares about every detail of our family's life and not only that, He is ready and willing to be our counselor and closest confidant in every moment of it.            Being

           I don't really believe in before and after pictures when it comes to motherhood and fitness. Thinking back, the times I was not able to make regular workouts were times when my life was filled with important things like sticking to couch rest, so that my baby wouldn't come pre-term, or being up all night with a baby and recovering. I had a post partum thyroid condition as well for the first year after baby was born. When mothers see their new stretch marks or post partum body, its not a time to feel shame, but to feel happy that you were able to be everything your baby needed. Be proud of all that you have accomplished as a mama and how you have sacrificed for your little ones. I love that I can both be proud of all that I have done for my children and also look to my future as the possibility of being the healthiest me yet. My body isn't stuck where it has been or is at, but it should be appreciated every step of the way as a vessel of sacrificial love and servi