Some Words.

"He climbed the high mountain,

He captured the enemy and seized the booty,

He handed it all out in gifts to men."

(the message)

"And when He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

and gave gifts to men.

(NKJV)

I told you a little while ago that I love to read. Born from that is a love of words.

Beautiful, flowing, poetic.

I love to savor the way they roll in my mind,

how a few simple words can evoke such emotion.

The words above, from Ephesians, have been tumbling around in my mind for a few days.

Just popped into my head...

or were lovingly placed there.

I can feel them going deep.

I can feel things been rooted up and tossed to and fro.

He took captivity captive.

Ruminate on that.

What does that look like? How does that feel?

Liberating. Hopeful. Amazing.

So I sit, I think, I ponder, I pray.

Oh God, take my captivity.

Take it captive to Your goodness, your truth.

Set me free.

A gift, indeed.

Hootenanny

Hootenanny.

Hootenanny is an Appalachian colloquialism that was used in early twentieth century America to refer to things whose names were forgotten or unknown. In this usage it was synonymous with thingamajig or whatchamacallit, as in "hand me that hootenanny." Hootenanny was also an old country word for "party".

I love this word. Fun to say. Fun to hear my kids say.

AND...it's an amazing dish that I found in this book that I won. So many fun recipes and great hosting (hostessing?) ideas.

Hootenany has become somewhat of a fun Sunday morning tradition for us.

I love messing with the recipe a bit and adding different things.

Maple syrup. Cinnamon and vanilla (fave).

And the kids love it. Happy mom. Happy kids.

Beauty.

I love weekends. Started out with a much needed girl date. Me and my lovelies. We went to a yummy Japanese restaurant - hibachi style. So fun. They loved the food the atmosphere and it was a blast to spend some time with them. I love my girls!

AND...

We planted our garden today. In February. Hoping it doesn't frost... really hoping.

I love doing this as a family.

The kids each pick out a couple veggies, plant and tend (ideally) them.

Usually it's Jason or I tending them...or just Jason...or neither?!

I have a self professed black thumb.

It's lethal.

But

THIS IS MY YEAR!!

I shouldn't have any excuses. I'm not huge pregnant, I don't have newborn...

should work

here's hoping!

Anyway...full weekend...life is good!

I'm really hoping that my massive amount of pictures this week will distract you from the fact that I missed yesterday's post. 29 posts in 30 days? Maybe I'll do two in one day...or maybe not...?!

Five Things I Love Friday - bloggy friend edition

I feel like I'm cheating. I don't need to be overly creative or eloquent to do this post. But I really do love these. Lots. Check them out!

1. My good friend Lynda. We've been friends for over 11 years - loved every minute of it!

She is an amazing writer..check out her stuff. Careful though, it's quite addictive!

2. Jenn. Can't say enough about this girl. Love her lots...she makes me laugh, she is so real in her blog, and amidst raising 4 beautiful kids, she is crazy crafty. Love.

3. Poop in a Candle. 'Cause who wouldn't love a blog called poop in a candle. Hilarious. Nuff Said.

4. Cale's Recovery. These two are friends of friends. An amazing story of love and faith and healing and hope. Go there. Be encouraged. Be changed.

5. Amy. We've been in the same geographical maybe twice in the last 10 years. Had a few conversations here and there. "refound" her on fb recently and just discovered her blog. Beautiful. Timely. Lovely.

Thankful...on purpose

Complacent. In a rut. Discontent.

These are words I use to describe where I am at too often.

Way too often. It's embarrassing.

I live a great life.

Beautiful, healthy, amazing kids.

Loving, attentive, involved, cute, Godly husband.

Wonderful house. Friendly Neighbors. You get the picture.

So, why do I feel discontent sometimes...a lot of times.

In reading the book I posted about earlier in the week, I am beginning to understand.

It seems the root of discontentment is unthankfulness.

Ouch.

I always tell the kids to be thankful for what they have. To say thanks. To give thanks.

But inside, I am not thankful.

I should be. I need to be.

"I have LEARNED in whatever state I am in, to be content..."

Oh God, help be to learn that. To learn by doing.

Create a spirit of gratitude within me.

The author, early on in the book, starts a list based on a dare.

List a thousand things you are thankful for.

1000. that's lots.

A bit daunting maybe, I don't think I've done a thousand of anything...

except for diapers, but, really....ewwwww.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna go for the challenge.

As I was thinking of it today, I found a lot to be thankful for.

From tiled bathroom floors, to the infectious giggle of my three year old. Thinking maybe I'll list them for you...maybe a "thankful thursday" thing.

Catchy, I know :)

Follow along if you want, better yet, join in!

What are you thankful for?

1 The little bird outside the girls' window that wakes up with me in the morning.

2 Springtime buds...in February

3 indestructible plastic toys

4 Grandparents watching grandkids play basketball on the front lawn

5 The big yellow school bus that delivers my kids every afternoon

6 That my house is the bus stop

7 Bouncing backpacks as they come off of the bus

8 hugs that say I am loved

9 little readers learning their words

10 google chat

11 canned spaghetti sauce (don't judge)

12 calls to my mom over 3000 miles away

13 her voice on the other end of the line

14 knowing she misses me too

15 New shoes, that aren't so new

16 laughing til you lose control of your face

17 watching my kids laugh like that

Be thankful, on purpose!

Wordless Wednesday....mwwaaahahahaha....

i believe she can fly...

Macey woke up this morning in a bad mood.

Bad.

Not horribly unusual for her, she's definitely not a morning person. But she was more out of sorts than usual today. I did my best to tame her mood, calm her down, spur her on towards getting ready for school in a timely manner.

While she was eating breakfast, I asked if any of the kids had dreams last night. Not an unusual conversation for us to have.

It was like a light clicked on in her.

Tears, anger, fear, frustration, sadness

- all at once -

came flowing from my 5 year old.

"Mom, I lost my flying powers last night." Ahhh...got it.

My Macey is a dreamer.

Not like the "I wanna be such and such someday" type dreamer.

But like the

real,

night time,

sleeping,

revelation type dreamer.

For as long as she has been able to talk, she has articulated her dreams to us. From faceless people with blue hair to

our house flooding

and being told to move

to flying down the stairs and around the house.

She dreams...God speaks...she listens.

It's amazing.

Lately she has been flying...a lot.

I know the applicability and validity of dreams can be debated on many levels.

But I also know that God speaks to me,

to us,

in this way.

On a date with Miss Macey one night, we were talking about dreams.

Jason and I know that it is cool to fly in a dream and have always told her that it was so amazing. But I realized, I had never told her why it was cool.

"Macey, when you fly in a dream, it means you are flying with God, that you He speaks to you with His Spirit, and you listen!"

She replies

"Really?! Oh man, I feel so much better."

Then a slight silence and with a choked up little voice she says

"Mom, these are not tears of sad, but happy tears...I love this!"

Oh man...she gets it!

I love that she gets it, that she knows that Jesus thinks highly of her,

that He wants to carry her and have fun with her.

In her waking, and in her sleeping.

She has even gone so far as to be SOOO excited in the morning after a flying dream that she asks to try it for real.

For. Real.

And she wants me to join in.

As in, she wants to jump off our banister and show me the new moves she learned in her dreams. Now, the rational part of me is like

"Yeah right, I am never going to let my baby jump off a banister.

Ever."

Don't take this the wrong way and think I am going to be throwing my kids off of banisters...

But I do have to admit that something, deep within, is stirred.

What if she can really fly?

What if God is asking her, telling her to take a step, a leap of faith.

Do I dare stand in the way?

Hmmmm....!!!

Someday, with faith like a child,

maybe -

she will really fly.

Because I do, I really do...

I believe she can fly....

Got Motivation?

I'm gonna take the easy way out today. Sending you over to another blog. I really feel like I have no creative juices flowing. Empty. Sorry.

But, in the midst of my lack of creativity this afternoon, I visited a bunch of blogs. Some I frequent daily and some not quite so often. This one, I re-visited again today. I love this girl. I don't know her at all, but her heart resonates with mine. She is living the "stuff."

Now, I know not everyone is called to go to a foreign country and adopt a ton of (or 14)kids. But I do know that inside each of us is a yearning to love, to do, to be, to - as she puts it in today's post - "see Jesus." Go over to her blog, take a look. What will it look like for you to "see Jesus" today?

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Dig Deep...Rest Well

"Mom, when we get home from church, can we go out and dig our hole some more?"

"Sure, dig away."

In my mind, I'm thinking...yes!

Dig, dig, dig! Play, play, play. Sleep, sleep, sleep.

I know all of us parents out there can attest to the fact that when kids have played long, played hard they sleep so much better. Bed time is somewhat enjoyable because they are worn out...tired...ready to rest.

So, today was spent digging, filling, digging some more, creating slides and steps and car seats for baby brother out of dirt.

I stood watching them. Marveling at their creativity.

How a simple patch of dirt that last year was a vegetable grave yard (i do NOT have a green thumb) was now a limitless arena of imagination. How four kids who sometimes fight over the silliest of things were bonded in an instant by creating something grand out of something so simple.

I know I tend to over "metaphorize" things sometimes.

Yes, I think I just made up that word. But, I'm tired and it sounds good to me. Don't hate.

Anyway....As I was thinking of my kiddos digging and creating and playing and the sweet rest that would follow,

I heard, felt, was wooed by that Still Small Voice.

Dig deep, my child, rest well.

Ah...sweet words, sweet promise. Sometimes - really, all the time, I think - the digging, the chipping away at what is, to reveal that which is supposed to be, is hard.

Really. Hard.

It hurts. Aches. Wounds.

But my Daddy is a gentle excavator. He does not always come in with a backhoe, but more often with a chisel and brush. His desire is not to damage beyond repair, but to fix and fill and create something beautiful and priceless out of something broken and wounded. I love that about Him!

He is encouraging me to dig and find and allow him to reveal the roots to brokenness, to invite Him to show me what needs to be fixed. But in turn, He promises sweet rest, blessed restoration.

Good stuff, all from a day in the dirt!

Watching him....

Whew...what a day. I'm pooped. Tired. Worn out. Filled! We had a morning of chores, which the kids cheerfully completed. Love it when that happens. Afternoon was full of basketball games and playing outside and the kids digging a "pool" in my garden. So much dirt, so much fun!

Mac has decided he can walk now.

He literally went from walking maybe 5-10 steps at a time to taking a whole room. I think the clincher was the 2 hours he spent waiting in a the doctors office for his check up.

That's what happens when mom thinks the appointment is at 11 and it's really at 11:40.

Oh well...right?!

Anyway, been watching him a lot today. Swelling with pride. Been reminiscing a lot too. How did he get old enough to walk? Seems like just yesterday he was born. I love my babies!

Tonight as he toddled across the room, I was thinking. Man, he fell down A LOT today. Lots of success, lots of failures, per say. Except they are not fails. They are mere distractions to him, and to me. Not once did I scold him or discourage him from trying again.

Not once did he throw his hands up in the air, scream, and declare the battle not worth the prize - MOBILITY!

Wow. Think on that.

How often do I scold the other kids or myself for simple mistakes, for learning through falling. How many time have I experienced a bump in the road only to decide the pain of falling far outweighed the victory ahead. Hmmmm, indeed.

I think of our Creator. How must He love to watch us learn and try and come to Him when we fall. Not once does He give up on us when we fall and stumble just one too many times. Never does He declare us not worth His energy or attention, and He runs to help us to our feet.

May I see, more fully everyday, my kiddos through Daddy's eyes.

And may I know more fully His infinite His love for me,

as I experience my love for those He has blessed me with.

One Thousand Gifts (at least)

I love to read. I do it a lot. Even with five kids, I can devour a good book in a matter of days. The house may suffer a bit, but the kids still get fed and cleaned and loved. I am a self-professed "word snob." I don't like sloppy or empty writing. I like to be moved, taken away, transported beyond my day into somewhere else. Escape.

And...I hate non-fiction.

Maybe hate is too strong of a word, maybe not.

Not sure why I don't run toward the newest revelation or self help book. Maybe I don't like to have to think to much?! Maybe I've let my brain get a bit lazy.

There's a lot of mush in my head. Kinda like that good ol' strong grey matter that used to function as a semi-reliable steel trap has been trampled and snotted and pooed and cried on till it is more like a very thin, hole filled net. If that. But every now and then, it's good to introduce some iron into the mix. You know - iron sharpening iron (or iron sharpening mush)?!

So - here I sit, looking at a book I bought. It wasn't given to me. No one said "hey this might apply to you - take a look." Nope. Found it on my own (actually saw it briefly on a blog) and on an implulse I bought it.

Me, Amazon.com, 20 seconds - done deal.

Two days later, that little brown box arrived. I didn't open it for two more days. Didn't crack the cover of the book for another week.

It stared at me from the file cabinet...I stared back.

Finally I got up the courage. I curled up with a cup of tea at nap time and read the first couple pages (3 to be exact).

Enter the ugly booger cry. Already!? For Real?!?!

This lady does not break you in easy. How the heck am I supposed to read an ENTIRE book of this. And more importantly, HOW did this lady get into my head - and WHY the heck is she writing about it for the whole world to see?

So now, 3 whole chapters (about 31 pages in) I am still in awe. Not only does she write crazy beautiful stuff, but there is strong truth and revelation on every page. every page. She writes about "living life fully, right where you are," about living WITH grace and embracing the mystery of life, much as the Israelites ate manna. Literally "what is it."

Eating, embracing, being nourished by the mystery. Mmmmm....good stuff.

Anywho, not sure how long it will take me to get through this book. I'm still a little scared of it, but a lot excited to see what else comes from it. I could use some good fruit!

Alright...for sitting down not knowing what to write about tonight, I think I've not done too bad!

'Night!

Baby Kate

Whew...quiet moment. Kinda. Kids 1, 2, 3, and 4 are outside playing nicely together. Oh, how that warms my heart. Every time. Makes me feel like I'm on top of the world when they are loving on each other - happiness!!! Kidlet 5 is trying to pull the mouse off of the computer while desperately attempting to bite the head off of a lego guy. That's how we roll.

So, as promised, the adoption update. We are still waiting. Still. Waiting. We were inititally told that after the required six month period after Malachi's birth that we would most likely be at the top of the list and receive a referral around the 1st of October. It's almost March. No referral. Frustrating, yes. Discouraging, not at all. My God is good. His plans are perfect. His ways are unmeasurable. His timing - impecable. Love that about Him!

While I long to have Kate home, and while my arms sometimes ache to hold her, I am at peace. We are at peace. With each day, the excitement in our homegrown kiddos grows. Kylie is excited to love on her! Macey's compassion for the orphan is staggering - it's amazing how deeply she is moved for orphan's everywhere! Caleb is really embracing the idea of showing God's love by welcoming someone into his heart and life and loving as Christ does. Micah says "really, I get a new sister?! Yessss...!" I love these kids. Lots.

But waiting is not all "motionless." In the last month we have moved from 6th on the list to 2nd. Just one family in front of us. And none behind us (as of a couple weeks ago). Forward motion is good, and exciting and, as always - scary wonderful!

I have been so blessed to meet and build relationship with other moms and kiddos from Ethiopia. These women are amazing and love their kids to the max. In fact, they have recently put together a campaign to raise money for wells in Ethiopia. What better way to say thank you to the country that gave you such a precious gift. Check it out, if you feel so inclined. It's good stuff. http://www.ourglimmerofhope.org/campaign/water-ethiopia

Hmmm...what else. We are still raising money (or trying too). I feel kinda out of ideas. Or realistic ideas anyway. Would love to have 6K dropped in our laps. It could happen...right?! I do have some thoughts running around - auctioning a beautiful quilt made by a precious woman in our church. Thinking of getting a local coffee shop to work with us on a one day fund raiser. Good ideas...just gotta get em done. Is there a fund raising fairy out there?! I know God provides. I've seen it, lived it, experienced it. He kinda rocks!

So, that's pretty much it for now. Except for this - because who wouldn't want to Malachi take his first steps!?

firsts....

To all of my followers (all three of you) I apologize for my absence as of late. It seems I have lost my voice. Or at least my blogg-y voice. I have been wondering at the purpose of this blog. Is it for me, to have some sort of creative release? Is it simply for all the fans of the fab 5 Thompson kids to get their fix of their cuteness? Has it/should it morph into an adoption blog? I dunno. Still. No clue.

But, I do know that I have ideas aplenty. However, not always the time, energy, or confidence to put them into action. Recently, I was challenged to write

SOMETHING

every day

for a month.

30 days. 30 entries.

30 glimpses into my crazy, scattered, sleep deprived, mommy-ing brain. Scary much?!

Anyway, Jason is working late tonight, and the kids are tired and running ragged...so this is going to be a short "first of thirty" entry. I do have an idea for tomorrow...good old adoption update!

I know,

can you even stand the suspense?!?!?!

Night all....