Thursday, December 4, 2014
Funded pieces
I'm back!
Well, I’m a little behind in updating the blog but LIFE has
gotten in the way! Apparently God thinks I can handle more than I think I can. Isn't
that always the case? As I was dealing
with a horrible sinus infection and some other things, I totally missed Adoption
Awareness Month in November! Happy belated Adoption Month people! We do have an update, we are going to take Foster to Adopt(PATH) classes starting in January. We will continue to wait for a child through Bethany Christian Services but are going to open another door. We want to make as many paths open to bringing home our child or children. More classes! Oh yea.
Have you noticed our puzzle pieces are being funded left and right!?! How cool is that?
Have you noticed our puzzle pieces are being funded left and right!?! How cool is that?
THANK YOU!!!!!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Trusting Him
My Reverend’s sermon was on Ezekiel 37:1-14
this Sunday. It is a story of a great prophet, Ezekiel who lived thousands of
years ago. Some of the stories about Ezekiel are very bizarre you could say.
Let's use our imaginations. We have to picture a very strange scene and it might help us if we think of the movie The Lion King. Have you seen that movie? Think of the scary scene where Simba, the young lion, is lost in a scary place. He finds himself surrounded by lots of animal bones. Do you have that picture in your mind now? If not here’s a picture:
Now instead of Simba walking around among all these bones, picture a man from the Bible. That's our prophet Ezekiel. In the Bible, Ezekiel finds himself in a desert valley surrounded by dry bones. How did he get there? Well, he didn't just get up one morning and think "I know, I'll go looking for a place that is full of bones!" No, according to the Bible, Ezekiel is sort of teleported into this barren valley full of bones. He just finds himself there. He must feel lonely and scared. It is just him and the bones. But don’t forget about God, he's there.
God asks Ezekiel a question. He says, "Ezekiel, can these old dry bones live?" Ezekiel doesn't know how to answer this question. After all, he's talking to God. So Ezekiel answers very cleverly, "God, You know the answer?"
He's right! God does know the answer and God tells Ezekiel that he will make these old dry bones live again. He will add muscle and skin to them and breathe life into them and what appears to be dead will walk the earth again. And they will be God's people. Just as water brings the parched earth to life, God's Word and living water of His Spirit will bring dry souls new life. Isaiah 44:3 says, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." There’s song that comes to my mind while I write this. Carrie Underwood’s new song Something in the Water! Listen to it. You’ll like it. It’s about God’s power to change His people for the better when you trust in something bigger than yourself, HIM.
As I go to this adoption process I feel like a pile of dry bones sometimes going through the motions. I think it will never happen. I can’t even expect a miracle because my faith is so dry. But a kind word, an inspiring story, encouragement from Tim, a friend or a stranger will breathe hope into my bones.
You expect the adoption process to go fast when you are not going through it. There’s a ton of kids to adopt, right? But until you live it or lived close to a friend or family member going through it you just don’t know. You have paperwork out of your ears. You wait..and wait…and pray to God for strength to keep going. Oddly enough I pray for faith. He gives me more practice in faithfulness.
Whatever I ask for, that is what I always get from the good Lord. He keeps asking me are you ready? But I’m still waiting for that baby. I understand He’ll provide this baby we are hoping for in His time. God knows everything! He doesn't ask us questions because He's been stumped; He asks in order to get us to think. Just like the ancient philosopher Socrates used to teach by asking questions, so too God asks people questions in order to arouse their thought processes and to get them to analyze the situation. He’s always asking, “Now, Greta what are you going to do now? Do you think that is wise? Why are you doing this? Now why do you think you feel this way?” Our finished adoption story is going to be a wonderful story full of questions answered and unanswered, I’m sure. Remember God uses His people to tell His story and share His word. He sure is using me. If you are struggling with something I’m sure you are not alone. Tell your story.
This story from Ezekiel is a reminder for me that with God all things are possible! I am trying to take moments to just live in the moment and look at the beauty in this life full of tiny miracles. See, even if we are not holding a baby right now miracles are happening in our lives. Here are a few little miracles:
I will never have everything I want, but with God I have everything that I need.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
Let's use our imaginations. We have to picture a very strange scene and it might help us if we think of the movie The Lion King. Have you seen that movie? Think of the scary scene where Simba, the young lion, is lost in a scary place. He finds himself surrounded by lots of animal bones. Do you have that picture in your mind now? If not here’s a picture:
Now instead of Simba walking around among all these bones, picture a man from the Bible. That's our prophet Ezekiel. In the Bible, Ezekiel finds himself in a desert valley surrounded by dry bones. How did he get there? Well, he didn't just get up one morning and think "I know, I'll go looking for a place that is full of bones!" No, according to the Bible, Ezekiel is sort of teleported into this barren valley full of bones. He just finds himself there. He must feel lonely and scared. It is just him and the bones. But don’t forget about God, he's there.
God asks Ezekiel a question. He says, "Ezekiel, can these old dry bones live?" Ezekiel doesn't know how to answer this question. After all, he's talking to God. So Ezekiel answers very cleverly, "God, You know the answer?"
He's right! God does know the answer and God tells Ezekiel that he will make these old dry bones live again. He will add muscle and skin to them and breathe life into them and what appears to be dead will walk the earth again. And they will be God's people. Just as water brings the parched earth to life, God's Word and living water of His Spirit will bring dry souls new life. Isaiah 44:3 says, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." There’s song that comes to my mind while I write this. Carrie Underwood’s new song Something in the Water! Listen to it. You’ll like it. It’s about God’s power to change His people for the better when you trust in something bigger than yourself, HIM.
As I go to this adoption process I feel like a pile of dry bones sometimes going through the motions. I think it will never happen. I can’t even expect a miracle because my faith is so dry. But a kind word, an inspiring story, encouragement from Tim, a friend or a stranger will breathe hope into my bones.
You expect the adoption process to go fast when you are not going through it. There’s a ton of kids to adopt, right? But until you live it or lived close to a friend or family member going through it you just don’t know. You have paperwork out of your ears. You wait..and wait…and pray to God for strength to keep going. Oddly enough I pray for faith. He gives me more practice in faithfulness.
Whatever I ask for, that is what I always get from the good Lord. He keeps asking me are you ready? But I’m still waiting for that baby. I understand He’ll provide this baby we are hoping for in His time. God knows everything! He doesn't ask us questions because He's been stumped; He asks in order to get us to think. Just like the ancient philosopher Socrates used to teach by asking questions, so too God asks people questions in order to arouse their thought processes and to get them to analyze the situation. He’s always asking, “Now, Greta what are you going to do now? Do you think that is wise? Why are you doing this? Now why do you think you feel this way?” Our finished adoption story is going to be a wonderful story full of questions answered and unanswered, I’m sure. Remember God uses His people to tell His story and share His word. He sure is using me. If you are struggling with something I’m sure you are not alone. Tell your story.
This story from Ezekiel is a reminder for me that with God all things are possible! I am trying to take moments to just live in the moment and look at the beauty in this life full of tiny miracles. See, even if we are not holding a baby right now miracles are happening in our lives. Here are a few little miracles:
1)
We have fundraised
almost our whole adoption home study fee!! Thank you!!
2)
Our friends and family
are always telling us about adoption opportunities they hear about through
friends or coworkers. In the last six moments we have heard about two babies
that were put up for adoption. None of them worked out but we love that we have
ears out there that are networking for us. Keep those ears open.
3)
We are both strengthening
our relationship with God in one way or another.
4)
Our relationship continues
to grow with each other in a positive way. We both take turns building each
other up when one of us is down. We appreciate each other more than ever before
and understand how lucky we are to have each other. It’s been a lot of hard
work but a blessing.
5)
We have awesome family
and friends that love us and are ready to love this child or children as soon
as they are Pitchers.
6)
I’m a changed woman.
My heart is more open than it’s ever been and I’m stronger in all areas of my
life. God is leading down paths that I could never imagine. I appreciate more. My
smile is brighter on most days. Must be something in the Tennessee water!
I will never have everything I want, but with God I have everything that I need.
I need to remember to...
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
371 pieces funded 629 pieces to go!
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
I have been behind writing names on puzzle pieces. Here is my attempt to make it up to y'all!
 |
| Thank you Steve Moore, Donna Powell, Patsy Powell, Patsy Tidwell, Jane Yarbo, Judy Gregory, Jane Lamb, Amy Davis, Tony Green, Alma Ruth Micheal, Linda and Cherry Davis! |
 |
| Thank you Ann Marie Ruhlin, Hilary Atchley, Don and Verna Tousley, Kayla Vickers, The Pitchers and Chanda Peal!!!
FYI, if you can't get the PayPal link to work on the blog just go to PayPal and click on send money and put my email address gretapitcher@gmail.com, amount and click on continue. Easy as pie!
|
The Starfish Story
This last week I was invited to see Leigh Anne Tuohy speak in my community for a local organization. You might know her, she is the mother of Michael Oher and the real mother from the movie The Blind Side. According to her the movie was pretty accurate. She calls it a miracle that Hollywood didn't screw it up! She was such a passionate woman. Here is a video about from a little over a year ago, that showcases her passion.
Her message that night was to turn around when you see something that is not right. See the morning she saw Michael walking on the side of the road all the bells and whistles went going off in her head. So she turned around. She told us she wasn’t looking to adopt a kid that morning, just help this kid out, simply because he needed it. This is her journey and she uses her journey to help others as you can see in the video. Leigh Anne continued to remind us that “God uses simple people to tell stories”. She told us you don’t have to save the world but do something kind always. She ended the night with The Starfish story.
Imagine all the Michael Oher’s out there that never get a chance. We can’t all go adopt every child that needs us but we all can do something that makes a difference in someone’s life. What if everyone threw one starfish back in?
What a difference we would make!
Her message that night was to turn around when you see something that is not right. See the morning she saw Michael walking on the side of the road all the bells and whistles went going off in her head. So she turned around. She told us she wasn’t looking to adopt a kid that morning, just help this kid out, simply because he needed it. This is her journey and she uses her journey to help others as you can see in the video. Leigh Anne continued to remind us that “God uses simple people to tell stories”. She told us you don’t have to save the world but do something kind always. She ended the night with The Starfish story.
What a difference we would make!
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