Monday, November 23, 2009

[ Busy Week! ]

Last week my son had his 8th grade basketball tournament at school. Being the junkie I am (and best friends with the coach), I kept the scorebook for all games for three nights. Fun Fun!! :) So Monday night was ball games, Tuesday night was ball games and my daughter had her band banquet at school we snuck off to, then returned to the ball games, Wednesday night we usually have bible study and decided to stay home and catch up on our rest (mostly for the 6 yr old who gets drug around all over kingdom come!), Thursday night we had ball games again, Friday night my kids of course had to go to the New Moon movie (duh!), Saturday I worked with photo sessions all day and got to photograph the Barnwarming at the high school Saturday night (where my daughter was crowned queen!), and Sunday we spent our afternoon on the go celebrating my son's birthday by eating at Applebee's, shopping at Wal Mart and going to the matinee where we watched The Blind Side. Wheeeww.... did you keep up with all that?!

So for the highlights of those days.... Tuesday my daughter had a banquet at school for her colorguard activities this fall. She received her letter, and a black and gold flag the school was retiring since it has been used all four years of her high school 'career' in the guard. :o) I can't believe she's a senior and all these milestones are flying by. It was fun watching the slideshow of all the seniors baby pictures and their 'now' pictures to see how our babies have grown. Bittersweet.

Thursday night was Tyler's special night as the 8th grade are recognized during the basketball game as it was their last in their little country school. The last time my son will be a blue jay sportin' his stuff on the court. He was high scorer for the year! Awesome! I'd have to get specific statistics but he averaged about 13 points per game. I think his record high night was 22 points! As they announced his name, and his parents I walked across the gym floor with him to receive my flowers and realized he's not a little boy anymore either. He was kind enough to remind me that next year he can drive! Holy cow... where did my babies go?! I love him so.... I'm waiting to get pics from the school of our march across the gym and I'll share as soon as they are e-mailed.

Saturday night was another special evening as my daughter attended her last Barnwarming dance. She was again nominated for queen (second consecutive year), and this year she won. Her senior year is slipping away but it's so much fun to see her enjoy her time with her friends and of course Ag is her all-time favorite thing. She is an officer again this year, Vice-President, and she's also the Area I Treasurer for the surrounding counties.
So, where does the 6 year old fit in to all this chaos? He loves following his siblings around to their school functions. You see, he may only be 6 but inside he's 15, just like he fits in with the crowd of big kids. Only his sleep deprivation this week finally caught up to the little guy. It was a busy week and he's exhausted. I know this because when his body tries to catch it's second wind he goes bazerk and drives us all nuts with his hyperactivity. He even fell asleep on the way home from school when his sister picked him up today. :o)

You can see and understand his urgency to be a 'big brother'. He's always talking about needing a little brother and sister. (hmmm... with no help from me or suggestions) He's going to be an only child all too soon and the house will seem a bit empty with only one Lynch kid around instead of three. It hits home with him on days like Friday when his teenage siblings take off to the movies and leave him behind to be a little kid. Maybe none of them will leave home. :o) College isn't necessary is it? Really? Maybe they could commute...

And one of the highlights of my week was the matinee.... yes, watching The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock has always been one of my favorite actresses, but after yesterday I believe she moved to the top of the list. My heart is overflowing for adoption and orphans and this movie was so incredible. I cried at little moments that most people wouldn't, but it even tugged at my kids' hearts a bit too and a few tears were shed all around. You must go see it.... when it comes out on DVD I will own it. :o) ♥ BIG PUFFY HEART ♥

Thursday, November 12, 2009

[ Can You Help? ]

Please visit this sweet family's blog and if you feel led to give, please donate to help this mama get to her sweet baby boy. His name is Keshawn and he is such a cutie. I found their link through another bloggy friend and discovered they will be traveling to pick up Keshawn in just a few short weeks but still need a bit of funding for travel expenses. They need $2,500 to cover their travel to Ethiopia on the 28th. If you are unable to 'chip-in' financially through the fundraiser link on their blog at least take the time to stop and pray for their family. Pray for the funding to come, for travel mercies and for a safe journey home with their beautiful son. Thank you!!!
Please visit their blog:

Romans 12: 8
If it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

[ Grease is the Word ]

How many times have you watched the movie Grease? I lost count myself.... long ago. :) It's something that almost seems like a right of passage. I introduced my children to it early on and of course, they became as addicted as I did. We know all the words to all the songs, have dressed in the costumes and secretly dreamed of marrying John Travolta.... okay, maybe that was just my dream. Not the kids'. My girlfriend even had her wedding reception dances arranged around the soundtrack. The DJ had the groomsmen as t-birds and us girls were the pink ladies. We danced all the moves and sang our hearts out. It was awesome.

Grease will live on forever. I can hear all the 50's generation saying, "Yeah... like we knew we were cool." lol :) My son had a dance at his school on Friday night and the theme was the 50's. He was looking forward to going but said they had to dress in costume. Well, don't you know I was thrilled to dress him up! We got a pair of his dad's old tight leg jeans and I cuffed them on the bottom. White socks of course with loafers (which he thought looked like granny shoes), a t-shirt and leather jacket (with the collar popped!), and then came the icing on the cake.... The GREASE in the hair! I think I gooped enough hair gel in the kids head that Dapper Dan himself would have been jealous. He said that's enough mom! But I had to slick him back and show him how to run the comb through it. Then stuck the comb in his back pocket. It has to be greasy! You greaser! To which he then exclaimed.... "That's it! That's why they call it grease?!" aye-yae-yae..... yes son. After 13 years, you finally understand. "Oooh! That and greased lightnening!" As he started singing....
We rushed to the dance only to have him stand in the hallway and make me check to make sure everyone else had dressed up. He was afraid they might have all pranked him and he was alone in the costume department. Luckily the girls were sporting their poodle skirts, scarves and saddle shoes, as they all yelled tell him to come in!!! The other boys didn't dress up but the girls did and when my son walked in... lookin' oh so cool they all hooped and hollered and told him how cool he was!!! LOL :) What a proud moment for momma! lol You gotta love Grease.

Monday, November 9, 2009

[ Is This Your Son? ]

This post is copied from a blog friend, advocating for adoption. This little boys profile has always caught my eye when I've looked at the waiting children on the Ordinary Hero site. There's more information on how to contact All God's Children to Inquire about him. If you don't feel led to adopt, just please pass this post on in hopes of finding "B" his forever family. Thank you!!! And Thanks Kristi and Kelly for bringing these children to our attention! Praying for B's family to find him quickly!
I would like to introduce you all to my next little LOVE!! Today, Orphan Sunday, I'm advocating for "Handsome B". "B" is an adorable 8 year old boy that has so much promise and such a bright future IF ONLY he had a family to call his own. You see...B is one of the 147 Million Orphans living in this world WAITING for a family to PICK HIM so that he has a chance to live up to all that God has in store for him. B's story broke my heart when I read it...You see....I found B's picture BEFORE I ever left to go and pick up our Lucy Lane...I saw him one night late on my computer screen and turned to my hubby and said, "Oh, MY...He's beautiful!! Couldn't we adopt an 8 year old boy?" My hubby gave me his normal smile and reminded me that we were getting ready to go and pick up our new daughter....BUT I decided I'd look for him while I was at Hannah's Hope Orphanage anyways. His beautiful eyes just spoke to me...He had such an innocence and sweetness about him....Well, upon arriving at HH to get our Lucy Lane..I discovered that he didn't live at HH yet...He was still living with his mother UNTIL room became available in the orphanage. Now, today, B is still with his Mom...During the Rainy Season in Ethiopia, there isn't much movement...so B will be moved to HH when there is room for him...Either way, I couldn't imagine the HUGE blessing it is for him to be able to live these last few months WITH his mother..I could tell from the pictures that they love each other deeply, but yet, she can't keep him. She must let him go!! I just can't imagine the pain.

You see...B was part of a 2 parent home when his father lost his life in a construction accident...B lost his father, and his mother now has no way to care for him due to extreme poverty...I understand that since he is signed with HH that they will supplement his food and care UNTIL he arrives at HH to live. He's already experienced such great loss, he deserves a HOME!!! He deserves to know WHERE his next meal will come from....His mother deserves to know that her son will be taken care of... I witnessed while in Ethiopia ANOTHER Mom bringing her daughters to HH to get photographed for "potential" adoptive parents to see....This mother's heart was so HUGE for her girls...She had them all dressed up in their finest of clothing, and she looked on so proudly as they were being photographed....B's Mom is no different...She dressed him in his finest of clothing KNOWING FULL WELL why he'd be getting his picture taken...B also being old enough to know exactly WHY the pictures were being taken too...I can't imagine their grief and pain...
BUT there is hope for B....There is hope in YOU!! Someone will have the opportunity to fly to Ethiopia where this little boy will be waiting...You will be united with your new son and you both will rejoice in the fact that you are finally together....You will then have the opportunity to meet B's Mom...She will come to say goodbye to you both...You will hug and cry together BECAUSE you both will love the same son. As B's new parent you will take him on his first plane ride, you will hold his hand as he leaves the only world he ever knew, you will fly him into a new world filled with opportunity and hope......You will take this boy and introduce him to his first HOUSE...You will take him to his first grocery where food is in abundance for the first time in his life....You will watch his eyes light up the first time he experiences air conditioning or the first time he is able to pick out his own clothes....You will also hold him tight as he grieves his mother...He will cry!! He will miss her!! He will want to make sure that she is ok....BUT you will hold him and tell him everything will be OK...He will learn to trust you....BUT for now...He is still waiting for that call to come...that he is being moved to HH BECAUSE a family is coming to get him....He must go and he must find a home!! Do you have room?? Will you make room?

B is said to be healthy, active and right on target for his age...He is said to love football and he is described as being VERY BRIGHT!!! His smile reminds me so much of my 7 1/2 year old...They both have giants smiles that can light up a room...I think of HOW innocent my 7 year old is AND how much I LOVE her age...She is independent, yet she still needs me so much!! It is the best of both worlds at this age....An 8 year old boy still has SO MUCH life to live...There is still so much innocence in those eyes....And, I can already imagine him in his first ever soccer uniform playing on a team for the first time in his life...


So, tonight, on this Orphan Sunday, I'm asking you all MOST IMPORTANTLY to pray!! Pray this child finds the forever family he was intended to have....No child deserves to be waiting this long...EVEN THOUGH I think it has been the LORD HIMSELF that allowed this mother and son to have all this extra time togehter.....BUT...now it is time for him to go home...It is time for him to head to HH where his every need can be met while he waits for YOU to show up and pick him up....Will you do it??????
2nd....Will you please pass this along to whom ever has slightly ever seemed interested in adoption...Will you post it to your own blogs or sites?? Together through prayer and technology we can BRING THIS HANDSOME YOUNG BOY HOME!!!

**If you would like to inquire about Handsome B then please contact: Megan Palmer, her email is mpalmer@allgodschildren.org or by phone at 971-244-1461.
***You can also read more about Handsome B by reading my sister's post at http://www.ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/ We are partnering and are determined to find this cutie HIS FOREVER FAMILY!!! As he sits in Ethiopia tonight, he has no idea that some crazy American women are determined to beg, plead and pray him to his family...I know HIS family is out there....and I'm praying that God will connect the dots like he always does....I know God has a wife someday for this boy and children will be born because he was given a chance to live and survive!! An entire generation will be changed forever BECAUSE someone stepped up to the plate and adopted Handsome B!!! Together...with the Lord's help...WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!

***Thank you for your time and your prayers...AND, I know B and his mom thank you too...kristi j


"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:18
"Children are a gift from God." PSALM 127:3 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

[ Blog Hop ♥ Favorite Photos ]

So, it's been awhile since I've 'hopped'. We've been so busy lately, but something brought my attention back to McKlinky and I'm glad it did. Excited to see all the pics everyone shares, as this week's hop is your favorite photos. Being a photographer I've got quite a stash! But here are a few recent favorites:
This is probably one of my most favorite, not only because Fall is my favorite time of the year, but this is my neighbor's little girl and she's a sweetheart! I ♥ her to death! (Plus, she babysits my cat when it runs back to her house to hang out!)
This one just makes me happy. This giant cross is just a mile from my house and my clients love it. We've taken so many pictures here, but this one just seems so cheery and uplifting. God is good. I used this photo as a 'logo' photo for our adoption ministry (see the link in the sidebar).
These two have been coming to see me since before the little girl was born. Always fun to see and play with them and when I went through their proofs from their session this one just melted my heart. Coop is so onery and Evan is just as rough with her brother as any tomboy could be. The fact they look so sweet cracks me up, and almost brought a tear to my eye. :)
This one takes the cake though. I miss riding so badly, our horses have become pasture ponies and simply pets that we talk to in passing and pet when we can. I love sillouettes and this brother and sister became a favorite that I even had to blow up to keep one for myself. I keep telling myself I'm going to make a book with inspirational photos from sessions I've had and I believe this one would make a terrific cover! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

MckLinky Blog Hop

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

[ Are You a Christian? ]

November is National Adoption month and with 147 million+ orphans in the world, we need to open our eyes to the needs of the least of these. Did you know...

There are more than 2 billion professing Christians in the world. If only 7% of those 2 billion would show hope and compassion to a single orphan, looking after them in their distress, effectively there would be no more orphans.

7%..... only 7%!!! Only 7%? Could that be right?

While I don't believe everyone is called to adopt, I do believe that everyone is called to do something. What that something is...that is between You and God. You are the hands and feet of Jesus, not the government, not your neighbor, but You. We have to stop believing that someone else, someone bigger than us, someone with more resources than us, will help.... will solve the problem.

Here are just a few ways you can do something, a few ways everyone can do something:
  • prayer - prayer for the children, their situations, birth families, adoptive families, our churches, fellow Christians to follow God's command.
  • adoption
  • sponsorship - World Vision is a great place to get started, or you can click the link in my sidebar for Life Connection Mission. It's so easy to get started, so easy to do. Most of the links in my sidebar have ways to commit to sponsorship. There are so many more.
  • mission trips (volunteering), just going and doing, showing the Love of Christ means so much to so many. Sharing the salvation of Jesus Christ with someone is the greatest gift of all.
  • financial support - can you help someone else who is traveling on missions? Or perhaps you know someone who is adopting, can you support them with your donations? If you know no one personally, there are families all across the nation, agencies that help you find families to support. Search for them. Several of the blog links in my sidebar are families currently in the process of adoption. Send a donation to help them bring their child home.
If you still aren't sure where to begin, start with prayer for yourself. Ask God to show you what you can do. What He expects you to do. I promise.... if you ask Him sincerely and earnestly He will show you.

Monday, November 2, 2009

[ Long Week ]

Wow, I couldn't believe it had been a week since I posted last!! It's been a crazy, hairy week and I'm glad to be starting fresh. There was much work to do last week and definitely may things became a quick distraction. The kids have been busy being kids :) (thank goodness some things keep us in normal mode). Tyler has started basketball and had his best game yet last week. Too bad the score books were locked up due to 'friendly competition' between teammates. I get to keep score, but was sworn to secrecy so I can't share his EXACT points. Let's just say he made double digits during his last game... twice over! ;) I was so proud and excited! He's getting sooo good at basketball (and it just so happens to be my favorite sport!), I love to watch him play. He had a tournament last week so we had three games, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and we won two out of those three! Unfortunately, I'm always so wrapped up in the game and keeping score, I forget I want to take pictures! I'll have to remember to take the time this week so you can see my star b•ball player!
Tyler and one of his best friends, Truman (the flying man!). They thought it made a funny buddy pic. :)

Basketball kept us buy all week and Thursday night was actually the last high school football game and 'senior night'. All of the seniors are recognized (that are in the football/field activities) and their parents. It was raining cats and dogs and everyone was drenched but it was still a great time. Bittersweet though, to realize my baby girl is now a senior and this was her senior night. Her last night to perform on the football field during a game. Her last night as a "Guard Dog". I guess the good Lord had a great plan. I was worried about crying and feeling like I was losing my baby girl. It was raining so much and we only carried one umbrella to walk across the field with our colorguard girl that we were so busy discussing who was getting wet that I totally missed the announcement of what she had done through school. I remember hearing the Taylor Lynch, daughter of Eric and Renea Lynch part and everything after that is a blur. Then I got a photo posted to my facebook wall by my friend Michelle (thinking I would never have anything to remember this moment), only to discover just how fat I look in pictures.... and in person. Oiy. Sure makes all that Halloween candy look disgusting huh? Chocolate = Fat.It's hard to believe we've reached this milestone. The year is going WAY too fast! We love you Taylor!

And of course, it was Halloween this weekend! It was funny we were discussing how some of the people we know don't 'celebrate' Halloween. Daddy ask why exactly we do. What does Halloween mean after all?! The kids rolled their eyes, and I said Halloween means playing dress up and lots of candy!!!! lol :) When dad ask why we couldn't dress up like someone from the Bible sissy said, go ahead... it's a costume. That's all it is dad, costumes and candy. People need to remember to keep the fun and not focus on evil. St. Patrick's day isn't evil and people dress up in green to avoid being pinched! I dress up to fill my bucket with candy! lol :)

Taylor had big plans for a costume this year. We bought a pattern and all the material and notions to make her into a gypsy. Teaching her to sew... it was easier teaching Tyler to cook! lol :) She cut out all the pattern pieces, and she even made the shirt herself. Then we got busy through the week and not much got worked on. Until Saturday morning. Yep, Saturday. After my appointment I got home around noon and started working. She had the pieces cut out for her skirt and I started sewing while she was still working on vest pieces and linings, measuring etc. We finished sewing around 6:30. Oiy... but she made an awesome gypsy and of course reminded me that all my work was not in vain, we can use the costume for the next renaissance festival too!
Tyler had a Haunted House and school party on Friday night that didn't really require a costume and then when he wanted one we went shopping and of course everything was gone. He's so clever though, he had a sticker on his shirt that said, "Shake well before each use." LOL That's my boy!!! I was a bad mom and assumed he was feeling too old to trick-or-treat, but he really wanted to. So, I bought him his own private giant stash of candy and promised him next year we make his costume.
Sissy took off to her friends for a Halloween party and movie marathon, while the boys went with daddy and I to gather candy. Tanner had his football costume but at the last minute decided he would make a better vampire, and of course dad came through with a costume he picked up after work on his way home. Thank goodness for Wal-Mart. After sewing and finishing sissy's costume I had hair and make-up to master.
Tanner thought his costume was awesome! Until we visited the very first house (a friend of daddy's) and they laughed like crazy!!! Not at him of course, but loving his costume and thinking he was awesome. Only he took it the wrong way and then decided he didn't want anyone to see him. It was like pulling teeth to get him out of the car again. But we managed to hit 5 whole houses and papa & mama's house before coming home with a handful of loot, one can of Dr. Pepper and a bottled water. It made me think of the movie Grumpy Old Men where one of them gave the little girl a box of laundry soap. lol :)

The highlight of my week though, was going with Joy to city hall while the mayor signed a proclamation for Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry declaring November as National Adoption Month! We certainly missed Melinda though but we'll continue on with our mission until she can join us again. I'm anxious to see Monday's paper!
After leaving city hall I took the rest of the day to visit local churches to share information that we hope they will present to their congregations on Orphan Sunday as well as promote our open house and share flyers in their foyers. You can read more about that on the Joint Heirs blog. :) It also has info on the 40 days of prayer that we're doing. I hope you'll join us in that effort! Happy Monday everyone! Hope you have an awesome week!