Day 108 & 109 of Donate:365

We’ve made it to day 109! I’m so sorry I missed yesterday’s post! We had a favored day with our Adoption!!!!!! Praise, Jesus!!!!!

Then tragedy as our sweet dog Daisy Mae passed away at 2:38 this morning.

Funny how many emotions you can have in 24 hours.

If you’ve ever lost your best friend, you know my sorrow right now. I know my God is faithful and will not leave me or forsake me. He is awesome!!!! And, He loves my Daisy Mae as much as I do. 🙂

Today–to catch up–I’m donating a piratey red shirt and a skirt I really wish I could wear, but when I tried it on, it was a no go. Oh well. Now I have more room for new clothes! Ha!

Okay. So maybe that defeats the purpose a bit.

Be blessed. And, love your animal babies today. God created them.

-Chelle

Scripture of the Day: Galatians 4:5

Galatians 4:5 (NLT)

God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

We have our inheritance into God’s kingdom. Like good ol’ Uncle George had to pass to leave you your earthly inheritance, Jesus died on the cross to secure your eternal one. And, with God’s inheritance, you receive all the abundance in heaven that is PROMISED in His word.

Eternal life.
Forgiveness
Redemption
Wholeness
Freedom

One thing I’ve learned about adoption, is: Adoption is complete. It cannot be rebuked. It can not be “taken back.” Once you are adopted into a family, it cannot be undone.

That is how it is into God’s kingdom. He is your Father now, always and forever. He loves you. He forgives you. He welcomes you back. Every time. No matter what. Believe it today. You have a family. And, you are the most beloved son or daughter. We all are.

Receive it. 🙂

Be blessed today. And, rest in our Daddy’s arms.

~Bohemian Christian Chelle

8 Things I’ve Learned from a 4 year old

My husband and I have prayed for our children for five years. And, now God has answered our prayers.

He always does.

She came to us a few weeks ago, and I have learned probably more from her than she has learned from me.

Here are eight things that I’ve learned so far from our little princess. Enjoy 🙂

#1 Live for the moment

We hear this often, but do we ever do it? When she came to us, she had lived in many different homes over her short life. Yet, she doesn’t mention a one. It made me wonder, “Will our home be any different?” “Yes”, God said. “Because it will be the last one.”

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:34

#2 The little things do matter

The final hair bow. The pink socks that exactly match her little dress. These are the important things to her. Not because they are fashionable, but because they are the finishing touches.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ~ Luke 16:10

#3 It’s okay to be grumpy in the morning

It really is. We all feel that way, especially when we have to wake up way before our body really wants us to. It is okay to feel this way. It’s even okay to grunt a little. 😉 Just don’t yell at your loved ones or your cat. That’s all I ask.

 ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ~ Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) Emphasis added.

#4 Sometimes you have to color outside the lines

Okay, I admit it. This kills me. She refuses to color inside the lines. I discovered this character flaw in me with the help of our daughter. (Don’t tell her. She may hold it against me when she is older.) I always thought myself a carefree, think outside the box, be different kind of person.

I’m evidently not.

And, not coloring inside the lines kills me. I’VE CONFORMED!!!!!!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I shall now color my hair bright purple and get dreadlocks to break this horrible stifling.

Be bold. Be yourself. Be creative. Think outside the box. Be the person God created you to be — purple dreadlocks and all.

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light… ~ 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

#5 Pink cowboy boots go with everything

They do. They really do. I have no scriptural reference to back this up so you’ll just have to trust me.

#6 Kitties and puppies solve all the world’s problems

There a few sounds more joy-filled than our daughter yelling “KITTY!” and running to the closest feline. She seems so happy to see his little furry face and touch his coarse whiskers. Whether kitty reciprocates is another question entirely.

I don’t have a scriptural reference for this one either, but since God created them, they are good. Right?

Wait! Here’s one!

³¹ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. ~ Genesis 1:31

#7 Nothing beats a bubble bath at the end of a long day.

All I have to say is “bubble” and the squeal of laughter can be heard throughout the house. She takes the time to play in the bubbles, to pour warm soapy water over her head and giggle as the water runs down her face. It’s time for us to giggle.

Take time for it. You are worth it.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.~ Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

#8 When in doubt, go to the park.

My husband has a photo montage of our little girl at the park. She is running as fast as she can from the swings to the slide to the merry-go-round. She is so excited she can’t decide what to get on first. LOL It is so cute (yes, I am biased.) But, her immense happiness at just being there in the moment makes everything all right.

I guess these eight simple lessons all come down to one thing: Just living in the moment. Let’s do it. Let’s try it. Let’s just think about the now and not about tomorrow, or next week or even next year. Who knows if we will even be here. Our time may be up, or Jesus may show up. Either way, we have nothing to worry about. God says so.

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ~ James 4:13-16 (NIV)

Looking for pink cowboy boots online while I color outside the lines,

~Bohemian Christian Chelle

A True Test of Faith in God

The St. Louis Arch…just because I thought the picture was pretty. Not that it has anything to do with waiting. But, I had to wait in a car for a long time to get there to take this picture. 🙂

So my husband and I are adopting a beautiful little princess, and my how our lives have changed in one short week.

I guess that is how God works. We wait, and wait, then wait some more. Then POOF! Here she is.

And, while we wait we hear “God’s timing is perfect.” “The best things come to those who wait.” “Don’t settle for less than God’s best.”

But, while we wait it is heart wrenching. Like waiting for Christmas morning when you are eight years old. Or, waiting for those tests results.

Waiting…

It’s the true test of faith in God.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Psalm 37:9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,  but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

Psalm 37:34  Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

Are you waiting? For that dream job? For a spouse? For a child? Please know that God is with you working in His perfect time. He is. He truly is.

 

Read more amazing quotes about waiting at http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-great-waiting-quotes/#ixzz2EiCMyGt2

Getting rid of stuff…the Challenge continues

A few weeks ago I posted my Lenten Challenge. I dared to blog it for all the world to see. In need of accountability, I’m letting y’all in on my secrets of simple living and the thrill I have when items that no longer serve a purpose leave my home.

I have a lot of updates to share with you.

First: We were approved for our adoption! And ever since I have been “nesting”. Be it the anticipation of motherhood, or the Lord preparing me quickly for our bundle or two of joy (we were approved for two children), I am throwing stuff into our donation box at break-neck speed. Never before have I had this sense of hurry in the process. My typical demeanor is to procrastinate until I convince God and myself that I will use this later. But not now.  I’m getting rid of everything. The books that I deemed so important are not important at all now. In fact, the close to 200 I removed from the shelves in our bedroom have hardly been thought of since I stacked them in their Lenten Challenge Box. I even made a bag that is definitely ending up at our church’s library. Now just to get that bag in the car…

Please be in prayer for our children.

Second: I am appalled at how much stuff I have. I’ve been reading a lot about adoptive children, especially those coming from Family and Protective Services. Did you that their foster families are encouraged to make Life Books for each child that move with them to each new placement? In most cases, this Life Book is the only heirloom the child has as it goes from place to place. It reminds me of the heart locket in the musical Annie. The little girl held on to that locket with all she had — the only thing she had left from a life and family she never knew.

It makes me sad to think about the pointless things that I am holding on to. Clothes never worn. Books never read.

It’s time to come clean.

I came across this blog today, and it fascinated me. The writer did a “One Dress Challenge” to protesting “the protesting of why and how” she wears her clothes. I just found this blog, and she just recently finished her 365 days, so you better believe I will be returning to check out her journey.

So for now, my books are still packed, my donation box is growing, and God is well on His way to bringing me our babies.

Life is good. 🙂  What did you give up for Lent? Post how it’s going below.

Be blessed and simplify.

~Bohemian Christian Chelle

The Simple Things – Adoption update

Hello, everyone!

I know it’s been a while since I blogged specifically about simple living, but as you may know, we’ve had a lot going on. My husband and I completed our month long PRIDE training as the first step with the Department of Family and Protective Services to adopt a beautiful child — or two — who are currently in foster care in the state of Texas. We graduated! Past our home visit (Praise the Lord!), and just yesterday successfully completed our Home Study, or as I call it, our interrogation. It was long (almost three hours), but it’s over and now…

We wait.

But, I don’t think we will have to wait too long. Our adoption worker said she would type everything up, submit it to her boss, and then we should receive the final word in two weeks.

I’m not worried.

Really.

Okay, maybe a little. Just because of the waiting. But, I will be okay.

And, as always, I have God to turn to and to fall on for comfort.

From the New International Version:

Present Suffering and Future Glory (Lovely heading, isn’t it?)

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ thatthe creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18-25 NIV, emphasis added.)

So, with Christ I will wait patiently nestled in His comforting arms waiting for our adoption to come to fruition. One thing that has come from this process is we cleaned out the house!

Boxes and boxes of stuff. Random, old, mismatched stuff now lives in the garbage dump, or — if re-usable — now has a new home at several of our local charity resale shops. I pray someone finds a treasure in my donated memories.

Our biggest undertaking was cleaning out what is now called the Kids’ Room. Formerly the junk/cat room/mom’s old office has now transformed into a little child’s room complete with books, a twin bed, and a desk full of stuff animals, puppets and waiting memories.

From trash heap to treasure room. Please disregard the three fish and the random lamp. 🙂

I thank God repeatedly for the generosity of our friends who came quite excitedly with beds, linens, comforters and everything we could ever need for the new addition to our household. I am truly blessed by everyone’s kindness. Thank you. You are true friends and encouragers. When I am down and disencouraged, your enthusiasm keeps me hopeful that everything will be soon. Thank you for that!

Simple living is truly simple. When I jumped into this head first, I for some reason thought it would be hard. The world’s tells you that. Change is difficult. Not really. This change was simple. And, I encourage you to do it, too.

The simple-living bug is upon me! I’ll be growing veggies and homesteading next. Watch out world! Bohemian Christian Chelle is unleashed!

Hallelujah!

Y’all be blessed today! And, keep it simple!

~Bohemian Christian Chelle