Ms. Janice, Thank you for singing. It matters.

They started singing a song I didn't know they knew. 

While tuned in to our online church service, the conversation went something like this:

Real Life Rapunzel: "Is that Ms. Janice?"

Me: "That's Ms. Wakenia...who is Ms. Janice?"

Real Life Rapunzel: "Ms. Janice is a teacher at my school.  This is her favorite song."  

Me: "Way Maker is her favorite song?  It's a good one."

In the meantime T-Train, who was also staying with us that weekend, came over to the computer screen and both girls joined in..."Way Maker...Miracle Worker"....some words were clearer than others. (oh how I wish I could share the video clip with you!)

The girls sang loudly on the chorus....they mimicked the motions on the screen (or maybe motions they've observed), lifting their hands, swaying a bit.  "Way Maker...Miracle Worker...

THAT IS WHO YOU ARE.  THAT IS WHO YOU ARE  (that part is the loudest!!)

"Way Maker. Miracle Worker. Promise Keeper. Light in the Darkness."  

It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Way Maker.  He certainly knows they need a way to be made for them.  A way for family.  A way for identity.  A way for receiving and giving love.  A way for connecting with their caregivers and those they'll be in relationship with in the future.  

It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Miracle Worker.  He certainly knows they need miracles.  Miracles of health and wellness.  Miracles of not becoming a statistic.  Miracles of parents who work their case plans and make good decisions.  Miracles of not getting lost in the system.

It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Promise Keeper.  He certainly knows they need promises kept. Promises of care and provision. Promises of hope and a future. Promises of belonging and being wanted.  Promises that no matter what earthly promises are broken, they are loved and cared for by THE ONE who is truly The Promise Keeper.

It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Light in the Darkness.  He certainly knows they need that Light.  He knows the darkness they've experienced, and He is the light that drives back the darkness. He knows the darkness they will face and He truly is the Light that will be ever present with them. 

It is not lost on me that 2 little girls who have known (but certainly have not fully realized) significant trauma and heartbreak in their few short years are singing Truth that will make all the difference in their lives.  Truth that could literally be the difference between life and death. 

To all the Ms. Janice's out there, I need you to know that your life matters.  Your impact matters.  Your singing matters.  You are planting truth in the heart of every student and teacher and staff person that hears you.  You may think you are just singing...but you are impacting lives and planting seeds and speaking Truth that is eternally valuable.  Thank you.   

God, I trust you with these 2 girls and with every child who never chose to find themselves in the foster care system. I trust You to be their Way Maker....their Miracle Worker...their Promise Keeper....their Light in the Darkness.  And I trust You to be all those things to me, too.  It's who You are. 

t-hankful.

• a perfect penguin party (albeit to girls who shall remain nameless made it challenging...it was still the most perfect penguin party ever!)
• a girl who forgot to wear shoes to school
• that shoeless girl's courage to diagram a sentence on the board (even though i was thinking "no no no...i don't think you know how to do this!!)(she did it pretty much perfectly)
• no major damage and the power came back on (and little ones who went back to sleep in the middle of the storm/power outage)
• cash sister fun on the tricycle

• yard full/house full of youth
• real life rapunzel's cape at the soccer field
• kathy jones's kindness towards previously mentioned princess
• a church willing to do hard things
• really meaningful community group
• so much fun and laughter friday night

• even if their soccer team loses, eli and caroline don't let it ruin their day/weekend/life
• it feels like fall outside right now!!!
• passing yaya in her neighborhood and getting a bag of clothes for the girls :) 
• finally verified the venmo situation
• tasty tasty tacos and plenty for sharing 
• a week rich with friendship and conversation and community (but lacking in pictures)

thankful...virginia edition

• the gavin's willingness to do respite care for real life rapunzel
• carey's willingness to take care of all things Everbe (and her carey-like-going-above-and-beyond-ness)
• fun and fabulous picnics/playgrounds on the way to and from virginia

• plenty of naps and reading and resting
• how much zoe loves every.single.playground
• lots of laughter sliding down the stairs

• fall weather and colors
• big dinner box from pizza hut
• playing mancala in colonial williamsburg 

• yummy breakfast (mama steve doesn't have anything on nick)
• painting with emma
• imitating statues at yorktown

• nick's leadership of our family and how he had us bless one another through listening prayer and words of truth
• rocking chairs that rock just right
• enjoying the pedicure spa stuff from aunt amy (only wish she could've joined us in the tub :))

• just the right mixture of going and doing/staying and resting
• wearing my pj pants and gray hoodie so much of the week
• brave girls enjoying the pool

• the hope of eternal healing for those who hurt so much on earth
• sweet jacob has a new heart! 
• coming home to a new shower

lotsa little girls and quotes and friends and food

• create in me, Lord, a default of grace." - taylor schumann
• how kind and attentive caroline and emma are to zoe...such wonderful sisters
• pumpkin scones from amy t.!!
• so much fun at the playground

• beef jerky from yaya.  that stuff is so good.
• time with shelley and yummy food 
• feeling connected (and literally being connected by the internet) to CCC. special things happened on sunday. 
• barbara cummings.  what a lovely human. 

• big ol' coke and a bag of brownie m&m's from the ever thoughtful molly
• walk in the rain with a trusted friend
• elbow scrapes that heal (and really aren't a big deal)
• sweet little girls having fun in the puddle

• conversation with the new case worker
• a fully functioning washer and dryer!
• sub sandwiches and time with the joneses
• 3 little girls saying "daddy! daddy! daddy!" when they saw nick on the screen

• Ms. Janice from Real Life Rapunzel's preschool - I've never met Ms. Janice...but apparently she sings "Way Maker" and RLP now knows it and I'm thankful for that. something significant about RLR and T-Train singing Way Maker (just might blog about that one)
• all the things that needed to get done on wednesday got done. 
• "you're better than i know. better than i hoped you'd be." - my soul sings, maverick city music
• true and challenging and share-worthy quotes about foster parenting

• christal brought chicken salad chick again! :) 
• comfy new hoodie
• "good things are coming" t-shirt and notecards from mercy house global
• johann hari nailed it.  i've always wondered why it was possible to feel lonely even in the midst of a room full of people. 

• the gift of sharing things that matter with numerous people.
• change of pace and scenery
• most peaceful going to bed for 3 little girls
• another good quote from mike foster's instagram

• nick's amazing car trip snack bag
• giftcards for sharing
• long but good day of traveling to virginia
• books to read, games to play, paints and paper, snacks, plans, no plans...

a few of the sacred things

• "everything is sacred when you take time to notice." -jj heller
•  coffee + muffins + quiet moments + God's word
• Jesus is with us...

• salt. it's a nice spice.
• eli's company throughout the weekend
• yup:  

• emma's cute braids
• time with kimberly (and finding out that a mcdonald's caramel latte is pretty tasty!)
• fun spot on the riverwalk

• the plethora of wonderful playgrounds in columbus
• prayers and chalk at the DFCS office
• real live action rapunzel and the goat (and yaya's willingness to keep kiddos sunday afternoon AND wednesday evening!)

• grilled cheese and tomato soup at CG
• sleep.  what a gift. 
• having t train in our home again

flowers and desk chairs and flair pens

• the delight of the 3 little girls washing windows
• thursday morning bathroom bobbing for apples
• new flair pens AND a capp blast.  treat yo'self. 

• beautiful pie and fellowship with the CG ladies
• friday morning family breakfasts
• there's a field behind CCC

• arianna's life and the multiplication of her joy
• biscotti from boston! (mike's pastry to be exact)
• fun times with fun friends

• good things that happen when you ask
• joshua's generosity at marco's
• another good one:

• molly's kindness to keep kiddos
• the way the promise shirts always fit right (+ the refuel conference call thingy)
• things that make me laugh:

• band-aids...they are just so handy. 
• God provided a desk chair for emma
• flowers!  delivered to me in the backyard!  sent by my husband who is states away!