A Beautiful Mosaic

I have realized that I have used this blog recently as my own therapy, my outlet and solace.  And I have not made sure to share enough about the treasures of life here in Monticello. Like "my girl," as my supervisor called her after I shared my growing attachment to her.  I definitely should have told you about "my girl."  We've only been journeying together a few months now but what a journey it has been!  It was only recently when I sat down and processed where we started with her and where she is today.  It's the kind of story you want to repeat itself and you want to remind yourself of amidst everything else.  We aren't in a perfect place today and sometimes we are not even in a great place, but I am so amazed what some stability, the Truth, and some nurturing love can do for a soul.  She came to us very hardened and grown about ten years beyond her own age.  I remember being slightly intimidated by her refusal to smile...today, she ha...

The holidays are in full swing at Barton, though we have rain showers instead of snow.  We attended the Christmas parade together this last week, as well as trimmed the tree and decorated the home.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and we have a PACKED schedule until it is!  The girls have Christmas craft nights, Christmas parties, Christmas Talent Show, service projects, and the list goes on.  It has already been a ton of fun to enjoy all of the excitement with them, but it is bittersweet as the holidays are also the most difficult times for most of our youth as it only serves as a reminder of the home and family they miss each day.  We try to make it as homey and uplifting as possible, but you can still see it in their eyes or hear it in their voices sometimes.  We are working Christmas this year, which we are excited about sharing with the girls.  We will even get to take them on a shopping trip for gifts for one another (their gifts have...

Written Several Weeks Ago: It was in the same doctor's appointment addressing her reoccurance of lice that, for an entirely different presenting problem, she was prescribed the medication to be administered through the rectum.  I looked at the lady and did my best to nod my head, say okay, and offer a feeble smile upon the further news.  I sat there and let the information sink in.  Those nasty little creepy crawly head-spiders were back in FULL FORCE and we would be on our way home soon to deal with that and for an entirely different reason, it would be necessary for me to purchase another package of latex gloves so that I could administer pills twice daily to her other end.  I began to ask myself questions and yearn for the opportunity to dissociate myself from reality as I knew it.  Why should I have to do that to her?  I didn't bring her into this world and didn't mess her up once she got here so - HOW - I began to ask myself - did I get myself i...

[ Preface : I do not share this for the reasons that may seem obvious and predictable - some self-seeking need to be loved in return or find significance in the past.  I wrote this as simply an outlet on my iPhone while I rode in the car as the melody to a particular song pricked my heart.  But then I decided I wanted to share it.  Simply because it is truth and we very rarely choose to just share the darn honest truth with one another.  We don't always feel it necessary to let one another know how we feel. However, I know many of you read this blog to hear about our new life and what God has done and is doing.  I feel it would be a disservice to share all of the wonderment without the reality of the difficulty that often accompanies a calling and the hardship in leaving your homeland simply in faith.  Not that it is not so completely the right thing to do exactly whatever it is God calls you to, but as your journey on the road marked out for you, please n...