Happy Mother's Day!

Bob and I are so blessed to be able to celebrate today with both of our mothers.  We are so appreciative for all the many times they have sacrificed on behalf of their children.   We are thankful for their unconditional,  selfless love they gave to each of us while raising us and the love and support they continue to show to us and their grandchildren.

Both of our mothers and my grandmother have experienced the loss of their husbands(our dads/pop-pop) yet through the hardships, pain, grief and agony they have all faithfully walked with Christ. They have demonstrated strength and hope when life doesn't turn out the way we plan it because, their hope is found in Jesus Christ.

We honor you today, Mom Shay, Mom Hirschberg, and Nanny Shay for showing us what it looks like to really live for Christ when life brings both sorrow and joy.  We love you!

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come,


She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.


She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.


Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:


Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all


Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.


Proverbs 31:25-30

I love this man, thank you mom for teaching him how to love, cherish, and respect a woman.  For that I am grateful. What a precious gift he has been to me!

My beautiful mom! The one, who through example, taught me how to be a mom!  Thank you for teaching me to seek Jesus in all circumstances and for pointing me to His word.  Thank you for loving me even when I am not lovable!  Your wisdom is priceless and one that I will continue to seek and treasure. I love you!

So incredibly thankful and blessed to have Nanny in our lives.  "Great" to the great grandkids.  My children love spending time with you and so do I.  Thank you for being a loving mother to my dad and grandmother to all of us. You make the best pie's around!(especially blueberrry)*hint hint...love you!

Since I was a little girl, all I wanted to do was grow up and be a wife and mommy.  God in his graciousness has blessed me with my desire.  I have four beautiful children and another one to come through the privilege of adoption.  There is nothing more important to my heart then to see my children love Jesus with all of their heart, soul and mind. May I continue to seek His face in all that I do.  May I be a reflection of his love.    

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in Christ Jesus...for ever and ever! AMEN.
Ephesians 3:16-21


They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3b


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE!

Exciting News on the Hirschberg front!!

I am really excited to share some news with you!  We are adopting!!! We are thrilled!

This journey into adoption has been an exciting one, let me share how God has worked!

A little tiny seed was planted..... 

Several years ago Bob and I had the privilege to volunteer for Bethany Christians Services, a Christian Adoption Agency.  We would help out with the fundraising banquet in several different ways, whether it was going to different businesses and asking for donations or helping with the stage set for the night of the banquet.  Bethany's vision, to help the orphaned be placed into forever families, quickly became a part of our heart.  Little did we know how big of a part that would play later in our lives.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27

At different points in our lives we felt the desire to adopt but Bob and I never seemed to be on the same page at the same time.  We just continued to pray about this.  Our church partners with Bethany and so every so often we would get a picture in the bulletin of a child who was in need of a forever family.  Our children would plead with us to adopt.  We continued to pray.

A couple of years later, the seed began to sprout...

Bob and Robbie had the awesome privilege to go to  Kenya, East Africa on a missions trip with our church.  What an incredible life changing trip for the two of them to go on together and experience a different culture.  They went and visited a crippled children's home where they got to minister to some of the children through some puppets they took.  They would tell you though, that they were the ones that were ministered to.  The children who had various sicknesses and diseases were the ones that brought joy to both of them.  Robbie loved visiting the orphanage where he got to play soccer and other games with the children.  His heart was overwhelmed by the joy that these children had despite their conditions and not having a family.  The window of Bob's heart began to open towards adoption.  We continued to pray.

...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.  (paraph.) Proverbs 24:12


Through one families tragedy a bloom appears...

Derek Loux, who was one of the greatest orphan advocates, life was suddenly taken in a fatal car accident.  His life was one devoted to special needs orphans and advocating on behalf of those who have been used in sexual trafficking.   My sis-n-law Lisa,  shared on her blog his life and I quickly went to his blog.  I read something he wrote regarding his adoption of three sons and my life will forever be impacted.  Here is a little tidbit of what he wrote coming home from adopting his 3 sons with special needs.  He was exhausted and frustrated by the process...

On the drive home that night, the Lord whispered in my ear, "This is Redemption. Derek do you know how far I travelled to get you and bring you back? I had to be separated from my Son, in order to get you, just like you are separated from your children in order to get these boys.  Do you know how expensive it was for me to purchase you?  It cost me everything.  Do you know how broken, sick, damaged, twisted, dirty, smelly and hopeless you were?  And at the end of it all, you had nothing to give me or add to me.  I did it for you.  I emptied myself and became nothing so that you could have it all.  This is Redemption." 


My friends adoption is redemption.  It's costly, exhausting, and outragious.  Buying back lives costs so much.  When God set out to redeem us it killed Him and when He redeems us we can't even really appreciate or comprehend it.
 do you know how far I travelled to ge
Bob and I prayed, I had sleepless nights...praying and asking God to give us direction on what he wanted us to do.  Through prayer one night Bob and I were talking and he said, "I believe we should start the adoption process".   My heart jumped and dropped all at once...lots of emotions...and here we are, in the middle of this adoption process and we are excited by all that God is teaching us.  We are eager and thrilled to be adding another little Hirschberg to our family.

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.  For you will spread out to the right and to the left...."
Isaiah 54:2-3

Please join with us in praying for our child and for all of the many...many orphaned children who are in need of a loving family to take them in and make them a part of a forever family.

I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I still can do something and because I can not do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
Helen Keller

What can I say...really?!

Apparently, I am failing in the hygiene department! Take a look for yourself and cry laugh with me..

silly me for looking in the vanity cabinet for this...what was I thinking?

do you see a problem with this? yes that is a toothbrush!

ummm...i suppose they were thinking they were going to be here for a while and might need a snack???

what in the world...people!!!!! Be scared....be very scared.....!

Helping a friend out

Today Bob and the kiddos helped Uncle Dave pour a cement patio for Melody. They live next door to us. This was a fun project and the kids loved every minute of it. It was the highlight of the day. What a beautiful day for it too!

Maggie, always liking to serve in creative little ways:)

Gracie totally into this project...the dirtier the better!

the boys working together to level it all out

the cement truck

Bob, showing them how it's done!!

Who is YOUR advocate?

I am reposting this from one of my bloggy friends. Andrea is a fellow sister in Christ and I am so thankful for our new friendship! Through her devotion to Christ and sharing her love for the Word she has blessed me! This post spoke to my heart and I pray that it would to yours also.

I Samuel 23:13-29; Psaml 54; I Samuel 24-25:44

Saul is chasing David... and David is literally running for his life. Just as Saul is about to catch up with and trap David...the Lord intervenes. The Lord sent and urgent message to Saul through his army that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. Saul had to immediately leave to go fight the Philistines...the Lord showed up in perfect timing.

I can imagine David thought for a moment that this was it for him-he could see that Saul was cornering him...and then you get one of those "are you kidding me" moments. God knew it would have to be something big to distract Saul-so...God did something big.

And David gave glory to God...

4 But God is my helper.

The Lord keeps me alive!

5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.

Do as you promised and put an end to them.

6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;

I will praise your name, O Lord,

for it is good.

7 For you have rescued me from my troubles

and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

But it wasn't over...the minute Saul was done fighting the Philistines-he came right back to finish David off once and for all. And then something funny happens. Saul needs to relieve himself-so he goes in a cave. (Don't you love God's sense of humor?) David sees Saul go in the cave, he sneaks in behind him and cuts off a piece of his robe while Saul is taking a leak. (Hey, it's in the Bible...not those exact words...but that is what was happening.) And I have to say I love David's conscience here. He chooses NOT to kill Saul...and he even feels guilty for cutting a piece of his robe.

And THIS is my favorite part of this...

9 Then he shouted to Saul, "Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, "I will never harm the king-he is the Lord's annointed one." 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

12 "May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, "From evil people come evil deeds." So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!"

David could have easily taken matters into his own hands. He could have easily defeated Saul. He could have easily given Saul what he deserved...and no one would have thought badly about him. Because....really....justice would have been served. OR...David could have trusted the Lord to be his advocate. He could choose to trust the Lord even though finishing Saul right then would be easier. And He could have chosen to let the Lord be his advocate and fight for him....resulting in God being more glorified in the end.

I don't know about you-but I can really learn something from this.

Can I love someone that doesn't love me?

Can I turn the other cheek and trust the Lord to be the justifier?

Can I close my mouth and let the Lord be my advocate?

Too often, in our world, we want our feelings to be heard, we want to justify what is "deserved" and validate our feelings...and how we were wronged and what should be done to make it right. How our children should be treated or how they were mistreated...how business should be done...and before you know it-instead of allowing God to advocate for us and for His light to shine-we catch ourselves being hot heads, road-ragers, gossipers and wasting more time complaining than living. But I love how David was tempted in this passage-but he didn't go there....and he was bold enough to give God the glory.

Let us challenge our hearts this week to allow God to be our advocate and to trust Him to fight for us. After all, if He is for us-really, who can be against us?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8-28-31.

Let your light shine this week and may He live richly in You as you trust Him to go before you and with you.

Themed Birthday Party...fun stuff!

Maggie and Gracie went to their friend Marissa's birthday party which was a themed party(as you can tell) They dressed up in the 60's era. They had a blast!

Neil and Jackie are baaaaaaack!

Last night our church held a "meet and greet" for one of the new pastors who will be joining the staff . We are so excited that Rev. Neil and Jackie Kulp will be coming back! While I was in youth group, Neil was the youth pastor. I have many fond, silly, exciting, and awesome memories of both he and Jackie. For many years they were a part of the crazy Shore weekend where Neil would lead us in worship around the pool on Sunday mornings(maybe they'll come again:) Neil was also the leader on two of the missions trips I went on to Nova Scotia. Memories that will last a life time.

Last night, their eldest, Melissa was their with her two beautiful(they take after their pretty mama) children, Eowyn and Caid. They are absolutely adorable...just precious. My kiddos got a kick out of Eowyn, she is just personality plus!

We took a snap shot last night and little Caid joined us:)

Bob took the pic and as you can tell he wasn't concerned who or what was in the background....hee hee!