Our Name-This Photo

If you've read the side bar, you'll see our name means "Bridge Over a Ditch."

Recently, our family was BLESSED (okay-I considered it blessed-D and boys would've said "cursed!") by the A.MAAAAAZING. Mandie Joy, who so willingly did a photo-shoot of our crew at one of our favorite family spots-Rothenbach Park.

As we walked along one of the trails, looking for the "perfect spot"--we spotted this dry canal/ditch (sorta--depends on who you asked--D. man said it was all good.....my cowboy boots found it to be rather marshy and muddy like!) and she asked us to "hop down" so she could shoot some photos of us from that spot.  As we stood and "posed" it dawned on me the "irony" of it.....here we were--the Bridge Over a Ditch Crew--standing in a ditch as a family unit......

Amazing how beautiful something can be, when you step back and look at it from a different perspective than what it is by name.....I mean--it's just a muddy 'ole canal/ditch.  But, LOOK AT THIS SHOT-simply BEAUTIFUL!!!

The Ditch

The Bowditches-in the  Ditch.

The Boyditches in the Drain of the Ditch

My Baby. I wonder how long he'll be my baby?

Big Red. Just turned 9. Almost as tall as his Mama. Stop.It! 

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Pause. Not a bad thing....

Parts of our life have been put on "pause."  But, that's okay.  Dealing.  Processing.  God is pushing "play" in other areas.  We are growing.  Closer to each other.  To Him. To what He's calling us to do. To be.

"Pause" usually means, in my mind, rushing off to go pee in the middle of a movie--quickly--because, without fail, the urge occurs at a climax in the movie....you hurry through what needs to be done, so that you can quickly return to your cozy place on the couch and click "play" again.

In the "movie of life," it.just.ain't.so!  Sometimes, the pause is longer.  Sometimes it's shorter.

I'm happy for pause right now--because well--LIFE is still happening--boy's schedules have been hectic with Little League. Big Red has been asked to join a Travel Ball Team. (That's BIG stuff ya'll!).  Thanksgiving is tomorrow! (YEAH!!!). Christmas is just a month away.  And get this--the love.of.my.life.turns.FIFTY.in.a.month.too!  These are BIG things ya'll!  BIG!  Let's not forget about work and the amazing responsibilities I have between two amazing PT jobs. (PT=Ministry Jobs=FULL TIME DOUBLE TIME NEVER ENOUGH TIME!) ;)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently on Him. ~ps. 37:7. love this. clinging to this.

Haiti Adoption Fundraiser!

Have you seen the fundraiser going on over at Facebook yet?

No?

Read about it here:

mulletmemos

and view it here: FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER! 

One awesome "HOPE" cuff donated for the auction:

Our Timeline=In.God's.Hands

The ball will officially roll from the hands of FBCH and our SW this week, to SCC and a "mystery SW" who will be doing our HS.

Tonight-I basically completed the last of our paperwork-D will sign off on it tomorrow.  We need to get finger-printed, physicals and have 3 others do some finger-printing too.  And-the rest is up to the SW--our work is done other than continuing to work on the house.

A lot of "waiting" in the in-betweens.

We'll have a LONG HS w/ the SW from SCC-interview us as individuals (boys included), a family, etc.  Walk around and inspect home.  Then, a Health Dept. inspector will be scheduled to come out. All this is probably what will take so long--waiting for the next appointment, etc.

Our SW said to give it at least 8 weeks of being "in the works"--but not to expect our 1st placement until around Dec. 1.   You know-the.most.chaotic-I mean-wonderful.time.of.the.year! ;)  It's okay--have I mentioned this is ALL GOD'S?  All.His.Timing!

We still have "piddly" errand types of things to do--purchase 2 required fire extinguishers (2 floors), safety-proof certain things--but because of how fast we accomplished tasks this weekend-and pounding out paperwork tonight--I'm feeling we're ahead of the game. For.NOW! ;)

So, hope this answers some questions.  Oh-and NO--we do NOT know who we're "going to get."  Nor do we have a preference of boy/girl.  We are sticking to the age group of 0-5 years of age.  The room is ready with boy and girl toys.

That's all, for now. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we venture on this beautiful journey God has called us on--and keep in touch! :)

Day Of Redemption

August 31, 2012=The Day of Redemption!  Augusts have been deemed as my "bad month" for years.  Lost my 1st pregnancy in 2002. Brother was almost killed in an accident in 2002 (a week before my loss). My "Uncle Daddy" (most FAVORITE relative in my extended family) diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010--I just.don't.like.August.  And let's not forget I live in FLORIDA--one of the HOTTEST months all year!

So, there I was-Friday-on the brink of putting behind me the dreaded month....and I'll admit--August 2012 wasn't.too.shabby.at.all!  Content-YES! New job in Ministry-YES!  Good start to school for both my sons-YES!  Things.are.starting.to.look.UP.for us-YES! And then-I got a call---the long-AWAITED-call, from our Social Worker (SW)--but it was a "tad bit earlier" than she had promised (late Sept-Oct)--so I was anxious to hear what she was "proposing"--and of COURSE, she was at LUNCH when I returned her call!  And voice mail picked up hours later when I attempted AGAIN. Didn't she know not to tease me like that going into a 3 day weekend?  I laughed at myself and was reminded again by that still.small.voice in my heart--It's all in God's hands--HIS timing--NOT mine! And I felt so at peace. Not.like.me.at.ALL! ;)

5:45 p.m. on a Friday as I splashed around Mom's pool with the boys-my cell rings--it was our SW!  Long story short--they are "outsourcing" some of their families (US) to the local foster system (where we'll be getting children from anyways!) in an effort to get more families licensed and available.  Currently-there are NO available foster homes in our county and 100's of kids "in need of beds"--aka--HOMES, JESUS, PARENTS TO LOVE ON THEM, FAMILIES TO HELP BRING HEALING TO THE BROKENNESS!!!!  After conferring with Dana--we both agreed to this "change of plans"--and decided to GO FOR IT.....we'll still get our license through FBCH, but to get the ball ROLLLLLLING--we'll have our initial Home Study (HS) done by Safe Children's Coalition (SCC) instead of our SW w/ FBCH.

We originally had a "plan-less weekend." Forget that plan.  We entered into super-vamped mode of clearing out closets (Dear dear hubby FINALLY departed with a specific shirt that I have DESPISED for the 12+ years we've been together-Hallelujah-Thank You JESUS!!!), filled 4 LARGE garbage bags of clothes for a friend who ministers to the needy, filled a box w/ misc. stuff for Goodwill, rented a small storage unit for stuff in our son's closets that freed up space so they could HAVE A CLOSET---oh the work we accomplished when we had MOTIVATION! :)

Photo caption from Instagram: Moving seasonal decorations and baby/toddler items to storage in prep for our #homestudy . 25 sq ft made such a HUGE difference! Weird!

 

Photo caption from Instagram: Can't fire the free help! This cracked us up-both Dane and I were busting our tails and we looked over and saw them sitting there all chill! #thegoodlife

So grateful for the beautiful reminder from my friend E.  She pointed out how God had REDEEMED the month of August, for me, via a text!  Her words smacked.me.in.the.face!  Hard.  I took a deep breath, re-read her words and smiled. And whispered a prayer of gratitude to my Sweet Heavenly Father who knows just what we need, just what we want and just the right time for it!!  :)  Four days later, I'm still grinning like a ninny.

Photo Caption on Instagram: What? Don't most people do #radon tests on Tuesday nights at 955 pm? #totallynormal right? Beats the glucose test required in wk 30 of pregnancy! I'll take this test any day over a cup full of orange flavored vomit ! ;)

Awakening

Has God called you to do something....to pursue after something with you whole heart?  What are you doing about it?  

Jesus has OVERCOME--and the VICTORY is HIS!

Chew on this:
If stress, anxiety and worry fill your mind and heart .... Then by thinking and feeling this way, you are telling Jesus that The Price He paid was not enough! 


In this world we will have trouble--BUT HE HAS OVERCOME IT ALL, so that one day we will have Eternity free of it all! PEACE, He gives: cast all your anxieties upon Him--for.He.cares.for.YOU!

What is God asking of you, today?  This week?  This year?  Feeling like it's too much to handle?  If He calls you to it-He will CARRY YOU THROUGH IT!!  This much, I know, because of how I have chosen to live my life at a very young age!  I often say "I'd rather not be like Jonah--I want to obey Christ the first time, because if the trials in life that I come across--the road blocks-the obstacles, are NOT WHALES.....I'd hate to see what would swallow me up IF I CHOSE TO RUN!"

Peace and Blessings, as you pursue Him relentlessly. 

A Time to Build

A Time to Build: Family, Business, FUTURE HOPES and DREAMS......

I have gone through some BIG and MAJOR changes lately.  I cannot indulge in all the details quite yet, but in the process, I have been POURING my heart out to my Precious Heavenly Father, begging Him to USE ME, use my GIFTS, my heart, my PASSIONS, for His GLORY.....and to also allow the gifts and passions He's given me to become a way to earn some money too (!!!!!).  I have huge lists of things I desire to create, to build "A Bridge of Grace," as a business--a lot of "Upcycling"--which ties into my heart and vision for aBoG--using tattered/used/worn pieces of clothing to create beautiful new garments or decor (see vs. 11 below!).  In my head, I keep hearing "There is a time and season for EVERYTHING under heaven."  Wanting to include that passage from Ecclesiastes in my post here, I looked it up in it's entirity (LOVE biblegateway.com !!)  and I just sat here GRINNING at the BEAUTY of this "all too familiar but so often forgotten" nugget of TRUTH! I will put emphasis on my favorite parts!

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under heaven:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been, 

    and what will be has been before; 

    and God will call the past to account.[a]

Would you mind helping me to share about my business and heart for orphans and foster children?  Any way I can get the word out in sell one.item.at.a.time, will aid in my heart's desire to put more energy into THIS CAUSE and not "Corporate America."  THANK YOU!

Share the Love!

Esther Fundraiser

Back in November, I made this bracelet:

to honor a precious little girl in Uganda.  At the time, many who were praying for Esther's "Forever Family" thought things were heading in ONE direction-but by the end of December, we realized they.were.NOT! For so many--especially Esther--the realization that the "hunt was still on"--was heartbreaking and yet--FAITH.BUILDING!!!  In the meantime, I have kept pressing in, praying for this precious little life--that God would bring to her the most PERFECT family . A family who was EQUIPPED--physically, emotionally, spiritually--in EVERY.single.WAY--equipped to be her Forever Family.

The.DAY.has.COME!

First, this week--I caught wind of the family---FREAKINGLY AMAZING FAMILY (I know--"freakingly" isn't a word--Google Chrome is making me aware of that......) that God has had in store for her ALL ALONG!

Then, Jenny, Esther's Mama--started her own blog.  Just 3-4 entries thus far, but each one has caused goosebumps to cover every.inch.of.my.body!!  Here's her first entry  but this one----THIS ONE--takes.the.cake!!!!!

I want to support this FREAKINGLY AMAZING FAMILY and want to invite you to share in this opportunity!  I have enough "Esther" material to make approximately 6-8 more bracelets.  If I can find more material--I will make more.....BUT, I have these two materials already commissioned for the Children of Uganda and will specifically pray over Esther's life and family as I make the bracelets from these materials, as well:

( 2011 is a dark dark chocolate brown--2012 is a linen cream w/ navy blue.)

Here's the info:
$20 a bracelet
--I will give $10-12 per bracelet sold to Esther's Forever Family, depending on what material (I just need to cover the cost of my material).  I have TONS of the Uganda 2011 and 2012 material--so I know I won't run out of that!

If you want to order one (or two or three...)--send me a message:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com  regarding size (Children or Adult), how many, which material and I will send you my Paypal info.  Please indicate "Fundraiser for Esther" as I have another fundraiser going on right now.

THANK YOU.....can't wait to bless this family--even if it's only 2-3 bracelets I can make in honor of her--I feel so blessed to have been a part of interceding on her behalf since July 19, 2011 last year when I first "met her" online.

Please keep this family in your prayers as Jenny has to come back to the States for 20 LONG days without her Esther!!  And, pray that God will continue preparing this whole crew for this precious new addition to their growing family!

Bracelets Available-Already Made

Here are bracelets that are already made--all are Adult sizes, unless otherwise indicated.  

Bracelets $20

 Child (Haylie)

 Child (Jessi)--can do this in Adult

Bayside Uganda Fundraiser

A local church, Bayside Community Church, is sending a team to Uganda June 16th.....just weeks away from leaving, I realized, I CAN HELP--I can't go (or afford to go!! LOL!)--but, I CAN HELP!  So, from now through June 30, any bracelet sold and memo'ed "Bayside," I will give ALL profits ($10-12 per bracelet) to the team!  I have "Commissioned" the two materials below to represent the families and children adopted from Uganda in 2011 from our community (I know about 7 of them, myself!!) and the other fabric-Uganda 2012 is in honor of all orphans being adopted this year, as well as the incredible group of men and women who will be travelling to this country this year, to serve the orphans!  

Here is an example of the bracelets that I make--honoring a child who has been adopted, needs to be adopted or is in the foster system.....OR, the Mama who has adopted or fostered them.  This bracelet is named after a precious little one in Uganda, waiting for her Forever Family. 

Bracelets are $20 for adult or children.

Here's what you need to do, if you'd like a bracelet (or two...):

1.  Email me at:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com  with the # of bracelets you desire, indicating adult or child and which fabric you would like me to use.

2.  I will send you a confirmation, along with my PayPal information and make "drop off arrangements" if you're local.  If you need yours shipped, I will need to charge $1 per bracelet to ship--and will get your address at that point.

3.  You will make payment to my account.  I will make your order within 4 business days of receiving your payment.  

(I am attempting to keep the "middle man" out (Etsy) as it charges fees per each transaction.)  

Make ANY purchase from ANY of my already made bracelets or choose from my selection of fabrics and all profits will go to Bayside.  Do you have a Mama or adopted/foster child you'd like me to commission a bracelet after?  Indicate in your email, individuals name and a short description of him/her so that I can pray for them as I create the bracelet.  I pray specifically for a child or mother as I create each bracelet!  

Selections of Fabric

See a fabric you'd like?  Email me your order at:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com and indicate which letter (Fabric) you'd like and size (adult or child). If you'd like me to commission a fabric/bracelet for a specific child or Mama, please give me the name of the individual as well as a little "history" so that I can know how to pray for the individual!  I pray for each individual I'm creating the bracelet after! 

Bracelets:  $20

All profits of any sales memo'ed "Bayside" will go towards THIS FUNDRAISER through June 30th. 

"Esther" made from Fabric H

"Eliana" made from Fabric K.  

"LIKE" us on Facebook!

I switched ABridge OfGrace over to a business page, last week.  If you haven't already "LIKED" us--please do so now!  I have a "freebie" offer out there that no one has yet to claim---refer SIX friends to the page and you get to pick out one bracelet of your choice!

"You Don't Know My Story"

This phrase has haunted my thoughts all week.


It began while we were in about hour 536 out of a 6 hour training course last Saturday for our fostering/adoption licensing we have to take. 


Social worker shared a story.  A story about "Junk Behavior" (any behavior of an individual that does not bring physical harm to an individual or property--i.e.-whining, rolling of eyes, cursing, name calling, etc.).....this story--made.me.CRINGE!  Imagine--LOUD 3 year old screaming at the top of his lungs in Walmart.  For 25 minutes. Social worker was encouraging us to look at said behavior as "junk" and to just.ignore.it.  Children want and need a response--positive or negative. 


BUT--that's not the point of this post.....THIS IS.....as she told the story--it was as if GOD (through the Holy Spirit) smacked.me.SQUARAE.in.the.face.  Seriously--I was feeling overly anxious just hearing this story (true story that happened to previous social worker w/ this organization with her adopted foster son).  "You don't know ______ story.  Why are you so quick to judge the parent of the ill-behaved child in the store?  Or why do you automatically assume that child calls the shots? You don't know (his) story."  I immediately had this "flashback" to the 100's of times that, after my Uncle's death-I'd see "READDY ICE" machines at Walmart or outside a convenience store and I'd begin to cry. I'd quickly feel embarrassed and think that the whole world was watching me....and want to scream "MY UNCLE DIED OKAY--THAT'S WHY I'M CRYING AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME AND MAKING YOU FEEL AWKWARD!  HE WAS ONE OF THE THE MOST AMAZING MEN IN MY LIFE AND HE'S GONE...AND THE DAMN ICE FREEZERS REMIND ME OF HIM AND I CRY....OKAY?"    No one knew my story. And no one judged me---or at least---confront me and share their thoughts. 


Think about the many times you've been in a situation where you were quick to judge.  Did you critique someone's parenting skills?  Or how they spoke to their spouse?  Or responded to their parents?  Or their supervisor?  Next time you find yourself "jumping to a conclusion, " remind yourself--You.Don't.Know.Their.Story.  Plain and simple.  You don't know if they were abused as a child.  Or being abused as an adult.  You don't know if they are terminally sick and having a hell of a day and needed to get out of the house and just so happen to be "inconveniencing you" by their emotional melt-downs at Walmart.  You don't know if they were up all night with a sick child or dying parent.


What about the friend or acquaintance you think talks too much?  Or shares too much?  Or is overly emotional?  Or doesn't talk enough?  And doesn't share enough of what's "REALLLY" inside?  Perhaps THEY were abused and neglected as a child.  Perhaps they have been burned by tooooo many people and as a result have built walls around their hearts and lives to "protect" themselves. 


It was a sad, but beautiful reminder, from God--for me to just BE....to not judge others so quickly--to extend GRACE that Christ so freely extends to me--to those around me.....


We are going to find ourselves in situations w/ our future family that I hope and PRAY others will be gracious and forgiving to.  We won't be able to tell every child's story to everyone we come into contact with--not even our own extended family members will necessarily know all the details of our future family.  That's an okay thing.....just praying that the Holy Spirit will prompt others the same way It has me....."You don't know their story." 


Get your Grace Gloves on people. ;o)

Stay Tuned....

Hoping to get a face-lift here soon.

Hoping to catch up and post new items.

Hoping to add a PayPal button.

Life is SPINNING 100 mph--and THIS IS WHY! 

One.LITTLE.Word

One.Little.Word: I choose one each year, to focus on for the whole year. Each year, God amazes me in how He takes that word and takes me do a whole deeper level in my relationship with HIM, as I begin to understand the meaning of the word on a whole new level. (i.e.: breathe, play, resurrect, peace etc. have been previous year's words). This year, I'm choosing one for A Bridge of Life to focus on and then a similar for my own personal/family life--they mean the same-but reflect different images too.

Personal/Family One.Little.Word for 2012: Compassion. For all-friends, family, strangers, broken, widowed, orphaned, the sick, the dying (physically and emotionally).

ABoG One.Little.Word for 2012 is: Mercy. I desire for this business to reflect MERCY--God's mercy-but in the human form of my life.

And there is no BETTER and MORE PERFECT SONG to encompass both words, than "Mighty to Save"--Jeremy Camp's version is now my new fav! :) Both words in the first 5 seconds of the song! :)