Sunday, August 31, 2008

Steven Curtis Chapman on Orphans

FRANKLIN, Tennessee (CNN) -- According to UNICEF, there are 143 million children in the world who have lost one or both parents.In America alone, there are half a million children in foster care, and approximately 120,000 of these children are waiting to be adopted. In many countries, children are too often orphaned or abandoned because of poverty, disabilities and disease; every 15 seconds, a child loses a parent because of AIDS. These are staggering facts that can seem overwhelming and discouraging, but I believe that God has a loving plan for each child, and that plan is you and me.Caring for these children is not the job of governments or institutions; instead, it is the job of families, people and communities. As Christians, our compassion is simply a response to the love that God has already shown us. Mother Teresa would constantly remind those who worked with her that the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus. So in a very real sense, caring for orphans is a chance to meet the person of Jesus in "the guise of human suffering." This is an invitation from the heart of God to know him and to experience his love.Nine years ago, my wife and my eldest daughter, Emily, traveled to Haiti on a mission trip. Having been exposed to extreme poverty for the first time, Emily returned home with a determined passion to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children.Only 12 years old, Emily went on an all-out campaign to persuade us to adopt. She bought a book on international adoption with her Christmas money and would read it to us regularly. She began fervently praying and writing letters to Mary Beth and me, encouraging us to consider giving a waiting child a home. Emily knew God was leading us in the direction of adoption; however, Mary Beth and I were not yet convinced.My wife and I had always supported the idea of adoption, and as Christians, we understood the importance of loving and caring for others. But what I had not yet grasped was that adoption is a physical picture of what Jesus has done for me. I did nothing to deserve God's love; in fact, I was living as an orphan, without hope. Yet God chose to pursue a relationship with me, and through the death of his son Jesus, I was adopted into God's family.My wife and I began moving toward adoption with fear and trembling and asking all the questions people ask. I remember Mary Beth crying herself to sleep at night saying, "What are we doing? I can't do this." However, God kept reassuring us that this was the direction he was leading us. It was a huge journey of faith for us.In May of 2000, we found ourselves in a hotel room in China's Hunan province, welcoming the newest member of our family, Shaohannah Hope. From that moment, we began our journey into the world of adoption, orphan care and Shaohannah's Hope.We went on to adopt Stevey Joy and Maria. Recently, our youngest daughter, Maria, passed from life on this earth and is now safely in the arms of Jesus. We have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of so many during this time of deep, deep sadness. Through all that we've experienced, one thing we still know is true: God's heart is for the orphan.In our travels to Latin America, Africa and Asia, we have visited many different orphanages. If you look past the surroundings and into the eyes of the children, they all have the same look. They seem to convey, "I don't think this is what I was made for. Where do I belong?"These children are crying out for the hope of a family, for the hope of community, for the hope of a permanent love. Our mission, and the mission of our adoption charity, Shaohannah's Hope, is to show hope to these children and to mobilize people, families and communities to be living examples of God's love for them.We started Shaohannah's Hope in order to connect willing families with waiting children, but the reality is that there are many orphans who cannot be adopted. Even though we may not be able to bring them into our homes, we still have the opportunity to show them the hope we have.If only 7 percent of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. If everybody would be willing to simply do something to care for one of these precious treasures, I think we would be amazed by just how much we could change the world.We can each do something, whether it is donating, adopting, fostering, mentoring, visiting orphans or supporting families that have taken in orphans. You can change the world for an orphan.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Stealing Another Post from Pastor Matti

He Knows What He is Doing
Whenever man tries to do the work of God he gets tired
and frustrated. God’s work is beyond man’s abilities.
His work of creation was unique.
Man cannot hang even one little star up in the firmament.
His work of salvation cannot be repeated.
Man cannot do it. He only can try to copy it.
Isn’t that obvious? The world is full of bad copies of
the work of God, all kinds of salvation packages with
man’s price tags in them.
In Luke 10 the disciples get to taste a little of the power of God.
They see people being healed, demons cast out and souls set free.
Most probably ordinary people admired them.
They became supermen overnight.
They were successful and happy.
Jesus saw this new experience deceiving them and decided to
teach them two important principles.
Don’t rejoice in that what you can do, but in that what God
has done and in how He has done it.
Look at the work of God.
It will last forever. All other copies will be disqualified one day.
We are not the Creator. We are the creation.
We are not the Savior. We are the saved.
Let’s put our shoulders back and believe in that what God is doing.
“This is the work of God that you believe in Him
whom He sent.” John 6:29

Today's the Big Day


Myriah Mae Botley will become Mrs. Timothy Andrew Sochurek sometime after 3:30 pm today. We just finished the flowers. I should say Myriah, Grace and Annie finished the flowers. I did a lot yesterday but haven't done any today. We are getting ready to get our nails done and then off to Northport for the big ceremony.

Congrats Rye and Tim!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Isaiah 57:1-2

Isaiah 57:1,2
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

I will Praise You in the Storm - Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Nearing the End of the Marathon

My working marathon will end on Thursday. It's been so busy and nine days straight. Today started at 7:30 am with a few hours break and then working until 8:40 pm. Dave worked straight through without any break. Tons and tons of laundry. It's funny how tired the small business owners in Camden get this time of year. We all have to make hay while the sun shines or shall we say - while the tourists are here. We are so happy when they finally come, but this time of year the Maine winters actually become appealing.

I do have two days off this week. I will be helping my cousin get ready for her big day. I have been helping some already but I'll be helping her decorate tomorrow when I get out of work. Thursday we'll be doing some more of that and then Friday we'll be doing the flowers. I can't believe she's getting married. It's so surreal.

Last night my mom, grandmother, aunt, cousin, other cousin's girlfriend and I went to see Mama Mia. The movie was better than I expected but too soon to see something that involves any emotion. We all left the theater in a big bawlfest.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Deuteronomy 33:27a

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Hebrews 4:9 -16

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Let us therefore be deligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I Love You Vinny!

Part of my heart is in heaven. I am grateful for you - that you are in peace and trusting God that this intense pain will ease with time. I'll love you and miss you with all my heart and soul. You will always be my Vinny.

Mercy Said No

I was just a child, when I felt the Savior leading
I was drawn to what I could not understand
And for the cause of Christ, I have spent my days believing
That what He'd have me be, is who I am

As I've come to see the weaker side of me
I realize His grace is what I'll need
When sin demanded justice for my soul

(Chorus)
Mercy said no
I'm not going to let you go
I'm not going to let you slip away
You don't have to be afraid

Mercy said no
Sin will never take control
Life and death stood face to face
Darkness tried to steal my heart away
Thank You Jesus, Mercy said no


For God so loved the world, that He sent His son to save us
From the cross He built a bridge to set us free
Oh, but deep within our hearts, there is still a war that rages
And makes a sacrifice so hard to see

As midnight fell upon the crucifixion day
The light of hope seemed oh so far away
As evil tried to stop redemption's flow

(Repeat Chorus)

(Bridge)
And now when heaven looks at me
It's through the blood of Jesus
Reminding me of one day long ago

(Repeat Chorus)

Ferryboats, Fall, & Fairs


Yesterday morning I took a trip to an island off the coast here to meet some friends. The weather started out cloudy and muggy. My mom, my grandmother, Vinny, Zac and I made several trips to this island when we were little kids. My mom took care of an elderly man's dying wife in the healthcare center. He fell in love with my mother and they were friends until the day he died. Vinny and I used to throw bottles with messages off the side of the ferry on our way over. Yesterday it started to rain and then it poured by the time I walked off the boat. My friend met me there and drove me to her house. I thought it was going to be a complete shack by the description she had given me. Granted it does need some cosmetic work but the place is absolutely charming. It was so great to be there and we had a blast. Her son cooked us one of the best meals I have ever had, we drove around the island and then they dropped me off at the ferry. By the time I made it to the mainland, the weather was clear and it felt like fall.

Then, in the evening, another friend and I went to the local country fair that runs for a week. I must confess, the only reason I go once or twice a year is to play Bingo in the Bingo tent. We paid our $8 entrance fee - insane - got an ice cream and walked over to the tent. They weren't going to have Bingo. What?! No Bingo?! I couldn't believe I had just paid $8 dollars for nothing. I usually do a lap around the fair anyway - even if my main reason was to play bingo. Last night we tried to drum up reasons to stay. I don't mind rides - a little over priced at $4 a pop - but didn't think my friend was up to it. We walked around the life stock, which I like, but ice cream and animal smells don't mix. We even went into the museum which I have never ever been to that I can remember. I saw my mother's flower display. I couldn't see her name but could tell by the arrangement it was hers. She definitely deserved first place because her flowers were way better than the others - I am not sure what she placed. I contemplated eating more food because I didn't have dinner but didn't seem like a good choice. We even thought about going to the demolition derby but it was packed. Cars smashing into each other is a big hit up here in the sticks. So we left. Bummer - no bingo.

I may be imagining things differently but our local fair is not what it used to be. When I was young and then a teenager, every child in this area lived for fair time. Vinny and I used to save our money to go. (I'll do another post on how we made our fair money - blueberry raking for my grandfather). The midway was filled with rides and tons of kids every where. It's not the same anymore. The midway seems to shrink every year. Maybe the kids have more to do now than we did back then. Who knows.

I'll be going to the Windsor fair next week. My grandfather is in charge of the pulling - where horses and oxen compete on pulling weights. That fair is much bigger and better. I won't play bingo there because they have so many cool animals to look at.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

My Thoughts vs God Thoughts

My thoughts: God, I would have done things differently.

God's thoughts: Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

My thoughts: I always go to trying to figure things out on my own and making my own way... and then I remember....

God's thoughts: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

My thoughts: I don't feel God's presence.

God's thoughts: Zechariah 2:8 - I am the apple of God's eye.
Heb 13:5b-6 - I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Psalm 139:8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

My Thoughts: God, is Your salvation eternal and secure?

God's Thoughts: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.
John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall ANYONE snatch them out of My hand.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing (including myself - Rachael's words), shall be able to separate us from the love of God which in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Cor 1:22 Who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

My Thoughts: Is heaven really real?

God's Thoughts: John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

There are more thoughts to come but I don't have time right now...

Saturday, August 16, 2008

A Suburb of Appleton, Maine


That's right, we grew up (until I was 10 and Vinny was 11) in Burkettville, a suburb of Appleton, Maine. I think Appleton has 1,000 people now but probably was around 600 or 700 while we were there. Our little suburb was the poor part of town. Some people poke fun at me because we lived there when we were young. Now it's actually a desirable place to live. I don't care either way. My mom did very well to buy a house so young with two little children and it was a magical place to live as a kid. Our neighbors were a mixture of local yokels - just plain Maine people and some kind of scary maybe murderers. We loved it anyway.

A week ago I drove up there just to see our old house and think about the things we used to do. As I took a left onto the Burkettville road, I saw a deer in the field. We used to see so many deer in that field as we made our trek into civilization. Appleton is at least 25 minutes from any bigger town. We actually ran out of gas a few times near that field. My mom didn't have any money and was always chancing the gas situation until the last minute. Then I drove by M & D market. That was built after we lived there for a few years. We loved, loved the times when we had the special privilege of getting a pizza. We always wanted to beat our younger brother up because, if we did get pizza, it was always peperoni. Next I passed our old baby sitter Abby's house. She and her husband Clyde used to babysit us when my mom first bought the house. They didn't have any money either. In fact, they didn't even have a bathroom. Vinny and I thought it was so cool they had an outhouse. We were very small. Clyde would drive us to the store and buy us candy bars and my mom told us later that they would leave groceries for us because they felt bad and loved us so much. Then I drove by George's Store. It hasn't been open since I was around 7. An old man George used to own it and he lived across the street from it. Vinny and I used to sing Georgie Porgie Puddin' Pie to him every time we went in. As I made the descent into the little area where we used to live I had to drive down the infamous winding hill of Burkettville. We had the coolest bus driver Teddy when we were kids. We loved him even if he did run over our cat. In the winter time Teddy would need traction to get up over the infamous hill, so he would ask all the kids to pile in the two back seats of the bus. After I made it down the hill, I passed over the river that Vinny and I used to fish in. Then I passed Mona's house. She used to babysit us too. Then Vaughn and family's house. Vinny and I never understood why Vaughn would chase us out of his yard with a rake. We would get up early in the morning, walk down over the hill to Vaughn's house and open up the door to his chicken coop. Now looking back, we probably let all of his chickens out every day. We had chickens of our own. Laverne and Shirley. We hatched them in our first and second grade classroom (we had the same teacher that year). They got eaten by foxes or coyotes pretty quickly. As I made my way up to our old house,I remembered walking up the middle of the road at night with Vinny and his friend Robbie sing "Take me home to the place where I belong West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home". I saw the area in the woods where I knew there would be a big rock behind the trees. I remember Vinny and I loved McDonald's as kids (like most kids). We used to play McDonald's on that rock. 40 Happy Meals, please. Everything was so overgrown at our house. The deck was gone. I didn't like the color. There were trees in the back yard that were never there. You can barely see the big field behind the house. We had a really old, really sad snowmobile. I don't know how we got it. Maybe someone gave it to us. It didn't have a headlight. Vinny used to drive me to my friends house at night through the old four wheeler trail behind the field by our house. It was very interesting dodging trees with the sound of coyotes howling in the background. We were petrified the whole ride. I have no idea how he dared to drive back by himself. I never really thought about it until I grew up. I wanted to get out of the car and walk through the woods to see all the places we made forts. Also so see what the big bad caves really looked like as an adult. (Zac got lost in those woods when he as 3. Our convicted criminal neighbors found him. See it pays to be friends with your neighbors no matter who they are.) It was getting dark, so I went to sit by Vinny's grave instead. I know with all my heart he's not there, it just feels good to be where we had so many good memories.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Like Family - Like Children

Vinny and I would come home every Christmas when we lived in Baltimore together. We also came home for at least a weekend in the summer. Each time we came home we were greeted with a party from our extended family (my mom, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on my mom's side). Then we would have several get togethers for the holidays and then, inevitably, they would have a going away party for us... mind you, this was all in one week's time. Sometimes we were a little put out by it because it cramped our social calendar while we were up here. As much as it seemed a little annoying at the time, it was a testimony to how deeply we were/ are loved. Like family - like children. We seemed to adopt this tradition ourselves. I remember one time while living in Baltimore I was going to Scottsdale, AZ to work for two weeks; Vinny threw me a going away dinner party. We had another party when I returned, and another party when I had another work trip a few weeks later. We always got together when one of us was going away or just getting back. I really treasure how much we deeply loved each other.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Attack ......

"Attack, murder, kill" - that's the trick Vinny taught our dog when we were teenagers. He mostly used the command when he had Zac pinned to the floor so the dog would bite Zac's hands. He also used it when friends came over and didn't believe that the dog would attack. As sick and twisted as we are, it was very, very funny to us. Mind you, the dog only weighed about 15 pounds. I have to say that the bite still did hurt. The most impressive part of this story is the dog got a blue ribbon at the dog show during Warren Day (our towns yearly day) for the "Attack, murder, kill" trick. No, they didn't ask us to demonstrate.

Monday, August 11, 2008

"DON'T be a Victim" Sonja

That was one of my mother's favorite phrases... and we loathed hearing it. She had zero tolerance for excuses and us feeling sorry for ourselves. I have to say it might have been a little too rigid, but it did teach us a lot.

The other day I had a lengthy conversation with someone. It took me hours after to process it. One word came to mind "victim". Now we all have real pain, real hurt, real anger, real offenses, and real situations. Life brings all of these. And all of us can fall into a victim role from time to time. I have done it and I am sure you have too. There is a difference between having times of selfishness and living a self-centered life. You see, a victim has to be very near sighted because he can't see past himself. A victim maximizes what others have done to him and minimizes what he has done to others. A victim denies, separates and distances himself from his own offences. A victim blames others - blames others for what has been done to him and what he has done to others.

Can you just imagine if Jesus had been a victim going to the cross? If he cried and moaned about it everyday? If he said look what these people have done to me - just wipe them all out?

"Humbly You came to this earth You created, all for loves sake became poor. Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, You're all together worthy, You're all together wonderful to me. I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon that cross..." I think that's how the song goes.

God is the opposite of a victim. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us but never played the victim. I was thinking about what characteristics make up a victim and what is the opposite. God is selfless, a victim is selfish. God is humble, a victim is arrogant. God's view/ world is limitless and broad, a victim's view is narrow and small. Have you ever noticed when you cling to being a victim, your world becomes very small? You cannot grow or expand because all of your energy is spent on feeling bad or sorry for yourself.

We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all have the potential to get swallowed by what we have done to others and what others have done to us. A lesson I have to learn minutely - it's so great to lose your life so you can gain it and truly live. When you hold onto these things, you cannot truly live. It's so great to know that I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives within me. It's so great to have the mind of Christ. Why?

When I was speaking to this person, I was thinking to myself, after all you (that person) have done to others, how can you play the victim? Then I realized. We weren't designed to carry the weight of our own guilt. We weren't designed to carry the burden of the hurt others have caused us. These things were allowed to draw us closer to God. Being closer to God is what we were designed for. If we choose to walk the other way (which we all do at times), our self defense turns to selfishness, arrogance, blame... and the depths of our wickedness grows deeper. Thank God we have a provision. Thank You Jesus for not only dying for all of our sins - past, present and future and the sins of others who have offended us but You also removed them as far as the east is from the west.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Obey & Trust

We learned this song when we were young - either in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School - I can't remember.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

I heard this great message on Wednesday night from Pastor Schaller in Baltimore. It was about living life and Christianity on the surface which we all tend to gravitate to. Concerned about understanding things and controlling things, but God calls us to something deeper. He can cut through the surface and go deep into our souls. I have to say while I was in Virginia and since I got back yesterday afternoon, I have spent my time on the surface - mostly because it was so emotional. But I do long for God to bring me back to the deep or to cut through the surface and go deep into my soul. And He's the only One who can do that. He made a way to do that by dying and His grave is empty.

Most Christians whether they are true followers of Christ and have a personal relationship with Him believe God is Holy and to be worshipped. Even true believers forget that God is also personal and we can trust Him. This is where taking the focus off yourself and losing control come in. Today I got a phone call from a friend and I was getting an update on her situation. Sometimes when you hear someone else's problems it's easier to process, and those truths that God reveals can be applied to your own life. It's so great to take the focus off yourself and not be a "surface victim". Put your eyes on Christ and help others. Well, through this conversation I remember what Charles Stanley said in a message I listened to early on Sunday morning. Obey God and trust Him for the Consequences. You see, I might reverse the words in the song I mentioned. Obey and Trust. If we obey and then try to control how we obey or how our obedience affects others, we are still living on the surface. If God tells us something or leads us to do something, we are not responsible for it. We are trusting Him in it. Why obey if we don't think our God is big enough for the situation or for others in the situation? It's so easy to only want to give God part of us, we all do it. But if we do this, it's not obedience at all. We may be fooling ourselves but not God. Obey and then trust God for the consequences.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

We made it back

I don't have a lot to post today - mostly because I'm so tired - emotionally, mentally and physically.

I flew back from Dulles to Portland, Vick flew back yesterday, Molly flew from Reagan to Rockland and my mom and Dan drove. We're all back. Thank you God for your traveling angels.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Memorial for Vinny


I am leaving tomorrow for a memorial for Vinny in Virgina. It's on Tuesday, August 5 given by his work for his family and his fellow employees to remember his life. It's all so surreal. I think so much about it and then part of me forgets that it's real, that this really happened. I can only equate it to being in shock. You are a spectator watching your life. You're living it, but part of you isn't... just watching like it's not really happening. I like thinking about these things and writing them down because it helps so much.

I was also thinking about so many stories about Vinny. Part of me doesn't want to treasure them because I don't want to admit there won't be anymore stories made on this earth with him. Part of me wants to record every detail because I don't want forget any detail.

Here's a story for you. Vinny and I love to tell stories about our mother's meals. We laugh so hard telling other people. I think the only reason why they laugh is because we find it so funny. We especially loved my mother's "chinese food". It was left over frozen or canned vegetables from all week among other left overs - stirred in with rice and drowned in soy sauce. It made Vinny gag just thinking about it. We also loved her frozen french fries baked with a stick of butter. Don't get me wrong, we did appreciate that my mother worked hard to provide food and cook dinner. It's one of those things only siblings get.

Vinny and I used to share a room when we were very young. We had tons of stuffed animals we would line up along one wall of our room. Michael was our favorite name, so we named them Michael 1, Michael 2, Michael 3, Michael 4 and so on. We also played "survival" in that room. I don't know why, but we would get pieces of bread and roll them into little balls and save them to eat. I have no idea how we came up with rolling pieces into little balls.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.