It's that time of year again

Because I was so frequent in my blogging (pause for sarcasm) it's really not that hard to believe it's been a year since I blogged about the nasty stuff that happened last August.  It still doesn't seem that far removed from me, not because I recall the instances that happened but because I recall all the emotion that went with it.  It started with my nephew having a seizure and the snowball rolled down hill from there.
This year I am blessed and fortunate enough to say that August does not suck.. for me anyway.  What I am discovering however, is that this month does suck for a lot of other people and that...makes my heart ache.  I don't know what it is about this particular month, maybe it's coincidence or maybe it's not, but August has challenged those I love in so many ways.  I will not name names, but in the past week here's what those I love are enduring: death of a father, a house flooding, losing a business, a 14 year old girl in a drug induced coma because when she is awake her body can't stop seizing, dealing with the loss of a friend who took their own life and watching the spouse try to pick up the pieces and asking why, a baby who was shaken so much that they are now considered brain dead and a the decision to take this 4 month old off of life support, cars breaking down, a very young spouse being told he has to have open heart surgery, cancer returning in young and old cancer survivors, a foster family who have fostered many many kids is accused of abusing a child, loved ones dealing with depression, and I will stop there. Maybe you are one of them, maybe you are suffering and you think your suffering is greater than those above or maybe you think it's fairly insignificant compared to others.  Whatever the case may be, know that there is a God out there who is fully aware of what is going on and He wants YOU to share it with him.
Psalm 42:11 says "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?  Why are you crying the blues?  Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again (Did you get that? SOON, SOON you will be joyful! This which you are going through will not last!) He puts a smile on my face, He's my God!
This is from my Power to Change Devotional:
All of us have moments when we feel discouraged by life’s circumstances. Sometimes our loved ones’ efforts to lighten our load or lift our spirits fall short, and we wonder if we will ever emerge from today’s trying situation with our joy intact.
It’s good to know that our Father invites us to confide in Him, to share our feelings honestly in prayer. He cares for us and understands our needs and weaknesses. His comforting words, “Be of good cheer,” can mean more to a hurting heart than anything else in the world.
These verses remind us that we can also encouraging ourselves to hope in God, and continue to praise Him, no matter how bleak our outlook may be. We can do this by singing psalms or hymns, or reflecting on His goodness and speaking well of Him. Of course, there are times when even this seems too difficult, but just whispering a praise can usher in a sense of liberty and peace.
There have been times when I thought, “I’ll never be cheered up.” Yet as soon as I began to remind myself of His mercy and goodness, the clouds would begin to disperse. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all of our problems will receive a quick fix or that it will be smooth sailing from here on out, but it does mean that our faces will brighten, the weight of the burden will lessen. We will be free to experience the joy of the Lord in the midst of life’s storms and challenges.

Father, at times it seems as if nothing can cheer me up. Yet I am reminded to hope in You and continue to give You praise, because You are my God. I look to You today for Your holy joy, for Your peace that passes all human understanding, and because You are the health and the help of my sad expression. Encourage me through Your Holy Spirit, Amen.

MORE ENCOURAGEMENT
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest"
Jeremiah 31:2 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint"
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and will not faint"

Can I call you mom?

 After the deep heart to heart Brent and I had about his biological mom and dad, and Lottie meeting her sister (which was postponed due to poison ivy!) I knew Brent was going to want to see his own siblings. I am happy to say that God has done some miraculous things in my heart and my husband's heart to get us to where we are today.  After some discussion, we felt that it would be a good thing for Brent to be able to get together for a play date with his brothers and his biological mother-Brandy.  There was a certain peace we had in our hearts, knowing that it was something that would bring him joy.  So I promised I would make the call after we met Lottie's sister, but God had other plans.
On B's birthday we received a message from Brandy's dad (my uncle) to wish Brent a happy birthday, we called him back and I felt the nudge "Now is the time...talk to him".  When Brent was finished speaking to him, I took the phone and asked him to please have Brandy call me.  I shared that we would like to have her bring the boys to a park and meet for a play date so Brent could visit with her and them. I didn't have her number so I asked him to have her call me. I could hear the shock and surprise in his voice when I asked, and even more shock when I invited him (long story- save it for another blog).  He was excited, Brent was excited and I felt like we were doing the right thing.   However, God had other plans again (just an FYI I am often out of the loop when He has plans)
This past Sunday I was going to a baby shower and I asked my dad to keep Brent while the girls went to the shower- we were all set to go right after church.  The plan was drop off Brent to play with Grampy.  The phone rang at 11:30, just as church was ending, it was my step-mom Jill asking me to bring Brent's bathing suit and towel. My dad was going to take him swimming over at my aunt and uncle's house and Brandy, her boys and my uncle were going to be there. Wow, ok God- this works out even better- thanks! I shared with Brent what was going to happen and I watched his face light up! He was so excited!
The shower came and went, and I stayed as cool as a cucumber.  I didn't have any fears, anxiety or reservations about Brent's day.  I will admit I was very anxious to ask him all about it and hear how it went.  When he got in the car, he shared that he had a good time and he seemed in good spirits.  I asked him if he enjoyed the time with his brothers, to which he went on about how one can swim and the other can't. He had obviously enjoyed his time.  The mom in me couldn't help but wonder about her, so I asked
 "Did you talk to Brandy?"
 "Yeah, a little bit"
 "Did she ask you questions about you?"
 "Umm, a few, like about school and grades and stuff. Oh yeah and I asked her if I could call her mom."
 "Oh, what did she say?"
 "She said I could"
 "How do you feel about that?"
 "I feel great, because she is my mom too- she gave birth to me"
 "Yep, she sure did" and just like that he changed the subject.  One would think that at that time I would have been stirred or upset at that statement, but at that moment I was calm. I thought to myself, the boys were playing and calling her mom and knowing my son, he just wanted to join in and call her mom too.
Later that night however, the THUDS came!  When it was time for bed, I was talking to Brent about his blessings for the day.
 "One blessing was I got to see my other mom today and visit with my brothers." POKE
 "I'm glad I have two moms" JAB
 "I can't wait to see my mom again" STAB
What do you say? How do you feel? There is no text book for adopted parents on how to deal with these things. So what did I say? Nothing, I smiled for him. How did I feel? A little bit cheated that I had to share the title. How do I feel now? Confused. It's been a few days since Sunday and he hasn't spoken of her or his brothers, but the phrase "Can I call you mom?" lingers.  I can't tell him not to call her that, you can not, no matter how hard you try, make a child stop loving their parents.  They can be the worse people in the world and a child will always long for that parents approval. I can't be mad at him, he isn't wrong. He loves, he desires what should have been. He was just sharing his heart, his feelings.  When it all comes down to it, it's my issue and then I found this: For finding you mother, there's one certain test. You must look for the creature who loves you the best. -Little Miss Spider
I know that I am his mom and I will be his forever mom but tonight I grasp that she is his mom too. She is worthy of the title in my eyes because she chose life for Brent! She chose to carry my son in her womb and give him a chance at life.  Then she loved him enough to give him to my husband and I. She dared to give Brent a life she could not and then sacrificed her wants and needs to give him his. Isn't that a mom too?