Opening our home to teens this summer...

Just days before their arrival my stomach is in knots and I wonder what they will think of our family, our home.  As we pick up our toys and shift bedrooms around, I glance at the clock again and add 7 hours.  My mind wanders for a moment, “It’s 5 o’clock, I wonder what they are doing right now.”  My wonders turn into prayers as my children call my name from across the house.  Another prayer is uttered, “Oh Lord, give us wisdom with our 3 children at home, and our 2 host children coming soon.  Give us Your Peace, Joy, and Patience.”

Preparations consist of not only moving beds around, but preparing our hearts.  We are trying to remember that while we move our daughter out of her closet, that we must prepare her heart to share her room, her mom, her dad.  What good are clean windows if our minds are not ready?  How can we pour out more love if our hearts are not full?

You are beautifully and wonderfully made

Here are just a few ways we are preparing:

• We have found ourselves praising God out loud in moments of sunshine and fun, and talking about how much fun we are having, and how we can share that with D and K soon.
• We pray every night for D and K.
• We made our welcome sign together.
• Every day we change our chalkboard countdown, with my kids taking turns.
• I made a few verse prints to post in frames around our home to remind us of God’s love.
• Books and new friends help to give advice and ask questions to prepare us more.
• We are reflecting upon all of the people God has used, and is using in order to bring D and K here, and are grateful.  From NHFC, to new friends, friends financially supporting, friends praying, and others reading and sharing on Facebook, we all have a part.

So, as the butterflies continue and the airport welcome nears, we will seek God and praise Him, and pray for gentleness.

Let your gentleness be evident to all