Ash – Page 4 – S T R E A M S + T H O R N S

Thankful Thursday: Unexpected Community

(This Thankful Thursday post is a little early, but I gotta post when I have internet!) I’ve cried a lot over the last few days. And I’m not a crier, y’all. It all started on Monday when I felt led to finally post something about our adoption and the struggle it has been. I readContinue reading “Thankful Thursday: Unexpected Community”

The Ugly Side of Adoption

If you find yourself encouraged, follow my new blog at http://www.streamsandthorns.com for more posts like this one. I found this entry the other day while randomly flipping through an old journal: “January 2, 2013 Today, sort of in passing and sort of without even realizing it, I prayed a prayer. ‘Do something great through me… No matterContinue reading “The Ugly Side of Adoption”

Dear Ashley From Two Years Ago…

Dear Ashley From Two Years Ago, Hey, it’s me. (Or you, rather.) It is two years today that you have been here in Brazil (a year and a half in the Jungle) and I wanted to let you know a few things about this journey you are about to embark on. Go ahead and sitContinue reading “Dear Ashley From Two Years Ago…”

Thankful Thursday: Spilled Water

I all but collapsed in the bed, exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally. I had made a rookie missionary mistake earlier that day, one that cost us 3,000 liters of precious rainwater. Three. THOUSAND. Liters. In dry season, no less. I had opened the upper tank valve to fill our cistern in an effort to prevent theContinue reading “Thankful Thursday: Spilled Water”

Thankful Thursday: Baby Steps

I finally had them all occupied. With my kids and the two other MKs staying with me splashing happily in the basin of water around back and soaking each other to the core, I quietly slipped into my bedroom for some “me” time. About the time I unplugged the computer from the charger, my oldestContinue reading “Thankful Thursday: Baby Steps”

When Polygamy Saves Lives

I peeked ever so gently over the edge of the hammock, not wanting to disturb the little bundles inside. As I gazed down at these two little black-headed sleeping beauties all of the sudden I was overwhelmed. I felt like I was on holy ground. Like I should take my shoes off because in frontContinue reading “When Polygamy Saves Lives”

Meet Frankie

It was almost 9pm and Richard was coming back from running a late night errand. He would always glance down one of the side roads on our street, trying to catch a glimpse of the kids who frequented our home. Usually they were out playing in the street, dirty as could be, without an adultContinue reading “Meet Frankie”

A Breakfast Date in Eternity

I’ll never forget it–the day that Bro. Ron asked me to show him how to use Facebook. Everyone in the office gave me that look like, “Are you sure you want to do that?” They were kidding of course—mostly. I opened him an account and the fun began. Initially he didn’t know how to doContinue reading “A Breakfast Date in Eternity”

I Never Wanted This

I scanned the table, trying to read the expressions on each face. I tried to read my own heart, too. The visitor at our meeting had just told us that what we were trying to do is impossible. It would never happen. Nothing like that had ever been done here. It’s just “too hard”. HeContinue reading “I Never Wanted This”

Five Minute Friday: Messy

Time flies and it\’s Five Minute Friday again. When we writers join up for five minutes of unplanned, messy writing. That\’s today\’s prompt: messy. This serving Jesus thing is messy. I wake up to my selfishness every morning as I climb out of bed, tip-toeing ever so quietly so as not to wake my sleepingContinue reading “Five Minute Friday: Messy”