Slowing Down

When we focus on what is good and beautiful in someone, whether or not we think that they "deserve" it, the good and the beautiful are strengthened merely by the light of our attention.  

When we choose to see and appreciate what is good and beautiful in our children, the goodness can't help but grow, and their beauty blossoms forth.

Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day

There are tons of thoughts swirling around in my head about the Created for Care retreat this past weekend. I spent lots of time with 450 moms who taught me a thing or two about God, hope, friendship, grace, adoption, marriage, identity, family, and much more. It was a beautiful time away and the information gathered in my notebook, mind and heart is invaluable. I was a bit "star-struck" by many of the moms who I have been following since the beginning of our adoption journey a couple years ago. Seeing/meeting them in person proved them to be even sweeter than I imagined. 

The past week has been a whirl wind of coming and going. Firstly, Clark broke his leg on the trampoline with the older boys last Wednesday. I have much guilt for allowing him on, assuming the kids would know to be gentle. But honestly, I was just thinking the other day how tough he looks out there, hanging with the big kids, jumping strong. I've been treating him like a very cuddly big kid. The broken leg is kind of a blessing to remember my calling as a mom. I need to put aside the sewing, the cooking, yard projects and computer work and just BE with my kids. Little Clark is needing constant supervision and while it is completely exhausting, he and I are bonding. I've totally embraced his love of reading. He could seriously sit beside me for hours reading books. He is NOT a TV watcher. He likes the occasional spotting of Thomas the Train or Curious George, but he won't sit through an episode of anything. Playdoh is really high on the entertainment list and so is peeling the paper off crayons and throwing them around the kitchen. 

I am totally digging our new book club book. 7- An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. 7 is a true story of how Jen took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. I did have my doubts at first and I contemplated ditching the book for some extra time on Pinterest. I figured the book wouldn't apply to me because we don't overindulge in "stuff" and we really don't spend money unnecessarily. I am not a shopper, I grow our own veges in the summer, we covet our nights together as a family and I would say we were tight on space before I would admit we could cut back. The reviews for the book are awesome so I decided to give it a try. I am only one-third through the book, but I am loving it. I see the experiments as so much more than just giving stuff up. I am talking about freeing up the space in my mind. Lifting the fog, becoming more present. There is so much I over-think on a daily basis that keeps me from a truly simple existence.

On a health note, three weeks ago I gave up dairy. My first objective was to help with my hearing loss that seems to get worse with no explanation. Secondly, I was simply curious to know how I would feel. After a week of a constant dull headache, my body has detoxed and I am feeling good. No gunk in my throat and my head feels lighter. I did learn that 90% of Ethiopians are lactose intolerant. I am happy to be exploring new options for our little guy. My goal is to eat completely whole foods, but I will tell you it isn't easy. I wish to simplify my choices, get rid of what is unhealthy and unnecessary.  I quote Jen Hatmaker, 

Our grandmas ate local meat and vegetables from their gardens; we eat Pop- Tarts and Velvetta. Today in America the culture of food is changing more than once a generation, which is historically unprecedented. This machine is driven by a thirty-two billion-dollar food-marketing engine that thrives on change for its own sake, not to mention constantly shifting nutritional science that keeps folding in on itself every few years.

The Next One

I realized recently that there is something about a quilt, that is entirely different from everything else that I sew, and not just how its made. But I regard a quilt as such a different event, it occupies my mind in a completely different way. I never know what I might be about to sew next, whether a skirt, or a bag, or a pillow, or a half a dozen dolls. But with a quilt, I seem to hover on it mentally for a while before I begin. I compose it internally for a good while before setting out to make it. I always know which one is next. It is an event- making one- isn't it? Small or large its a "save the date" taped to the wall in your mental creative space. I have a new quilt almost all planned now (imaginatively), and hope to crank out a couple more before May. Where the time will come from I am not sure, but in my head the quilts are really beautiful already.
We are in the early stages of planning another craft fair benefiting the adoption ministry at church. A delightful family has decided to open up their farm and host the fair on their grounds and in their barn. I can't tell you how excited I am about not just the idea, but everything that it promises to be.

Right Now

Right now, I am...

:: soaking in the early morning light that pours into my front hallway.

:: anticipating a night out with dear friends tonight. (dancing!)

:: wondering what Jack and Clare were up to so early in the kitchen this morning.

:: enjoying the way the kids can all tend to their own breakfast. Simplicity - and pride - are very good things.

:: planning on a great workout in the gym today.  

:: grateful for "family" - both those we are born and marry into, and those we create with life-long friendships.

:: readying myself to begin gardening season soon. Our bodies are confused, but the forecast says it's true.

:: remembering - the sight and smell of all the fresh flowers in my yard, and on my tables.

:: sewing a whole lot.

:: working from my stash and feeling tremendously frugal about that fact. (As though I never bought that fabric at all? Hmn.)

:: itching, a little bit, to give the house a good and proper spring clean.

:: feeling hopeful. About a lot of things, actually.

:: wanting to spend the day moving as slowly and gently as one can with four kiddos. 

:: wishing you a lovely Friday morning where you are!

LifeSong Matching Grant

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope this letter finds you all doing very well. As some of you might know, we have decided to welcome another child into our family. We are currently in the process of adopting a little boy from Ethiopia through a wonderful agency called All God’s Children International. The number of children worldwide without families to love and care for them is astounding… there are over 43.4 million orphans in Africa alone! We prayerfully considered several countries, and ultimately felt drawn to Ethiopia. It is a beautiful culture...with a rich Christian heritage, wonderful people, and deep traditions. But sadly, in such a beautiful country, there are many, many orphans...currently 4.5 million! These children have lost their families to disease, famine, and poverty. What an honor it is for us to welcome one of these children into our home and our family.

Our life is crazy, and we LOVE it that way! We are crazy for our family, and crazy for the 147 Million Orphans who don’t have a family to call their own. Our hearts are full and our laundry piles are high. Our house is filled with much love, and many laughs. God has shown us that there is always room in our hearts to love more, and that we can always find time to do more laundry. And so we are stepping out in faith to bring home our next blessing. And we could not feel more blessed to be on this crazy journey!

Our family, over the last 12 months, has been saving and preparing for this adoption. Kelly has been busy behind the sewing machine making dresses, capes, dolls and quilts. We have initiated a “sponsor a dress” fundraiser, where we make a dress to clothe a little girl in Ethiopia. Our plan is to hand out these dresses on our first trip to Ethiopia. To date, we have made over 50 dresses.

As you might know, adoption is expensive. We estimate our total cost for adoption fees, Ethiopian government fees, translation fees, travel, orphanage fees, medical, document fees, etc. to be $30,000. We have met all adoption expenses so far, around $13,000. We are grateful to Covenant Presbyterian Church and LifeSong for Orphans for providing us with a $2,500 matching grant to help us with the remaining adoption costs. Lifesong (www.lifesongfororphans.org), a trusted organization administering the funds, will pay adoption expenses out of funds received.

We would like to extend an invitation to you to joyfully partner with us to help bring home our Ethiopian son. While not everyone is called to adopt a child, we believe (and hope!) many will join us on the journey to make an eternal impact on this child’s life. We would truly appreciate your prayer support and if you would like to be part of financially helping us, you can send your donation directly to Lifesong between now and April 11, 2012 to the address below.

We thank you for reading this letter and considering our invitation to join our journey.

Blessings,
Troy, Kelly, Jack, Cole, Clare and Clark


Please make checks payable to: Lifesong
In the memo section please write:
“Preference Farrington #2562 Adoption”.

Mail checks to:
Lifesong for Orphans
Att: Farrington #2562 adoption
PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St.
Gridley, IL 61744

*Your contribution is fully tax deductible. In following with IRS guidelines,
your donation is to the named non-profit organization.

Valentines

My little artist loved making these valentines. He is the most creative person I know. He fingerprinted all of the cards with red ink and then made it into a funny little character.

Live the Truth

I think I am missing out when I choose to live the way I feel that is acceptable or ordinary. So many times I feel like I have something to say and I feel so out of touch of what is acceptable and I shut down, completely. Sometimes I want to say, " I am an idiot", "I messed up BIG time", "My life is not a beautiful picture". Bad things happen all the time. These bad things are remarkably identifiable in our makeup. Do we put on a pretty face or do we bare it all? I struggle daily with vulnerability.

Daily, I am overwhelmed and exhausted and inspired.
My friends are the most generous, amazing, smart, caring, compassionate, creative people I know.
I am blessed to sit among them and share their stories. we laugh and we marvel at how tightly our hearts are knit together. These days, this relationship seems harder to build. I worry that I am not giving people my true self.

what is blogging about? relationship
facebook? relationship
MOPS? relationship
small groups and old and new friendships? relationship

woman's bible study? relationship
etc.
and guess what relationship requires?
that we are willing to make ourselves vulnerable.
period.

that we are willing to need someone else.
that we are willing to say so.
that we are willing to be hurt.
because the willingness to be vulnerable is where relationship lives.
the question is: are you willing?

Today's Quote