Do you "like" me?

Last week I told all of my Facebook fans that if we reached 300 "likes", we would shoot for 500. When we hit 500 the fun will begin. I have some very generous and very talented friends who happen to be shop owners. We have put together an amazing giveaway if you ask me.

So here's the deal. Head over and "like" us on Facebook. Tell your friends to like us. Tweet it, FB share it. Just get the word out. When we hit 500, one lucky FB "like"r will win ALL of this!

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog | Shop

Blog & Shop

So, what do you think? Pretty awesome right? I wish I could enter. I mean I "like" Rock-A-Bow. ;) The giveaway will go live when we hit 500, so like I said. Head over, spread the word and hopefully you will be the big winner!

GO NOW!

Little Christs

A few months ago we were asked to have our picture taken for the church website. The picture is used to represent adults/family at the church. It's pretty fun seeing ourselves up there when we go to pay our tithe or check on upcoming events.

Other than being excited to see our cute family when I go to the website, that picture being there has not changed anything. So I was surprised when a friend made the statement "Man you better be on your best behavior now that you are the face of the church". This through me off. Big time!

It's not that I don't think that we represent the church because we do. If you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, I have news for you, YOU represent the church. YOU represent Christ. An image on a website means nothing. The day I surrendered my life to Jesus and decided to live for Him was the day I should have been told "Man you better be on your best behavior now that you are the face of the church".

Now I don't mean to slam my friend here. In fact we sat and talked all about the statement and how we as Christians (that includes me) seem to forget just how much our behavior affects what non-believers think of Jesus. I mean, how many times do we hear things like "I don't want to go to church, it's full of hypocrites" or "If he/she is what a Christian looks like, I don't want to be one" It is the most common reasoning that I get from friends I try inviting to church.

We should be modeling Christ daily. Our actions or words should show the love of Christ and the walk He wants us to be taking. I remember hearing a while back that the word Christian was originally used as an insult. It meant little Christs. It was used to mock followers of Jesus, unfortunately for the taunters, Christians liked it. It was a compliment to be a little Christ.

That is what we should be striving for. To be a mini version of Jesus. We are called to be like Him. We may fall short. No, we WILL fall short. We are all sinners. We will all make mistakes but the goal should be to be as much like Him as humanly possible.

I will be making a point to be more like Him. I will be doing my best to show His love to everyone I come in contact with. I will be His hands and feet just like I am called to be.

It is not always easy to walk the walk. It is so easy to fall into the ways of the world. To do what those around us are doing. But why can't we make it the norm to be like Jesus? Why can't we make it fun to avoid sin instead of seek it? Why can't we be the majority, following Christ and striving to please Him?

Seriously, why can't we? Let's do it! Let's show the love of Jesus. Let's walk like Him.

Wordless Wednesday

Toddler Talk with Russell: Take 2

Hey Rock-A-Bow readers! So glad you came back to hear from me. This week has been nutso in the Murphy house. It seems like everyday a new family member has been sick. First the little guy, then the mommy and the girl (double whammy) and then the dad. Wowza. It's a good thing they can't touch me. I didn't want those nasty germs.

Because they were sick, I got a little bit of rest. I mean with no kids to watch, I didn't have to keep hiding. But when I did. Oh boy was it fun.

Well except on Wednesday. Someone thought it would be a good idea to do this ^ NOT FUNNY. I know the smile says otherwise but umm that smile was FROZEN on my face. Leave the hiding to me folks. This was not okay with me.

I thought that since the parents thought it was fun to make me freeze, that I should have a good old fashion snow ball fight. They got lucky and these snow balls wouldn't go anywhere. They both were like targets and me with no snowball amo. Grr.

Oh Oh Oh big news. Did you all know that Santa sometimes recruits moms to expand his workshop? Me either. But this mom has a full blown workshop in the house. She is making lots of presents for little boys and girls and shipping them all over. I overheard that one is even going to Japan. I was so excited about this that I hoped on down and got to work. It felt good to be in a workshop again.

The next day, well I thought I deserved a reward. Cookies and Milk? Yes, please. I may or may not have feel asleep on the job. Shhh.

Then, the kids were sick. I just hung out for a few days. I played up at the North Pole and then got a last minute word that they were all better. So I caught a ride back to make sure I'd get there in time.

Well, I think that is all. Until next week friends. What'd you do this week. Please share!

Wordless Wednesday- A Walk in the Rain

Toddler Talk with Russell

Hey everyone!

I'm Russell. Russell the Elf. I'm staying at the Murphy's home this month. Keeping an eye on them for Santa. I was excited when I arrived because I recognized Rhiannon and Talon from Santa's "Nice" list. I was a little nervous. I have heard some stories from the other elves and well, they aren't so pretty. What a relief!

The Murphy's named me Russell my first night here. That wise guy dad picked my name. He's lucky I didn't send him straight to the Naughty list. I thought I would cut him some slack though. Rhiannon loves my name and well, I do this for the kids.

Since I will be here for a whole month, I thought it would be fun to take over Toddler Talk until I go back to the North Pole. It's a win/win in my book. This mom has her hands full and I have been wanting to give this blogging thing a whirl. It seems to be the new hot thing. All of the elves at the North Pole talk about their "lifestyle blogs", I'm a hip elf. Why shouldn't I have one too?

Enough about my hopes and dreams of being a big name blogger. I'll stick to guest posting here for now. While I'm running Toddler Talk, I am just gonna take you along on my adventures around the Murphy household. Maybe share some stories about what I see being an elf on a shelf over at their place.

The first morning I hid in pretty plain sight. I wanted to take it easy on the little ones, since it was their first time hunting for me. They found me pretty quickly. We packed up and headed to work.

 

Once we were there, it was chaos all day. I was shocked at how good those kids were in an office though. Especially Rhiannon. Sharing, playing quietly. An angel I'm sure. Talon had some fits but his sister reminded him that ... in here words "Russell gonna tell santa you naughty. No cars for you anymore!" He shaped up.

 Day 2: I brought back a note from Santa and hid to see Rhiannon's reaction.

Day 3:It was fairly warm out and I'm in this hot suit so, frankly, I needed a bath.

Day 4: Since it was a late night, I hide in the kids room, pretty plain sight stuff. The mom thought it was boring and didn't take my picture. I was a little hurt but hey Santa will get her back for it.

Day 5: I took a friend to the north pole with me. In elf life, that's kinda like bringing someone home to meet the parents. So I guess you could say its pretty serious.

So what have you all been up to? Share your toddler stories, will you?

Here we go...

It has been almost a year since we began REALLY talking and praying about adoption. Almost a year since we felt the call to go the route of Foster to Adopt. Almost a year since I have been fighting or ignoring the tug on my heart to do Foster care to adopt.

I thought maybe just maybe, I was hearing wrong. Okay, maybe I knew in my heart all along that this was God and just chose to pretend I was not sure. We all do that sometimes right? Right? I am not the only one am I?

.......

So after a year of playing the good ol' game of denial, I heard God loud and clear. In an audible voice. PS I am not crazy. Before I was saved, before I experienced a real life relationship with God, I thought people were crazy when they said they heard God. Not true. God actually speaks to us, if we are willing to listen.

Okay. I promise. That is my last tangent. Where was I even going with this?

Oh, yes, my conversation with God. I am calling it a conversation because I am a little embarrassed to call it what it was an argument. The "conversation" went something like this.

Major tug on heart once again. Stronger than ever. Telling ME that it is time to do foster/adopt. 

Me: "God, I can't. I think this is what you are telling me to do but I can't. I am too scared. I am not strong enough to lose a baby I love"

God: "You don't have to be. I AM. I am big enough and strong enough to get you through this. Remember your miscarriages? Remember how broken you were? Did I not pick you up and pull you out of that?"

Me: "That was different. When I lost my babies I knew they were going to you. They were safe in YOUR arms. I was okay with that"

God: "So will these babies. I will be with them. Whether they are with you or with their birth moms or another foster home. I will be with them"

Me: "I'm just not ready. Not yet. I will be. I trust you. I'm just not ready yet."

God: "You trust me? Then what are you waiting for? Drop your net and follow me."

Me: "My net?" ::Remembering the story of Simon (Peter) and Andrew:::

Looks like we will be doing Foster to Adopt.

At the beginning of the year we will start the process. We will be filing out paper work. We will be preparing our home. We will be getting ready to welcome hurting babies into our home.

We would love it if you would pray for us.

Pray for our hearts. That the fear of losing our babes will be minimal. Pray that every child we come in contact with would feel our love for them. That each one would be rescued from their pain. Pray for guidance. That we would know exactly where to go and what to do. Just pray.

I am getting excited about this journey. I am still scared. I want to rescue all of the motherless/abused/neglected/hurting babies. I want to sweep them up from the system and give them a forever home. I know that God is going to use us. Whether the first baby in our home stays forever or we take in 25 and they all must leave, I know He has a plan. I am scared but I am done letting that fear control me. I will follow God. I will have a new baby soon. I can't wait to meet them. Eeeek!

Keep praying. Come along on our journey with us and help us to pray and love on any and all of the children that come in our home.