check this out...

This is really cool, be sure to have the sound on and watch the whole thing.

http://media.creativepastors.com/mediapreviews/index.php?stream=Upside_Down_MPEG1>

snow!

We have so much snow! I can't even see out my basement windows! Owen and I might go out and build a snowman cuase I'm feeling trapped. We'll only be out there for maybe 10 minutes cause it's almost too cold for me, I'm not a fan of cold :)

Holiday baking

Someone asked me for the recipe to the almond bars I make around the holidays so I thought I would post if or those who like trying new things and baking. It sooo delicious and I can't take credit fo it. It's my MIL's recipe but I think she makes a few adjustments to it to make it even better cause I can never get them to turn out as good as hers.

350 for 30 minutes
2 sticks of butter, melted (I use land-o-lakes salted)
2 C. sugar
4 beaten eggs
2 t. almond
1/2 C. almond paste, crumbled with fingers
2 C. flour
sprinkle slivered almonds and sugar on top
13x9 greased pan

These are a few of my favorite things...

Early mornings, coffee, a warm fire, cuddling with my son (and the fact that he loves it too!) Kevin kissing me bye and telling me he loves me when he leaves for work, the Christmas season, Christmas lights, cardinals in snow covered trees, sisters, friends, Sunday's, Bing Crosby's version of White Christmas, Sunday nights, Saturday night church, stockings hanging by the fireplace, my new honey chamomile lotion from the farmers market! Christmas shopping that benefits a "cause", hearing Owen play quietly in his room when he wakes up in the morning, my dog Bella who refuses to go outside in the morning until she gets some lovin' from me...

Oh I could go on and on while sitting here on my chaise in front of the fire being so overwhelmed with God's goodness and unfailing love but I need to get on with my day...

I discovered a way I can help...

I'm going to send some of my dress's on a missions trip!!

This is going to be lengthy but please take the time to read it, it's super cool!! I got my monthly update letter from W.A.R. International yesterday and they have a dream called Garments of Praise! After I tell you about this you'll love that this is what they called it! It's given me the biggest smile all morning. This is almost word for word what this letter shares...

GARMENTS OF PRAISE ~ Isaiah 61:3

"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning and

a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will...display His splendor."

There's a team of women - a doctor, CPA, lawyer, 2 business owners, executive, pastor's wife, and a couple missionaries - who discovered that women in the Dominican Republic rent wedding and prom/bridesmaid dresses to wear to weddings and all sorts of special events not only as brides but as guests (paying over $50). You and I may not be able to go on a mission trip but one of your dresses (or a few) can! Looking beautiful in your dress a woman who needs Jesus will display God's splendor and hear that another woman (you) wants her to know the message of Christ during this special time in her life. Renting this dress will bring her into contact with their team. Their store will keep 30% of the rental amount to cover hiring young needy women who learn to sew in a safe christian environment. The hired girls then get discipled by this amazing team. The ministry team will keep the other 70% to fund their WAR, Int'l outreach to the Caribbean and beyond.

The rules:

~No yucky, torn or stained dresses, this is a worship offering of our best!

~No dress over ten years old

~They welcome the accessories that that go with your dress (shoes, ribbons, purse, etc.)

~If you want to be a part of this but have no dress to donate, they are taking donations that allow them to buy used wedding dresses from local consignment stores at markdown.

~If you know a consignment store or wedding store that would like to donate new dresses and receive a tax deduction for full retail value, let them know. They already have one store in Grand Rapids willing to donate new wedding dresses.

~After your dress is sent, you will receive a letter of donation, a story of the team running this ministry, and when possible a picture of the bride who wears your dress.

Let's turn our memories into a garment of praise that will live on in the lives of lost women!

twice in one day?!?!

I don't normally post twice in one day but I couldn't help it this time :) My husband emailed this picture to me and asked if I remembered this little guy and well, I just had to share it. I love my family. This was taken in the hospital the day after Owen was born. He's was a little 6lb 10oz bundle that to this day melts my heart!

Almost a year ago...

one of my nieces made Kevin and me a Valentines card, it was finally delivered a couple months ago and it makes me smile. This is what the card says in an 8yr old's handwriting in cursive...

Dear Uncle Kevin and Aunt Becky,
Uncle Kevin you are as tall as a flag pole Aunt Becky you are as sweet as a giraffe Uncle Kevin you are as funny as a monkey Aunt Becky you are as loving as a mommy lion. Uncle Kevin you are as loving as a something(I can't make out the word). Happy Valentines Day. Love Zoe

Is that too cute or what!?!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Happy holiday's everyone! I figure since today is one month from Christmas Eve we can "officially" start celebrating the holiday season! Each year at this time I get more and more excited for all the festivities and traditions, even if it's a tradition to do something totally different every year. This year, for the very first time since I met Kev and we got married (we celebrated our 10yr in May btw), we're not doing anything on Christmas Day, nothing, nada, zilch...(big sigh followed by a big smile).

I also get more and more emotional. I'm more thankful, grateful, overwhelmed and in awe of God's love for me. Just me. Thank you for sending Your Son.

Our story

a little history (OK maybe a lot)...

Our journey as a family started over 10 years ago. Kevin and I met & fell in love almost immediately. We were engaged seven months later and married a year after that, May 23, 1998. Four years flew by and Kevin announced he wanted to start a family. I however wasn't so sure and was terrified! I have never liked kids and didn't really have a desire for them. Kev was praying like mad at this point because he wanted children and wanted me to want them too. His prayers were answered but not necessarily the way he wanted them. My heart changed, I wanted nothing more than to have a baby, but that was after trying for years. Three years went by, watching all of our close friends and family have babies (my baby sister had two babies during this time!! whoa!!), a miscarriage, a failed artificial insemination, my heart had to change.

Kevin's prayers (and mine this time) were finally answered again. He had been gently suggesting adoption for quite some time (a few years actually). I talked with someone in our church, Roberta, about adoption and I felt God saying, look into this see what it's about. We went to an adoption info meeting April 19 and started the process later that week. Five weeks from that meeting we had the homestudy done, our profile submitted and a birthmother had picked us! 10 days later our baby boy was born! Two days before his birth we met our birthmother, Sabrina. She gave us a giftbag, as if she wasn't giving us enough already! She gave us a blanket and the company name on it was Owen, she had no idea that's what we were going to name our boy, God did. We went to the hospital to meet baby, he was precious. We also met Sabrina's brother and his wife. The next day we went back to the hospital and met Sabrina's two children, Te-6, Jaz-7, we also met her mom. We spent time with baby, he felt so good in my arms. Baby had to stay in a host home until the birthparents rights were terminated, it only took seven days! June 3 baby was born, June 10 we brought Owen home! Click here and hereto meet Owen's birthfamily, we see them about once a year, we love them.

We started the adoption process again in August 2007. This time with a different agency primarily because of the cost. It went fast again. Shortly after we turned in our profile a birthmother picked us, she was going to be induced by the end of the week but it didn't happen. We met her and I went to a doctor's appointment with her. I heard the heartbeat, then saw the ultrasound, we were having a baby girl. However after she was born (two weeks after we met), the birthfather changed his mind and wanted them to parent. It broke our hearts.

We continue to wait for God's story to be revealed in our lives daily. Right now it seems as if we are taking a very unusual path (seriously God, what in the world are You thinking?!). We are becoming foster parents. In April 2009 we brought home a 5month old baby girl who has gone through what no one ever should, let alone a baby. It's now mid October and she is still with us, we don't know what will happen. We would like to adopt her at this point and it might be possible but we really don't know.

Now, for even more crazy news, we're expecting in April 2010!! We miscarried once this summer but found out a couple months later we were pregnant again. Crazy!! Getting pregnant had become something I had no desire for anymore, at all, ever. It's so clear to me that God is ever present and at work in my life, my family's life.

**UPDATE**

We adopted our baby girl!! Isla (eye-luh) Rae Beckett, what a girl. What a God.
Maverick Rufner was born April 23, 2010. It's been a year, an amazing year.

Thanks for joining with us in our journey and taking the time to read all this and for any prayers on our behalf.

7x7

I really like the challenge from this post from Bring the Rain blog written by Angie Smith...

The other day I came across a verse that God used to prompt me to write this post. If you are a mom (or have someone else you want to pray for specifically), I hope you will join me as I do this for the next 7 days. It struck me that I need reminders during the day to be praying over my girls, and I decided to choose 7 events in a day that would remind me to do so. Then, I chose verses that had to do with that time of the day (for example: as my kids are getting dressed in the morning) and then I put them on notecards.

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for he/she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)


2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossi ans 3:12-14)


3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)


4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)


5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)


6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)


7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

my heart is breaking

Human trafficking. Sexual slavery. Children and women sold. A baby two weeks old sold for a couple hundred dollars to "help" the family. This baby named Ellie has fortunately been rescued and adopted but there are so many others that need to be rescued and redeemed. This has to break God's Heart to see babies, children and women treated this way. I went downtown the other night for a benefit gala to learn a little more about all of this. Hearing the testimonies of women who were saved from this life is amazing and sad all at once. So sad that they've been forced to live this way but so amazing that God has saved them and they now see themselves as Princesses of the King, purified inside and out. I don't even think of myself that way some days and I've not lived and been treated the way they have been. I want to help, but how? God and I will be working on that together. For now, let's pray and pray often. Pray for a village in Cambodia called the chicken farm. This is a village of hundreds of children, just children, the same age as some of your babies. This is a brothel village, called the chicken farm because it's so easy to pluck a child. If that doesn't disgust you, something is seriously wrong with you. Please pray. If you want to learn more and help in some way, check out these websites. Women At Risk (W.A.R) International is who held the gala. You can even shop for Christmas in their WAR Chest. Rescued women are taught how to make jewelry and other things to help support themselves and their families so they never have to sell themselves again. I bought a black Pearl of Hope, I helped someone. I'm also going to be hosting a jewelry party, helping again.

warinternational.org

thehomefoundation.net

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.

14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

more fun in the leaves!

Sorry you have to watch it with a kink in your neck, I forget I can't do that :)

leaves!

love this...

We will not hate.

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

Here's a link to something that I think says so well how we who claim to love our God and Savior should respond at this time in our nation.

Some good reminders about today

Here's a post from the Living Proof Ministries blog I thought should be shared...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Psalm 118:24
A few things I'm so thankful for on this election day, regardless of the outcome:

*We live in a democracy where we have the right to a vote and a voice. We have the God-given responsibility to use both wisely and in the way that best reflects what God conveys through Scripture.

*God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" and "according to the plan." Ephesians 1:11

*Not only does God work out everything in conformity with His will, He has promised to work out everything for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

*God sets up kings and deposes them and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

*We, the beautifully diverse family of God, are never - not at any time - powerless. Nor are we ever victims of a system. Believing prayer takes us through doors we'll never be invited to enter and into judges chambers we'll never grace. Take a look back at Genesis 18 once again with astonishment over the dialogue between God and His servant and friend, Abraham. Rejoice that God is ever mindful of a faithful remnant. The Judge of the Earth will always do right.

*Even if persecution should await believers in Christ or harrowing circumstances hound us, God will use hardship to bring unity and purity to a people who need it desperately. The best of circumstances do not always produce the best in the Bride of Christ.

*The living God is firmly established upon His Throne and there at His holy feet we can always find grace and mercy in our time of need.

*No matter what happens today, we are GOD'S elect. He has elected us to show His heart and to walk in His ways in the culture that surrounds us. We are called to walk in the challenging balance of grace and truth.

May we be filled with Christ's Spirit today and our mouths given to praise and to believing, receiving prayer. God IS faithful and He has us firmly in His hand. We will not fear. We will not doubt. We will not hate.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

I remain your servant,
Beth

for some good tears, watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhqJYOYcnAU

BeautiControl

Something most people don't know about me is that I've been an Image Consultant with BeautiControl for about 7 years, I haven't advertised it much. Thought I would put a link to my webpage on here for anyone who would like to check out some of the products. They have great makeup and GREAT skincare!! I also thinks it's very affordable. My favorites are...herbal serenity products-they smell soooo good, all the skincare, wet/dry foundations-you can use it wet or dry! extreme repair hand lotion-especially during the colder months which are coming up quickly, lip apeel and lip balm-talk about kissable lips that look younger! Have fun looking around at all they have to offer!

http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/2008/10/im-not-voting-for-man-im-voting-for.html

Please read this in it's entirety and watch the second video, may it move you like it did me.

running...or lack thereof...

So, having lost my running partner to vacation this week, running in the morning has become a VERY hard thing to do. 1. It's hard getting up that early when no one is expecting to meet you, 2. It's getting super cold out there now, 3. It's SCARY when you're alone in the dark that early in the morning! I had decided last Friday when I did it alone I would take Cooper with me next time, I figure no one would dare mess with a big black 140lb dog, for their sake I hope they wouldn't. I'ld hate to add human to the list of things that have met Coopers jaws!


Seriously! Who would want to mess with this fierce looking dog!!

Who am I kidding, he's actually just a big, lazy puppy!

Jenna Page Patten

my niece

Kevin's sister had a baby girl on October 15. She was 6lbs, 11oz, 19.5in a cute little girl who they named Jenna Paige. Paige is her dad's middle name. I may have spelled her name wrong, not sure :) I'll post some pics a little later :) Praise God!!

Bigby!

Thank you Bigby's on Ivanrest for appreciating your customers this week!! It's been fun trying all your different drinks...for FREE!!!

Whew! I had a blast this weekend!

My mom, aunt Jean, Chris and Melissa went with me to a ladies retreat and we had so much fun!! My sisters "heard" from God and have a joy about them I haven't seen in awhile. We laughed so hard and did cry a few times but the laughter!! So good for all our souls!! Thank you LORD for blessing us this weekend with fun, laughter, challenging and encouraging times. Thank you for the great weather also, it made for an even more enjoyable time! What a great God You are!!!

5k

About four or five weeks ago I started training for a 5k. I might not ever run one but I wanted to be able to run a mile or two (and eventually three) without completely dying. So far it's going well, I'm doing better than I ever did in college when I was in pretty good shape! I had to get new shoes and now I have a running partner that pushes me (more than she pry realizes). We both have young kids so to work our schedules out so that we don't give up precious family time, we decided early in the morning works best, 5:30 am early! It's great cause I'm a morning person and by the time 7am rolls around I've gotten so much done! It allows me to spend some much needed completely uninterrupted quality time with my God too, which then in turn makes the day go so much better cause I've started it off with the One who loves me most in this world! I am sleepy however so my bedtime is about the same as Owen's!

our birthfamily

His birth cousins are right behind him and sort of to the left, Alexa and Quinton.

Jazzy, Kevonte, Sabrina and Tez, is my son cute or what! Check out his little pose, I love him.

Birth Aunt Marissa and Uncle Chad (he's Sabrina's brother) and Chase

Nana Jan (Sabrina's mom)

Kevonte his half birth brother

A fun little Thomas card game.

This is the day the Lord has made...

Kevin, Owen and I went to a park that was so big and so fun today. We met Owen's birthfamily there to hang out with them. His half birth brother and sister, birth grandma (nana Jan), birth aunt and uncle and 3 cousins were there along with pry 700 other people. It was such a fun day! There was a petting farm with sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, a hog, horses and pony's. Ton's of blow up/bouncy things to play in, a mini ferris wheel, tons of different foods, a playground that was HUGE with a HUGE sandbox - every little boys dream!! It was sort of like a fancy glorified carnival only better and cleaner. Then we went to lunch at Cheesy Luigi's, good pizza and breadsticks! My heart was so full. I really don't have words to describe how I feel, GOD IS SOOO GOOD!!! They gave him a holloween bucket full of his favorite things- they pay very close attention to the letters I send and get almost everything I mention he has fun with. It was precious to see him run up to Jazzy his half birth sister and grab her hand a walk around with her. Here are a few pics, more to come later, enjoy looking at them, I bet you can't help but smile :)

Grace, Mercy & Peace...

I love watching You work God. I can so clearly see You working in my sisters lives right now and it's so exciting. The stuff they're going through is not fun, one bit, but seeing how You are speaking to them and the power of Your Spirit in them right now, EXCITING! Even to them, they see it and know You are lovin on them like no other! Thank you :)

what a weekend

I love the man I married! We went and saw Fire Proof Friday night and it was pretty good. When we left the theatre we were a little bit more in love than when we arrived. After the movie we went to Yesterdog, need I say more... Then Saturday I went to Pentwater with two of my closest friends and walked around the craft show in weather that was perfect. We had a good time laughing and finding some cool things. Today we went to Kev's folks and had a bday party for his dad, Arie. Good times. It's been a great weekend. Thank you Father for this weekend!

gymnastics

I get to take Owen to his second class today! It was fun watching him last week, he is sooo not his mom, the kid is so social!

**Gymnastics**

So....due to my clumsiness I'm the most "popular" mom in Owen's class! To make a long story short, I made a complete fool of myself by tripping on my flip flops, sliding across the gym floor with my rearend up in the air in front of his class and the whole place gasps...I try and recover as best I can and make light of the situation with the gymnastics "stuck-it" pose but really, it doesn't help. Everyone knows me now, so much for being unnoticed and quiet and not having to talk with anyone...

we have permission...

I pour out my complaint before Him;
before Him I tell my trouble.
Psalm 142:2

Your friendship, it is intimate...I love that

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Cause Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate

My friend Rachel brought a memory back to me with one word, Restore. The first song on my playlist right now, Restore Me, effects my emotions and attitude so much. Amazing how a song can do that, don't ya think?

faces

surprise

naughty

happy

umm...

I went to Costco today, good times :)

Now I'm just sitting here with my dogs, good dogs :)

I'm going to church Saturday night, good Saturday night church :)

Oh this is cute...the past couple of days Owen has been getting out of bed in the morning on his own and after saying good morning to me yesterday he went downstairs and fed our dogs. He's a 3yr old who just this summer weighed in at 30lbs and one of our dogs weighs 140lbs so he yells "wash kout", translation - watch out - when Cooper comes running for breakfast, it's fun watching him grow up.

Everyone is back in school now and I just wanted to take a minute and say thanks God for the summer! The summer schedule is such a different kind of busy then the school year and I don't even have kids in school yet! I got to spend more time with my two older sisters this summer, it was a lot of fun getting to know them a little bit more and what's going on in their lives right now. They both have a heart for God. That's the only picture I have of them with me, it's a couple years old now.

God seems to be doing a HUGE work in me. Over the past few weeks He's taken a girl who when she got married couldn't stand kids and never wanted them to being excited about becoming a foster mom. You heard right, Kevin and I are on our way to becoming foster parents. We've taken classes, about 12 hours worth, our application is in and we wait now to be approved, after the police clearance and fingerprinting of course :)

Here are some more summer pics...

Kayacking with dad on vacation

Dad cought a big fish and in the bottom pic Owen is pretending to take a big bite of it

Turns out that Owen is pretty sensitive to mosquito bites and he was bit at the corner of his eye. The next morning his eye was swollen shut and he had a bite on the end of his nose so that was red and swollen too, poor kid!

At the beginning of the summer we had a pool with a slide made of scraps :) good times!

Who says you need a sidewalk when using sidewalk chalk? Thank goodness it vacuums up easily :)

Is he cute or what?!

We just got back from a weekend at Camp Ao-Wa-Kiya, it was SOOOO nice there! Rachel Bennett (my bestest friend) and I went to an elementary school right by there with our kids and let them run around and play on the playground. They had monkey bars and a slide -old school style- I think she and I had more fun than the kids!! The weather was perfect for playing on land but a little too chilly for playing in the water.

Owen is about to turn 3 and I can hardly believe it! I'm reminded every day what a precious gift God gave us. His smile and laugh are sometimes too much, I feel like I could burst with all the love I feel for him and all the joy he brings us! THANK YOU my Jesus!

Hello!

Big things that have happened this last year...In December my mom was remarried!! Talk about a whirlwind of events. She was dating, engaged and married within just a matter of a few months. My sister Chris adopted two little ones, Zander and Zippora and boy are they precious! Kevin and I are still waiting on God to grow our family. We have the peace, assurance and hope only He can give right now and we know our family is in His hands. OH, and we're going to celebrate our 10 year anniversary this May!! God has been good to us during this time and I look forward to what He has in store for us for the next 10+ years.