HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO MY SWEETHEART

and

TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

May today be a reminder of what everyday should be like.

Love with all your heart and feel and be blessed by the love that surrounds you daily.

Honey, I love you so much! Thank you for being my everything!

HATE

That's a really strong word. According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the definition of "hate" is:

1. to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest:

I'm not sure if you all had a chance to read all the comments from the "Punishment" post or if you even do read them, but one particular comment left me pretty stunned, not to mention disturbed. As I lay in bed with a terrible migraine and trying to go to sleep early tonight , I kept tossing and turning thinking that I may be "harboring hate", as my reader Robin (whom I know is actually Jxxxx) stated in her comment.

Finally I couldn't take it anymore and I woke up Scott, who had also gone to bed early tonight. After making sure he was truly awake, I said, "Do you think I HATE anyone? Not dislike, I mean really hate anyone?" He looked at me and said, "You? No way!" I then told him about the comment and he brushed it off as "some upset liberal" and not to pay attention to it. He went back to sleep, but my mind didn't stop thinking.

Always being one to not shy away from controversial topics and definitely not one who ever tries to be politically correct, I decided to get up and voice my feelings.

I've been accused of a lot of things in my life, but hate is not one of them. This is definitely a first. I could easily compare hate to cyanide. It poisons the body and soul to the very core. It's something that I've learned through my walk with Christ to immediately rid myself of, because nothing is more destructive to oneself than hating someone else. I then went further and thought about the women and girls that have shared their stories with me about their post-abortion feelings and the more I thought about it, the more I think that it's those women that I need and do have the most compassion and empathy for. The same goes for abortionists and the people that influence the girls to destroy the very gift that God created in them.

Does it bother me when people kill children out of pure selfishness? Absolutely. If a child's death doesn't bother someone, then I shudder to think of what does. But do I HATE? Actually HATE? No. Obama is preparing to sign off on the death warrant of millions of babies. Do I hate him? No. I feel deep sadness for him. I think he desperately needs prayers and needs to be led to the one true, living God. the creator of life, in order for him to truly understand what he's doing.

One of the most healing powers that Jesus Christ graces us with is asking us to pray for our enemies. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." - Matthew 5:44. Man! Have you ever tried praying for someone you really don't like or maybe even do hate? That's really tough!!! But you know what is completely amazing? The fact that God, and only God, can transform hearts. The more you pray for that person, the more compassionate your heart will be when your eyes are opened by God towards them. I know. It's happened to me. And it's blown me away at how differently you can see someone who you feel has persecuted you after you've prayed for them.

So, "Robin", your goal was achieved if it was meant to hurt (especially on a night with a major migraine). But, as God always does, He's not letting the enemy win. I continue to stand firm in my faith and honor my God by voicing out loud that He IS the creator of everything that has breath and that the sanctity of life should be protected first and foremost, at all costs, even if it isn't popular in today's society. "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." - Psalm 150:6 As I've said many times before, He and He alone is the only one I will be accountable to when I stand before Him. Our time here is very limited. Eternity is forever.

I digress. I have been able to turn this "hate" ordeal around as proof that the Lord allows things to happen for His glory. "Robin", I am blessed that you took the time to point out to me that you feel I harbor hatred. Why? Because your unkind words, which I published anyway, has led me to His word, which is the one and only living truth. He and He alone is the only one that matters. He is the only reason I shall not stop doing my very, very small part in bringing to light the right to life, whether it's to a million readers or to one.

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. - Matthew 5:11

I will continue to strive and live by the words I keep at the top of this blog, keeping my eyes focused on Him and not on those of this world.

"..... and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27

My prayer is that you could do the same.

Could this EVER be the definition of "punishment"?

Thank You Terryn for letting me borrow this picture.

UPDATED IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENT LEFT BY "ANONYMOUS":

"For a child not ready to be a parent it could be punishment for everyone... most importantly the baby."

MY RESPONSE:

How about offering that baby a chance at a life with the THOUSANDS of families whose hearts break daily praying to God to be able to be a parent? Ask ANY of my three little ones born in my heart if they feel their life is a punishment! I think your response is completely selfish! My blog. My opinion.

Furthermore, click HERE and tell me which one would have preferred to have been killed!

And since I'm on a roll, I always approve Anonymous comments if they are respectful, but I so wish those people had the courage to stand behind their words.

My Girl

I know you've heard me talk about my kids, especially the little ones. But, I thought I'd write today about my big girl, Amanda. This morning as I was driving and thinking about Amanda, it suddenly hit me that I can't believe she's gonna be fifteen this year. That's just crazy! Where has time gone? Where did my precocious little girl who loved books and reading (well, she still does) and sitting on her Mommy's lap go?

Being Cuban, our girls usually celebrate their fifteenth birthday with a huge hoopla, comparable to a Bar Mitzvah or a wedding. It's the acknowledgement that our daughter is transforming from being a little girl into a young lady. ::sniff::

This celebration is called Quinces. The "Quinceañera", in this case Amanda, traditionally wears a ball gown (similar to what Cinderella wore when she danced with the prince) and chooses special friends to dance a choreographed dance alongside her. These "dancers" are called her Court of Honor. The Court of Honor also wears gowns and tuxedos. The choreographed dances always begins with the Quinceañera dancing a waltz with her father, proceeded by traditional Cuban dances. This takes months of weekly rehearsals.

The Quinces celebration is a very special part of our heritage and a tradition that I have thought about over and over throughout the years from the time Amanda was born. I can't believe the time has finally arrived. Of course, it arrived when the economy is at it's worst and I have procrastinated with now only 6 months left to plan everything, including finding a venue, gowns, photographer, music, food, invitations, and so on. But, God is always good and I know when the day arrives it will be perfect, as is my girl.

Below are some pictures I took this past weekend. I begged asked Amanda to be my guinea pig so I could practice my photography. She grudgingly whole-heartily agreed! Actually, we had lots of fun being silly and spending one-on-one daughter and Mom time, that I have missed so much!

Amanda, I love you as much as the whole wide world...and back again!

A Wise Doctor

It's been crazy busy around here lately and I'll be posting about that soon, but I wanted to share an email sent to me by one of my readers. It was very poignant to me and a great analogy of a baby in and out of the womb. Thank you, Lernie.

A WISE DOCTOR

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.'

So the doctor said: 'Ok, and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

I am NOT in love!

Oh, how I love staring at that sweet little face!!!!


Yes, I know it is Not Me, Monday! day, and what a better day for me to proclaim that I am indeed not in love with the absolutely, adorable and scrumptious little man in the picture above!

Let me explain what did not happen. I did not receive an email stating that Amanda at The Starfish Foster Home in Xian, China had been asked by the orphanage director if she could take on some more babies. "They were being inundated with abandoned babies and had no more place to put them." Up to that point, Amanda had been pondering about starting a cleft home for orphaned babies in addition to the ones she had now. Little did she know God sped things up in a big way! She now is the proud foster Mama to 9 of the cutest cleft babies you've ever laid eyes on. Don't believe me? Go ahead. CLICK HERE! I dare you!

Are you hooked? I certainly was not! Nope! That one little click absolutely did not leave me in tears, not only wishing God would crush every CCAA rule that prevents us from adopting from China again, but that He would not somehow remove the financial binds we are in so that we could do so with ease. No, my dear friends, that one little click of the mouse did not leave me knowing that I had to do something more. The minute I looked into Tim's eyes, I did not absolutely know that we just had to sponsor him. He truly does not remind me so much of my own sweet Kai and his eyes do not mesmerize me and send me into dreamland with thoughts of my cuddling sweet little Tim and tucking him in every night. Nope. They do not!

Furthermore, sweet hubby and I did not shuffle some priorities around and now are the proud Ayi and Shu-Shu (auntie and uncle) of precious baby Tim! No, I am without a doubt not giddy with excitement, that although from afar, I have a new little man in my life!

Now for some serious stuff. It is my understanding that Tim is still in need of 3 sponsors, along with a few more of the babies. Amanda needs 80 sponsors committing to $25.00 a month to be able to keep these adorable treasures. She's even agreed that if she receives more sponsors than she needs for these little ones, that she'll take up to TWENTY cleft babies! Can you imagine what a blessing that would be for these sweet angels?

So, I beg ask you. Can you please search your hearts and see how you can help? You can even choose which baby you are moved to sponsor by going over to A SEVENTH DIAMOND and leaving a comment for Kim, who has been working closely with Amanda to help these sweeties. Let's continue to be God's hands and feet!

By the way, I have a secret! I am ONE BIG, FAT, LIAR!!!! I AM TOTALLY, MADLY, and COMPLETELY IN LOVE with little Tim and if I could fly to China and bring him home today, I'd do so in half a heartbeat!

To read some more Not Me, Monday! fun, go to MckMama's blog by clicking HERE!