me, a proud Baptist...ha

I have to admit that there have been times I've been ashamed to call myself a Baptist, and a Southern Baptist at that. It just puts me into a sterotype I'd rather not be linked with. The sterotype goes something like this....."cold hearted, joyless, holier than thou, lets play dress up for church, but not care for the single Mom across the street," sure you can find that within any Christian denomination, but growing up in an anti-Baptist home I had a special dislike already formed in my mind. Then I actually meet some of these kind of people and it sent me futher into my shame and disgrace. Most of the time when people ask me what "religon" I am, I just say "a Christian" or "Christ follower". I just keeps the junk out of the conversation.

TODAY, however......I've just had my proudest Baptist moment to date. The Southern Baptist Convention was held last week in Louisville, KY as Southern Seminary celebrated 150 yrs of its history. The convention adopted a resolution (which just says, "we as a denomination reslove that we believe this to be true"), the resolution states that we are to care for the fatherless, the orphans of the world. To have taken us this long as a church to say that we should be doing this is a shame, but better late than never.

Brad and I are both adopted children in some sense (very long and complicated story). I grew up with foster children. I always wondered even as a child why the state cared for these children when it was the church who should be doing the job. I've always believed in adoption, and being a foster parent. Not everyone is in a position to adopt, but those who are, should! And those who are not should help in whatever way God allows to help the life of a helpless child who has absolutly no one to care for them. A quote from Mother Teresa says, "having a hungry stomach is bearable, having no one to love you is a deeper hunger.....going without food rots your body, not having love kills your soul"....its so true.

"Bella Blue"

The house was so lonely without a pet! So now, we have a kitten to play with, and she loves to play. Attacking our feet seems to be her favorite past time. She is so small and so very cute!

Family Pets

When my Dad called me to ask me if I'd like to own a golden retriever, I have to admit I was a little reluctant. I have a soft spot for dachshunds, I couldn't imagine liking a big dog. But I knew the kids would love to have a family pet to play fetch with (the 2 yr old little brother gets tired easily...LOL) So, Brad and I said, "sure, we'll take him". Little did I know he'd sneak into my heart and find a soft spot to land. In the short time we had "Bodie" he was a pleasure. Full of fun and excitement. He loved us, and we loved him. He was an amazing dog. One of the first nights he was here, Bodie brought Brad's shoes over to him as a way of saying, "hey Dad, take me outside" and then went and sat beside the door waiting patiently for Brad to fulfill his request. I could tell so many more stories, but my heart is still filled with so much sadness to have to loose a sweet and special dog so quick and so tragic. Rest In Peace, Bodie Dog, may you chase ducks and rubber balls for all eternity, until I see you again, I love you!