Inspiration By Song

Today, we have some really great inspiration to get us thinking. Currently, I am giving away a copy of my favorite book, Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman. Go enter! You've heard me rant and rave about Mary Beth and her book. Now, it's time for me to rant and rave about Mary Beth's husband, Steven Curtis Chapman, and his beautiful, breathtaking, moving music.




She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

You don't even know just how much I adore that song. It's even better when you know the meaning behind it! It is just so so sweet. "So I will dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms..."






I can see the tears filling Your eyes
And I know where they're coming from
They're coming from a heart that's broken in two
By what you don't see
The person in the mirror
Doesn't look like the magazine
Oh, but when I look at you it's clear to me that...

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and...

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started and…

How empowering! What a nice reminder: No matter what other people say about us, or even what we think of ourselves, God thinks of us a perfect. "You're a masterpiece, That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God"

Blessings!


P.S: Do you have a song that inspires you? 2 songs? Starting next week, these will no longer be my inspirational song picks; they will be yours! Please leave a comment and include the songs you would like to see in next weeks Inspiration By Song feature. I can't wait to listen to them!

A Day to Save Olga

Remember this little sweetheart?

Or rather, this little heartbreaker?

Oh, Olga. I can't even begin to tell you how many nights and days I have spent thinking about Olga. About orphans.

Today is about Olga. If you haven't stopped by yet, visit Olga's family at Saving our Starfish. I am so overjoyed for them as they take this journey of courage and love. This journey of bring Olga to where she belongs, away from the image and emotions of orphanages.

We all know adoption is no easy process. We can't just exclaim, "I'm adopting! Let's jet over to Europe and pick up our next little darling!" I wish. It takes a whole lot of money. More money than any of us has individually. But together...

Our amazing Patti has already played a giant part in saving over $13,000 for Olga!!! Be proud, Patti. :)

Chris and Jenn are still in need of quite a bit of money, most importantly dossier money. $7,000 worth of dossier money.

Today is a Day to Save Olga. Donate whatever you can... $1, $27, $53, $101, really, whatever you can. 

So today, while I'm out and about, at work, at the grocery, right here in bed, I really won't be. Because my heart, my brain, my thoughts, my prayers.... are all overseas with Olga. I'm praying that yours are too!

The book I'm currently reading, Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman, does a great job of of explaining it all. Before they adopted their first little girl from China, Shaohannah, Mary Beth was down right scared. She had suffered from depression for years, and she didn't know how on Earth she was going to handle it. She was ready to call herself downright crazy. She was terrified. Terrified she couldn't live up to the expectations of an adoptive parent. But the thing is, there really is no adoptive parent. Parents are parents. And with that said, Children are children. Mary Beth had been afraid she wouldn't love Shaohannah as much as her biological children, but as soon as she laid eyes on her she knew that was false.She loved Shaohannah with all her mind, soul, heart, and being.

I don't want anyone to be afraid of adoption. When I read that part of the book, I almost cried because it was so sweet. I know I'm not afraid. I'm really, truly, not.

I'm 18 years old. I have a long way to go until I can adopt.  But I'm not scared at all. I know that when I am able to adopt I will. Why? Because in the end, all that truly matters is the moment when your child is put into your arms. And you realize that you could never love them any less. You realize that you have truly saved a life.

This isn't about me. though. No way. Today is selfless day. Today is all about OLGA!!!

Let's do some good today. Let's bring home an orphan. :) I smile just typing that.

In the end, we're all a little clueless. A lot clueless. WE don't know everything, we don't always do the right things, but there is someone who will lead us wrong. The One who deserves ever single morsel of credit for the miracle of adoption and saving lives. Just know that...

God is Good, ALL the time!!!

Rejoice, because today is the day. It's Olga's day. What a lovely day it is.

Blessings!