New addition to the family...

Ande and I got on board with the whole "it's Christmas" routine yesterday.  We ran out to get a few things for the children.  They don't need a darn thing, believe me, but somehow we have a need to buy them stuff just because it is Christmas.  Our pastor was preaching last week about how we make it our birthday instead of Jesus.  How true that is.  

A few posts ago I talked about we were looking for dogs... 2 dogs in particular.  Julia wanted a huskey and I want a newfoundland.  We have been scouring our local paper for dogs for about a month.  So we get home last night and Ande pulls the paper out and heads to our bedroom.  With the economy the way that it is, Ande and I decided that we weren't going to waste money on a bunch of stuff that the kids didn't need or really even want for Christmas.  We decided that the best thing we could do for our family was to go ahead and get a dog.  Next thing I know he and I are heading to Asheville to get one.

We met Zoe in the parking lot of Toys R Us in the rain.  What a great way to meet a dog.  In the rain... ever smelt a wet dog?  Well they had just fed Zoe before they left the house so she has puked in her dog box riding in the rain in the back of their truck for 30 minutes to meet up with us.    Ever smelt a wet dog with vomit in her hair?  So we pay for her load her up in my truck and we head home.  Apparently she wasn't done vomitting.  So we are riding in the car, smelling wet dog with vomit matted in her hair, then she decides to go farther back in the Excursion and uhmm finish emptying her upset stomach.  

When we get her home, and Ande introduces Zoe to the kids while I clean out the truck.  It's love at first site.  Then the smell hits the kids and they all take a step back.  Adam who is our observant child tells us numerous times how bad she smells.  It's one of those... "Really, I hadn't noticed" moments.  So Ande puts on his bathing suit... He, Julia & Zoe head to the bathroom for a shower.  (We don't have a bathtub at our house - that's a whole different post).  About 10 minutes later we have a clean wet dog a soaked bathroom and a dripping Julia.  Zoe comes out into the living room, still smelling of wet dog and shares her shower with the rest of us.  Shaking water everywhere.  

I was reminded of how Jesus finds us.  Wet, dirty, matted, sick... He loads us up in his vehicle and we continue to vomit and stink until he can get us home and in the shower.  Even then when we are cleaned up we continue to smell and shake off the mess on others around us.  Jesus is so good to sit with us by the fire, drying us with a towel and petting us, loving us and teaching us our name.  Precious, beautiful, wanted, adopted, safe.  

Ephesians 1:5 In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

His pleasure, like we got a new dog...just because we wanted to... He adopted us.  Just to love us, to clean us up and to provide us a safe home.

Lord, thank you.  That you don't leave us dirty and homeless.  That you nurture us and warm us with the fire of your Spirit.  Bless you, for always giving us the gift of you.  Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name Amen.