This song keeps running through my mind!! I picked up 3 little precious ones last week. That brings the total children in our house to 7!! We have two of our own (ages 11 and 9), two we are in the process of adopting (5 and 3) and now 3 more foster kids (2, 1, & 1). The situation with our new additions is very personal. They are my nieces and nephew. I’m asking for prayers for them, their two older brothers who are staying w/ my dad and pray their mom (my sister). She really needs to be able to clear her mind and focus on helping herself so she can finish raising her children to be the adults they are meant to be.
I also found out that my aunt passed away last night. Please pray her husband and children to find peace with this!
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
The Maas Family
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I can't believe I have been away from this blog for soooo long. I can't even begin to update everyone on the many changes our family has been through. I'm just going to post a copy of our Christmas letter and hopefully that covers everything!
I hope that everyone has had a blessed 2010. This year has brought so much to our family. I’m not even sure where to begin. I always go back to read the last couple Christmas letters to see how far we’ve come. It’s funny to me how some things turned out just as we imagined they would. However, I really love to see how some things are so different than we had planned, but exactly how God had it planned.
It’s amazing to me how God planted an idea in my head and my first interpretation of what He was asking has turned into so much more. Little by little we have received clear direction on what decisions we needed to make. Most of you know that a little over a year ago we had two little boys placed with us through foster care. In last year’s letter we told everyone that it was planned to reunite them with one of their biological parents. We honestly believed that would happen. Well, they are staying with us. We get to adopt them! It should be final some time in 2011.
I struggled so much with this decision. Not because we don’t love these boys, but because I wasn’t sure what we could handle. Keeping a foster child for a year or so is difficult, but parenting them for the rest of our lives scared me. I just wasn’t sure we were up for that kind of commitment. After all, it was not part of OUR plan. I had a hard time trying to figure out what God was placing before us. I was talking to my brother in law on the phone one day about the situation (Darren, you didn’t know you played a part in this, did you?). I said that I wanted God to send a stranger to me to tell me what to do so I would know the answer was coming from him and not me. After our conversation, I was encouraged to stop trying to figure out what God wanted and ask Him to clearily show me in a big way!
With in a few days, I received a phone call from someone at church I hadn’t heard from in almost a year. She invited me to a bible study and said that she felt I would be blessed from it. The first day of the study the speaker made a comment that changed our life. She talked about making decisions based on what God can do, not what you can do. My whole fear with deciding to adopt was all about me and what my family could handle. I think this was God telling me that all would be OK and we needed to do this. So, this time next year, we will legally have four kids instead of just two. What a blessing we have received!
More blessings this year: We built a house and moved in November. We love it. We have a ton more space! We have been waiting to build this house for 12 years. We bought this lot right before we got pregnant with Mason and have just been waiting for the right time. Mason and Madisyn started their new school right after Thanksgiving and seem to like it.
Mason played baseball again, but that was his last year. He decided against playing in 2011. He started playing the clarinet and his band teacher said he’s a natural. We are in the beginning of basketball season. Mason was able to play for Newark even though we moved out of the district. Darrell is not coaching this year because he has so much going on around home. Mason is now a green belt in karate, but is taking a break until after the first of the year.
Madisyn is still playing soccer and is great at it. She has so much energy! This is definitely her thing! She is such a help with the boys. Madisyn loves to help take care of little ones. She’s helped me a few times in the nursery at church too.
Austin and Alex fit right in our family. They are great with our busy schedule. They love to be on the go, which is good, because that’s usually how it is around here. Both are doing well at preschool and are taking swimming and gymnastics at the YMCA.
Darrell and I are both still working at the same places. Darrell spent all of the summer and most of the fall at our new house while it was being built. I spent most of the summer running kids around and taking care of things at home! We are really looking forward to a little down time. We are on the list to take another foster child, so who knows how much down time we will get! It all depends on what God has in store for us! We are excited to see where he takes us in 2011.
Everyone, please, have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
Love and Blessings,
The Maas Family,
Darrell, Angel, Mason,
Madisyn, Austin and Alex
I hope that everyone has had a blessed 2010. This year has brought so much to our family. I’m not even sure where to begin. I always go back to read the last couple Christmas letters to see how far we’ve come. It’s funny to me how some things turned out just as we imagined they would. However, I really love to see how some things are so different than we had planned, but exactly how God had it planned.
It’s amazing to me how God planted an idea in my head and my first interpretation of what He was asking has turned into so much more. Little by little we have received clear direction on what decisions we needed to make. Most of you know that a little over a year ago we had two little boys placed with us through foster care. In last year’s letter we told everyone that it was planned to reunite them with one of their biological parents. We honestly believed that would happen. Well, they are staying with us. We get to adopt them! It should be final some time in 2011.
I struggled so much with this decision. Not because we don’t love these boys, but because I wasn’t sure what we could handle. Keeping a foster child for a year or so is difficult, but parenting them for the rest of our lives scared me. I just wasn’t sure we were up for that kind of commitment. After all, it was not part of OUR plan. I had a hard time trying to figure out what God was placing before us. I was talking to my brother in law on the phone one day about the situation (Darren, you didn’t know you played a part in this, did you?). I said that I wanted God to send a stranger to me to tell me what to do so I would know the answer was coming from him and not me. After our conversation, I was encouraged to stop trying to figure out what God wanted and ask Him to clearily show me in a big way!
With in a few days, I received a phone call from someone at church I hadn’t heard from in almost a year. She invited me to a bible study and said that she felt I would be blessed from it. The first day of the study the speaker made a comment that changed our life. She talked about making decisions based on what God can do, not what you can do. My whole fear with deciding to adopt was all about me and what my family could handle. I think this was God telling me that all would be OK and we needed to do this. So, this time next year, we will legally have four kids instead of just two. What a blessing we have received!
More blessings this year: We built a house and moved in November. We love it. We have a ton more space! We have been waiting to build this house for 12 years. We bought this lot right before we got pregnant with Mason and have just been waiting for the right time. Mason and Madisyn started their new school right after Thanksgiving and seem to like it.
Mason played baseball again, but that was his last year. He decided against playing in 2011. He started playing the clarinet and his band teacher said he’s a natural. We are in the beginning of basketball season. Mason was able to play for Newark even though we moved out of the district. Darrell is not coaching this year because he has so much going on around home. Mason is now a green belt in karate, but is taking a break until after the first of the year.
Madisyn is still playing soccer and is great at it. She has so much energy! This is definitely her thing! She is such a help with the boys. Madisyn loves to help take care of little ones. She’s helped me a few times in the nursery at church too.
Austin and Alex fit right in our family. They are great with our busy schedule. They love to be on the go, which is good, because that’s usually how it is around here. Both are doing well at preschool and are taking swimming and gymnastics at the YMCA.
Darrell and I are both still working at the same places. Darrell spent all of the summer and most of the fall at our new house while it was being built. I spent most of the summer running kids around and taking care of things at home! We are really looking forward to a little down time. We are on the list to take another foster child, so who knows how much down time we will get! It all depends on what God has in store for us! We are excited to see where he takes us in 2011.
Everyone, please, have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
Love and Blessings,
The Maas Family,
Darrell, Angel, Mason,
Madisyn, Austin and Alex
Friday, June 4, 2010
So much has been happening here!! We finally have a scheduled ground breaking to begin construction on our house!! We should be starting this Thursday. We are praying for the weather to cooperate. There have been lots of storms and rain here over the last week. A temporary construction driveway has to be installed before we dig and if the rain doesn't let up, we may miss our date.
Bigger news: we are asking for anyone who reads this blog to pray that God will guide us in a very important decision we are facing. We have had two foster sons for almost a year now. "Our" plan was not to adopt, but to be a safe place for kids to stay until they were able to go back home with their parents. Nothing about this placement (which is our first) has been the textbook example. We brought the boys home, there was really not an adjustment period. Except for the fact that they didn't sleep much, they are very "normal" boys. No emotional, physical or academic issues. They are super smart kids.
Anyway, we really had high hopes for their parents. They both were doing so well at first and I thought for sure that the boys would end up back home. Unfortunately, the state has filed for permanent custody. We have some time to figure out what to do, but we have to start thinking about a decision. I can think of very logical reasons that are for and against adopting. I just want to make sure we are following God's plan, not ours. Please, please, please, pray for God to make His decision so clear to us that we cannot deny that it's His decision, not ours.
Thanks and many blessings to all,
Angel
Bigger news: we are asking for anyone who reads this blog to pray that God will guide us in a very important decision we are facing. We have had two foster sons for almost a year now. "Our" plan was not to adopt, but to be a safe place for kids to stay until they were able to go back home with their parents. Nothing about this placement (which is our first) has been the textbook example. We brought the boys home, there was really not an adjustment period. Except for the fact that they didn't sleep much, they are very "normal" boys. No emotional, physical or academic issues. They are super smart kids.
Anyway, we really had high hopes for their parents. They both were doing so well at first and I thought for sure that the boys would end up back home. Unfortunately, the state has filed for permanent custody. We have some time to figure out what to do, but we have to start thinking about a decision. I can think of very logical reasons that are for and against adopting. I just want to make sure we are following God's plan, not ours. Please, please, please, pray for God to make His decision so clear to us that we cannot deny that it's His decision, not ours.
Thanks and many blessings to all,
Angel
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Egg Hunt
We had a great time at an Easter Egg Hunt today at church. A few weeks ago we were asked to pray about invited someone to church and instantly my boy's birth parents came to mind. I knew it would be an awkward situation and kind of hesitated on it, but I also knew I needed to do it. I talked to our SW and she said it would be OK to ask them. I called and invited them to the egg hunt and to church tonight (We've been going to our new Saturday service). They both showed up and we had a great time.
They said they may not be able to make it to church tonight because of gas prices and they just don't have much money. I am really debating on calling back and offering to give them a gas card. I know it was stressed in our classes to not offer money because it opens the doors up to be taken advantage of, so I'm struggling with what to do. I don't have a whole lot of time to think about it.
I really think that they are both very nice people, they just have to learn to deal with life. I'm really praying for them to make it!! I'm hoping that we can involve them more and more in what we do with the boys. I think this will help everyone when they get to go home, including me. I think if I can see how much they love the boys and how much they are trying, it will help me let the little ones go when it's time. I felt my heart soften a little today!!
Blessings,
Angel
They said they may not be able to make it to church tonight because of gas prices and they just don't have much money. I am really debating on calling back and offering to give them a gas card. I know it was stressed in our classes to not offer money because it opens the doors up to be taken advantage of, so I'm struggling with what to do. I don't have a whole lot of time to think about it.
I really think that they are both very nice people, they just have to learn to deal with life. I'm really praying for them to make it!! I'm hoping that we can involve them more and more in what we do with the boys. I think this will help everyone when they get to go home, including me. I think if I can see how much they love the boys and how much they are trying, it will help me let the little ones go when it's time. I felt my heart soften a little today!!
Blessings,
Angel
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Things are moving right along with the house. We are hoping to break ground mid May and be moved in before Christmas. We are so excited to have more space. We also made a big decision and told our social worker that we are willing to take another child. While we are here, we can only take a baby because of space issues, but once we move into our new house, we will take an older child, or two, who knows what God has planned for us.
I have really been thinking about our little one's parents. We were asked to really pray about inviting someone to church at our service a few weeks ago. Instantly their mom and dad came to mind. So, I asked the social worker about it and she seemed to think it would be OK. I called mom today. She said she would go. We have an egg hunt at church and we invited her and she was very interested. I'm a little afraid because I know it's going to awkward, but I think it's a step we need to make. We will invite her every Saturday or Sunday and even if she is only coming to see the boys, I hope she will really hear what's being spoken.
Please be in prayer for her.
Blessings,
Angel
I have really been thinking about our little one's parents. We were asked to really pray about inviting someone to church at our service a few weeks ago. Instantly their mom and dad came to mind. So, I asked the social worker about it and she seemed to think it would be OK. I called mom today. She said she would go. We have an egg hunt at church and we invited her and she was very interested. I'm a little afraid because I know it's going to awkward, but I think it's a step we need to make. We will invite her every Saturday or Sunday and even if she is only coming to see the boys, I hope she will really hear what's being spoken.
Please be in prayer for her.
Blessings,
Angel
Sunday, February 28, 2010
I feel like I have neglected this blog, not that I have many followers, but still. I have been using Facebook more to keep in touch with family and friends. It's a lot easier to jot something down, a thought here, a thought there.
Sometimes I just want to write w/out everyone I know reading it, so here are my thoughts: I have had a stirring inside me for a few weeks now. I'm not sure what it is. I have a feeling that God is preparing me for something and it scares me because I'm not sure what it is. I feel a strong desire to seek him, but I'm not sure what I need. Please pray for knowledge!! I hate the unknown!!
Many Blessings,
Angel
Sometimes I just want to write w/out everyone I know reading it, so here are my thoughts: I have had a stirring inside me for a few weeks now. I'm not sure what it is. I have a feeling that God is preparing me for something and it scares me because I'm not sure what it is. I feel a strong desire to seek him, but I'm not sure what I need. Please pray for knowledge!! I hate the unknown!!
Many Blessings,
Angel
Monday, February 1, 2010
I found out today that my little boys will be seeing mom and dad together tomorrow. They have only seen her a few time since they were placed with us back in July, but have been seeing dad on a regular basis for awhile now. Mom has decided that she has to get it together for her little ones. I've been praying for this and I'm supposed to be happy about it, right??? Then why did my stomach dropped while reading the email from the CW?
My head and my heart are fighting right now.
My head and my heart are fighting right now.
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