Inglin Family Update

This has been a real season of God strengthening our faith.  For awhile it has seemed like we were just gasping for air as the storm waves crashed over us. Lots of upheaval! You know, sort of like being at the beach and getting caught in the surf and tossed like a rag doll and just when you could snatch a breath, another wave crashes in.  Our favorite phrase right now is "coming up for air".  However, when we do come up for air, it's not gasps that we are getting, but refreshment of soul.

We wanted to thank all of you for praying for us.  Some of you we don't even know but look forward to meeting in heaven. Peter has only been home 2 months.  His dynamic added into an already passionate family has brought about some interesting moments.  Gratefully, because of all the lessons along the way we have been equipped to wait on God and pray in hope.  So here are some highlights. . .

Peter has slept through the night since the third night in his new home.  His eating is where he has "taken control", "exerted his will" in all the topsy turvy-ness of his new life.  We are grateful that he chose the latter to be in control of.  We are frail and need our sleep.   We have contacted Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and are on a waiting list for a "global evaluation" and in the meantime continuing what was already in place for him at the childcare home. Peter gets along with us all.  His face lights up each day when we all show up.  His favorite things to do are swim, either play or watch Eliot play computer games, ride the little cars on the back porch and listen to or participate in music.  He gets really jazzed when we break out the instruments and start to jam.  He has a real strong will and the temper to go with it when the "will" is thwarted.  Hey, sounds like a custom fit for our family.

Eliot is such a blessing to Peter.  Although he is struggling right now sharing all of us with his brother, Eliot fills the "big brother" role just fine.  However, there is typical brother stuff going on as well!  The overly loving hugs from Eliot, the swats from Peter with the piercing yell, the snatched toy, the temper fits, you know all good stuff that to little sinners bring into the relationship.  Jealousy is a hard concept to teach in word, but God in his wisdom has given us numerous daily examples to choose from to help illustrate it.  That said, one day while playing at the YMCA Peter had put on a construction helmet from the dress up bin.  Another child wanted that helmet and before I could get there I watched Eliot get between the boy and Peter to protect his brother.  I hugged Eliot big time that day as I encouraged him about caring for his brother.

Emily and Megan are enjoying being adults.  By God's grace their vehicle is on the road and they run each other to and from work, school, church meetings etc.  It is wonderful to see them as God's workmanship more than my daughters.  As life comes at them, they watch God move on their behalf and it is such a privilege to be the one they come and tell all that He has done.

We have a new van without having to take on a car payment.  Again, by God's provision and fatherly care a family member had a mini-van not being used and gave it to us for the insurance money we got back from the car accident.  It is worth far more than what we got back.  We are grateful for His continued mercies towards us and our family's care.

Finally, on Friday the boys and I went to the "Y" to play.  The area for the kids to play in is huge with many varied activities to choose from and as I followed each boy from one area to the next I had this thought; "I am following my boys around and I love it!  How much fun is that!"  I climbed through the play structure, and almost got stuck and as the boys and I laughed I remember thinking that I was the most blessed mommy on the planet.  (I also remember thinking, I don't think I am going to climb through this play structure again).  And completely amazed that God had this in store for me.

So the strong waves have subsided, and we have gotten out of the rough current.  God did it.  In these past few months God has made sure that the lessons impressed on us during this past year continue to grow and impact our lives to change us forever.  My sons are asleep, my daughters have finished their jobs, my husband and I are getting ready for church and another day to look forward to is just around the corner.  What a life!  Thank you for sharing it with us.

Dinner for 6?!

Our Flight to Hong Kong netted us a gift card to a favorite restaurant!  As we were driving to the destination I realized that we were going as 6, not 5, not 4, and certainly not 2.  We have a family of 6.  We had a wonderful time of celebration too!  I was so choked up about how God had grown our family that I was giddy all throughout supper.

Eliot sat with Daddy and Megan while Emily, Peter and I sat opposite them.  At first Peter wasn't quite sure what to make of all the noise and the funny booster seat.  Eliot had to try out the bathroom 3 times just to make sure it was there and that it worked!  The girls were so grown-up ordering anything they wanted from the menu and free refills on their soft drinks to boot!  Thom and I just sat there with goofy smiles on our faces.  Why?  The reality of what God had accomplished over the past few months had finally sunk in.  Praise was coming out as we both took turns recounting the goodness of God.

Peter was animated.  He ate a cheese quesadilla, applesauce and drank water for the first time since coming home.  Eliot just wanted to be so close to Daddy and was very engaging with the waitress telling her all about our family.  The girls just laughed and told jokes and had octopus arms moving things away from the boys.  As Thom and I made sure the boys were being cared for and continued to draw attention to the many answered prayers the weight of all that happened lifted.  By God's grace all the pieces of our lives that got moved out of place by the addition of Peter, are coming back into place.  We were out to dinner as a normal American family sharing a meal and making a memory.

I can't remember what I ate!  All I can remember is the phrase, "Look at what God has done on behalf of the Inglin family!"  We don't know what lies ahead for our wonderful family, but God does!  We trust Him and He was the honored guest at our dinner for 6.

Lessons From Hong Kong: Part IV Final Lesson

Lesson #4:  I Found My Voice in Hong Kong

Psalm 147: 1  Praise the Lord!  For it is GOOD to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and a song of praise is fitting!

There is a song we sing in our church that both Thom and I whispered through tears that Monday morning in Hong Kong.  It's called "I Need You Jesus".  The first verse seemed to fit our circumstances during the whole stay and since coming home.  It goes like this:

I am frail, and broken easily
without fail, my strength keeps failing me
All alone, I'm powerless
To lift myself from the pit that I am in

I need You, Jesus
I need You Jesus.

As we passed the time there, songs kept coming to my mind.  Quietly, almost absentmindedly, I would sing them.  When in church that Sunday, singing with my brothers and sisters in Christ "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand" tears coursed down my cheeks as both Cantonese and English voices mingled praising God.  And I heard God say to me, "Jill, sing to me.  Sing to me with the voice I gave you and let nothing hinder the joy-filled tears."   As soon as I heard this in my spirit a picture came to me.  It was from my Father, and it was a gift.

 (Back Story 1)  I had a favorite Grandpop.  I loved both my Grandfathers, but Grandpop Goley and I shared a special bond.  I was 9 years old and it was summer.  Often times the only way my mom could find me was to listen for me.  Usually I was singing somewhere.  But on this particular day I was in the screen porch with my Grandpop.  He had suffered a severe heart attack and he and Grandmom moved in with us so that my mother could help with the recovery.  I remember sitting so close to him that I could smell him.  He was sleeping.  I was a little disappointed because I just wanted to tell him everything I was thinking.  He always listened to me and knew exactly what to say to me.  I guess he sensed me there because he opened his eyes and asked me to sing a happy song for him.  I sang the "Bluebird of Happiness" that I had learned from the Captain Noah show.  He closed his eyes, with a smile on his face.  I kept singing every song I could think of just to keep that smile there.  I loved Grandpop with every fiber of my being.  He looked like he had fallen asleep again so I tried to slip away and as I did he reached for my hand and told me how good it made him feel inside when I sang just to him.  Grandpop died 3 months later, but that has stayed with me to this day.

God was redeeming and connecting a bitter sweet moment in my life yet again.  Right in Hong Kong, God was using a very vulnerable situation, designed by His hand, to open my heart's eyes to see a new chapter opening.  Singing to my King, just like that little girl sang to her Grandpop all those years ago.  Just He and I!  And as the songs flowed, I could hear Him say, "Sing another one Jill.  I love to hear you sing."  Joy was filling my heart like salve on wounds.  He gave me this voice and the songs to sing, and then He calls me into sing for Him.  What a crazy privilege!  What amazing love!

(Back Story 2)  We walked onto the main floor where most of the happenings for the children took place on any given day.  Peter looked away from us, but there was one little boy who recognized us right away from the family DVD we sent over.  In the DVD, I sang "Amazing Grace" and Thom played his guitar.  He pointed to Thommy and did an air guitar diddy, then he pointed to me and pretended to sing Amazing Grace in a microphone.  He was very insistent that I sing it right then.  As the tune flowed from my soul the children fell silent.  The boy hugged me and called me Mama.  Later, in our early interactions with Peter, singing to him when things were scary calmed him, comforted him.  That's how my son and his friend knew me, by my voice.

What sustaining grace! One of the hardest times of our lives to date and song came back to me.  Life and all the responsibilities sort of squeeze the joy of singing out of me like "one more thing to do".  But there, in Hong Kong it came splashing out.  The joy of the Lord was our strength and it came through song.  God reminded me that out of all the hats that I wear, Wife, Mama, Daughter(in-law), Sister, friend, Worshipper of God was most important and God the creator wanted me to worship Him in song, the Audience of One. As the Holy Spirit revealed this to my soul it seemed like I was walking on clouds.  Thank You Father.

Since coming home from Hong Kong, song seemed to slip away what with all the adjusting going on it seemed sleep was what we did the most.  But as the fog lifted and I heard that still small voice calling me, I was singing and dancing and laughing with my boys upstairs and crying out to God in song downstairs in the music room.  A song of praise is fitting to God my King and it really did and does drive away doubts, fears and sorrow and lifts my gaze once again to the Throne of Grace where at the top of my lungs I say, "Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for the Cross!  Thank you for saving me!"  And as I sing to Him, with or without anyone else around, the 9 year old version of me pours out love and praise to the One who loves me, the One who knows me, the One who made me to sing.  I am not boasting in my ability to sing.  No, I am boasting in the goodness of God and His mercy to His little girl.  I have an abundance of things to sing about in response to all He has done for me.

Psalm 13:6  I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

AMEN!