Journey

Pink Lipstick

/ Susan Woodward

Ok, Here it goes….the story behind the updated FaceBook profile pic!

I’ve been In the dumps emotionally. Spiritually, Is the only way I’ve maintained for the last few months. But it’s doing its toll now…physically.

Thanks be to Jesus for his strength to persevere through rough patches in life. Those days of uncertainty and of pain.

The emotional toll that grief takes on a person is hard, to say the least. Its sneakiness comes like a lion’s roar in my mind, at moments that I don’t expect. I’m a fixer, and I can’t fix the feelings my self or my family members are pressing on through.

Losing my Momma2, has made me think of all the special things I’ve missed over the years, with my own parents. (living states away) Coming to the terms, that those are moments, I can’t get back, took me deeper in grief for the loss of my Mother in Law. I am forever grateful for the moments and the relationship we had. We had a very special bond. Both of us vowed in our hearts, and spoke to each other, about loving her baby till each of our last breaths. She did just that…and I will do my part as well.

I keep physically busy when I’m emotionally drained. Yes, I’ve been too busy. Then I slowly start to shut doors to people in my heart, to resist any more pain. (I’ve recognized this is where I am now) I tend to fold up my emotions like a fitted bed sheet and tuck them away in a drawer, that’s already way too full.

In recognizing there’s no more room to tuck away my emotions, I started the process of decluttering. I began with my mind.

I know who I am In Christ and what my purpose is!! I have been reminded over and over again in my life, that at the lowest of times, the strength I have within me, is because of that knowledge.

Looking cute has been the least of my worries. (when you are in a rut no one sees you anyway, right?) So, yesterday I had a very subtle moment, that became profound for me.

I had a focus and a plan…

It was a pink lipstick kinda day!

It was a day that I made the decision to Be brave, Be bold, and continue to shine bright.

I’m a work in progress, just like you. We all have our moments that seem

blurry. We all need to continue to strive for our moments of clarity. God’s word and his promises are what have always given me the focus and the desire to move again.

There is NO stopping allowed here!

So yesterday, I breathed in and out…and I wore pink lipstick around my house.

It Has Been Way Too Long!

/ Susan Woodward
YES! I AM BACK AGAIN…

I have taken a break from my Blog for way too long. How dare life get so chaotically busy that it takes me away from something that I am so passionate about. YOU!

I am ready to share once again! I have been using Facebook as a ministry for several years. I have tried my best to write things on that platform that speak truth, encourages others to love like Jesus and promotes serving others. That is what my intentions were when I started writing on this blog/website. I have decided to once again make this a place for me to let go of what is on my heart and let God touch whomever It can. I want the work that God has done in my life and what he inspires me to share, to somehow make a difference in others.

“What good is it to have God work within us, if we are not willing to share the work he has done” ~SW

Truth, Love and Service. Those three things mean so much to me. They are who I am and It is the reason I started highlighting some tid bits of my life on this website several years ago. I have shared about being a Parent, Adoptive Parent, Foster Parent, Mimi, and the Wife of a Care Pastor. I am also the only Daughter to wonderful parents and a Sister to three brothers. All of those things have given me great fulfillment, but no title compares to being a Child of the Most High. It gives me abundant joy to share the little things in life that are of great importance to God.

Each of our stories are unique, significant and worth sharing. I am always learning to embrace mine just a little bit more. I am forever thankful that Gods plan for each of us is much greater than we can imagine for ourselves.

On no particular schedule, I am looking forward to sharing more about all the good, the bad, and the ugly that makes my life come together as something so beautiful. Each one of our lives is something that is imperfectly perfect to God. I hope to encourage you to look at your own story and only see the beautiful, as Christ does.

Also, I am hoping you choose to share this website/blog with others who may need to learn to embrace their story just a bit more, as well.

Live by Truth

Love Like Jesus

Serve People 

Here’s to new things….

Dreams Come True!

/ Susan Woodward

Book Released Today

It’s in my hands now!!!! It’s for real! 

Book Photo

My story can be found  in the section “Blessings in the Midst of Chaos”  (pages 277-294) And my quote was chosen for the back of the book!  Wow! Someone pinch me!  God’s timing is just soooo good!  I’d love to say what an awesome job all of the Authors did, but i know first hand, God was all over them while they were writing.  So all of the acknowledgements go to our Lord and Savior!  

The Editor has changed all of the children(s) names for privacy reasons.

Thank you to Katherine Piper for having a dream to make a difference and allowing the Lord to use her in such an endeavor. It was tedious and i know it had to be a bit crazy communicating with so many different authors from around the world.  She showed such grace as she allowed God to guide her every decision making step along the way.  She has already made a difference!  (To all of us Authors as well)  With this book to encourage adoptive families,  she’ll continue to make a difference for many years to come.  I’ll forever be grateful for her obedience to carry out her vision and for approaching me to share our story.     

Also, a huge thank you to all of my family who helped encourage me to “go for it” when the opportunity to share our 3 adoption stories was presented. I am honored (with 27 other Christian Authors) to be able to encourage Women on their adoption journey’s. May God receive all the glory he deserves, for orchestrating such a beautiful arrangement of heartfelt love and faith shared within the books pages. It is all of our prayer to help fund forever homes for children for many years to come.  And we will, as copies of this book are sold…

Hope for the Adoption Journey is now available on Amazon!

Get your copy here: Hope for the Adoption Story -Amazon Prime

All proceeds from the book go towards helping other families adopt through the Show Hope organization.

Visit Show Hope Organization here

The Following is from the Show Hope website:

This movement began in 2003, when Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman founded Show Hope after having their own eyes and hearts opened to the global orphan crisis.

Since then, Show Hope has worked to holistically approach orphan care, helping children in four key areas:

  • Adoption Aid
  • Care Centers
  • Pre+Post Adoption Support
  • Student Initiatives

Through Adoption Aid grants, Show Hope has helped more than 6,000 children from more than 60 countries, including the U.S. More than 2,500 waiting children with acute medical and special needs have received loving care through Show Hope’s Care Centers in China. Show Hope’s partnership with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU and Empowered to Connect has helped bring hope and healing to children around the world with encouraging, research based teaching in Pre+Post Adoption Support. And Show Hope prepares for the future with our Student Initiatives by educating and empowering the next generation of leaders to effectively care and make a difference in the lives of waiting children.