Passion?

So I have been coming to the realization that we all have been made for specific reasons...duh right?

But I found myself getting upset that not EVERYONE had the same passion I did for Africa, Ethiopia, Kechene and their people.

You see I have this burning, intense, flip my world upside down passion inside me!! I have never been so in love with Jesus. And this comes from seeing 1st hand what poverty looks like. God has put me in widow's homes, God has put me in orphanages, I have kissed African women and children infected with HIV. I feel like I know why Jesus was so broken for the poor and marginalized and until I felt that 1st hand I do not think I really "knew" Jesus and what it truly ment to be "Christlike."

Now when I step back and I think about what has transpired in the past few years of my life I am very troubled by who I have become with all of this. You see it is very easy to get angry at people who do not feel the way I do, or see things how I do. It is easy for me to become prideful because I "get it." But lets be real!
I do not "get it" at all!


I have never experienced what it would be like to have my child die from hunger. I do not know what it would be like to give my children contaminated water because contaminated water is all we have to drink, I do not know what it would be like to be and orphan child and have to protect and raise my younger siblings, I do not know what it is like to be taken from my parents at 7 or 8 disfigured and then put out on the streets to beg for money.
I do not "get it" as much as my pride would like to think that I do.

But in the past few months I have begun to "get" something. This passion is not about me! All Glory goes to God! I have to continually remind myself that I have done nothing to deserve to be in this place where I can make a difference! God is using me and I am trying HARD to HUMBLY accept the path God has set me on.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
~1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Not everyone will experience the passion I have be given from God to help educate and protect the children of Kechene. Not everyone is called to adopt children. And all I am doing is trying to be obedient and deepen my relationship with Jesus. This is God's path for MY life,
Not your life, my mom's life, or my best friends life.

So I ask each one of you today not to look at anyone else "path." God will led you if you will allow Him to! (trust me it is more fulfilling then you could ever imagine)


What passion has He put in You?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Mood of Monday (Its Wednesday now)

My Heart is SO FULL!
After spending the weekend with some of the most amazing people I could possibly think of I am so happy this Monday.

It was so wonderful to see so many of the kiddos again! I loved to see the transformation in them. From being in an orphanage to being in a loving home ... that changes everything for these kids! To feel worth and love...
something everyone deserves.
I had the privilege to see it 1st hand this weekend in so many kids!

And it also made me take a step back and reflect on my little ones,
And the transformation that happened in MY LIFE because of bringing them into our lives.

Adoption changes everything!

I love this picture! It was so muggy in TN that is fogged up my lens but I kind like it ;)
Swimming with daddy, we were in the pool A LOT!
Some of the ahhhmazing CCI momma's
Oh my trouble....

Always a good time with the Armburstmachers.
These are just a few pic's from this amazing weekend!! Loved every second of it!

It is FUN FRIDAY

Lots of fun happening around here today!!

We are celebrating my little sisters 24th birthday at my parents house tonight! She pick out quite a menu for this evening I am mostly looking forward to the brownie cheese cake!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE SISTER!!!!

We are also busy packing for one of the most fun weekends I can think of!! We are going to the Celebrate Children Reunion!!!


While we are at the reunion we will get to see some of the kiddos we met in the orphanages and we will get to see the amazing transformation that happens once they are placed in to a loving home!! The kids become full of life and it is so beautiful to see what a parents love does to a child!!

The reunion is going to be in Nashville, TN! So you better believe that we are taking our 2 year old and both 1 year olds on an 8 hour trip!!! It will be interesting but Darin and I have already decided to just have our expectations of them really low so we are not frustrated all weekend. HA.



Whats the longest you have ever traveled with young children? I would love to hear some funny stories to keep myself sane on the trip ;)

Have a lovely weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Moody Monday

Sometimes I wish I could throw fits like this again. They only last a minute or so. This girl sure does know how to let her emotions out!! Its a good thing that she knows how to express herself, but she really needs to keep it in check sometimes... but ya know she is only 14 months... whats a girl suppose to do???

you can still see the "tears" in her eyes... but she wants to smile.

And by the way all of these "mood's" happened in about 15 seconds.
Yep that's my Stella!

Sleepy Sunday

We have had one crazy weekend! (sigh)

I love nothing more then the weekends. Darin is home and the kids enjoy having him around. He is always pumped and excited to spend time with them after working all week.

So sleepy


Darin and I celebrated 7 wonderful year of marriage.
It has been so much fun taking time this weekend to be together, just the two of us!!

But that meant that the kiddos have been with grandmas all weekend. And they are beat.

What did you all do this weekend? Do you notice a difference in your kiddos after they are at grandmas house too?

Fun Friday

So lets be real, every day here is fun! But I will now be making it a point to make sure we do something "extra fun." But unfortunately since I just decided to make this format for my blog last night I really did not have much time to plan anything. So this is our typical Friday. Macy my cousin is here. She is 11 and helps me out a ton! She loves my kids almost as much as I do!!
Benny Boo eating breakfast.
He loves to eat!!

Claire got into my tupper ware cabinet and decided this would make a "fun" hat. And that poor bunny she is holding has been through the ringer. He is not allowed to come in the house any more because he is so dirty and has been put in the kiddy pool a few too many times. But she loves him anyways.

A little bit of play time with mommy.

Holy Smokes she just keeps getting prettier and prettier.

Gorgeous! Stella is such a gem! She is SO funny. I might just do an entire Funny Friday on her because she could take an entire blog post with all the funny stuff she does.

My promise to you.

Moody Monday

Wordless Wednesday

FUN Friday

Sleepy Sunday

So to say the least I have been preoccupied. My blog tends to come last these days. But it should be priority. It is how I will look back in 5 years and say... Oh how I miss those days and ...I totally forgot about "this, or that."

So this is not only my promise to all of you, but to myself and my family. I will make it more of a priority to keep up to date on the happens of the Shrocks.

So tomorrow is going to be our Fun Friday! Expect something tomorrow evening!! Until then here are a few pictures.

Too much fun with Meggan!!

Breakfast in the morning.

Just an average day doing laundry.

Best friends in the making!!

Fun Fun Fun!

Love it

I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Summer Time

Just thought I would post some pictures of the beautiful faces I get to see every day!!! So in love.