The End of School...

This week is the end of school for our 1st grader, Jackson! To say that I am emotional would be an understatement, I have loved his 1st grade year! His teacher is simply priceless and his friends are fantastic. But the main reason I get misty eyed at the end of school is because I reflect back on the day Jackson was placed in my arms...the day I became his mommy! The day God said "Here, this is a gift, teach him well." Jackson is an amazing child, loves life, loves people and loves Jesus. He also has the BEST one liners...and some of the funniest questions.

I wish I could record how he asks questions and makes statements...because his tone is what really cracks me up when he talks...its just SO to the point. **No idea where he gets that??? :)

The other day him and I were at Target and we got drinks from Starbucks, I told him, "Jax, we are on a date together, thanks for spending time with me." He said, "yeah well I'm not enjoying it!" BUT his look on his face said it all...he was totally joking! Love him!

One day we were driving past a local church and he asked me, "Mom, how many services does that church have." I looked on their church sign and then told him they had two services. He said, "well that's just WEIRD!" Jax has only known church to have 4-6 services...so to him a church who only had two services was just weird! **Not to offend any one who attends or is on staff at church with two services...please don't take it the wrong way!

He is just an honest, funny, kind little boy...who LOVES to joke with his momma!

I was at his school this week and a teacher came up to me and said, "Are you Jackson G.'s mom?" I told her yes I was :) She said, "I watch him on the playground and he is always making sure that no one is left out and is always sharing. He is so kind!" Melt my heart!

As we were driving home today from school (2nd to last day), I was listening to Hillsong and silently praying over Jackson. My prayer was this, "Lord, yes I want him to know how to read, to have great Math skills, to be great at Science and History...but LORD please above all else...I want him TO KNOW YOU. I know 2+2=4 is important but your Freedom is Life and I desire him to KNOW you! I love it when he makes an A but Satan shutters when he memorizes your scripture...so Lord please help me to continue to TEACH him YOUR truth!"

No sooner than I had said "Amen", from the back seat I heard, "Mom, you're lame." I had told him that he couldn't go down to the neighbors house when we got home...so as I was praying for his heart...he was pondering how lame I am! I laughed and said, "um child...I was just praying silently over you"...to which he smiled and said "thank you!" The kids KNOWS he needs prayer!

Jackson Gray I love you sweet boy! You are a blessing to so many. God's hand is on you, he is with you where ever you go...I'm thankful that Daddy and I have a front row seat to your life journey! We simply want you to LOVE Jesus and walk in his FREEDOM! You are a chosen treasure...and loved dearly :)

Adoption & Coaching through my DADs eyes!

My dad has been a coach for my WHOLE LIFE and he recently retired. He now works for a company called ProMaxima and part of his job is to encourage around 4,000 coaches monthly. Here is an email he sent out this week...he shared our story of adoption! We could have NEVER walked this journey of adoption if we our families weren't SO supportive. Thank you Gaddis' and Gerdes'! Love you all!

A LIFE CHANGED

This past Friday I witnessed a life changing experience......
here's the story:

When my daughter was in junior high.....each night, before going to bed, she requested that our family adopt a baby. We had our hands full with the two we had and told her one day when she was old enough she could do that.

Her passion and dream for that to happen came true last year. Lindsey and her husband Jason waited 18 months and, finally, on December 5, 2009 Natalie Grace was born. What a blessing she has been this past year. The adoption process was finalized in court last week. I was not fired up about driving 4 hours for a five minute ceremony (just did what my wife told me to do).

Boy, am I thankful I did not miss out on this life changing event. As I sat in the courtroom waiting for our turn, tears filled my eyes, as I witnessed other families' dreams coming true. As I watched, I began to relate this with what we do as coaches. We have the opportunity to make life changing experiences for athletes we come in contact with each day. As you already know you are looked upon as a father, leader, and a role model for most of your kids. Thanks for all you do as a COACH!

Here is an email I received from a player who
I coached 18 years ago:

"What a difference my athletic experiences in high school taught me about life. I am pretty sure my class had the greatest coaching staff ever assembled (had them brain washed) to help us grow as athletes, team members, leaders, but mostly men. I look back on those days as the best of my life. I miss it something terrible. I hope all you coaches know how much y'all helped us grow."

Have a great Christmas break and NEVER GIVE UP on making life changing experiences each day for your athletes.

Happy 1st Birthday Natalie Grace!

Today we celebrated Natalie's 1st Bday! We can not believe that this day has come...this year went by TOOO fast! She is a HUGE blessing to our family.

She crawls all over the place, has two teeth and loves to push her toy stroller around the house. She is constantly making noises and loves doing patty cake and blowing kisses. She is eats EVERYTHING but her favorite thing to eat is Chick Fil A! She is for sure a GA girl :)

Our lives have been changed because God placed this little princess in our family. We love EVERY minute with our Natalie Grace!

BUSY...Quick Timeline!

September 18th - Jason did the wedding of two of our students from Green Acres Baptist Church (Jason was on staff at GABC when we first met almost 10 years ago). Hannah was one of the 1st students I ever mentored in ministry...she continues to bless my life! So proud of both her and Cody!

October 9th- 15th - Jason and a team of people from Revolution spent a week in Haiti doing medical missions! It was an intense week and God moved! Our church supports a mission in Haiti called Haiti Cheri...they are an ever present HERO to the people of Haiti.

October 17th - We started the Advance Initiative at Revolution! You can go here to get more info!

October 22nd - My Best Friend Amy got married---we have been praying for her husband for 5 years and God TOTALLY hooked a sista up! So proud of her and Phillip and SO thankful for the way they love Jesus and love each other.

DEC 10th - WE FINALIZE NATALIE's ADOPTION! CANT WAIT!

Apple Pickin FUN!

Today we went to Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, GA. It was beautiful. I still have to pinch myself that we live in this amazing part of the country! Gods master piece, his creation, is SO fun to explore! We PICKED apples right off the tree and drank yummy fresh apple cider...so amazing!

When we were driving home we were rocking out to the PASSION CD! Wow I love that CD! I was singing to Natalie and I had an amazing thought...last year at this time we had NO idea that God had picked Natalie for us! But just like apples have to wait to be picked until they are perfectly perfect, the weather is just right, and the trees are heavy with reds, pinks, greens and golden deliciousness...we have to wait on the Lord!

He PICKS our blessings...and when the time is right...he allows us to experience that blessing in its FULL GLORY!

In order to get to the U-Pick section of the orchard a lovely tractor took us for a ride on its trailer :) The ride was bumpy, dusty, hot and SO MUCH FUN! And it was beautiful. We drove past the section where they are planting strawberries for next year, drove past the cherry orchard and peaches! GLORIOUS! Then we arrived at our destination...and my friend and I were like children on CHRISTMAS! Who knew picking apples right off the tree would be such a worshipful experience.

Our journey to get to the U-PICK section of the orchard is much like our journey to ALLOWING GOD TO PICK FOR US! He picks the most amazing fruit...he desires for US to trust him and allow him to work! His season for harvest is perfect. He is RIGHT ON TIME and delivers some of the most amazing blessings. We don't have to figure out what works best for us, our family or our timeline! He knows the right time...when we will be ready and when our blessing will be ready! He invites us on a journey to experience him, sometimes it will be bumpy, dusty and hot...but it will be SO MUCH FUN and SO BEAUTIFUL! He works ALL THINGS together for our good...see from his perspective!

Jesus...U-PICK for me!

He LOVES us...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

1st Wednesday...

The 1st Wednesday of every month we do a service at church that is focused on Worship, Communion and Baptism! This is a time for families to worship together and take the Lords Supper...its a powerful time!

At the August 1st Wednesday Jackson cried and begged Jason to get baptized that night. Jason told him that we wanted to wait until next 1st Wednesday so we could really make sure he understood what baptism meant. We talk about it all the time with him but we wanted to take a whole month and focus on what it means!

Jason and him spent time together talking about the symbol of baptism and why we follow in baptism after we accept Christ! **Jackson accepted Christ in Sept 2008 in our van, in his Christian Preschool parking lot...he is so funny telling the story!

Jason drew some pictures for Jackson explaining all the details:

On the 1st Wednesday of September, last wednesday, Jason came home early from work to spend a little more time with Jackson before the 1st Wednesday service. We talked about it again, had him tell us what it meant...and then he said...I'm not ready yet! So we said...okay that's fine! You wait until you are ready!

Worship was AMAZING, our RevBand is SO talented! Its a beautiful worship experience each weekend! Our Worship Pastor has done an amazing job demonstrating what true Worship is!

After worship we took communion as a family...Jackson got in trouble because he ate his "bread" before we even started doing the communion (I had asked him 3 times to wait for his dad)! We prayed as a family and then Jason went back up to the front to get prepared for baptisms.
I LOVE baptisms...I LOVE watching people proclaim their FAITH & LOVE for Jesus! Its powerful EVERY TIME...I don't want it to EVER get old!

Once everyone who was in line got baptized, Jason asked if there was anyone else who would like to get baptized. A few seconds later I saw a lady walking down the isle, she was ready to follow in obedience! It was powerful...she has MS and she needed help getting in and out of the baptismal...but she was determined to proclaim that she was a Christ Follower!
Her obedience gave Jackson the courage he needed, he looked at me after watching her struggle and said "Mom, I'm ready!" So I told him to go tell his dad...and I honestly don't have any clue how we held it together!! It was life changing for us!

Jackson also wanted Josh Boggs, one of our RevKids Volunteers to be a part of his baptism, our RevKids Ministry is amazing!


1st Wednesday was amazing...it challenged me! If a 6 year old and a woman with MS can stand in front of a whole church and say "I LOVE JESUS WITH MY LIFE AND ACTIONS", then so can you, so can I! The same power that raised Jesus out of the grave is the SAME power that will live within you when you accept him as your Savior! He is a force to be reckoned with and he desires us to follow him! Proclaim HIM...you never know how your obedience will effect the generations younger than you!

What God is doing at Revolution Church absolutely blows me away! He is moving in lives...with a strong and mighty power! He desires for his people to be changed and to be passionate about him...that's happening at REV CHURCH! So grateful to be a part of this movement in GA!


And lets end this post with a picture of Jackson's very HAPPY little sister...our sweet Natalie Grace! God has been so gracious to us...we are so unworthy yet through HIM he allows us to parent these precious children!

A failed adoption....

***I was cleaning out my "Drafts folder" here on my blog and I came across this post I had written but never posted! I remember these feelings of a failed adoption so vividly...and I wouldn't trade ANY of our story! Its all part of God's plan to bring Natalie to us! I know some of you who read this blog have experienced a failed adoption...your child is coming...and GOD will blow you away with his perfect timing! Praying for you!


August 18th, 2009

Oh goodness...the emotions rage when you know that the adoption you had been praying for starts falling apart before your eyes!!! On Tuesday, April 28th when we got our call I thought that was the REAL call...little did I know that only 2 weeks later we would receive the phone call from Sara letting us know that our birthmom must have changed her mind since they couldn't get a hold of her.

IT HURTS!!!!! ITS PAINFUL!!! No amount of encouragement helps in the middle of the chaos. You cry, you scream, you snap....its as if you have an outer body experience.

I lost control...I lost my joy...I lost the drive to keep going...I GAINED weight...I ate...and I cried!!! I'm just saying...I had REAL emotions...I didn't just sit at home and in a calm voice say "it will be okay." Nope, it effected me in ways I cant even explain.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is HOLY, that HIS time is perfect, that he wants me to desire HIM above anything else...but I'm not gonna fake it...this journey is HARD!!!! But God's Word says "WHEN you go through trials...." I'm not a Christ Follower who believes...just follow Jesus and everything will be perfect! NO WAY...being a Christ Follower is MESSY, people turn on you, people think you are CRAZY...people try to talk you out of your purpose!!! Following Jesus isn't for wimps...its for the desperate people who KNOW they need a Savior!!!

Through all of this over the last 4 months...and the last 18 months of waiting...my FOCUS has been on Jesus. We are adopting because we feel lead by the Holy Spirit to take care of orphans (James 1)! I want HIM and HIM alone to reap all the glory for this journey. I don't want a pat on the back, I don't want a celebration of Jason and Lindsey Gerdes, I don't want people to look at us and say...WOW...I want EVERYONE's focus to be on GOD, the Creator of Life, the Giver of Breath, the Author of Adoption.

So if anything...this adoption hasn't been a failure...its been fruitful...Ive learned more than I ever could think imaginable! Ive prayed prayers that scare me, Ive laid flat on my face for hours and begged the Lord for guidance, strength, perseverance, deliverance, and peace!