Undone (A Book Review)

I nodded my head in agreement again and again reading this book.  It ranks among my favorite books read in quite some time.  It was real, raw, relatable.  When praising this work to a friend, I said it was "like she wrote my story with her details". 

Please read this book.  If your life story includes twists and turns, hurts and stretches, read this book.  It's a gift. 

In Undone, a heartfelt memoir by Michele Cushatt, the author tells the story of her undoing.  Of how God used hard circumstances in her life to draw her to Himself.  Of how she walked through a messy season, including a cancer battle and becoming a foster mom, when her life unraveled.  Her neat, ordered and planned life was replaced with questions, unknowns and soul wrenching struggle. 

"Once again I found my planned and scheduled self in the middle of a messy unknown.  No explanation or reassurances.  No dates, calendar of events, or three step plan.....
We seemed to be bouncing from one crisis to another, without reprieve.  I would have done anything for boring or ordinaryy.  But sometimes messy is the necessary beginning to the makings of extraordinary. "

This book is a call to dig in when life gets hard, purge your perfection habit and lean into God's presence.  To dig deeper to the faith we claim.  This is where the best stories are written. 

"Where is my faith?  In myself, more often than not.  Which is why an unexpected squall-every last one of them over the span of two years-unraveled me.  A boat anchored to itself is not anchored at all."

My copy of Undone is highlighted and starred.  The margins carry my exclamation marks and notes. This book with be recommended and read again.  This one touched my heart, made me laugh and spurred me on. 

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**







"My addiction to comfort and control-for both myself and my circumstances-had become both idol and crutch.  It's what I pursued and reached for, with both hands and endless effort.  But all that striving came with a cost.  In my attempts to manage my life, I missed out on the vibrancy of it." 

"I never wanted nor promised a tidy life.  I want you.  And I promised me." 

Loving On Foster Kids

Foster children age out of the system at age 12.

2,736 children and teens live in juvenile residential facilities in our state.

8,020 children are in foster care. 

About 1,000 of those are adopted. 

(Statistics from here.)

     

Children in a nearby children's home are there because they were homeless, abandoned or removed from their families by court order. 

This information alone should challenge me. 
Us. 

The truth is that we hear statistics all the time. 
They bring feelings of empathy, but life keeps moving and
the feeling passes. 

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Recently though, in honor of Valentine's Day,
34 big hearted families took the time to focus on 34 foster kids.
A sweet friend coordinated the sewing of handmade bags,
and then those bags were filled with love by each family.   

They took great care to pack fun things for teenage girls

and for the teenage boys. 
These bags were fun to do, and easy to buy for.

Our hope for them though is bigger. 
Our hope is that each child who found one outside
their door on February 14th felt loved. 
Loved by a stranger and a Father in heaven. 

Our hope is that the bags will be the start of learning to serve foster children more frequently and in deeper ways. 

Our hope is that all the children who helped pack the bags will grow up with hearts for the fatherless everywhere. 

Thanks to everyone for participating
in this project with such love and generosity.

Ahem.  And we may or may not have had a
little fun with hand sewn bags before filling them up. 

Sack races anyone?