Cute Mornings at the Tuckers

Made you Smile!!
Love from the Tucker Ten :)

The Dream

Today our little Bruik--affectionately known as, "Bruiky" or "Bruiky-mon" by our Daddy is a little under the weather. I get the snuggly privilege of holding him and bringing all the right sorts of treats that make little boys feel better--you know--fizzy drinks, snuggles in our favorite chair, treasured books, and just the right Tom and Jerry movie--I may not know the title but Bruik loves it by heart! His laugh is infectious even on a "sick day". I love resting my cheek on his soft curly head and pondering the wonderfulness of this beautiful boy.
I have blogged in the past about how the name we chose off of Ethiopian Name lists, Bruik, means, "Gift of God". Months later, when we received our referral for our little boy, we only received a couple photos which we carried in our pocket, put on the dashboard of our car, and showed to whoever we came in contact with--you know this well, adoptive families!! No videos or updates--just the bare bones-- but it was mystical and wonderful...and perfect for us. You see, the only other piece of information we received about Bruik was a faded copy of a form that was in Amharic and English translation. It had just a couple of informing details on it --no birth date-- but our little boy was healthy, details of how very tiny he was for his age, information that he was a true orphan-both parents deceased but that they had given consent before their deaths for him to be brought in to care--and something that immediately confirmed that this was our son--in the name space--out of all the names that could have been in that space--his given name was, BRUIK. His mama and papa in Ethiopia and his mommy and daddy in America ALL had chosen this special name for him. "Gift of God".
We have treasured our gift from God. How we are made for one another. What would we have been without his gentle ways? The way his pure heart just "gets" the Lord? The other day I cleaned his room. When he came back home and went up to his room he exclaimed, "Mommy, thank you!! You cleaned up my room with God's strength!"... Watching him play with his brothers and watch over his baby sister makes my heart both ache and beat at once. Often, when it is time for bed, after he is tickled by Daddy (a must!!) and we have prayed over him and spent time pondering how amazing the Lord is before he slips off to sleep, Richard will then bend over his ear, so perfectly nestled in all those soft curls, and whisper, "Bruik do you know who you are?" Bruik smiles and sleepily answers, "I am God's gift to you. or, "I am a gift." "Yes, you are God's gift to me" Daddy hugs back.
The other morning Bruik came downstairs very animated. "Mommy!!!DaaaDy (in his Ethiopian Accent)I had a dream!! After telling us his dream, he then told his brothers and sisters and shared about it for days--it must have been very real to him and very special--and we saw the fingerprints of God--and again got holy chill bumps as we listened to it. :)
"I had a dream. In it we were all in the living room. The whole family was there. Mommy and Daddy were there. In the middle of the floor was a big present. Daddy opened the present. He looked inside... And IT WAS ME!!!! I was the present!!!"
May God Bless you today as you love on your PRESENTS--or maybe long for a present from afar--blessings to you today. As for me, I'm off for another Bruiky snuggle!!

So Grateful,
Gillian

The Princess and The Knight :)

Princess Ava is having a marvelous time at half-day preschool!! She has amazing teachers!!!
They are in a castle unit now.
Such cutie pie friends!!!!
She is pictured with her friend that she talks about every day. :)
I'm hoping she's a gracious princess and not a bossy little thing!!!;) Looks like she definately has some ideas about block building!!
I love that her green bows match the dinosaur dress-up!!!!!!
Blessings to you!
Gillian

Happy Friday Y'all--Dancin' Jack and His Funny Nose

Friday's make us feel like dancing--you know?

Updates about the crazy and joy of large family coming up next week...


Love to you all!
Have a Blessed Weekend!!

Love,Gillian

God's Love Makes a Home

Over the weekend we met with royalty. You will not see the crown--yet but we met with one of God's precious servants, Asher, the founder of Bruik and Ava's orphanage. She was Bruik and Ava's Ethiopia mother while they were in the orphanage. Many hundreds of children in Germany, Sweden,Switzerland, and now America are now in loving families because of God's work through this one, precious lady. I am in awe of Asher's poise, beauty, truth, and love. To know that it was she that hand-picked us--her first American Adoptive Family (through AWAA) for her babies, Ava and Bruik both swells and amazes my heart. Its "unpackable". I have never been the same since the first time we met her two years ago at her orphanage. She shared many things that drove into my heart. As we said good-bye and I said we would keep in touch, she looked at me with piercing clarity, queenly wisdom and composure and spoke, "Yes, you must, it is your obligation." It was heavenly knowing Asher was arriving in our town to raise funds with many of our friends at AWAA for a gala here in Nashville. There are many stories to even share of her time there--but I need to fast forward you to our photo above. Bruik recently has been sharing more and more about his memories from the orphanage--it was a loving, family environment for him--although there was not material goods or even alot of food--there was no shortage of affection or love or teaching about what is true to God--these children understood they had been swept up out of hopelessness and death--"out of the ashes" as the Word would best state--and thanksgiving for this does not need to be taught. Bruik has had a journey with the stages of his transition to America but there has been no transition to understanding what a family is or what love is. The moment we arrived he saw love and he was home--no going back for a second!!
Now, 2 years later, he continues to be totally cosy as a Tucker--we even readopted him recently --he loves to say he is American. We wondered how he would feel at the reunion planned for families of children from Asher's orphanage here in Franklin. Would he "freak out"? Would he be afraid? As we first arrived home with them--he was terrified at Ethiopian restaurants etc...perhaps he was terrified that he might be sent back --to the dusty places of fear as a tiny boy...
As we arrived, much to our delight--Bruik RAN to embrace Asher. He RAN in the same way he had run into our arms as we met him in Africa. You see, now that God has settled him in, cosy in love here in the Tucker nest--he can now embrace without fear all the people that love him--all those that have poured into him. He RAN to Asher and was home--we were all at home, in love in that moment. To see Bruik's joy, his gentle smile as he hugged his surrogate Ethiopian "mommy" was a hug from our Father--a heavenly moment...
My mother's heart has been tortured the past 2 years and some months that we have "taken" him away from his homeland--away from his beautiful land and tender people. I addressed this to Asher on Sunday. Asher gave me a "are you kidding me" look "this is about LIFE, Gillian" do not forget it. There were no other options for these children. So many millions and no one to take them. They would have died. Now they can live, now they can eat...now they have this"--and she gestured to little Ethiopia children gathered to play on a swing set--laughing and playing together--the princes and princesses--the joy and treasure of each of their families. Oh, my. Love an orphan -- care, nurture, befriend, even adopt--your heart will be filled to over-flowing--I promise!!

Blessings,

Gillian

Stirrings of the Sweetest name ...

Themes--as a past English major I truly appreciate that God would speak to us often enough in themes. Lately He has had MUCH to say in my life about returning, arising, awakening. Like this verse:

"Wake up O Sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on You."
Be very careful then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

Ephesians 5:14-16


These songs would better speak my heart than my little ole words--they would be a wonderful prayer. Enjoy! --Make sure you pause/turn off my music at the bottom of this page to hear the music. May the ears of our hearts be opened...


"When I Speak Your Name"
by Gateway Worship | from the album Wake Up The World:


VERSE 1
Jesus, the most beautiful name of all names
Jesus, the only name that brings healing and strength
When I speak Your Name, mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your Name, darkness flees, it has no hold on me



CHORUS
Jesus, the most beautiful name that I know
You’re the exalt- ed One
Jesus, You have the power alone
You lift the lone- ly one, Je- sus



VERSE 2
Jesus, the most wonderful name of all names
Jesus, the only name that brings freedom and hope
When I speak Your Name, mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your Name, darkness flees, it has no hold on me



(1st ending)
You lift the lone- ly one
(Repeat Chorus)



(2nd ending)
You lift the lone- ly one, Je- sus



CHORUS 2
Be exalted, be exalted, be exalted higher and higher
Be exalted, be exalted, be exalted higher and higher




Praise God!

~and~


Do It Lord by Tommy Walker

I see your glory, covering the earth Lord
Just as the waters, covering the sea
I see the millions, coming to salvation
I see revival, fire in the land
I see the lost, nameless ones remembered
I see the widows, shouting out your praise
I see the friendless, loved and cele brated
Orphans fullfilling Lord, your calling on their lives

Do It Lord, do it lord
Do it Lord we are praying
Do it Lord, do it
That your glory may be seen

I see forgiveness over taking hatred
Pride and prejudice, now giving way to love
I see depression replaced with joy and gladness
And Satan's lies, now bowing to the truth

Do It Lord, do it lord
Do it Lord we are praying
Do it Lord, do it!
That your glory may be seen

This is our prayer oh God
This is our desperate cry
In these days that were living now
Let your kingdom come
Let your will be done

I see the brokeness of families, brought to wholeness
I see the prodigals, running home to you
Father's hearts, now turning toward their children
And the children's hearts, turning toward the fathers
I see your Church, all rising up in power
Laying down their lives in unity and love
I hear the sound of every tribe and nation
Giving glory to Jesus Christ the Son


Be exalted, be exalted, be exalted higher and higher
Be exalted, be exalted, be exalted higher and higher



Love in our sweet Jesus' name,

Gillian

Beach Blessings

12 cousins and family enjoying Mimi and Grandpa Tucker at Hilton Head Island--what a fun, sweet week :) Thank you, Mimi and Grandpa!! We mostly enjoyed Uncle Ken's worship on his guitar, long talks, bike rides,watching little boys with sticks,shovels, and sand, ocean life, little girl giggles, corporate family prayers, and being gathered together for fellowship for a week. Simple things, deep blessings, God's ministering hand among us all...

Blessings to you!
Love, Gillian