Our Tr-IU-mphant News!

Drum roll please.......


Zade was accepted into the 2013 incoming class of Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM)!

As many of you know, this has been quite a journey for us. 

Last year Zade interviewed with IUSM and was placed on the wait list.

So, we waited.

We put off making definitive plans due to the possibility that we'd need to quickly pack-up and head to one of IUSM's nine campuses. Our apartment lease was up in July and not having received a definitive yay or nay from IUSM we couldn't commit to signing another year lease. The daily fee to remain in our apartment past the set move-out date was outrageous. Since paying that was not happening we boxed up our little place and moved to a home we could rent month-to-month. Not until the semester began did we receive the final "no" regarding acceptance (and move to a more permanent home). By then a no was expected but nonetheless disheartening.

But if at first you don't succeed....

 Zade interviewed again with IUSM last September. The Admissions Committee mails out acceptance letters on the 15th of every month. October 16th, 17th, and 18th passed and then...a week.

Nothing.

To be honest, we were discouraged. But we knew God would lead us.

We prayed Psalm 32: 3

 "For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;" 

and, we waited.

Then!

Zade came home from work on the 22nd astonished to discover a large white packet in the mailbox bearing the IUSM emblem and a yellow forwarding sticker!

"Dear Mr. Shaw: Congratulations! The Admissions Committee of Indiana University School of Medicine has voted to offer you a place in the 2013 entering class...."

The packet arrived a week late due to having been mailed to our old address (even though our new address had been submitted).

So, that is our trIUmphant news! Thank you to all who have supported us on this journey. We are thrilled and so thankful to God for this upcoming chapter in our lives! 

Costumes

The day after Halloween. 

Crumpled costumes lie in piles round houses everywhere. 

Here are a few, in all their glory....

Christine as Mrs. Potts, Debbie as Cogsworth, Courtney as Belle, and Rebekah as Lumiere

Me as Anastasia and Zade as Dimitri 


Lauren and her guy as Wayne and Garth

Melody and Jake as French and Texas Toast

Halloween Costume Reader Submission

Yesterday and today I've been piecing together a Halloween costume for Zade and I. 

There is something so nostalgic about imagining-up a Halloween costume as the weather turns chilly.

When my siblings and I were children, our parents ruled that we could choose to dress up as anything we wanted for Halloween - but nothing scary. Ha! Like that was going to be an issue. 

I wanted to be....

a princess (of course)
a pumpkin
a Native American
Liesel (from the Sound of Music)
"a woman going to a ball" (my nine year old self felt gorgeous)
an artist
a hippie
 a Scottish lass
a peasant (definitely a downgrade from princess)
Jane (of Disney's Tarzan)
Heidi
 the "State of Indiana" (seriously)
and last year....

Hobbes (from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes)!


Do you have a favorite costume? If so, share it! 

E-mail me a picture at bethany.joy.shaw@gmail.com by October 30th and I'll post it on this blog on Halloween!

Thailand {Waves}



During our stay in Koh Chang, Thailand we settled a few nights beside these cliffs.

The sky gray, the expanse harsh, and the sea devouring.

A ruthless kind of beauty. 

gif criar

These pictures now bring to mind the Psalmists sorrowful cry:

"Deep calls to deep
   in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me."- Psalm 42:7


Isn't that how life is sometimes? Ruthless wave upon wave sweeping over us. 

But - as we stand upon the Rock - we are not overcome. 
"Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me? 
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, 
my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:11


and with this hope we confidently stand.

Bethany + Jamaica



Over the last few weeks I have been mailing out a response card telling about my July trip to Jamaica. I thought I'd share a modified version of that card with all of you!


A little over two months ago I was swaying to the rhythm of the Jamaican island life, every day surrounded by the bright, eager faces of the children of New Hope Orphanage and Windsor Lodge Children's Home.  


As I reflect on my trip, certain children stand out as being especially dear to my heart. Would you join me in praying for these precious little ones?  


See this boy upside-down in my arms? That's Jonathan. Born with various disabilities he has not yet gained the ability to talk. I happily was matched to be his "buddy" the day we took the children of New Hope Orphanage to the pool. He is a notorious wanderer, so we just plodded along together all afternoon like two curious ducklings. What never got old was throwing leaves into the pool's "waterfall;" he'd laugh with delight and clap his hands with my every "1...2...3...throw!"

Please pray that Jonathan will be adopted by a family who will care for him and teach him how Jesus delights over him. 


See this young girl wearing the striped blue shirt...the one who is doing a very poor job of trying not to smile? That's Kareem. Isn't she stunning? She is so full of life and beauty she almost seems to shine. However, at different points during our stay I found her withdrawn from the group with a hard, despondent look clouding her face. The cause of her sadness I will never know for when asked questions she merely stared lifelessly ahead; at one point a slow, heartbreakingly sad tear slid down her face. Her silence would not be broken, so I just sat quietly with my arm around her until she was ready to rejoin the group.
Please pray for sweet Kareem. Pray that the Holy Spirit would mend the wounds of her heart and make her tender towards the Father. 


Now, see this sweet faced boy asleep, thumb-in-mouth, on my lap? That's Junior. Oh, how I love him! My favorite memory in Jamaica was sitting beside him on a merry-go-round as we sang "two little blackbirds sitting on a wall" whilst he skillfully drummed out the beat. He's lived at Windsor less then a year and has been making some poor decisions. I know this because he wasn't allowed to go to the beach with us one day due to getting into serious trouble at school. My eyes tear up as I think of him.

Please pray that the music in Junior's soul would be turned heavenward in worship. Pray also that he will respect his teachers and that God would surround him with people who will love him.





Hey Stephen Movie Premiere Grad Party

{Hey Stephen Movie Poster}

The thought of hosting a movie premiere graduation party in old Hollywood theme originated from our decision to customize Taylor Swift's song Hey Stephen into a film honoring our little brother by the same name.

The evening of the party, guests arrived in "old Hollywood" dress and celebrated by sipping (sparkling) champagne from crystal glasses, sampling sumptuous but dainty hors d'oeuvres (my favorite being petite shortbread cookies with lemon custard and blueberries), and loosing their shirts at poker and cards (as only high rolling high schoolers can).

Our film "Hey Stephen" was projected onto a screen and featured consecutively throughout the evening.

I am more than a little obsessed with my vintage dream of a dress (note spinning picture), which some thoughtful gals from the youth ministry let me borrow!


And now, enjoy this feature presentation of "Hey Stephen"