I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas and for those who were and are hurting that you felt the comfort of Jesus in some way shape or form.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Photo Recap
Our Christmas was very Full and blessed. We were super busy for 6 straight days. So here is a few of the many photos I took of our Christmas.
I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas and for those who were and are hurting that you felt the comfort of Jesus in some way shape or form.
I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas and for those who were and are hurting that you felt the comfort of Jesus in some way shape or form.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Merry Christmas!
So I have been MIA here for awhile in blog world, but sickness upon sickness has been hitting our home, but we look forward to this Christmas season with much Joy!
I have new decorations on my tree this year, part of my Christmas present from the In-Love's. I now own PLASTIC ornaments. We very much needed them this year due to our 19 month old busy boy! He loves balls, and I knew with our wood floors and the exploration he does with things lately I would have many broken ornaments. So now when quick fingers plucks these off the tree and throws them; no harm done! And let me tell you he is very quick about it too!
EJ loved helping hang the ornaments this year too, and it was fun for all three of us!
And here is my attempt to get a pic of the kids in front of the tree. This first one EJ was trying to hold on to Mo as he was walking towards me to grab the camera. So then we decided to put him on his scooter thing to see if he would stay put. Oh well, better luck next time!
My family and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! May you feel God's blessings all around you.
I have new decorations on my tree this year, part of my Christmas present from the In-Love's. I now own PLASTIC ornaments. We very much needed them this year due to our 19 month old busy boy! He loves balls, and I knew with our wood floors and the exploration he does with things lately I would have many broken ornaments. So now when quick fingers plucks these off the tree and throws them; no harm done! And let me tell you he is very quick about it too!
EJ loved helping hang the ornaments this year too, and it was fun for all three of us!
And here is my attempt to get a pic of the kids in front of the tree. This first one EJ was trying to hold on to Mo as he was walking towards me to grab the camera. So then we decided to put him on his scooter thing to see if he would stay put. Oh well, better luck next time!
My family and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! May you feel God's blessings all around you.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
For The Men
Please read this link. It is a common thing, especially in the adoption world, but with caring for the orphan in general that typically the woman are the loudest most vocal on the subject. So to the men please click on this link and read away.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Depraved Indifference
Just watched this on another bloggy friends blog...Be touched, hear what God is asking you to do.
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
National Adoption Month, Article 3 & 4
So since I am behind I am posting on the last day of the month the last two articles I wrote for my church. They actually haven't been published yet due to zero space in the scroll, but will be soon.
I could say a lot more on adoption, but this is a good start! :)
Article 3
The 3rd part of this four part series is about the hard truths in adoption.
I would like to start with a verse that I read during a trial when we were adopting Mo.
1 Peter 4:12-13 A
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through... Instead, be very glad-for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering...
Before I dive into this verse let me start off with some very hard and tough truths in adoption.
Truth # 1- Most of us FEAR adoption; we fear the unknowns in adoption. You see our biological children do not typically start off their lives in loss and tragedy, or experience abuses we here in our safe homes and environment could ever fathom. So there are many of us who may have had the thought to adopt or foster that do not because we let this fear stop us.
Truth # 2- Adoption is sinfully expensive and that alone stops many Christian families from adopting.
Truth #3- My children have suffered huge losses. Loss of their birth family, loss of their culture, loss of their special mom’s who cared for them while we worked to bring them home. EJ wept the entire first night we had her, even in her sleep. She had lost her first mother at birth, and now her foster mother and everything she had known for almost 9 months in a matter of an hour. Our joy in the moment caused her great pain. Our son was malnourished when he came to the orphanage, his first mother had no job, no food, and he was starving to death. He was greatly loved by her and the many special mothers’ at his orphanage, and then came K and I. Who were we to EJ and Mo but another body that may be gone tomorrow?
Truth # 4- When you adopt there are people who will be against you. Perfect Strangers, friends, and yes even family.
Truth # 5- Adoption is a spiritual battle for these children’s lives. The first is stepping out and adopting them, and the second is a battle for our children’s souls. We teach them about God and Jesus, and Satan hates this and does everything he can to stop it.
You see our trials in adoption and with our children as they grow may have times of great suffering but it pails in comparison to the suffering of our Christ and he promises them life. Not life in their identity and where it lies, but life in their identity through him, through his love and saving grace.
Here is another verse to focus on until my final entry next week.
Exodus 22:22
“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.”
Article 4
The 4th part of this four part series is about God’s calling in our lives.
I have to say that I am extremely passionate about adoption and the orphan, and it is really hard for me to condense all of my passion in order to touch you with something that is a command from God.
A command might seem an odd choice of words to you, but it is in fact a command from God.
James 1:27 states this, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
If you noticed throughout this 4 part series I have quoted various scripture that commands us to care for the least of these. I have intentionally done this.
Now go back to James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.”
Did you read that? Do what the word says. Never mistake that God’s heart is for the orphan, the widow, and the lonely and he references them so much in scripture friends. Don’t wait another day. Do what God is telling you to do and care for them.
Adoption is not for the weak, and it is not the easy road, and it certainly is not the solution, or the only way to do what God commands us to do.
When I say it is not for the weak I say this because Satan HATES adoption. He hates that children are being placed in Christian homes and learning about the love and saving grace of our Father. He will do everything he can to stop us from doing such a thing. He will plague us with doubt, and he will bring crazy obstacles along the way, but GOD sees us through and he will bless what he ordains.
Adoption is a calling straight from God and it is not meant for everyone. Supporting families in this call may be how you are to help the orphan, or specifically praying for families adopting, or supporting one of the many organizations out there who do wonderful things for the least of these.
I will end with this. Our family believes we are here for a special purpose and that God has given us all we need to carry out his plans for us. We are all made for so much more than we realize and our hearts have to be ready to fight. Our time on earth is not for rest but it is to battle for the thing God wills us to do to bring glory to him. EJ and Mo are the children the Lord saw fit to bless us with and we cannot wait for what he has next.
I could say a lot more on adoption, but this is a good start! :)
Article 3
The 3rd part of this four part series is about the hard truths in adoption.
I would like to start with a verse that I read during a trial when we were adopting Mo.
1 Peter 4:12-13 A
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through... Instead, be very glad-for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering...
Before I dive into this verse let me start off with some very hard and tough truths in adoption.
Truth # 1- Most of us FEAR adoption; we fear the unknowns in adoption. You see our biological children do not typically start off their lives in loss and tragedy, or experience abuses we here in our safe homes and environment could ever fathom. So there are many of us who may have had the thought to adopt or foster that do not because we let this fear stop us.
Truth # 2- Adoption is sinfully expensive and that alone stops many Christian families from adopting.
Truth #3- My children have suffered huge losses. Loss of their birth family, loss of their culture, loss of their special mom’s who cared for them while we worked to bring them home. EJ wept the entire first night we had her, even in her sleep. She had lost her first mother at birth, and now her foster mother and everything she had known for almost 9 months in a matter of an hour. Our joy in the moment caused her great pain. Our son was malnourished when he came to the orphanage, his first mother had no job, no food, and he was starving to death. He was greatly loved by her and the many special mothers’ at his orphanage, and then came K and I. Who were we to EJ and Mo but another body that may be gone tomorrow?
Truth # 4- When you adopt there are people who will be against you. Perfect Strangers, friends, and yes even family.
Truth # 5- Adoption is a spiritual battle for these children’s lives. The first is stepping out and adopting them, and the second is a battle for our children’s souls. We teach them about God and Jesus, and Satan hates this and does everything he can to stop it.
You see our trials in adoption and with our children as they grow may have times of great suffering but it pails in comparison to the suffering of our Christ and he promises them life. Not life in their identity and where it lies, but life in their identity through him, through his love and saving grace.
Here is another verse to focus on until my final entry next week.
Exodus 22:22
“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.”
Article 4
The 4th part of this four part series is about God’s calling in our lives.
I have to say that I am extremely passionate about adoption and the orphan, and it is really hard for me to condense all of my passion in order to touch you with something that is a command from God.
A command might seem an odd choice of words to you, but it is in fact a command from God.
James 1:27 states this, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
If you noticed throughout this 4 part series I have quoted various scripture that commands us to care for the least of these. I have intentionally done this.
Now go back to James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.”
Did you read that? Do what the word says. Never mistake that God’s heart is for the orphan, the widow, and the lonely and he references them so much in scripture friends. Don’t wait another day. Do what God is telling you to do and care for them.
Adoption is not for the weak, and it is not the easy road, and it certainly is not the solution, or the only way to do what God commands us to do.
When I say it is not for the weak I say this because Satan HATES adoption. He hates that children are being placed in Christian homes and learning about the love and saving grace of our Father. He will do everything he can to stop us from doing such a thing. He will plague us with doubt, and he will bring crazy obstacles along the way, but GOD sees us through and he will bless what he ordains.
Adoption is a calling straight from God and it is not meant for everyone. Supporting families in this call may be how you are to help the orphan, or specifically praying for families adopting, or supporting one of the many organizations out there who do wonderful things for the least of these.
I will end with this. Our family believes we are here for a special purpose and that God has given us all we need to carry out his plans for us. We are all made for so much more than we realize and our hearts have to be ready to fight. Our time on earth is not for rest but it is to battle for the thing God wills us to do to bring glory to him. EJ and Mo are the children the Lord saw fit to bless us with and we cannot wait for what he has next.
Monday, November 29, 2010
VERY Thankful as always, but especially
again this year...
Mr. Mo gave us quite the scare on Sunday the 21st. He had a fever and it was pretty low grade, but started to rise in the early afternoon. I had checked it at about 101.8 or something and not five minutes later it was up to 102.5. So I gave him some medicine and sat down with him and all of a sudden he started seizing. At first I just stared at him thinking is he really doing what I think, but I quickly realized yes and had K dial 911.
So Mo and I took our first ambulance ride and w/in a minute or so they cooled him down and he stopped seizing. Thank you God. We spent the rest of the day in the E.R. and he carried his fever for a few days, but is now doing very well.
We are so very thankful this did not turn into anything more serious.
We were recuperated by Thanksgiving, and Ms. EJ decided to break out in hives. I really think it was the stress of Mo's situation. She really was very worried about her little brother and she still has major anxiety when it comes to Dr.'s especially since it has only been a little over a year since she was in ICU. We are so thankful for her recovery as well.
Fast forward through holiday parties and the festival of lights parade to last night where we celebrated EJ's 3rd Forever Family Day. She received Tink and Vi and was so very super excited about them. First thing when she woke she had to go check on them because they slept in her desk drawer in her room. :)
Also note, my princess was adamant about wearing her M&M shirt with her Elmo Pants yesterday. I, of course, obliged because it was her day and really what is the harm.
I pray everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving this year.
Since the sickness' that reeked havoc in our home last week has me a little behind I will be posting my 3rd and 4th articles tomorrow for the finish of National Adoption Month.
Mr. Mo gave us quite the scare on Sunday the 21st. He had a fever and it was pretty low grade, but started to rise in the early afternoon. I had checked it at about 101.8 or something and not five minutes later it was up to 102.5. So I gave him some medicine and sat down with him and all of a sudden he started seizing. At first I just stared at him thinking is he really doing what I think, but I quickly realized yes and had K dial 911.
So Mo and I took our first ambulance ride and w/in a minute or so they cooled him down and he stopped seizing. Thank you God. We spent the rest of the day in the E.R. and he carried his fever for a few days, but is now doing very well.
We are so very thankful this did not turn into anything more serious.
We were recuperated by Thanksgiving, and Ms. EJ decided to break out in hives. I really think it was the stress of Mo's situation. She really was very worried about her little brother and she still has major anxiety when it comes to Dr.'s especially since it has only been a little over a year since she was in ICU. We are so thankful for her recovery as well.
Fast forward through holiday parties and the festival of lights parade to last night where we celebrated EJ's 3rd Forever Family Day. She received Tink and Vi and was so very super excited about them. First thing when she woke she had to go check on them because they slept in her desk drawer in her room. :)
Also note, my princess was adamant about wearing her M&M shirt with her Elmo Pants yesterday. I, of course, obliged because it was her day and really what is the harm.
I pray everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving this year.
Since the sickness' that reeked havoc in our home last week has me a little behind I will be posting my 3rd and 4th articles tomorrow for the finish of National Adoption Month.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Week 2 - National Adoption Month
So here is my second article for our church scroll that printed on Sunday and this was about our Mo.
In December of 2008 we submitted our pre-application to a wonderful agency called All God’s Children International to yet again begin the process of adopting, but this time from Ethiopia. This actually was not a quick and easy decision. You see when we decided it was time to start the adoption process again we thought we would go the domestic route and had all the paperwork and everything complete in order to do that, but God had a different plan. He began impressing Ethiopia on my heart and when I brought it up to K he wasn’t so sure and so he began to pray about it. God spoke to him as well and so we began the process to bring another child home.
The paperwork process was long and consuming as it was with EJ’s adoption, but more had been added since then even. Every adoption is different, but we were determined and we flew through this stage as quickly as possible.
By April of 2009 we had completed the paperwork and everything in between and we were officially on the waiting list with our agency in late April. We were #5 on the boy list and #26 on the girls list. Let me tell you how amazing these numbers are folks. Last I had heard was if we were to get on the lists now we are looking at the upper 90’s for the girls list and upper 60 or 70’s for the boys. Our Journey was a miracle from beginning to end as is every adoption journey.
In June of 2009 we received 2 different referrals that were not to be and they broke us. We couldn’t understand what God was doing, but the great thing about God’s plans is that he knows what we cannot see and we are to rest in that. Long story short we received the call about our son Mo on July 2, 2009.
God was moving big mountains friends. We had major timing issues that we could not believe were being moved. Typically Ethiopia closes in the month of August for the rain season and we feared having to wait that much longer to bring our little man home. Miraculously the courts stayed open longer that year, and we received a court date in August, passed court in August, and on September 4th, 2009 this Ma Ma was on a plane to pick up our 8lb 4 month old son in Africa!
Our process for Mo lasted only 9 months; this is so unbelievably short of a time in international adoption. We know that God wanted this little one home with us and he is so perfectly fit for our family too.
Please continue with us as I share more about adoptions next week.
Another verse to focus on:
Deuteronomy 10:18
“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.”
PICTURES
Also, I didn't get a chance to do it with my first article, but here are the first pictures we saw of EJ and Moses when we were called about them. Hard to believe they were once so tiny now!
EJ at around 2 weeks old
Moses at around 2 months old
In December of 2008 we submitted our pre-application to a wonderful agency called All God’s Children International to yet again begin the process of adopting, but this time from Ethiopia. This actually was not a quick and easy decision. You see when we decided it was time to start the adoption process again we thought we would go the domestic route and had all the paperwork and everything complete in order to do that, but God had a different plan. He began impressing Ethiopia on my heart and when I brought it up to K he wasn’t so sure and so he began to pray about it. God spoke to him as well and so we began the process to bring another child home.
The paperwork process was long and consuming as it was with EJ’s adoption, but more had been added since then even. Every adoption is different, but we were determined and we flew through this stage as quickly as possible.
By April of 2009 we had completed the paperwork and everything in between and we were officially on the waiting list with our agency in late April. We were #5 on the boy list and #26 on the girls list. Let me tell you how amazing these numbers are folks. Last I had heard was if we were to get on the lists now we are looking at the upper 90’s for the girls list and upper 60 or 70’s for the boys. Our Journey was a miracle from beginning to end as is every adoption journey.
In June of 2009 we received 2 different referrals that were not to be and they broke us. We couldn’t understand what God was doing, but the great thing about God’s plans is that he knows what we cannot see and we are to rest in that. Long story short we received the call about our son Mo on July 2, 2009.
God was moving big mountains friends. We had major timing issues that we could not believe were being moved. Typically Ethiopia closes in the month of August for the rain season and we feared having to wait that much longer to bring our little man home. Miraculously the courts stayed open longer that year, and we received a court date in August, passed court in August, and on September 4th, 2009 this Ma Ma was on a plane to pick up our 8lb 4 month old son in Africa!
Our process for Mo lasted only 9 months; this is so unbelievably short of a time in international adoption. We know that God wanted this little one home with us and he is so perfectly fit for our family too.
Please continue with us as I share more about adoptions next week.
Another verse to focus on:
Deuteronomy 10:18
“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.”
PICTURES
Also, I didn't get a chance to do it with my first article, but here are the first pictures we saw of EJ and Moses when we were called about them. Hard to believe they were once so tiny now!
EJ at around 2 weeks old
Moses at around 2 months old
Monday, November 8, 2010
Not Just Our THING
I will get to my title in a sec, but first I want to share that I did something a little out of my “norm”. I asked my Pastor if I could write something for our weekly newsletter and devotions, called the Scroll, for church. My something turned into four different articles over the next month in recognition of National Adoption month.
You might ask yourself how this is out of my “norm” when I sometimes write very personal things and feelings on my blog. The difference for me is I know some that read my blog, but there are a lot of people who read that I have no clue. So in my pea brain that means not that much exposure. For church, I know exactly who my audience is and that makes me feel a tad vulnerable, but at the same time I am excited for the things the Lord puts on my heart and I feel it is part of my mission to bring to light something that I feel is pushed to the side a lot, and that is the Orphan.
So my title today is something I or my husband has heard before and recently. For instance, that it is my hubby and I’s thing to adopt, and we could see why you are so passionate about it. Or, when we brought up the desire to adopt again and for me to be home with our growing broad and how we can do it, the comment was made to my hubby, "Well that’s your choice". Who in retrospect wished he would have said at the time, “No it is not our choice, but our responsibility.”
To go a step further the comments we have heard that aren't even made about us, but when I excitedly tell others about families I know adopting, and I receive the comment back, “What are they adopting for; they already have kids of their own.”
OH. MY. HEART.
I pray all the time to show grace and mercy in these situations and not let my passion for the orphan and the widow turn into anger over other’s ignorance, but rather I can use it as a teaching material to help bring to light what God clearly commands us to do. I will also say again that I am not saying God commands us all to adopt, but he clearly commands us to do something. So pray to him for what your something is.
Before I get too deep I will share with you my first article for church. I am just laying groundwork and briefly describing our adoption experiences, and my first one is about our daughter, EJ.
National Adoption Month, Week 1
My intent is not to have our story focus on tales of infertility or detail the years of trying to figure how adoption will play out for us, and what is God’s plan for us and children. I will say that we had no idea if we could ever conceive a child of our own, and we didn’t want to know because adoption has been on our hearts for a long time and we knew regardless if we conceived children God was calling us to adopt; we just didn’t know when, where, or how.
My husband K and I had been married for 10 years before our sweet daughter, our first born, came home with us forever from Guatemala.
In November of 2006 we began the journey to EJ. The mounds of paperwork gathering and approval began, and somewhere in this beginning stage of the adoption process we were told we had a girl and the next day we laid eyes on a precious picture of her at just 2 weeks old. It was at this beginning stage that we found out the child we had already conceived in our hearts finally had a face and a name, and the unconditional love we had for her was so intense. We couldn't’t wait to get this beautiful brown-eyed gift from God home!
Month after month we received updated pictures and medical reports and the process of waiting became so hard and scary, yet joyful and exciting at the same time. Guatemala was talking of law changes that were scary to parents waiting and these changes were going to be implemented at the end of the year 2007. We prayed God would lead us through before that change and he did big time! Time after time his plan came to light, and even when I thought we were going to get held up or even stopped in our process he showed me that it was all in his hands, a constant my husband kept repeating to me.
Jeremiah 29:11 states, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This verse became very near and dear to me during this wait to bring our EJ home.
November 29th, 2007 was our Forever Family Day with EJ who was not quite 9 months old yet. What a moment, what a day, what a time where love and joy filled every single inch of our hearts and souls. EJ was everything we expected and more and in just mere seconds our family was together.
Her story and our families story does not end here though and I ask that you continue to follow as I unfold our son Mo’s story and more on the hard joyous truths of adoption.
I ask that you focus on this verse until then.
Psalm 82: 3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
You might ask yourself how this is out of my “norm” when I sometimes write very personal things and feelings on my blog. The difference for me is I know some that read my blog, but there are a lot of people who read that I have no clue. So in my pea brain that means not that much exposure. For church, I know exactly who my audience is and that makes me feel a tad vulnerable, but at the same time I am excited for the things the Lord puts on my heart and I feel it is part of my mission to bring to light something that I feel is pushed to the side a lot, and that is the Orphan.
So my title today is something I or my husband has heard before and recently. For instance, that it is my hubby and I’s thing to adopt, and we could see why you are so passionate about it. Or, when we brought up the desire to adopt again and for me to be home with our growing broad and how we can do it, the comment was made to my hubby, "Well that’s your choice". Who in retrospect wished he would have said at the time, “No it is not our choice, but our responsibility.”
To go a step further the comments we have heard that aren't even made about us, but when I excitedly tell others about families I know adopting, and I receive the comment back, “What are they adopting for; they already have kids of their own.”
OH. MY. HEART.
I pray all the time to show grace and mercy in these situations and not let my passion for the orphan and the widow turn into anger over other’s ignorance, but rather I can use it as a teaching material to help bring to light what God clearly commands us to do. I will also say again that I am not saying God commands us all to adopt, but he clearly commands us to do something. So pray to him for what your something is.
Before I get too deep I will share with you my first article for church. I am just laying groundwork and briefly describing our adoption experiences, and my first one is about our daughter, EJ.
National Adoption Month, Week 1
My intent is not to have our story focus on tales of infertility or detail the years of trying to figure how adoption will play out for us, and what is God’s plan for us and children. I will say that we had no idea if we could ever conceive a child of our own, and we didn’t want to know because adoption has been on our hearts for a long time and we knew regardless if we conceived children God was calling us to adopt; we just didn’t know when, where, or how.
My husband K and I had been married for 10 years before our sweet daughter, our first born, came home with us forever from Guatemala.
In November of 2006 we began the journey to EJ. The mounds of paperwork gathering and approval began, and somewhere in this beginning stage of the adoption process we were told we had a girl and the next day we laid eyes on a precious picture of her at just 2 weeks old. It was at this beginning stage that we found out the child we had already conceived in our hearts finally had a face and a name, and the unconditional love we had for her was so intense. We couldn't’t wait to get this beautiful brown-eyed gift from God home!
Month after month we received updated pictures and medical reports and the process of waiting became so hard and scary, yet joyful and exciting at the same time. Guatemala was talking of law changes that were scary to parents waiting and these changes were going to be implemented at the end of the year 2007. We prayed God would lead us through before that change and he did big time! Time after time his plan came to light, and even when I thought we were going to get held up or even stopped in our process he showed me that it was all in his hands, a constant my husband kept repeating to me.
Jeremiah 29:11 states, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This verse became very near and dear to me during this wait to bring our EJ home.
November 29th, 2007 was our Forever Family Day with EJ who was not quite 9 months old yet. What a moment, what a day, what a time where love and joy filled every single inch of our hearts and souls. EJ was everything we expected and more and in just mere seconds our family was together.
Her story and our families story does not end here though and I ask that you continue to follow as I unfold our son Mo’s story and more on the hard joyous truths of adoption.
I ask that you focus on this verse until then.
Psalm 82: 3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
NOVEMBER IS HUGE!
...why you say??
It is National Adoption Month for starters!
I have a lot to say on this and plan to share more soon, when I can find the time, but please be aware and raise some awareness.
I have lots and lots of posts in my head, but not the time lately...I know you all miss my opinions! So hopefully more real soon!
And just for some cuteness...
I have tried many times throughout October to capture a pic of these two in their pumpkin shirts Grandma got them...this is the best I could get.
And last but not least,this handsome boy turns 18 months old today! Unbelievable. He really is attached to his blanket too, and loves to wave now and pick at his poor sister too!
Blessings to you all!
It is National Adoption Month for starters!
I have a lot to say on this and plan to share more soon, when I can find the time, but please be aware and raise some awareness.
I have lots and lots of posts in my head, but not the time lately...I know you all miss my opinions! So hopefully more real soon!
And just for some cuteness...
I have tried many times throughout October to capture a pic of these two in their pumpkin shirts Grandma got them...this is the best I could get.
And last but not least,this handsome boy turns 18 months old today! Unbelievable. He really is attached to his blanket too, and loves to wave now and pick at his poor sister too!
Blessings to you all!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Leaf Fun... Well Kind of Sort Of
Last Sunday was beautiful out so before the kids naps I thought we should go out and play in the leaves awhile. I was a little wrong because inbetween smiles it turned into melt down city for both kids. For some reason, they did not sleep well the night before, and well I paid for it and our leaf fun was cut short so we could have nap fun. I missed getting a pic of Mo having a moment, but wanted to share our EJ with you just so you don't ever think everything is always perfect in our home... :)
I can't even recall what she was upset about, but we went from the above pic to this pic...I call it the I want to smile, but am trying not to pic
...then to a full smile with the tears still hanging on
...and finally to this! yeah!
Meanwhile at some point during the yard fun Mr. Mo was completely engaged with this big leaf.
I really like this picture below and also wanted to point out the little play house they are going towards. This has been a very fun an unexpected blessing for the kids. This was not being used anymore by another family and they just gave it to us! Can you believe it...so very kind and the kids have loved it!
May you all have a blessed weekend and a melt down free one too! ;)
I can't even recall what she was upset about, but we went from the above pic to this pic...I call it the I want to smile, but am trying not to pic
...then to a full smile with the tears still hanging on
...and finally to this! yeah!
Meanwhile at some point during the yard fun Mr. Mo was completely engaged with this big leaf.
I really like this picture below and also wanted to point out the little play house they are going towards. This has been a very fun an unexpected blessing for the kids. This was not being used anymore by another family and they just gave it to us! Can you believe it...so very kind and the kids have loved it!
May you all have a blessed weekend and a melt down free one too! ;)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Amazing!
I found this on another blog family I love to follow and pray for and it just is absolutely amazing and convicting. Why aren't more doing this? Even when he did not have enough money for all the women and children he took them in, and God has provided!
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Siblings
I LOVE the bond that is forming between these two. It is beautiful, even when they are picking on one another.
My sweet girl has a fever today; please pray that she does not get worse. Thanks and blessings on your day!
My sweet girl has a fever today; please pray that she does not get worse. Thanks and blessings on your day!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Soak this in....
I apologize for posting so many videos lately, but this one is so truthful and the more I watch it the more I hear it.
I found this and the last one I posted on this amazing site for Bowen's Heart (Click on Bowen's). The lead singer for Sanctus Real is sharing his families journey for their son who was born not that long ago with a heart condition that requires surgeries and many things. They are pouring their heart's out for the world to see so we can give all the glory to God even in this current struggle. Bowen is a beautiful boy and I am praying and ask that you pray too.
Now on to the video.
I found this and the last one I posted on this amazing site for Bowen's Heart (Click on Bowen's). The lead singer for Sanctus Real is sharing his families journey for their son who was born not that long ago with a heart condition that requires surgeries and many things. They are pouring their heart's out for the world to see so we can give all the glory to God even in this current struggle. Bowen is a beautiful boy and I am praying and ask that you pray too.
Now on to the video.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Holy WOW!
This is the most beautiful redemption story and I am speachless.... I am against abortion, but if you weren't before how could you not be after hearing this???
God give joy through suffering and he uses the weak to teach the strong.
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God give joy through suffering and he uses the weak to teach the strong.
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
JESUS SAVES
So I may have mentioned this before, but music really speaks to me and gets me going and this song is one of my absolute fav's right now! Seriously I can't play it or sing it loud enough. Of course this only happens in my car on the way to and from work so if I look funny when you pass me you now know why...my own personal Carrie concerts...I am a rockin' mini van driving singing machine!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
So Much...
So much going on right now that I wouldn't know where to begin..I am in a turmoil like none other. Uncertainty, anticipation, worldly road blocks...you name it I am probably feeling it, BUT I feel God is working something huge for my family and I can only try to control my humanly weaknesses and doubts and fully hand it over to him.
So hopefully as some more time passes I can reveal some things I believe may happen, but for now some cute pics. :)
EJ had to put a band aid on her head when she saw Grandpa's on Sunday. She keeps us laughing and hopping all the time. My beautiful sweetie.
Mo is growing so quickly and is so dog gone cute I had to take a pic Sunday morning. Actually I tried taking pics of both kids before church, but EJ wasn't having it, and Mo would smile after the camera flashed...oh well next time!
Please keep praying for the things that are stirring in my heart and my husband's heart for our family and for our business. So many are praying and I am so very thankful. Please pray for our EJ tomorrow as she has an eye appt to check some things and well she still gets really worked up about Dr.'s since her ICU stay almost a year ago. Please also pray for my sister who has been battling issues for a few years now from her MS. She is in the hospital again today and has been throwing up for a couple months now. Please pray for the Dr.'s as they try and figure out what is going on.
Please let me know if I can pray for you today and blessings on your weekend coming soon friends!
So hopefully as some more time passes I can reveal some things I believe may happen, but for now some cute pics. :)
EJ had to put a band aid on her head when she saw Grandpa's on Sunday. She keeps us laughing and hopping all the time. My beautiful sweetie.
Mo is growing so quickly and is so dog gone cute I had to take a pic Sunday morning. Actually I tried taking pics of both kids before church, but EJ wasn't having it, and Mo would smile after the camera flashed...oh well next time!
Please keep praying for the things that are stirring in my heart and my husband's heart for our family and for our business. So many are praying and I am so very thankful. Please pray for our EJ tomorrow as she has an eye appt to check some things and well she still gets really worked up about Dr.'s since her ICU stay almost a year ago. Please also pray for my sister who has been battling issues for a few years now from her MS. She is in the hospital again today and has been throwing up for a couple months now. Please pray for the Dr.'s as they try and figure out what is going on.
Please let me know if I can pray for you today and blessings on your weekend coming soon friends!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Help Bring Tucker Home
Lauren over at living by faith has created a site called Poppie Lane. VERY CUTE STUFF FOLKS! All funds raised are to help in bringing their son Tucker home from Ethiopia.
Read my post from Monday if you need to be inspired on helping them out. :)
Click on the names of her blogs for the links.
Thanks for helping and God Bless your day!
Read my post from Monday if you need to be inspired on helping them out. :)
Click on the names of her blogs for the links.
Thanks for helping and God Bless your day!
Monday, September 13, 2010
James 1:27
James 1:27
This verse says it all. It really does. NO REALLY IT DOES.
This is a verse, if you are a “bloggy” like me that is referenced a lot by many fellow adoptees in blog land and they get it, and I get it, but do you get it?
First, before I dive into this let’s go here:
A heart breaking image, isn’t it? We all have seen images like this, and for the most part that is where they stay with a lot of us, myself once included. An image with no name, an image that we can store in the back of our minds for another day…
BUT, if you know me and my family, my children especially, then let’s bring that image to the forefront and put a name on it.
EJ
Mo
Now put there faces or the faces of others you know on the first picture and allow that to soak into the depths of your heart even more. Because that could have been them! What if we would have said No, not right now Lord. We aren't ready yet, we don't have the finances, we don't have the time, and etc...Now that heartbreaking image is a heartbreaking reality, right?!
Never mistake that God’s heart is for the orphan, the lonely, and the widow. He COMMANDS us to care for them.
Read James 1:27 below:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Now go back to James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.
The orphan and widow are referenced so much in scripture friends. Don’t wait for another day. Do what God is telling you to do and care for them.
Do you know how many times I have heard people say that we once thought we would adopt, BUT (insert a reason here, there are many)…. If God impresses it on your heart he will PROVIDE FOR IT no matter what. HE REALLY WILL!
Adoption is not for the weak, and it is not the easy road and it is not the solution or the only way to do what God commands us. When I say it is not for the weak I say this because Satan HATES adoption friends. He hates that children are being placed in Christian homes and learning about the love and saving grace of our Father. He will do everything he can to stop us from doing such a thing. He will plague us with doubt, he will bring crazy obstacles along the way, but GOD sees us through and he will bless what he ordains.
Adoption is a calling straight from God and it is not meant for everyone. Supporting families in this call may be how you are to help care for the orphan, or praying specifically for families adopting, or supporting one of the many organizations out there who do wonderful things for the orphan, the lonely, the hungry, and the widow.
There are so many more directions I could easily go with this post, so I am going to break it down more over time. I want to share the stories of our adoptions so far, mixed in with the famous, “We just can’t afford to adopt.” mentality of many (which we have said before we allowed God to lead),and also the struggle of having family or friends who do not support your adoption (my family faced this as well), and much more I hope.
And please Do not take me wrong, we are not all called to adopt, but we are all called to do something and you need to allow God to show you what that is; truth is he probably already has.
All in all, remember this, Scripture is our guide in life. If you aren’t diving into it and praying to God and speaking to God about it then you are missing out on many things God has in store. I am guilty of not getting in it and am striving to stop that today because I know that God has big things in store for my family and he is waiting on me to hear and obey his plan for that. I know Satan is trying to put a stop on that, but no matter what, I am not going to let him.
Also, as referenced above in scripture, we need to stop allowing the world to pollute us. We need to stop making our selves comfortable in our lifestyles and homes here on earth and start getting uncomfortable for God and what he has in store, because he has made our home, our resting place in heaven, but he wants us to do his work here before we go there. Our time of rest is not now folks, so let’s get to God’s work!
This verse says it all. It really does. NO REALLY IT DOES.
This is a verse, if you are a “bloggy” like me that is referenced a lot by many fellow adoptees in blog land and they get it, and I get it, but do you get it?
First, before I dive into this let’s go here:
A heart breaking image, isn’t it? We all have seen images like this, and for the most part that is where they stay with a lot of us, myself once included. An image with no name, an image that we can store in the back of our minds for another day…
BUT, if you know me and my family, my children especially, then let’s bring that image to the forefront and put a name on it.
EJ
Mo
Now put there faces or the faces of others you know on the first picture and allow that to soak into the depths of your heart even more. Because that could have been them! What if we would have said No, not right now Lord. We aren't ready yet, we don't have the finances, we don't have the time, and etc...Now that heartbreaking image is a heartbreaking reality, right?!
Never mistake that God’s heart is for the orphan, the lonely, and the widow. He COMMANDS us to care for them.
Read James 1:27 below:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Now go back to James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.
The orphan and widow are referenced so much in scripture friends. Don’t wait for another day. Do what God is telling you to do and care for them.
Do you know how many times I have heard people say that we once thought we would adopt, BUT (insert a reason here, there are many)…. If God impresses it on your heart he will PROVIDE FOR IT no matter what. HE REALLY WILL!
Adoption is not for the weak, and it is not the easy road and it is not the solution or the only way to do what God commands us. When I say it is not for the weak I say this because Satan HATES adoption friends. He hates that children are being placed in Christian homes and learning about the love and saving grace of our Father. He will do everything he can to stop us from doing such a thing. He will plague us with doubt, he will bring crazy obstacles along the way, but GOD sees us through and he will bless what he ordains.
Adoption is a calling straight from God and it is not meant for everyone. Supporting families in this call may be how you are to help care for the orphan, or praying specifically for families adopting, or supporting one of the many organizations out there who do wonderful things for the orphan, the lonely, the hungry, and the widow.
There are so many more directions I could easily go with this post, so I am going to break it down more over time. I want to share the stories of our adoptions so far, mixed in with the famous, “We just can’t afford to adopt.” mentality of many (which we have said before we allowed God to lead),and also the struggle of having family or friends who do not support your adoption (my family faced this as well), and much more I hope.
And please Do not take me wrong, we are not all called to adopt, but we are all called to do something and you need to allow God to show you what that is; truth is he probably already has.
All in all, remember this, Scripture is our guide in life. If you aren’t diving into it and praying to God and speaking to God about it then you are missing out on many things God has in store. I am guilty of not getting in it and am striving to stop that today because I know that God has big things in store for my family and he is waiting on me to hear and obey his plan for that. I know Satan is trying to put a stop on that, but no matter what, I am not going to let him.
Also, as referenced above in scripture, we need to stop allowing the world to pollute us. We need to stop making our selves comfortable in our lifestyles and homes here on earth and start getting uncomfortable for God and what he has in store, because he has made our home, our resting place in heaven, but he wants us to do his work here before we go there. Our time of rest is not now folks, so let’s get to God’s work!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A Year Ago.....
Our family of four was finally together! Oh it was such an emotion filled moment! I missed my sweet girl and hubby so badly and was so excited to introduce them to little Mo. All I can recall is the tears just started flowing the minute I saw them, and I handed Mo to his Daddy and scooped my angel up.
I have so much to say about adoption and I am going to save that for another day (I know you can hardly wait, right?!) So soak in these pictures and stay tuned... :)
I have so much to say about adoption and I am going to save that for another day (I know you can hardly wait, right?!) So soak in these pictures and stay tuned... :)
Friday, September 10, 2010
What do you do with 5 Days off work?
I enjoyed it with the hubby, my kids, family, and friends...IT. WAS. WONDERFUL!
We went to the fair a couple times; Mo's first time. EJ LOVES THE FAIR. She is already asking when we can go again; how do you explain a year away to a 3 1/2 year old?
EJ was a little sad here because we couldn't find our friend with the horse to give her a ride; she gets a hat every year just for the occasion.
We just spent time at home playing too. We also had a baptism for our friends sweetie, but I failed to take pics...
This is what Mo does when you say "Touch Down!"..yeah Grandpa taught him this..because you know the hubby and I do not watch sports..(GASP, I know we are odd!)
Mmm Hmmm...EJ PRETENDING she fell on the floor..yep that's right
We went to the fair a couple times; Mo's first time. EJ LOVES THE FAIR. She is already asking when we can go again; how do you explain a year away to a 3 1/2 year old?
EJ was a little sad here because we couldn't find our friend with the horse to give her a ride; she gets a hat every year just for the occasion.
We just spent time at home playing too. We also had a baptism for our friends sweetie, but I failed to take pics...
This is what Mo does when you say "Touch Down!"..yeah Grandpa taught him this..because you know the hubby and I do not watch sports..(GASP, I know we are odd!)
Mmm Hmmm...EJ PRETENDING she fell on the floor..yep that's right
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