14 Days!!!

Finally...after the months of waiting to see our children...it's "almost" here. Two more weeks!!! Please pray for Phoebe & I because we have not been away from each for a week since she came home. I know she'll have a blast with her cousins in Florida although I am a "little" concerned about her going to the beach for the first time without me because I know that she has "NO FEAR." The packing has started & I'm really getting excited!

LIGHTEN UP!

I figured after the day I had yesterday I needed to lighten up today. These are pictures that I took yesterday when Phoebe decided that she needed to make me laugh...she succeeded!

I WANT TO SCREAM!!!

I'm trying very hard not to have a melt down right now! The first time I submitted the I-600a's for the girls I got them returned because they no longer accept personal checks for payment but on their web site did not say that. So I spent almost $40 express mailing them documents when it should have only cost $17 something...not to mention the extra "wasted" time period.

We had just received our I-171h letters for the girls when we decided to adopt Caleb. So I called the person at DHS who is in charge of those things & she said to do "such & such." So I immediately did "such & such." Today I walk out to the mail box & there was a large envelope from DHS & I already knew that meant trouble. And sure enough, the same person who returned my documents the first time, who is not the same person you talk to on the phone when you call, returned my documents again & said I needed to do "this & that." My blood pressure shot up at least a gazillion points! So I calmly called the lady at DHS who I need to speak to & of course I got a voice mail as usual. So now I am waiting for her return call while I try to take slow, deep breaths. Please pray for me & EVERYONE involved in this! Thanks!

Can't wait!!!

to see my children in person instead of looking at their pictures on the wall! 17 more days!!!

Graduation Gown...

I had to do some cleaning & organizing this weekend to complete the transfer of our bedroom things from our previous bedroom to our "new" bedroom. One of the things I did was to go through my Hope Chest that my mother bought me as my high school graduation gift. I was amazed at all the things I had thrown in there over the years. There was an assortment of graduation gowns...my high school gown, my two college gowns, & two of Randy's college gowns. We decided to trash all of them except for Randy's sash & hat from his Master's degree graduation but before I threw them out Phoebe decided to model my high school gown. Pretty hugh? :o)

Rice Crispy Treats!

Phoebe really likes helping out in the kitchen & like me...she loves to bake. She has helped me bake cookies, cakes, rolls, & make home made candy. Today was our first time at making rice crispy treats together & as you can see in the pictures...I think she really enjoyed her self!

Please Pray...

that we get Caleb's paper work completed before we leave on July 13th. If we don't get the I 171h addendum before we leave we will not be able to keep our DHS appointment in Haiti that was previously scheduled to file the girls I 600 & we really need to keep it for a couple of reasons: 1) it will slow down the process even more if we have to wait 2) either Randy or I would have to make another trip to Haiti soon to file the paper work...something that would not be a good thing at this time. Thanks for your prayers!

Cali

Meet Cali...our newest addition to the family. She's a very young (not really weaned yet) kitten that a friend of ours found on the golf course that she works at. She couldn't keep it because her mom & sister are really allergic to cats. I'm "technically" allergic to cats & dogs but that doesn't stop me :o) So now we have a kitten to go along with our 4 year old cat who is afraid of Cali & our soon to be 12 year old cat that hisses at her.

Cliff...

is a very sweet & precious man who suffered a severe stroke when he was 46 or 47. It's been several years since his stroke & he's getting "tired." Since his stroke he has been basically paralyzed from the neck down, has a trach for him to breath, & get's tube feedings for nourishment since he can't eat without choking. He's been in & out of hospitals since his stroke with pnuemonia & various other infections. His amazing & faithful wife has taken care of him around the clock at home when he's not in the hospital or rehab center. She turns or repositions him every 2 hours except at night when she lets him sleep for 3-4 hrs at a time before turning him.
They are an amazing couple. They love the Lord.

Cliff can see the toll that his constant care is taking on his wife. Nursing homes aren't an option (long story). A few months ago he started telling his wife that he's "tired" & just wants to go home to Jesus. About a month ago he told her that he will be going "home" in July. As a nurse I've seen many times a person say "it's their time & they are going home soon" & then they do. I don't know what God's will is for Cliff at this time but I am praying that God's will be done & if he is to be called "home" soon that he would go quickly & without pain.

This is a man trapped in his body. His mind is sharp as a tack. He is totally aware of himself & his surroundings...which makes this even more sad. But even so, he continues to focus on others & not himself. Today is my 3rd day of fasting. Monday my mother fasted with me. Yesterday my husband fasted with me. Today Cliff is fasting with me. He normally fasts on Wednesdays as a gift to the Lord & to draw closer to him. I asked my mom if she would ask him to fast with me today & "stand" in prayer with each other. He's is praying for me & I for him. Praise God to whom all blessings flow!

Vivid Dream...

I had a very vivid dream...you know the ones that are so "real" you think it's really happening. I was at the orphanage & it was time for Randy & I to return home. We were saying good bye & Samara was crying & hugging me & wouldn't let go. My stomach was in knots & it felt like my heart had been ripped in two pieces.

One month old...

as of today. Our precious baby boy is one month old. We love you Caleb!!!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!

Praying & Fasting...

Ever since I felt that we would adopt a 3rd child I have been praying for God to provide us with the finanical resources to do so. Now that we are in the process of adopting this child we need to have the money in our hands to pay for the adoption expenses. Today I will start a journey in ferverent prayer to ask for God's guidance & provision regarding this. Monday I will fast for a period of time as well. I would like to ask for your prayers during this time not only to sustain me through the fasting but for clear guidance & peace regarding the finances.
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

And then there were four...

I know this isn't the best picture in the world but it's the only one I have right now. I would like to introduce you to our 4th child...Caleb Andrew! If I gave you the long version of this story this post would be a mile long so you're going to have to settle for the short version which is I started feeling led by God to adopt a baby boy back in March. We had actually prayed about another child but Randy said he wasn't feeling led to adopt that child at this time. Then came Caleb...a precious baby boy that was taken to the orphanage at 10 days old. He didn't have a name so the Orphanage House Manager named him Caleb. The same name that we have had on "hold" for a boy since Jonathan Marshall died in 2001. This caught Randy's attention & we began to pray about it. After prayer & several "interesting" confirmations, we asked the orphanage permission to adopt a third child. We were granted permission yesterday & now we begin the journey to bring Caleb home. Please keep him & all of our family in prayer as we begin this journey. Thanks! And...no...he won't be wearing pink when he gets home!

Catching lightening bugs with Daddy...

Walking around naked & barefoot...

No...not me! Thank goodness! I'm in the book of Isaiah right now. Isaiah is a tough book of the Bible for me to read. This morning I read the very short chapter 20. When I first looked at it I thought to myself, "This is really short...it won't take long at all to read it & then refer to my footnotes on it." Oh, boy I was wrong! I was stuck on verse 2 for a long time. "the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, "Take off all of your clothes, including your sandals." Isaiah did as he was told & walked around naked & barefoot."
I'm like, "You're kidding me right???" Why in the world would God tell him to do that? At first I thought he did it just once in front of the people to prove a point but no...read verse 3 which says, "Then the Lord said, "My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked & barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign-a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt & Ethiopia."
Three years??? He walked around naked & barefoot for three years! Why??? Because God told him to!
This is what my footnotes say about those verses (from the NLT Life Application Study Bible):
God's command to Isaiah to walk about naked for three years was a humiliating experience. God was using Isaiah to demonstrate the humiliation that Egypt & Ethiopia would experience at the hands of Assyria. But the message was really for Judah: Don't put your trust in foreign governments, or your will experience this kind of shame & humiliation from your captors.
It goes on to say:
God asked Isaiah to do something that seemed shameful & illogical. At times, God may ask us to do things we don't understand. We must obey God in complete faith, for he will never ask us to do something wrong.
Wow!!! That's a lot of "meat" from such a short chapter. And like most times when I read the Bible...it's very timely for my current circumstances. Walking in humility & faith...how am I doing at it? Why is it so hard to do? That's a lot of "meat" to chew on.

30 Days...

WhoooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooooo! Thirty more days until I get to meet my beautiful Haitian children!!! Thirty more days until I get to hold them in my arms. Thirty more days until I get to wipe the snot away from their noses. I can't wait!

The Voice of Truth...

"I know very well how foolilsh the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy human wisdom & discard their most brilliant ideas." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, & the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish & has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe. God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, & the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews & Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God & the wonderful wisdom of God. This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, & God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

"I have plenty to boast about & would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life & my message, even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me & keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses & with insults, hardships, persecutions, & calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

One of my favorite Casting Crowns songs is "Voice of Truth" which is based on the above Scripture verses. I have been listening to it a lot lately because I need the reminder. I am easily distracted right now & need a constant reminder to focus on Jesus & not all the waves crashing around me as I attempt to get out of the boat.

"Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name & they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before & failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time & time again, "Boy,(or girl) you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all of the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen & believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling & a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name & he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before & failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time & time again, "Boy (or girl) you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop & listen to the sound of Jesus singing over me
I will choose to listen & believe the voice of truth. I will listen & believe. Jesus you are the voice of truth.

Most of us...

This is a family picture from Randy's mother's 70th birthday party yesterday. Six of the seven children were there but unfortunately Randy's brother Lynn was "hacked off" in the pictures...sorry Lynn!

Gone...

We're heading to MO this morning to celebrate Randy's mother's 70th birthday. We'll be back Monday. Have a great weekend!

For Jordyn...

Randy took some more flower pictures last night & I thought of you Jordyn.

Celebrating

Here's Phoebe celebrating my birthday. We had a very nice evening. No melt downs although she was a little fussy at bedtime but that's par for the course.

Happy Birthday to me!

My birthday started out on a great note. The sun is shining & there is a cool breeze blowing. My wonderful husband rolled over as he woke up this morning & wished me a Happy Birthday. We had a nice breakfast & then like every other "work" day morning we did a devotion together. Guess what it was about...if you guessed "growing old"...you're right! Here it is from Max Lucado's "Grace for the Moment" book.

"The Oldest & the Choicest"
"Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you." Isaiah 46:4

Growing old can be dangerous. The trail is treacherous & the pitfalls are many. One is wise to be prepared. You know it's coming. It's not like God kept the process a secret. It's not like you are blazing a trail as you grow older. It's not as if no one has ever done it before. Look around you. You have ample opportunity to prepare & ample case studies to consider. If growing old catches you by surprise, don't blame God. He gave you plenty of warning. He also gave you plenty of advice.

Your last chapter can be your best. Your final song can be your greatest. It could be that all of your life has prepared you for a grand exit. God's oldest have always been among his choicest.

BE STILL...

"Be still & know that I am God." I don't have a problem with the "know that I am God" part. I have a problem with the "be still" part. How do we make ourselves be still? I'm still trying to figure that one out but I figured if Shakira can be still & I know how hard it is for her...than I can too!

Cook Out Pictures

My friend Kristina took some pictures of the kids at our cook out Saturday.

Can you believe it???

I had this AWESOME birthday party tonight with my friends...my neighbors across the street, people from my church, & all the area 3 A's families except for Don & Teresa's (they were driving home from their vacation) & I somehow "forgot" to take pictures! How in the world did that happen??? And I don't think anyone else took pictures either...drats!!!

Everyone needs a grass skirt!

How to eat an ice cream cone...