I have really been feeling "spiritually detached" lately. So yesterday morning I got on my knees & had a heart to heart talk with God. I was surprised by what he "told" me. I have known it all along but I didn't want to admit it. I think we all have something about ourselves that we try to hide or ignore so we won't have to deal with it because we either think it's too ugly to reveal or we're just so comfortable with it we don't know how to act without it.
For those of you who know me really well & know about my childhood, you know that I didn't have an easy one. I am what one calls a "survivor." I have never used that as an excuse for my behavior, however, I can see how it has "bent" me into the very independent, self sufficient person that I think I am. So God was "talking" to me yesterday about my "self sufficiency". He knows that deep down I know that it's just illusion because I know that without Him I am nothing...and I have nothing. But for some reason I still keep living the illusion that I am self sufficient. He told me it's a pride issue. Yuck! I despise that word being associated with me! But I know He's right. Not that I want to be self sufficient so I can say, "Look at me...I am "Miss Independent" & I don't need anyone...but more because I don't like needing help or having to ask for it. It's not something I'm good at or comfortable with.
So as I was "chewing" on all of this yesterday I got a phone call from a friend. She must have had heard my conversation with God because she "called me on the carpet" about the same thing. I told her that I realize I need help in getting some things in preparing to bring our children home but I didn't want to ask anyone for help. So after I listened to her I agreed that I would post on my blog a list of things we could use to help us with that. She suggested that I actually register at places like you would for a baby shower. Although I am really uncomfortable with this idea I am going to do it. I will post the list on my blog after I compile it.
Whew!!! It was really hard to type this post...so glad it's finished!!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Take a Look!
If you are a family member or far away friend that just looks at my blog & none of the others listed on my blog list...please take a moment to scroll down the list to "Kristina" & check out her post for Saturday August 25th. It's really good & shows how our Haitian community developed. Thanks!
Church Picnic...
Today was our annual church picnic. The last two years I have been in charge of it & this year will be my last one for awhile as I step down as Family Life Commisioner in November to prepare for getting my three wonderful Haitian children. We were blessed with a beautiful day, good food, & a good turn out. Thanks to all that came!
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
Update on the Date...
Several of you have asked me for more information regarding our adoption fundraiser concert that is slated for Friday Sept. 14th at my church. I just heard from my friend & things are "up in the air" right now. The band they want to have will not commit unless there is a backup band due to reasons that may cause a hasty exit by the leader of the band. (Her husband is on a transplant waiting list) They contacted other bands about being back up &/or playing as well & they have said, "Yeah, sure that sounds great" & then they never get back to them which is probably their way of saying, "We really don't want to do it." So please lift this up in prayer. If it's God's will for this happen I know He will provide the resources to make it happen. If you or anyone you know is a member of a Christian music band & would be willing to help out please let me know & I can pass the information on to my friends who are organizing this. Thanks for your prayers & support!
Thank you my friend!
Some of you may have remember from a few posts ago that I had mentioned that I would like to have a glider rocker for Caleb's room. I did not mention that to see if some one would get one for me but instead I was just "talking out loud" about something I wanted & had every intention to go bargain shopping & try to find one.
Enter one of my dear friends...she came up to me the other day & said, "I have a glider rocker chair you can have." I'm like, "Really? That's awesome!" as I'm trying to search my brain how she knew I wanted one...then I remember mentioning it on a blog post.
Thank you my friend for the chair...but I thank you most of all for you being you. I am honored to call you my friend! I would like to have been able to post a picture of her & tell you her name but I won't do that. She would be "horrified" if I did. She is one of the most humble people I have ever met. Not to mention caring, kind, sensitive, gentle & strong (not too many of us can pull that off!), discerning, giving, intelligent, & beautiful on the inside & out. She is a mighty servant of the Lord & I strive to be more like her which is more like Jesus.
I know you read my blog but don't comment & that's ok. I hope I didn't make you blush too much :o) Love ya!
Enter one of my dear friends...she came up to me the other day & said, "I have a glider rocker chair you can have." I'm like, "Really? That's awesome!" as I'm trying to search my brain how she knew I wanted one...then I remember mentioning it on a blog post.
Thank you my friend for the chair...but I thank you most of all for you being you. I am honored to call you my friend! I would like to have been able to post a picture of her & tell you her name but I won't do that. She would be "horrified" if I did. She is one of the most humble people I have ever met. Not to mention caring, kind, sensitive, gentle & strong (not too many of us can pull that off!), discerning, giving, intelligent, & beautiful on the inside & out. She is a mighty servant of the Lord & I strive to be more like her which is more like Jesus.
I know you read my blog but don't comment & that's ok. I hope I didn't make you blush too much :o) Love ya!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Perserverance...
I've been thinking about it a lot lately for many reasons. God has really been "speaking" to me lately in my devotion times. This devotion was really encouraging to me & I hope it is to you as well. It's from "Quiet Moments With God" for Couples by Honor Books.
"The story is told of a diamond prospector in Venezuela named Rafael Solano. He was one of many impoverished natives & fortune seekers who came to sift through the rocks of a dried up riverbed reputed to have diamonds. No one, however, had any luck for some time in finding any diamonds in the sand & pebbles. One by one, those who came left the site-their dreams shattered, & their bodies drained.
Discouraged & exhausted, Solano had just about decided it was time for him to give up too. He had nothing to show for months of hard work. Then he stooped down one last time & scooped up a handful of pebbles, if only so he could say he had personally inspected every pebble in his claim. From the pebbles in his hand, he pulled out one that seemed a little different. He weighed it in his other hand. It seemed heavy. He measured it & weighed it on a scale. Could it be?
Sure enough, Solano had found a diamond in the rough! New York jewerly dealer Harry Winston paid Solano $200,000 for that stone. When it was cut & polished, it became known as the Liberator, & it is considered the largest & purest unmined diamond in the world.
You may have been plugging away at a project for weeks, even months or years, without seeing much progress. Today may be the day. Don't give up! The Scriptures are filled with examples of men & women who, on the verge of disaster or failure, experienced God's creative work in their lives. Remind yourself of the following things:
*** God's Word is true.
*** God can part the sea.
*** God can heal the incurable.
*** God can provide water from a rock & manna from the heavens.
*** God can conquer your enemies.
*** God can still deliver from the fiery furnace & the lion's den.
Persevere in what He has asked you to do today because your rewards will be more than you can think or imagine!"
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world." Revelation 3:10
Keep on keeping on!!! :o)
"The story is told of a diamond prospector in Venezuela named Rafael Solano. He was one of many impoverished natives & fortune seekers who came to sift through the rocks of a dried up riverbed reputed to have diamonds. No one, however, had any luck for some time in finding any diamonds in the sand & pebbles. One by one, those who came left the site-their dreams shattered, & their bodies drained.
Discouraged & exhausted, Solano had just about decided it was time for him to give up too. He had nothing to show for months of hard work. Then he stooped down one last time & scooped up a handful of pebbles, if only so he could say he had personally inspected every pebble in his claim. From the pebbles in his hand, he pulled out one that seemed a little different. He weighed it in his other hand. It seemed heavy. He measured it & weighed it on a scale. Could it be?
Sure enough, Solano had found a diamond in the rough! New York jewerly dealer Harry Winston paid Solano $200,000 for that stone. When it was cut & polished, it became known as the Liberator, & it is considered the largest & purest unmined diamond in the world.
You may have been plugging away at a project for weeks, even months or years, without seeing much progress. Today may be the day. Don't give up! The Scriptures are filled with examples of men & women who, on the verge of disaster or failure, experienced God's creative work in their lives. Remind yourself of the following things:
*** God's Word is true.
*** God can part the sea.
*** God can heal the incurable.
*** God can provide water from a rock & manna from the heavens.
*** God can conquer your enemies.
*** God can still deliver from the fiery furnace & the lion's den.
Persevere in what He has asked you to do today because your rewards will be more than you can think or imagine!"
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world." Revelation 3:10
Keep on keeping on!!! :o)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Focus...
Ever get the feeling that God is trying to tell you something that you have been "discreetly" trying to ignore? Well, that is what has been going on with me & my "focus". I know He has been prodding me lately about it. I guess I haven't responded in the way He wanted so now He's being more direct. Last night I was reading a book & the section was on focusing. Today I read my devotional book & it was about your focus. So I guess I can't ignore it anymore...well, I could but that would not be good. Below is an excerpt of what I was reading last night. It's from the book "Creative Correction" by Lisa Whelchel.
Focusing
Imagine walking down a gold-paved path toward a majestic castle. It's a lovely day-the birds are singing, the breeze is gently blowing, the sky is blue, & the flowers are blooming. The day is so beautiful that you're tempted to leave the path & turn cartwheels in the meadow. But your goal is to visit the castle, so you stick to the path.
Just when you've decided to stay the course, however, a yellow & black butterfly flits right in front of your nose & lands on a flower just ahead of you. You love butterflies, & quietly you sneak toward it. Just as you reach it, the butterfly sails into the air & lands on another flower. Again, you tiptoe up to it, wanting desperately to catch it. This continues for minutes, then hours-and before you know it, you've wandered too far from the path to reach the castle that day. Frustrated, you flop onto the grass. The day is gone, & you have nothing to show for it.
How often do we start chasing "butterflies" when we should be sticking to our path? This story helps illustrate how easily we can get distracted from our goal-and why it's important to stay focused.
This really spoke to me. I use to be "too" focused, where I would continue on with some thing no matter if I didn't sleep, eat, etc. Now I have swung to the other extreme where my focus is easily distracted & distorted. Dear Jesus, please help me to regain my proper focus on life & what you want me to do each day. Please redirect me when I wander off course. Thank you for this beautiful day! Amen!
Focusing
Imagine walking down a gold-paved path toward a majestic castle. It's a lovely day-the birds are singing, the breeze is gently blowing, the sky is blue, & the flowers are blooming. The day is so beautiful that you're tempted to leave the path & turn cartwheels in the meadow. But your goal is to visit the castle, so you stick to the path.
Just when you've decided to stay the course, however, a yellow & black butterfly flits right in front of your nose & lands on a flower just ahead of you. You love butterflies, & quietly you sneak toward it. Just as you reach it, the butterfly sails into the air & lands on another flower. Again, you tiptoe up to it, wanting desperately to catch it. This continues for minutes, then hours-and before you know it, you've wandered too far from the path to reach the castle that day. Frustrated, you flop onto the grass. The day is gone, & you have nothing to show for it.
How often do we start chasing "butterflies" when we should be sticking to our path? This story helps illustrate how easily we can get distracted from our goal-and why it's important to stay focused.
This really spoke to me. I use to be "too" focused, where I would continue on with some thing no matter if I didn't sleep, eat, etc. Now I have swung to the other extreme where my focus is easily distracted & distorted. Dear Jesus, please help me to regain my proper focus on life & what you want me to do each day. Please redirect me when I wander off course. Thank you for this beautiful day! Amen!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The first time we met...
Here are some pictures that I got from a friend today of when we first arrived at the orphanage.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Hurricane Dean...
Please pray for Haiti...especially the southern part of the country...where the orphanage is...as Hurricane Dean heads it way there. Please pray for everyone's safety & minimal damage of any sort to the country. Please pray for Jamacia as well as it looks like they may get the major brunt of the storm. Thanks in advance for your prayers!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
PreSchool...
This is Phoebe's first week of her 2nd year of preschool. Can you tell she's excited about it? :o)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Regrets...
I know we all have regrets from time to time. I know I do. I usually try not to dwell on them but to learn from my mistakes & correct anything that is in my power to correct. Since arriving home from Haiti I have had a lot of regrets. I regret playing less & working more. I regret not spending time to get to know you you, Carsen, Anne, the nannies, & the rest of the orphanage staff. I regret letting a language barrier get in the way of my communication when it didn't have to. I regret not talking to more of the Haitian people & getting to know them. I regret putting my children to bed at their normal time instead of spending more time with them. I regret not having more diapers with me for "massive bouts of diarrhea" :o)
But what I regret most is not letting the light of Jesus shine through me brightly...and for that I am very sorry & ask forgiveness.
But what I regret most is not letting the light of Jesus shine through me brightly...and for that I am very sorry & ask forgiveness.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sleepless in Indiana...
I know it's not as catchy as "Sleepless in Seattle" but I don't live in Seattle so I couldn't use that line. I should be asleep. It's past my bedtime which is 9:30ish most nights but I just can't sleep. I can't stop thinking about Haiti & my children. I miss them sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much that it hurts. I want to hold my baby. I want to cuddle with Samara. I want to sing to Shakira.
I desperately want to go back to visit them in October but at the moment do not feel that it's God's plan for me to do so.
Phoebe talks about them like they are already here. She stares at the computer screen for long periods of time looking at the picture of her baby brother on the desktop background. We are in the process of decorating the girls room. It's painted a "Sweet Taffy" pink. Phoebe's bed which will become Shakira's bed has been moved into the room as well as a set of bunk beds which will sleep Samara on the bottom & Phoebe on the top. We still have to get mattresses for the bunks & coordinating bedding for all 3 beds as well as window treatments, a rug, & a curtain for their closet.
I had gotten rid of most of Phoebe's younger clothing that Samara & Shakira could wear because Phoebe is 3-4 sizes bigger than they are except in socks & shoes :o). We have already been blessed by several people donating clothes in the sizes that Samara & Shakira will need...and it's really "nice" clothing. Thank you Jesus!
I didn't have any boy things to start out with but I did hold onto to things that Caleb will be using such as a crib, pack N play, & high chair. I will be repainting his yellow room yellow & decorating it with light blue Baby Snoopy accents. I managed to pick up a changing table for $5 at a yard sale. Something I never had with Phoebe & would like to have with Caleb is a glider rocking chair. Maybe I can find a good deal on one of those in the next few weeks.
I thank God for my beautiful children...all 4 of them!
I desperately want to go back to visit them in October but at the moment do not feel that it's God's plan for me to do so.
Phoebe talks about them like they are already here. She stares at the computer screen for long periods of time looking at the picture of her baby brother on the desktop background. We are in the process of decorating the girls room. It's painted a "Sweet Taffy" pink. Phoebe's bed which will become Shakira's bed has been moved into the room as well as a set of bunk beds which will sleep Samara on the bottom & Phoebe on the top. We still have to get mattresses for the bunks & coordinating bedding for all 3 beds as well as window treatments, a rug, & a curtain for their closet.
I had gotten rid of most of Phoebe's younger clothing that Samara & Shakira could wear because Phoebe is 3-4 sizes bigger than they are except in socks & shoes :o). We have already been blessed by several people donating clothes in the sizes that Samara & Shakira will need...and it's really "nice" clothing. Thank you Jesus!
I didn't have any boy things to start out with but I did hold onto to things that Caleb will be using such as a crib, pack N play, & high chair. I will be repainting his yellow room yellow & decorating it with light blue Baby Snoopy accents. I managed to pick up a changing table for $5 at a yard sale. Something I never had with Phoebe & would like to have with Caleb is a glider rocking chair. Maybe I can find a good deal on one of those in the next few weeks.
I thank God for my beautiful children...all 4 of them!
Toyota Man!
I don't know who brought the Toyota shirt or who put it on Caleb (Brandy??) while I was there but I love this picture! Do you think he has a future at Toyota? :o)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Happy Anniversary Honey!!!
I thank God for him choosing you as my husband! Thank you for 18 years of marriage & 20 years of being in my life!!! I look forward to many, many more! You will always be my "handsome prince!" I love you Randy!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Getting together...
Here are some pictures from another one of our Haiti adoptive parents "get together's"
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17 Blessings...
I "borrowed" these pictures from a friend's blog so I could share with our family & far away friends the 17 blessings from Haiti that are coming to our area. They are in order of who started the adoption process first although some of us added another one or two along the way :o)
To Jeremy & Michelle: Noah, Mia, & Hope
To Todd & Kristina: Jonas & Ellie
To Shawn & Angela: Steven & Belle:
To Troy & Cathy: Manthania & Isaac
To Derek & Tanya: Glory
To Randy & Kathy: Samara, Shakira, & Caleb
To Don & Teresa: Samendia & Jefferson
To Tim & Sarah: Isaiah "Daniel"
To Jason & Amy: Reece "Richecard"
To Jeremy & Michelle: Noah, Mia, & Hope
To Todd & Kristina: Jonas & Ellie
To Shawn & Angela: Steven & Belle:
To Troy & Cathy: Manthania & Isaac
To Derek & Tanya: Glory
To Randy & Kathy: Samara, Shakira, & Caleb
To Don & Teresa: Samendia & Jefferson
To Tim & Sarah: Isaiah "Daniel"
To Jason & Amy: Reece "Richecard"
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Wings of Hope....
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Wings of Hope is a place where physically & mentally handicapped children live. It was established by the same person who established & still runs St. Joseph's Guest House. We didn't take close ups of the children for obvious reasons but let me assure you that all of our hearts went out to them. I am so thankful to Michael for Wings of Hope! It is an amazing place!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
You will not be forgotten!
Randy & I had the opportuntiy to "talk" with Caleb & Samara's birth mothers via translator when we were in Haiti in July. The one thing that both of them expressed passionately was that they "not be forgotten" by their children. I have already sent down one time use cameras for all three birth mothers so they can take pictures of themselves, their family, & their home land. I will then have the pictures developed. They will keep a set for themselves & then they will identify who is who & what is what on another set for us to keep for the children. We will try to do this periodically through out their lives as well as give them picture book updates on the children.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good & not for evil, to give you a future & a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"May the Lord richly bless both you & your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven & earth." Psalm 115:14-15
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good & not for evil, to give you a future & a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"May the Lord richly bless both you & your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven & earth." Psalm 115:14-15
Monday, August 6, 2007
SARAH...
is some one that I just met in person last week but feel like I've known for a long time. I've been following her blog for a couple of months now but yesterday I took the time to play "catch up" & read all the entries from the beginning of her blog to where I started reading it a couple of months ago. I feel like I know her even better now. I also want to thank her for her openess & honesty. Many people are afraid that others will percieve them as weak or "messed up" if they show their true selves. I so appreciate your "real ness" as well as it's "about Jesus, not me" attitude. I appreciate you taking the time to openly thank Him for the little things as well as the big things. I appreciate how you openly share your struggles as well as your victories. I appreciate how you so amazingly communicate your love about Jesus, your husband, & your children. Thank you so much!!! I thank God for allowing our paths to cross.
I don't know if you know my entire adoption story...it's pretty "lengthy" but I wanted to share with you something that you may not know...something I feel connected us before we ever met.
In March we were getting closer to "the light at the end of the tunnel" in our adoption paper work for the girls. I started feeling that we were not "finished yet" with regards to adopting. I didn't say anything to Randy about it at this point because I knew where he was with that at the time so I just kept quiet & prayed about it. By May the feeling had gotten so intense that it was starting to affect my thoughts & sleep. I felt like God was directing me back to the Three Angels web site & that he was telling me "You are finally going to get your baby boy." So I went back to the site & looked at all the pictures that I was so familiar with. Daniel was the youngest boy available at the time. I had always thought he was a cutie pie & had "looked" at him when God was directing us to adopt Shakira. I stared at his birthday & thought aloud, "Is this the one Lord?" I didn't know for sure but thought that him having a September birthday was one thing leaning toward the yes column. Phoebe, Samara, & Shakira's birthday's are in September.
So I started to pray about adopting Daniel. I still didn't have a "positive" for him but was feeling very "positive" for adopting a third child although it didn't really make sense to me to adopt 3 at a time. I then checked into to seeing if we would even be allowed to adopt a 3rd child. I found out it was "possible" although it was very unusual to adopt 3 children at the same time with out any of them being siblings. I finally told Randy & asked him to pray with me about Daniel. He prayed for a week & at the end of the week on Friday May 11th he said, "I do not think that God is leading us to adopt another child at this time." I said, "Okay." Although deep down in my heart of hearts I knew it wasn't "over" yet. I didn't know if Randy was going to have to meet Daniel in person on our July trip & fall in love with him before we started the process or if God would provide another child before our trip. I knew it was possible that another baby boy could come to the orphanage before our trip but I felt like I was running out of time for "that option" because I felt like we would be submitting all of our paper work for all 3 at the same time & in order for that to happen there had to be "something" happening soon. So I kept praying for the Lord's will to be done & if we were not to adopt Daniel that He would make it clear to us & that He would send the right family for Daniel soon.
Fast forward to May 28th. I am reading You You's blog & see Caleb's picture. All though he was beautiful that's not what spoke to my heart. It was his name. The same name that Randy had picked out 6 years ago if we were to ever have a baby boy. My heart literally skipped a beat when I read the name. I looked up to the ceiling & asked God, "Okay, is this a sign?" I chuckled & then started praying. I was hesitant to mention it to Randy because it had just been 17 days prior since he had said, "I do not feel like God is calling us to adopt another child at this time." But I knew I had to tell him so I did. His response was not what I expected. The name got his attention as well & we decided to pray about it. On June 13th we got approval to adopt him & I made a public announcement about him on my blog on June 15th. Yesterday when I was reading all of your blog entries, I noticed that on June 18th you mentioned adopting a little boy from Haiti & on June 23rd you announced that it was Daniel. I'm so glad & thankful that God answered both of our prayers & that we get to experience this journey together!!!
Thank you for being a mighty servant of the Lord!
I don't know if you know my entire adoption story...it's pretty "lengthy" but I wanted to share with you something that you may not know...something I feel connected us before we ever met.
In March we were getting closer to "the light at the end of the tunnel" in our adoption paper work for the girls. I started feeling that we were not "finished yet" with regards to adopting. I didn't say anything to Randy about it at this point because I knew where he was with that at the time so I just kept quiet & prayed about it. By May the feeling had gotten so intense that it was starting to affect my thoughts & sleep. I felt like God was directing me back to the Three Angels web site & that he was telling me "You are finally going to get your baby boy." So I went back to the site & looked at all the pictures that I was so familiar with. Daniel was the youngest boy available at the time. I had always thought he was a cutie pie & had "looked" at him when God was directing us to adopt Shakira. I stared at his birthday & thought aloud, "Is this the one Lord?" I didn't know for sure but thought that him having a September birthday was one thing leaning toward the yes column. Phoebe, Samara, & Shakira's birthday's are in September.
So I started to pray about adopting Daniel. I still didn't have a "positive" for him but was feeling very "positive" for adopting a third child although it didn't really make sense to me to adopt 3 at a time. I then checked into to seeing if we would even be allowed to adopt a 3rd child. I found out it was "possible" although it was very unusual to adopt 3 children at the same time with out any of them being siblings. I finally told Randy & asked him to pray with me about Daniel. He prayed for a week & at the end of the week on Friday May 11th he said, "I do not think that God is leading us to adopt another child at this time." I said, "Okay." Although deep down in my heart of hearts I knew it wasn't "over" yet. I didn't know if Randy was going to have to meet Daniel in person on our July trip & fall in love with him before we started the process or if God would provide another child before our trip. I knew it was possible that another baby boy could come to the orphanage before our trip but I felt like I was running out of time for "that option" because I felt like we would be submitting all of our paper work for all 3 at the same time & in order for that to happen there had to be "something" happening soon. So I kept praying for the Lord's will to be done & if we were not to adopt Daniel that He would make it clear to us & that He would send the right family for Daniel soon.
Fast forward to May 28th. I am reading You You's blog & see Caleb's picture. All though he was beautiful that's not what spoke to my heart. It was his name. The same name that Randy had picked out 6 years ago if we were to ever have a baby boy. My heart literally skipped a beat when I read the name. I looked up to the ceiling & asked God, "Okay, is this a sign?" I chuckled & then started praying. I was hesitant to mention it to Randy because it had just been 17 days prior since he had said, "I do not feel like God is calling us to adopt another child at this time." But I knew I had to tell him so I did. His response was not what I expected. The name got his attention as well & we decided to pray about it. On June 13th we got approval to adopt him & I made a public announcement about him on my blog on June 15th. Yesterday when I was reading all of your blog entries, I noticed that on June 18th you mentioned adopting a little boy from Haiti & on June 23rd you announced that it was Daniel. I'm so glad & thankful that God answered both of our prayers & that we get to experience this journey together!!!
Thank you for being a mighty servant of the Lord!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Psalm 113...
Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever & ever.
Everywhere-from east to west-praise the name of the Lord.
For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is far greater than the heavens.
Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?
Far below him are the heavens & the earth.
He stoops to look, & he lifts the poor from the dirt
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even princes of his own people!
He gives the barrren woman a home, so that she becomes a happy mother.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113 NLT
This was my Bible reading for today. I smiled when I got to verse 9 as I recalled this verse being prophesied over me by one of my patient's daughter 4 years ago this month. She then said, "You will have a quiver full of children." Phoebe arrived one month later. Up until January of this year I wasn't for sure if "quiver full" for me meant one child. Now I know that it doesn't. Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever & ever.
Everywhere-from east to west-praise the name of the Lord.
For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is far greater than the heavens.
Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?
Far below him are the heavens & the earth.
He stoops to look, & he lifts the poor from the dirt
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even princes of his own people!
He gives the barrren woman a home, so that she becomes a happy mother.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113 NLT
This was my Bible reading for today. I smiled when I got to verse 9 as I recalled this verse being prophesied over me by one of my patient's daughter 4 years ago this month. She then said, "You will have a quiver full of children." Phoebe arrived one month later. Up until January of this year I wasn't for sure if "quiver full" for me meant one child. Now I know that it doesn't. Praise the Lord!
Friday, August 3, 2007
Remembering Kent...
I always get a little "freaked out" when I find out about a death of some one I knew awhile after their passing. It's like I don't get to grieve "properly." So today I went to my mail box & pulled out a letter from my high school class. I thought it had to do with reunion stuff. Instead it was telling of the benefit auction & dance for one of my former class mates family. I had no idea that Kent had died in June. What's frustrating about that is almost my entire family...including Randy's...lives in the same town as Kent so you think some one would have told me.
Well, now the shock has worn off a little & I would like to pay tribute to a guy I went to school with from K through 12th grade. I always considered him sort of shy & sly in school with an incredible smile. He was a very nice & gentle guy & I don't remember anyone ever saying anything bad about him.
I hadn't seen him since we graduated from high school until last October at our 20th high school reunion (yes, I know how old I am :o) He had the same amazing smile & he had a twinkle in his eye. He was a lot more talkative than I remember in school. He recounted some things about me that I would have rather forgotten :o) but I enjoyed talking with him. I pray that he's in heaven joking with Jesus. I pray that the love & peace of Jesus will fill & over flow his family, especially his wife Kelly (who was also in my class) & his two sons.
Obituary from the Southeast Missourian Newspaper on June 19th:
PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kent J. Martin, 39, of Perryville died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Perry County Memorial Hospital, as the result of a fall.
He was born Nov. 28, 1967, in Perryville, son of Nathan Earl and Anna Buerck Martin. He and Kelly Bauwens were married Sept. 15, 1990.
Martin was an aircraft mechanic at Saberliner. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sereno, and American Legion Booster Post 133.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Garrett and Nathan Martin of the home; his parents of Perryville; two sisters, Christy Dobbelare and Robyn Richardet of Perryville; three brothers, Kevin, Keith, and his twin brother Kurt Martin, all of Perryville.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today, and 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The parish wake will be tonight.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Victory Church, with the Rev. Francis Agnew officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Well, now the shock has worn off a little & I would like to pay tribute to a guy I went to school with from K through 12th grade. I always considered him sort of shy & sly in school with an incredible smile. He was a very nice & gentle guy & I don't remember anyone ever saying anything bad about him.
I hadn't seen him since we graduated from high school until last October at our 20th high school reunion (yes, I know how old I am :o) He had the same amazing smile & he had a twinkle in his eye. He was a lot more talkative than I remember in school. He recounted some things about me that I would have rather forgotten :o) but I enjoyed talking with him. I pray that he's in heaven joking with Jesus. I pray that the love & peace of Jesus will fill & over flow his family, especially his wife Kelly (who was also in my class) & his two sons.
Obituary from the Southeast Missourian Newspaper on June 19th:
PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kent J. Martin, 39, of Perryville died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at Perry County Memorial Hospital, as the result of a fall.
He was born Nov. 28, 1967, in Perryville, son of Nathan Earl and Anna Buerck Martin. He and Kelly Bauwens were married Sept. 15, 1990.
Martin was an aircraft mechanic at Saberliner. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sereno, and American Legion Booster Post 133.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Garrett and Nathan Martin of the home; his parents of Perryville; two sisters, Christy Dobbelare and Robyn Richardet of Perryville; three brothers, Kevin, Keith, and his twin brother Kurt Martin, all of Perryville.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today, and 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The parish wake will be tonight.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Victory Church, with the Rev. Francis Agnew officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Mark the date!
Hi All! I don't have all the details just yet but wanted to give you a "heads up" on a Christian concert & ice cream social that is being planned by some amazing friends of ours at our church, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer on Friday September 14th. The proceeds will go to our adoption expenses to help bring our 3 beautiful Haitian children home. I will give more details as to the time & line up when I know it.
For those of you who are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please let me know. Thanks so much for your support & your prayers!
For those of you who are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please let me know. Thanks so much for your support & your prayers!
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