More bowling fun...

Bowling Blips :o)

Bowling Alley Fun...

Today we went bowling. It was the first time bowling for Phoebe, Steven, & Belle. They had lots of fun...and so did the rest of us! :o)

Christmas pictures...

Eleven minute...

mile!!! I ran an eleven minute mile today...which of course may sound like turtle speed to some of you but considering I just started running 19 days ago & my first run was a 15.30 minute run...I think I'm doing pretty good! :o)

In today's paper...

There is a nice article in the Courrier & Press today about Mia, Hope, Steven, Belle, & Glory. This is the video clip from the online article.

Missing them...

Merry Christmas!!!

Praying that you are having a very joy filled & blessed Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus!!! We ran out of purple decorating gel so that's why the message on the cake is kind of choppy. And the red art work to the right side is suppose to be me when I was six...although Phoebe has no idea what I looked like when I was six other than me telling her that I had long, straight hair :o)

More...

pictures from the Dec. trip! None of Samara because she's hard to "catch" because she likes to hide from the camera :o)

Totally Random...Caleb pictures...

These are pictures from June & July 2007.

Totally Random...Samara pictures...

These are pictures from early 2007 when we first started the adoption process. The top picture is the one that "stole" our hearts as it was the picture posted on the 3A web site as one of the children available for adoption.

New pictures!!!

Here is the first batch of new pictures we got from the December mission team.

Totally Random...Shakira pictures

I decided not to leave the other children out of the "random" picture thing so today is Shakira's turn :o)

Totally Random...

pictures of Phoebe from 2005.

Last year...

This time last year I was returning from Haiti. I knew I had to go see my kids before Christmas in order to celebrate Christmas with a joyful heart. That's where I "was" last year. Since then, there has been a lot of growth in me. Although I really wanted to go back this December, I knew God said, "No, not yet." I did not know why but it didn't matter because I have learned that his ways & timing are far better than mine. Now I know why & I am so thankful that he is blessing me & Phoebe with a trip in February. Go God!!! :o)

Funny people...funny memories :o)

These are pictures from our Christ Care White Elephant gift exchange that we had last Sunday. We always have a blast when we do this but this year was by far the best one we've had so far :o)

Little Lamb...

This is a little video blip of Phoebe during our Children's Christmas program at church tonight. I was a little surprised when she came out as a lamb for the third year in a row because on the card they sent home they said she was going to be an angel...but she didn't seem to care that she was a lamb again...a pretty cute one at that! :o)

RUNNING!!!

Yes, you read right...as of today...I am running! This may not sound like a big deal to most people but believe me it is!!! When I was in high school I ran track for awhile & even after I quit track I kept running because I was obsessed with being "thin." It was nothing for me to run 10 miles a day. My running & exercise in general started to decrease as I started recovering from anoxeria. This was a several year process. My mistake however was in not seeeing "the big picture" of it all & how much "balance" is very necessary with most things in life. So I slowly started going the other way. Eating more & more food & exercising less & less until I finally stopped exercising all together. By the time I reached my heaviest weight wich was 206 pounds I would get winded just going up a few stairs. In July 2004, when Phoebe was 10 months old, I decided I had to do something about my weight. I joined Weight Watchers & lost a total of 41 pounds.

During that time I started exercising again & realized how much I missed it & how much of a "release" it is for me. So for the most part I have exercised regularly since then. Running however had never crossed my mind until about a couple of years ago when I was motivated to try it after watching a Biggest Looser episode. Immediately after I stopped, I had back pain.(For those of you who don't know, I had back surgery in 2002) I tried a couple of times after that but kept having back pain so I decided that I was not meant to run ever again. I would have to stick to fast walking & I was okay with that.

Fast forward to yesterday when I was having lunch with my very good friend & "soul sister" & she's talking about how she's running 6 miles like it's nothing. And this is from someone who didn't have a running history but a few months ago God told her "to run" so she did. I got on the treadmill this morning with the intention of walking 5 miles but as soon as I got on I felt like God said, "You can do this, you can run. You're back will be okay. You need to stop running to food & "literally" run!" So I did, & as I started running I realized that I have had always had a competitive spirit deep inside me but I had never really let it out when I was growing up because I had so many other things to focus on that seemed a lot more important than if I could beat somebody at a race, a game, or whatever.

My goal was to run 2 miles in 30 minutes. I know that is really slow especially when I ran track I could do it in 12 but you have to remember that I haven't run in years & I'm overweight so I thought this was a realistic goal. As I kept an eye on the time I saw that I was really going to have to pick up the pace at the end if I wanted to meet my goal. So I thought about my friend & I thought about challenging her to a two mile race some day...and me winning!!! :o) So I picked up my speed & made the two miles just a little over 30 minutes. Did I make it in 30 minutes? No. Did I fail? No. Failing is when you don't even bother to try. I ran faster & longer today than I did yesterday...which was not at all. So today I broke through a "barrier" in my head as well as my legs, lungs, & back...and I won!

Christmas Trees...

When I was a child I couldn't wait to help put up our Christmas tree. As an adult my enthusiasm for the Christmas tree has diminished somewhat. Partly due to the commercialization of Christmas & the world trying to strip every "true" meaning right out of it & partly due to the work of actually putting one up & then spending lots of time & energy trying to keep my cats out of it.

I really like this devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah about Christmas trees & of course the Lutheran Christian in me is a little biased by it's references :o)

The Green Stuff: Christmas Trees

He came into the world…
Hebrews 10:5

Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:5-10

In ancient Scandinavia, the evergreen tree was considered a symbol of life amid the bleak darkness of winter. Vikings reportedly cut down evergreens and brought them into their homes as a source of encouragement. In the 600s, Boniface, a British missionary, traveled across Europe using pines as object lessons of eternal life. Even the harsh winter couldn't kill them, said Boniface, who also used their triangular shapes to teach about the Trinity. For centuries afterward, people cut down trees and brought them indoors, creating a celebratory midwinter atmosphere. As an added benefit, the tree's fragrance provided a pleasing aroma during the confining months of winter.

According to tradition, it was Martin Luther who popularized trees as a Christmas symbol of the new life given us by the Christchild, and it was also Luther who wrote a carol that's been sung around Christmas trees for nearly 500 years: "From heaven above to earth I come, / To bear good news to every home."

May all the Christmas trees we encounter this year point our hearts upward toward our blessed Savior!

Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is it in yon manger lies? Who is this Child so young and fair? The blessed Christchild lieth there.
Martin Luther

We are sooooooo in trouble!!!

I don't want to compete with the previous video clip but I just had to share this. I took this clip the other day when Emily & Audrey was here. Lord, please help us! :o)

Phoebe's solo...

I apologize for you having to do the head tilt thing to watch this but I forgot to tell Bethany that it's very hard to change the direction on the movie files once they are recorded. This was from today at our Advent Tea at church. It was Phoebe's first solo in front of people.

Trust Issue...

Do you have a trust issue? I think all of us do at some point in our lives & some of us always seem to have a trust issue in varying degrees. When God says, "Trust me at all times" He really means it! :o) The following is a devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah which speaks of this topic.

3-Foot Fall
"Trust in Him at all times, you people." Psalm 62:8

Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 1:8-10

A construction worker was welding on top of a water tower outside Chicago when he unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes. At the same time, a metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding he was on, sending him to the ground in a 110-foot fall where he landed on a pile of dirt. When the paramedics arrived and carried him off on a stretcher, he had one humorous request; "Don't drop me." *

Sometimes we are like that construction worker in our faith; trusting God to save us from the long fall of our sins, yet fretting over the three-foot falls of every-day details. It is easy to trust God with the big things we don't fully understand, but a lot of us have a difficult time putting our trust in Almighty God for the small and personal issues we deal with on a daily basis. The Bible tells us to trust God for everything because He knows our needs even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

If you haven't fully put your trust in the Lord, spend some time casting ALL your cares upon Him, for He knows you intimately, loves you perfectly, and is worthy of your trust in every situation.

"It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what." Joni Erickson Tada

Making Progress!!!

I'm so pumped!!! Phoebe got a check in the mail today for $50 toward her trip! Thank you Jesus! This now puts her at $695 of the $1400 she needs for her trip. And on top of that, even though I did not make it public that I also needed $1400 for my trip, I currently have half of that amount. Praise God! Thank you Lord for your generous blessings & provisions! And...Phoebe got her passport yesterday!!! We are really excited around here!!! Even Randy...because he gets the house to himself for a whole week while we're gone :o) Please continue to pray & thank God for providing the rest of the money that we need for this trip. Thank you!

Need I say more???

China, Haiti, it doesn't matter which country...the feelings & emotions are universal.

Thanksgiving Memories...

We're back...

We got back from MO yesterday around 2:30pm. We didn't see any deer on our way there but saw 7 dead ones on the side of the road on our way back. We had a really good visit & a very blessed Thanksgiving. I have pictures that I want to share but until I get them downloaded this will have to do. It's a little video blip of our Thanksgiving Day walk down by the river in Cape Girardeau.

No deer please...

My mom came to visit us last Saturday & today she will be driving back to MO. This is normally a sad time for the both of us as we don't like living apart from each other but today will be happy because we are following her back to MO to spend a week there. We had this trip planned for quite some time so even though we were there not too long ago for Kenny's funeral we decided that we still needed to make the trip now. Please pray for our safe travels & that we won't even see one single deer while we're driving :o) I pray that everyone has a very blessed & joy filled, full of the Lord, Thanksgiving!

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

ALL THE TIME...GOD IS GOOD!!! No, we haven't heard news about being in MOI but God is still good!!! A couple of months ago Phoebe really started struggling with her siblings not being home yet. She would just cry & cry. I told her that maybe we should start praying about changing our plans from her meeting them when they get home to her meeting them in Haiti. She immediately started praying fervently about it. God put a peace in my heart about her going...something Randy & I were adamantly against her doing at her current age.

Phoebe & I felt like God was saying we were to go together to Haiti so Phoebe could meet her siblings. I had others pray about it too & was told that they thought she needed to go. So we had the peace & confirmation but no money. I told Phoebe that if God wanted us to go that He would have to provide the money for our trip & that we needed to start praying about it.

Shortly after that I felt led to send out a letter to people telling them about the trip & asking if they would collect their loose change from now until January 1st & then donate it to Phoebe on her behalf for her trip. Within a week of the letters being sent out she has already received $250. Praise God!!! I am so excited for her! I was not concerned about God providing the money for my trip because I knew He would but I had no idea where or when it was going to come from.

The other night before I went to bed I felt like God was telling me to put our airplane tickets on hold even though Phoebe didn't have all the money for hers & I had no money for mine. I put two tickets on hold & then went to bed. The next morning I received a $700 donation to use for my airplane ticket. Praise God!!! I bought our tickets tonight so now it's offical...Phoebe & I are going to Haiti in February & we are both very excited!!! I can't wait to tell Samara & Shakira...I know that they will be excited too!

Peace like a river...

"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind & heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So do not be troubled or afraid." John 14:27 NLT

We are still waiting to enter MOI. Many people are asking what the hold up is. I really have no idea. There is really no "real" explanation why we have been waiting since June to enter. January will mark 2 years since we started the adoption process from Haiti. Do we get frustrated? YES! Do we miss our children terribly & want them home...now? YES! Are we worried, troubled, & can't sleep night after night? NO! You maybe asking yourself why not? Because we have the PEACE of the LORD!

"Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, & thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts & minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

This is the kind of peace we have. This is the kind of peace that is available to everyone if they would just accept it. I can't explain it or even begin to understand it. I just know that it is this peace that has kept me going through some very difficult times. And not just kept me "surviving" but "thriving" during those times. I have done it without God as well...and it wasn't pretty...at all. I know that some non Christians say that Christians are weak & that we use our faith as a crutch. I know that upsets some Christians but I don't care what they say because I know that I am weak. All of us are weak by ourselves...that's what non Christians don't get. But with Jesus I am strong. "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." Philippians 4:13

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that you would fill everyone that reads this post with your peace & joy. The peace that surpasses all human understanding. Please guard their hearts & minds so that the world will not steal their peace or joy. Draw them close to you. Hold them in your hands. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

Peace like a river
I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul;
I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a
river in my soul. (my soul)

I've got love like an ocean, I've got love like an ocean, I've got love like an ocean in my soul;
I've got love like an ocean, I've got love like an ocean, I've got love like an
ocean in my soul. (my soul)

I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain in my soul;
I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a
fountain in my soul. (my soul)

I think God is trying to tell me something...

Have you ever prayed fervently about something & then "strange" things start happening? Well, that is what's been going on with me for the past three weeks or so. I've been praying & praying but what I have been getting is roadblocks, detour signs, & no one is able to take your call right now messages. Also, my body is out of sync. My body doesn't feel like my own. I've been very tired & some nights have been asleep by 7:30pm & sleep until 6am which is so not normal for me. My "normal" schedule is up at 4 or 4:30am & asleep between 9 to 9:30pm. Even with all of that sleep I feel totally drained by 10am & by 1pm I can hardly keep my eyes open. And I have been having very unusual dreams.

This morning I was reading Daniel Chapter 10. I have read this chapter several times before but this morning it really spoke to me. I think I'm in the middle of some sort of spiritual battle now which would explain some of the things that I have been experiencing. I'm not going to type out the whole chapter but I encourage you to read Daniel Chapter 10 when you get a chance. The whole chapter spoke to me but the following verses really "jumped out" at me. "Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, & I felt my strength returning. "Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart & be strong!" As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger & said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." Daniel 10:18-19

So if you are feeling depleted right now, I encourage you take comfort in knowing that God loves you very much. Ask Him to strengthen you & fill you with His peace.

Give Thanks!

I plan to write another post later that is on my heart but I just read this devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah & it really spoke to me as well & I wanted to share it with you.

The Secret Compartment

The Lord lives!.... Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name.
2 Samuel 22:47, 50
Recommended Reading
2 Samuel 22:47-51

In 1794, James Monroe, who later would become America's fifth president, purchased a Louis XVI desk containing a secret compartment that no one but the owner knew about. Many years later, in 1906, one of Monroe's descendants, a child, damaged the desk. It was taken to a cabinetmaker, and the secret compartment was discovered. It contained priceless documents, including letters from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In one of the letters, Jefferson had written: "How little do my countrymen know what precious blessing they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy."

That's a secret that also resides in the secret compartment of the Christian's heart. Every day our cups overflow. Every day we're recipients of one blessing after another. Every morning we see new mercies and rediscover God's great faithfulness.

Don't keep thanksgiving a secret. Find opportunities today to be grateful. Take the most optimistic view of things. Look up with a smile and trust Almighty God and His Word. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

For these blessings we owe Almighty God, from whom we derive them, and with profound reverence, our most grateful and unceasing acknowledgements.
James Monroe

I "love" this picture!!!

THANK YOU AMANDA!!!

I was so pleasantly surprised to open my mail box yesterday to find your note & CD. It came at the perfect time! I haven't had a chance to go over to Ann's to see how you know each other but I will do that soon. She & her family are wonderful people as I'm sure you already know. I wish all of my neighbors were like that!

Thanks again! I will think of you everytime I listen to the CD :o)

Rembering Kenny...

Today would have been Kenny's 52nd birthday. As we still grieve the loss of him on this earth we know that he is rejoicing with Jesus in heaven. We were sitting at the dining room table this morning eating breakfast when I reminded Phoebe & Randy that today is his birthday. Phoebe said, "Can we sing to him?" "Sure we can sing to him", I said. So the three of us sang Happy Birthday to Kenny. When we were done, Phoebe was thoughtfully smiling, I was teary eyed, & Randy was speechless & choked up. Happy Birthday Kenny! We love you!

Please pray that...

I'll hear good news either today or tomorrow about us finally being in MOI. I really need to hear it soon.

Musical Phoebe...

I was looking at some old pictures tonight when I ran across this video clip. It's when Phoebe was one and half years old. Isn't she cute? :o)

Psalm 3

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!"
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, & the one who lifts my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, & he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down & slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord. May your blessings rest on your people.
Psalm 3 NLT

Footnotes from the NLT Life Application Study Bible:
3:1,2 David felt like he was in the minority. There may have been as many as 10,000 soliders surrounding him at this time. Not only did David's enemies view life differently, they actively sought to harm him. As king, David could have trusted his army to defeat Absalom. Instead, he depended upon God's mercy; therefore, he was at peace with whatever outcome occured, knowing that God's great purposes would prevail. We can overcome fear by trusting God for his protection in our darkest hour.

3:5 Sleep does not come easily during a crisis. David could have had sleepless nights when his son Absalom rebelled & gathered an army to kill him. But he slept peacefully, even during the rebellion. What made the difference? David cried out to the Lord, & the Lord heard him. The assurance of answered prayer brings peace. It is easier to sleep well when we have full assurance that God is in control of circumstances. If you are lying awake at night worrying about circumstances you can't change, pour out your heart to God, & thank him that he is in control. Then sleep will come.

Missing teeth, unpacking, tires, Fall Festival, & magic underwear...

Almost two weeks ago we went to Paducah, KY to help Randy's brother Darrell & his family move there from Florida. We stayed at a hotel the first night & Phoebe got in some swimming. That night she also lost her first tooth. The tooth fairy came that night & when we woke up the next morning there was a dollar under her pillow & her tooth under Mom's pillow so we could have it as a keepsake. We then went to Darrell's house & helped them unpack. During the weekend, Olivia lost her second tooth. The tooth fairy didn't come during the night & had to make a fast stop in the morning with Olivia sitting next to her pillow...pretty sneaky tooth fairy :o) Saturday morning Randy & Darrell went to the van to go to the store & found a nail in my tire...of course it wasn't in the tire that really needed to be replaced. So he bought two new tires. Saturday afternoon Randy & I took the girls to a Fall Festival at a local church so the girls could get out of the house & Darrell & Sandra could take a break & rest. We had lots of fun. Some time during the weekend, Sandra & I were out & about by ourselves & I asked her what was up with the magic underwear since I did not know but had heard about it. She was raised Methodist but switched to the Mormon church somewhere along the road. When we first met we decided to agree to disagree about our faith views since we were having very intense conversations & wasn't getting anywhere with them. She was very informative about the "sacred garments" which makes a lot more sense than "magic underwear."

Better late than never...

Sarah tagged me about 10 moons ago so here's my "fourth" picture. This is a picture of my precious poser posing at the zoo when she was two and a half.

Praising Him...

Catching up...

I have a lot of posting to do to catch every one up on the happenings of the past couple of weeks but right now I have to "catch up" on laundry, cleaning,Phoebe's home work, sleep, etc. But I did want to thank everyone for their prayers & support during this difficult time. We arrived at the hospital on Wed. at 11:30am. Phoebe & I stayed there until 5:30pm & Randy stayed until 9:45pm that night. Kenny passed away approximately 10 minutes after he, his brother Russ & his wife Mary left. The viewing was Friday night & the funeral was Saturday morning. It was a nice service & many people attended both the viewing & funeral. Please continue to pray for the whole family, especially Randy's parent's as we go through the grieving process. November 3rd will be difficult for us all as that is Kenny's birthday...he would have been 52.

Not there yet...keep praying!!!

We'll try again in the morning with Randy's car. We had a "little" run in with a deer half way to our destination. Praise God that none of us was injured...except of course the deer.

Please pray for us...

This picture is of Randy's family minus one brother, SIL, & their 2 children. Kenny is in the last row, 4th one from the left. He is rapidly declining & we are heading to MO today & plan to return Sunday or Monday. Please pray for us during this difficult time. Thanks!