Mass Chaos without pictures :o(

Sorry it's been a week since I've had a new post. It's not that I don't have anything to say...just a lot going on. Last night we had Phoebe's birthday party to celebrate her 5th birthday this coming Thursday. Last year we had 2 of her friends over along with me & Randy. It was nice & quiet. This year I was not thinking :o) We had 16 kids including Phoebe, & adults for a total of 28 people. It was "mass chaos." I didn't even get a chance to do the games I had planned because we ran out of time. It takes a awhile to feed that large of crowd...not to mention that when Randy went to start up the grill for the hotdogs he found the tank empty :o( Thankgoodness we have amazing neighbors across the street & he was able to use their grill. When it came time for Phoebe to open presents I turned on my camera...and nothing...it was dead. Are you kidding me??? Our neighbors came through again & got their camera but I have not been able to down load them yet. As soon as I get them I will post them. The kids had a great time...the adults were exhausted :o) Next year we're going back to the nice & quiet birthday party :o)

My Shaki...

This is a picture of Shakira leading singing during church service yesterday. I got all teary eyed & choked up when I first saw it. She has grown so much over the past year & a half...I'm not talking physically although she certainly has done that too but what is most noticeable is progress in self control, not being so impulsive, increased attention span, & increased fine & gross motor skills as well as language & social skills. It makes this mama very happy!!!

Croupy night in the hospital...

I'm very tired so I'm going to make a long story short which is Phoebe began having problems breathing yesterday around noon. By 6pm she had had 3 breathing treatments & was getting worse. We arrived at the after hours clinic around 6:30pm & she was admitted to the hospital for croup around 7:30pm. We're home now & she's doing much better except that we're both tired because we didn't get much sleep last night. Please pray that she continues to recover quickly. Thanks!

Too sweet...

Apparently I am too sweet...unfortunately I'm not talking about my personality or dispostition. I'm talking about my glucose level. I went to the mail box today to find a copy of my lab results that were from my yearly physical. My results are always good but today was the exception. All of my results except for one were good. In the commnent section was "early diabetes, please follow a 1500 calorie ADA diet." Are you kidding me? Really? At age 40 I have to start doing this? Usually that doesn't happen until late 50's or in the 60's. But I should not be surprised. Diabetes runs in my family & my childhood doctor warned me that I could get it earlier & even had me test my urine for glucose when I was a child. But I am suprised. Actually I'm in denial. I don't like it...not one bit. I don't have a problem with the caloric restriction because I try to stay under 1500-1600 calories a day anyway...it's how those calories are to be restricted is what I don't like...especially when it comes to sweets...especially when it comes to chocolate.
So I'm trying to shake myself out of the denial mode & move into the motivation mode to follow this diet. Please pray for me...and Randy and Phoebe (they are going to need it :o) because I get cranky without sweets on a regular basis.

Got stuff???

So as most of you who are in the adoption process know...it takes money to adopt :o) Then take that amount & multiple that times three minus a little for non duplication of some services, etc. & that still equals more money than we had at the beginning :o) but God has been faithful to provide what we needed when we needed it. As the time draws near for them to come home we are putting whatever we can toward the actual bringing them home such as 4 last minute airplane tickets(which are not cheap), hotel costs, etc. In so doing it has left us little "other" money. There are some things that would be nice to have or have done before they come home although they are not a necessity hence we haven't bought them or had them done.

I know that a lot of us have things laying around our house that we don't use anymore or don't need so I'm going to throw out "my list" in hopes that God will bless us with your "don't need or use anymore things." I'm also listing some services that someone may be able to bless us with as well. Thanks so much!

*** 4 bar stools 29 inches tall...color doesn't matter because there's not much I can't paint or recover
*** chocolate brown slip covers for a loveseat & sofa
*** 2-4 cherry wood or other dark color wood color or black display shelves
*** 2 wine type color lamp shades...one for a table lamp & one for a floor lamp
*** 4-8 patterned or textured accent pillows...half wine type color & half deep purple
*** regular size futon frame
*** round wood table big enough for at least 2 people to play games on but not big enough to "swallow up" the sitting area in front of the living room window
*** 2 Parson type chairs
*** one half to one gallon of exterior white paint
*** wood decking cleaner &/or sealer
*** boys room activity rug in bright or primary colors
*** girls room activity rug that would complement pink walls with purple, yellow, red, & lime green accents
*** simple plumbing services
*** simple electrical services
*** converting a gas dryer hook up to an electric one
*** removing a gas furnace

15 months today...

My "little man" is 15 months old today!

Your turn is coming!!!

Soon...my beautiful children...soon!!!

Glory's Homecoming Pictures...

"Glorious Homecoming"

Happy Birthday!

Today is a busy birthday day. We wish a big Happy & Blessed day to my cousin Chad, Randy's niece Hannah, & our two good friends Kathy & Rush! We love you!

Hard lessons...

Well my "baby" started kindergarten this week. I still can't believe it! It's not like it "snuck" up on me. I've had all summer to prepare for this week...but came up miserably short in the "emotions" section. I did great in the organized section...having all of her supplies when she needed them, getting her on a routine before the first week of school, getting her to the bus stop in plenty of time to catch the bus, reading every single piece of paper that has been sent home...which has been alot (I don't remember my mom getting any papers when I started kindergarten...now they have student handbooks, agenda books, etc.)...signing up for PAT,etc.

Monday was her orientation day. Randy & I went with her to meet her teacher & to see her classroom. She really liked it & waved at me & said, "You can go now." I had to remind her that it was only orientation day & that we both had to leave but that she would come back tomorrow by herself. Tuesday morning I walked her to the bus stop. As she got on the bus I was overcome with worry & said a quick prayer. As the bus drove away & I walked toward my house I had a couple of tears stream down my cheek. I didn't have much time to dwell on the bittersweetness of it all because as soon as I got home I had to start working. I am watching Mama Sarah & Papa Tim's two littlest ones when they are both working. Sarah was there with Audrey & Emily waiting for me so I switched gears quickly. I had a great time with them. They are so cute! It was 10:45am before I knew it. It was time to head out & pick Phoebe up from school (we have half day kindergarten).

Phoebe was all smiles when she climed into the van. She said she had a great day but she didn't give me many details because she was to busy talking to Audrey & Emily. Later that night at dinner she told Randy & I all about her day. The only thing she was disappointed about was that she didn't wear tennis shoes that day & couldn't play on the climbing wall :o(

Yesterday was a different story. I walked her to the bus stop again. It wasn't any easier yesterday or today. Although Phoebe & I have been "butting heads" all summer & we really needed a break from each other...I am somewhat saddened now that I have it. For almost 5 years it has been just the two of us most of the time when Randy is at work. She goes to school & learns new things & plays with friends. I come home to an empty house on the days I'm not babysitting. I know that won't be for much longer...my house will soon be a very loud & busy place but in the mean time I must learn how to appreciate the silence & aloneness.

So I picked Phoebe up from school yesterday & she happily got into the van & said "Good bye" to several classmates. As we started to drive off I asked her about her day & then asked her about a classmate who she had in her preschool class one year & has been friends with for two years. Her whole countenance changed & she got really quiet. I asked her if something had happened between the two of them but she kept telling me "No." Then I told her that I knew something was wrong & I really wanted to know what it was & she said, "Somebody bleeded today." I tried to get her to tell me about that but couldn't make any sense out of it. She couldn't tell me who it was or what had happened & she said she didn't see it. After about 15 minutes of quietness & not being herself, she was back to herself.

Later yesterday afternoon I took her to McDonalds to play. There were a lot of kids there & no one she knew except for two that left as soon as we were coming in. I had brought in a "pile" of papers from school to read while she was playing. I watched her play for awhile but realized it was better for me to read & not to watch because I always find myself wanting to get up & "help" her to communicate & play well with others. So this time I fought the urge & did not interfere. After she was done & we were leaving she told me that she did have fun but that one person called her a "big farty butt." My heart sank & I felt sick to my stomach. She looked so sad as she said it. I asked her how she responded & she said, "I walked away but also said, "I don't like you." I told her that she was right in walking away but that next time she should not say anything or say, "That's not a nice thing to say."

I know this is just the beginning of many learning experiences for her...and me. There will be good days & bad days. We will have happy times & times of sadness & joy. Please pray for me as I struggle with all of the insecurities & difficulties I faced as a child & how to best guide Phoebe & all of my children as they grow.

Happy Anniversary Honey!!!

I thank God for the 19 years of marriage that he has blessed us with so far. Thank you for being my soul mate & solid ground. Thank you for letting me be "me" & loving me for it. Thank you for being a wonderful husband & an amazing father to our children. I love you!

"Glorious" update :o)

Glory's mama called me tonight & left a voice message saying that Glory's visa appt. went well today & they will have her visa tomorrow. Praise God!!! Thanks to everyone for their prayers! HBWD time!!! :o)

"Glorious" Appointment...

Please pray for Glory & her visa appointment which is scheduled for tomorrow. Please pray that it goes smoothly & they will have her visa in hand by the end of the day. Thanks!

In this world...not of it

Christians hear & say that often but is it really easy to be in this world & not of it? For me, it varies. Sometimes it seems effortless & other times it feels like I'm failing miserably at it. The following devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah speaks to this. I hope it blesses you.

Uncomfortable with the Culture

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:13-16


It's happened more than once—missionaries leave the United States and, in time, become more comfortable in a foreign land than in their native country. They give various reasons: "It's quieter," "less materialism," "less peer pressure on our children," "the people are more receptive to the Gospel." When they return to America to visit, they talk about "returning home" in a new way—they've exchanged their old home for a new one.

That's what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom of God. Paul says our "citizenship is in heaven," not in this world (Philippians 3:20). It's why, over time, Christians begin to feel more and more out of place with the cultures of this world; why they speak of God's eternal kingdom as "going home." When we exchange our earthly home for our kingdom home is up to God. In the interim, our job is to so walk in the Spirit that we aren't "conformed to this world"; that we aren't squeezed into the world's mold, as Bible translator J. B. Phillips put it. When you leave home today, let it remind you of where your true home is—in Christ Jesus, now and for eternity.

"If you stand on the Word you do not stand with the world." Vance Havner

Larry King Live...

Okay, I will admit that I'm not a big CNN fan but I do occassionally watch Larry King Live. Tonight Steven Curtis Chapman will be on his show at 8pm CT. I am going to be prepared...with a box of kleenaxes at my side.

Romantical fingerprints...

Don't know if there is such a thing but that's what we're calling our very short get away. This afternoon we will leave Phoebe with good friends of ours & head to Louisville. Our refingerprinting appt. is for 8am ET tomorrow which is 7am here & we did not want to get up at 3am to get there in time so we decided to leave today & spend the night by ourselves to celebrate our wedding anniversary one week early since we won't have the oppportunity to get away next Tuesday. We haven't had a night by ourselves without children for a year & a half so we are really looking forward to this even though we have to end our trip with an intimidating trip to the DHS office to get fingerprinted :o) Please pray that my pretty significant paper cut on one of my fingers won't be cause for them to reschedule our appointment.

On my heart...

Noah continues to be on my heart & in my thoughts a lot right now which I am thanking God because I think that it's a "sign" of good things to come. Please continue to pray with me that he will come home soon. I have been praying for his birth family as well. The following is a prayer from the book "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian that I am praying on the behalf of Noah & his birth family.
Dear Lord,
Your Word says, "I sought the Lord, & He heard me, & delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). I seek You this day, believing that You hear me, & I pray that You will deliver (Noah & his birth family) from any fear that threatens to overtake (them). You said You have "not given us a spirit of fear, but of power & of love & of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Flood (them) with Your love & wash away all fear & doubt. Give (them)a sense of Your loving presence that fars outweighs any fear that would threaten to overtake (them). Help (them)to rely on Your power in such a manner that it establishes strong confidence & faith in You. Give (them) a mind so sound that (they) can recognize any false evidence the devil presents to (them) & identify it as having no basis in reality.
Wherever there is real danger or good reason to fear, give (them) wisdom, protect (them), & draw (them) close to You. Help (them) not to deny (their) fears, but take them to You in prayer & seek deliverance from them. I pray that as (they) draw close to You, Your love will penetrate (their) lives & crowd out all fear. Plant Your Word in (their) hearts. Let faith take root in (their) mind & soul as (they) grow in Your Word.
Thank you, Lord, for Your promise to deliver us from all our fears. In Jesus' name I pray for freedom from fear on behalf of (Noah & his birth family) this day.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"He shall cover you with His feathers, & under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield & buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terrors by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." Psalm 91:4-6

"The Lord is my light & my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

Please pray that God will continue to fill Michelle & Jeremy with His peace & strength. "Thus says the Lord: Restrain your voice from weeping & your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord; & your children shall return from the enemy's land. And there is hope for your future, says the Lord; your children shall come back." Jeremiah 31:16-17