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!

Our responsibilty...

I think the following devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah goes well with what's going on in our world right now & especially regarding the upcoming election.

Our Part

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
Daniel 2:21

Recommended Reading
Romans 13:1-7


Very soon, Americans will go to the polls and vote for the next president and vice-president of the United States. Hundreds more officials in states and communities will also be elected. But in light of verses like Daniel 2:21—"[God] removes kings and raises up kings"—does it really matter if we vote or not? Doesn't He ultimately choose?

Yes—God ultimately chooses everything. And Yes—it matters that we vote. Everything that happens in God's sovereign economy has two parts: His part and our part. Whether it's salvation or a good marriage or a successful career, both God's grace and our activity is required. From a practical perspective, the Bible is filled with exhortations that depend on our responsibility. The same verse that says God removes and raises up kings says that He gives "wisdom . . . and knowledge." And Proverbs 2:1-8 says that acquiring wisdom is like searching for buried treasure. There is work to be done in order to find it.

"The sovereignty of God never excuses us from responsibility." Will Metzger

Aren't they cute???

I figured this ought to at least a warrant a post from you, if not a phone call, or taking me out to lunch :o)

Not much of an update, update...

I know some of you are waiting for an update regarding my BIL as well as adoption news. Unfortunately there's not a whole lot to report right now. As of last night, Kenny still hadn't waken up although his ammonia level is coming down which is good. It looks like he has a good case of hepatic encephalathy which is what Randy & I suspected all along.

I got a very vague report on the adoptions yesterday so I'll just say that we're still waiting to go into MOI. Please pray for Phoebe. For two weeks straight she asks at least once a day for us to pray for the paper work so her sisters & brother can come home. She has stood up in church & asked for prayers, & yesterday when she was having quiet time in her room I heard her on the monitor talking to God about wanting them home & asking Him for the paperwork to be done. I just cried when I heard it. My heart hurts for her. Please pray that our children will be home by Christmas, & if not that God would have mercy on us & bless us with the money so that Phoebe & I could go to Haiti in December so she can see her siblings. Thanks!

Here we go again...

We just got word tonight that Randy's brother Kenny, is unconscious again & has been transferred back to the Intensive Care Unit. They have no idea what is causing this. Please pray for God's will to be done & for strength, peace, & discernment for Randy's parents, especially his mother.

HBWD!!!

In honor of Jonas being in MOI, I have been doing the HBWD most of the evening. Many of you have asked to see a video of me actually doing the HBWD. You are brave people...very brave!!! :o) I never thought I had anything in common with Shaq but apparently we have similar dancing styles...minus the getting on the floor thing...my floor days are behind me...way back there :o)

7 Quirky things...

This is from a Cara G. tag. I'm suppose to list 7 quirky things about myself so here it goes:
1. I have this thing about putting all the blinds up in the morning & all down in the evening. It's a ritual I have & they have to be "just so."
2. I like to go to restaurants by myself. I like to enjoy other people's cooking & savor each bite without distractions &/or interruptions from others. (No, Kelly that doesn't mean we won't ever go out to lunch together again :o)
3. Buying jeans is a traumatic thing for me due to my thick waist & bird legs. If it fits in the waist it's too big in the legs & if it fits in the legs it's too small in the waist. That's why I don't wear jeans very often :o(
4. I have shrunk one inch since 2002 but I don't have osteoporosis.
5. I have more hair on one side of my head than the other.
6. Every day around 3pm I have to eat a protein snack or I feel "funky."
7. Bats & rats freak me out.

Praying you home...

Today...

I will savor every moment.

First Report Card...

Phoebe got her first report card last week. She had all satisifactory marks. There was nothing marked for improvement. The teachers comments were, "Phoebe is an excellent student & a very sweet girl! I am impressed with her reading progress."
Bravo, Phoebe, Bravo!!! :o)