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)

Two miracles in a week...thank you Lord!!!

Okay, so those of you who are familiar with the adoption process in Haiti know that time frames really don't mean anything. A week & half ago we were told that it would take two weeks to fix Shakira's birth certificate problem. I know that God could so do that but I know how things usually operate in Haiti so I just prayed & left it in God's hands. Today I sent an reminder Email to our adoption contact person saying that Friday would be the two week mark & I would like a status report on Friday. I got a phone call this afternoon saying that the new birth certificate was issued & now it is being taken back to the judge for approval & signature so our files can be submitted to MOI. Praise God!!! Thank you Jesus!!! Please join me in prayer that the judge signs off on it & our files enter MOI by the end of this week. Thanks!

Do you believe in miracles???

Well, from my previous post some of you may have thought that Kenny had already passed away. Randy's parents went to the hospital today to have him taken off the ventilator & all meds stopped because he had not shown any signs of responsiveness at all & they said his entire brain except for his brain stem was damaged. Well...when they got to the hospital they found him awake. He just woke up & asked for his glasses. He then wanted to know why he was in the hospital. Randy's youngest sister says he is "normal" self. Praise God...the God of second chances!!! Please pray that Kenny uses his second chance very wisely! Thanks for all of your prayers & support!

Sunshine admist the rain...

Randy, Phoebe, & I have had heavy hearts ever since Friday evening when we learned that Randy's oldest brother Kenny became unconscious & was taken to the hospital. Since then we have learned that he had a massive heart attack in addition to multiple other problems. We will be heading to MO soon for his funeral. In the mean time I am trying to focus on happy thoughts & decided to post this picture of my Haitian trio. It was taken yesterday at the orphanage during the September birthday party. The girls liked their baby dolls that we had sent them.

Tasteless Food...

This devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah is perfect timing for me. I hope it is an encouragement to you as well.

Tasteless Food
In everything give thanks.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Recommended Reading
Psalm 136

Noted Christian author and speaker Kent Crockett recounted a time in his life when his father had to receive radiation treatments for throat cancer and in the process lost his sense of taste. Doctors said there was a chance his taste might return, but no one knew for certain and it became a daily struggle to force feed him so he could live. After a year of eating flavorless food, Crockett's father sat down to dinner and reluctantly took a bite of food, expecting once again to taste nothing. To his amazement and joy, his taste had returned and that ordinary dinner became the best meal he had ever eaten. From that day on, he relished each morsel of food as never before.*

As you go through each day, are you mindful of the little blessings God has given you? The air you breathe, the family you have, the reliable car you drive. If you were to sit down and list all of the blessings in your life, big and small, you would begin to cultivate a thankful spirit. Today, look for blessings in unexpected places and be sure to express your gratitude to our loving and gracious Father in heaven.

Indeed a really thankful heart will extract motive for gratitude from everything, making the most even of scanty blessings. J. R. MacDuff

Finding Strength in God Alone...

The song "Voice of Truth" was my theme song at the beginning of this adoption process. "Ever lasting God" has been my theme song at the end of it. I will wait upon the Lord for His perfect timing & I will find strength in Him.

"Stuck"...

Please pray for all of these precious children, their files, & for their adoptive parents. They have been "stuck" in either IBESR or between Parquet & MOI for months. The children are getting restless...not to mention older & the parents are weary...myself included. Thanks for your prayers!

It's a "God thing!"

That's what I like to call things that there is no question that God was in it, under it, over it, etc.! I don't have time to go into all of the details so I will just say that God has been working mightily in our lives this weekend & today. Thank you Lord for blessing us & speaking to us!!!

Our "current" total from our adoption fundraiser yard sale is $711.18. I say "current" because it has gone up twice since I finished the sale Saturday afternoon. We made $536.18 in sales & so far have been given $175 in donations. Unless there is a huge change in ticket prices we have enough money for one of the girls airplane tickets home. Praise God!!!

I pray that you will hear God speaking to you today & you will commit your ways to him. Be blessed today!

Yard Sale!

Tomorrow we are having an adoption fundraiser yard sale from 7am to noon. Please pray that we have good weather during the sale, lots of people & lots of sales. All proceeds from this sale will go towards the airfare to bring our three children from Haiti home. $500 would be great! $700 would be awesome! And anything over that would be supernatural :o) A big thank you to all of my friends that have donated some really great items including antiques, lawn mowers, sinks, bread machine, home decor, house wares, clothing, toys, etc.!!! We really appreciate it!

Into the light...

We got power back at 10am this morning. Praise God!!! Two days earlier than anticipated!!! Doing the HBWD!!! :o)

In the dark...

If you think this is going to be a deep post regarding spiritual darkness you are wrong. I'll save that for a later date. Today I'm talking about "virtual" darkness. We have been without electricity since Sunday morning. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining because we are fine & have much more than most people in the world. I just wanted to let you all know why I haven't been blogging or E mailing. They say that we should have power Friday. Please pray that we will. I hope that you are having a great week in the Lord!

A rare photo op...

Thanks Megan for this picture!!! I wonder who Shakira was talking to on the phone :o)