Saturday, December 18, 2010

Twas a week before Christmas...

Twas a week before Christmas,
with much catching up to do.
I had neglected my blog,
without an update for you.

A referral is coming -
we pray next year!
A boy? A girl?
which one is not clear.

We continue to wait,
with hope in our heart.
Our four will become five,
and we're ready to start!

So back to the blog,
where I need to post.
Updates of my family,
which I treasure the most!



Tuesday, July 13, 2010

All Star Swim Meet - 2010


Bailey and Olivia BOTH made the All-Star team!
One was super-excited. One was super-unsure about it all.
It was an exciting event and our team WON by 20 points.

GO WAVES!


Bailey placed first in breaststroke and second in butterfly.

Look at her go! This girl LOVES to swim.
She is competitive and thrives in a competition.

Olivia placed third in backstroke!

This is her first year on the Swim Team
and she made the All-Stars!

What a huge accomplishment.

This sweet girl of mine is not as competitive as her sister.
During the meet (in tears), she told me
that she did not want to do this again.

It was too much pressure for a 7 year old! :-)


I am so proud of my girls. Both uniquely and wonderfully made!



Sunday, May 30, 2010

Adam - a little hero

This sweet boy's name is Adam.
He is the son of our good friends, Greg and Jenny.


Adam came home to his Forever Family in January. He was born with spina bifida. Adam has always been mobile by scooting around.... but never been able to walk. Through therapy, love of a Mom and Dad - plus lots of determination...look at him go!

He is a hero in my eyes. I have never seen anyone with more courage or more determination. He never complains and is always happy, content and very loving. To top it off... he is seriously CUTE. I am complete mush around this little guy.
Just look at that face!


Jenny and I walked the journey of adoption paperwork together. Having gone through the process when she adopted Samantha, she was so very helpful and supportive to me. I had lots of questions! Many days we would meet at the YMCA, hit the treadmill and start talking about our paperchase. We prayed and prayed for our adoptions of Adam and Emily. To see this prayer of Adam answered, humbles me beyond belief.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us...
Ephesians 3:20


I have been amazed by Greg and Jenny's faith. They were called to this adoption of Adam having no idea what all would be involved with his medical issues. It has been and will continue to be a journey of trust. Medical decisions still need to be made for Adam. I ask that you please pray for my dear friends as they continue to seek the best treatments for him.

I am reminded of how magnificent our Heavenly Father is when I look at this sweet face.

In God's most beautifully woven plan...
He placed the most perfect little boy with the perfect family.

Did I mention how cute he is??? You've now seen it for yourself.

http://prayingadamhome.blogspot.com/

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Followers?

Hello? Anyone out there?

I ran into a sweet friend at church today. We served together in the Dominican Republic this past February. She said that she had seen my blog, but wanted to follow it and get updates through her blog.

So - I ventured out and added the "Followers" gadget today. All by myself...I might add. I think I even broke a sweat.

If you get a chance, let me know you are there..... :-)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

May 16th, 2010

An outward expression of a beautiful - accepting - faithful heart.




Bailey ~ We are so very thankful for the sweet, kind heart God gave you. We are proud of your decision to be baptized and pray that you will always love God ~ with all your HEART, all your SOUL and all your MIND. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

We love you!!!!!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11






Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tennis Anyone?



Bailey and Olivia tried something new this spring....TENNIS! They had the best time with Coach Rhonda. Now that they have given it a try and learned the basics...we'll see who gets bitten by the tennis bug! (I'm hoping at least one of them will... since I love it too!)


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Before The Morning ~ Josh Wilson

Oh - I love this song! I heard it the other morning on the way to a Mother's Day Tea at the girl's school. Never heard it before, but remembered a few lyrics and was able to google it.
LOVE the song - - not crazy about the video.
Just being honest...again.



Before The Morning – Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to feel the things that hurt you?
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now?
Or maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening to bring a better ending
Someday, somehow you’ll see, you’ll see

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
And you know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there so say a prayer

And hold on ’cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time
But you’ll see the bigger picture

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

Yeah, yeah, before the morning
Yeah, yeah

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory
Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory, memory, memory, yeah

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still got a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still got a reason to sing?
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

Come on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
‘Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh, the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

Yeah, yeah, before the morning
Yeah, yeah, before the morning


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Believing in Miracles

It is written throughout scripture the miracles God has performed.
I believe that our all- knowing, all-powerful God
still performs miracles today.

Do I need a miracle to have faith in God?
No. I have faith in God no matter what.

Do I need a miracle to believe in the sovereignty
of my Heavenly Father?
No. I believe in God and his sovereignty over my life
no matter what.

I trust God with His plan for our family, with His plan for Emily
and with everything concerning our adoption.

But-I am just going to be honest....a miracle sure would be nice
right about now!


A girl can ask, right???


Hebrews 2:4

And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Psalm 66:5

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!

Psalm 106:2

Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?

Psalm 136:4

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.

Galatians 3:5

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

My Guy


(How handsome he is...and trying to hide his Blackberry in his hand!)


I decided it was time to post about JT. If you know me- you know I love talking about my kids, great things God has shown me, adoption and don't get me started on the orphan crisis in our world. So for this post- I am going to take a moment and talk about "My Guy."

We've been married for almost 14 years. He is the same as he was the day I married him. Easy going - fun to be around - a procrastinator (I am not!)- hard worker - great provider - golfer - NFL fan - permanently attached to his Blackberry - music lover and new to the list.... self taught harmonica player. My closest friends refer to him as the "Gatekeeper." He is protective of me and anything that hurts/upsets me. It hasn't happened often in our marriage, but our life story definitely has some tough chapters.

When we lost our triplets 5 years ago, the healing was much easier for him. He was more worried about me and my health. He grieved but in a much different way than me.

When we were told Emily wasn't available to adopt, he was more worried about my heart than his. Now that we are looking into a more detailed investigation of Emily (I can't go into all of it on this blog), he told me that it haunts him to think about seeing me go through another loss. He is the gatekeeper of my heart.

Now hear me clearly - we are not perfect by any means. The man can get on my very last nerve and if I am honest.... I KNOW I can get on his too! :-)

I found this quote before we got married and have kept it ever since. I don't remember where I got it, the paper is now faded and yellowed from time.

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person
but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."

Flaws and all (both his and mine).... he is still "My Guy" and the one who I knew would eventually say, "Yes, I am on board! Let's adopt!" I am most certainly ready for this chapter of our life story to be written.

You can be certain that he will be the best Dad to the precious little one God has in store for us. He mostly certainly is to two we have now. Makes me love him more...

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Dominican Republic Mission Trip


I just returned from a mission trip to El Seibo, Dominican Republic. Our team ran a medical, dental and eye clinic. We saw over 3000 people and were able to fill many of the prescriptions needed by those attending the clinics.

What a blessing to serve the people in the Dominican again! I loved that this trip was different than the one I went on 2 years ago. Our team was very busy from the minute we arrived at the clinic until we went to bed at night. The medicines we shipped prior to our departure, arrived on the day the clinic opened! We played "catch up" every night trying to sort, count and label the medicines.
(View from my bedroom window)

I was part of a great team which included my friend of many years, Laura. (I stopped counting the years because it makes us seem old) I love that we get to go on Mission Trips and serve together. I love they we both have a heart for the Dominican Republic. I love that she showed me pictures of a sweet little treasure named Emily. I love that I fell in love with that little girl.

Honestly, I wasn't sure how I would feel going back to the DR. My heart is still tender from all that has gone on with our adoption. I prayed that God would renew my spirit in this calling to adopt. I did not realize how He actually did until the last morning of our trip.

When I woke up that Sunday morning (to a rooster crowing outside my window) I began praying and thinking about the precious children I saw all week. I held and loved on each and every child that I could. Loving on those sweet children refreshed me to continue this long journey. I knew I would WAIT for as long as it took to hold THE child God has planned for US. I would do whatever I had to do. God called us to this - He will see us through it and no one ever said it would be easy.

Only God could give me such a peace.



Sunday, January 17, 2010

Welcome 2010!!

We are definitely looking forward to a brighter 2010 around here and so far so good!

Our dossier is officially registered at CONANI! We found out mid December. Now we wait (and wait) to be referred a child. Our paperwork states that we will accept a BOY or GIRL from newborn to 3 years old. We are very excited to see the child God has in store for us! It has taken me a long time to get here and to feel excited again.

After all we went through with Emily....I definitely had to regroup. I questioned why we traveled down this road only to be told, "No." I knew we were called to adoption, I knew I trusted God with His plan for us, but I could not get my mind around the fact that Emily would not become a part of our family. Through the adoption community, I came across a book called "The Strength of Mercy" by Jan Beazely. The author tells her own personal story of how she ready to adopt a little girl only to find out she had already been adopted. As she and her husband pray to God in their grief, she hears him whisper these words to her. "I showed you one...to give you another. Trust Me. You don't have time to grieve over this. If you do, you'll miss the child I have for you. I promise in the end you will see and understand." This stopped me in my tracks. As she goes on with rest of her story, I felt like I could have written that chapter myself. I could so relate with all the emotions that come flooding your way when you step out in faith only to find out this is not the plan YET.

So for now, we wait, trust and believe that God will bless us for our obedience. One day we will SEE and UNDERSTAND.