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...

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.

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.

A Christmas Production!

Olivia and her buddy, Elizabeth, put on quite the Christmas production last night.  It was titled, "The Fake Santa".  Olivia was the Santa. Elizabeth was an Elf, named Ellie, and Duke had the very important role of a reindeer.  I love the imagination those two have and just so you know.... the REAL Santa took out the FAKE Santa in a most dramatic performance! JT and I were on the edge of our seats.....  :-)

Halloween 2009

One more time....

After we were informed that we were not able to adopt Emily, we also found out that the DR changed their laws requiring that documents be apostilled. The seals on our dossier were no longer acceptable.  So... to make a long story short.  Our dossier was mailed back to us and we sent if off to get RE-SEALED! It is now back on it's way to the Dominican Republic.  Once the Secretary of Foreign Affairs approves the new seals, our dossier will be registered with CONANI.   One year later...

Jeremiah 17:7

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."

We have recently found out that we will not be able to adopt sweet "little treasure."  We have decided not to go into all of the details on our blog, they are not what is really important. What is really important is that we will continue to TRUST God and His plan for our family.  We are called to adoption.  We know it and believe it.  Our journey has taken us to the Dominican Republic and we will continue an adoption from this country.  Our paperwork will be filed with their Central Authority and we will be referred a child (as is the process with most countries and non-special needs children).  We do not have a timeframe right now, but expect some time next year.  

One day we will understand God's plan, but for now we hold on to what we believe.  God is sovereign.  He is over everything!  To say the least, it has been difficult.  We have experienced a range of emotions, but at the end of the day, it is basically grief.  

Sweet litte treasure has a name.  It is Emily.  She lives in an orphanage and will most likely be there until she is 18.  Please pray for her.  Please pray for her health, protection and heart.  She will never know that a family in Charlotte loves her so very much and did everything in their power to bring her to a forever home with them.  She will not know that 2 little girls wanted to be her sisters.  She will never know that a Mom and Dad couldn't wait to hold her in their arms. She will never know how much I love her sweet face.