Tuesday, November 23, 2010

SPECsifcally cute!

LOOK whats new!


And the biggest surprise of the week is she LIKES them! She will actually leave them on for quite awhile, and she's happy! :)
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Seriously, can she look sad or what? :)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Sweet Tavi [Nov. 14th]

God knew. He knew that 5 years ago when a precious baby girl was born that she would be our daughter. The gentle CARE He takes, the LOVE He puts into it, the JOY He finds in it, the SPECIFIC outcome He has designed for us ... the knitting together of a family. It's a GOD thing.



Psalm 139

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.


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Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

11 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.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAVI JOHN!!!!


Sunday, November 7, 2010

Orphan Sunday/ Saturday at our church

Well, I can't say it was perfect, but I gave our "How did you first enter into adoption?" testimony on Saturday to start off our "Orphan Sunday" sermon.

They even got it on video, which had I known I would have done myself up just a little bit.;) Sometimes, the most I can do is just show up.... moms you know how that is right? :)

Talking in front of a group is so not my thing, I wish it was. I am getting better, and thats kind of scary once you watch ... but the point wasn't how great I was, it was that God has moved in my life in a mighty way and I wanted to be able to share that.

Here is the link, I do my testimony and then Pastor Jeff does his sermon, which btw, is fantastic [as always!]. So if you have the time, listen to it all.

Listen and Watch here!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Will needs a family!

This year I am a Christmas Warrior through Reeces Rainbow for Will. He is a little 5 year old boy with Down syndrome. In his write up it says that he is very serious. That just makes me want to hug him and put a lasting smile on his face! The best way I know to do that is to bring him a family.

He is in a country very dear to my heart ;) ..... If you are able, would you please consider donating to help Will get to the $1000 mark by Christmas, or better yet maybe we could get his whole adoption paid for!

Most importantly, pray for Will that his family finds him and starts working to bring him home!

Here is little Will! Don't you want to see that little face break into a sneaky grin?



Heres the link to his information and how you can donate towards his adoption fund. Which if you are interested is tax deductible. :)
Will's adoption fund!

number 6...

6. The adoption tax credit for 2010 is over $13,000! :)

Friday, November 5, 2010

4 months home!

I can hardly believe it!!

It's been crazy enough that I can look back and honestly not quite believe we made it through!
Each day presented and continues to present new challenges. 9 kids, diverse beginnings, and 3 of which are teens guarantees that life is neither quiet, peaceful nor boring! And yet I am at peace, my heart overflows, my mind is mush.... Life ain't perfect ;).

Tavi slowly continues to do better each day. She is learning English slowly but surely. She still repeats every phrase we say back to us and holds conversations with herself ;). She tends to think she's quite funny! She loves music. Since I only know a few songs we play those over and over. Give her 6 months and she'll be playing them!

She has an eye appointment on the 11th with a specialist. We will see if she truly has some vision, or is just a miraculously smart and adaptable little girl ( well, she already is.... But it remains to be seen if she can see!)

Now miss Yana is the one who astounds me. Today, just TODAY, 4 months to the day of being home she played for 20 minutes in the bathtub! She has NEVER, EVER played at ALL in the tub before tonight other than dunking her head under. And that just happened a couple days ago! But tonight she was a crazy, happy girl playing, splashing, dunking herself! And she would NOT get out! That in itself is amazing. She is always ready to get out!

I wish I could show the transformation of this little girl! Picture a 7 year old that did not play, did not understand or care about cause and effect, just wanted to be left alone. Now picture a 7 year old awakened for the first time to a life that is fun, a life that she can influence, a life she participates in with thought and wide eyed wonder! She went from being in a daze all day, to being EXCITED to start her day! AND get this! The little bugger did not want to go to bed last night! She wanted to stay up and PLAY and was quite clear about it!

It's nothing short of a miracle! Both of these girls are on the road to being normal kids, that have normal childhoods, a "semi" normal family, and normal hopes and dreams! Over so many miles God gently aced them into our family and we and so many of you have the privilege of seeing them go from "shells of what could have beens" to "mornings gonna stop us nows"!

Before my eyes I am witnessing what Gods love and mercy can do. I always knew it, deep down I knew it, but the world tries so hard to bury it..... In the presence of God impossible is just a word. In the hands of God your body is energized. Within the shelter of Gods love lives are transformed and made new. In the arms of God it is safe to let your heart beat again with joy, courage, wonder, and .... hope!

number 5.....

5. We are told again and again in the bible that God has a heart full of mercy and love for orphans, widows, the "least of these", as we are also told to "be like Christ". Can you think of a better way than through the adoption of a child to have our hearts aligned with GODS HEART AND WILL?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

National Adoption Month .... 30 reasons to adopt

I'll play catch up since it's already the 4th!

1. All children deserve a loving family.

2. Adoption is beating strong in the heart of God.

3. It's a beautiful option for growing your family.

4. It is a living, tangible, and phenomenal way to show your children
that love does not have rules and boundaries.