Have you read Isaiah 58:6-12?

If you do not recall what this talks about, I encourage you to read or to re-read it!

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO WORSHIP THE LORD!

*Remove the chains of prisoners chained unjustly!
*Free those who are abused!
*Share your food with everyone who is hungry!
*Share your homes with the poor and homeless!
*Give clothes to those in need!
*Don't turn away your relatives!

THEN YOUR LITHE WILL SHINE LIKE THE DAWNING SUN!.... WHEN YOU BEG THE LORD FOR HELP HE WILL ANSWER "HERE I AM!"

*Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them!
*Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless!

THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE IN THE DARK, YOUR DARKEST HOUR WILL BE LIKE THE NOONDAY SUN!... THE LORD WILL ALWAYS GUIDE YOU AND PROVIDE GOOD THINGS TO EAT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE DESERT....

***Do you notice that twice this passage tells us to feed the hungry and share our homes with the homeless? I wonder how many times the bible talks about us as Christians taking in the poor, the hungry, the lonely, the orphans, the homeless, the strangers, the widows ... and caring for them, sharing all we have with them? Maybe it is just where my passionate heart for God is most called, but I recall more references to caring for those in need than any other specific calling I can think of in the Bible! The great commission .. "GO and make disciples of all nations..". How many times is that in the Bible? Don't mistake me, I am not downplaying that, but I am very much talking "UP" about the calling for Christians to take a stand, arm themselves for battle, and make a real and willing difference in the lives of those God deems neediest!

How many Christians have an extra room, extra time on their hands, extra funds, a retirement fund, a large security savings? I am not telling you how to deligate your funds, but I am asking you to prayerfully consider how the Lord is calling you to use the blessings of abundance HE has given to you!

There are children DYING who never know the love of family, a full belly at night, the feel of fresh green grass in between their toes, the comfort of a mothers love when they are hurt, daughters who never know that there are good men... DADS who will stand up for them and respect them! HOW can they know their heavenly Father loves them when they are steeped in their miserable existence? GOD has given the earth the gift of children and we have thrown so many away! How my heart cries for the misery of these precious little ones! How I pray I am doing all God commands of me to help ease the suffering and bring JOY to the lives of those that I can! The closest thing to heaven is a child and yet look at how so many are treated? Is that how Heaven is to be treated????

Can you not hear the trumpet of the Lord ringing out the call to arms? Can you not feel the buzzing of your whole body to stand up and make a difference? Maybe the adoption of a child won't change the whole world, but for that one child the whole world will change! -- CR WHAT MORE CAN WE ASK FOR OUR LIFES PURPOSE?????

delays, delays....

ugh! I wanted our HS done by the end of May. BUT the Drs. decided they need to see EVERYONE of my kids for a physical to fill out the forms required for the HS. ON one hand I understand, on the other they have seen them at least every year since they were infants, if they really weren't healthy, stable kids it would have shown up before now! AND James [foster son} Dr. wants to see him too, although he had a physical in Oct. Who knows if he will judge him based on how he is now, or how he was before he was with us! So, with all those appt. we are looking at June 18th for the last physical, not to mention the co-pays on everything! YUCK!

And we still have to do our 10 hours of on line education per Hague country requirements. It is SO easy to pin John down and say "do this".... NOT!

On a good note, or regular physicians agreed to do the psychiatric part of the form, so that saves time and money!

I want our HS done. I really am needing to be a step closer than we are... just to keep my spirits up and my motivation fresh! I still feel like the girls are a dream, and not "real" sometimes.

A Large Family and the sacrifices it takes....

My questions are:

1. "Do you think that expecting your kids to be part of a large family is fair, when having a large family means sacrificing lots of fun things that other families get to do or have such as big vacations, the latest technology, having your own cell phone, your own computer, your own room, newer clothes, more toys or more of your own toys, more one on one time with mom and dad and so on.... Do you think it is fair?

2. "Do you think it increases their potential to be caring, compassionate, and productive adults?"

3. "How much influence should your children be given about the size of your family? Whether through adoption or your biological children, where should you or do you draw the line? "





Please feel free to comment. Not in a hurtful way, mind you, but in a respectful and honest way. And I am not knocking any SMALLER size families out there! Just wanting your take on big ones. :)

And the greatest of these is LOVE!

I am weighed down by negativity with the adoption of the girls today. People I care about , strangers, it seems like today is the day to attack me about it. It gets to me. I wish it didn't, but it does. I start to think "Am I crazy?"...

But then I cease looking at the things of this world, and instead look at the heart of my Heavenly Father. I look at the pictures of my girls. I look at the truly AWESOME WONDERS OF GOD, ALL THAT HE HAS CREATED, ALL THAT HE HAS PROMISED, ALL THAT HE COMMANDS OF US.... And my JOY is revived once again!

Praise the Lord. He is good, all that time! A quote our pastor has referenced which I love is:

"Either HE is Lord of ALL, or He isnt' Lord at all!"

You can't have it both ways! Is He Lord of all in your life?

They can not see the suffering, they are physically blind....

WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?



Irwin will be 6 in October. He has a long list to face: Microphtalmia, blind. Considerable lagging behind in mental and motor development. All this without the love of a mom of dad! It isn't fair!





Little Wendy! Just like in Peter Pan, but she won't get to be forever young. She has never had a childhood worth remembering. She will be 3 in July, but that is nothing to celebrate. She also is battling Cerebral Palsy. She needs a mom and dad to encourage her, love her, and show her the love of Christ Jesus!



Michelle will be 3 in September. She can not walk, though there is no medical reason for this. She needs a family to encourage her! Just because her eyes do not see, does not mean she should wither away in an institution w/o a family of her own! She has so much potential and love to give!!! Give Michelle a miracle, let God use you as an instrument of His love and bring her home into the protected grace of a family!

***There is also an adorable little boy names Dimitry who will be 4 the day after Christmas. There are pics of him, but I couldn't get the small enough. He really is a total snuggle bug! Don't you want to snuggle him? He has so much to give, but because he can't see he was not deemed worthy of a family! Won't you adopt this precious little one and help him "see" how good life can be? GODS heart is for him! IS YOURS?

Please visit www.reecesrainbow.org/otherangels.htm for further information!



Because You Loved ME:

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Don't stand before God having to explain why you looked the other way! Speak with Him now, right this minute and see what He has in store for you. IT might just be one of these little ones coming into your life!

Surprise from Big Sissy!!

Dear my sweet little sissies,

I broke onto Mommy's blog to write you a little love note. ;] I figure, she won't mind too much. I just want to let you know that I absolutely can not WAIT to get you home to me! We're going to have so much fun.

Yeah, some days I'll be a butt and won't help much with you, but there will also be the days when it will just be us girls - you, me, and Quincy. Those will be fun! We can climb trees, build forts, and play in the sprinklers. You know, girl stuff. ;]

Anyway babies, I just want you to know that I miss you and can't wait to show you off to all my friends. Casity will adore you, Aly will love taking pictures with you, and Mollie will love to play with you. Oh, and of course I'll make Ryan hold you. You're gonna love him - he's great fun when you need a laugh. Yana, you can take off his shoes and socks. He's pretty ticklish - make sure you tickle his legs.

Until then, sweethearts, stay strong for sissy and I'll come get you out of ******** soon! And remember - Jesus is with you and he's holding you in his arms. I'm counting on him to keep you safe and warm (you hear that??).

Love forever,
Riley

Adoption is Greater than the Universe....