Joshua's CT scan couldn't have gone better. After some serious bribing he laid on the table without being sedated and did SO well. As we walked into the hospital he was baby talking with me, wanting to be held. He said he was scared. Can't blame him, so was I! I hate how familiar I am with that place. His ENT and craniofacial doctor and other doctors we have seen along this journey are right across from the hospital so we've just plain old been there too many times.
But this time we walked out just plain old happy and grateful. I was prepared to spend an obscene amout of money on him for doing so well. Probably just as much out of feeling sorry for him as being proud of him for pulling it together enough to lay still. I kept telling him it was like a Star Wars spaceship and it was SO cool! Fortunately he chose a $25 toy at the store because the way I saw it was even if we spent $100 it was still cheaper than paying for anesthia.
This is an online devotional I read today that was a source of encouragement and conviction from God's Word. You see I do hate all the unknowns in life but I am learning to rest in the One who knows!
“Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”
Joshua 3:4a
Do you ever fear the unknown? Perhaps it’s your health or the uncertainty of your future. Maybe it’s the decisions your children will make about following God or following their peers. Fearing the unknown can cause us to spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. There are two problems with this type of fear:
• The future is not here.
• The future is not ours.
While the future may be out of our hands, it is not out of the hands of our faithful trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example of how to trust God in the face of uncertainty.
It’s recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land — the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.
Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God’s direction. Much like their meeting with the Red Sea, God had to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant (where God’s Presence abided) to follow it because they had “never passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4). In essence, God was saying: Follow Me and I’ll see you through this unknown territory.
That’s not all. The people were instructed on how closely they should follow the ark. Without this instruction, the people would have crowded the ark and God wanted every person to be able to see His presence faithfully leading them through the unknown valley. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, a God who was with them?
You see, friend, the Lord understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you’ve never passed through before and you’re afraid. It may be the first time you’ve been without employment. Maybe you’ve just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You’ve never been down this road before and you don’t know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way.
Joshua’s life was unpredictable and full of unknowns much like yours and mine. Yet, he successfully resisted fear by keeping his focus on God rather than the events surrounding him. Just as God guided the Israelites through unknown territory, He will guide you and me, too.
As He promises in Isaiah 43, when we come to a place we’ve never passed through before, God is always present to help us.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (v.2-3a, NIV).
Even though the children of Israel were not told how they would pass over the river, the people went forth in faith. We too can move forward in faith sharing in the promised presence of God leading the way through our unknown circumstances.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your promised presence. It comforts my heart to know that I am not alone. Lead me, Lord, through the unknowns in my life. Make Your path clear and I will follow it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Proof I've lost my mind!
So I get an email from our social worker today. We did our last home visit for Zhi Zhou Saturday plus our 12 month post placement visit for Joy. It's hard to believe she's been home for a year in April. Our social worker wrote me an email this morning after I had given her Joy's weight, height, likes, dislikes, etc. for her report.
Our social worker wrote me, "You said Joy is now 49 inches. In the last report, we said she was 51 inches. How do we explain this? :)"
He, he! I knew Joy had grown 2 inches since December, but I guess I subtracted instead of added. Makes me a little nervous that I home school my kids! Poor woman, it's a good thing she loves our family.
By the way, she is going to the Phillipines in April/ May to help advocate for 10 specific children. She will get interviews, pictures, video with them and then come home and try to find them families. There are 9 boys and 1 girl that are physically healthy. Just in need of a family! Can't wait to share them with you all and everyone else I know. We've told her we'd help advocate for them.
Please also pray for our sweet Joshie. Wednesday morning he has his CT scan to find out why his middle ear is not functioning properly. Thank you, no matter how many times he and I end up at Scottish Rite it is still just hard!
Our social worker wrote me, "You said Joy is now 49 inches. In the last report, we said she was 51 inches. How do we explain this? :)"
He, he! I knew Joy had grown 2 inches since December, but I guess I subtracted instead of added. Makes me a little nervous that I home school my kids! Poor woman, it's a good thing she loves our family.
By the way, she is going to the Phillipines in April/ May to help advocate for 10 specific children. She will get interviews, pictures, video with them and then come home and try to find them families. There are 9 boys and 1 girl that are physically healthy. Just in need of a family! Can't wait to share them with you all and everyone else I know. We've told her we'd help advocate for them.
Please also pray for our sweet Joshie. Wednesday morning he has his CT scan to find out why his middle ear is not functioning properly. Thank you, no matter how many times he and I end up at Scottish Rite it is still just hard!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Again?!
This post could really be titled more random thoughts but in light of adding our 6th child to our family "Again?!" is a comment/ statement/ question we have received quite a bit recently. Now to me 6 kids doesn't seem too many. I know someone with almost 11, someone with 8, sweet mom and daughter going to China with us have 7, and quite a few friends that have more than 4.
Which leads me to the conclusion of why people are shocked when we say we are adopting again. I think it's because they can't see themselves with 6 kids, with kids with special or medical needs, and/or can't see themselves adopting at all. You see we all react based on what we know and what we think we could handle ourselves. Me too! My friend that has 8 kids has birthed them all. I can't see myself being pregnant 8 times.
We all like God to keep our lives manageable, (in our own eyes) neat and tidy. Unfortunately none of us are real dependant on Him if we feel like we can do it all by ourselves. So allow God to stretch you. Do something today you feel like He wants you to, without talking yourself out of it. Your faith in Him will grow.
I'm not saying Clayton and I have gone out looking for chaos or hard. The key is merely doing what God has for YOU, not someone else, but you. Then enjoying the journey no matter what comes up, enjoying the lessons learned along the way.
So let's all assume God doesn't lead us to the same things and be grateful all our families don't look the same. As for ours, Clayton and I talk all the time about how blessed we are. Mostly because we don't lack entertainment or a good laugh at our house. Someone is always doing something entertaining or crazy to keep us on our toes and keep us laughing, sometimes we have tears of joy or we are crying we are laughing so hard and sometimes tears of "this is just plain hard" (like Joshie's CT scan coming up on Wed.) Please pray! Either way see God tells us we can be joyful in trials and hardship because everything is meant to bring us closer to Him.
We finished our home study visits yesterday. So thankful for a social worker like ours. She has 6 grown children that are fairly close in age like ours. She talked about how close they are now. What they did and didn't get to do as a family growing up. They didn't get invited to eat or play (everyone) at other's homes much.
Yi was telling us last night how comfortable she and her friends are here. They all like being here. Everything is laid back, it has to be, we'd drive ourselves crazy if it wasn't. I guess God knew that we wouldn't mind having people in and out of our house so it wouldn't matter that we were a little intimidating for others to have over. ;)
Which leads me to the conclusion of why people are shocked when we say we are adopting again. I think it's because they can't see themselves with 6 kids, with kids with special or medical needs, and/or can't see themselves adopting at all. You see we all react based on what we know and what we think we could handle ourselves. Me too! My friend that has 8 kids has birthed them all. I can't see myself being pregnant 8 times.
We all like God to keep our lives manageable, (in our own eyes) neat and tidy. Unfortunately none of us are real dependant on Him if we feel like we can do it all by ourselves. So allow God to stretch you. Do something today you feel like He wants you to, without talking yourself out of it. Your faith in Him will grow.
I'm not saying Clayton and I have gone out looking for chaos or hard. The key is merely doing what God has for YOU, not someone else, but you. Then enjoying the journey no matter what comes up, enjoying the lessons learned along the way.
So let's all assume God doesn't lead us to the same things and be grateful all our families don't look the same. As for ours, Clayton and I talk all the time about how blessed we are. Mostly because we don't lack entertainment or a good laugh at our house. Someone is always doing something entertaining or crazy to keep us on our toes and keep us laughing, sometimes we have tears of joy or we are crying we are laughing so hard and sometimes tears of "this is just plain hard" (like Joshie's CT scan coming up on Wed.) Please pray! Either way see God tells us we can be joyful in trials and hardship because everything is meant to bring us closer to Him.
We finished our home study visits yesterday. So thankful for a social worker like ours. She has 6 grown children that are fairly close in age like ours. She talked about how close they are now. What they did and didn't get to do as a family growing up. They didn't get invited to eat or play (everyone) at other's homes much.
Yi was telling us last night how comfortable she and her friends are here. They all like being here. Everything is laid back, it has to be, we'd drive ourselves crazy if it wasn't. I guess God knew that we wouldn't mind having people in and out of our house so it wouldn't matter that we were a little intimidating for others to have over. ;)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Random Thoughts
I talked via email yesterday with someone who is adopting from the same orphanage that Zhi Zhou is in. They left today to become a forever family and are hoping to get pictures for those of us in the process. God orchetrating events reminds me of this popular ancient Chinese saying.
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumsance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."
We had our first home study visit today, last one tomorrow, plus 12 month post placement visit for Joy. Moving right along. We are going to be finishing up buying stuff for Joy and I's trip to China plus putting together our first care package for Zhi Zhou (English name to be determined).
Here are some totally cute pictures of Isaac and Joshua getting boxes off our porch. They get so excited when the mailman comes with more stuff for kids in China. About every other day we get some more items from all over to take to China with us to the orphanage.
Here is what our room looks like right now. You think all this will fit in 5 suitcases?! Good thing my husband is a packing king. Somehow he'll make it all fit and be under 50 pounds each!
We enjoyed a wonderful day at the park with friends. Clayton is away at our church's men's retreat so Yi, the kids, and I are going to go to the Chinese market tonight.
Here is a verse I ran across on someone else's blog today! It's amazing how quickly the world gets smaller when you are adopting! After reading this verse I thought alot about how many times I have stood in awe of God after seeing my kids for the first time, watching them play, or listening to them say something funny.
"When you see the children I will give you, then you will acknowledge that I am the holy God of Isreal. You will honor me and stand in awe of me."
-Isaiah 29:23
God is amazing indeed!
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumsance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."
We had our first home study visit today, last one tomorrow, plus 12 month post placement visit for Joy. Moving right along. We are going to be finishing up buying stuff for Joy and I's trip to China plus putting together our first care package for Zhi Zhou (English name to be determined).
Here are some totally cute pictures of Isaac and Joshua getting boxes off our porch. They get so excited when the mailman comes with more stuff for kids in China. About every other day we get some more items from all over to take to China with us to the orphanage.
Here is a verse I ran across on someone else's blog today! It's amazing how quickly the world gets smaller when you are adopting! After reading this verse I thought alot about how many times I have stood in awe of God after seeing my kids for the first time, watching them play, or listening to them say something funny.
"When you see the children I will give you, then you will acknowledge that I am the holy God of Isreal. You will honor me and stand in awe of me."
-Isaiah 29:23
God is amazing indeed!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Here's the story
At the end of January some guys went to a men's conference. The wives and kids spent the night at our house. We had a fun time. See this post to jog your memory. Yes, I thought I was slick that I helped one of our friends start the adoption process. We had a fun time looking at pictures of kids for HER!
Well, our friends got two referrals to review. The sweetie below was one of them. I immediately thought they were crazy for not being drawn to the little guy but just sat on the thought. I showed Clayton the referrals they got to review.
He immediately saw this little ones picture and said, "Are you sure they aren't interested in him?" To my answer that I was sure... I had casually asked them twice... Clayton looked at the pictures, walked away and made a hum remark. I said, "What exactly does hummmm mean?"
He didn't answer and in my heart I knew what it meant so I dropped it.
A day or so later I remembered that China now allows you to use your dossier again within a year (at this point I didn't know when that year started... LID, adoption date, or whenever)
So I told Clayton and asked him if he thought I should call our agency to ask. He said sure, it can't hurt to know.
I found out that it is in fact a year from your adoption date which was April 26 for Joy and all you have to be is matched with a child by then. So all you need is a home study and new USCIS approval.
Then we did our taxes, which included the wonderful adoption credit from our adoption last year and we started pursuing the handsome guy below. This was met with the information that he had been assigned specifically to an agency and the agency wasn't exactly helpful in giving us information on when he would go back on the shared list. So our agency, which by the way, now more than ever do I think is AWESOME started going to bat for us. They had to ask CCAA twice to have his file transferred, because the agency that had his file was less than willing to transfer it even though they didn't have any interested families.
Then we had to get a waiver to adopt him which once again our agency went to bat for us, going above and beyond to get a yes answer.
So on February 2nd we saw his referral and on March 22nd we received pre approval to adopt him from China. Kind of a long road but lots of things learned on the journey.
So here we are paperwork pregnant again! Isaac will travel with us to China. Everyone is so excited and I am grateful it took some work to get matched with this little guy because in the last 6 weeks I've learned a lot about trusting God one moment at a time and relying on Him to answer, open and shut doors, and walking by faith.
Oh AND Yi told us last night that where our little guy is from is one of the prettiest places in China. They say that it is alway spring there!! Cool!
Well, our friends got two referrals to review. The sweetie below was one of them. I immediately thought they were crazy for not being drawn to the little guy but just sat on the thought. I showed Clayton the referrals they got to review.
He immediately saw this little ones picture and said, "Are you sure they aren't interested in him?" To my answer that I was sure... I had casually asked them twice... Clayton looked at the pictures, walked away and made a hum remark. I said, "What exactly does hummmm mean?"
He didn't answer and in my heart I knew what it meant so I dropped it.
A day or so later I remembered that China now allows you to use your dossier again within a year (at this point I didn't know when that year started... LID, adoption date, or whenever)
So I told Clayton and asked him if he thought I should call our agency to ask. He said sure, it can't hurt to know.
I found out that it is in fact a year from your adoption date which was April 26 for Joy and all you have to be is matched with a child by then. So all you need is a home study and new USCIS approval.
Then we did our taxes, which included the wonderful adoption credit from our adoption last year and we started pursuing the handsome guy below. This was met with the information that he had been assigned specifically to an agency and the agency wasn't exactly helpful in giving us information on when he would go back on the shared list. So our agency, which by the way, now more than ever do I think is AWESOME started going to bat for us. They had to ask CCAA twice to have his file transferred, because the agency that had his file was less than willing to transfer it even though they didn't have any interested families.
Then we had to get a waiver to adopt him which once again our agency went to bat for us, going above and beyond to get a yes answer.
So on February 2nd we saw his referral and on March 22nd we received pre approval to adopt him from China. Kind of a long road but lots of things learned on the journey.
So here we are paperwork pregnant again! Isaac will travel with us to China. Everyone is so excited and I am grateful it took some work to get matched with this little guy because in the last 6 weeks I've learned a lot about trusting God one moment at a time and relying on Him to answer, open and shut doors, and walking by faith.
Oh AND Yi told us last night that where our little guy is from is one of the prettiest places in China. They say that it is alway spring there!! Cool!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Introducing....
Guess who this is?!! Long, drawn out, God given story later! There is just too much celebrating going on here to sit and type... not to mention all the writing of name, address, phone, SS#, etc.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Weekend Fun
We have been planning an appreciation dinner for foster families in our community and the time finally arrived. The orphan care ministry at our church and an orphan care ministry at another church in our community teamed up to pull it off. It was a huge success and that was measured by the foster families leaving feeling encouraged and appreciated. Here are some pictures. I can't put pictures of the foster children on here since it is a public webisite. Most of the pictures are of the helpers that were kids since Faith had my camera all night :)
But equally important to me is that our kids, according to Faith, learned that "it is more fun to serve others." Really those were her words. Joy also enjoyed herself, usually she complains that the world isn't revolving around her if we are serving others. Just part of where she is at developmentally. BUT we have seen some maturity in this area recently in that she is able to look outside herself and enjoy it when others are happy instead of being jealous about what others get or are doing. So proud of all the kids that were able to show Jesus' love to adults and kids this weekend. The foster children also had a great time learning about Jesus' love for them, making spin art, balloons, and crafts. We had so many people from both churches willing to help. It was really a great night! God was especially good to me since to be honest my heart wasn't really in it because I am preparing to go to China so soon (April 14th). Once again God's strength was made perfect in my weakness. Very grateful!
Sunday afternoon Joy and Grace are playing tennis on an instructional USTA team. Here are pictures of their matches this week.
Sunday afternoon Joy and Grace are playing tennis on an instructional USTA team. Here are pictures of their matches this week.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Good, the Bad, and the Very Cute
The good news is that my little guy got his birthday stuff in the mail. Yes, this picture shows what he set up for his party in 3 WEEKS. He did not make his own presents, his siblings got into the festivities and made him gifts! To be opened in 3 weeks.
The not so great, but hopefully get to the bottom of things, news is that he has a cat scan scheduled on March 30th to figure out if whatever is happening in his ears can be surgically fixed. Ugh...
Doors
What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.
~ Revelation 3:7-8
Saw this verse on someone else's blog that of course had to do with adoption and loved it. Mostly because I do not have much of an open door/ shut door relationship with God. What I mean is, I am the kind of girl who just wants an answer from the Lord. I don't want to be left guessing, I want to be certain I've heard from Him. I want to hear His voice and then move from there... pushing forward if the answer is a DEFINITE yes and backing off if it is a DEFINITE no.
Sometimes God speaks through His Word, other times He speaks in His still, small voice but I don't like depending on circumstances for answers from Him. Because you see circumstances change and God doesn't!!
But this verse speaks peace to my heart that as I am clinging to Him, He will open doors I can't and shut doors I can't open! Ah... sigh of relief!
~ Revelation 3:7-8
Saw this verse on someone else's blog that of course had to do with adoption and loved it. Mostly because I do not have much of an open door/ shut door relationship with God. What I mean is, I am the kind of girl who just wants an answer from the Lord. I don't want to be left guessing, I want to be certain I've heard from Him. I want to hear His voice and then move from there... pushing forward if the answer is a DEFINITE yes and backing off if it is a DEFINITE no.
Sometimes God speaks through His Word, other times He speaks in His still, small voice but I don't like depending on circumstances for answers from Him. Because you see circumstances change and God doesn't!!
But this verse speaks peace to my heart that as I am clinging to Him, He will open doors I can't and shut doors I can't open! Ah... sigh of relief!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Science Experiments
Yi's friend Xiao Xiou is a PhD student at UGA. He does experiments on mice. So since we are studying the human body this year we asked him to bring one for us to cut open and examime. This is obviously not my thing. Yi and I stood out of the way, then cleaned the kitchen table very well! Here are some pictures of the madness...
Gotta get the dog in here too!
Grace and Joy had their first tennis match Sunday afternoon and both LOVED it. I forgot my camera but will try to remember next week. I was busy keeping score and coaching so I wouldn't have had time to use it anyway. There are 7 kids on the team and they all have come so far in just a month. They will learn so quickly and hopefully soon I can just sit and watch! Here is an after the fact picture of the three of us!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Quote I ran across this morning...
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain!
Joshie's doctors appointment didn't go as well as we could have hoped this week. We will talk to the doctor this week about a catscan. The good news is that they definitely determined that whatever is going on is in his midde ear, behind his eardrum. And that there is no permanent damage. We are looking into hearing aids short term if it can be surgically corrected and long term if not. We are clinging to the fact that this certainly doesn't take God by surprise and the same God that created our little man knows and sees what is going on with him now. So we pray for God's healing and continued wisdom for the doctors. And we know that whatever happens God will get the glory in our little guy's life!
So I am looking forward to a relaxing day. We plan on fully enjoying 70 degree weather in Georgia this weekend.
We plan on playing tennis with Yi and one of her friends, going to the store (not my choice of fun on a nice day but we do have to eat). Grace and Joy have their first tennis match tomorrow. I ended up coaching the team, because I needed one more thing to do... NOT! But I am starting to enjoy it, I guess I thought tennis was a part of my past life but it seems that Grace really enjoys it so I might be picking it back up again!
Here are some funny pictures of my crazy kids playing Star Wars in the front yard. I always wonder what the neighbors think about us!
Joshie's doctors appointment didn't go as well as we could have hoped this week. We will talk to the doctor this week about a catscan. The good news is that they definitely determined that whatever is going on is in his midde ear, behind his eardrum. And that there is no permanent damage. We are looking into hearing aids short term if it can be surgically corrected and long term if not. We are clinging to the fact that this certainly doesn't take God by surprise and the same God that created our little man knows and sees what is going on with him now. So we pray for God's healing and continued wisdom for the doctors. And we know that whatever happens God will get the glory in our little guy's life!
So I am looking forward to a relaxing day. We plan on fully enjoying 70 degree weather in Georgia this weekend.
We plan on playing tennis with Yi and one of her friends, going to the store (not my choice of fun on a nice day but we do have to eat). Grace and Joy have their first tennis match tomorrow. I ended up coaching the team, because I needed one more thing to do... NOT! But I am starting to enjoy it, I guess I thought tennis was a part of my past life but it seems that Grace really enjoys it so I might be picking it back up again!
Here are some funny pictures of my crazy kids playing Star Wars in the front yard. I always wonder what the neighbors think about us!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Some Bible verses that have me thinkin'
"And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:9-11
"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the Lord. I will protect them from those who malign them." Psalm 12:5
"For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death." Psalm 72:12,13
I had an opportunity today to talk to someone about adoption. She is a friend of a friend and we were recommended because they are considering adoption of an 8 year old girl from the Ukraine. As we talked I thought about the meshing together of our family, especially the kids. Joy and Faith more times than not get along so well but it just has taken time. So much of life we try to rush through but it's the experience and just the journey that we learn so much from. That is true for our kids as well. So many times people are concerned for the kids they have at home already when adopting and I guess I look to these verses above for answers. They and we are light in a dark world when we are loving the oppressed, the needy.
This person I talked to today has a heart for helping girls caught in human trafficking. It was inspiring and hard to hear at the same time. When you see girls, ages 6 and up caught up in unimaginable things it is hard to think about.
Like I said the verses have gotten me thinkin' a lot about what God wants us as His children to be and to do.
"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the Lord. I will protect them from those who malign them." Psalm 12:5
"For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death." Psalm 72:12,13
I had an opportunity today to talk to someone about adoption. She is a friend of a friend and we were recommended because they are considering adoption of an 8 year old girl from the Ukraine. As we talked I thought about the meshing together of our family, especially the kids. Joy and Faith more times than not get along so well but it just has taken time. So much of life we try to rush through but it's the experience and just the journey that we learn so much from. That is true for our kids as well. So many times people are concerned for the kids they have at home already when adopting and I guess I look to these verses above for answers. They and we are light in a dark world when we are loving the oppressed, the needy.
This person I talked to today has a heart for helping girls caught in human trafficking. It was inspiring and hard to hear at the same time. When you see girls, ages 6 and up caught up in unimaginable things it is hard to think about.
Like I said the verses have gotten me thinkin' a lot about what God wants us as His children to be and to do.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A New Favorite!
Thanks for sharing Nat! I can't wait to start advocating again with you!
In light of seeing this video I want to share some verses I ended up studying after looking closer at 1 John 4 with some friends and especially 1 John 4:19 "We love Him because He first loves us." Right now though I need to make some supper to get ready to go to revival services at the greatest church ever.
Monday, March 7, 2011
What a crazy, good, busy weekend!
Here is the shelter the kids made while waiting for Joshua to finish speech class at school. Grace is taking a Swiss Family Robinson class at co-op. I'm just glad they were building a shelter not starting a fire!
On Friday we ate dinner with Yi and two of her friends from UGA. They brought muscles with fish eggs on top and dim sum (Korean meatballs and rice). I meant to take a picture at dinner but we were laughing and just enjoying their company so much I forgot. Their English names are Jimmy and Sharon. Jimmy was born in Taiwan, lived the majoity of his life in Belize, and has lived in the States for 10 years. So he speaks Spanish, Mandarin, and English. They are both very fun to talk to. Here are the leftover muscles. It looks like cheese on top of the muscles but it is NOT! I kept telling my kids it is no different than eating chicken eggs but they didn't buy into it.
Saturday Yi had invited me to a Christian concert at the Chinese church she teaches Mandarin at on Sunday afternoons. It was great and prompted lots of questions and conversation.
Please continue to pray for Yi. Some amazing things continue to be happening in her heart. Specifically pray that God would prove Himself real to her and that He would give her the faith she needs to trust in Him! She is even praying this for herself! And she wants to come back to the college/ career class at church with us. She came to church with us yesterday and said she was able to understand the English. The worship service is too fast paced for her to understand a lot. But she quit her job on Sundays and wants to go to church with us. We continue to have great conversations about Jesus and she has so many questions.
On Saturday night the kids had friends spend the night. For the record fixing breakfast for 9 kids is more than cooking for 5. Here are some pictures of the dress up fun they had. Joy LOVES to dress up, can you tell?! And Faith and Meagan just like being silly.
I thought this was a sweet picture, minus the crazy face Isaac has just for the camera. Sunday morning Isaac was outside just talking with Grace and her friend Anna on the front porch.
Today we are going to mail our Visa applications out for our trip to China. Soon I get to start shopping for preschool and medical supplies to take with money people have sent for supplies to take here. Can't wait to see everything God has in store for us!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Beauty School
Yup, I cut my boys' hair myself usually. AND they hate it. They don't like the feeling of hair on their backs, it's itchy they say. So I always put it off. Today I decided that doing it outside and offering them lots of candy might help with the drama... it didn't. But we persevered and it's done.... they don't look to tormented do they?!
Yes, Joy participated too. Her hair had gotten so long. So long that she just can't take care of it and she wants to do it all by herself. I promised I would only cut a little off. You see she wants to grow it to the floor, hmmm. I hope she grows out of that desire!
A poem I ran across again today when I was reading about a family that just adopted from the orphanage Joshua is from:
Every call has a beginning…
A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother’s heart
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns…
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock… a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father…
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care.
And then one morning…
On an ordinary day
An orphan’s life changes…
God sends them a second chance…
Through you!
As I get to talk with friends on their adoption journeys and volunteer for An Orphan's Wish I am constantly reminded of how much I have changed since starting the process to adopt Joshua. Clean bathrooms, dishes, perfectly painted walls, decorations just don't mean much to me anymore. Money is merely green paper. God, His Word, His plan for my life, people, people in need of a Savior, people in need of Hope those things mean everything!
I'm so glad God accepts us as we are but is constantly changing and molding His children. I am forever grateful to be His child and thankful for the changes He has made and continues to make in my heart.
A poem I ran across again today when I was reading about a family that just adopted from the orphanage Joshua is from:
Every call has a beginning…
A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother’s heart
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns…
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock… a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father…
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care.
And then one morning…
On an ordinary day
An orphan’s life changes…
God sends them a second chance…
Through you!
As I get to talk with friends on their adoption journeys and volunteer for An Orphan's Wish I am constantly reminded of how much I have changed since starting the process to adopt Joshua. Clean bathrooms, dishes, perfectly painted walls, decorations just don't mean much to me anymore. Money is merely green paper. God, His Word, His plan for my life, people, people in need of a Savior, people in need of Hope those things mean everything!
I'm so glad God accepts us as we are but is constantly changing and molding His children. I am forever grateful to be His child and thankful for the changes He has made and continues to make in my heart.
This poem constantly rings true for me. Though sometimes I'd like to stick my head in the sand, I know I can't and wouldn't really never want to. It seems like everywhere in God's Word talks about caring for those who have no voice, those that have no hope and are oppressed:
Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do everything changes.
I have a problem...
After having Yi living with us and cooking us "real" Chinese foods nothing I cook is spicy enough. So everything I used to like tastes VERY bland. Really... I am not just being funny. A typical meal at our house these days is me cooking a few American things, her cooking a few Chinese things while I try to learn and then setting them all on the table. It's like a buffet every meal which is really fun BUT everytime I eat something I used to like I just sit there chewing. Now if the rest of my family, except Joy, liked spicy Chinese food this wouldn't be an issue but they don't. Hmmm... I am thinking I am really going to miss Yi not being here this summer. Maybe I'll loose some lbs' though.
I need to take some pictures of our table these days at meal time especially of the exotic dishes like snail in soup, eel, shrimp with their heads (and no I couldn't bring myself to eat the very large sea snail or the heads of the shrimp). Neither could Clayton which he'll eat just about anything!
On another note... when it hit March 1st I started getting really excited about going to China in April. Here is the list of needs from the orphanage in China. I'm always amazed by the adoption community. We already have some clothes and walkers to take. If you would like to contribute or mail some items to me you can email me and I'll give you our address:
• Banofen – capsules 25mg per capsule- prescription strength
• Hydrocortizone cream - prescription strength.
• Antifungal cream
• Cough mixture – for dry persistent coughs
• Diaper rash creams
• Vitamin C chewables
• Large bottles of children’s Tylenol
• Onesies (18 months and under) with or without feet
• Onesies (18 months and under) without legs
• New or used pajamas – children any size, for summer
• Poster paints- 16oz bottles
I need to take some pictures of our table these days at meal time especially of the exotic dishes like snail in soup, eel, shrimp with their heads (and no I couldn't bring myself to eat the very large sea snail or the heads of the shrimp). Neither could Clayton which he'll eat just about anything!
On another note... when it hit March 1st I started getting really excited about going to China in April. Here is the list of needs from the orphanage in China. I'm always amazed by the adoption community. We already have some clothes and walkers to take. If you would like to contribute or mail some items to me you can email me and I'll give you our address:
• Banofen – capsules 25mg per capsule- prescription strength
• Hydrocortizone cream - prescription strength.
• Antifungal cream
• Cough mixture – for dry persistent coughs
• Diaper rash creams
• Vitamin C chewables
• Large bottles of children’s Tylenol
• Onesies (18 months and under) with or without feet
• Onesies (18 months and under) without legs
• New or used pajamas – children any size, for summer
• Poster paints- 16oz bottles
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