Our house is busting at the seams right now. This Friday and Saturday we will be having a yard sale to benefit our adoption. So if you are local come on over and take a look!
We have
clothes boys, girls, men, woman 0-2xl. Brands like Vera Wang, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Baby Gap, Carters
You like golf? We have 5 complete sets of golf clubs!
Books, cookware, seasonal items, TOYS! Baby stuff, jumparoo, swing, bouncer, bath seat,
Furniture, crafts, craft supplies.
The list is endless. This is seriously the biggest yard sale I have ever seen or done. Thank y'all for donating! Let's bring these boys home!!!
So come on out his Friday and Saturday May 4th and 5th sun up til after dark and buy some cool stuff and help bring the boys home to their family.
go to craigslist to find out more details!
Be blessed
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Angry
I am angry. Livid really. I could barely sit through the beginning part of church. I love my church family, really I do. But I guess just like a real family sometimes they can make ya mad. You still love them but you are mad at them too. I guess I have to remember they are human and we all far short. I just feel like they have not only fallen short but fell off the mountain!
This morning they were talking about the next generation. I knew I was going to get mad. We want to raise up the next generation for Jesus but we fail to remember a certain generation, the forgotten generation, the orphan. They started by asking us to support inner city youth to go to summer camp. They said James 1:27 called us to action, to help these youth go to camp. I was so angry I walked out. Yuck!
Now I know this may tick a lot off but this is my blog and I write what I am passionate about. I can understand and even commend those people trying to raise money for inner city youth. That is what they are passionate about. They seem to walk their talk. They seem to have relationships with these kids not just once a year. I love what they are doing.
What I have a problem with is the pastor asking us to support these kids and using James 1:27 yet they refuse to acknowledge the orphan. These inner city kids probably have it rough. The probably have one parent who works a lot to keep a roof over their head. They probably have a computer, clothes of their own, shoes, games, electronics, cool schools and food. Do you know what an orphan has in an orphanage...nothing of their own, their shoes have numbers on them and they share clothes with everyone else. They don't have food to sustain them, they may get just enough to help them die a slow and painful death. They don't even have diapers. They lay in their filth. Yet lets send 40,000 to help a bunch of kids get to know Fun Jesus.
You know the guy, Fun Jesus. He is the one who gives everything we ask. He is the one that sends people to us to teach us songs and verses and how to give back to the church. He is the one that those kids can experience one week a year. What a deal! Here's a better one, why don't we offer the single parents a place for their kids to go after school free of charge? Why don't we be the surrogate moms and dads that these kids need? Why don't we get on our knees and pray for them and with them? No... that's too much, lets just throw money at the "problem" and let someone else deal with it. That's how we are.
We don't want to hear about dying children, kids with cancer, suicide, those Africans that are going through all they are. No because that might make us feel and we do not want to feel! When the news gets bad we turn it off (I do this all the time), when someone asks for prayer on facebook we think its for attention or oh there he/she goes again! (guilty) When there is a "bum" on the street we don't give him money because he is only going to use it for booze and maybe he isn't even a real "bum." When someone asks us for money to help bring home their child or to help pay a hospital bill or other bill we say we can't afford it and then go off to eat out at our favorite restaurant.
We are suppose to be His hands and feet yet I think that He must be missing a few limbs! We sit in our multi-million dollar church buildings and just wish we could do it all but we can't. If we did then we would be stretched too thin, we wouldn't be comfortable, we would have to get our hands dirty, we would be exhausted, we would have to feel. We have done enough! Geeze we can't save the world, we can't do it all!
Except...we have a Savior who gave it all for us. He didn't stop when it got messy. He didn't say "ok well I healed a few people now leave me alone!" He gave it all so we could live. What are we doing with His gift?
I thought I wanted a nice church with all the cool things. Now I realize that I just want Jesus. If that means in the hot Texas sun in the middle of a field in the heart of summer laying hands on the least of these then I say yes. If that means in a foreign country feeding and changing babies, soothing the dying children, bandaging the wounded then I say Yes Lord. If that means going to a widows house every night eating cookies and listening to her stories then send me God, I say yes. I choose You!
Love is a verb.
Be blessed
This morning they were talking about the next generation. I knew I was going to get mad. We want to raise up the next generation for Jesus but we fail to remember a certain generation, the forgotten generation, the orphan. They started by asking us to support inner city youth to go to summer camp. They said James 1:27 called us to action, to help these youth go to camp. I was so angry I walked out. Yuck!
Now I know this may tick a lot off but this is my blog and I write what I am passionate about. I can understand and even commend those people trying to raise money for inner city youth. That is what they are passionate about. They seem to walk their talk. They seem to have relationships with these kids not just once a year. I love what they are doing.
What I have a problem with is the pastor asking us to support these kids and using James 1:27 yet they refuse to acknowledge the orphan. These inner city kids probably have it rough. The probably have one parent who works a lot to keep a roof over their head. They probably have a computer, clothes of their own, shoes, games, electronics, cool schools and food. Do you know what an orphan has in an orphanage...nothing of their own, their shoes have numbers on them and they share clothes with everyone else. They don't have food to sustain them, they may get just enough to help them die a slow and painful death. They don't even have diapers. They lay in their filth. Yet lets send 40,000 to help a bunch of kids get to know Fun Jesus.
You know the guy, Fun Jesus. He is the one who gives everything we ask. He is the one that sends people to us to teach us songs and verses and how to give back to the church. He is the one that those kids can experience one week a year. What a deal! Here's a better one, why don't we offer the single parents a place for their kids to go after school free of charge? Why don't we be the surrogate moms and dads that these kids need? Why don't we get on our knees and pray for them and with them? No... that's too much, lets just throw money at the "problem" and let someone else deal with it. That's how we are.
We don't want to hear about dying children, kids with cancer, suicide, those Africans that are going through all they are. No because that might make us feel and we do not want to feel! When the news gets bad we turn it off (I do this all the time), when someone asks for prayer on facebook we think its for attention or oh there he/she goes again! (guilty) When there is a "bum" on the street we don't give him money because he is only going to use it for booze and maybe he isn't even a real "bum." When someone asks us for money to help bring home their child or to help pay a hospital bill or other bill we say we can't afford it and then go off to eat out at our favorite restaurant.
We are suppose to be His hands and feet yet I think that He must be missing a few limbs! We sit in our multi-million dollar church buildings and just wish we could do it all but we can't. If we did then we would be stretched too thin, we wouldn't be comfortable, we would have to get our hands dirty, we would be exhausted, we would have to feel. We have done enough! Geeze we can't save the world, we can't do it all!
Except...we have a Savior who gave it all for us. He didn't stop when it got messy. He didn't say "ok well I healed a few people now leave me alone!" He gave it all so we could live. What are we doing with His gift?
I thought I wanted a nice church with all the cool things. Now I realize that I just want Jesus. If that means in the hot Texas sun in the middle of a field in the heart of summer laying hands on the least of these then I say yes. If that means in a foreign country feeding and changing babies, soothing the dying children, bandaging the wounded then I say Yes Lord. If that means going to a widows house every night eating cookies and listening to her stories then send me God, I say yes. I choose You!
Love is a verb.
Be blessed
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Community
I am amazed at the out pouring of support from our community for our adoption. My friend Shelly suggested that we go to yard sales and give them a flyer asking if we could have what they don't sale.
I cringed.
Ok, I hate asking for things. God is working on me with that but I felt super uncomfortable, asking friends now I have to ask strangers. Geeze! Paul printed out ton of flyers and we headed out to yard sales. At first I felt like I had to buy something at every sale. But then I couldnt afford to and didnt really need anything so I didnt. I walked up to the first person. Thank God it went the way it did because I got less and less uncomfortable as time went on. People were generally wanting to help. The 1st day 3 families stopped their yard sales right then and there (10am) and gave us everything. I was overwhelmed by their generosity.
Today we hit a community yard sale by our house and every one was so receptive. Paul has been out all day collecting. He has had one truck full so far and is out now. Its not even 1pm yet!
Not only are we collection things so we can raise money for our adoption but we are getting the word out about adoption and orphan care. People are asking questions and wanting to know more and how they too could adopt or help. This is what is most amazing to me. Sure I want to have a great sale but if my talking to these people didnt bring in a thing but one orphan was able to be adopted then I call that a huge SUCCESS!!
So I just want to say thank you Texas! Thank you amazing loving wonderfull southern people for hearing us out and giving us all your stuff!
I also want to thank all my Pittsburgh Peeps who have sent stuff for the yard sale. Y'all are amazing. God is doing amazing things and just like with our first adoption I know that many more will come home because of our boys story.
If you want to learn more about adoption feel free to ask me. If you are local come on over to our house for a huge yard sale on May 4th and 5th. The ad will be in the paper and on craigslist. Thank you so much!
I pray God richly blesses all of you who have given.
Be blessed
I cringed.
Ok, I hate asking for things. God is working on me with that but I felt super uncomfortable, asking friends now I have to ask strangers. Geeze! Paul printed out ton of flyers and we headed out to yard sales. At first I felt like I had to buy something at every sale. But then I couldnt afford to and didnt really need anything so I didnt. I walked up to the first person. Thank God it went the way it did because I got less and less uncomfortable as time went on. People were generally wanting to help. The 1st day 3 families stopped their yard sales right then and there (10am) and gave us everything. I was overwhelmed by their generosity.
Today we hit a community yard sale by our house and every one was so receptive. Paul has been out all day collecting. He has had one truck full so far and is out now. Its not even 1pm yet!
Not only are we collection things so we can raise money for our adoption but we are getting the word out about adoption and orphan care. People are asking questions and wanting to know more and how they too could adopt or help. This is what is most amazing to me. Sure I want to have a great sale but if my talking to these people didnt bring in a thing but one orphan was able to be adopted then I call that a huge SUCCESS!!
So I just want to say thank you Texas! Thank you amazing loving wonderfull southern people for hearing us out and giving us all your stuff!
I also want to thank all my Pittsburgh Peeps who have sent stuff for the yard sale. Y'all are amazing. God is doing amazing things and just like with our first adoption I know that many more will come home because of our boys story.
If you want to learn more about adoption feel free to ask me. If you are local come on over to our house for a huge yard sale on May 4th and 5th. The ad will be in the paper and on craigslist. Thank you so much!
I pray God richly blesses all of you who have given.
Be blessed
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
New pics and Vids
I woke up this morning feeling tired. Thinking about yesterday and how long of a day it was. Thinking how I never want to be in a car again, haha. Then a friend called and we were chatting. All of a sudden I start screaming! Probably scaring her to death! I screamed into the phone I got pictures!!!! Then I realized I got videos too! I can not even tell you what that felt like. Up until this morning Judah didnt seem real. I had one picture. Then I not only had new pictures but a video. A video of my child moving, breathing, smiling. I just wanted to reach though the computer screen and grab him and hold him up to me and just breath him in. I want to touch his face, open his closed fist, hold his hands, play pat a cake, tell him I love him. I soaked in every bit of the picture then moved down tot the next.
Then I saw Misha. Oh my beautiful and serious Misha! Misha with the wisps of hair in the back. Such a serious boy. I want to pick him up and throw him in the air and catch him and see him giggle. I want to tickle him and hear that laugh. I want to tell him life is not so serious..or at least it won't be soon. I want to take care of him.
Oh my beautiful boys.
Then I watched the videos! Videos! Are you serious?! How amazing is that. I watched them over and over and over again. One time watching I just watched their breathing. I want to soak it all in. I cant even really describe my feelings. Pure Joy and gratefulness to a God who not only loves me but loves my boys so much!Now the moment y'all been waiting for....
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Piece of my world
The kids wanted to do something for their new "pink" brothers :) So they have decided to put together a puzzle fundraiser. Each piece of the puzzle is 5.00 They hope to raise at 3000. This will pay for the USCIS and possibly first trip ticket. We may need more but I am not sure. Each piece you buy will have your name on the back of it. Buy whole countries and you can write what ever you want on the back. We will then get a double sided frame and hang this in the boys room. We hope to explain to them how they are so loved by people all around the world and how everyone worked tirelessly on bringing them home.
After you donate please leave a comment with the place you want your name on.
Thank you all for being a part of our boys world. Please continue to circle them in prayer. We still have a bunch left to fundraise but God is good and ABLE! Amen!! Look how far we have come in just this short time. Thank you all so much.
Be blessed
After you donate please leave a comment with the place you want your name on.
Thank you all for being a part of our boys world. Please continue to circle them in prayer. We still have a bunch left to fundraise but God is good and ABLE! Amen!! Look how far we have come in just this short time. Thank you all so much.
Be blessed
Commitment Papers Done!
Our commitment papers are filled out, notarized and apostilled. Now they will be heading over to Bulgaria. So excited.
My friend took me and some of her kids and all 5 of mine to Austin today. 11 hours my children and I were in the car. I am exhausted. I am just wiped out. Noah screamed the entire way from our friends house to Paul's work then our home. We got stuck in traffic after we picked Paul up and my ears and head are just killing me. Im even shaking. Sigh!
All totally worth it though.
So tonight we will start working on the Dossier. Things are moving along nicely. We were able to send a huge chunk of money over to our agency. That is a load off my mind.
Now I need to go start the dossier. I can not wait to bring my boys home.
Be blessed
My friend took me and some of her kids and all 5 of mine to Austin today. 11 hours my children and I were in the car. I am exhausted. I am just wiped out. Noah screamed the entire way from our friends house to Paul's work then our home. We got stuck in traffic after we picked Paul up and my ears and head are just killing me. Im even shaking. Sigh!
All totally worth it though.
So tonight we will start working on the Dossier. Things are moving along nicely. We were able to send a huge chunk of money over to our agency. That is a load off my mind.
Now I need to go start the dossier. I can not wait to bring my boys home.
Be blessed
Friday, April 20, 2012
Name your price!
This weekend we are having a name your price sale on the buy your birthday fundraiser! Buy any birthday for any price. Get entered to win a chance at some awesome prizes! Be a part of our story. Be a part of our boys miracle. So head on over to BUY YOUR BIRTHDAY and pick up a day or week or month!
Thanks so much!
Here are some awesome thoughts by Mother Theresa I just had to share
The Final Analysis
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
...Forgive them anyway!
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
...Be kind anyway!
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
...Succeed anyway!
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
...Be honest and frank anyway!
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
...Build anyway!
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
...Be happy anyway!
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
...Do good anyway!
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
...Give the world the best you've got anyway!
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Be blessed
Thursday, April 19, 2012
God is GREAT!!
Yesterday we went to do our fingerprints. We had just had them don in March and spent 80.00 doing them. I was not looking forward to doing them again. Paul being the resourceful man he is, found out that the local Police Dept does the prints for 10.00 per person so 20.00 Yay!
So we packed up all the kiddos and headed down town to the Police Station. The kids got to see several people arrested, 2 hookers and a few weddings. Such a great learning experience. One of my ever insightful daughters said, "I thought you get married in a church, not a police station." Lol Churches are so yesterday! Just kidding. At least she didnt see all the children pile out of the courtroom watching mama and daddy getting hitched then I would have had more questions to answer. :)
It was our turn to do the prints. First Paul then me. When I went back the guy and I started talking and as with anything I do adoption came up in the conversation. I showed him the picture I have of the boys, talked about where they were. He said it was a noble thing we were doing. Noble my butt I said it's what God commands us to do so I am just doing what I should. He then told me that he and his buddy have a mobile fingerprint business on the side. If we ever needed fingerprinted or our friends who were adopted did they would come out to the house and do it, waving the mobile fee and just charging the 10.00 How AWESOME is that?! What a great guy.
But if I can backup just a little bit while we were on our way to do the fingerprints we had no idea how we were going to pay for the apostilling and notarizing. I knew it had to be done soon but how. Plus we would have to travel 3+ hours just to get to the place that apostilles. Gas alone may break us! While stuck in traffic Paul gets an email. A guy wanted to buy some pedisure we had on craigslist for like the last 6 months. He ask us how much we had and we told him 25 cases. How much for all he said?! What! We told him 400. and he jumped on it. So God answered our prayers. It will be 200.00 to apostille. Gas will probably take the other 200. So there ya go. God brought the money needed at the time we needed it.
Another issue.
Where can we get our commitment papers notarized? Well our amazing friend said that banks do them usually so I called our. It is a very small bank so they know us. I really like the service. The guy on the phone said they did notarize and he could do all the documents for a flat fee of 5.00 Yep you read that right 5 dollar! AH_MAZE_ING!!!!! God is so good!
An issue I didnt know I had
My friend offered to take me to apostille all the documents. How cool is that. I have no idea where that place is and driving over 6 hours in one day by myself with 5 kids-not my idea of a fun time. Haha. She also tells me that it will cost 120.00 to ship the commitment papers to our sons country. WOW! BUT- she says! She knows of a couple families going over and they can hand deliver them. Thank you Jesus! What a blessing.
So today I am working on the commitment papers so I can go get them notarized probably tomorrow and then apostilled next week.
God is providing left and right. If God is urging you to give please give. He will bless it. Even if you can only give 1.00 your gift is enough. I know God will multiply it and bless you for your faithfulness.
We have a buy your birthday going on right now and we will be having another fundraiser soon. If you are local and have anything to donate for our yard sale just leave a comment and we can talk offline. Thanks so much.
Please keep our boys and our adoption in your prayers.
Be blessed
So we packed up all the kiddos and headed down town to the Police Station. The kids got to see several people arrested, 2 hookers and a few weddings. Such a great learning experience. One of my ever insightful daughters said, "I thought you get married in a church, not a police station." Lol Churches are so yesterday! Just kidding. At least she didnt see all the children pile out of the courtroom watching mama and daddy getting hitched then I would have had more questions to answer. :)
It was our turn to do the prints. First Paul then me. When I went back the guy and I started talking and as with anything I do adoption came up in the conversation. I showed him the picture I have of the boys, talked about where they were. He said it was a noble thing we were doing. Noble my butt I said it's what God commands us to do so I am just doing what I should. He then told me that he and his buddy have a mobile fingerprint business on the side. If we ever needed fingerprinted or our friends who were adopted did they would come out to the house and do it, waving the mobile fee and just charging the 10.00 How AWESOME is that?! What a great guy.
But if I can backup just a little bit while we were on our way to do the fingerprints we had no idea how we were going to pay for the apostilling and notarizing. I knew it had to be done soon but how. Plus we would have to travel 3+ hours just to get to the place that apostilles. Gas alone may break us! While stuck in traffic Paul gets an email. A guy wanted to buy some pedisure we had on craigslist for like the last 6 months. He ask us how much we had and we told him 25 cases. How much for all he said?! What! We told him 400. and he jumped on it. So God answered our prayers. It will be 200.00 to apostille. Gas will probably take the other 200. So there ya go. God brought the money needed at the time we needed it.
Another issue.
Where can we get our commitment papers notarized? Well our amazing friend said that banks do them usually so I called our. It is a very small bank so they know us. I really like the service. The guy on the phone said they did notarize and he could do all the documents for a flat fee of 5.00 Yep you read that right 5 dollar! AH_MAZE_ING!!!!! God is so good!
An issue I didnt know I had
My friend offered to take me to apostille all the documents. How cool is that. I have no idea where that place is and driving over 6 hours in one day by myself with 5 kids-not my idea of a fun time. Haha. She also tells me that it will cost 120.00 to ship the commitment papers to our sons country. WOW! BUT- she says! She knows of a couple families going over and they can hand deliver them. Thank you Jesus! What a blessing.
So today I am working on the commitment papers so I can go get them notarized probably tomorrow and then apostilled next week.
God is providing left and right. If God is urging you to give please give. He will bless it. Even if you can only give 1.00 your gift is enough. I know God will multiply it and bless you for your faithfulness.
We have a buy your birthday going on right now and we will be having another fundraiser soon. If you are local and have anything to donate for our yard sale just leave a comment and we can talk offline. Thanks so much.
Please keep our boys and our adoption in your prayers.
Be blessed
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Blessings and Questions
God is so good. He has shown us that we are on the right path. When the devil has tried to bring us down God has blessed us more right after. Its amazing. Thank you Lord.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
It literally has made me rejoice. I know that I am doing something right with we are coming up with this much opposition. James 1:2-8 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man.
So I wanted to answer some questions people had and if you had any I didnt hit on please ask. I am an open book.
Why do you feel you can take care of a special needs child or 2? What qualifies you?
Well I know that God chose us for this so He will be our guide and our strength. Also we have a child who has a genetic medical condition that usually is incompatible with life. We adopted him at 3 months old and spent the whole first year basically in the hospital. We learned a lot with him. I can speak medical fluently now :) At one point he had 25 specialists. We spent 4 days a week at our local Children's hospital going to doctors appointments. He had multiple surgeries his first year, therapies 2-3 days a week every week and different machines. Our little guy has been doing so well. He lost most of his therapies due to being age appropriate. We were told he would never eat by mouth or stop vomiting. He eats all by mouth now, doesnt use his gtube at all and hasnt vomited in a year! His GI doctor said had we not adopted him she really believes he would be laying in a crib hooked up to machines not able to do anything. His biological grandmother told me had we not adopted our sweet boy he would be dead right now. She meant it too. He has changed our lives and we could not imagine our world without him.
We also have a huge support system. All of our friends have medical kids and most of them have adopted or have large families.
Why international? Can you not get approved domestically?
We are currently approved for both domestic and international. We thought God was calling us to another domestic adoption. We did all the paperwork, training, homestudy, medicals, and all involved when we heard God saying Go to Bu*garia now. Our friend's testimony just spoke to us and we knew what God wanted. We still pray daily that after we bring home our boys God will bless us with a domestic sn adoption. We just did all of that and had our homestudy submitted in March of this year. No we did not fundraise or anything for that adoption everything was paid that needed paid.
How will this affect your children?
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.Proverbs 22:6 Our children are amazing children. They love recklessly. To have faith like them! My oldest loves her siblings so much. She has a heart for special needs and I have no doubt the way we live our lives is a good influence on her. Each child has been touched by our lifestyle. We have very compassionate kiddos. Our 2nd oldest wants 12 adopted kids all with special needs. She said she would love to have 100 :) We are a close family. We spend a lot of time together. The kids each have one on one time with both my husband and myself.
Why are you asking for donations? Can you not afford to adopt, if not can you afford more children?
We are asking for donations because no we can not afford to send 30,000 to our adoption agency right this very minute. We had no idea we were to adopt internationally. This came up on us by surprise, a really cool God surprise. Love those! A few things about me. I love to give but hate to take. My love language I believe is gift giving. I love giving to people. I love being able to fill a need. My husband loves to give too.
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
Having to ask someone for something is not something I enjoy. God is speaking to me about this. He does not want me to rob someone of their blessing but saying no to receiving a gift from them.
As for our finances, wow thats extremely personal but ok, no I am not telling you how much we make, lol. God is our provider. He gives and he takes away and still we say Blessed be the name of the Lord! We firmly believe Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
God takes care of us. He doesnt let us go without our needs. Matthew 6:26-34
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We are aware that our lifestyle is not for everyone. But we were not made for this world. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I believe everyone should act out James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Whatever that means to you. Give. Pray. Foster. Adopt. Seek God's will and do it.
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
You reap what you sow. We believe that if you sow hate you reap hate. We want to sow Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Hope this helps y'all understand us and our adoption a bit more. Thank you for all the support and love. I even want to thank those opposing us because God is really showing us He is bigger than any of that and have given us such a Spirit of joy.
If you would like to donate look over there ----------> and click donate :)
Be blessed
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
It literally has made me rejoice. I know that I am doing something right with we are coming up with this much opposition. James 1:2-8 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man.
So I wanted to answer some questions people had and if you had any I didnt hit on please ask. I am an open book.
Why do you feel you can take care of a special needs child or 2? What qualifies you?
Well I know that God chose us for this so He will be our guide and our strength. Also we have a child who has a genetic medical condition that usually is incompatible with life. We adopted him at 3 months old and spent the whole first year basically in the hospital. We learned a lot with him. I can speak medical fluently now :) At one point he had 25 specialists. We spent 4 days a week at our local Children's hospital going to doctors appointments. He had multiple surgeries his first year, therapies 2-3 days a week every week and different machines. Our little guy has been doing so well. He lost most of his therapies due to being age appropriate. We were told he would never eat by mouth or stop vomiting. He eats all by mouth now, doesnt use his gtube at all and hasnt vomited in a year! His GI doctor said had we not adopted him she really believes he would be laying in a crib hooked up to machines not able to do anything. His biological grandmother told me had we not adopted our sweet boy he would be dead right now. She meant it too. He has changed our lives and we could not imagine our world without him.
We also have a huge support system. All of our friends have medical kids and most of them have adopted or have large families.
Why international? Can you not get approved domestically?
We are currently approved for both domestic and international. We thought God was calling us to another domestic adoption. We did all the paperwork, training, homestudy, medicals, and all involved when we heard God saying Go to Bu*garia now. Our friend's testimony just spoke to us and we knew what God wanted. We still pray daily that after we bring home our boys God will bless us with a domestic sn adoption. We just did all of that and had our homestudy submitted in March of this year. No we did not fundraise or anything for that adoption everything was paid that needed paid.
How will this affect your children?
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.Proverbs 22:6 Our children are amazing children. They love recklessly. To have faith like them! My oldest loves her siblings so much. She has a heart for special needs and I have no doubt the way we live our lives is a good influence on her. Each child has been touched by our lifestyle. We have very compassionate kiddos. Our 2nd oldest wants 12 adopted kids all with special needs. She said she would love to have 100 :) We are a close family. We spend a lot of time together. The kids each have one on one time with both my husband and myself.
Why are you asking for donations? Can you not afford to adopt, if not can you afford more children?
We are asking for donations because no we can not afford to send 30,000 to our adoption agency right this very minute. We had no idea we were to adopt internationally. This came up on us by surprise, a really cool God surprise. Love those! A few things about me. I love to give but hate to take. My love language I believe is gift giving. I love giving to people. I love being able to fill a need. My husband loves to give too.
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
Having to ask someone for something is not something I enjoy. God is speaking to me about this. He does not want me to rob someone of their blessing but saying no to receiving a gift from them.
As for our finances, wow thats extremely personal but ok, no I am not telling you how much we make, lol. God is our provider. He gives and he takes away and still we say Blessed be the name of the Lord! We firmly believe Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
God takes care of us. He doesnt let us go without our needs. Matthew 6:26-34
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We are aware that our lifestyle is not for everyone. But we were not made for this world. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I believe everyone should act out James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Whatever that means to you. Give. Pray. Foster. Adopt. Seek God's will and do it.
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
You reap what you sow. We believe that if you sow hate you reap hate. We want to sow Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Hope this helps y'all understand us and our adoption a bit more. Thank you for all the support and love. I even want to thank those opposing us because God is really showing us He is bigger than any of that and have given us such a Spirit of joy.
If you would like to donate look over there ----------> and click donate :)
Be blessed
Sunday, April 15, 2012
What's in a name?
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."- Shakespeare's Romeo & JulietThe Claire Danes one
We were trying to figure out what to name our boys. I always wanted a Judah so we knew that "Shawn"'s name would be Judah, but Judah what? We will come back to that.
Now we have Noah, Judah...what could we call little "Mickey"? Then we found the perfect little name for him keeping with the ah sounding tradition. Misha. (Mee-sha)
Name meanings have always been important so not only do we want our boys names to have the ah sound like Noah but also mean something. Misha means "Who resembles God" I liked that! Now on to the middle name. We had a long list but finally landed on the one. Zachary. Zachary means "The Lord remembers" I love that. How fitting is that. The Lord remembered Misha in that orphanage and He found him a family. He did not leave him as an orphan :)
Judah means "praise, thanks". How beautiful! So back to his middle name. I couldnt think of one, Paul either. Then it hit me. On the way home from church I was thinking about the boys and how they came to be. We would never have heard about them had our friend not adopted two boys from the same orphanage. Her testimony..no their testimony was the reason we found our boys and said yes. So I wanted to honor that. I wanted our boys to know that. I love the idea that our boys and our friend's boys will grow up together. SO anyways I was talking to Paul and ask him do we have the boys middle names be our friend's sons first names? He said no, not the exact same name. So we agreed that it should be a combination of the two. Her boys names and Teagan and Kelton. So we went with Keegan. Judah Keegan.
There you have it. Trinity Fayth, Charidy Grace, Sarie Elle, Avenley Jane and Noah James Elliot will be welcoming their 2 new brothers Judah Keegan and Misha Zachary
So soon we will have kids 11, 10, 8, 5, 4, 3, 2 :)
Be blessed
By any other name would smell as sweet."- Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
We were trying to figure out what to name our boys. I always wanted a Judah so we knew that "Shawn"'s name would be Judah, but Judah what? We will come back to that.
Now we have Noah, Judah...what could we call little "Mickey"? Then we found the perfect little name for him keeping with the ah sounding tradition. Misha. (Mee-sha)
Name meanings have always been important so not only do we want our boys names to have the ah sound like Noah but also mean something. Misha means "Who resembles God" I liked that! Now on to the middle name. We had a long list but finally landed on the one. Zachary. Zachary means "The Lord remembers" I love that. How fitting is that. The Lord remembered Misha in that orphanage and He found him a family. He did not leave him as an orphan :)
Judah means "praise, thanks". How beautiful! So back to his middle name. I couldnt think of one, Paul either. Then it hit me. On the way home from church I was thinking about the boys and how they came to be. We would never have heard about them had our friend not adopted two boys from the same orphanage. Her testimony..no their testimony was the reason we found our boys and said yes. So I wanted to honor that. I wanted our boys to know that. I love the idea that our boys and our friend's boys will grow up together. SO anyways I was talking to Paul and ask him do we have the boys middle names be our friend's sons first names? He said no, not the exact same name. So we agreed that it should be a combination of the two. Her boys names and Teagan and Kelton. So we went with Keegan. Judah Keegan.
There you have it. Trinity Fayth, Charidy Grace, Sarie Elle, Avenley Jane and Noah James Elliot will be welcoming their 2 new brothers Judah Keegan and Misha Zachary
So soon we will have kids 11, 10, 8, 5, 4, 3, 2 :)
Be blessed
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Saturday Only!
Today until midnight anyone who buys a birthday gets their name put in the kindle fire giveaway that will be drawn on Monday!
We are trying to raise the ransom for our boys. The homestudy has been paid PTL! thanks to all of you who gave for the kindle fire giveaway. The next fee that is due right now is the commitment fee. This will get sent to Bu*garia to let them know that those boys are wanted. I would like to send this ASAP. It is very important to us to get this out there asap. That is why the Birthday Fundraiser is so important. Once that is filled up we can send the money to the agency. We can not start our dossier until that money is sent. The dossier is the next step. We have all the things done that can be done.
Judah is 10 years old. He is 25 pounds and his right kidney is failing along with a lot of other issues. Please. I am begging you. Yes begging, I dont care how that looks. God has called me to be Judah's mama and I feel a fierceness towards him and "Mickey". Mickey seems to be doing ok, as ok as you can be at 4 yrs old wearing 6 month clothes living without your mama and papa.
Help us move this along. Buy a birthday or 2 or 10. Spread the word about our blog and our giveaways. Help us bring our boys home.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." – Luke 6:37-38
You have never really lived until you've done something for somebody who can never repay you.
Be blessed
We are trying to raise the ransom for our boys. The homestudy has been paid PTL! thanks to all of you who gave for the kindle fire giveaway. The next fee that is due right now is the commitment fee. This will get sent to Bu*garia to let them know that those boys are wanted. I would like to send this ASAP. It is very important to us to get this out there asap. That is why the Birthday Fundraiser is so important. Once that is filled up we can send the money to the agency. We can not start our dossier until that money is sent. The dossier is the next step. We have all the things done that can be done.
Judah is 10 years old. He is 25 pounds and his right kidney is failing along with a lot of other issues. Please. I am begging you. Yes begging, I dont care how that looks. God has called me to be Judah's mama and I feel a fierceness towards him and "Mickey". Mickey seems to be doing ok, as ok as you can be at 4 yrs old wearing 6 month clothes living without your mama and papa.
Help us move this along. Buy a birthday or 2 or 10. Spread the word about our blog and our giveaways. Help us bring our boys home.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." – Luke 6:37-38
You have never really lived until you've done something for somebody who can never repay you.
Be blessed
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Homestudy Take 2!
So last night was our homestudy take 2. Personally I think we should have one homestudy a week. It might keep my house clean if we did! Haha.
Being our 5000th homestudy I did much better this time around I kinda just hung out. There were clothes baskets in the bedroom. The kids were painting in the kitchen. By the end of the night toys were everywhere. I didnt care. This is my house. I have 5 children. It is what it is. Boy,I wish Paul wishes I would have been that way the first time around.
So each homestudy has its story of something that happens. This time I sliced the top of my finger on a cookie cutter so bad it took 15 mins to stop bleeding. AJ fell asleep right before the case worker got there so when we woke her she screamed and screamed. Noah decided to find all the loudest toys and turn them all on over and over again. Sarie cried almost the entire time. A rat ran across our backyard when we were outside. Ewww! I have never seen a rat before in the wild in my life! But all in all I say it was a success. She doesnt think there should be any reason we can't bring both boys home.
I have some paperwork to finish up on and then will try to send it all out today. We are going to a playdate with other RR families today. Praying God will give us the 3500. today. Please dont forget the kindle fundraiser is on its final days and the buy a birthday is going on. Also we have a ton of companies that stepped up and want to help us. All of them are on our facebook page. We are also selling tshirts and are trying to get all the sizes everyone wants.
Hoping to get a blog out of all the places you can buy from that will benefit our boys.
Thank you all so much for all you are doing.
Be blessed
Being our 5000th homestudy I did much better this time around I kinda just hung out. There were clothes baskets in the bedroom. The kids were painting in the kitchen. By the end of the night toys were everywhere. I didnt care. This is my house. I have 5 children. It is what it is. Boy,
So each homestudy has its story of something that happens. This time I sliced the top of my finger on a cookie cutter so bad it took 15 mins to stop bleeding. AJ fell asleep right before the case worker got there so when we woke her she screamed and screamed. Noah decided to find all the loudest toys and turn them all on over and over again. Sarie cried almost the entire time. A rat ran across our backyard when we were outside. Ewww! I have never seen a rat before in the wild in my life! But all in all I say it was a success. She doesnt think there should be any reason we can't bring both boys home.
I have some paperwork to finish up on and then will try to send it all out today. We are going to a playdate with other RR families today. Praying God will give us the 3500. today. Please dont forget the kindle fundraiser is on its final days and the buy a birthday is going on. Also we have a ton of companies that stepped up and want to help us. All of them are on our facebook page. We are also selling tshirts and are trying to get all the sizes everyone wants.
Hoping to get a blog out of all the places you can buy from that will benefit our boys.
Thank you all so much for all you are doing.
Be blessed
Judah.
We got "Shawn"'s file. I can't call him that. He isnt Shawn to me. He is Judah. It means Praise and Thanks. I have called him by name and he is mine :) Judah is the name we would like to name "Shawn".
Some things popped out at me in his file.
First his birth date. I was pregnant with our second child Elijah James, who didnt make it. We miscarried that November. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away and still I say Blessed be the name of the Lord.
His birth name means Servant of God. That makes me smile.
Next I noticed at birth he was over 9lbs 20.5 inches long. All my babies were 6. He was born at home and healthy.At 6 weeks old he entered the orphanage. At 10 he is 25 pounds 42 inches.
He first got sick when he was 13 months old. Hospitalized for a month.
16 months old another month stay in the hospital.
At 6yrs old hospitalized for another month.
He has gone through chemotherapy and countless antibiotics. They said his teeth were rotted and putrid. His first surgery he was one year old.
Then I noticed that he has a failing kidney and very good friends of mine have what I call "kidney kids." My one friend's son just had his transplant. How amazing is it that God put them in my life. He is amazing.
I wonder what Judah has thought about his life. Does he think that every touch is a bad touch? That this is how every life is, lonely and miserable. I wonder if he even knows the word Mama.
Soon my sweet boy. Soon.
Be blessed
Some things popped out at me in his file.
First his birth date. I was pregnant with our second child Elijah James, who didnt make it. We miscarried that November. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away and still I say Blessed be the name of the Lord.
His birth name means Servant of God. That makes me smile.
Next I noticed at birth he was over 9lbs 20.5 inches long. All my babies were 6. He was born at home and healthy.At 6 weeks old he entered the orphanage. At 10 he is 25 pounds 42 inches.
He first got sick when he was 13 months old. Hospitalized for a month.
16 months old another month stay in the hospital.
At 6yrs old hospitalized for another month.
He has gone through chemotherapy and countless antibiotics. They said his teeth were rotted and putrid. His first surgery he was one year old.
Then I noticed that he has a failing kidney and very good friends of mine have what I call "kidney kids." My one friend's son just had his transplant. How amazing is it that God put them in my life. He is amazing.
I wonder what Judah has thought about his life. Does he think that every touch is a bad touch? That this is how every life is, lonely and miserable. I wonder if he even knows the word Mama.
Soon my sweet boy. Soon.
Be blessed
Adoption T-Shirts
We are selling T-Shirts for our adoption. we have 2 designs available. You can see the designs below then go to the link to order. We will be printing in batches so it may not be shipped right away, but these are some great designs.
The link: https://www.wepay.com/shop/adoption-tees
Design 1:
Design 2:
The link: https://www.wepay.com/shop/adoption-tees
Design 1:
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Then there were TWO??!!
Yes. What can I say? God touched my heart. He changed my husband and I. I am so glad He did to. We saw a little boy today in the same orphanage as "Mickey" our little guy we are trying to bring home. We had prayed God would show us if He wanted to have 2 come home with us and when we saw "Shawn" I knew. I knew that he was my child. I called Paul and he said "Yes"
So now we need the commitment fee of 3500 ASAP. We are praying God to give us the money by Friday. That is a God sized miracle! Only God can choose to do that! Will He? Is He laying us on your heart? We still have the kindle fundraiser going. We also have up for grabs a 100. amazon gift card for our buy your birthday fundraiser.
Please help us get the 3500. so Bul*garia knows that they are wanted children. That they are worth it. They have a hope and a future. They were fearfully and wonderfully made.
"Shawn" is 10 years old. Although from his picture he looks more like he is a year old. He is very tiny and very thin. I suspect he will need a gtube when he gets home. We get his file tomorrow.
"Mickey" is 4 years old and has some special needs. I won't go into detail right now but he needs to be home too.Although he looks chunky (Thank you Lord) he is very tiny in about 6 month clothing. Short and stalky.
Please help us reach our 3500. donation by Friday. Please.
Be blessed
So now we need the commitment fee of 3500 ASAP. We are praying God to give us the money by Friday. That is a God sized miracle! Only God can choose to do that! Will He? Is He laying us on your heart? We still have the kindle fundraiser going. We also have up for grabs a 100. amazon gift card for our buy your birthday fundraiser.
Please help us get the 3500. so Bul*garia knows that they are wanted children. That they are worth it. They have a hope and a future. They were fearfully and wonderfully made.
"Shawn" is 10 years old. Although from his picture he looks more like he is a year old. He is very tiny and very thin. I suspect he will need a gtube when he gets home. We get his file tomorrow.
"Mickey" is 4 years old and has some special needs. I won't go into detail right now but he needs to be home too.Although he looks chunky (Thank you Lord) he is very tiny in about 6 month clothing. Short and stalky.
Please help us reach our 3500. donation by Friday. Please.
Be blessed
Buy Your Birthday
NEW PRIZES ADDED!!!
We need to raise $3500 fast! Please take a minute and buy your birthday for $10. Then find as many other people to buy their birthday as you can. Once every day of the year is accounted for, we will draw a random day for each prize we have and that person will win. The more dates you buy the more chances you have to win!! If your birhtday is already accounted for, feel free to buy another day of the year that you're fond of :) Let's see how fast we can do this!
Just leave the day you are buying and the name for that day in a comment below after you donate.
AVON GIFT BASKET WORTH OVER 100.00 IN AVON PRODUCTS! *basket and contents may vary from picture.
Beautiful handmade keychain
Set of bird magnets
Just leave the day you are buying and the name for that day in a comment below after you donate.
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AVON GIFT BASKET WORTH OVER 100.00 IN AVON PRODUCTS! *basket and contents may vary from picture.
Beautiful handmade keychain
Set of bird magnets
Thank you Lord!
In the last 24 hours I have slept one hour. satan has been hitting us extra hard this week. It has been hell week for sure. Yesterday was the worst. I was dealing with my stupid flesh! Gosh I wish I were a better person. I was dealing with some news I didnt know what to do with, donations not coming in, jealousy, fighting among my kids, a filthy house and lazy attitude. It was bad. In fact I spent most of the day yesterday in bed crying.
I threw myself a pretty good pity party. Not my finest hour. Then last night a friend called. She encouraged me the way I needed. Paul was my rock. Unwavering in the news. Not worried about the money. God will provide exactly what we need when we need it he said. Oh I wish I could be more like him. I am weak. Then we had an email sent an amazing and beautiful person who is also adopting right now bought the kindle fire we needed for our fundraiser.
I spent the rest of the night and all morning praying. Asking God for forgiveness. Asking that our IRS check come by Friday. Praying for the orphans and my friends and the other adoptions to be fully funded. As Paul left for work I fell asleep. I woke up not even an hour later and found out we received a 220.00 donation from a very wonderful family. Then after that another large donation. Before 10am we had 1425.00 We did it! God did it!
I sit here amazed that God did it again. Why does it amaze me when God comes through? He told me He would never leave or forsake me. Why do I sometimes have trouble believing that? My flesh is weak. All I can say is I am sorry and I will do better. I am just in awe of this. The day before the homestudy we have the money we needed for the homestudy.
I know he will bring the money. I know it will be paid. I know it will not be easy and God is teaching me things. Yesterday I read this and it really spoke to me:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
God is with us. He is with our son. He's got this so I don't need to borrow worry.
"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
HE WILL SEND HELP FROM HEAVEN TO RESCUE ME,
DISGRACING THOSE WHO HOUND ME!
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness." Psalm 57:1-3
Be blessed
I threw myself a pretty good pity party. Not my finest hour. Then last night a friend called. She encouraged me the way I needed. Paul was my rock. Unwavering in the news. Not worried about the money. God will provide exactly what we need when we need it he said. Oh I wish I could be more like him. I am weak. Then we had an email sent an amazing and beautiful person who is also adopting right now bought the kindle fire we needed for our fundraiser.
I spent the rest of the night and all morning praying. Asking God for forgiveness. Asking that our IRS check come by Friday. Praying for the orphans and my friends and the other adoptions to be fully funded. As Paul left for work I fell asleep. I woke up not even an hour later and found out we received a 220.00 donation from a very wonderful family. Then after that another large donation. Before 10am we had 1425.00 We did it! God did it!
I sit here amazed that God did it again. Why does it amaze me when God comes through? He told me He would never leave or forsake me. Why do I sometimes have trouble believing that? My flesh is weak. All I can say is I am sorry and I will do better. I am just in awe of this. The day before the homestudy we have the money we needed for the homestudy.
I know he will bring the money. I know it will be paid. I know it will not be easy and God is teaching me things. Yesterday I read this and it really spoke to me:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
God is with us. He is with our son. He's got this so I don't need to borrow worry.
"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
HE WILL SEND HELP FROM HEAVEN TO RESCUE ME,
DISGRACING THOSE WHO HOUND ME!
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness." Psalm 57:1-3
Be blessed
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
What's your excuse?
Written by Paul Beck. Visit his blog HERE
Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.He who guards your soul knows you knew.He will repay all people as their actions deserve. - Proverbs 24:12WARNING: Don't keep reading if you don't want to be held accountable for the things I'm about to say. Once you read this, you will know...
We seem to always find ways to ignore certain parts of the Bible. Things that Jesus commanded that we brush of as not pertaining to us. Have you ever uttered any of these phrases:
- I'm not called to do that.
- Everyone has their area of ministry, and that's not mine.
- I don't have the money.
- I don't have the time.
- Someday I will ...
The list goes on....We all like to pass the buck. It's someone else's responsibility, I don't know who's but it's not mine. Or, someday when I have the money I'll ________. Fill in the blank. We want to wait for God to bless us or wait until we know God better to start doing His work. Tell me what kind of faith does that require? Philip Yancey says it like this:“I do not get to know God, then do his will; I get to know him more deeply by doing his will.”So the question is, what is it that we are supposed to be doing? We are supposed to be going into the whole world and preaching the gospel to everyone. We are supposed to do as Paul told the Corinthians and become all things to all people so that BY ALL MEANS we may save some. (1 Corinthians 9:22) We are supposed to be taking care of the widows, orphans and homeless (James 1:27).
If there is one thing that I've been learning recently it is this: Everything I have belongs to God, nothing is mine. Everything that I have is provided by God, He is Jehovah Jireh, my provider. So, if nothing belongs to me and He provides it all, then when He asks us to give our money or our time or our talents to someone else, it should be easy, it's easy to give away someone else's money and since He is the provider, then it is easy to believe that He will provide for our needs even though we've just given away the very thing that could have met those needs... God blesses the ones to are willing to give it all away.
There is plenty of work to do, and time is short. our churches have become huge stadiums where all the Jesus fans go on Sunday to cheer him on. But the moment there is some sacrifice or discomfort, we're out.
So I ask you, what is your excuse for ignoring God's work?
What's so important in your life, what comfort are you holding so desperately to?
Your House? Your Car? Your TV? Your favorite restaurant? Your Christmas presents? Your vacation?
God knows you "deserve" all of these things right? But don't worry, God will understand one day when he asks us why we didn't take care of the homeless man down the street because we had to pay $86 this month to the cable company so we could watch the latest episode of our favorite show.
Did you know that even the poorest Americans are richer than 80% of the rest of the world? Kind of puts things in perspective...
Let's play with a few numbers...
Let's say the average movie theater has 20 screens and each theater holds on the low side 200 people. The cost for a regular adult ticket around here is $9, and let's say each screen shows 2 movies between 7PM and Midnight. So every 2 hours the theater moves 4000 people through at $9 a ticket, that's 8000 tickets for a good night or $72,000! Oh and let's not forget the popcorn and drinks, that adds what? another $15 per person, lets say half of the people get a refreshment: So that's another $60,000. $132,000! Let's also say that the average cost of an international adoption is $30,000. Congratulations, collectively, your night of entertainment just caused 4 orphans to remain captive in an orphanage, but I'm sure God understands that you deserved to see that movie.
Feel guilty yet? You should, I do.
Let's also consider an average church of 1000 members. I'm sure each member can part with $30 one week. 1000 people at $30 = $30,000. You know those medical bills that you fellow church member is struggling to pay for? One body, one week, no more bills. But don't worry, I'm sure God will understand that you needed to go out to eat after church instead of making your own meal.
Feel guilty yet? You should, I do.
What excuse will you give God when he asks why to traded this...
for this...
or this...
for this...
Feel guilty yet? You should, I do.Am I saying that its wrong to go to a movie or eat out? absolutely not!, but God's work should not be compromised for these luxuries that we "deserve". what kind of sacrifice is it if we have everything and give nothing. If we give freely and help when we know help is needed, God will bless us with these things that we enjoy, but we have got our priorities mixed up. We are entertaining ourselves to death and not doing any of God's work.So, I ask the question again. What's your excuse? What's your excuse for ignoring God's work when you "know" that it needs done?Well, I warned you... now you know, and now you will stand before God without excuse and answer for your action, or inaction as the case may be.Go, and do some God work.
This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. - 1 John 3:16-17
Our little guy
Today I was weary. I got a great pep talk from a friend tonight and I have a little more strength. Then someone emailed me and said they would pay for the Kindle fire for the giveaway! Wow!
At first we were not suppose to tell anyone where our child was. But recently everything went public so I can share some details with you.
Our little man is 4 years old and lives in Pl*ven, Bu*garia. He is in a size 6-9 months we are told.(this is what we are told) He drinks a type of broth mixture from a bottle and is allotted 5 minutes per meal. He gets his diaper changed once every 24 hours. Have you heard about Ple*ven? If you are in the adoption world then I am sure you have heard of it.
Here are a few articles about Ple*ven.
http://www.only1mom.com/2012/02/help-provide-medical-care-to-orphans.html
http://www.only1mom.com/2012/04/pleven-next-steps-to-help.html
I can't find the actual articles I was reading though I think they are on my facebook page.
We want to get our little boy home to his mama and papa. It costs 24,000.00 to adopt him. He is so very tiny. If he is moved to an institute where 4-18 year olds go he will get trampled to death. Our hope is to get the commitment fee of 3500. as fast as possible so we can tell Bul*garia we are serious and committed to him and then maybe he will stay where he is. Where he is isnt great either but they keep him on the 6th floor with the sickest of the sick kids. They do that for his safety.
I pray that y'all will help us get our boy! We can not wait to show you a picture and tell you his name! We have named him. Although we are missing a second middle name. The faster we get that 3500. the faster we can show you him :) The kids will be doing a fundraiser next for their new brother. At first it was suppose to be for government fees but now we are making it for the commitment money. I will share more details with you soon.
Our first fundraiser only has a few more days left. We are hoping to raise at least 1400. That is all needed for the homestudy so we can't use any of that toward our commitment fees.
Ways you can help.
Donate to our adoption fund. There should be a link on the side of the blog ----->
Pray for us. Pray for our son who doesnt know how much his mama and daddy love him.
Spread the word!
Donate stuff for our yard sale May 4th and 5th
Donate stuff for our spaghetti dinner.
Check back on the blog for updates.
Say something encouraging.
Thank you!!!!
Be blessed
At first we were not suppose to tell anyone where our child was. But recently everything went public so I can share some details with you.
Our little man is 4 years old and lives in Pl*ven, Bu*garia. He is in a size 6-9 months we are told.(this is what we are told) He drinks a type of broth mixture from a bottle and is allotted 5 minutes per meal. He gets his diaper changed once every 24 hours. Have you heard about Ple*ven? If you are in the adoption world then I am sure you have heard of it.
Here are a few articles about Ple*ven.
http://www.only1mom.com/2012/02/help-provide-medical-care-to-orphans.html
http://www.only1mom.com/2012/04/pleven-next-steps-to-help.html
I can't find the actual articles I was reading though I think they are on my facebook page.
We want to get our little boy home to his mama and papa. It costs 24,000.00 to adopt him. He is so very tiny. If he is moved to an institute where 4-18 year olds go he will get trampled to death. Our hope is to get the commitment fee of 3500. as fast as possible so we can tell Bul*garia we are serious and committed to him and then maybe he will stay where he is. Where he is isnt great either but they keep him on the 6th floor with the sickest of the sick kids. They do that for his safety.
I pray that y'all will help us get our boy! We can not wait to show you a picture and tell you his name! We have named him. Although we are missing a second middle name. The faster we get that 3500. the faster we can show you him :) The kids will be doing a fundraiser next for their new brother. At first it was suppose to be for government fees but now we are making it for the commitment money. I will share more details with you soon.
Our first fundraiser only has a few more days left. We are hoping to raise at least 1400. That is all needed for the homestudy so we can't use any of that toward our commitment fees.
Ways you can help.
Donate to our adoption fund. There should be a link on the side of the blog ----->
Pray for us. Pray for our son who doesnt know how much his mama and daddy love him.
Spread the word!
Donate stuff for our yard sale May 4th and 5th
Donate stuff for our spaghetti dinner.
Check back on the blog for updates.
Say something encouraging.
Thank you!!!!
Be blessed
Monday, April 9, 2012
Homestudy is coming
I can tell we are doing what God wants us to. Satan is ticked. Today Noah woke up with bloody ears, Cherry refuses to eat and doesn't feel well, Trin has no voice and is coughing, AJ and Sarie aren't feeling well either. My voice is gone and I have a horrible headache and Paul's back is killing him. Some people would think we are just not feeling well, but I know what is going on. We are trying to do what God ask us. We are going to bring a child home away from less than desirable living conditions. That is just ticking satan off and he is trying to make us annoyed. God is always good, always faithful, always true. I pray right now in Jesus name that my family has perfect health.
Be blessed
Be blessed
Sunday, April 8, 2012
25.00 Amazon Gift Card WINNER
We had a giveaway within a giveaway. This winner is for the 25.00 Amazon Gift Card. Thank you all so much for donating. Please share the kindle fire giveaway with your family and friends and keep donating and praying for us please. We are almost at 1000.00 Our goal is 1400.00 We are so close! So close! I know we can do it. We can do ALL things through CHRIST who gives us STRENGTH!!!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!
Be blessed
HAPPY EASTER!!!
Be blessed
Friday, April 6, 2012
Giveaway within a giveaway? Say What?
Any and all donations given to our Kindle fire giveaway today and tomorrow only will get their names in a drawing for a 25.00 amazon gift card. You can donate any amount. 2.00-20,000.00 :) (Wepay requires a minimum donation of 2.00)
You will also receive your name in the Kindle Fire drawing according to those rules.
Amazon gift card will be drawn on Sunday. EASTER!!!!
Good Luck!!!
Be blessed
You will also receive your name in the Kindle Fire drawing according to those rules.
Amazon gift card will be drawn on Sunday. EASTER!!!!
Good Luck!!!
Be blessed
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Fundraisers!!!
Right now we have the Kindle Fire Give Away going on for 9 more days. Click HERE to check it out and donate! Spread the word too please!! This is to cover the cost of the homestudy and start up fees. 1400.00
We are going to be having a yard sale coming up May 4th and 5th. If you have anything you would like to donate to our yard sale that would be amazing! Let me know if I can pick it up or if you want to mail it.
This will be to cover the cost of the commitment fees. 3400.00
po box 48231
watauga tx 76148
And the kids have decided they want to do a fundraiser as well. Since they really really want a "pink" brother they want to help raise money to bring him home. That fundraiser will start on April 16th. They are being really secretive so stay tuned for more details and clues!!!
This will be to raise money for the governement fees totally 1000.00
After that we will have a Spaghetti Dinner, we hope. That will need to raise as much as possible. The total needed for his adoption is 24,000 or so. We will get an exact number soon.
We will also be having a fundraiser to raiser money for airfare. Paul wants to do that one so when he works out the details I will let y'all know.
Things are moving fast and fees must be paid. I have always said that money should not be an issue as to why you choose not to adopt. I will not let it be here either. God will provide the ransom for this little boy. He has called us to it and He will bring us through it. But dont take that to mean that you dont have to help. If God is calling you to give please I urge you to give. You will be blessed for it.
Prayers
Please pray for our child as he sits and waits for us. Pray for health, pray that he is loved by someone, that he is fed enough.
Pray for our tax return to come so we can help with these costs.
Thank you all so much.
BE blessed
We are going to be having a yard sale coming up May 4th and 5th. If you have anything you would like to donate to our yard sale that would be amazing! Let me know if I can pick it up or if you want to mail it.
This will be to cover the cost of the commitment fees. 3400.00
po box 48231
watauga tx 76148
And the kids have decided they want to do a fundraiser as well. Since they really really want a "pink" brother they want to help raise money to bring him home. That fundraiser will start on April 16th. They are being really secretive so stay tuned for more details and clues!!!
This will be to raise money for the governement fees totally 1000.00
After that we will have a Spaghetti Dinner, we hope. That will need to raise as much as possible. The total needed for his adoption is 24,000 or so. We will get an exact number soon.
We will also be having a fundraiser to raiser money for airfare. Paul wants to do that one so when he works out the details I will let y'all know.
Things are moving fast and fees must be paid. I have always said that money should not be an issue as to why you choose not to adopt. I will not let it be here either. God will provide the ransom for this little boy. He has called us to it and He will bring us through it. But dont take that to mean that you dont have to help. If God is calling you to give please I urge you to give. You will be blessed for it.
Prayers
Please pray for our child as he sits and waits for us. Pray for health, pray that he is loved by someone, that he is fed enough.
Pray for our tax return to come so we can help with these costs.
Thank you all so much.
BE blessed
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
New Homestudy
Our International homestudy will be on 4-12-12 at 630pm. This week we went back and forth on what agency to use. We had 2 great agencies but we needed to go with the one that had our child's file. It was back and forth back and forth for several days. Yesterday, I had enough and said, "Ok God. I'm done with this. We have wasted enough time on this. I want one agency and only one agency by tomorrow."
Well this morning I woke up called the one agency and they said as much as they wanted to be our agency they didnt have the file after all. So they wished us luck and I called the other agency and got everything together. We then called our case worker for the homestudy and set that appointment.
I thanked God for another prayer answered by getting us the agency. Then everyone that I needed to call, answered and we got the ball rolling.
Tonight we printed out our service agreement and got it in an envelope ready to be sent tomorrow.
We got an email from our other case worker. She gave us more information on our little guy. Big words. I have no idea what they mean. We tried googling. We should get his file in a week or so.
So our next step is to file commitment papers with the MOJ in our child's country. (Ministry of Justice)
Please keep us in your prayers. We have a lot to get done and a lot of money to raise. Click HERE to donate to our Kindle Fire giveaway. That is only going on for 10 more days. Dont miss out on a chance to win a Kindle Fire!!!
Thank you all for the love and support you have shown us. We feel so loved and can not wait to show you our child home where he is suppose to be.
Be blessed
Well this morning I woke up called the one agency and they said as much as they wanted to be our agency they didnt have the file after all. So they wished us luck and I called the other agency and got everything together. We then called our case worker for the homestudy and set that appointment.
I thanked God for another prayer answered by getting us the agency. Then everyone that I needed to call, answered and we got the ball rolling.
Tonight we printed out our service agreement and got it in an envelope ready to be sent tomorrow.
We got an email from our other case worker. She gave us more information on our little guy. Big words. I have no idea what they mean. We tried googling. We should get his file in a week or so.
So our next step is to file commitment papers with the MOJ in our child's country. (Ministry of Justice)
Please keep us in your prayers. We have a lot to get done and a lot of money to raise. Click HERE to donate to our Kindle Fire giveaway. That is only going on for 10 more days. Dont miss out on a chance to win a Kindle Fire!!!
Thank you all for the love and support you have shown us. We feel so loved and can not wait to show you our child home where he is suppose to be.
Be blessed
My husband's rant on Adoption
Here is my husband's blog. This is what he wrote.
Adoption is not an afterthought
Posted by Paul Beck on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. - Galatians 4:4-7
I'm coming to realize that the church in America considers adoption to be an afterthought to all of the other programs that it supports. This is backward thinking. THE reason that Jesus came to planet earth was so that we can be adopted as God's sons, joint heirs with Jesus. I don't think that we truly grasp this concept. We have been ADOPTED by God. This is why caring for the fatherless is so important to God, WE are the fatherless, the spiritually fatherless. WE have been adopted by God himself with a huge price tag. Jesus paid the ransom with His life in order to free us from our orphanage, called sin.
Wake up church and realize that adoption is not something nice that that God wants us to do to earn extra points. Adoption is THE point. When we take care of the fatherless and needy here on earth, it's as if we are doing this for Jesus himself. The Bible says that if we don't take care of the needy, the poor, the fatherless, the widows, that we are "goats" and he will say he never knew us. Why should God acknowledge us if we refuse to do for others what He has done for us?
I'm very disappointed at the church's attitude, we're missing the point. I think a lot of "Christians" will be shocked to find out one day that they ignored the heart of the great commission. "Go into all the world and preach the good news." What's the good news? God paid the price so we can be adopted as His sons! the good news is not that we can live a happier life because the great genie will grant you all of your wishes... What a horrible state the church is in.. Selfish Christianity is what it is... what's in it for me? The church isn't filled with Christ Followers, it's filled with fans...
Adoption is not an afterthought
Posted by Paul Beck on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. - Galatians 4:4-7
I'm coming to realize that the church in America considers adoption to be an afterthought to all of the other programs that it supports. This is backward thinking. THE reason that Jesus came to planet earth was so that we can be adopted as God's sons, joint heirs with Jesus. I don't think that we truly grasp this concept. We have been ADOPTED by God. This is why caring for the fatherless is so important to God, WE are the fatherless, the spiritually fatherless. WE have been adopted by God himself with a huge price tag. Jesus paid the ransom with His life in order to free us from our orphanage, called sin.
Wake up church and realize that adoption is not something nice that that God wants us to do to earn extra points. Adoption is THE point. When we take care of the fatherless and needy here on earth, it's as if we are doing this for Jesus himself. The Bible says that if we don't take care of the needy, the poor, the fatherless, the widows, that we are "goats" and he will say he never knew us. Why should God acknowledge us if we refuse to do for others what He has done for us?
I'm very disappointed at the church's attitude, we're missing the point. I think a lot of "Christians" will be shocked to find out one day that they ignored the heart of the great commission. "Go into all the world and preach the good news." What's the good news? God paid the price so we can be adopted as His sons! the good news is not that we can live a happier life because the great genie will grant you all of your wishes... What a horrible state the church is in.. Selfish Christianity is what it is... what's in it for me? The church isn't filled with Christ Followers, it's filled with fans...
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