You did it again God!

Well today was the day I gave God until to tell me about my son. Bold I know. At 11am we got the call. Now we have his birth date with is July 13th(the day before my mother in-law's birthday). The date they plan to have the file back to us for us to read and say yes to is July 26th.  We will see(I hear another bold prayer coming!). We may have to go to Houston to read the file and our caseworker says if that is the case then when asked she or I will say we will come read the file but we will start pre placement visits the very next day. That way we arent in Houston just to read a file. Apparently after the file is done things should be boom boom boom.  

She was very nice. I was worried because someone had said I could jeopardize things by reaching out and requesting information. I think that was just satan trying to get me to doubt how big our God is. God gave us Micah we know that for sure. I told the woman I didnt mean any disrespect. "She said absolutely not! We love it when we choose a family for a child and they are proactive."  She said she thinks its an awesome idea to sleep with some stuffed animals and send them to him. Also I told her a friend told me to take a picture of his bed and room and bedding then send the bedding and the picture to him so that he could sleep with it now and bring it with him to his new house. I hope to do that too.

All in all I just can't believe that we found out the things I prayed we would find out. I shouldnt be shocked. God loves us and wants the best for us and wants to please us. Yesterday when I was crying and heard that still small voice say this could be the prayer that tips the bowl. I knew breakthrough was coming. I also had this feeling that Micah's birthday was coming up and was afraid I would miss it. I guess a mama really does know :)

So my next bold prayer is to get that file sooner than expected. I would love to have him home for his birthday, but just knowing his birthday and knowing its all ok and hearing someone talk to me about him that is enough for me. That was more than I hoped for. Thank you all for praying for us!

Luke 18

New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”


Be blessed

Micah's Miles

It says Micah's Miles
Walkin' for that extra chromosome

Paul and I made Micah's fundraising shirt. We will be raising money for the Buddy Walk. I wish the big toe was further away from the others but other than that I love this shirt. Soon we will have more info but for now I just wanted you guys to see it.  On top of fundraising for our adoption we will fundraiser for the Buddy walk to so you may get sick of me asking for money but thats ok. You don't have to get blessed give. *smile*

Be blessed

Tipping the scale.

We have been learning about bold prayers and being persistent in our prayers. The other night at church they talked about the older woman in the Bible, the widow, who had a complaint and took it to the judge daily. He didnt care about her or the people he just wanted her to shut up. So he said "If she comes back one more time I will give her what she wants." It was because of her persistence.

They were saying at church we are just one prayer away from tipping the pot. I have circled my boys for months and months especially Micah. Today Im brokenhearted that one more day has gone by without his caseworker talking to mine. We are his parents, God ordained it and the state agreed. We need to have his file in order to move forward. All I have been asking for since June 12th has been a birth date and size. We are also asking for the file. My bold prayer is this is the week. Well its end of day Thursday and no word.

I sat on my bed after calling CPS people and getting no answer and began to cry. Then the pastors words came "You are just one prayer away from tipping the pot. Don't give up." SO with everything I have in me I am praying. Please God, please.

How can my heart hurt for someone I never met? How can I feel like my child needs me when I have not birthed him or ever laid eyes on him? How can I miss my son so much and yet never had him here with me? This mama's heart hurts. My heart knows some of my children are not here. I will not stop. I will fight, I will pray. Because they are worth it. Micah you are worth it! I will not leave you as orphans!

Be blessed

Teen Mom

So I started watching Teen Mom. I have seen teen mom before but havent in a long time. I could say a lot about this horrible show but for now I will let that all go and focus on one thing. Janelle.

Have you heard of this gal?http://www.eonline.com/news/teen_mom_2s_jenelle_evans_estranged/326069

 I was watching a few episodes in between cleaning and I just cried whenever they would show Janelle and her life. I sat down and prayed for her and was chatting with God. I think the reason this one girl's story affects me so much is I see in her what my life could have been had I not found God.

My upbringing was not the best. Lets just leave it at that shall we. I see this beautiful girl who is just so desperate. She has a mother who just could care less about her. She is searching for something, someone to love her and she isnt finding it. So she drinks, gets high, stays with an abusive man. When ask why she stays with Keifer the answer is always the same He needs me, I would never leave him. Oh how sad is that? She cant get control over her life or save her own life so she will try to save someone elses.

She is like any one of us. She is not accepted as who she is so she is willing to do deviant behavior to gain acceptance. Does she know that Jesus didnt came for the sick, the least of these, the unlovable?
The message says this really cool  Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?"

 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." Matthew 9:10-13

The headline of her story should read "When the fatherless grow up." She has no father in the picture, her mom is nuts, and an abusive boyfriend. Her life is chaos. Life without God is chaos. 

All these girls not just Janelle has issues. I can't help but look at them and feel their hopelessness. You look at each one of these girls from teen mom and teen mom 2 and who is doing well? Just the couple that placed their child for adoption. Makes you wonder.....


http://www.wetpaint.com/teen-mom/articles/breaking-teen-mom-amber-portwood-sentenced-to-five-years-in-prison

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/leah-messer-201284

http://thestir.cafemom.com/love_sex/133432/teen_mom_kailyn_lowrys_std

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/06/04/corey-simms-nikkole-paulun-sexy-skype-chats/

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/05/31/maci-bookout-farrah-abraham-shocking-pic-boob-licking-teen-mom/

The list goes on and on and on....

Be blessed

Adoption Stuff

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

I talk a lot about adoption. Paul and I both do. We support adopt, we pray for adoption, we advocate for the orphans. Paul told me the other day that all my stories begin with adoption. Haha. What can I say, my heart is for adoption.

Today we sent off USCIS. I can't tell you how awesome it is to have that done and be on the next step. Even if that next step includes our 3rd very expensive set of fingerprints in the last 3 months. Haha.  We are that much closer to bringing our boys home.

After going to get the money order my favorite song came on 10,000 reasons by Matt Redman. Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul and worship His holy name. Sing like never before oh my soul we worship Your holy name. I was crying to God because sometimes the Spirit moves me that way :) I blame adoption hormones. But seriously I was crying out to God in that song. Bless the Lord oh my soul.
                                    The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
                                           It's time to sing Your song again
                                   Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
                                        Let me be singing when the evening comes

That song moves me every time I hear it. No matter what comes even with my dying breath I want to be singing His praises. I guess thats how I feel about adoption. I will advocate for the least of these with every breath I have in me. I have a hunger inside me to see these children find their families. To see the widow find joy in someone spending time with her, to see the fatherless find a father. It was told to me that maybe adoption for me was some internal thing for me to do to get glory...or a calling. Haha. I would hope that people that truly know me would know I do not do this for fame and glory. God opened my eyes and broke my heart for what breaks His just like I ask Him to do.

In other adoption news we feel so honored to have people praying for us. We just started going to a new church on Saturdays and our old church on Sundays. We have been there two times and the people are amazing. They have a great adoption support group too. They have this website for prayer and you can go to it and pray for someone who needs it. http://harvestpray60.com/http://harvestpray60.com/  so I put our prayer up there and people have been praying for us. It feels so good to be supported. I encourage you to use the site too. If you have a need they will pray. The other night when I was up until 5am I went on that site and prayed and prayed for a lot of those people.

Anyways this blog is all over the place and Im sorry about that. I had to start and stop it like 100 times! Please if you remember pray that we get Micah's file this week.

Be blessed

After 2 years I went there

Today was like any other day. Up, fix breakfast, eat, tell Noah to stop screaming, get kids dressed, take a shower, tell Noah to stop screaming, therapy appointment, pool, gym, home, dinner, dessert, get kids in jammies, hugs, kisses, prayers, bedtime for them, edit some pictures, bed for me.

But one thing was different.

Noah's therapist came and weighed him. He lost weight. Nothing abnormal about that. This time it was only 2 oz in a month and he grew a few centimeters. She said his height was good weight was not great. He is in the 4th% on the typical kids chart. We talked about getting his gtube out, what he eats in a day, about how many calories, 1500, dude can eat! Then we said our goodbyes and off to the pool we went.

Later that evening as I was feeding Noah a huge helping of burrito and it hit me...what if we were so worried about the Trisomy 8 killing him and it is the lack of weight gain. What if he continues to eat like a champ and get taller but doesnt gain weight and dies? Oh my gosh he has Trisomy 8, what am I doing adopting again, what if they die too? Oh my gosh. Panic and sadness follow.

When Noah first came home a therapist and I were talking. I told her I don't worry about tomorrow we just focus on today. She told me that was the best attitude to have and so many of her families ask about 2,4 10, 20 years in the future. It isnt good to think about what things may look like that far ahead. I have no idea why it hit me so hard yesterday.

My friend told me us SN moms will bury our kids, its a sad fact but true. I dunno. Maybe its denial, maybe its my faith in my Savior, but I don't buy it. I won't speak that into my world. I will not bury my son. I trust God to keep him alive and I trust the healing God has given us. It was a momentary lapse in judgement, faith or a moment of weakness. I dont know or care what it was I just know my God is bigger than Trisomy 8. He is bigger than this weight issue and Jesus loves Noah even more than me.

So I will pray and I will focus on today. Today Noah put his face underwater over and over again at the pool. Today Noah ate like a champ. Today Noah babbled more than ever before. Today my son said Mama and looked right at me then smiled a smile that he knows will get him anything he wants. Today he stood in the bathroom holding his puppy waiting for me to change him and peed directly on a towel in front of him. Today we laughed, loved and lived.

Be blessed

Impatient

Impatient is something I really should not be as a person who is adopting. The adoption process can be long and drawn out and surprises can arise out of nowhere.

Today I was really struggling. I was told over a week or so ago that I have a new son, Micah. My heart is so full knowing he is ours. Now I want to bring him home. See he isnt a half a world away like Misha and Judah. No, Micah is only 4 hours from home. I have this child who has a mama and a papa and 5 siblings who are overjoyed and can not wait to get him home, but does he know that?

I know his first name, that he is allergic to milk and that he is probably 5 years old. I know when he went into foster care, 4 long years ago, and he lived in 2 foster homes. I also know that he is not potty trained and probably has sensory issues. I don't know his birthday. I don't know what size he is in. I don't know his favorite color. I don't know if he can say mama. I don't know what he likes to eat or what is his favorite toy.

My caseworker is amazing. She went to the mat for us I heard. I would expect nothing less from her. This gal fights for the orphan. She cares about the kids. Interesting fact, she was also Noah's caseworker. She is becoming more like family than caseworker it seems. She understands how excited we are and is so nice about the incessant emails she gets from me every.single.day. She ask Micah's caseworker when his birthday is and what size and was met with silence. I know they are busy. My heart just knows that my child is so close but not here with us.

When you find out that you are having a child what do you do? If you are like me you run out and buy something. Buying something makes it seem real. I want to get Micahs room ready. I want to buy him some clothes. I want to know if his birthday is close or if he just turned 5. I want to prepare as much as I can before he arrives. But I cant.

I know it may seem silly to you. I hear that God's timing is always perfect and it is. I agree. I also know that if two or more are gathered together in His name there He is too. Jesus will intercede to the Father for us. Please pray that we can hear about Micah this week. Pray that we get to bring him home in the beginning of July. We have a good many reasons as to why we want it to be this time. Please agree with us in prayer.

Please pray for all the mamas out there wanting to hold their babies. Pray for all the babies out there waiting to be held by their mamas. Pray for all the babies out there without their mamas laying alone in a crib dying slowly and painfully. And pray for the people who refuse to do anything for the least of these because their fate....is worse than death.

Be blessed

TB or not TB that is the question

So as some of you know we have been dealing with trying to get our Tb tests for our adoptions. International says Paul and I have to have TB n HIV. State says we have to have TB and so does our whole family.

We are opposed to the skin test and having a child with Trisomy 8 we have to be careful what he comes in contact with. That being said we will not do the skin test. We were told if we didn't want to do the skin test we could do the x ray. So we called the health dept to get the test done as it was cheaper than using our insurance.

Health dept says you cant get an x ray unless you test positive on the skin test. Ugh! They said it is state regulation. (Thanks Texas!) The only thing we can do is get the blood test. So I call my doctor, get an appointment and take 2 kids today. The doctor comes in and he tells me that he called the lab and that he can not do a blood test on children under 5 and it isnt recommended for kids under 17. He recommends we go to the lab and talk to them about it. The doctor did say we were doing such an amazing job with Noah that he did not want to do anything that would risk Noah's health.  He told me to go to the lab and hear from them then call the case worker and see what we could do.

I went to the lab which is right next door and they told me what the dr said and why. Called the SW and she needed a letter from the doctor stating what he told me. So went back to the doctors office and told them and we should have the paper signed by our appointment next week. So Monday Paul and I will go get our TB blood draw and HIV test and then that will be done.

As soon as the other SW sends over the paragraph we need to add onto the home study we will be able to send the USCIS papers off for the boys in Bulgaria.

Please please pray that next week we get Micah's file and can formally say YES! And that he has his psych eval done next week. We have not heard a thing from them since they said we were his parents. We need him to be home ASAP because of bonding and school. Thank so much.

Be blessed

Surprise!

You know how those people on tv say they never knew they were pregnant until they delivered? No, I am not pregnant and BTW I dont believe they didnt know.

But we did have a shock of our life recently. So when we found out we were torn as to what to do. We decided the best thing to do was to be upfront and honest with all involved. We called all who needed called and will have to change some papers but....

IT"S A BOY!!!!

Micah Jaleen Cooper

He is a beautiful 5 year old little boy with Down Syndrome. He is perfect in every way. We were chosen as his forever family just yesterday and soon (we hope) we will travel to Houston to meet him and bring him home. 

We are rejoicing in the Lord. What an amazing blessing He has given to us. Some of you may be thinking we are crazy...thats ok. Others of you will want to know about Misha and Judah. Well, we will still be pursuing our adoption of them. Our SW actually said this was the perfect time for this to happen. God's timing is always perfect. 

We would like you to pray with us though we have a few hangups that need to be cleared up before we can bring him home and they say that could take months. But we believe that God chose this time for a reason. Please also pray that he would like us. If the first meeting goes well we may only have to travel once and we can bring him home then. 

But now we need to go get bunkbeds and some bedding and clothes and candy cigars and celebrate! 

                                              Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

                                         children a reward from him.

                                                          Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

                                         are sons born in one’s youth.

                                                                         Blessed is the man

                                        whose quiver is full of them.

                                                                                       Psalm 127:3-5

We are blessed!

Everything to me

This is an amazing song. Makes me cry every time I listen to it. It makes me think of Noah years from now. At one point in time I could not think about future Noah. Now, though, I know my God healed him. Now I think about the day his gtube is removed, the day he starts school, the day he plays football!! The day he goes to his first Steeler game with his dad.  I can think about the day he goes off to college. The day he marry's the girl we have prayed for him to have. The day he becomes a dad.

I can not thank his birth mother enough for choosing to birth my son. She is an amazing woman. Without her there would be no Noah. I can not imagine my life without my son here. He is everything to me.

Be blessed

Prayers

So much is going on lately. I thought I would make a prayer list and if I forgot anyone please add it in the comments

Aralyn Faith: She has some chromosomal issues like Noah. Right now she is vomiting and having seizures, please join with me in praying for healing. Doctors said she wouldnt live to see one and soon she will be two. Rejoice with me, we serve a mighty God.

Michaela: She has neurofibermatosis and a brain tumor on her optic nerve since she was 18 months old. She is 13. Tonight she went via an ambulance to the hospital because her headaches were so bad. The tumor has grown significantly. They want to operate, she feels like she will die during the surgery, parents dont know what to do. Her mama is my very dear friend. I love this family. Her husband married Paul and I. I use to watch the kids. Please please pray with me for healing, strength and guidance. Let them know exactly what to do and all other doors they are not to do be closed.

Pray for people on facebook lots of crap going on there. Fighting name calling and general nastiness. Pray God convicts their hearts and restores peace to them.

Ian, he is a little guy I took pictures of when I was in Pa. He was taken to CHP today with something wrong. He also has a terminal brain tumor. Please pray for a complete healing and for strength for this family. They are wonderful people who deserve to be blessed. I am "real life" friends with his mama it isnt fair that he has to go through this. I believe he also has CP. He has a gtube and trache.

Ryan, Liam, Denali, Pierce, Rowan, Noah (not ours) all the little children that are dealing with cancer, heart problems, hospital stays. 

Pray for our adoption and the adoption of all our friends in this wonderful adoption community. Pray for the orphans.

And lastly please pray for us. We have a big day ahead of us on June 12th. I can not go into details online as to what we will be doing but we need prayer. Pray for God's will to be done in the situation and our hearts to be okay with whatever God chooses to do.

Thanks so much.

Be blessed

God is so good

We have really been so blessed. The FBI prints came back after I ask everyone for prayer and now they are on their way to DC to be apostilled then we should have them back by Monday I hope. When we get them back we can send in our USCIS!!! Yay!

When USCIS comes back we can send our Dossier. Awesome! Then our caseworker says that I will travel 4-5 weeks after that. Wow! She thinks by August I will be in Bulgaria. I am praying for July. Lately I have really been missing my boys. Funny how you can miss someone you have never met. They certainly do have my heart. I can not wait to meet them and talk to them and touch their little faces and tell them it will all be alright. 

In order for me to do that we need to have money to travel. We are working very hard fundraising and other things to get the money to travel. Plane tickets are going up up up, not cool. They were 1000. Last I heard was 1600. Wow. So there is plane tickets, hotel, cab fare and probably a list of other things I havent even thought of. We are trying to raise 3000.00 for the first trip. We still have our BUY YOUR BIRTHDAY and we are having a BOW FUNDRAISER too. I am hoping to have another yard sale soon. We still have t shirts and I will get a link for them up soon. I think we are going to try to sell the 3 different designs we have and only sale from this date to this date. 

Please help us by praying for us and our boys. God always provides and we know He will provide this as well. Pray that all the paperwork gets done very fast and is sent as soon as possible. Pray for safe travels. Pray that our boys hearts would be softened toward me and they would allow me in their world.

Also this is a really cool video. You have to check it out! http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/a-chronicle-of-redemption-part-3-failed-kings-in-a-united-kingdom/v547

This is a must see video.

Thanks so much. 

Be blessed

BOWS FUNDRAISER!

Boy are you in for a treat! I have an amazing bestie who has so generously given us a ton of bows to sale. She made each and everyone and has refused to take money for them. All the proceeds we make from this sale go to the boys adoption! 100% !!! Now there is one catch.....all I have pictured is all I have. That means once they are sold they are sold and no one else can order that specific item. All items that need shipped will be 1.50 for shipping unless you order multiple items it will go up by .50

Ponytails 3.00 each or 2 for 5.00

Grad keyrings 2.50 each

Baby girl socks 4.00

Small purse 5.00

 Large  clips 8.00

5.00 clip sets

5.00 medium clips

3.00 small clips

8.00 large clip

                                                                       8.00 headbands

You can leave a comment on here with the items you want to purchase and your email. I will email you on how to pay. You can pay in person, mail a check or money order or click on our donate button via our we pay account , NOT REESES RAINBOW ACCOUNT! It can not go into that account to buy bows. Thanks so much for supporting us!

Happy Buying!

Be blessed

John 14:18 pic heavy

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.




I have been thinking about that scripture verse since we decided about 7 months ago it was time again to adopt. So I had been thinking about getting that tattooed on my foot in honor of all my boys. 


It started with an idea

 The adoption symbol.

 The foot before

 The tattoo shop

Drawing it up

 Its time!

More painful than childbirth!

Its finished

 I love it!

 Both feet finally done. The left says Chosen John 15:16

My Awesome bday gift!

This tattoo means so much to me. With every painful mark on my foot I thought I am coming boys! Nothing can keep me from coming for you. I will not leave them as orphans just like God didnt leave us as orphans. Thank you Jesus!