Full of Suprises!

After waiting 45 days to hear word on our contract that we placed on a house, we got word today (of all days!)! The title "glitch" has been resolved and everyone (there's four other offers) is supposed to offer up their "best offer". Only with a foreclosure, right?! The real estate agent is turning all offers in on Monday. (hate the waiting :-/) We have offered our best and we are placing our faith in God to do the rest. It's been fun seeing (at least in retrospect) how God has been guiding and providing and opening doors at just the right time these last few months.

With God NOTHING (look carefully-NO THING) is impossible!

The Check Is In The Mail

Not really, it's actually our immigration approval!!!

We only found out yesterday that we were getting expedited. Then we received an email today from immigration and our agency that our I-797 approval is going in today's mail! Talk about EXPEDITE!!!

So amazed at what God is doing.

Expedited!

We received an email from our agency today that immigration is expediting the review of our case!!! Guess waiting the week and a half for a letter from the pediatrician did pay off! Pray for quick review with favorable determination.

We still have not heard anything on the new house other than we might know something in a couple of weeks.

Lots going on!

Ephrem

Ephrem from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

 “What first drew me to this little boy was his sweet round face.  Obviously, he has suffered a great deal from malnutrition.  When we visited the school he and the rest of the children were so focused on their meal.  It’s amazing to see how Lifesong was changing their lives.  After lunch, I found myself surrounded by children playing a name game.  He reached out and kissed my hand.  My heart melted... I think of him daily.” 

Jenny Anderson, Orphan Advocate

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine the hardships that go on around the world.  We sit in our comfortable homes, with pantries full of necessities, and it seems strange that most of the world doesn’t have a pantry, let alone food to fill it.  But for millions of children in Africa this is their reality.  Hunger is a part of their daily lives.  Then add the fact that many of these children are also orphaned, either by death or abandonment… it’s almost more than we can bear.  It’s hard to go there mentally and we protect our hearts by pretending it doesn’t exist.  But it does.  Children are suffering.

Little Ephrem is one of those children.  Born in Ethiopia, his father is now dead and his mother disappeared years ago.  He was taken into his grandmother’s care, but she has struggled to provide for him.  At 4 years old, Ephrem is extremely small for his age, and most likely suffers from a type of growth disorder, though the lack of specialized medical care keeps us from knowing for sure.  And since he has been malnourished most of his life, it is no wonder his health is affected.
Praise the Lord, Ephrem is now enrolled in Lifesong’s Adami Tulu Nursery School, where he is getting two meals a day and seems to be flourishing under the care of his teachers.  His sweet demeanor and precious smile easily capture your heart.

Bring joy and purpose this Christmas season to children like Ephrem around the world!

*Want to use your blog to advocate for the fatherless? Click here to learn more.

God's Faithfulness

I have been praying about a certain situation for the last two months.  Today we were able to get some resolve.  I pray that God equips us for what He has ahead regarding this.

Meanwhile I've been able to get Christmas cards off and am excitedly looking forward to friends coming over tomorrow to share dinner with us!  Life never seems to slow down.  Lately I feel like I'm failing in so many areas- housework, meal prep, schooling.  You name it I'm probably failing at it.

God's faithfulness is never failing, however.  Sometimes it may feel like He is not listening, but He does hear our calls.  It may be housework, a broken relationship, waiting with regards to an adoption/children, finances, etc, but He will act in a way that is for our betterment even if it doesn't feel like it at the time.  His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. Amen.

Another Day, Another Dollar?

I have been saving money and spending as little as possible for so long, I find myself having difficulty spending money.  Maybe this is good, maybe not :-/  It does make it challenging to find inexpensive nice Christmas presents.

Fingerprinting and an Anniversary

We celebrated our 14 year anniversary in style with going to try to get into our fingerprinting appointments early! (a week early)  And God did it!  We walked in, filled out the necessary form and then were able to go straight back for fingerprinting!!!  (Never been THAT quick before) 
-------------------------
An Anniversary Diddy


We pledged each our heart
And from this we don't depart
I'm so glad to be chosen by you

Never been smoothing sailing
But God's love is unfailing
And He gets us through

So for what lies ahead
It's nice to have your shoulder to rest my head
I choose you too!

14 years and counting!

[I thought this got posted yesterday, then realized that it posted to our old blog!  Yes, I'm technologically challenged!]

Foray Into Public Education

Today I attended an ARD for Elizabeth.  We are going to be trying her in the Deaf Ed  3 year old classroom.  I am overwhelmed about all the restrictions on clothing, like if your pants has belt loops you have to wear a belt!?  Or the "only tennis shoes" policy.  GRRRR.  I hope that I can do this.  If she doesn't do well, we will be requesting home sessions and just speech again. 
They kept spouting socialization importance to me.  I really wanted to say, I don't want MY daughter acting like YOUR daughter!  We'll try and see, in January! 

Fingerprinting Appointments In Today's Mail!!!!

I've been praying earnestly for our fingerprinting appointments and said one last prayer before I opened the mail box this afternoon and there they were!  Was hoping to have them before Thanksgiving and then our homestudy was delayed and then we just haven't heard diddlysquat from USCIS. 
Double bonus, Elizabeth's US passport was also in the mail today!  God is a God of Wonders!  Looking forward to seeing Him continue to work!  
Our appointments are for 12/22 we will be attempting to get in on 12/15, our 14 year anniversary!  We have been able to get in prior to our appointments at least one time before and this could really speed Lillyanna's immigration approval along.  Please join us in prayer that they will allow us to be fingerprinted early. 

Waiting

Psalm 37:6-8 (NIV)

⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.

 We wait for letters of medical expedite.  We wait for US immigration.  We wait for God to provide the home to bring Lillyanna (like it?!) home to.  Sometimes waiting is so hard to do.  What a reminder in Psalms though that if we fret, in other words- worry!, it leads to evil!  What a wake up!  More trusting, more waiting.  God is in control, even when our world seems to be spinning out of control.  He has a plan.  He has a purpose.  We just have to wait.

Happy Birthday, Lilly!

Lilly,

You have never met me, seen my face or heard my voice.  But, God has made a special place for you in my heart and in our family.  Wait my darling, we are coming!  Until then, may God's mercy, protection and unfailing love keep you safe and soothe your heart.

Isaiah 40:31

... but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

---------------------------------------------------

Lilly's 4th birthday is today.  She has spent almost four years needing a forever family.  My heart is breaking that I cannot be there singing Happy Birthday to her and lighting candles for her to blow out.  Needing some hope and faith today.  Our adoption agency is considering a medical expedite if we can get a physician's letter.  It could put us ahead or they said it could toss us to the back of the line with US immigration.  Give us wisdom, LORD.

A Way to Help, Worldwide

Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house?  Making Christmas cookies?  Celebrating with family and loved ones?  Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need?  An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that.  Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

  

 

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!  


10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

I Love Spring!

So why am I saying I love Spring in the middle of Winter?!  Because there are some beautiful flowering bushes that we have in our yard that remind me of Spring!  When we first bought our home eight years ago I thought it strange that these bushes bloom at the end of November/December time frame.  I honestly thought that the weather messed up their flowering cycle.  However, after eight years of the same thing happening and doing some research- their camelias.  I now know to expect their blooming.  Even though it happens in the winter it makes me think of Spring and how the refreshing of life to the earth is just around the corner. 

Winter is generally a hard time for me because of the reduction of sunlight, but these wonderful pink flowers all across our back yard are such refreshment.  It is also bittersweet, as this will most likely be the last winter that we will be here to enjoy them.  I am excited about God adding to our family, I am thrilled to possibly be moving (still no word on the new house), but after investing eight years of our lives here and bringing three of our five home here, it will be a loss.  Life has many different seasons just as a year has seasons.  I wait, somewhat patiently, to see what God would have for us in this coming season of our lives.  A friend made a statement this morning about us purchasing the new van because "aren't you adopting more?"  (speaking of more beyond the next one) WHAT?!?  We only know about the one more!  Life is so busy and I've already had to back out of at least one commitment.   Mr. Incredible and mine's conversations mostly involve what the next day holds and what has happened during the current day.  Dates happen once a month, if then, and usually involve Walmart. Lol!  My mind swims at the thought of "more"!  I lose track of appointments if they are not our usual ones.  (even when on the calander! :-/)  Fortunately I haven't lost track of a child (yet).  Already the laundry pile becomes a mountain if I get behind.  I have no idea how we are going to pack, adopt, school, and get to our many appointments if we do get the new house.  More? Really?! (shaking head)  But God has a plan, I need to trust....

As if life already isn't -(fill in the blank)- enough, when you have a child that constantly tests you and shirks their school work sometimes you have to get creative.  Today in point, I came up with, "A math lesson a day keeps mom happy and gay."  Hopefully that got the point across, if not I'll have to resort to more rhymery!

Thank you Lord for reminding me of your refreshing.  May I be able to have a spring in my step and a song in my heart as I serve the mission field you have given me.

Upsizing

Well we've prayed, we've test drove, we've counted the cost and test drove some more...  The last month it seems has been filled with uncertainty about what vehicle God would have us buy.  At first we thought he was leading us to an eight passenger minivan, but our hearts didn't settle.  We've compared minivans to suburbans to 15 passenger vans, looked at seating, pricing, etc.  Yesterday, we went and saw 15 passenger vans.  It is with fear and faith a lot of trepidation and still some hesitation, but we are going to be buying a 14 passenger van and we feel at peace about it.  Why all the fear and faith, trepidation, hesitation?  Have YOU ever driven one?!  It's like driving an aircraft carrier!!!  The fear is because we know of a young man who was injured in a 15 passenger van accident and his life will never be the same because of it.  Trepidation and hesitation are from the fact that we never imagined ourselves here, have never been in this situation before and it is a bit overwhelming.  The faith aspect is we believe that we are following what God is telling to do, but we really don't want to understand or try to comprehend why we need a 14 passenger van, an eight seater would fit us fine.  Maybe it's the cost, maybe the room, I honestly cringe to think about other possibilities.


God equips who He calls, He doesn't call the equipped.  So if he's called us to care for orphans and He's equipping us with a 14 passenger van... (I'm not ready to go there!)

I Am Not The Woman I Used To Be

Thanksgiving seemed like a typical Thanksgiving.  Prep food, eat, nap, etc.  It was when I was headed to the garage to put some shoes to give away that I smelled it.  Tide Stain Lifter.  After further investigation I discovered THREE bottles (I buy on sale with coupons) either upside down and leaking even though they were supposed to be closed or on their side wide open.  That wide open bottle was conveniently located at the crevice betwixt the washer and dryer and the whole top of the dryer was covered in it.  The Tide was also seeping out from under the washer and dryer.  And then I see something dripping out of the cabinet, below where I keep the bleach.  M struck again.  Apparently during nap time/at the end, he decided to "investigate".  I am so thankful that he was not injured and the bleach and Tide did not mix.  I am also thankful that I was able to leave the house to go Black Friday shopping after spending two hours cleaning up the HUGE mess in the laundry room.  Standing in the cold for an hour at T-R-U, 30 minutes shopping then standing 2 hours in the check out line was almost enough time to cool down enough to go to sleep at 2:30 am today.  I let Mr. Incredible handle the disciplinary actions, I knew I would overreact.  The really cool part is I got to meet a mom with a son very similar to M while standing in the cold.  She wants to do the GF diet to help her son, but is struggling.  I hope I was able to be an encouragement to her.

So why the post title?  It's because even just a couple of years ago, I would have screamed at M for wasting the Tide and making a mess (then apologize after I blew up).  Now I wasn't all jolly, I was firm, and he had to stay and watch me clean it up- the first hour. (He didn't clean it up due to the nature of the mess) While cleaning, I talked to him about how the choices he makes affects others, how I loved him and even though I was angry I still loved him and wanted him to be safe, etc. 

A couple other situations also happened recently.  Mr. Incredible and myself were asked if what we had was contagious (adopting kids/having "lots" of kids).  The old me would have become defensive and tried to prove a point or something, but his wife was uncomfortable that he has said something like that so I just left it as, "We like kids!".  Then today, I didn't even flinch an inch when Mr. Incredible bought a TV today at a Black Friday sale.  He's been waiting YEARS for one (and it will be nice to actually be able to see movies now).  I know 32" is by no means a BIG screen tv, but in our house you would think it's as big as a movie theaters!  (and the price was nice :))

In more serious matters though, I am still floored by how God is granting me peace (usually) in the midst of turbulent waters.  We are adopting.  We are trying to buy a new house.  We possibly found a vehicle.  My old ways were to be anxious, calculate, analyze, etc.  I strangely find myself NOT doing those things.  Yes, I know the cost of the adoption. Yes, I know the cost of the house (and I'm a little nervous with financing options).  Yes, I know the cost of the vehicle.  BUT, I also know a BIG GOD who can do BIG THINGS and I am trusting that HE will work this out.  That is freedom.

Hearing Aids and Other Tidbits

Today Elizabeth got physician clearance for getting hearing aids!!!!   I know that that may not sound exciting to some, but it has been what we've been needing for a while now.  So I made a call this afternoon and left a message for a program that might be able to provide free or reduced cost hearing aids.  If that doesn't pan out maybe a check will show up on our mailbox?!  I know we serve a big God and that all things are possible!
We still haven't heard anything on the house that we put a contract in for.  More waiting, praying, hoping and praying.
In other news, our schedule is once again changing as a new occupational therapist will be starting the week after Thanksgiving and cannot work with us at the time slots we currently have.  Our schedule will be changing even more when Elizabeth begins her Pre-K classes in the deaf ed classroom.  Change can be good and it can be maddening!
Upwards was something that we had signed up for (like we needed something else to do!), but I had to call today and withdraw (after much prayer and agony).  We may be out the $$$ or if they can fill our spots we can get a refund.  At this point I really don't care.  God is our provider.  K was going to have weekly practice instead of just Saturday "games".  Jacob wasn't too thrilled about it to begin with and I am tired of sacrificing our Saturdays on the alter of basketball.  I was so impressed this morning during my quite time (aka taking a shower) that we needed to withdraw, I had to call Rick.  I don't know what God has in store for us, but if withdrawing from Upwards shows obedience, I'm all in for a simpler life and less hectic schedule. So, no Upwards!  Instead we are going to have family basketball in the driveway, maybe move to the new house?, and have time to work on things around the house (maybe pack?).  Rick and I have had the same feeling that we will be adopting and moving at pretty much the same time.  Not quite sure how that is going to work.  But God does!  Maybe Upwards would have been a good thing, but not the best thing because God knows what's coming!?
I also know that this adoption is going to pull more out of us than any yet.  It already is.  Needing a new home, needing a new vehicle, mentally trying to prepare ourselves for a four year old that doesn't know English and could break if touched/picked up in the "wrong" way has been a lot to think and pray about.  I find myself lifting Elizabeth and wondering if I picked up little miss the same way would she break?!  Or somebody bumping into something and wondering if we would be rushing to the ER with a broken bone, if it had been little miss.  It has all been a matter of lots of prayer and trust and FAITH! 
There isn't any news on our paperwork.  It made it to the USCIS office and we are awaiting appointments for fingerprinting.  Praying that comes by December 2 or so, however once again God is in control and knows and cares.

7 Habits of a Highly Effective Family, #3 and #4

Habit #3- Put first things first!
We have an illustration of this on our kitchen counter now.  It's a glass jar/vase with big rocks and little rocks.  The point being that if you don't put the big rocks on the schedule- family meals, family nights, date night, etc.- life (the little rocks) are going to fill up your life and you won't have room for the big rocks.  For different families there will be different rocks.  So don't compare yourself to the Jones', do what is right for your family and your time of life.

Habit #4-Think Win-Win
We each have an emotional bank account and our interactions with others either make deposits or withdrawals.   Our words can uplift or tear down, plain and simple.  It can even be the tone of voice that we choose to use that can make the difference between whether we are making a deposit or a withdrawal.

Little Girl Naming

We are currently working on a name for our latest addition.  Tonight I was flipping through the baby naming book we purchased 12 years ago as we were expecting our first.  I never imagined that 12 years later I'd be looking at names for a three year old little girl in China with brittle bones who was going to join our family.  Amazing how God works!
I started perusing our book when we found out about little miss.  I also started looking at online sites.  It's kind of hard going to "baby" naming sites in order to look up meanings and expand the search of names, since she is not a baby and I had to sacrifice my desire of adopting a baby in order to adopt little miss. I know God is working in all of this, but it's still a little hard.  There's also the trouble of our other children have a biblical name or a name derived from a biblical name. Not wanting to break the trend we would like to name her a biblical name, but there aren't that many biblical names that I like that make sense for a little girl from China too boot.
So the debate continues on what first name do we choose, or should I say God has chosen and yet to reveal to us!  We know her first middle name is going to be Faith, since it is taking such a leap of faith on our part to do this.  Her second middle name will be her Chinese name and of course she will have our last name.  The names that are currently in the mix are Lily, Anna, Chloe and Emily (not biblical).  I really would like a name ending in -ly since her Chinese name ends in the "ly"sound.  Mr. Incredible really likes Anna.  I did come up with Lilyana to try to make us both happy, but we still haven't reached any decisions. 
I know we have some time.  God only knows how fast the rest of this will go, but we are thinking we will travel in March given China's expediting our process.  This step of waiting for I-800A approval is supposed to take somewhere between 30-45 days.  We'll see how God works on US Immigration in order to bring little miss home quickly. 
In the meantime, we wait and pray and look for vehicles!

Playing Catch Up

This week has whizzed by and I've been dragging behind all week.  It's so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week!  We will once again be spending the holiday in town, by ourselves.  We could travel to Rick's mom's, but don't have the time, energy, etc. for the 17 hour drive each way.  My parents are unavailable due to my dad's work schedule and the remodeling of their home.  I could be grouchy that we are stuck here without family, but instead I am using the chance to count our blessings.
- We have the privilege of having 5 soon to be 6 children
- We have a warm home and good food
- Rick is getting to have a long weekend at home
- Black Friday shopping is just a week away!

We've submitted a contract for a single story home and acreage, we are praying that if God would have this for our family that it will be accepted.  Still searching for a vehicle, but we have some time.  The week after Thanksgiving we will be listing our land to sell. 

Our home study was finally finished this week and I sent the application for immigration approval off yesterday- had to have the home study to submit the application.  Spending the money to overnight the application has hopefully saved us at least $30 since filing fees increase Monday.

Our Homestudy Has Finally Been Approved!

Nothing really more can be said! We are working hard on bringing new little miss home. Working on new blog as well.