Hungry in Haiti

Strawberry Hemangioma Anyone?

It certainly was an interesting day! Let me give you a little insight into what made it so interesting...

At the beginning of last week I noticed a small red dot on B's cheek. It was no bigger than a pin head. At first I thought it was just a speck of food. Upon examination it appeared to be blood under the skin. As the week went on it became more puffy looking, but still the size of a pin head. On Saturday it burst (for lack of a better term). This small dot bled, and bled, and bled some more. On Sunday there were two episodes of bleeding. This morning it bled for 1/2 an hour with no end in sight, so I called the pediatrician to make an appointment. Upon examination it was determined this tiny bleeding speck was a strawberry hemangioma (basically a tiny benign tumor). They quickly made an appointment for him to be seen in plastic surgery this afternoon to have this area "lasered" and they informed me the physician needed to sedate him for the procedure! This was officially more than I bargained for.

So I go home with my little strawberry boy and come back a couple of hours later. The plastic surgeon comes in and says he has decided we will just keep an eye on it. OK, I did not come back to the clinic so we could be charged another office visit & just keep an eye on it. I came back to the clinic for some resolve (which I received after indicating I was not really interested in "keeping an eye on it"). Two year olds are not really interested in sitting still while pressure is being applied to their cheek several times a day for 30 minutes...really!

Thankfully I am aware of the benefits of using a child life specialist for procedures. Through conversations with them I also learned that it would not be necessary to do a deep sedation so we ended up only using a local anesthetic. I work for Children's Miracle Network which provides the funding for this wonderful service. They played with him before the procedure which made him feel at ease. They helped swaddle and distract him so his tears and fears were at a minimum. These girls do great work!

So although it was an interesting day I'm thankful this little guy is fine and that it turned about to be nothing major.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever

Psalm 118:1

I'm Having a Pity Party & You're All Invited!

I am officially struggling with what to write...

We've had our first home study visit, which went well. Judy was very nice and easy to talk to. I've written my autobiography and Jeff needs to work on his, which I know will be more difficult for him. I've volunteered to type it for him if he wants so I think that will speed things up. He can just ramble off his thoughts and I will do my best to capture them. I actually think this is a fairly interesting part of the process. The questions we need to answer are actually interesting to reflect on and put down on paper. Here are a few highlights:

• Describe the type of people your parents are/were, including names, personalities, occupations, etc. What is and was your relationship with your parents? What values did you learn from your parents?
• How did you meet your spouse? Describe his/her personality. Describe your courtship & decision to marry. Describe the most difficult period of marriage and how it has effected your relationship.
• Describe yourself, your personality, your likes & dislikes. What do you like most about yourself? What would you like to change?
• What does becoming a parent mean to you?
• What are your thoughts about religion & its place in your family life?

The list goes on, but these are certainly interesting questions to put thought into.

We are disappointed that the little girl we were hoping to get a referral for was given to another family. I know God has the perfect plan for our family & I am trying really hard to be faithful & believe He has it all worked out. I have to admit it has been harder lately to stay positive. People just have not responded like we'd hoped. If we'd announced a pregnancy everyone would be like hey, congratulations, let me shower you with encouragement. Unfortunately, announcing we plan to adopt has not had the same effect. All but a handful of people either avoid talking to us altogether or don't bother to acknowledge the adoption (apparently if you don't talk about it, it will just go away). Others are happy to inquire about our fundraising efforts, but feel no need to give of themselves. I'm frankly disappointed!

For the people that have given generously and supported us with many encouraging words we are VERY thankful. More thankful & appreciative than you could ever know. It is your gifts and words and hugs and prayers that are continuing to sustain us during this time. We do not regret our decision to adopt and we will continue to move forward in faith. This child that we long for will be revealed to us in His perfect time. I am praying for endurance for the process. I know that while people may let us down, we thankfully serve a God that does not!

Thanksgiving was good and I've so enjoyed my time off with the hubby & kids. We have much to be thankful for...

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Friendship

Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joy, and dividing our grief.

Today was a good day! We had the pleasure of spending the day at the home of our wonderful friends - we enjoyed good food, great conversation and lots of laughter. They are just one of the many blessings in our lives and we are thankful that God connected our families together. It is so special to spend time with people who only want to build you up & not tear you down. We are blessed!

Ransomed

Ransom: (verb) to redeem from captivity, bondage, detention, etc., by paying a demanded price.

My daughter is being held for ransom. Not that the people who are caring for her have her held captive, or are mistreating her in any way, but the worry over financing this adoption makes it feel like a ransom. What would you do if your child was being held for a price? Would you give anything you had for their return? Would you go to the ends of the earth to bring them back?

Not having the child in our arms that God has called us to seek out and bring home is overwhelming at times. I long to touch her face, to see her smile, to feel her warmth. She is the missing piece of our family - a family planned by God's perfect design. Thank you God for the wonderful plans You have made for us. Let us rejoice and draw near to You in every challenge we face. Let us sacrifice our desires for Yours and bear witness to the wondrous things You have done.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Two Down...Two Thousand To Go

Well, maybe not two thousand, but it certainly seems that way! We received our official approval from CCI today along with the adoption services agreement. I guess the next big thing is our home study. I made lots of phone calls this afternoon to various organizations who provide these services. I am amazed at the price difference for the same service. We have had quotes of two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, and the whopper of all - six thousand! I think I nearly passed out when I heard that one. I'm certain I stopped breathing momentarily.

Thankfully I believe we have found someone to do this that we not only felt comfortable with, but they were also more reasonably priced. She will be coming to meet with us next Thursday afternoon at 1:00 pm. We will have one more long meeting after that in our home and then have to complete 16 hours of adoption training in Madison. This is probably the most important piece of paperwork that will be completed as it will ultimately decide whether or not we are able to continue with this adoption. Please keep our family in prayer and that all will go smoothly.

We are moving forward in FAITH, believing this process is in God's hands and that He will be our ultimate provider. We look forward to sharing His good news and saying "look what our Lord has done - he has provided a miracle for us".

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9

The Least of These

November is National Adoption Month! Please join us in praying for the orphaned children of the world. Take a moment to ponder what your life would be like if you had grown up without someone to love & care for you...

Taken from http://www.cryoftheorphan.org/:

“[Many Christians] do not realize that caring for orphans is central to our call as God’s people. Churches so rarely talk about this issue. We are to be his hands extended in caring for the orphans just as God himself would. God’s plan for his people has always been for us to represent him to the world. United as His body, I believe God is willing and planning to do even greater and mightier things through us corporately than he has done through all of us individually."
— Kerry Marks-Hasenbalg, former executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

“We have been blessed with so much, yet too often we squander these blessings on our personal pursuits without a thought that God gives us these things to use for his Kingdom. Yet I believe the adoption of orphans is one of the greatest opportunities today for fulfilling the Great Commission. When children are received into families where they are introduced to the Savior, and grow up in a secure and loving environment, they are positioned to meet and experience the living God in a tangible way.”
— Dennis Rainey, president and cofounder of FamilyLife

Why This Matters To God...The World's Waiting Children Matter
The numbers are staggering...More than 143 million orphans worldwide...every 14 seconds an AIDS death leaves another child orphaned...more than 800,000 children pass through America foster care system each year.

Yet, there is One who cares — our Father in heaven. Throughout the Bible, God shares his compassion, his love, and his special concern for the most vulnerable among us — the orphan. The world’s waiting children. Children with no father or mother to protect them, waiting for someone to care for them, someone to love them.The Scriptures are clear that the Lord gives the family of God the responsibility to care for the orphan's needs — to love and protect them. In fact, God's concern for orphans is so central to his plan for us here on earth that he inspired James to write: "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world," (James 1:27)

Why would God tell us that caring for orphans is "pure and undefiled religion"?

Maybe it’s because the world sees God’s heart when he works through his people to help the helpless. And maybe it’s because caring for orphans is such a perfect picture of our relationship with God. In our inability to please God in our own efforts, in our utter helplessness to initiate a relationship with him, we are more like orphans and strangers than we like to admit.

It’s time for the body of Christ to step up. The urgent needs of orphans around the world are calling the Christian community today to a radical faith. One church, one family, one person can make a difference.

Today God is stirring the hearts of his people to this incredible need and opportunity. There is a movement of an increasing number of churches and evangelical organizations worldwide who are coming together as one voice to not only raise awareness but more importantly to mobilize the body of Christ to take action on behalf of the orphan.

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:35-40

Keeping the Faith

As the excitement of yesterdays bit of news has waned a harsh reality is setting in. We need money! As many of you know pursuing this adoption has been a great leap of faith for us. We know God has called us to do this. We know we are doing it for His glory. When I share the news of our adoption with people I always share God's presence in our actions. I really feel we have been able to use this as a ministry to share God's love with people.

Are we prepared to bring another child into our hearts and home to love - YES! Are we able to support another little body financially, spiritually & emotionally - YES! Do we have thousands of dollars sitting around to pay for this adoption - NO! I don't like to second guess God, but when I get discouraged it seems to be the first place I go (and then I feel bad for going there). Why would He put this desire into our hearts and not provide a way for it to happen?

My faith feels like a roller coaster lately. One day I am confident, faithful, sure. I know this seems impossible, but God will make a way. The next day I am unsure and second guessing the decision to pursue this. My mind starts wandering and wondering how we are going to pull this off.

It is during these difficult times that I know I am leaning on my own strength. My strength is not capable of withholding these floodgates of emotion. Thankfully I have someone else to lean on - my rock, my strong tower, my comforter, my good and faithful keeper of promises. He is capable of accomplishing so much more than I could ever dream to ask for.

So I will believe & trust in Him. I know He is working in our hearts and lives. I will keep the faith.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2

Approved...

More good news today and one small step forward. Sara from CCI (gosh, I like that girl) called to say Children of the Promise had approved our application. Yeah, it is good to be approved!!! They will now be in prayer about who our daughter will be as we gather our paperwork and complete our home study. I am so excited to see what beautiful child God has in store for us. I know she will bless our family in a mighty way!