WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

We need to miraculously come up with several thousand dollars very soon! I say miraculously because we do not have the resources to do this on our own. We need God's help & your help.

A little girl who is waiting for a family has captured our hearts. We weren't sure if this was the right path, but after MUCH prayer we are sure in our decision. It has been a few months since we first saw her picture & we cannot stop thinking about her. We asked God that if we were not the right family for her to take the desire away, but He has not. We expect to get official approval in the next couple of days & when that happens I will post pictures right away!

It is our prayer that if you have been touched by our adoption journey or have a heart for the orphaned child that you will prayerfully consider making a donation in any amount. Gifts can be sent to Pioneer Bank or given electronically. You can find information for both on the right column.

If you are unable to give a monetary gift we ask that you please lift our family up in prayer as we work diligently to complete our calling. Not everyone is called to adopt, but we humbly ask you to come along side of us financially if you are able. Blessings...

...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20

For This Child I Prayed...

The doctors said it couldn't be done. Nope, not without surgery. Not just for me, but for your dad too. They said it would be nearly impossible to have a baby - we would need a miracle!

The night we went to Urgent Care for what we thought was a severe bladder infection turned out to be the greatest night ever. When I walked out into the waiting room I was crying - REALLY crying. Daddy jumped up to meet me thinking something was really really wrong. He soon found out I was crying happy tears.

The whole time I was pregnant I prayed a secret prayer for a baby girl. I longed for a sweet girl to call my own. The night you were born I couldn't believe that I deserved such a gift.

It has been such a joy to watch you grow. You are beautiful inside & out. You are kind, loving & caring. You have a heart for God. I am proud to call you my daughter & I love you! Happy 12th birthday baby girl!

Our Precious Gifts

Anything for You Mrs. Green...

I am…a spiritual work-in-progress, a wife, a mother, a child of God
I think…the injustices of the world are great, but my God is greater
I know…I am far from perfect, but God loves me anyway
I want…to quit my job to stay home & adopt several children
I have…a WONDERFUL husband
I wish…I were naturally thin
I hate…hypocrisy
I miss…my friend Pam
I fear…getting attacked by a bear
I feel…like I never get enough done
I hear…the shower running, D singing, B playing trucks, the TV
I smell…spicy pork & tortillas
I crave…chocolate - lots & lots of chocolate
I search…the Bible for answers & comfort
I wonder…what the world will be like when my kids grow up
I regret…ever having a credit card
I love…my husband & my children
I ache…to hold A in my arms & love her
I care…about Haiti & it’s people
I always…enjoy comments from my blogging friends
I am not…concerned with having worldly possessions
I believe…I am saved by the blood of Jesus Christ!
I dance…vicariously through my daughter
I sing…loud when I’m alone
I cry…for the children that are going to bed hungry
I don’t always…get what I want, but I always have what I need
I fight…to get the laundry done
I write…on my blog (it’s therapeutic!)
I never…say never
I listen…to praise music turned WAY up
I need…to hug my family & be loved by them
I am happy about…all of the new friends I’ve made via blogging

I'm passing this on to: Katy, Cara B., Courtney, Stephanie G., Chapter Two Manmi

Coffee Anyone?

At 8:45 this morning while sitting in his high chair, Mr. B loudly exclaimed "I need my coffee"!

Now, to my knowledge he's not a java drinker, but apparently there have been sightings of him at the local Starbucks. I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on this boy. He certainly keeps life interesting!

The Silence is Deafening

Waiting is not my thing. So why in the world would a girl that does not like to wait be in process to adopt from Haiti? The answer is simply that God has called us there (he apparently has an incredible sense of humor). So until He closes all doors to Haiti we simply wait & pray.

We are waiting on a significant response regarding our adoption process. We will be thrilled with a "yes" & we think we can handle a "no" (key word - think). We just want to hear something, anything. Please Lord, let Your plan be revealed to us!

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give
you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who
hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:3-9

Prayers Please...

I am asking you to please join me in covering Brian & Courtney in prayer today. Brian was taken to the ER last night with breathing issues. They have 8 beautiful children & one on the way. Please pray for healing for Brian & that Courtney & the kids will have peace with everything going on.

http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

Facing Uncertainty

Sometimes Jesus disguises exciting opportunities for personal growth as difficult circumstances. We could choose to avoid trials at all costs, but Jesus sees the bigger picture.

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Matthew 8:23-26

To Loan or Not to Loan...That is the Question

First off I would like to say that this post is in no way meant to offend anyone. I am hoping to respectfully share my views on the financial piece of this adoption.

Adoption is a topic that has been on our hearts for a very long time. When we had been married for a few years we were actively trying to achieve a pregnancy. After nearly 1 1/2 years we were told it would be highly unlike we would ever conceive unless we both underwent surgery. You see, not just one of us had fertility issues, we both did. Thankfully the Lord saw fit to bless us with a child, and another child, and another child. Each time it took us 1+ years to get pregnant. However, the longing to adopt a child into our hearts & home never went away.

A few years ago my husband lost his job when his employer of 15+ years closed it's doors suddenly. We lost everything - savings accounts, retirement plans, money invested in the company stock - thousands of dollars. We even ended up selling our home & moving into something we could afford more easily. We were burdened with financial issues we had never had before. In an instant he went from making a good living to earning nothing. There were times when I had to scrounge to have enough money to buy a gallon of milk. These were HARD times which subsequently caused our credit score to plummet. There were many times when we had to choose between feeding the kids or paying our bills. We always chose to go to the grocery store.

We are finally, after many years, recovering from these financial losses. Hubby finally has a good paying job with good benefits. He works hard and we've learned to live simply out of necessity at first, but quickly realizing the value that comes from not being burdened by having "can't get enufitis". I do not miss getting credit card bills in the mail!

That being said, we are just now recovering financially. A loan is just not an option for us. It certainly would be an easy fix, but in all honesty I'm not sure that's what we're going for. This has been just as much of a faith journey for us as it's been an adoption journey. When we decided to take this leap of faith we knew God would have to be our provider. I don't think I've ever had a time when I've had to so completely rely on God. It is so HARD at times, but it has also been so AMAZING! I have seen His hand at so many points of this journey. I always knew He was working on my behalf, but never before has it been so real, so tangible.

So we have prayed for a miracle. We've prayed that people will see the value in what we are trying to accomplish & will be moved to come along side of us in big or small ways. We are not just trying to have another child. With God's grace we will provide a loving, Christian home for one of His children that does not have a family. We will bless a child & we will be blessed in return.

When we receive donations for our adoption expenses it means so much because of what the money represents ~ it represents support for our family & for the child we are praying home. Is it hard to say we need help? Yes, absolutely! But ultimately we believe our end reward ~ both when our child comes home & when we come home to Heaven ~ will be great. Our God is a God of miracles & we move forward in faith, believing He has one planned just for us!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-12

A Couple of Good Things...

Thanks to all of the prayer warriors that have been praying for Haiti. The following info was posted on the Haitian Angels yahoo group today:

The country is pretty much back to normal. There are no blocked streets and the people are resuming their normal daily activities.The Prime Minister Jacquet Alexis is no longer the Prime Minister and now the President will select another person to fill the position. The people are satisfied with this action and are no longer demonstrating; HOWEVER, they are waiting to see if things will be better. The president has asked the reduction of certain foods (spaghetti,ketchup, meat, etc); however, the people would like to see the price of primary foods like rice, oil, beans reduced. There is talk (haven't verified) that Brazil has given Haiti tons of food and that they are talking about having canteens.

As someone else said - to put this in perspective, imagine having to pay $50 for a bag of rice when your annual income is $400. Really, can any of us imagine the hardship of that? Thankfully life in Haiti has settled down for now. We still need to keep praying that the hunger in Haiti will be relieved & these people will be delivered from their situation in Jesus name.

Another piece of happiness today was that our adoption account had increased by $30! Hooray - that makes a total of $70 increase since this time last week. Thank you Lord for this blessing!

Little Things Mean Alot

We received another $20.00 donation this weekend...praise God! Every gift means more than you can know.

Father, you are the source of our every blessing. Thank you for knowing our needs & providing for them in just the right time - Your time. Help us to be a blessing to those around us as you have blessed us.
Amen

Pampers Supports UNICEF

Good grief! The adoptive parents worst nightmare is now being supported by Pampers. Their new campaign "1 Pack = 1 Vaccine" says that for every specially marked pack of Pampers you buy they will donate the cost of one vaccine to help UNICEF protect a woman and her newborns against tetanus.

If you check the fine print on the Pampers website it says "Pampers brand will donate US $.05 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help provide one tetanus vaccine to a pregnant woman in the developing world".

In other words, spend a ton of money on expensive diapers & they will generously donate a whole whopping nickel to UNICEF.

To quote another adoptive parent, "UNICEF = EVIL". In other words, please don't buy Pampers!

Joyful

Are there songs that make you feel joyful? I've heard a whole bunch of them today & when I am caught up in the moment of a great worship song I feel great!

What are the songs that make you feel great? Leave me a comment & let me know...

Twenty Blessings

We received a donation of $20.00 today. Praise God! You may think $20 is not a lot, but to us it meant the world. Just think if 100 people gave $20...

The note attached said, "...I know from working with your children that any child would be so very happy to be a part of your wonderful family."

Thank you for both the financial blessing & words of encouragement!

Food Crisis Renews Haiti's Agony

Haitians are no strangers to hunger. But even the resilience of the hemisphere's poorest citizens can be pushed too far, and with world food prices spiking this year due to shrinking harvests, burgeoning demand and skyrocketing fuel prices, it should be little surprise that Haiti is once again erupting in angry violence.
Read the rest of this story here: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1729150,00.html

Please remember the country of Haiti in your prayers...
Pray for peace, law & order in their country.
Pray for food for their people.
Pray for those needing medical care.
Pray for the orphaned children.
Just pray...

Bring the Rain!

It's Official - We're NOT Certifiable!

I'm excited to report we passed our psychiatric evaluation. I know some of you thought the adoption process would come to a screeching halt after this appointment, but I'm excited to report we can proceed as planned!

One step closer...

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

$52.18

We have an additional $52.18 to put into our adoption account!

We received a weird check in the mail this past week from some Forrest v Ocean Bank Settlement for $18.98. Don't know what that is all about, but we'll take it!

Hubby took our aluminum cans in for recycling this morning and we made $33.20 off of that. If anyone would like to save their aluminum cans for us that would be great. If you live in our area we would be happy to pick them up at your home.

$52.18 closer...

Please Pray...

There is a family that just brought home twins (Diezel & Daizey) from Ethiopia. They are VERY sick & were admitted to the hospital. The update posted last night by their friend said Diezel has pneumonia, bowel problems, & is extremely dehydrated. Daizey has been the weaker of the two, so pray her health does not deteriorate as quickly as Diezel's did. Please lift this family up in prayer - for health for their children & wisdom for the staff caring for them.
http://toliveloveandlaugh.blogspot.com/

Potty Training Is Not for Sissies

As I am spraying my bathroom sink with antibacterial spray for what surely seems like the 100th time, I have come to realization that potty training is not for sissies. Just when I think we are making progress my excitement quickly wanes to hear, "I got poopies".

It will happen, I know it will, but in the meantime there will be many yucky messes to clean up (especially since we've always gone straight to underwear; no pull-ups at this house). I'm looking forward to the day when I can say I've officially bought my last box of diapers. Until then, I'll go back to my sink to clean up the spray.

4 Minutes in Haiti