Follow Up To Totaled Van

This devotional reading from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young was so perfect for right now...
"Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles-and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory."
After the van was totaled on Sunday, our biggest concern has been something to rent that would be big enough to get us on our way to spend the holidays with our family. We really needed a miracle. And a miracle did happen...Steve searched the state and could find NOTHING large enough to fit our family for this trip. A desperate email to a company south of Denver turned out to be the miracle. Just Monday they had received a vehicle that would work great for this trip. And since they were not expecting to receive this vehicle, it had not been rented out...of course, I know that is because God sent it just for us.
So we are getting to go and looking forward to this special time that we have planned on for over two years.
I look forward to catching up with you all when we are home.
Have a beautiful and blessed Christmas.

Our Van Was Totaled Today

We lost our 15 passenger van today...the only car we have that holds us all...and just two days before we are suppose to leave to spend Christmas with my family!!! It's gone! You are not going to believe how it happened either. Thank the LORD, no one was hurt!
Steve and Aiden took the van into town to get it cleaned for our trip.Steve called me and sounded shocked. He said "You are not going to believe this, but the car wash just totaled our van." I couldn't believe him at first. He and Aiden were eating in the car wash cafe when the manager came to their table and asked if he owned a green van. Steve said yes, and the manager told him there had been a major accident and to come with him.
The guy driving it out of the car wash somehow said the accelerator "got stuck" (NOT). Out of control, he hit a Suzuki SUV (it looked ruined as well), before whipping our van around and running over a very large street light...PULLED THE WHOLE THING OUT OF THE GROUND! If you look you can see the street lamp under the front part of the car and the back wheel was finally stopped by the concrete light post block that was literally pulled out of the ground!Yes, I'm thankful that no one was hurt, but Steve and I are in shock and have no idea how we will replace our van. The insurance will only give us what it is worth...not what it will cost to buy another one.
We are praying that we can rent a van and still get to my family's house when we were planning. I know many of you are praying for us and I am grateful for this.
Do you know what my oldest son, Jace, who is 20, said..."Mom, something major always happens when ya'll bring another child home."
"Lord, in all things we thank you....even this."

Galatians 6:1 Parenting from Becca

If you haven't met Becca, you must go visit her. She has become a very sweet blog sister to me. We seem to have so much in common and her heart is so tender for her children. I am often encouraged by her as a mother and woman.
She recently did a post called Galations 6:1 parenting and it was just what I was needing! I have two little boys who are really testing me right now and most days I feel as if I am somehow failing as their mother. One of these little sons is honestly one of the "biggest" personalities I have ever seen and most days start with battles and do not end until this little guy is asleep. Then on the cute side, every morning he will climb up in my bed before I get up to give me a kiss. He just does everything BIG, including sinning.

Galatians 6:1 "Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

My ESV Bible says "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."
Verses 2-4 have some wonderful advice also, but I have to stop right now at this verse.

There is a truth here that I have also seen...my children's sin does often place a temptation in my heart to also sin. It's not "their" fault...it's just that there is a spiritual warning here to heed. Their sin/transgression is a time where I need to be aware of my own heart, and what I might be tempted by...am I tempted to be impatient, rude, respond in anger? I love that a very important verse is just above this Galatians 6:1 verse...Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

"Father God, please show me my own sins before I respond to my child. Holy Spirit, I ask for your help. Help me to restore my children with gentleness, humility and love. Help me to help them back onto the right path"

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-Baby Love

OK, I'm really into this collage thing...it's a fun way to share so many cute pictures...
and, I am so enjoying my first real week home with my new son. We have been lazying around; just hangin' out...no school, just playing, reading and sitting around holding Keshawn.

And today, I am so grateful that Keshawn is home and that we are all together. I love the sweet baby-ness of Keshawn and the love my other children are already showering on their new brother! They adore him.

What can I say...I'm in love with baby love!!!

Look What She Gave My Baby!

Every year we have our special family Nativity Celebration and one of the special treats that we make is Lime Sherbet punch. Well, Kalyn thought it would be fun to give some to Keshawn. She thought he would probably make some funny sour faces, but what happened was love at first taste.

He would fuss at her if she didn't get more into his mouth quick enough. I think he also fell in love with Kalyn a little more that night.

Not My Bloggy Self

Steve and I are still sick...stomach stuff...
I'm taking Corbin to the dr. later this morning to see how he is doing and baby Keshawn will get his first check up.
My oven is broke and that is frustrating since so many meals I make cook in the oven. Also I was wanting to make Christmas goodies before next week. I am praying they can fix it soon.


Cute pictures of daddy with his new son! Aren't they cute!

Ethiopia

I have had a few people ask which agency we used. Our agency was Celebrate Children Int.. We loved working with them and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. There are usually boys available to be matched quicker then girls.

I really didn't see that much of Ethiopia, however, what I saw was so pretty and the people are very nice. It was much cooler than I expected and it was the dry season.

I stayed at the New Flower Guest House and they were wonderful. They were so very helpful and I would stay there again without a second thought. There were other families staying there and it was so nice to meet these adoptive families.

Keshawn is starting his days at 4:00 am...hopefully we can began to stretch that out over the next few days. Corbin is feeling better every day and his chest is sounding clearer today.
I am still SOOO tired...I have trouble thinking clearly. I am so glad to be here with my family and we are taking it really slow and easy right now. Two children were still sick with the flu yesterday. I'm sure it will take a few more days for us to begin to feel normal.
Have a blessed Friday!

We're Home-Yea!!!

Corbin was released from the hospital yesterday. Praise the LORD. He is still sick, but well enough to come home. Thank you all for your prayers for us!
It is nice to be back home again and I have been loving on...

these little toes...

and these little fingers....

and those beautiful eyes and sweet cheeks...

and all this yummy babyness since we got home.

How wonderful it felt to put Keshawn in the sling and watch him drift of to sleep!
Every one here at home is feeling better. Steve went back to work this morning.
Thank you sweet friends again, for your prayers and sweet words of encouragement! I was thinking how thankful I was that Corbin didn't get that sick till I was home.

Still Here

Steve drove out in the 4 degree highs and snow to bring Corbin and I a few things here at the hospital. Corbin couldn't go home today. He is still needing oxygen and one side of his lungs is still not sounding as good as it should.
Again, my emotions are kind of all over the place...we are in a beautiful hospital and the staff is just wonderful...they all love on Corbin and I. I have thanked the LORD often today, especially having just been in a 3rd world country where this care would not be available. I can just step outside my room to get good, clean water, and healthy drinks to rehydrate my son. I'm thankful for the medicine that is available to help Corbin that would not be available in an African country. I'm thankful for the oxygen that we can give him to leason the stress on his heart and brain. I'm thankful that Corbin is doing better and that the storm outside is not so bad that my husband couldn't come see us for a second today. They have a dvd player here and I am so thankful for the movies that Steve brought for us....thank you LORD for VeggieTales.

However,

I am missing my new son, Keshawn. I looked at his pictures on the computer and wanted to cry. I am praying that he isn't looking around for me and feeling more stress as he is already trying to take in so many new things and people. I wanted to change places with Steve and go home to be with Keshawn and the others when he came today, but Corbin really wants me here with him and I know that this is probably best to help him get better quicker. All of them, except Aiden and Joeliana have had the flu. Landon is really hurting and if I could just be there I could figure out how to help him (not that Steve isn't doing a wonderful job...it's just a "mommy thing"). I am really tired, I guess from jet lag, sickness, and being awake alot to help Corbin...sometimes I feel like I'm thinking through a fog.
And, here is the selfish confession...I had it all planned (I know, you are chuckling because you have probably had "plans" also). Here was my perfect plan...come home with my new son and settle in to be pampered like a new mother should be. I know that I didn't "give birth", yet I still believe that adoptive families do give birth in a different way. Steve and I have always really set aside the time when a new one comes home to settle in and get to know each other. We especially feel this is important in adoption...our child is dealing with so many new people, places, and things. Steve is wonderful about pampering me so that I can "mother" our newest child and help the other children get to know their new sibling. So my perfect plan sort of evaporated before my eyes...
and, I'm back to my emotions being all over the place...thankful, grateful, tired, wishing, sad, and all these bring me right to the LORD, by Father...
"Thank you Father God for the gift of children, the ministry of motherhood, the love in my heart for them; the love of my husband as he cared for them and me. I'm sorry that I'm selfish and wanting things to go as I "plan"; I miss Keshawn and yet, am so happy to hear from home that he is well, is laughing at them and getting to know his new family...I just wish I was there Father God..."
A little voice in a hospital bed behind me just said "Mommy, please come sit with me." So I go to my son and we are going to enjoy an evening of George in the Jungle and pray we can go home tomorrow.
Thank you all for your prayers and sweet comments...I am SO THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL!

Update-by Caresse

Mom and Corbin are in the hospital still, we are hoping that they can get out today but Corbin might have to be on oxygen for another day or so. Everybody is doing better here at home, Garett, Kiana, Landon and me all got sick yesterday and were throwing up, well all of them but me. All us are feeling better now and we are hoping it will all pass fast. Thank ya'll for all your prayers.

Flu and Hospital...

Sorry, that is a boring title, but I think I'm to tired to think...

Corban began to get sick with asthma symptoms yesterday. We started all of our normal meds to get it under control. But by last night at 11:00 p.m., we knew we had to go to the hospital. Just an hour before Kalyn started throwing up and quickly came down with the stomach flu. We called a friend who came over and we headed to the hospital. Corbans oxygen was barely holding 80 and he was admitted immediately. An ex-ray showed that he also has pnemonia. The hospital wouldn't let Keshawn stay because of the swine flu, so I left with him and came home. Kalyn was sick all night and I was up with her, and now Steve has called and he is sick and Caresse is helping take care of all the kids. So I am off to the hospital to stay with Corban and Steve has to come home. I hate all of this! And now I will have to be away from Keshawn.

Sorry, just raw, tired emotions right now. I know so many of you are praying for us and I am so grateful. Thank you so much. We will keep you all updated.

Meet Keshawn Lee Wodamo

There here!!! - from Kalyn

Just a really quick note saying that mamma and Keshawn are here! He is adorable and so precious! There will be some pictures later from mamma and some pictures from me later about what we did while mamma was away. Thank you all once again for your support and most importantly for your prayers!

Please Pray - From Kalyn

We got some word from mamma this morning. She has been sick with the stomach flew the whole time she has been in Ethiopia. Keshawn is doing great and he is not sick. But please pray for mamma as she will be flying home soon and being on a plane with a baby and being sick is not a very enjoyable excperiance. So please pray that she will start feeling better and thank you all who have been praying for her already.

I'd Love to be a fairy's child- By Caresse

I'd Love To Be A Fairy's Child

By Robert Graves

Children born of fairy stock,

Never need for shirt or frock

Never want for food or fire,

Always get their hearts desire:

Jingle pockets full of gold,

Marry when they're seven years old.

Every fairy child may keep

Two strong ponies and ten sheep,

All have houses, each his own,

Built of brick or granite stone;

They live on Cherryies, they run wild-

I'd love to be a fairy's child.

Update - from Kalyn

So Mamma is in Ethiopia right now with Keshawn most likely about to wake up soon. She says he is adorable and very precious. Thank you to every one who is praying for them and that every thing goes smoothly. We can't wait until Saturday when they come home and we all get o finally meet the newest addition to our family.

Finally on her way - from Kalyn

This morning Mamma left to go to Ethiopia and bring Keshawn home. She is on an airplane right now. So begins a long week of waiting and anticipation. Jace also leaves tomorrow so it will be just me and dad holding down the fort here. So please pray for mamma as she is traveling and in Africa by herself.
We had a wonderful thanksgiving with my dads family. I hope that you all had a wonderful thanksgiving as well.

Pretty Crazy

It seems pretty crazy to me...
here I stand with this handsome 20 year old...my oldest son;
and tomorrow I will leave to meet my youngest son who is just 9 months old.
All I can say is...
THE LORD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME!
Thank you for your love and prayers as I leave tomorrow.

So Glad To See Him!!

And so are they....

So What Was That Urge...

Renata, I laughed at your comment, because, yes, I am major nesting and getting ready to bring my baby home and just love on him and my others! Another big day of cleaning, and I can now say that my house is perfect, you know, that lower standard of perfect when you are no longer the mother of one darling child (LOL...I am making fun of me, because I was ridiculous about my house being perfectly clean when I only had Jace...not so much any more).
Speaking of Jace, he is driving home even as I type and we can't wait to have a few days with him.

So, my urge yesterday, after working for 6 hours at cleaning the up stairs was for sugar cookies loaded with a ton of icing. So we got busy makin' em. Ahh, the sweet smell of those cookies as they came out of the oven....
The children and I were really looking forward to cookies, when I went for the powder sugar to make the icing and there was none.

Oh, poor naked cookies with no icing to hide em;
and poor hungry tummies with nothin inside em...

Steve came home with powder sugar and we finished the job today. And yes, I did eat one as soon as it was ready!!!

Aren't little hands with icing on them cute too!

Four days till I leave and I am really getting excited. Thanksgiving is here at our house, so that is keeping me busy and then Friday to just enjoy our family before leaving Saturday morning.
Thank you all for your support, prayers, and love.

I Have an Urge...

...and I just can't hide it... (I know, corny, huh?) I've been deep cleaning all day with only a protein drink in between... so you will have to check back to see what I had the urge for...

Sun Flare Fun

"Sun Flare" Photo Challenge
This weeks theme at I Heart Faces is Sun Flare, so I couldn't think of anything better than this beautiful picture of Kalyn.

Visit I Heart Faces to see other wonderful sun flare photos. This is such a great way to learn from others!

Again...please read!

So much has been on my heart lately, but before I share some of those thoughts, I am again begging you to go...right now...and ready Linny's latest blog post.
She has shared some of the same thoughts I have had about the LORD's blessings to us as American's...
Please go read....
I'll share more of my heart tomorrow I pray...
loves,
Shonni

Please Pray - there is a war against the orphans and the families that love them

This is my sweet friend James from Canada. He loves children and always played with them when we were at the boys home! We met on our mission trip to Uganda. He and his wife, Cheremi are so precious and have such a huge love for helping others and a passionate devotion to their children! On this trip they decided to adopt a precious baby girl from Uganda and began the adoption process. After returning home they felt the LORD was calling them to adopt a baby boy from the same orphanage also. They went back to Uganda this last month to bring home their children, when all of a sudden they found out that the Canadian government will not issue their children visa's so that they can come home.
Linny has written a post about what is happening, so I am begging you to read her post and commit to praying and fasting for these beloved friends! We must stand together in this war against the children!
(I am using a picture that one of my fellow team members took...I'm sorry I don't know which one of you to give credit for)

Amy's Blog Giveaway

Amy is doing a giveaway and guess what it is?

A beautiful necklace from one of my favorite places...Junk Posse - Oh, how I love her jewelry.

Tracy at Junk Posse created this brand new necklace and it is the big GIVEAWAY!

Its the Ethiopian Angel Wing necklace. ($80 value)

Artistic Tracy noticed that the country of Ethiopia is shaped like a wing... so she created this cute necklace!

So go visit Amy at Ethiopia or Bust to find out how to enter to win this beautiful necklace

Wordless Wednesday

Hither and Yon

Isn't he cute?
So, my mind is "hither and yon" (Adeye and any one else not from Texas, that means "everywhere" and "no where"-LOL)
I'm distracted by the mice that are invading my home. They have NEVER been as bad as they are this year. They seem to jump out at me from everywhere. I can't help it...I scream like a mad woman. Kalyn knows when she hears that scream to come save me. Now, a mouse is trapped in the wall behind me so that as I type I can hear it's attempts to escape. What if he escapes and bites my feet before I can run.....
I'm distracted with thoughts of things to do before I leave for Ethiopia, including Thanksgiving here at my house with Steve's family. Thanksgiving Thursday, I leave Saturday.
What foods to get ready to make it easier for Kalyn while I am gone?
The house needs a really good cleaning before next Thursday...but can't do that to soon, or it will be dirty by then....
Caresse has an MRA early Thursday a.m. to see how the artery is being effected by the problem in her knee and to see if we can wait till January for the surgery....MRA's are harder than MRI's. Caresse has to have an IV with stuff put in through it to help them see the arteries better. It's not an easy thing.
I'm totally not kidding you...I'm afraid to put my feet down on the floor in case a mouse should run across - LOL
So, what do you do when your mind is hither and yon....
I figure a cookie and some milk can't hurt....

And hugging babies will help too!

Laundry for 12 and snow

First, aren't these "wow!"? I love to play around with the macro....

After working quickly on school, the children begged to go outside to play in the fresh snow.

I know he is cute, however, he has REALLY been testing me today. Did you hear the strong emphasis on REALLY over the computer? Reread the first sentence if you missed that. (Deep mommy sigh...)

So, this is how our Monday starts...all the laundry from all the bath and bedrooms make it down to our laundry area. It is the "hallway" to the garage and is in a perfect area, since it is right where the action is...school, playroom and close to the kitchen.

My parents are very creative and talented builders and so I grew up with some kind of construction going on all the time. When we decided to turn our garage into this laundry/school/play room they and my brother and his family came to Colorado to help with the finishing work. We made all the shelves, cabinets, desks, and did the tile work. We came up with the idea of the pull out drawer to hold three sections for sorting laundry. Then my precious friend Audrey had the idea of making the selves on the half wall to hold baskets to sort each persons clothes into. That was one of the greatest things ever that has helped me to organize and keep my sanity. Every one helps to sort and fold. Sunday as we walk in from the garage door, Steve tells them to grab their baskets and he herds them up to their room where every one puts away their clothes; (little ones get some help from bigger ones.)

So now, here is a confessional; I HATE matching socks; I mean really dislike, can't stand, totally stay away from the job as much a possible. We decided a long time ago to have dark socks for boys and light for girls and that we would keep them all under the utility sink in this room...boy socks in boy baskets, girl socks in girl baskets. I thought this would help, however....

... you can see that the two baskets are hidden in a pile of socks...not matched, not sorted...
Yes, I could train a child to take care of this, but, well, ummm....
maybe I should try that actually....