Monday, November 29, 2010

More Amazing News

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1
We have been praying and seeking the LORD’s direction on a very important decision these last few weeks.  A precious prayer friend spoke the above words to me during one of our conversations.  See, I got scared...not about the situation, but about me being able to serve the LORD IN the situation.  
Stick with me and I will get to it, I promise.  Early on Thanksgiving morning I couldn’t sleep, so I went down stairs and sat on the couch where Karlie was sleeping.   Everyone else was still sleeping so I picked up my Bible and began to read - just anywhere. 
After a bit I came to Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks received, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his sons asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ... If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good thing to those who ask Him!”
I was immediately so sleepy that I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I closed them and went to sleep with that verse on my mind.  
Later, I remembered Hebrews 11 and began to look at these words...
“By faith Abel...by faith Enoch....by faith Noah...by faith Abraham...by faith Sarah...by faith Isaac...by faith Jacob...by faith Joseph...by faith the parents of Moses...by faith Moses...by faith the people crossed the Red Sea; by faith the walls of Jericho fell; by faith Rahab...Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets;”.  
By faith....
what?
By faith each of the above mentioned and many not mentioned chose to become a part of Gods story.  In fear, in troubles, in victories, and persecutions, they chose to believe the LORD’s plans and purposes above what they could see or feel and take a journey with the LORD.  
Each of us has a part in the Greatest Story Ever Told.  Will we choose to walk by faith?
What is our amazing news that still leaves me trembling with excitement and yes, fear?
By faith we are bringing home not ONE, but TWO children from China!!!  
We have received pre-approval to also adopt a 10 year old girl.  Her story is heart-breaking, and also amazing.  I will share more later as I can.  
You will notice a Chip-in on the side later tomorrow.  We need an additional (at least) $10,000 to bring her home also.  I don’t think it is a secret how expensive adoptions are, especially for two.  This was one of our fears in saying yes to 2 children...
Please pray with us as we ask, seek and knock and
by faith we will journey with the LORD to bring our children home!

Follow Up To Advent Post

Sorry Angie, I meant to put in the last post what we are using this year for our Advent but forgot...Thank you for reminding me;

we use the daily scripture recommendations here ;

and there is also an advent meditation here that is very nice.

There is a short devotional at Just One World that I will do with the children during our school time also.

I would love to hear what any other families use!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Advent And When We Stopped Celebrating Christmas

Art work by Hannah Varghese  of Malaysia (here) - Title -God Is With Us
Today begins the Advent season here in the Hassoldt home.  
I’m going to share a little secret with you...it’s a little shocking, but we did something three years ago that we have never regretted since...
we stopped celebrating Christmas.  Yep, stopped...completely...no gifts...no tree... no commercial craziness...nothing; 
except a little candle and a Bible Story. 
Why did we do it?  We weren’t completely sure ourselves...we just felt absolutely sick and tired with the “over-much” of it all that we saw around us, sadly, especially among the Church of God.  The expectations, expenses and decorations were killing us.  The “perfect” holiday was sucking the life right out of us.  
In a sense, we tore down the whole “Christmas thing”, even the “good” Christian ones.  Have you ever considered how many “idols” are put up during the Christmas season?  Many things, even good ones, can become an idol that replaces our love, worship and devotion for the only True God.  At the time, I didn’t realize how many traditions, expectations, and good ideas were competing with the Real Meaning for the season.
Please know right now, this is just what WE FELT WE were suppose to do and that in no way do we judge how any one else celebrates their holidays.  It’s just what we needed to do to escape from the craziness that has become a part of this season and get out of the “holiday fog” that had engulfed us.  I felt sick to see on the news today that not only do we have “black Friday”-the Friday after Thanksgiving, but now we have “cyber Monday”.  Really!!! This is ridiculous!  
I began to look in the Bible, pray and ask the LORD what we are to do to honor this precious Biblical event and historical moment in our Christian faith.  After these three years Steve and I feel ready to “re-build” our Christmas.  The Nativity story begins in Luke with these precious words from Gabriel to Mary “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28).  That is the 1st thing that I want to teach my children...that the LORD is with us!  Yesterday, today, tomorrow, this Truth is always!  Next, I want them to know that the Babe that was born is Holy-the Son of God (Luke 1:35).  This Truth will be the anchor of their faith for the rest of their lives. The angel tells Mary something else very important to remember as we anticipate the coming of our LORD...”For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37).  
Another thing that I want to show my children (and remind myself of ) from the Nativity story; Mary’s response to the Good News is what I want to say to my LORD each day - “Behold, I am the servant of the LORD....” (Luke 1:38).  Next in the story is a very important word - “believed” which is found in Luke 1:45 spoken by Mary’s cousin Elizabeth “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the LORD.”  Has the Lord spoken something to us that we need to believe as we wait to see His fulfillment? 
The Nativity story continues with Mary’s song of Praise in Luke 1:46-55.  Ohhh, there is so much in the Nativity story sweet family and friends.  So much that we might be missing as we scurry about with trees and lights.  Let’s stop and linger and praise Him.  
Other things that I want my family to see and celebrate from the Nativity story is praising the LORD like the angels did in Luke 2:13 and giving Him glory as in verse 14; to wonder at the things told by the shepherds as others did in Luke 2:18 and to treasure and ponder what we have seen as Mary did in verse 19.  Also I want our family to return to our work at the end of this season glorifying and praising God for all that we have heard and seen as the shepherds did in Luke 2:20.  
As a family, we will begin our time of remembering the Nativity with Advent - lighting a candle, reading the Bible Readings for each day of the Advent season and singing a song.  We do not give gifts to the children for Christmas...they get gifts for their birthdays.  We do not want to take away from the real GIFT of Christmas.  No competition for My LORD!!!  We want to remember, celebrate, honor, and give praises to Him and Him alone.  At some point during the next 4 weeks we will have a special “Nativity Celebration” with some fun finger foods for the children, nativity stories and we make sugar cookies (cuz, the children love to make sugar cookies!!!! Who doesn’t!).  I want to make this time special and fun for the children.  However, my main purpose during this season is to teach my children and remind us all that the real Nativity story shows us how to respond, surrender, rest, believe, praise, ponder, treasure and glorify the One Who came to BE WITH US. 
Blessed Advent to you and your family!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

He Knows How To Play “THE Card"

This little man knows how to play the “cute card”!!!  And he wins hands-down; I’m a goner!!


I’m so excited...tomorrow my parents and Jace and Karlie will be here.  This will be my future daughter-in-laws 1st time to visit our home.  Then my brother and his family will be here Wednesday, all the way from San Antonia, Texas.  What a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving!  And we will also be celebrating birthdays and will have our Christmas together on Friday.  So it is going to be a fun-busy week with lots of great food and treasured family time. 
I’m taking a break from blogging till next week and want to wish you each a blessed Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for each of you, and for the friendships that have been developed since last year!  You have become very dear friends to me, even if some of us haven’t met.  Thank you for those friendships, for the prayers, and for the notes and e-mails.  I am so grateful!
Loves to you this precious Thanksgiving!
Shonni

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Shepherd Our Flocks

“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you...” (I Pet 5:2)  
I read this verse often to remind myself of my very precious job as a mother.  And as I look at my children I want to see their valued position as my little lambs who need me to take my job seriously, with joy and love.  Many people love the 23rd Psalm (The LORD is my Shepherd), because we long to be cared for like that....to be nurtured, loved, watched after, fed, refreshment, restored, comforted, given rest and beauty, and led by our loving Shepherd.
Today, I remind myself to shepherd my little ones and to be thankful for my important role as mother!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

We Finished!!!

 (No child was hurt in the making of these pictures) LOL - Yes, just for fun, we duck taped Keshawn to the wall before I started painting.  But, if you look below he was standing on a stool.  
 These three were laughing so hard they were rolling on the floor.  I am not sure what Keshawn is thinking, but I’m sure it is along the lines of “This family is nuts!!"
 I used all the normal tricks for trying to do a large job and keep the children out of the way...I waited till nap time to start and then when they woke up I shamelessly used the Penguins videos to keep them happy!!

 However, you do what you can when you have to get a job done!!

 Kalyn, Caresse and Kiana were awesome helpers!  I am so glad to have this done, and now to prepare for Thanksgiving next week.  It’s going to be a wonderful time!!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

We Are Grafted In

I am so honored to be a guest blogger at We Are Grated In.  Please visit to read my "Dad’s Home" post and look around while you are there.  It is a wonderful place to find encouragement and to learn from other families who have a heart and love for the orphans!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Can’t Blog....

I got a wild hair, and I’m goin’ with it....I’m painting! How do you paint with so many small children?  I make sure that they are nicely covered in my color of choice, then I roll them up and down the wall...
just kiddin’, you knew that didn’t you?  
I duck tape them to a wall that isn’t being painted and feed them occasionally.  Duct tape is “like” a miracle!!
You still aren’t believin' me?  
Well, be sure to visit later.  You wont want to miss my “wisdom”.  

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Where My Thoughts Tend To Go and Some Hebrew


I am seeing a trend happening here.
Every Saturday, I can’t get my mind off of my little guy in China.  I WISH I could show ya’ll his picture. We have to wait just a bit yet.  He has a red thread on his left wrist.  I wear mine on my left wrist. 
 I think the reason my thoughts turn to China so completely on Saturdays is because Saturday is when we celebrate our Sabbath, so I have so much more time to be quiet and think.  
I bought this CD called Bringing Home Beautiful
which is an album of songs dedicated to advocating orphan care and funding for the adoption of Seth and Joy Primm.  Buy the album...it is, well, BEAUTIFUL! 
So I am sitting here listening to this album, and thinking of my little man in China and thankful to HIM in Heaven for inviting me on this journey to another one of His Treasures. 
“We once were lost, but now we’re found, were blind, but now we see....” (From Bringing Home Beautiful).
“Thus says the LORD, ...For when he sees his children, the work of My Hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My Name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 29:22-23).  
God tells us here that when WE see our children we are seeing the Work of His Hands in our midst, and our response should be to sanctify His Name and stand in awe of Him!  See the Journey?  Our children lead us on a Journey of Worship, Reverence, AWE for the Holy One.  The hebrew word for sanctify in this verse is qadash. 
"The attitude we take toward God will determine what aspect of Him we will experience.  To those who sanctify Him, who give Him a place of importance in their lives, who seek to allow His character to be duplicated in them, He becomes a sanctuary, a place of refuge and peace.  But to those who will not give Him such a place in their lives, He becomes a stone to trip over.  He does not change; only our attitude determines how we experience Him.  Those who make a place for Him discover that He has in fact made a place for them.  They know that what happens to them comes from One who is both all-powerful and good.” 
John N. Oswalt - The Book of Isaiah
Today, my heart is in China, my eyes are seeing the children in my midst, and response is wholehearted worship and awe for The LORD. 

Friday, November 12, 2010

Capturing Their Childhood

One of the most wondrous ways to use our camera’s is to capture the ordinary moments of our days and lives.  Of course, as a mother, I want to capture and remember my children’s childhood.  





Look for new ways to take pictures that capture the ordinary moments of your days.  Think of ways to tell a story with your pictures.  I especially want to capture my children’s childhood, to look at the normal in our days and stop to remember.  
And in remembering, we can also thank The One who has blessed us and declare HIS glory and remember His love!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Before/After Blog Hop

The first photo was taken with my Canon and is the SOOC before editing.  It wasn’t a good picture.  I took it so quick that the horse family was out of focus and the colors where washed out. 
I edited the colors a little in PSE and added two different textures to pop the color.  I loved how the edited photo turned out.
Join the before/after fun at Monica’s blog!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

What I Declared War On

Sorry Sally-Girl for dragging this out till Tuesday.
Your guesses where great...I really loved them all!  Thanks for playing my Monday game with me.  Steve had been in the mountains with some awesome friends hunting, and he came home a day early with his 1st ever elk.  So we were BUSY processing last night.
So back to WHAT I declared war on...
Are These Kids All Yours? was the closest.  I am declaring war on weeds...yep, weeds and the fact that I have been negligent in dealing with them.  Here is a quote from The Duties Of Parents;
“Beware of letting small faults pass unnoticed under the idea “it is a little one.”  There are no little things in training children; all are important.  Little weeds need plucking up as much as any.  Leave them alone, and they will soon be great.”
I have been negligent in overlooking the little weeds in my children’s hearts, and believe me, they have become rather large and irritating.
Proverbs 29:17 is a verse I often think of; “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.”
One of the things that Steve and I have always committed to as parents it to ENJOY our children, and we really do!  However, here in my home, I have been frustrated because I have let some little attitudes and sins go.  I start to notice that we are all more frustrated, angry, arguing...there is no rest.  The children start being more disrespectful to me, more disobedient, and then I am not finding “delight” as their mother.
So, yesterday I got serious with the fact that I need to recommit to diligently training and discipling my children and take care of the little weeds that I have been neglecting.
I must give an honorable mention to Lori before I end this post. She said;
"Hmmmm, gosh...I really don't know!
A war against things distracting you from the Word??
I don't know.
But I'm really curious now!”
I laughingly thought to myself, “Well, I would have to get rid of the children if I were to declare war against things distracting me from the Word.  I probably shouldn’t do that.”
By the way, as soon as I made the decision to recommit to my children’s attitudes, one of my children, who has always had a low threshold for dealing with frustrations, fell apart for the next hour...I mean FELL A PART!!!!!!  I think the enemy (satan, not my children...lol) met my declaration of war.
But they are worth it!!!!
IMG_2535-e.jpg

Monday, November 8, 2010

I’m Declaring War This Morning

Let’s play a guessing game to start this Monday morning off, shall we...
WHAT do you think I am declaring war on?
The closest guess will receive...
an honorable mention here later this afternoon.
Now, it might not be quite as obvious as you think, so ponder a little.
Let the guessing begin.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Frustration Of Watermarks


Boy, sometimes....I just don’t get it!!!  I love/hate those special times a few times a month when I try to learn how to get around in the world of “DI-GI-TALLLLL”.  You’ve got to say that with a scary voice to really get it!
Today, I have been trying to figure out this whole watermark thing...putting your name or logo on your photo’s to protect them from cybphotheives...(I’m really into making up words lately :));  in other words - people who steal photo’s from the web for free and without acknowledgement to the photographer.  
Others make it sound so easy.....
so it must be me;
I finally have a brush to to use, as in the photo above...
however, I couldn’t even begin to tell you how....sorry.  I know, what kind of a cyber-friend am I?
Good luck dear loved one’s, if you try to figure this out.  Write to me if you have a easier way than what ever I did...it gave me a twitch in the eye,
but, I WON....and at least one photo is watermarked....YEA ON ME!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Bible Time Dolls

To cute not to share, don’t you think?  How has your week gone? I hope it has gone well.  
I am taking Landon to an eye dr. to check out one of his eyes.  
I am looking so forward to the time change this weekend....YEA, I can sleep in and not feel guilty about it. 
Jace called and he and Karlie are doing well.  Plans for the wedding are coming along.  They are so cute!  He did finally heal up from the infection in his leg.  Thank you all for his prayers.
I must get ready to go to town.  
I pray you have a blessed weekend, sweet family and friends!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

My New Word - Hormotional

So, you think that hormotioal isn’t a real word?  Well, you are right and wrong, because I made it up, and I am making it a word!
Let’s start with a definition of emotional, shall we?  "Expressing emotion, easily effected by emotions, any agitation of the mind.”
See?  That just does’t work.  If you were to tell a man “I am having an agitation of my mind”, well, I can already see the expression on his face; confusion and fear at least.  So I have coined a word that I think most of us women-young or old-can identify with -  HORMOTIONAL.
What is the definition of hormotional? - "An unpredictable and irrational yet reliable and completely true state of a woman’s mind and heart when her hormones inflict a nauseating openness into her soul that are usually perceived by others as crazy, illogical and (my personal favorite), state of not thinking clearly. “
An example - husband is trying to help his beloved wife who has a fever and an ear infection.  However, the wife is feeling very hormotional and tells him to take care of what he needs to take care of for his trip-his up coming, male loaded, gun toting, week long hunting trip.  Feeling “hormotional” she knows that he loves her and is taking care of her, but RIGHT THIS MINUTE she just isn’t feelin’ the love.  She is feeling “He loves me, he doesn’t love me; I am glad he can go on this trip, how can he leave me when I need him so; I am not pretty to him, even a moose is more attractive than me; leave me alone because I am so ugly; don’t leave me alone or I know that you don’t love me.”
Is there any other woman who has experienced this hormotionalism?  Come on girls, we need to stand together.  Please don’t leave me standing alone, or I might become overly agitated in my mind!!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Bread To Strengthen Man's Heart.

babyStoryboard 1.jpgPsalm 104:14
""You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart."


Our Lord, thank you today for providing for our needs each day.

Monday, November 1, 2010

It’s snowing this morning....so beautiful.  Gommy and Dandy (my mom and dad) just left after spending a wonderful weekend with us.  We all love spending time with them so much, as you can see from the pictures; there is no shortage of laughter, joking and tickling.  

I must get going, but wanted to ask for continued prayers for our adoption...we hope to get a letter today that will then be forwarded and then we need to get more approval and it’s all a little nerve racking (sorry to be vague, but I need to be).  Seeking the LORD’s peace and rest today as we begin the week. 
Can you believe that it is November?  I can’t!!!  It was weird this morning when we got up and it was still dark at 7:00 a.m.  Jace turns 21 in 8 days.  I can’t believe that either!!!  
There’s just something about a cold, snowy Monday that begs me to continue sitting here...to not rush into the day just yet.  Kalyn is blessing me by brushing the little one’s teeth, 3 sisters are drawing so quietly, Landon is holding Keshawn and feeding him his bottle.  Aiden is yelling something exciting because most of life is exciting to him.  
I might not leave you, dear family and friends.  Let’s get some tea or coffee and sit together this morning and not rush into the week just yet. The laundry can wait, school can start late.  Let’s look at the snow falling and breath deeply for a minute.  

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