Thursday, March 31, 2011

Want To Hear A Funny Story?

It’s not really a funny - “ha-ha”, but a funny - “You’ve got to be kidding!”
We went up to the mountains today because we wanted to show Karlie one of our favorite family hikes.  
It was suppose to be nice and warm, but, well, 
this is Colorado.  It was windy, cold, muddy, snowy and icy.  Wanting to make the best of our special time we “braved” it up.  Our little Texan Karlie was freezing as we sat down on the slightly frozen, muddy ground for our picnic before we began our hike.  But, boy, was she a trouper!!!  

 My little group of brave and adventurous children where ready to go after some lunch.  Jace was the perfect gentleman and gave his jacket to his love to keep her warm!  (Do I here some “Ahhhh”’s)  I gave him the blanket from the car to keep him warm.  
 It was pretty slippery, so we were all being careful!!!
 Here’s a rock heart, because, well,
 soon-to-be married love was in the air!!!

 I love hiking with my babies!!! Keshawn was enjoying his view from his special place in the back pack.  He talked in his cute baby talk on my back. 
 We stopped at a favorite rock to climb up...
 UP...
UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
After enjoying our UP adventure, I asked the children if we could hike just a little bit further.

This is where the “funny” comes in.  I was enjoying all my children, and the beautiful Colorado glories, and,
I fell.  Pretty hard... and broke my camera lens.  But, that was not the worse part ... my arm was hurting pretty good from where I fell and caught myself.  I stood up to gather the children that had run in front of us, and then had to lay down on the side of the trail because I was about to pass out and get sick!!!!  What a great way to introduce my future daughter-in-law to the family-LOL.   
Well, so much for more hiking...we turned around and headed back to the car with me crying and shaking off and on.  Then we headed to the emergency room a few miles away from the trail head with every bump hurting my arm REALLY BAD.  Ready for the funny?  
An ex-ray confirmed that I had fractured my arm..the left one.  If you have been following my week, you know that I was at the emergency room a few days ago because I hurt my right hand and it was in a splint.  Now my left arm is in a sling.  
Good grief...I can’t even believe this.  My babies were wonderful and took great care of us all.  Karlie is the greatest!!!!  She has now sat with me TWICE while I was at an emergency room.  And then she comes home with us and takes care of us.  I have been blessed with such precious children. 
Jace carried the baby down the mountain for me.  Kalyn helped me down the mountain, and then fixed us home made rolls for our supper.  Karlie helps take care of the children.  I’m so very grateful for my family!!!  
How are ya’ll doing...I feel behind because I haven’t been able to catch up on notes and blogs? 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tea At A Castle!!

 I still can’t type very well, so here are some pictures to show how much fun we had on Sunday.  I surprised Karlie with a trip to a castle here in town for tea, and then afterward us girls hiked to a beautiful waterfall. 






 We got home none to soon to save Jace ... LOL....he’s a great big brother!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Good grief!  I fell and hurt my hand yesterday.  We were at the emergency room for hours.  My arm is in a splint...have to see a specialist today.  Typing is really hard...so my post will have to be short.


Thank you all again for your comfort over the loss of my uncle!  Thank you Mamamargie for the Scriptures!!!
FUN thing...Jace and Karlie are here with us for the week. 
I will post pics later of the WONDERFUL time that us girls had yesterday (before I fell - LOL)

Friday, March 25, 2011

An Irrigation Ditch and A Prayer

Tomorrow my precious Uncle Charles will be buried beside his son, who passed away at to early of an age for any child.  
I got my computer back today and wanted to tell you all “You are awesome”... your sweet comments and prayers for our family has been felt and appreciated.  Thank you for your words of comfort and love.  I had to make one of the hardest decisions yesterday, and one, that quite honestly, I was mad that I had to make...
I will not be able to get to Texas for my uncle’s burial.
My precious uncle is my father’s oldest brother.  We will all so miss his laughter and teasing ways, his love and joy at living life with his loved ones.  He loved the LORD, and I am happy that he is no longer sick and hurting.  When his son, Billy Charles, died, I was just a little girl, but I had many happy memories of this older cousin playing with my brother and me.  One of the memories that I treasure is of Billy taking Kim and me swimming in the irrigation ditches on my grandparents farm.  It really WAS fun.  We also would play hide and seek in the corn that was tall and perfect for this game. When Billy Charles died I would pray every night to God and ask Him to tell Billy “hi” for me and that I missed him.  I did this for a very long time.  
Now, all these years later with the loss of my beloved Uncle, I know that the child in me will whisper tonight to the LORD to tell him “hi” and that I love him, and will miss him.  
In memory of this precious man we are giving Asher the name Asher Charles...



Now, to something different...
guess who is coming in tonight?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

He's Asleep Now...

...till Jesus comes back....
"Sweet Jesus, we hurt so much right now...please comfort us."

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sick!!!!

We are sick!!!
Well, not all 12 of us,
however, Landon and I are,
but worse yet,
my computer is sick and Steve is taking it in tomorrow to get it fixed.
Soooo,
I will be off line for a few days.
I will some how keep you all updated on my family and Uncle Charles.
I want to thank you all for your comments and prayers for us  during this time.  I have wanted to visit your blogs and connect with each of you, and I am so sorry that I haven’t.  But I cannot go to bed tonight without telling you each..... 
THANK YOU for your prayers and your sweet comments during this time of my life!
Till we chat again, thank you all!!! I love you so much and thank you for your comments...
they are precious to my heart always, and especially now.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Waiting.....And Thoughts On Death

Please pray for us all as we wait for the time when my precious Uncle Charles will go Home to the LORD.
I found comfort this morning reading I Corinthians 15 about the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead.  Especially these verses;
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”  (verses 20-22)  I love this truth...that those that I love that have passed away have only “fallen asleep” till it is time for Jesus to come back. 
Do you know what the last enemy to be destroyed will be?
Verse 26 says that it is death!  I had never thought of that.  
However, death first has a purpose, because the Bible tells us that all things work together for our good...”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
So death is also for our good?  Yes, it is!
Back in I Corinthians 15 again, I find these words, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead.  What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.  It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  .... Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (Jesus).” (verses 42-44, 49).  Death brings forth this new spiritual body, like a seeds that is planted dies to bring forth even more life.  
Today, we wait for our beloved one to “fall asleep” and I find comfort in knowing that death will be destroyed one day, and my precious Uncle Charles will again live.
Jesus has said it, and I believe it....
“I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

Friday, March 18, 2011

My Get Up And Go....

Got and and went....
Have you seen it? (ha-ha)
Now, if you aren’t from Texas, I’m not sure if you have heard that before...you will have to let me know.  My precious uncle is still with us and resting comfortably.  I came home sick with a cold...yuck.  
Steve was honored to be chosen for a nomination for his work at State Farm.  The ceremony was held in Las Vegas (not one of my favorite cities!!!!) and was an expense paid trip (Yea).  We stayed at the Wynn which was BEAUTIFUL, but everything was SO expensive!!  I felt guilty just eating even small things!


My parents met us for part of the trip, which was so fun.  We saw a great show and enjoyed being together.  
 Aren’t they cute!  I sure do love those guys.

Talking with some of the actors at the show.


I am so proud of Steve and the work he has done at State Farm.

I was so thankful that we were together with my parents when we found out that Uncle Charles was so sick.  We were able to put me on a flight with mom and dad so that I could go straight to Texas with them instead of having to fly back to Colorado 1st.   
This brings my back to my “get up and go”;
it just ain’t!!!
Oh well, some weeks are just like that, huh?
We will be enjoying a little time with some sweet friends this weekend.  I pray that you have a weekend filled with love, laughs and beauty!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Comin’ Home

I kissed his precious face last night, not wanting to leave yet.  
We had a rare moment with my Uncle Charles.  He was alert yesterday morning for a time.  I was able to joke with him and love on him.  He knew it was me and said several times that he loves me.  He reached up his whole arm several times and stroked my cheek with it.  My aunt, his wife, was able to call and talk to him on the phone and he knew it was her.  She just had heart surgery, so she hasn’t been able to be with him yet.  By the afternoon he was resting peacefully, but had not waked up any more since our morning time with him. The LORD gave me a very special gift with this man that I love so much.  And I am so thankful to Him for that!!!!!
I must finish packing.
I will be back in Colorado tonight.  Can’t wait to see and hold my little darlin’s.
I can never tell you all how very thankful I am to you for your words of comfort and love!  THANK YOU sweet friends!!!!  I wish I could hug you all, but just imagine that I’m sending you one now!!!! (You too, Josh...thank you.  You are a precious Godly man, and I appreciate you).

Monday, March 14, 2011

I DON’T WANT To Walk This Road!!!!

I don’t!!!!
I don’t want to walk this road of death with my beloved uncle; the man who has been a second father to me.
All I can cry this morning is "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" as I think of an old hymn that we use to sing in our church when I was a little girl.  All I want to do is hold his hand as he lies in the hospice bed and never let it go; to feel the warmth of life that is still in it; to gaze in his eyes every time he opens them and pray that he knows I am here with him; to speak his name and tell him again that I love him. 
This death thing stinks and hurts and is completely uncontrollable...
except by ONE.  
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Feelin’ Blah-Blah

I asked her what was wrong, and she said in a sad and whiney little voice,
“I don’t know!!!!!!!!”
I looked at her and told her that was the right answer.  If you are a growing girl or a woman, you know that there are just days when you don’t know whats wrong, because nothing really is wrong, but you feel just “blahhhhh”.  
What’s the cure?  
Well, I’m not sure that there is one, but I’m sure chocolate, praise music, a thankful heart,
and a little silly face can’t hurt anything!!!!


And I found two chairs at Salvation Army for a great price to go in my newly remodeled “Quiet Room” Isn’t it cute?  
Yeah, the baby is cuter.  
I’m taking a break with my man for the next few days.  Hope you all have a great weekend!!!!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A Special Night



Don’t they look nice!!!  Last Friday night Steve took his two oldest girls to the Father/Daughter Dance.  (Yes, Kiana is old enough, but just not ready for all that dancing).  I think that this was Steve’s 4th? one with his girls.  They always have so much fun together, and the girls love finding the “right” dress, getting their hair fixed up special and just feeling beautiful and loved!!!  
Speaking of beautiful...did ya’ll see Jill’s post yesterday?  If you didn’t please visit.  I really do think that the LORD wants His daughters to know that they are beautiful, wonderful and loved!!!!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Rest is BEAUTIFUL!!

Sorry, I have made you wait till today for the rest of our God Story.  But really, it’s not the “rest”, it’s just the beginning of the adventure that we will be starting.  
(If you missed the beginning of this journey, start at Monday of this week to catch up)
Yes, our adoption pregnancy was in peril.  We had submitted our new pre-approval on Wednesday, enjoyed the Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends, everyone left on Saturday and we were in the “waiting” room for an update.  We had no idea how long we would have to wait, may be a few weeks?  So, I prepared to get back into our home school schedule and start the week on Monday.
This song had become very important to me over the last few weeks.  It is called “Break Me For The Nations.  You can find a newer version by Klaus in iTunes.




I kept thinking of Matthew 9:36-38; “When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,”
I feel in my heart that our family is called to work in His harvest for the fatherless.  So, I set my hope on the LORD and His will and was again thankful that He had given me this beautiful work to do... to mother those that He blessed our family with.  

You know,

you just never know what a day will hold.
Sometimes good news, and sometimes bad news.  However, in it all our God is there!!
Monday brought GOOD news.  We received pre-approval to adopt BOTH children!  I was so excited!!!  Of course, I quickly shared the news with our families.  
I had a questions though...
It’s important to me...
The question was “her” name.  We had found out that the children at the Hope Journey camps are given more “American” names, since it is hard for non-Mandrin speaking people to say the children’s names.  We have always prayed to the LORD to show us the names for our children, but we had never adopted “older” children before either.  We chose the name Asher for our new son, and we knew that we would keep his Chinese name also.  But what about “Cherry”.  Did she even know this name?  Did she like it?  Did it bring back sad thoughts from the first Hope Journey?  I asked Marci at ASIA what she thought, and she said she would try to find out.  
I few days later we received an email from Marci that told us that “Cherry" went by an Asian nick name, and that if we wanted to choose a name for her that would probably be good and then they could ask her at some point along the adoption if she would like the name.  
I know this may seem silly to some, this whole name thing.  But it is really important to me.  When you first give birth, or are given your new baby, you want to look at and touch every perfect and precious part of your little darling....get to know them.  We once were short term foster parents for a new born down syndrome baby boy.  It was just for a few days till his new parents could drive in from another state.  He was so tiny and so adorable.  I loved getting to bath him, lotion him and love on that little darling.  When his new parents first arrived they just kept looking at him and touching his little head.  I asked the new mother if she wanted to change his diaper, because, well, I knew...she wanted to look at and love on every beautiful little part of her new son; his little toes, his plump little belly, his adorable baby legs. 
What does this have to do with naming “Cherry”?  It just seems like part of the “this precious little child is really mine” feeling that is missed those first days and years of their lives before they come into our family.  So Steve and I discussed it but really had no name ideas.  This little darling girl was a surprise for us!  I prayed and asked the LORD to show us her name.  And I very clearly remember Him saying to look at the Hawaiian names for girls.  A few googles steps later and I was looking at a list of funny sounding names.  Then one caught my eye - “Noelani”.  I immediately looked to the meaning of the name, and my heart completely skipped a beat....the name meant ‘BEAUTIFUL girl from Heaven.”  
Oh my word, I couldn’t believe that there was such a perfect name that captured the journey to this little girl.  If you haven’t read the earlier post from this week, you must, so that you can see just why this name was so perfect. 
From my hearts cry and prayers which were captured so amazingly in a song called “Come Home, Beautiful” to a little heart in China longing to be beautiful, our destiny came together now in a name.  
I can’t wait to bring my beautiful little gift from Heaven home, 
along with her ADORABLE little brother.  
Thank you all for sharing this week of post with me; for your love and comments and encouragement; and from here there is only one thing to say...
“To Him in Heaven belongs the glory and praise.”
I am so thankful to be walking this adventure with the LORD.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Scary Moments

Yesterday I ended with us looking at “Cherry’s” file.  I was hopeful and excited all at the same time that we might be able to adopt her with Asher.  Then something very scary happened.  It looked like we might not be able to adopt either of the children.  It was one of those moments, like when you are pregnant and hear “bad” news about the health of the pregnancy.  We spent many days and hours doing what we could to “save” this adoptive pregnancy.  It was now right in the middle of Thanksgiving week and we had family and friends coming from near and far to celebrate the holiday.  Wednesday we knew we had done all we could do.  We sent in the paperwork, and the new request for the needed waivers to adopt both children.  Of course, being a major holiday weekend, we knew that this would be a painful “pray and wait” time.  
And yes, I am saving one of the best parts for tomorrow...
however, I can tell you, that our adoptive pregnancy for both children looked “NOT GOOD” on that Wednesday, but we knew that The LORD had showed us that these children were ours, so we placed it all in HIS hands and set out for the wait.  We enjoyed the holiday weekend with our family. 


 (That’s a LOT of mashed potatoes, eh?)
We showed my precious praying family “Cherry’s” picture.  My dad took one look at her, turned around so that we would not see the emotion on his face and said “She’s ours, and she needs a family to tell her how beautiful she is”.  My mother looked at me with tears in her eyes and said “Well, there you have it, she’s ours.”  Even they didn’t know how very close to “not good”  this adoptive pregnancy was, and I can never say how encouraging their words to me were.  
My sweet father was sick with a high fever the day after Thanksgiving and then Saturday everyone headed back to Texas.  I felt so alone and scared!
But then came Monday...


I hope I’m not being to cruel, but this is such an awesome story, that I must ask you to wait for the best part tomorrow!  Will you come back and read the rest?  It is God Awesome!!!  And tonight I would encourage you to find your God Adventure and seek Him, and Trust Him for what He is calling you to.  I can’t assure you that it wont be hard, or that it wont hurt, but from my life, I can say that the LORD is ALWAYS faithful and the field that He asks you to work in will bring you greater joy and happiness than you will find anywhere else.
See you tomorrow sweet family and friends.  Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I Tried, But I Couldn’t Help Myself...

Continuing from our “Bao Xinu” Auction and the adventure to our children in China...
As I mentioned yesterday, we found our that “Cherry" had been apart of the 1st Hope Journey and had not found her forever family.  This was her second year and probably last chance to find her forever family.  I kept thinking about her and how beautiful I thought she was.  I prayed for her every day and did something “dangerous”.  I couldn’t help myself.  Knowing that it would have to be the will of the LORD for anything to happen, I asked to look at her file.  I was told that, in part, because of our advocating for her, several families where looking into her file.  However, the agency would keep us in mind, if no family requested to adopt her.  
I continued to tell others about this little beauty in China, and pray that her family would find her.  I looked at her picture so many times.  I really couldn’t help myself.  Even knowing that we could not be an option for her, I asked every few weeks if anyone was looking at her file.  Several families were and I rejoiced that she was going to find her family.  After several months, it became apparent that many families had looked at this little darling’s file, yet, her family had not found her.  I asked why and found out further that she was not able to speak very well because of her cleft lip/cleft palette.  A family had hoped to adopt her at the first Hope Journey, and had gone to China to meet her, but then things had not worked out.  So this poor little girl, who had already been to  two Hope Journey’s, and had one family hoping to adopt her but not able to, was now “on the list” for possibly the last time searching for her family.   


I continued to “watch” and pray, when right before Thanksgiving 2010 we were asked if we were still interested in looking at “Cherry’s” file.  Here was the moment...
The moment I wasn’t sure what to do with.  I was pretty sure I was already in love with her and probably couldn’t stand looking further into her file if we were not financially able to adopt her.  I had told Steve about “Cherry”, but he had also been clear that, though he would love to bring home a son AND a daughter, we just didn’t have the money.  I asked him if we could look at her file and I that I just felt that the LORD had saved her for us.  He told me that it ($) had to be under “x” amount of money to add a 2nd child, and even then, we were completely stepping out again in faith asking the LORD to provide.  


Well, that was all I needed!!!!!
We requested her file and found out things that just made us fall in love with her more!!!!  She was hoping to be adopted by a “lovely” family that was active and she loved feeling beautiful and LOVED to wear beautiful dresses.  Did you see the word “beautiful”?  That will become even more important and remember the song from yesterday that the LORD showed me when I began to pray for her...”Come Home, Beautiful”.  
So, even as I was thinking and prayer for our new son, Asher; and trying to learn a few Chinese phrases, I was also thinking...could it be possible that there would be TWO? 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

He Had HIS Plans...

Continuing our celebration of our “Bao Xinu” Auction, here is more of our adventure to our new children. 
We had received our pre-approval for Asher and were feeling blessed and amazed that the LORD was bringing us back to China after 11 years (Kiana was our first child home through adoption and we waited 18 exciting months to bring her home).  I had spent several days looking at the other adorable children that were apart of ASIA’s Hope Journey II, and I asked Marci if I could blog about some of them on my blog to (prayerfully) help these other children to find their families.  I was excited to get to see a few of the videos from the time that ASIA was with the children during the camp.  One little girl caught my attention in one of the videos.  I asked Steve about the possibility of adopting 2 children, however, I already knew that we really could not look into bringing two children home right now, and he said as much.  I asked ASIA if I could advocate for this little girl to help her family find her.  I was given the O.K.  About this time I found this song that just captured my heart.  The song is called “Come Home, Beautiful” by Seth Primm.  Here are the words and you can find the song on itunes.




"she’s an orphan of circumstance

she’s a hopeful desire
she’s awaiting redemption and love
and to be made free
she’s a girl in the margin
she’s a symbol of grace
she’s awaiting redemption and love
and to be made free
just to be set free
she is beautiful
but she has never known
a love that will never leave
someone to help her see
that she is beautiful
she’s redeemed; she is loved
she’s the bride of the King
she’s adopted but she’s forgotten
the call of grace she’s recieved
a call to love those in need
she is beautiful
she has fully known
the Love that will never leave
the birth of true belief
that He finds her beautiful
and He peeled off orphan clothes
and wrapped her in simple hope
that she will bring the desperate home
she once was lost but now she’s found
was blind but now she sees
we once were lost but now we’re found
were blind but now we see
we are beautiful
for You have given us
a love that will never leave
the birth of true belief
that You’ve made us beautiful
and You peeled off orphan clothes
and wrapped us in simple hope
that we could be found beautiful
You are beautiful
You’ve made us beautiful
and wrapped us in simple hope
that we will bring the desperate home
 Seth Primm & Seth Haines”

This song just spoke to my heart about little “Cherry”, and I wanted to do what ever I could to help her find her family.  I had found out that this was not her 1st Hope Journey.  She had been to the first one, and had not found her family.
More to come....
Thank you all for your sweet notes and loving support.  I am so VERY grateful for you all!!!


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