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!

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!

Can You Guess...

who I got to take engagement pictures for?

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

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!

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!!!