Jeremiah 29:11

This is a favorite verse of mine!  I have clung to the words, that God has a plan for our Family!!  I sent a package and a Bible for someone very special to Marcus, and I hi-lighted this verse in a Bible I had that I sent over for her!
My prayer is that the words may bring peace and understanding to so many people over in the Orphanage! Here is the email I received twice today...thought it was worth sharing here!

For I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the LORD

Dear Women of God
Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness
God is able to do the impossible and is always near
He loves us unconditionally.
Together, let's get 1000's of ladies to praise Him with one voice in this next hour.

Dear God:
this is my friend, whom I love and this is my prayer for her
Help her live her life
to the fullest.

Please promote her
and cause her to excel
above her expectations.

Help her to shine
in the darkest places
where it is impossible
to love.

Protect her at all times,
lift her up when she needs
you the most,

and let her know when
she walks with you,

She will always
be safe.

Love you Girl!


But you have to tell
nine sisters you love them!
Get going girl!!
Do not ask the Lord to
guide your footsteps.
if you are not willing
to move your feet

A LITTLE BOY WHO IS SO FAR AWAY....

Our family is waiting, waiting and waiting to see God's plan! 

Waiting to see what the Liberian Government holds for the

 future of so many little ones in Liberia!  Our prayer is that God's will may be done. 

If that may be staying in Liberia or coming home to our Family! 

We are so thankful for the wonderful, 

loving, caring and God's servants who visit and love this special boy for us!  

Joni and Nikelle, you are God's Angels to our Family!

Look at one of the pictures we received this morning!

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34 

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”Psalm 37:4


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”Romans 15:13


“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer” Psalm 4:1 

Our Little Miracle

I can hardly believe Brody will be 7 months old Saturday!  To see him grow and learn is so much fun! I am not sure who is having the most fun when you have 3 big brothers, 1 sister, Mom and Dad cheering you on! Brody is now crawling all over! Sometimes his body goes faster than his arms!  He is starting to say, Mama, Dada, Beau and last night Mark got him to do "hi da!"  It is so awesome to see the his face when the kids come home from school!! Oh he loves his big brothers and Brynn!   He will be busy doing something in the high chair and his arms start doing so big, of course that makes everyone giggle and cheer, which he loves.

He loves cords, remote controls and cell phones. It does not help his big brothers get on the floor and show him the cell phone and he starts a crawlin faster and faster towards them.  He is starting to notice so much around him! To see his big brown eyes lighten up, is such a blessing! He is such a blessing to our family! Brody is finally sleeping through the night! Whew....took a few nights of crying, but he is more rested and now we have to master a good nap time!  2 teeth are trying to urge their way up, so he is trying to bite and chew on anything!

I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

We are reminded every day, if Marcus would of came home when he was suppose to, we would of never received this little miracle.  Yes, Brody is our little Miracle! We are got all the finalization paper work sent in and now we wait for the day in court to say Brody is paper worthy part of our Family!

~We still do not hear or read anything from Liberia!! Our family asks for prayers, for Marcus and the Liberian Government, and don't forget our Agency! 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

There are so many Family's who are facing cancer in our area.

~Please pray for: Sondra as she continues chemo and radiation.

~Warren as he has surgery next week to remove a growth in the bladder.

~Rodney our SW brother in law who has been receiving treatments.       

~Monica who is suffering with crones flare up and surgery that set her back b/c a leak, and was septic.

~Prayers for a family waiting to get word to travel to ET

to be united with their son, with the ET government changing rules, it is scary!

 Prayers for the family who is praying their 2 home from GuatemalaPrayers for Samaritan's Purse and Joni as they are having a huge crusade in Monrovia! Prayers that many may take a stand and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour!

Prayers for Birth Mom's

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
Psalm 33:22

PRAISE:

:) Praise for 2 Family's who are home, (one on the way home) in our area that have been blessed

with little ET girls, and are welcomed home to big brothers!

:) Praise for a family who where blessed with the gift of adoption....Charlie Jace! Praying that your paper work goes fast so you can return home to you family!! Congratulations.

 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8



6 months old

Went to get Brody's 6 month pictures!! He was not to sure about or who was taking them! Little sweetheart, is starting to notice strangers!  I will share more later!

 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."    Hebrews 11:6

Baby its cold outside!

It has been a cold week here in Northwest Iowa! Blow zero wind chills! I am so thankful school is good at having activities indoors for recess! This picture is for the big game tomorrow! Needless to say, Brody is going to be a Chicago Bears fan, because his brothers, Dad, and Grandpa are all crazy, obsessed, football fans! Go Bears!

Brody is just a growing! It is so fun and such a blessing to see Brody learn, and understand what is what! Now he sees a bottle and his arms and legs just move and he makes the cutest grunts for the bottle! While you feed him you can not look at him, or you will never finish the bottle b/c he smiles and just talks! Although if he is beyond hungry, that is when you hear his loudest cry! When we rock a by, he is now starting to look over the lazy boy for one of the kids! He loves our little dog Zoey, I have a feeling, Zoey is not going to appreciate all the hair being pulled! Brody is starting to grab, and put everything in his mouth! He is not sleeping the night yet! He has mastered to rolling in the crib, and he wakes himself up! By the time you get to him, he is crying until he sees you than you see the biggest smile! He is so strong and has to stand and look around! On the floor he'll roll over, and when on his tummy he can scoot forward! On his back he can do a scoot and he will be facing another direction! He has the cutest voice, and his giggles are contagious! It is crazy how you forget all the fun little things babies learn to do! Wow, are we all in love with Brody! Over vacation he melted all the Auntie's hearts, not to mention the cousins! Brody loves his baby food, here is sweet potatoes on his face!!

Brynn ready to show what she learned at the Cheer Clinic!

Brynn had so much fun!


“The Lord says, ’I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.’” Psalm 91:14-16

God is Good!

This week we got word that our paper work has only one step left! We need prayers for the Liberian Government, President Ellen Sirleaf to proceed with the adoptions that where in process!! Little M and the other children are missing so much! Every holiday, birthday, Sunday and the fun times at home! I know our family can't wait for M to come home, what an adjustment it will be for him. The longer it takes the harder it will be for M and all the other children. I encourage you to all pray earnestly for the Liberian Government to feel the prayers and stir their hearts to get moving!!
"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16b


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Sunday, we had lots of wind, and snow. We heard on the radio that the morning service was cancelled, we were all ready, so we went ahead and decided to go to church with my parents. Half way to SC, the radio said there was an error and that church was still on! Woops, someone called in and just cancelled! The funny part is, the same thing happened at night! Not sure who is doing the calling, but sure causes tons of confusion! Here is some amazing pictures of all the snow in our backyard! Our above ground pool, is covered!







Had the opportunity to visit with other adoptive family's this past week! These 4 family's have all adopted from Ethiopia! We celebrated Lisa's birthday with cake, pizza and great conversation as well as a game of Candy Land, wiping up spit, encouragement and laughing at the children playing! No matter, what part of the adoption journey your on, it is good to sit and talk! Thanks for having us Lisa, and Happy Birthday!






Poor Miss Brynn had her 4th set of tubes in her ears on Friday!! She is doing amazing! She was so excited to get them in. I can about imagine how wonderful it is to be able to hear everything! Dr. K said she has been hearing as if we plug our ears!

Some exciting news with our Katelyn's Fund!!
2 Family's were blessed!!
Congratulation's Jim & DeAnn, Daniel and Baby Benjamin!
http://www.timmermansadoption.blogspot.com/
This weekend there was a basketball tourney and bake sale to help with expenses!! What a great turn out for the family! It was so special to see them all walk into the tourney, with their little miracle! Benjamin is absolutely beautiful, and big brother is just as cute!
The other couple I sat by at the last Katelyn's fund, they were blessed with a baby girl! Congratulations!!

"Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations." Psalm 100:4b-5


Mark and I had lunch with Brian and Donna this week, they're missionaries, and have been gone for half a year and were able to come home and celebrate the birth of their 1st Grandchild! Congratulations Grandpa & Grandma! It was excited hearing about all the travels!
http://renes-travels.blogspot.com/

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

Next week we have to update our home study again!! It is a great chance to visit with our Social Worker! We wish our original SW could come, but the distance is too far, but we are excited to have "H" come! Benjamin has to get finger printed since he is 14! Here is a fun picture of Benjamin on his birthday with Grandpa and Grandma!







I can't believe Bradyn turns 12 next week!
Tomorrow my sisters are coming to SC and we are going out for lunch and than celebrate Benjamin, Jason, Jesse and Bradyn's Birthday's with cake at my parents!! I can wait to see them all!!

Here is some fun photo's Benjamin took for his art class! I somehow misplaced or someone accidentally borrowed it out of our suburban, and I miss my good camera! Looks like we are going to have to replace it! Thankfully I have my "old" one!