Ups & Downs

Adoption is like a Roller Coaster! Not sure where we are at, I think maybe we are swinging around the corner! Not sure if we are going up or down!



"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
James 3:17

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!

Pray You Enough!

I have seen this before, and thought it would be great on the blog! I don't think we can ever pray too much for all of our friends and family – and especially for those who wish us less than well. There is so much sadness around us! I think we loose site of what is really important in our lives! God has blessed us with so much! We need to use the tools he has given us, read the Bible, praying for our family, friends and those who are not on the same page as us. In all we do we need to bring it to God, and he will guide us and help us on the days we need it the most. We just need to look and listen to what he is telling us! May God bless you and I pray you all enough!

Here is the awesome reminder:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To all my friends and loved ones, I PRAY YOU ENOUGH.......
Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'
They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking,

'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'
'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.
'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.

' May I ask what that means?'
She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations... My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more...

'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'
Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright

no matter how gray the day may appear.
I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more
I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
Then, she began to cry, and walked away.
They say, it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE – life is not a dress rehearsal.....

Hopes & Dreams

Just wanted to share this cute picture Brynn made at school!

As a family waiting for Liberia to reopen, we have not the slightest clue, when this will happen.
Sometime you think is this a dream? Is there really this cute little boy waiting for us? I see his bedroom waiting, with the bed made, clothes in bags, winter coat hanging up, Thomas the Train set sitting on the dresser from Marcus' 2nd Birthday, not to mention all the stuff we quickly bought in January to prepare for our trip! It is there, and we are not going to give up on him! Brynn always prays for her "brother in Liberia", so sweet! One night she forgot to pray for him before dinner, and all of a sudden, "When is my brother ever coming home"? You get so busy you set the thought in the back of your brain. Than your reminded of your sweet little boy when your sweet kindergartner comes home with a picture like this.

As we continue to press forward, we pray for God's direction. Today I started a new Bible Study, a Beth Moore one. Esther...It's Tough Being a Woman! I studied Esther in Coffee Break, and it was awesome. Here is some great stuff just during the introduction.

Ephesians 1:11 Even when we're blind to the evidence, God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will!

WOW, What a awesome reminder!

Coincidences are Miracles God intended to remain anonymous.

Another great saying! I never thought of it that way!

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I am praising God for the blessing of adoption for a family in our area for the birth of a Baby Girl!

http://answertomyprayers.blogspot.com/

God has been so good!

Today I seen a group of ladies from Katelyn's Fund, http://katelynsfund.org/ at our local Bakery, so good to see the blessing of all the children that are home!

This journey is crazy we are on, praying that soon our answers will be answered, and God will continue to shine bright in our household!!

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Any Facebook Supporters?

Hillary Clinton is going to Liberia, please if you have a chance, go to this link and write a ditty about talking to President Johnson-Sirleaf about the Liberian Adoption situation. Encourage Secretary Clinton to talk to President Sirleaf about starting up the adoptions soon and quickly. That the families who are matched with families to be grandfathered in with the old laws. After all this is for the Orphans who need homes!

Hillary Clinton's Facebook Discussion Topics

Prayers of course help too!

Thanks!

Trials.....

Happy Friday! Another week has past, we at least read a blurp from our agency, nothing how Marcus is doing though! :(
It has been fun looking at wedding magazines for my sister, and talking about wedding plans. I am so thankful God has brought this man into her life! Jason makes her so happy! :)
Mark had an awesome devotional the other day and at the end it said this:

'Trials make the promise sweet;

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to His feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.'

Another on a Happy note...

*I am so excited and thankful for God's guidance for the "R" Family who is leaving today to go to Ethiopia to meet their 2 little ones! God Bless them with safe travels, health and tons of bonding with these 2 beautiful little ones!! Congratulation's!

*J & L as they got word to plan to go to Ethiopia in the next 2 weeks to pick up their baby boy!

* The "B" Family whose court date got moved up!!

The Mail Man Made My Day!!

I sent off our I600A's off on July 21, 2008!

I have sent, resent and resent!

Made a few phone calls made last week, and emails,

( our SW said sometimes that does not work!?!)

but today it came hand delivered,

(I had pictures too, that is why he came to the door!)

We have an appointment for our finger prints in Sioux Falls!!

It seems to me DH and I have a date at 9:00am!

Praise the Lord! We just jumped over another huge hurdle! Man it was quite a jump, and took several tries, but God is good and we thank Him for another step!!!!

I ordered a CD from Insight for Living, Chuck spoke about Esther, DH listened to it yesterday, and we plan on listening to it together! DH said it was just amazing how God is talking and showing us the direction He wants us to go!

I have heard a lot on the politics lately, yeah a lot of rude comments, and jokes. These Politician's serve the same God. Sunday, I heard a joke about one of the candidates, it hurts when family members, blurp out remarks without realizing what they said was rude! Ooh, our family is going to have to make some vocabulary changes, soon!

Thanks for checking in, and continue to pray for us on this journey!!

WE are all getting way to antsy to get our little guy home!

Better to Give than Recieve

Good Morning,

As I read a devotional this morning, it talks about giving and recieving:

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

Do you find yourself running to the cupboard thinking of what you have or should do if someone is in of need? I tend to whip up a quick meal for someone in need, I love to send a card to those who need a pick me up! I enjoy getting flowers also for those who need some sunshine in their lives! To see their smile on their face is worth so much!
Through this adoption process I have learned Pizza Ranch has awesome coupons our Youth Group sold. (hope they do it soon, I am running low)
I know I can let things go in the house, make my bed, fold clothes, and such, but I can't take a clean house to heaven with me. I know in my heart how good it feels to do something for others.
I really needed to read this today. Not that I needed to bring a meal away to someone.

As our family is pressing forward to bring this little boy to "home", I know that some "people" think we are nuts for doing this. This is what God requires of us. I learned that in calvenettes (GEMS)how many years ago,

To do Justice, Love Kindness and to Walk Humbly with Our God! Micah 6:8

Have a Blessed Day!

Waiting....

Got a "blirp" of an email, with not much of of anything else, but M is doing better. Disappointing not knowing what is really happening. Maybe we will get lucky and find out what is really happening over there! Still waiting for our Homeland Security fingerprint appointments.

Today as I was driving, I was listening to KNWC and they where discussing Steven Curtis Chapman's Families loss this summer, check it out:

Good Morning America on August 5th (8 o`clock hour)

Larry King Live on August 7th

People Magazine issue of August 15th

Today I registered all the kids, 10th, 7th, 5th and TK! Whew it is going to be different around here! I am not ready for school to start, I may sound crazy, but I really enjoy having those crazy kids around!

Music!

I figured it out! I put some of my favorite songs on our blog!

The first song has really been such a powerful song to me this past year! The comfort zone verse really brings tears to my eyes when I think of how our families reacted when we told them we were on this journey! All the: "you have 4 healthy children already" "Why" and know we hear, "oh, your still going through with this"? It breaks my heart to think that family wouldn't want to bring some joy into some little life that does not have the "stuff" we have. The stuff isn't the materialistic stuff, it is the stuff we get on Sundays at church, Sunday school, holidays with all the great meanings behind them, the Bible, the love we can give everyday and night, the unconditional hugs, the encouraging words, grandparents that will love them, Aunts and Uncles, Friends, Cousins! Most of all....Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father! We can do that along with siblings that will be there through thick and thin! Yeah, we are adding color to our family. But God does not intend for us to look at us as what color we are! He looks directly into our souls! We are so excited to think that this little guy over on the African side of the world will possibly be joining our family. Not sure when, but God is control and we put our trust in Him! Little M, has more Dr.'s appointments today.
Thanks for all those who have prayed and asked about M in church! Means a lot to us!