Throwing our arms open wide...

An incredibly beautiful way to help...and a giveaway!

2012-01-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I got to 'know' through blogs a woman who is such an inspiration to me. Kelly is an adoptive Mama who has stepped forward to transform the adoption community in so many ways. She helped create We Are Grafted In and The Sparrow Fund as well as The Nest. The Nest supports adoptions while at the same time helping Kenyan mothers make a living and feed their children (and other's children)....it is a stunningly beautiful program!
The Nest has been so successful that it is helping these women to be able to feed their children, clothe them and send them to school, all by selling goods that these women have made. Goods that are so beautiful.

Like this beautiful passionfruit necklace and earring set

and these sweet elephants

I have some of these bracelets and they are BEAUTIFUL....

I love wearing them and get compliments all the time,

which also starts up some great conversations about who made them...

Did I mention that these are all made by the Kenyan women???

So...this is where we can help this program and these women....

January has been really slow...

and that means not being able to send very much to these mothers that are doing everything they can to feed and take care of not only their own children but those all around them.

Why not take some time and go ahead and stock up for birthday presents, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day....children's birthdays. You get your shopping done and help some very strong and brave women at the same time!

No mad dash to Target for some plastic thing or other at the last minute...and you are stocked up with very thoughtful gifts!

This is also where the giveaway comes in.....

On Valentine's Day I will be giving away one item from the Nest of your choosing!

Here is how it works:

* Go to The Nest and look around! Come back and let me know your favorites (1 entry)

* Take a minute and post about this giveaway on Facebook, come back and let me know (1 entry)

* Put it on Twitter, come back and let me know (1 entry)

* 'Pin' it on Pinterest, and let me know (1 entry)

* Write about it on your blog, and let me know (1 entry)

Thanks for helping be a part of helping mother's in Kenya!!!!!

I Carried a Queen on my Shoulders....Baja orphanage journal #3

2012-01-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

I Carried a queen on my shoulders….

The air was icy cold as it whipped off the ocean, ruffling our clothing as the sun set down. The primitive shacks and buildings gave off a rosy hue with the last rays of light and from every direction I began to see little children running. Across the verdant field they ran, little shadows at first then radiant faces peeking out behind raven black hair, bright eyes shining. They came to play.

Soon music from the outreach van saturated the air around the now darkened houses that held no electricity. Little hands slipped into mine as children laughed up at me. All around children were jumping rope, throwing Frisbees, tossing balls we had brought. Such simple toys and yet they brought such deep joy. Standing and watching and trying to soak it all in I noticed her, a tiny imp of a little girl with wild hair and sparkling eyes. She was looking at me expectantly and pointing across the field. For a minute I could not figure out what she wanted to tell me and then I realized she was saying, “up, up!” and pointing to a young guy in our group who carried another girl on his shoulders. At first my mind cried, “Oh Lord, I’m too old for that” but within seconds I found myself lifting this lighter than air child and settling her happily on my shoulders. At first she sat so still, clinging to my hands with all her strength but soon I could feel her little body move and then shake with joyful giggles. So we wandered around, showing off to her friends, spinning every few minutes just to hear her peals of laughter fill the darkened sky. Then she wanted to run and to dance and to spin all to the beat of the music punctuated by her tiny laugh.

I carried a queen on my shoulders tonight. All 3 feet and light as a feather bit of her, and my life will never be the same. You see, to so many she would be the face of poverty, the face of lacking, the face of need…but to my Lord hers is the face of royalty.

Psalm 113:7-8 says, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His People.”

Tonight I carried a queen on my shoulders and for a few moments God’s way of looking at things became blindingly clear. This is what matters, this pouring out, digging in, getting right in the mix and rubbing faces and lives with those the Lord cherishes so deeply…it is what truly matters. So much of my life has been a search for comfort, for purpose, for hiding from the hard things of the world. Why? I don’t know. Because where God says He is, where He tells us to be, what He spells out so clearly and deeply as a part of His heart is the pouring out, the spending ourselves, the reaching into the lives that appear needy not so that we can come in and fix them but so that we can humble ourselves and truly see the face of God.

Tonight I carried one of God’s royal queens on my shoulders and I am left with one overriding feeling…oh Lord I want to do it again, please let me do more.

Psalm 113

Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD, you his servants;

praise the name of the LORD.

Let the name of the LORD be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

he seats them with princes,

with the princes of his people.

He settles the childless woman in her home

as a happy mother of children.

Praise the LORD.

I Want To Be His Arms....Baja Mission trip journal #2

2012-01-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

I write this while sitting up late praying on our first night at the orphanage. Oh how it makes me ache to be back there right now...

I Want to be His arms…..

The amazing girl we get to sponsor...

It is the night of our first day back here at the orphanage and my mind is so full of so many things. Part of me wants to write first of what we have done today, of the insane crazy chaos of taking care of 9 boys, of how this place, red mud and all feels far more like home than our house in Hood River…but there is something that is far more pressing.

I want first to write about a little girl, bright brown eyes, round cheeks and more than a pinch of naughtiness…I met her at the Christmas concert tonight. About 6 years old, she was the one that I had to keep shushing, each time her eyes would flash and she would get just a bit louder and I frantically tried to remember enough Spanish to tell her to respect her friends who were performing. So she would snicker and I would shush trying hard to be firm and yet hopelessly wanting her to feel loved. …as the concert drug on and my frustration rose she did something that I did not expect. She scooched up next to me and leaned hard on my legs. Without thinking I scooped her up like one of my own and held her tightly on my lap. Once I had her there, I was not sure what she would do. At first she sat straight up as if uncomfortable and then, she began to slowly sink back into my embrace. I held her close and kissed her satiny hair, so humbled by the undeserved intimacy…then she began to rock ever so slowly and turned so I could hold her almost like an infant. For about 20 minutes I held and rocked this sweet child, her cheek pressed into mine, kissing her cheeks and she melted more and more into the embrace….and once again my world began to be broken down by one sweet girl aching for love. Oh how it hurts even to write it now, it hurts so badly that she does not get held every night, that she is six years old and melts into the arms of a complete stranger instead of a Mama of her own. Oh how I wish I could be there and just hold her and hold her every night, to make sure that she hears that she is beautiful, that she knows that she is cherished, that she has without a doubt a safe place to melt and be held forevermore…. we found out later that this little girl is the sister of the sweet girl that we sponsor. About a year ago they were found at a garbage dump in a neighboring town. Living in garbage, eating garbage, covered in lice....never having known anything else. Never having lived inside, never been to school...oh how it breaks my heart again to be there, hold her pour in to her beautiful heart....

Then….after the concert we had to wrangle the 9 unruly boys back into their home. These boys were tough, some hard as rocks and beyond ticked off that we made them leave their playing to go to a Christmas concert where they had to stay still and be quiet! After losing a few of them (yes, they ran away but I did chase them back! ), it was time for us to go for the night. I went one by one to the boys and said, “Buenos Noches”. What I got back was tough shoulders and little eye contact but then the last guy in the line who had watched me making my rounds, flung his arms out and wrapped them around me, nestling tight for a good night hug….and it happened again, these tough boys who had me wanting to say a few choice words and really doubting…they began to melt. I walked back through them and said, “Buenos Noches” one more time…this time making sure to touch them on the shoulder or give them a second to respond…those tough shoulders? Melted. Those rough boys snuggled ever so slightly in and paused as if to breath in that space for just a second….and all of a sudden I would do it all again, I would rough house and yet break up the fights, I would laugh and chase and bring them back over and over again if it meant that they could have even that split second of a tiny glimpse of a mother’s love…

…and so tonight I ache. I do not know what it all means. All I know is that all I desire right now is to be His arms. God’s arms and to wrap myself and my heart around these kids and to pour into every single one that God brings across my path until I leave here completely spent, utterly broken and never the same. Oh how they are hurting, oh how they desire love, oh how can our world be so blind to them? They are beyond beautiful, each face a beaming portrait of Christ. Oh, there is no where else I would want to be right now than right here pouring in right in front of me in any way that I can. This is what is real and true and beautiful and vivid and good. It makes every doubt, every fear, every discomfort fall away. This is true life, the Gospel fully alive.

But you know all about it—

the contempt, the abuse.

I dare to believe that the luckless

will get lucky someday in you.

You won't let them down:

orphans won't be orphans forever.

Psalm 10:14

What happens when??? or Baja mission trip journal #1

2012-01-18T15:33:00.000-08:00

You take a family that is a little bit nutty (ok, a lot nutty...)

and squish them into a mini van for days and days of driving through

rain,

snow,

more rain,

cactus,

and dust....

On an adventure to go and serve some crazy amazing orphans in Mexico....

Life once again radically changes....

and our hearts are left begging God for less and for more...

less of ourselves....

more of Him....

less comfort....

more ways to radically serve....

because that is where LIFE is....

Oh my goodness it is worth the risk.

We are forever changed....

more stories to come soon!!!!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1

Only He can...

2012-01-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

There is so much swirling around in my heart and mind right now...

So much I want to say but am not sure how to articulate....

but more than anything I am in awe of how deeply God cares for every little detail of our lives.

He can change a story in the very middle,

and redeem things that seemed like they would be forgotten.

He can take something so hard,

and fill it with gifts that outshine the pain.

He can bring peace where no one else can....

and He longs to hear the cries of my heart and to show me where to go from here...

God can and does do the impossible.

Even in heartache....

2012-01-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

My Dad passed away this week

and I miss him so dearly

there was a song that played in my head over and over during that last week....

I'm going to take a break from writing for a bit but will update on Mexico later on.

I love you Dad and will see you again....

We came home to a surprise....

2012-01-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yes...

We came home to this....

In our living room...

A full sized river raft.

Our friends are insane and we love them like crazy!

Is it worth it????

2012-01-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

To take kids to serve?

Georgia thinks so...

Oh so much Goodness!

2011-12-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

God is so faithful....I cannot even try to wrap words around it. He has just blown us away. We have been praying and praying about what He has for us in Baja, trying to put together the pieces of passion He is writing in our hearts telling Him we will do 'whatever' He asks. We woke up yesterday feeling restless, we prayed for guidance and I took a walk down the beach begging God to help us make sense and guide us. We love this crazy dry country and it's people so much. As I walked I found my heart turning to surrender, pouring out my desires and asking God to lead us where He wanted us to be....and near the end of the walk I ran across a couple who literally dropped the answer of what comes next right into my hands....I cannot wait to share all about it! Right now the kids are running around the internet cafe so I'll have to explain later.
If God is leading your heart in something even if it seems impossible, listen and trust it. God can do the impossible, He can make something out of seeming nothingness....He can and He will!

T
"Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Hello from Mexico!!!!!!!

2011-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

This is the first chance I have had to get internet access. The kids are running around so I will probably make it quick :) God is SO good. We once again feel like our hearts have been radically challenged and changed. The week at the orphanage was beyond incredible and there is so much that I want to write that is swirling around in my head. One of the big things is that life is oh so short and I want nothing more than to pour out every drop of myself to serve the Lord. He is so faithful, He blesses us beyond belief. He takes my measly offerings of service and pours out blessings and joy that i in no way deserve....He lets us join in, He longs for us to seek Him, He wants to be found.....and that finding is far better than anything else I have ever strived for.

Loading up!!!!!

2011-12-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

I honestly cannot believe it....we are packing up our car and heading south to Baja!!!!!

SO many crazy things have happened in the last week, Georgia has been on a heart monitor, I spent the week with my Dad in ICU up in Seattle and we had decided that the mission trip probably would not happen this year......but God is amazing!

Georgia has stabled out (no heart issues in the last week and a green light from the Cardiologist)

and my Dad made a miraculous turn around and is now planning to be discharged!

He just told us to hit the road!!!!!

So more soon.....

Please pray for us as we head down:

For protection as we drive

That we would have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is doing in our family

That we would be able to serve with our whole hearts at the orphanage.

Whooeeeee!!!!!

We're hitting the road!!!!!

Amazed by the love for these little ones in Baja....

2011-11-29T18:59:00.000-08:00

Seriously.

I am so in awe...

Not too long ago I wrote on here about Ravenna's Beauty to Ashes Project

helping the girls at the orphanage to know they are beautiful they are to God

and asked if anyone wanted to be involved....

Can I just tell you that simply and slowly...

Our.Garage.Is.Filling.Up!!!!!!

First came these amazing hairbows from Leslee and her little girls...

Can you believe it??????

Then came these treasures......

from a Alice and her family in Alaska.....

Oh has Ravenna ever had fun!!!

I asked her what she was going to do with all of them and she instantly said...

Headbands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(you think she is a bit excited about this project???)

So I got some headbands and she matched up every pair...

while I was the trusty hot gluer!

Aren't they stunning!!!! We have over 50 of them!!!!

Some of you might remember Operation Notebook

which is our project to help fill the orphanage school with notebooks....

Notebooks have come in from all over the country...Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon,

and right next door!
We have hundreds of them!
Our garage is filled with boxes and bags of notebooks!

Our sweet neighbor Sahale just turned 5

at her birthday she and her friends decorated notebooks to send to the orphanage...

Aren't the kids going to LOVE these???

We have a family friend in a neighboring town has hand made these beautiful crosses...

150 of them!

I am so excited to see what God does with these!

This year this little guy came up with a plan of his own to bless the boys at the orphanage....

he told me

"Mama, what the boys really need is...

jump ropes!"

My mom donated money to help with these....

we now have 80 jump ropes just waiting to be unfurled!

and mydear friend Sara from years ago when we did college ministry in Boulder together mailed us this magical box.

It is full of all kinds of goodies to help in the daycare, in the school, at the dump ministry and in child outreach...

It is going to be so much fun!

Some old friends from an international adoption playgroup that we were in when Ravenna first came home sent these along with beautiful ribbons for hairbows

Thanks Ali & Diego & friends!!!!

Today we came home to a giant box on our front doorsteps....

A very special woman who is a friend of a friend gave Ravenna a very special gift...

she gave her money to go shopping at an online store called Halo Heaven

Ravenna got to pick out the goodies and Rebecca paid for it!

Did she ever have fun!

She took hours to pick and choose

all the time saying

"Oh Mama...the girls are going to be SO excited!"

and

"I cannot wait to see this one in Maggie's hair and this one!"

and

"Won't Ana Laura LOVE this one!"

She was dancing and twirling and singing herself around our kitchen as she shopped for her friends at the orphanage!

We now have...

24 fairy wings!

148 beautiful hairclips!!!!!

and 24 princess tiara's that will be so fun!!!

Of course they wanted to try a few things on to make sure they worked....

our littlest angel :)

I'm pretty sure they should make some incredibly special girls

fell pretty darned beautiful.

I don't even know how to say thank you enough...

I get all choked up even trying....

as we box things up and dream of blessing these children in Baja that we love so much...

and many, many of you have given to Ravenna's project not only to help the children know they are beautiful,

but to fill their bellies and teach them the love of God.

I am stunned by the people

who have stepped forward to be God's hands and feet

the children who have delighted in making and sending messages

all so that the children at the orphanage will know....

they are precious beyond belief.

Each and every one of you has played out

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

While so much of the world is focusing on gifts for those that have plenty....

how can I thank you enough for blessing these children who have almost nothing

It leaves me speechless.

and it is a wonder to behold!

So Thankful....

2011-11-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

Happy late Thanksgiving!!!!!!

This has been such an interesting year...

I found myself reflecting a lot on what is underneath the exterior

Because right now life can feel so wrapped in worry...

(the tired face we see a lot right now)

I find myself looking at the exterior and I AM thankful for how deeply blessed we are...

Beautiful children...

A marriage that astounds me with how incredible it is...

Family and friends....

Oh so much to be thankful for....

But this year is also one that feels like it is marked by storms, uncertainty, worry....

...at first glance, it is easy to focus on those things, to merely choose thankfulness in spite of them.

But there is something deeper still....

We are standing, we have not fallen, we are being held up in the midst of it....

Time and time again lately Doug and I have clung to each other in tears

and turned to the One true place where we can find the strength to go on....

prayer.

The Lord, once again...

always...

is true to who He says He is:

Psalm 55:8

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Isaiah 40:28-30

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint

Isaiah 41:10

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

That is the anchor...the foundation. The One thing that cannot, will not be moved.

The thing I am most thankful for?

That foundation that I can return to again and again.

That all compassionate God where I can pour my weary heart out over and over...

He LONGS for me to do that....

...and promises to never leave me,

No. Matter. What.

No matter how large and scary the storm....

...all the way until I am in His arms someday,

Forever.

Our Little Girl's Heart

2011-11-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

Georgia's appointment was good and hard at the same time. I always go in hoping for answers and that they will see what we have been seeing and this time they did.

Basically, her pulmonary valve is reverting back to what it was pre-surgery. It is still better than the surgery in September but the Cardiologist said that these cobbled together pulmonary valves (she doesn't really have one, it is made of dacron sewed into the nubs that should have grown into pulmonary valves when her heart was forming), are very elastic and sometimes do this.

So, he said she needs a pulmonary valve replacement "pretty soon". The problem is she is growing so slowly and is not big enough to have the surgery via catheter (versus open heart) yet.

He thinks she is have heart rhythm issues so we are doing another monitor to try to catch what exactly is going on. After the monitor (whether we catch anything or not), he is starting her on some medication that will help her heart to squeeze better and should help with the rhythm issues.

Then we start meeting every 6 months or sooner "if something wild and crazy happens" to see how her heart is holding up.

In the grand scheme of things there are parents with heart children who walk through so much more than this. Even knowing that, it is so hard to know that her hear is struggling and that she is now an "atypical" Tetralology of Fallot patient needing more intervention and care....I have to remember that the Lord is the one who holds and cherishes her heart with everything in Him...and mine too.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Would you pray for our little munchkin?

2011-11-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Today is our Cardiologist appointment. For about 3 weeks Georgia has been saying her heart is going "Too fast" at times and "Too slow" at others. She has also been showing a lot of fatigue.....

Could you please pray that the doctors would be able to see what is going on?

We are supposed to leave to serve at the orphanage in 2 1/2 weeks.

Praying that they listen to her and do what they need to for finding answers...

Thanks so much!

A Day of Pampering....

2011-11-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

So...Miss Georgia Mei has been begging to get her ears pierced almost since she could speak english. She loves all things girly and has been enamored by the sparkly things in other girl's ears. A few weeks ago, after the kids had been such troopers about sharing everything with their friends who stayed with us when their Dad was in the hospital, we decided to let the girls get their ears done. My sweet friend Angie and her sister pampered the girls like princesses....

fingernail polish

A little posing in the princess chair...

Getting a princess braid and sparkle spray ...

And then the big event (Georgia went first)

And then Miss Ravenna

Who only wound up getting one but is pretty darned proud of it!

What a gift these girlies are in my life....

There are more Georgia Meis out there....

2011-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

I remember it so vividly, late at night, my eyes blurred with exhaustion I sat reading emails in the computer lab of Ronald McDonald House. We were still in the thick of Georgia's open heart surgery and it was the first time I had left her bedside. I had just tucked our other two children in and waited until the soft sound of their breathing told me they were asleep. Then, leaving them with our dear friend I came out to respond to emails.
      ...and there it was....

" Shannon, God has done so much. You just have to write a book about what He has done because there are more Georgia Meis out there."

     I sat and I sat because I knew deep in my soul that God was starting something.

    Weeks later, life in full boom with Georgia home it happened again. A different friend wrote and said, "You really need to write a book." Again and again this would happen and again and again I told God, "I need more confirmation, who am I to write a book? I don't want this to be about me at all."

    ....and there the confirmation came, and came, and came until 35 different people had told me, unsolicited that I needed to write a book...

   So, slowly, ever so slowly I have been doing just that. I haven't told many people and honestly my hands are shaking just writing this now because I don't in any way want this to be about me.

   IT. IS. ABOUT. THEM.

     The Lord keeps whispering to me about them, the other little ones who wait, the ones who so desperately need a Mama and Daddy to step out and risk. To step into that fear that their broken little hearts may not make it. Because they are so worth risking for. Seeing God move the way He did in our lives with Georgia is SO worth stepping out for.

    So...basically I am a weenie. I have not submitted the book to a publisher or to really anyone. Even Doug has not read it yet. But I guess I am asking if there is anyone here who would be interested in prayerfully taking a look at it and being brutally honest about what you think, where it needs improvement, what doesn't make sense.

   I have worked on it for so long and now feel the Lord nudging me that I need to take this next step. It is not totally finished, it still has tons of rough edges....it will never be some big fandangled thing...but my prayer is that somehow God will use it to bring more heart babies, well more babies in general home.

    So...anyone curious, love to read? Want to take a look? Let me know and I'll (eeek) email you a copy.

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!

2011-11-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

We've been watching two snaggly front teeth wiggle and twist for about a month now....

and in the last 2 days....

Please keep praying for sweet Georgia too, she has some more heart 'stuff' going on and we are waiting for a call back from the Cardiologist

and I will write soon about Ravenna's project for the orphanage...

Oh my goodness has it ever exploded...

so incredibly fun!

Life with these three is SUCH a gift!!!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

Because girls are worth it...

2011-11-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law sent me information about this program that a friend of hers has started in the Dominican Republic...and it is a beautiful thing! They work to get girls off the streets and into school. This is what their website says about the impact of changing the lives of girls...

“Girls living in poverty are uniquely capable of creating a better future. But when a girl reaches adolescence, she comes to a crossroads.” When given access to quality education, health care and a support system the trajectory of her life can be forever changed. By the age of ten, girls living in poverty have reached an age that the price of a bad choice is too high to make a mistake.
We are determined to walk alongside these girls encouraging them to listen to the still small voice of a very big God who has divine plans for their future. We are committed to loving them in every decision, weeping with them in their sadness and rejoicing with them in their gladness. We long to hold the hands of their parents so that their girls will not be sold to the highest bidder.
This is our heart’s work. God planted this dream deep in our souls many years ago and we believe this is the year. We will begin with twenty girls, but only God knows where we’ll end up. Funding and facility seem like impossible mountains to overcome, but we are encouraged that in our weakness, God shows His power and might.
Join us in prayer as we “roar” against the generations of bondage and sexual perversion. What was meant for dead, we are claiming as life—full of promise and Hope."

The program is called New Hope

you can watch the video to find out more

and check out their website

Here

I love seeing how others have jumped in where the Lord has led them and how much new hope and life comes from the obedience of a few.

“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people."

1 Peter 2:15

Need something for your Christmas list????

2011-11-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Mamas out there.....

I just saw this on Kelly from My Overthinking

It is beautiful and helps bring orphans home too...

Curious?

Go and check it out and then spread the word!

My Overthinking

Because we ALL need to know....

2011-11-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

I am posting this from this blog of some amazing people working in Haiti. This is more important than anything else I am doing today. It is life and death for real people, real children. What is going on in your day? I know for me what is going on is spending less on my gluttonous self so these babies can have the chance at life....

Where there is a need, fill it

"Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I wish to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." -C.T. Studd

My mom, Lori, and I started taking in kids in 1999. From our early years of family ministry (late 1980′s), our motto was always, “Where there is a need, fill it.” We saw kids that were burned, sick, and malnourished and thought maybe, with a little help, they could get better. Many did. At that time, we were living in Port and driving 2.5 hours one way twice a day to work in the Cazale area. We would transport all of us, medication, supplies and 10 kids back and forth. We did this for years and in 2002 we moved out to the village of Cazale. We were excited to be living in an area that we loved. We began hiring staff/nannies to work in what would be called the Rescue Center. When we started, we never thought that we would get above 30 children. That was in 2002. Today, we are near 100 kids.

We are overwhelmed and we are needing help. Donations have been down in 2011. We are to the point that we are going to have to begin shutting down parts of our ministry. I do not want to do that. I want to continue I want to help as many children as we can. Each child has a story. Each child is a person. Each child has found their way here. Each one we love and each one we want to live. I want to share one story of just one of these precious children with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Doluckson came to the clinic last week. His papa brought him. The nurse seeing him called me into the room and said I needed to talk to the dad because he was in a bad way. She said she could not listen to him anymore or she would cry. I need to hear these stories. I need to feel them so that I can keep fighting for these families and these kids. I asked the papa if I could share his story with you. I want you to feel and I want you to know. I want you to care and I want you to know why we work so hard for these families. I want you to know that it is easy for some from far away to say “pull back” or “take a break;” but, when they are in front of you, it is different. I want you to know what I know and hear what I hear.

Doluckson’s mom became sick several months ago. She went to a doctor by her house in the mountains. The hospital told the family that there was nothing they could do to save her. Doluckson’s father, Jonel, took her home. Many people in his village told him it was not a sickness for the doctor. They wanted him to take her to the local vodou house to get treatment. He had a lot of pressure from many people, but he and his wife believed in God and went to their church. The little mountain church, with a few members, welcomed them in. She stayed inside the church and the members took turns with her husband praying for her each day. She lived a few weeks and then died. Jonel was very sad. He has 5 kids (ages 19 months to 16 years old) at home. He had no money and no hope for help, but he believed in God.

His church gave him $375.oo to help with the cost of the casket and the burial cost. He was able to pay for 1/2 of the casket and used the rest of the money for the wake. He had a small herd of goats, but sold many to pay for doctor’s visits and buy food for the kids. He only had two goats left. He tied his two goats to a tree by his house. He planned to sell them the next day to finish paying for the casket. He got his kids dressed and himself dressed and went to bury the woman he loved. They went to the church for the service and then to the grave yard for the burial. After this, the church family returned with him to his house to pray for him. When they arrived back home, the house had been ransacked and what little he had was gone. The goats were gone. He cried. The church members cried. The kids cried. Everyone was shocked. He did not know what to do. He walked around and picked up what little items were left. He found an old pot that was beat up that they didn’t take. The church members brought him some food to cook. He cooked the food in his little mashed up pot. They did not have spoons. They had been stolen. So, they waited for it to cool down and ate with their fingers. He cried. He went to bed that night not knowing what to do, he was broken and so very lonely. When he woke up the next morning, a few members from the church came to pray with him again. They told him he needed to go down to the clinic in Cazale and talk to the staff. They told him God is there in that yard and God is all you have left now. So, he came and told us his story and broke this heart, that has been broken so many times, once again.

Jonel believes that God sent him here for us to help him. But, what if God sent Jonel and Doluckson here for me and for you. To remember the poor. To grieve with the broken. To act as the hands and feet of our Lord.

The team that was here gathered extra dishes and clothes that we had around to give to him that day. They put their extra money together to help finish paying for the rest of the casket. We admitted Jonel to the Rescue Center. He brought the total to 92 children, but he isn’t number 92 to us. He is our chance to love and care and support this family.

All of this happened last week. The next day, RHFH leaders discussed our funding problems. We have to make some decisions in the next few weeks as to what we are going to do. The funds that we need to keep this place going are overwhelming. The rescue center cannot be shut down with in days or even weeks. It would take months to find all the parents of these kids. Could we just take fewer kids? Over the past few weeks, we have sent several back home. They were not near death, but still sick and malnourished. I am giving them appointments to return every two weeks. We are giving them food & protein powder to try help.

For example:

In the past two days we have admitted 5 kids….

2 babies that have had mothers that have died-one mother died of cholera, one died of postnatal cardiomyopathy

2 kids that were abandoned (one left on a porch & the other left at home all day to be found when dad returned from work) by their mothers-one bought in by a father and one by an aunt

1 child from an orphanage on the other side of the island. Both parents are dead and the orphanage is struggling to care for him.

Over the weekend we had 2 babies die. One was born with a hole in the back of its head. The other had a hole in its throat that was rotting and tunneling up through it nose. We do what we can here, listening to parents and make decisions with them for their child’s care. Many times, there is not much medically that can be done. We are thankful for the opportunity to sit with them, pray with them, and love them through these difficult times. These losses are hard for us, the staff, and the families, but so many more make it and live. We work..long..hard..days. We are available to our community 24/7 for any medical emergencies that happen. We love them and they love us. We respect them and they respect us. There is a need and we are doing our best to fill it.

What I am looking for today is first some serious people that love us, the people, the kids and Haiti. I want you to pray. Pray for God direction and the future of RHFH. Pray for the kids. Pray for the staff. Pray for us and our families. Pray that the Lord will move on the hearts of many to give for this need. Pray for those that are sick today. Pray for Cazale. Pray for the Cazale community that lives abroad that they will help as well. Go before the Lord for us.

Matthew 7:7

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Second, We are looking for families, individuals, churches, small groups, sunday school classes, school classes, bands, anyone that is willing to sponsor kids in the RC. We are asking for faithful monthly donors to give each month to this need. I know this is difficult with other financial pressures. It is hard for some to make this commitment, but I believe it can happen. I tell the story over and over and over again. I have been in Haiti for 16.5 years. God has been with us each and every month. He has always, always, always provided for the needs of RHFH. We are extremely humbled by this. We stand in awe of how awesome our God is. Every single month for 16.5 years HE has provided. I will never forget one time – many, many years ago – we were out of diapers. It wasn’t the fancy disposable kind. We were out of the cloth ones. We were using blue rags for the kids. Someone pulled up to our gate that I had never met before. They asked to have a tour of the place. I gave them a tour and then they said, “I do not know if you need them or not, but we have several hundred cloth diapers outside in our car.” They were hand sewn and had cords tied on them so that we did not even have to have diaper pens. I cried and thanked them. I thanked God once again for providing each and every need for the kids. Oh, how I love Him! I do not believe the RC needs to close down. I believe we are doing the will of God. Keeping families together. Helping kids get over a difficult time in their development. In the middle of it all is Jesus. Sweet Jesus.

We took this picture today. It is all the kids in the RC.

This picture is of the kids in the ICU tent and those that are staying here for an extended peroid of time for care.

before and after pics of two special boys (Emmanuel)

Daseme

There are two parts of the RC -

1. Kids 18 months and up. These kids stay an average of 5 to 6 months.

2. Babies 0-17 months. These babies stay for about 18 months – until they are walking and off of infant formula.

I would love to have as many as we can sponsored on a monthly basis. It cost RHFH about $125US per month to care for a child. This is 24/7 care. This includes medications, food, medical testing, clothing, supplies, paying staff, transportation. We hope within the next year to begin and aftercare program for those kids that are at high risk, but for right now we need to focus on properly caring for them during this critical stage. As sponsors give, we will match them up with a child. We will give updates for these kids as we can so that the sponsors can see their progress in healing.

You can email me with any questions at licia@realhopeforhaiti.org. Donations can be made through the paypal link on the upper right or sent into our home office at Real Hope For Haiti, P.O. Box 23, Elwood, IN 46036 include a note or memo stating it is for RC sponsorship. Please prayerfully consider making this monthly commitment of support to ensure that these children continue receiving life-saving care and nutritional support.

No hands, no feet, on earth but yours.

You are the eyes through which He looks

Compassion on this world

Yours are the feet

With which He walks to do good.

Your are the hands

With which He blesses all the world

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet.

Yours are the eyes, you are His body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours

Yours are the eyes, through which He Looks

compassion on the world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

prayer of St.Teresa of Avila

***** This is Shannon again....
    I have to tell you how much this post has affected me over the last few days....it has ripped my heart out. I am so incredibly apathetic and self absorbed as I go about my day mainly doing things just to please myself and my family....how in the world did that become the norm?
   Yesterday as I drove around running errands I saw Christmas advertising popping up everywhere. How did Christmas become so much about pleasing ourselves and those who already have enough and already know that we love them by spending gobs of money?
    I just can't take it anymore and have found myself begging God to rip away my self absorption and apathy. To make a change in my heart NOW.
    ...and I find myself trying to figure out how to make it different. Why not have the birth of Christ, the greatest gift that gave us life be about literally giving life to others? Why couldn't it become about serving those who have so little rather than giving more to ourselves who already have too much? Why can't it be about loving and serving and giving ALOT...not just taking a tag from an angel tree, no just some pocket change in the Salvation Army bucket.....what if it became about giving of time and money and our very hearts???
What if that came first?
Last year was the most amazing and meaningful Christmas I have EVER had. We spent the week before Christmas serving at an orphanage in Mexico, our whole family trying it out. As we got ready to go and started packing the car I came across all of the Christmas gift we had brought for our children, all boxed up, wrapped and ready in true American style....

... and I have never felt so sick in my entire life.

We had given some of our hearts and our time but were reserving all of this for our own children. How could I look at the faces we had come to love, how could I explain it to our own children when they opened so much knowing their friends had so little? So...I chose one gift and some small things in their stocking for each of our children, and we gave the rest away, gave it to the office so that the children there could have something to open on Christmas morning....

...and I have never felt so free...

So how was Christmas? It was incredible! For Christmas dinner we went to a little Mexican grocery store and told the kids they could pick out 3 items each, they had so much fun! We had fresh fish, oreos, Mexican cheetos, mangoes and quinoa....and laughed and giggled the whole time! On Christmas morning we snuggled and played and they LOVED their one gift and little dollar store stocking stuffers. They were beaming, they were thankful....and I felt the truth of what Christmas was about like never before.

So, I know that is just our experience and that things may look different for you but I have to ask, are you willing to ask God to show you how He might want you to do it differently this year? How He might want to show you Himself in a deeper way? That at the end of the day, it would be about far more than cleaning up wrapping paper or driving back home....that at the end of the day you might know Him more?

And maybe help change a life like his in the process......

To find out more about Real Hope for Haiti Click Here

Wanna Jump In With Us???????

2011-11-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

So...we got a call from the orphanage today! They have more spots open and we can invite more people to come! Wanna come and love some amazing kids in one of the most incredible ministries?????? Wanna have Christmas mean more than ever before????? Wanna see the Gospel played out beautifully??????

Come with us!!!!!!!

So here's the details:

The orphanage is 4 hours South of San Diego

The cost is just getting yourself there

and get this....$10 per person. That's it.

We will be there December 11-17th

Being there has changed our life.

It is hands down the best thing we have ever done as a family.

It is the best thing we have ever done for our kids.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much we have seen them grow from the experience....

It's easy to say, "maybe next year..."

and maybe that is true...

but God has opened up some more spots...

but maybe God wants you to go now????

Curious? Email Me :)

shannon_miller72@yahoo.com

A Woman With A Purpose Definitely Worth Sharing!!!!

2011-11-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ok.... so the Holidays are upon us and there is so much to do! We all have that list of people to buy gifts for and I want to share what one amazing woman is doing and how it can change not only your Christmas but that of so many others.
Kelly over at My Overthinking is doing a give away every day this month. More than being just a giveaway, every single one she is doing highlights a family that is fundraising for something. Currently you can learn about these and how they are changing the world:

and

(I have these and they are beautiful!)

So...go over and visit Kelly, everyday! It will be SO worth your time!!!!

You can reach her blog by Clicking here!

How did I get so blessed?

2011-10-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I get to live life with these crazy wonderful ones!

This was taken at Doug's work picnic last month...

Oh Mama It's A Miracle!!!

2011-10-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

"Oh Mama, It's A Miracle!!!"

Those are the exact words out of Ravenna's mouth when I showed her that people are donating money to help her bring food and Bibles to the orphanage...

It's a Miracle.

It goes far beyond that too,

little girls in her class are giving up some of their own hair "pretties",

making hairbows,

jumping up and down excited about blessing the kids in Baja.

All they can talk about whenever I see them excited to be God's hands in showing these girls that they are beautiful....

Emails coming in from grown ups around the world itching to help too...

makes me cry just looking at the growing pile.

It just doesn't get more beautiful than that.

So we've changed the name of Ravenna's blog to

"Kids blessing Kids"

(adults welcome too!)

anyone who wants to join it is totally welcome

Just send me an email :)

shannon_miller72@yahoo.com

Help us bless these awesome orphans!!!!!

2011-10-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again....

crazy stores are putting up Christmas decorations...

and we are pulling out our packing list for Mexico....

Because these cheeks

Are needing some more kissing!

and we are dying to get back down there to be with them.

As we have started talking about heading south,

Ravenna has started scheming again :)

I love this girl's heart so much.

We are still doing Operation Notebook and have hundreds of school notebooks to bring down with us to help the school

But Ravenna has a plan of her own...

You might remember last year that she handmade hundreds of paper airplanes

to throw a paper airplane party for the orphans,

and raised enough money to single-handedly support two orphans for a year.

(You can read about it Here)

Yes, her wheels have been turning.

You see, one of the children that she is sponsoring has become so dear to our hearts.

She is only a little older than Ravenna and had just come into the orphanage when we were there.

She had been found, living on the streets, digging through garbage, begging for food.

She was struggling because she had not lived inside before, had not been to school before, had not lived with rules before...

and had the biggest most beautiful smile I think I have ever seen.

...and she had very short hair.

Not by choice.

But because of lice...

when she came in her hair had to be cut short so they could get all of the lice out.

So....

in comes Ravenna's plan.

We have been getting updates every few months,

and our sweet friend's hair is growing,

it is beautiful!

...and that got Ravenna to thinking, and planning.

She has decided that what she would like to do to care for these friends at the orphanage this year is to throw a beauty parlor party!

She said she wants to show them that God can make even the hardest thing into something beautiful.

She wants them to know they are beautiful

and that God made them that way.

( her picture of the beauty parlor party...notice all the hairbows!)

...not kidding you, this is my little girl's heart.

So...

She is working hard, cutting and tying (which are not so easy at 7 years old!)

Hundreds of hair ribbons for the girls!

As a reminder that they are beautifully made.

and she wants to make sure that the boys are not left out :)

So next she wants to learn how to make friendship bracelets for them.

But, she keeps saying, "Mama these kids really need food, and they need Bibles, can we help them with those too?"

So this is where you all come in....

Wanna bless some beyond amazing kids? Help fill their bellies and let them know that they are beautiful and loved beyond compare?

I'll leave it open ended :)

You can make hair ribbons, friendship bracelets, notebooks or you can sponsor Ravenna as she cuts and ties and plans

to bless these kids who are so dear to all of our hearts.

Feel free to email me shannon_miller72@yahoo.com

Ravenna's blog has been updated and there is a Chip In over there for anyone who is interested!

You can find it Here

Thanks for encouraging my little girl and blessing some amazing kids!

**** I forgot to add that Ravenna is making very sure that we send some of this to her orphanage in China and Georgia's as well, she wants to make sure her 'buddies' know that they are loved too!!!!*********

Updates!!!!!!

2011-10-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

So...we are finally settling back into 'normal' life :) It is cozy in our little house while leaves swirl in the wind outside. The kids declared it a "do nothing" day and I am loving it! Thanks so much for praying for Ravenna's appointment and for our friends. we have great news on both fronts!

we were in such a fog for Ravenna's appointment but the Hematologist was super prepared! She came in with a whole list of the tests they have run and talked us through it all. Basically we went from the last appointment where they said her blood disorder was rare and serious to them now saying it is mild to moderate. They still do not know exactly what it is and we will do a few more tests to try to determine it but she said, "this should not curtail your life at all". She needs to avoid contact sports and we do need to watch for muscle, brain and internal bleeding but not joint bleeds! We finally feel like we have a handle on what is happening and what to look for and it is such a relief!

Dressing up like Parker!!!!

Our friend Andrew made literally a miraculous recovery and the day after the last post he was taken off the ventilator and breathing on his own! He is home now and recuperating in his own cozy house!

It is amazing after you walk through a storm how wonderful the calm feels!!!!

God carried us all the way and we are beyond thankful!

The beauty of community...

2011-10-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

   ...What a week it has been. I feel wear to the bone and not sure how to put all I am feeling into words but I am going to try because. I don't want to miss this. I want to etch it on my soul never to be forgotten. This has been a week of deep grief and fear as we walked alongside our friends, stood bedside as our stalwart firefighter fought for life, his very breath being taken for him by machines. It has been a week of chaos chasing 6 (yes 6) children age 7 and under around our house, praying over them, filling them up with kisses the best we could to try to be the arms of their Mama and Daddy. Those things in themselves are so immense but at the end of this week, still knee deep in the journey...it is not the thing that stands out the most.
    About a year ago we took a little risk and joined a community group at our church. After sitting in the pews for a few years and volunteering here and there we felt God calling us deeper. This little group formed, a handful of families feeling a similar tug at their hearts and a need for a space where our children could go while we met each week. It felt akward at first, not really knowing each other, personalities, ages and lifestyles all across the map but we all committed to showing up each week and seeing what happened. What has happened? Staggering beauty. Life more rich than I could have dreamed. Life and community the way I feel like the Bible tells us to live.
    It did not happen all at once. We actually really struggled for awhile. We had curriculum that went awry, childcare issues, fumbled through finding something new to study. But we all kept showing up, kept listening to and praying for one another, kept seeking the Lord. Then summer came and we decided to take the time off, to meet in the Fall. After a week or so some of us began to talk, there was a big hole in our life without this group. Somehow, through those weekly meetings we had become close, so close that something was missing when we were not meeting together. So...we opened our home :) Started having potlucks, hangouts that turned into awesome stay up really late, kids running around like maniacs, pouring our hearts out conversations while wiping up messes life. The roots began to go even deeper. We walked through death together, through fear together, through kids are sick can doctors make them well crying out to God together. We have dreamed together, celebrated together. Somehow this little group became my, "I need to call them very first when something happens" people....and I love them, deeper than I ever thought possible, deeper than I ever would have dreamed from those first few meetings. God is so good.
    Doug and have said almost nightly, "we are so blessed, so deeply blessed" he has described it as, "being surrounded in a great big bubble bath of love."...and he is not a mushy guy. As we have walked through fear of losing Georgia, worries about Ravenna's blood...so many times that I cannot even remember now, they have been right there.
   Then, last week tragedy struck our group in a way we never would have dreamed. Andrew and Lucy have been a part of this group from the very beginning. Just the night before Lucy had been at small group talking about how crazy Andrew was for riding his lawnmower while having pneumonia. Just that same night we had prayed for him. Then Monday Lucy called Andrew was at the hospital, then another call came, he was on the ventilator. It is hard to write about it even now. So Doug headed in and we said we would do anything we could to help.
   This last week has been crazy hard. We have run back and forth between watching kids and being bedside at the hospital, weeping and praying on the way home. Watching our friends, wishing there was more we could do...but that is not all of the story. We scooped up their kids bringing them into our home...and our community group scooped us up. Immediately people were at our door helping to bath kids, feed kids, wash our dishes, you name it they were just there. Knocks started coming on our door, community group friends with food, toys from their children's rooms, clothes from their children's drawers, you name, they brought it. All friends with little budgets dropping everything and doing anything to serve. The next morning we realized our micrwave had broken. Not having time to go and get a new one (with 6 children in tow) we wrote on facebook asking to borrow one. My friend Joyce unplugged her own microwave and brought it to us! Then, other friend's parents who we have not met went out and bought us a new one...that night as we were in the chaos of feeding kids another friend showed up and started washing dishes and as I turned around yet another friend had walked in and was putting on her apron and pitching in to help. The list goes on and on....
....and it is just staggeringly beautiful. I feel so humbled and so loved and keep thinking "this must be what Jesus was talking about" when he said:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

We took one of the greatest risks ever last year when we loaded up the kids that Sunday night to go and check out a community group. My heart is so deeply grateful that we listened and leapt. Because of it I am learning that life that is real, bumps, discomfort and all far surpasses on that is safe and comfortable. We have been able to serve our friends because we are surrounded by those carrying us, warpping their very lives around ours, being Jesus to us and it is beyond beautiful.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:2-5

Please pray....

2011-10-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am again asking for prayer :)

Our friends really need prayers. Andrew and Lucy are some of our very best friends. We love them like family, our kids are like siblings. Last week Andrew (the dad) started having a cough, they treated him for pnuemonia but Monday he really started to struggle. They went to the hospital and he went into full respiratory failure. He is now in ICU on a ventilator and the doctors have no idea why. He does not have pnuemonia. They just got back 7 weeks ago from Ethiopia from adopting their son so the doctors are testing everything they can think of and are wondering if he picked up something there. It has been 4 days. They need answers, they need to know what is causing this so they can treat it. We are very scared, we love them deeply. He is a man with a heart of gold who loves God, loves orphans, is a fire fighter and pours his life out for those around him. He and his wife have literally been there for every major thing that has happened in our life in the last few years. They are the shoulder we cry on and the ones who scoop up the kids, bring us food, come and help...have I mentoined that we love them? Can you please pray for them? For answers. For their 3 children. We are watching them a bunch, trading off with Grandma and Auntie trying to keep them busy and preoccupied (They are 6, 3 and 3). There is a prayer gathering at our church at 6 pm tonight.

Also, I feel selfish even mentioning this in light of all that is going on with our friends but.

Today is a big day for us. We finally have our meeting with Ravenna's Hematologist. They have said that they just don't know what is causing her blood clotting disorder thus cannot treat it, only the symptoms. So far the only thing we have is some powder to sprinkle on small cuts and scrapes to help form a scab....well, that is fine day to day but we need more answers. What if there is an accident? What do we tell an ER team? What if she hits her head? She is possibly prone to internal bleeding...that kind of thing. The good news is it is at the same hospital as Andrew, just one floor down. SO we can go and be with them afterwards.
My mind is in a total fog. We have been waiting for this appointment for months. It is an appointment where we need to be proactive and to ask a lot of questions and I am so worried we will forget something.

We just need more answers than we have in both situations. I know that the Lord has those answers, could you pray?

Because Christmas is Coming and children need homes!!!!!!!

2011-10-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

OK...so I have had a goal for a long, long time and life has thrown a few (ahem heart surgery) things in the way, I am finally getting my hiney in gear. I have updated the An Adoption Place links. There are a ton of AWESOME families fundraising to help bring their children home.

What better way to shop for Christmas than to help children come home!

Go and take a look!

I am still working on adding more but seriously it is such a JOY to browse through these sites...such an encouragement to see families stepping out in faith to bring children home!
Are you fundraising??? Please, please let me know I would love to help promote your fundraisers!!!

Playin Adoption!

2011-10-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

These are "official" Chinese documents...

So today after school Ravenna and her friend went off to play while I cuddled with Georgia. Pretty soon they came back and in a gentle voice Ravenna asked, "Little girl do you want to be adopted?"

At first Georgia said, "No"

Ravenna said, "That's alright...first I need to do paperwork anyways..."

I wasn't sure what would happen next but she scurried off,

and brought back this....

She put it in my 'mailbox'

Can you read it?

It says,

"Ravenna to Shanine adoption when?"

Then she said, "Wait, I have more paperwork to do!"

and came back with this...

Again in my 'mailbox'

It says,

"I am going to tace care of her I am good from Ravenna"

and once again she ran off to do more 'paperwork'

and came back with this!!!!!

She keeps bringing back her 'children' (yes she went through the adoption process twice) to show me what a good job she is doing taking care of them.

Here's the proud Mama and her babies...

Man I love these girlies!

**** She just came in to tell me the 'story of how she got her children****

It goes like this...

"God blest me with grate childrin. and he blest me by leting you...

"...give me my childrin. He maed me blest whith..."

"...them. God is graet and he is asume. I love him."

"He is the best God ever! I like him he is fun!"

speechless...

A Few of My Favorite Things!

2011-09-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

Life is so fun and so full and SO good right now...I just want to soak it all up with all that I am. Yes, the sink is full of dishes, there is a pile of laundry almost as tall as I am...but all that matters little when I get to share life with these guys!

This little one keeps thriving more and more running big distances and just full of life like never before!

Oh the depth and beauty of her heart...it is stunning.

and the way they love each other. I told them to pose for a sister picture and this is what they picked!

Double trouble!

Oh yes and oh so spicy!

How did I get so blessed?

Oh I love them so!

and where do I begin with the men in my life????

They bring me absolute joy!

Because it is so good just to laugh...

2011-09-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

We had 2 good friends (age 3 and 6) over for a sleepover last night. Parker and his buddy slept up in his bunkbed together. In the morning Doug asked the little boy how he slept. He looked kinda bummed and said,
" Oh not so good...I was hoping to get lucky last night... but I didn't."

After a pause and a smirk Doug asked what "getting lucky meant"....
Thankfully, his response was "I was hoping to stay up all night playing legos but I fell asleep."

Oh how I love having kids in my life!!!!!

Girl Unfettered!

2011-09-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Miss Georgia Mei is blooming...it is astonishing to watch. She is running and not having to lay down and rest, leaping and jumping and climbing with a confindence I have not seen before. Her whole countenance just radiates vitality in a way I have not seen in her. I stand amazed, speechless as my little girl is more alive than I have EVER seen her. I swear she has grown already. She has not had one "funny-boom-boom", her little lips and fingers are pink, pink, pink. Even her face and eyes look more vibrant. The change is truly astonishing. I had no idea it could be this way. I feel so incredibly thankful in every speck of my soul that we get to see her thriving like this....unfettered for the first time!
...and it makes me ponder many times a day, where are the places that I might be shackled? The places that I just avoid thinking about and go about my day functioning but weighed down, making it but not thriving. I find myself asking God to search me, to show me, to free me from those things that pull at and fetter me causing me to walk and run weary and faint.
Because He wants to free us.
As a parent, watching my little girl try so hard to do everything while bound by lack of oxygen, I found myself begging for an answer, a way to free her. Isn't that probably how God feels? He sees us trying so hard, carrying such burdens, gasping for air...and yet, He became the answer. We do have a way. It is our choice and He begs us to surrender those burdens so we too can thrive unfettered...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2-4

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

A Portrait of Healing...

2011-09-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Sometimes the road to healing is instantaneous and sometimes it is a journey...

We are so spoiled because we get to soak up the love of this little one along the way!

This hung in her hospital room...

Filling her full of kisses...

We are so blessed...

She is a treasure beyond words

a her giggle absolutely fills any room she is in!

even when she has goofy juice in her system :)

deep phone conversation with Grandpa...

Miss Georgia resting after her long battle (you can read about it here)

Popsicles just never lose their appeal

I cannot even begin to describe how good it felt to hold her again...

snuggles are healing in their own right

patting Daddy's back to let him know everything was ok...

wait for it...

crazy bedhead kisses :)

loaded into the wagon to go home

conked out before we even left the room!

What better medicine than big sister filling Mom & Dad's bed with stuffies to sleep with!

That radiant smile coming back!

Relaxing the next day...

Taking in some good literature!

The best things ever, no blue lips after the bath!

and so far no "funny-boom-booms" for this princess!

Thanks to everyone who prayed, it literally carried us through!

Barfight anyone???

2011-09-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am going to try to do a longer update and edit some photos today but we have a rip-roaring cold running through our house. Miss Georgia is doing well with the exception of her right eye sweeling almost shut last night for no reason...so this morning she looks like she has been in a bar fight or something! Other than that her spirits are good, she went back to preschool yesterday! She continues to have pain in her knee/foot and has not shown any interest in running but I am hoping time will heal that up.
   The best thing ever has been taking her out of the bath. Miss Georgia loves the bath! She has been taking about 3 a day for the last 2 days :) In the past her lips and fingers were always blue/purple when she got out of the bath or pool or anytime she got cold...the first time I pulled her out of the bath I could not believe it, they were perfectly bubblegum pink!!! She even noticed and spent a few minutes admiring her pretty lips and fingers in the mirror!
   Also...so far...NO funny boom booms!
    We are still tired but praising God for the healing He is bringing to our little girl. Thanks so much for your prayers!!!!!

Georgia throwing us for yet another loop....

2011-09-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

Yep. I am going to have more gray hairs than my grandma pretty soon....Georgia has spiked a fever and her hands and face are swollen up huge. They think she is having an allergic reaction to the dye injected into her heart. The Cardiologist has told us to give her 20mg (4x the normal dose) of Benadryl and watch her closely...would you mind praying again?

Jumping off furniture....

2011-09-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

I think Miss Georgia Mei has turned the corner, she keeps trying to jump off the back of the couch and has become a doggie singing around the kitchen....it makes this Mama's heart happy to see! Now I need to keep her from doing too much! Her knee is still hurting her but seems to be looking more like an injury from being restrained so hard during recovery (not sure what to do about it). We are still watching it but the Cardiologist is feeling comfortable with us doing that from home.
Thank you for praying, I promise I have a ton of pictures soon!

Where we are at...

2011-09-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

   So...Miss Georgia is sleeping peacefully in her bed all tucked in with a million horsie and blankies by her big sister who also read her a goodnight story. She still may have a blood clot forming under her right knee. Basically what happened is that she has started complaining of pain in her knee. It is the knee on the side of the incision and also the of the leg that had to be restrained for so many hours. So, it could have been damaged a little in the restraining process (she was trying to flip over again and again), or a clot might be forming. She keeps saying that the pain is getting "more owie" but so far her leg is not hotter or colder than her other leg and it is not swelling a ton. So the Cardiologist felt comfortable having us monitor her from here and we will re-asses in the morning. I'm praying hard that she wakes up pain free in that knee! She kept telling me today "I walk slowly today Mama because of my owies. I no spin or jump" Which I was thankful for.
    We are all beyond exhausted and feel like we have brains filled with molasses but thankful that we are still home in our own beds with our beautiful treasures of kids.
   Thanks again for your prayers...

Back home...

2011-09-13T16:58:00.001-07:00

We are monitoring Georgia from home tonight with her Cardiologist on call. Hoping for a non-eventful night and a knee that is better in the morning!

Pray for Miss Georgia again...

2011-09-13T14:16:00.001-07:00

We are on our way to the doctor soon because of possible blood clots. Her knee has been hurting all morning and is getting worse. Pray that the doctor here in Hood River will see perfectly what is going on and how to treat it....we are exhausted but know that God is carrying us....

God is so good...

2011-09-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Your love, oh Lord Reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness stretches to the sky...

Third Day

I sit here tonight at a loss for words as to how to even begin to describe today. It feels like it must have been years but was only one day. So the bottom line is that Georgia's surgery was successful, she even looks more pink, and God was so very faithful to be right there with us through the roller coaster. My heart is welling up with thankfullness while also feeling battered and bruised by all that happened on this very long day.

Georgia's surgery went as planned and she was stable through all of it. Soon after we got to the recovery waiting room a tech came and asked that one of Georgia's parents come back with him. As I got back there I could see Georgia's beautiful black hair and see her writhing body. A big part of a cath procedure is that the patient HAS to lay flat on their back for at least 4 hours without moving the affected leg. Well, Miss Georgia was terrified, head tossing, eyes wildly searching, screaming, kicking and tossing her body with all of her strength. It was taking three grown adults to even try to hold her down.

I got right up to her head, cheek to cheek and whispered through her tear soaked hair, "Mama's here, it's ok..." She looked wildly for me and focused for a second but was just too out of it to fully understand. Her little voice was hoarse and scratchy and she was coughing like a seal. They fed more pain meds into her IV and within minutes she calmed into a light sleep.

A few minutes later, she screamed out and writhed again and all I could think to do was sing, anything I could think of which happened to mainly be her favorite VBS songs that we listened to over and over on the way in. As I sang, alarms began to go off and I watched the screens as her SATs (oxygen levels) dipped...80...70....60....40. She turned purple and there began to be a ton of people around the bed as they fed even more pain meds into her IV. Ever so slowly she once again clamed and once again her SATs edged upwards.

Again, a few minutes later she awoke and rapidly those SATs dipped. I saw the nurse begin to grab the bags off the wall. If you have been in a hospital room you know the ones I'm talking about, the ones that are only for the really big emergencies. I watched as she opened them and laid them on the bed in quick reach as Georgia's SATs dropped again....50....30.....all the while singing "Jesus loves me" loud and offkey, praying in between verses...as another nurse made a panicked phone call and yet more doctors came and stood around my little girl...SATs at 20%, me signing with my cheek pressed against her purple one begging God to make those numbers go back up.I honestly felt like we were on the verge of losing Georgia. I don't know how long this went on, this dance of meds and nose diving. At one point the nurse argued with the anethesiologist and said she refused to be the one to put more medication into Georgia's little body. I honestly do not know who won that argument, I was too busy holding Georgia down. They dosed her up one more time with anti-anxiety meds and I ran out (while I knew she would be sleeping) to update Doug and have him ask people to pray.

Back in the recovery room the dance continued but they switched to anti-anxiety meds which allow her to rest for a little longer between de-SATs. They said I could go and get Doug so after another big dose of meds I ran out to get him. That is when I updated the blog and facebook asking people to pray. We came back to find her sleeping peacfully. She slept for about 30 minutes then opened her eyes and for the first time looked at me and said, "Mommy." It was night and day, our little girl was there! She began to drink for the first time and to slowly speak a little bit. I do not know what changed except that we had people praying. She slowly progressed from there and before long they were taking her upstairs to her room for a popsicle.

From that point on, it was as if Georgia was blooming back into her beautiful loving self full of cuddles and "I love yous"

I honestly don't know what to make of it all and you know what, I think that is ok. There are a few things that I do know that make figuring it all out pale.

I know that God was so very present in that room. I know that as I held my daughter down, my hand literally over her heart...all that filled my vision was that picture my friend told me about of God's hand covering Georgia's heart. It literally filled everything so that I could not give in to fear. There is a scripture that says perfect love casts out fear and through all of that craziness today I felt that perfect love from God deep in my bones.

I also know that there is power in the name of Jesus. There was a reason that I sang "Jesus loves me" over and over. I tried other songs, some of her favorites like "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "The Wheels on the bus" and it was as if she could not even hear me. But every. single. time I sang Jesus' name she responded, she turned, she calmed a little bit. I am not kidding, it was every single time.

I also know it was not a medication that brought her out of herr nosedive. They medical team was doing the same thing over and over in hopes of pulling her out of it only to watch her dip back in. The only thing that changed was asking people to specifically pray. I swear, it was almost right after we sent out prayer emails, and on facebook & the blog that she began to turn around.

So tonight, I am exhausted. But more than that...I desire to get down on my knees and worship the One, the ONLY One who got us through today. I am amazed at how closely we have been carried, how deeply the God of the Universe cares for our little girl with the broken heart.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:17-18

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful of comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp you infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of you

I stand, I stand in awe of you

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you
- Hillsong

Please pray...

2011-09-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Georgia is out of surgery but throwing us for a loop. She is highly (like crazy they have never seen before) anxious and screaming, her oxygen drops into the 20s when this happens. They just doped her up with more anti-anxiety meds and she is sleeping. I am going back in now.

In surgery now...

2011-09-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

   Well little Miss Georgia is in surgery now. She did really well this morning so thank you for your prayers! She left us pretty groggy and ready to blow up that big green bubblegum flavored balloon...there just are not words to describe the feeling of knowing someone is operating on your baby's heart. I want to rush in and protect her somehow and yet she is completely in the hands of others but mainly in the hands of God.
   While we were waiting to head to surgery my sweet little girl wrapped her arms around me and whispered, "I love you the most, forever and ever...." Oh how I love our little girl and cannot wait to see her again...
   Thanks for you continued prayers...

Prayers for Georgia's Heart Surgery...

2011-09-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Sunday evening and Georgia's little pink polka dotted bag is all packed up with jammies and slippers. We stuffed her with as much cheese and peanuts as she would eat and I guess it means that we are as ready as possible for tomorrow morning.

There are some things that I do not want to forget that I am so incrediblly thankful for:

* We are absolutely surrounded by friends who love us and love Georgia (including many of you!). We feel so prayed for, cared for and our bags are loaded with little goodies from friends to help Georgia's time to go as well as possible in the hospital...seriously, Doug talks all the time about feeling like we are surrounded in a big bubble bath and deep friendship, we are so incredibly blessed.

* A dear friend stopped me at church today. She has been praying for Georgia and she said that God had showed her a picture this morning...this makes me cry just typing it. It was of Georgia laying on a bed and His hand was covering her chest right over her heart. It is such a reminder that God loves our daughter and He is the author of her story and no one else. In telling my mom this tonight she said, "He has been in charge all along, otherwise we would never have even gotten her out of China alive." These words are so true and that is where I choose to fix my eyes and my heart tomorrow.

* Georgia is a gift, one of the greatest in my life. Every single day that I get to spend with her is precious. No one numbers her days but God and no one will know how many those are but I cannot even put into words how deeply this gift resonates in my soul. I will pour her full of kisses tomorrow for sure!

* God is the one that has to be strong tomorrow, not me. In my own power I could not do any of tomorrow, not buckle Georgia into her car seat, not kiss her very worried siblings goodbye, not check her in, hand her off or let anyone touch her sweet little body. But it is not my job to be strong enough. It is my job to be real, to surrender my heart, my fears and my daughter to the One who made her perfectly.

So....

I do have specific prayer requests. What they are doing is going in through her artery (in her leg) and then up into her heart to "open up her pulmonary valve" in hopes that creating better blood flow to her lungs that will allow her to grow and run and play better. Oh how I long for her to play unfettered by a struggling heart!

Would you pray for:

* The anesthesia. This sounds strange but the anesthesiologist called us tonight and talked for awhile. Basically, because of her Tetralogy of Fallot (even though it has been repaired) she is at a greater risk for having issues while under anesthesia. She said there will be a special team there and special tools & medications to help "pull her out" if she starts to throw them for a loop.

* Her surgery starts at 11am and is planned to take 3-4 hours, then she has 6-8 hours of recovery.

* For the cath lab tools. These tools must weave inside her artery very delicately all the way up and into her heart, there is very little room for error. Please pray that they go precisely where they are supposed to go. A friend prayed for us today and asked God to use His angels to guide the tools. I had never though that angels can be microscopic but God is God and He could do that!

* That they would be able to perfectly open her pulomnary valve, that the dacron flaps would work perfectly and if there are any other issues going on, that they would see them and be able to fix them.

* For recovery! Oh I cannot wait to get to this point! Because she is a Tet patient and has been struggling, there is a higher risk that her heart will struggle after the surgery. Would you pray for perfect rhythms and pressures?

* Also for recovery...my little pumpkin who does not sit still for more than a minute, who loves to crawl around as a kitty, jump off furniture as a frog and kick her legs in the air as a horsie has to lay flat for 6-8 hours after surgery. She then needs to "lay low" for a few days at home...please pray that she will somehow know that she needs to do this.

* For peace for all of us. I would be lying if I said that we were not battling with fear. We are. There is no getting around the fact that someone is putting tools into and doing things in my daughter's heart tomorrow. Also, Ravenna and Parker are worried about Georgia, Parker especially. He and I talked for a long time in his bed tonight, those big earnest eyes tearing up in fear of his little sister hurting. He wanted to know all of the specifics and what they would do and why. They are going to school as usual with grandma dropping them off and picking them up. Would you pray that they would be sweetly cared for by their friends and teachers?

We are bringin a computer and hopefully will be able to update during the day.

Thank you again for praying for my little girlie...it means the world to all of us!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

It's going to be ok right?

2011-09-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here in my quite house (kids at school!) getting ready to go and spend 3 days with a bunch of middle and high school students at an outdoor adventure camp :) I should be packing more than the million candy bars (hey, how can you counsel 8th grade girls without chocolate???) I have in my bag right now. I know that it will be good, it is such an honor to be there and to get to mentor these girls at school this year...
....but the days keep creeping eeirly closer to Monday. Logic tells me that everything should go fine with Georgia's surgery. It is so minor in comparision to her crazy open heart surgery a few years ago but I have to be honest that I am battling majorly with the "what ifs" today. What if this doesn't fix the problem, what if something goes wrong, what if....and the "hows" too..."how" can I hand her off yet again, "how" can I sit for four hours waiting while I know what they are doing to my precious little fighter's heart, "how" can I untangle all of the past memories with the reality of this surgery? I know in my mind that this is simpler but I need God to help my heart to get there too...so, for now I'm fixing my mind on this:

The LORD makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

and I just may eat a bunch of that chocolate too...

More soon....

2011-09-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my computer had to be re-vamped and I lost Picasa. I promise to be back soon! I have pictures galore from Parker & Georgia's birthdays and our backpacking trip. School started today and Georgia's surgery is monday so life is full but so very good....more soon!

Georgia and the mullet...

2011-08-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

So, we're getting ready to head out on our first every backpacking trip with the kids. Earlier today I was madly packing and heard Ravenna srceaming, "Emergency!!!!!" So I ran to the room to find Georgia sitting in a pile of hair...LOTS of hair and sheepishly hodly some scissors! It was bound to happen sometime but the child was sporting one sweet mullet!

The picture does not totally do it justice...she cut chunks from everywhere :)

Bangs right up at the hairline in spots...

My sweet friend Angie came to the rescue, even while 41 weeks pregnant!!!

and here is the new do!!!! Short short bangs to even it out, a bob to level out the chunks!

She's pretty proud and somehow it seems to fit her!!!!

The Plan for Georgia's Heart...

2011-08-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

We had our appointment with Georgia's Cardiologist today and have a plan. He was great and took a lot of time to answer our uestions. Basically, what he thinks is the problem is that Georgia's pulmonary valve (the one that regulates blood flow to the lungs) was really maformed at birth. He explained that instead of three moving flaps she basically had two "nubbins" and that in her original surgery they attached dacron to these to try to make a semi-functiong valve. For some reason it is not moving correctly. Instead of flapping open and closed it is creating a dome and letting very little blood through. So the blood that is getting through is, in his words, "shooting through like a fire hose" and causing her to be more tired etc.
So on Sept 12th she will go in for surgery. Via catheter they are going to try to open up the pulmonary valve some more in hope that it will function better and cause there to be less resistance. I am so glad after a whole year that we finally have some answers and hopefully a soluntion!!! But, at the same time I feel sick to my stomach about anyone doing anything in the heart of my tiny little girl.
Thanks so much for you prayers!

1 + 1= 3????? (or one cool way to help kids!)

2011-08-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Ok...the title of this is supposed to be 1 + 1 =3 but it keeps switching it!!!
So, it all started with a couple praying, asking God how they could somehow help these precious kids halfway around the world, how they could be a piece of what He was going to do in their lives. It all started with a couple willing to let go of that silly American dream that says we should keep every dollar for the things we "deserve." I do not know this couple well, and they want to remain ananymous but their heart absolutely radiate with Christ's love.
   So...a couple asking, praying, seeking and what comes outr of it???? Something so incredibly beautiful. They are matching every dollar donated to New Day Foster Home up to $5,000. Can you believe it? How incredible. These are normal people like you and me willing to give far beyond the comfortable for the sake of orphans halfway around the world...but the story is not over!
    So...a couple seeking and praying starts this fundraiser and another couple gets wind of it. they begin to seek and pray and guess what???? They, also anonymously are matching that $5,000. Do you get it? You donate $1, $10, $100 or more and it insantly becomes $3, $30, $300 for orphans at New Day so that they can have life saving surgeries and a chance at a family someday.
      How does it work? You just donate through this Chip In and watch as God does the miraculous through two couples just like you and me! Makes me teary just typing about it!
    So now it's your chance to ask, seek and pray about how God wants you to be a part of this awesome story!
Chip in is on the right of this post...ok, I'm having issues with the Chip In but you can go here to access it too!

What could be rarer than rare????

2011-08-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

    Well...I want to update on Ravenna but honestly it is a tough one to know what to do with. After her platelet aggregation last week we got a call from the Hematologist ( who is the TOP pediatric Hematologist for rare blood disorders in our state). This is what she said, "Well, I'm not sure if this will be good news or bad news to you but her platelets came back normal." I asked her what this meant. and she said, "Well, it means we are into something so rare and unusual that I need to talk with people more knowledgable than I am."
Seriously. I said, "We've tested every part of her blood now right?" and her answer as she laughed, "Just the easy ones."
   So she asked for some time because she is stumped. Ravenna's clotting time is still off so something is still wrong and right now if she were to get hurt we would not know how to treat her.
   I have no idea what to think. On one hand I am relieved because the main things they were testing for last week were severely lifespan limiting. So what does that mean for something even more rare? Is it even more serious? I have no idea.
   Please pray for our Hematologist and everyone looking at Ravenna's file, that they would have deep wisdom on how to proceed. Also for peace for us as we wait....

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

A Night to Remember...

2011-08-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

     There are so many things that I want to remember about serving the homeless with Ravenna for the first time...more than anything I want to remember that God is so faithful when we step out into what He is calling us to do. Ravenna continues to want to go and serve even when she found out that her very favorite thing, snowcones would be at the event Doug was taking the other kids to. My 7 year old said, "the snowcones will be there again...I am going to care for people without homes."
   As we were driving in I tried to explain a little bit about what she might see just to help her be prepared. I explained that being homeless meant that you did not have a home so, some people might be a little bit dirty or have messy hair because when you do not have a home it is not easy to find a shower. Also, I told her that some people might be missing teeth because it is expensive to go to the dentist. As I tried to think of what else to say, she held up a little pad and said, "I brought my paper and pen to draw them pictures because they might need something beautiful." and I began to see that God had far more planned for both of us than I could imagine. Stunned by the beauty of her heart and the truth of what she just said, we drove on.
    The beginning of the night was worship and getting set up in assignments. The Scripture they quoted was the exact same one I used to title my post about coming there with Ravenna, Isaiah 58! During this time she worked hard on her drawings, most of a cross with light shining from it...far more powerful than she probably knew. Then, she curled up in my lap and fell asleep.
    I wish I could say that she woke up all rosy and ready to go...but she didn't. She woke up hot and tired and grumpy. She tomped her feet and loudly said she wanted to go home, that she didn't want to serve anymore. As we headed to the spot under the bridge where we were to serve I had to almost pull her along! I prayed hard not knowing what to do, I did not want to force her to serve, did not want to overwhelm her but also knew that we were supposed to drive a friend home that was helping somewhere else so we could not leave. Partway there I pulled her aside and wrapped my arms around her and told her, "I love you so much and nothing will change that. You are welcome to be grumpy all night if you want but this is something we have committed to doing. What attitude you choose is between you and God and I will love you either way." I held her hand and continued walking.
       As we got to the bridge, the scene was amazing. There were about 60 volunteers setting up stations for food, clothes, haircuts, footwashing, toiletries, fingernail painting, popcorn and more. I would guess there were at least 100 homeless men and women already lining up for the stations. Because of Ravenna's stomping etc earlier we had missed out on signing up for a station, so we wandered around.
    Then, the fingernail polish station caught Ravenna's eye and all of a sudden it was me that was being pulled along! She sat right down next to a middle school aged girl, turned to me and said, "this is what I want to do!" So we stayed! Honestly, I wasn't sure how it was going to go. Who was going to want their nails done by a 7 year old? If I was homeless and had a chance once a week to get my nails done, I'm pretty sure I would pick the chair in front of one of the teenage girls further down the table. Ravenna happily began arranging the nail polish colors and painting her own nails when a woman came and sat down in front of her. The woman had on many layers of polish and began to slowly take it off. She and I chatted about her life, her kids, what she was doing now, and Ravenna just sat quietly checking out the nail polish. After about 10 minutes of this, out of the blue Ravenna spoke up and siad, "I'll take that nail polish off for you" to the woman in front of her. The woman was almost done but smiled and said, "What I would really like is for you to paint my nails. Would you do that?" I could not believe my ears! I stood behind Ravenna and mouthed "thank you" and the woman smiled. She said, "I have a grown daughter and this reminds me of when she was little, I would love to have her paint my nails."
       ...and paint she did. For an hour and a half Ravenna painted that woman's nails. She poured her whole heart into it, working meticulously to get each nail perfect. I'm not sure if she looked up once during the whole time. The woman and I kept chatting, now about her writing, how we each deal with stress, and Ravenna painted on. Bright red, then gold hearts, then more gold hearts and finally as she started the top coat she looked up and asked, "how much time do we have left?" Me, thinking she must be tired since it was almost 9:30 said, "Just a few more minutes." and my sweet girl said, "Oh no Mama, I want to do this all night long!"
     As it all wrapped up, my little girl flitted around with a broom, weaving through the groups of people gathering their things to go and find a spot to lay their head for the night.... a little fairy dancing right in the midst of the darkness sweeping her heart out to pick up every tiny speck because she knew that some would lay their heads right there that very night. She worked and worked far after other had laid their cleaning supplies down, right up until we were called to round up and pray for the night...and then she skipped and danced all teh way to the car.
    When I asked her what she thought she threw her arms up in the air and said, "I loved it!" and "when can we come again?"

     Once again, I am in awe of what God can do, what He wants to do, how He wants to mould all of our hearts and I find myself once again begging that He lay my life open to be used as He sees fit no matter what.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the LORD’s holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,

and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58: 6-14

God Outdid Himself!!!!

2011-08-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

It is really late, we are back from serving the homeless and I am in awe of how awesome it was for both Ravenna and I...I will write more later because, well it's really late :)
Thanks for praying!

Her light breaking forth like the dawn...

2011-08-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

For a few months now I have been praying about something. A couple of times I have said, "Really Lord? Really? Is she really ready for this?" Tonight we are stepping out to do this very thing. I have felt like I am supposed to ask Ravenna about going and serving the homeless with a ministry called Bridgetown Ministries. When I asked her fist response to going and seving people who have no home and sleep under the bridges in the city was, "Yes!". When I told her it meant being up really late and having to sit through an hour of training she still smiled and said, "Yes!" When she found out she would miss her favorite 'Families in the Park' event, I was so suprised when my little girl yet again said, "Yes! How soon can we go?" and turned around to tell her brother, "You get to go dance at the park and eat cotton candy but I get to go and serve the homeless!"...I was stunned. I have no idea what tonight will hold but we are jumping in with both feet to follow what God is obviously doing in Ravenna's heart. As I read Isaiah 58 today I found my heart again saying, "Lord this is what I want for our family far more than anything else." Faith that is deeply real, a relationship with God that is powerful, life on the very edge and full of miracles.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the LORD’s holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,

and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 58: 6-14

Pain and Healing....

2011-08-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

Miss Ravenna in the outfit she wore to her blood draw today!

     My heart is raw this afternoon as I write and churning over all this day has held so far. We had another blood draw for Ravenna and it was again brutally hard. She had to be restrained by 4 people, trying three different restraining methods before they could get the draw. What finally worked was her being forced to lay on her back, me pressed up cheek to cheek with my full weight over her torso, another grown woman fully laying on her legs and yet another pulling her arm straight and nother doing the draw...and she still was bucking enough to make it hard to get her arm still.
      I feel so broken on so many levels. My heart feels seared with the image of her screaming looking into my eyes, her tears wetting my cheeks as I kissed her cheeks, forhead, eyelids, everywhere saying over and over "I love you, I love you my baby". Then her not letting anyone near her after the draw, whimpering on the lab table, eye swollen from crying, pushing my hands away when I came to comfort her, then grasping them close if I moved away...pushing and clinging all at once. Finally her looking up with big wet beautiful eyes saying, "I want you to hold me" and scooping her up to melt into my arms... then spending another 30 minutes in the waiting room holding her as she still breathed sobbing breaths.

      As I was talkng with God about this blood draw yesterday, I heard Him whisper, "watch the whole picture." As I held her on that waiting room couch, I just could not understand what that could be.
    As her breathing slowed, I whispered in her ear, "let's go check out the gift shop." She leaned hard into my arms and nodded her head. As we wandered down the hall she pointed and in a voice so tiny and small said, "bubbles!" Up ahead was a volunteer in a crazy shark hat blowing ridiculously large bubbles. She inched her way over, still pressing almost all of her weight into me, clinging hard to my hand. He greeted us with a smile, showed us some crazy hats that she could have and mentioned there was a bracelet making table on the other side of the fish tank...and I saw her smile. Tears swam in my eyes as this sweet gesture began to bring some life back to my little girl.
       Then somewhere between the beads and the gift store a transformation happened. Where her little hand clung in grief to my arm, she began to lovingly rub her hand up and down it. The tiny frail voice was overtaken by giggles. Head back, laughing she would flit, twirl and skip her way down the hallway only to circle back and wrap her arms around me loudly claiming, "My Mama!" to anyone walking by. We found a courtyard and she ran, again twirling with arms open wide, head thrown back in joy as she giggled up to the sky saying, "I love you Mama!" and I again fought back tears...so astounded by what I saw.
      Then we played and ran and danced like crazy people around that courtyard, Mama and daughter just lost in love with each other.
      Driving home gave me time to think and pray about what happened today...and as crazy as it sounds, walls came down down in her heart today. Somehow in the midst of the pain and the fear and the trauma new trust began to bloom. Where I feared hurt would grow, something else sprouted instead. I think she began to somehow see a little more that I am her Mama and I will be there no matter how hard she kicks, how much she cries, how hard the task, how scary the moment...I will not let go, I will hold her and kiss her and tell her over and over that she is oh so loved.
     Isn't it the same with us? Sometimes it is through the pain and the darkness that we learn that God is not letting go. Because we all have built walls in our hearts, the places that we just do not want to go to, places we would rather avoid or hide, raw places we do not want to see. Sometimes it is in the times that we hate the most that the walls we have built start to come down. And then we start to get it. Sometimes it is after we have screamed and kicked and done everything we can to push Him away that we realize a little bit more just how much He loves us and will never, ever leave. He will stoop right down into our pain, our tears on His cheeks.
    It seems to be when we let Him begin to tear those walls down that His love and healing can come rushing in. We then begin to run and leap and dance with the joy free from the walls that held out that love.

     As I was finishing writing this, Ravenna snuck out of bed wrapped in her big pink blankie for "just one more hug and kiss." Then, tenderly placing her hands on my cheeks she kissed my cheeks, eyelids and forehead over and over and said, "I love you so much, past the moons and the stars, to all the planets, even pluto and waaaay past infinity to my every single day."....inexplicably, trust from hurt, healing from pain...God bringing healing in His timing and His way.

This third I will put into the fire;

I will refine them like silver

and test them like gold.

They will call on my name

and I will answer them;

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Zechariah 13:9

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—

Joel 2:25

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

weeping may stay for the night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Could you pray again?

2011-08-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

We have Ravenna's next blood draw tomorrow at 8:30. It is to test her platelet function...could you please pray? My hope had been that she could take anti-anxiety medication beforehand but for this test there can be no medications in her bloodstream. Pray for peace for my little girl.

Also, I just heard from a mom that is leaving this week to go to Morning Star to bring home her little girl! She is collecting donations to buy supplies for the children there (things like high nutrient formula that the heart babies need). You can read more Here and don't miss taking a peek at her beautiful children including little Clara who is coming home!!!!!

Beyond Important....

2011-08-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

You know those times in your life when something comes across your path and subtly alters everything? I read this a few days ago and cannot get it off my mind. I am in awe of this place, the hearts of those caring for babies there. When Georgia was literally dying in the orphanage someone sent us the link to Morning Star and they emailed back and forth with us trying to help in any way they could. This story feels so very familiar, you see we too were getting messages (through those who visited the orphanage) asking when, begging when were we going to come and get our baby girl, saying she was so sick and needed care. The orphanage loved her and knew that her time was short.
Now, as Lynsay writes all I can see is my little girl's face....we have one life friends, how do we want to live it?

From Lynsay at Stinky Tofu and Other Things they live in China and care for the frailest little precious ones because they are too valuable to be forgotten.

Did we tarry?

This blog has been silent for awhile, I know that.

After receiving an email a week or so ago about a post that I had done that encouraged someone I have been praying for God to give me something to post.

Sure, I could be posting pictures and stuff, but, why start now, I have never been good at that before and it really isn't the direction my blog has gone, so I have been praying, and just not worrying about it.

But this morning I finally have something, though it isn't the post I wanted to write.

Bill and I have had to seriously talk about the future of MS. There are huge obstacles in our way, one of the most serious obstacles right now is finances.

You, or most of you, know us. You know that we have chosen to live on what God provides and believe in faith that when He said to seek FIRST His kingdom, that He WOULD provide the rest.

Not provide a little, or provide some, but provide it all.

It is one reason why we have said over and over we would trust God and not trust men, that we would remain silent unless God told us to say something, in regards to specific finances.

And God has never let us down. Not once.

But I will not say that it has always been easy.

We are not overflowing with money. We have very little committed money that comes on a regular basis. Our costs are huge, right now, with one home, and 10 babies, our costs are huge.

We have watched costs almost double in the last year, and there is nothing we can do. We cut corners where we can, but we will not cut corners on the care of the kids.

So we have had to talk very seriously about what we are going to do, what Morning Star is going to do, what the future holds.

And every time we talk seriously the only solution we can come up with is not to close, or change what we are doing somehow, but to get bigger. The need is huge.

We need a second home so that we can take more babies and so that we can keep the very sick babies separate from the healthy ones.

We need people willing to go to Uganda and serve for a longer period of time.

We need finances to start both a home their and build a well.

The more we talk and pray, the more we are convinced that this is the right thing, no matter what our bank account looks like.

But this is where it gets hard. We have talked, prayed, talked some more.

For the last 2 weeks an orphanage director has been calling us every day asking when we could take a little girl whose heart is very similar to Luke's.

He has been telling us that she will die there, that we must take her.

Every day, "please, take this baby."

And we were, but there were so many things.

Because we don't have second house we don't have a place to put her, so we told them to wait.

But they kept calling. Every day.

Finally we arranged a way to bring her up, one of the kids was going to leave so that we could bring baby Zhou to the house.

She would be here this week.

When I asked yesterday what was going on, why she wasn't there yet, I was told that they couldn't find train tickets, they were all sold out.

I thought that was a little strange considering nothing is going on this time of year and even thought perhaps it was for the best, perhaps it would give us a chance to put everything together and get the other kids all sorted out before she arrived, perhaps even make some headway on a second home.

And then this morning I received and email that said she died last night.

Precious little 2 month old girl, with a broken heart, died.

And I just can't help but know that though it was not in my control, that God allowed these events to happen and even chose to take her home, she died because we kept saying she had to wait.

But what is so difficult to deal with is that the circumstances that made us have to say wait, wait wait, could have been different.

If only we had a second place, if only we had the money to pay double the salaries we pay right now, if only, if only, if only.

I know the truth, I know that God brought her home, but all I can think about is that I did nothing, I could have done something.

I have to say, having been home for the last few weeks and attending church on Sunday, I have looked around the churches at the masses and wondered, how many of us are doing anything?

Not so many I think.

A precious girl died today, and she was so precious, because I could do nothing.

But I could do nothing because the church, not everyone but on a large scale, is more concerned about getting their 1 pump, skinny, extra foam, vanilla latte this morning, and even on Sunday mornings, than the fact that children are dying all around this world with not one single person holding them, loving them, praying for them, caring if they live or die.

Maybe I'm cruel for saying it, or maybe we have all become so apathetic about these things, and maybe even about the state of our church and society. If we don't care, perhaps it makes it easier to deal with the fact that we have dead churches, and a society who would rather serve and advocate for our individual self interests and self identity than care about each other.

My commitment to trust God has not changed, but the knowledge that WE, you and me, could have done more, could be doing more, is not far from my heart and mind.

I will stand before my God one day and answer for the things I have done, and the things I have not done.

When He was hungry, did I give Him food? When He was cold, did I give Him clothes? When He was thirsty, did we give Him something to drink? When He was sick, did we care for Him?

I will stand before God, and so will you. And we will answer these questions.

Maybe I will have to answer for why we couldn't take baby Zhou, why we kept saying to wait instead of come, and maybe so will the church.

I don't know, all I know is today a baby died because I couldn't help. In fact, the reality is that something like every minute, I don't know the statistics, a child will die because no one is helping them.

And we will have to answer for why we didn't, and why we chose to make our cars, and boats, and video games and vanilla lattes more important than caring for Jesus.

I'm not here to say that we can't have those things, but if we are choosing them, over the things of Christ, then we can't have those things.

I have had my fair share of lattes and other good things in the past few weeks, and it wasn't wrong of me to have them, but I would give them up for the rest of my life if it meant I could change the life of even one child.

Don't let the Sunday morning routine of going to church define who you are in Christ. Let the Bible define who you are in Christ. He told us to do so much more than to just think about Him 1 morning a week, He told us we are His body, that means we are His Hands, His Feet, and sometimes a lot of other things on the body, but it means we must do something, we must show His love to this world that is broken, show His love to children who are dying.

So I find myself on my knees begging that God would let me do something, anything to come alongside and make more room possible for this family to be able to care for more of these kids....because every child deserves the chance to thrive like our baby girl giggling in the hallway right now.
Thoughts? Ideas? Wanna join me?

You can read more about Morning Star and the amazing things that they do Here

2 Years Ago Today...

2011-08-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Grandmas and I stepped into a gutted, dark building in China with wires hanging from the ceiling and water puddling on the floor to meet one of the greatest gifts in my whole life. Miss Georgia Mei.

The building

Our bright eyed and very frail little girl...

First kiss! How I had longed to know the feel of kissing her sweet head...

and begged that God would keep her heart healthy enough to get her home

My 17 pound almost 2 year old darling...

So much joy and loss all jumbled together

Holding my baby girl for the first time...

Falling asleep in my arms after meeting Doug over Skype

It was a journey that changed everything and my heart will never be the same...

God is so faithful and so deeply good,

Far beyond anything I ever dreamed...

Is God calling you to risk in some way? Whispering to your heart? Run, jump, leap at the chance because He will catch you every time. He longs to show us more of His heart and life will be fuller, richer, deeper than you could ever imagine.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Faithful (or a Memorial Box story I don't want to forget)...

2011-08-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

                   “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:10-12

So there we sat...eye to eye and not sure what to do, Doug & I last Thursday morning. We had just gotten word that his work was removing his stipend (because we had moved to Oregon). This meant $200 had to come out of our budget somewhere. Where could it come from? We hardly eat out, we don't buy drive-through coffee, clothes from thrift stores, we had already cut in every spot we could think of. The one spot where we could draw from was giving and we just did not want to do that, we did not want our needs to stop filling the bellies of those who need it so much more. So what could we do?
      We decided to wait and held each other and prayed, "Lord, you know our hearts...we don't want to stop giving but we don't know what to do, please show us the way."
     ...three hours later, I'm making dinner and the phone rings. It is the kids school calling to see if I would be interested in interviewing to be the librarian! The pay??? Would cover exactly our need plus what would be needed to have Georgia in preschool there too.
    I am utterly amazed and so excited to step in to what God has for me there. I never in a million years thought I would be a librarian :) But I love kids and I love books and I absolutely love the school. I get to be in my kids school, in their classrooms (which will be all in a row next to each other)...God is SO good. He does it, He really, really does take care of every need when our hearts are poured out to Him.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows...

Matthew 10:29-31

Some big steps forward...

2011-08-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well, we do not have concrete answers yet but some plans to figure stuff out...

Our precocious girl with my friend Lucy (who is on a plane right now to Ethiopia to bring home her son!!!)

With Miss Georgia we finally heard back from the Cardiologist! As we heard two weeks ago, her heart rhythms are normal (which is great) but they are going to take another echo to look at her pulmonary valve. I am SO thankful for this because all along I have felt like this might be the issue. We were told by the surgeon after her open heart surgery that her pulmonary valve was the worst he had ever seen and that the repair he had done on it would probably not last much longer than getting her through recovery. That was almost 2 years ago...so we go in on the 24th for the echo, it is the first she will have had since last November. We are praying for wisdom for the Cardiologist to know exactly what is going on and whether it is time to repair or replace it.

Ravenna's blood work came back and all was normal. This is good and not good at the same time. I am really thankful that she does not have a factor 13 disorder because it had some big concerning things that can happen, if it would have been a fibrin issue however, my understanding is it would have been fairly simple to treat. Now it is either a platelet disorder or one of a bunch of rare syndromes....all of which do not have much funding to find a solid treatment (from what I can tell). So our next step is another blood test at a specialized lab in Portland. She cannot have any medications for 10 days before the test which means our plan for giving her some anti-anxiety meds before the next blood draw won't work :( So we are praying hard for peace for her as we do blood draw #8. Also praying for answers, clear answers.

This is alot to swallow and I have definitely had some nights where sleep is tough to find but above all we feel so carried by the Lord, so surrounded by good friends who ask deep questions and that we are so deeply blessed to get to spend everyday with these amazing kids. Over and over God keeps placing this verse in my life:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

We walk this in strength, but it is not our own....we are strongest when we pour our hearts out to the Lord, weep over our fears and step out again on the path that we can in no walk walk by ourselves.

The Start of Some Answers!

2011-08-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you all who have been so faithfully praying....we have heard from the Cardiologist and the Hematologist. Some of it is long and complicated but a step towards answers. Right now I am elbow deep in Legos so I will write more tonight but I wanted to say

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RIGHT AWAY

Determination...

2011-07-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

Beauty...

Goofy joy!!!

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere

Psalm 84:10

Mama, You Make My Whole Heart Happy...

2011-07-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

and she holds her little hands up to make a heart...
I am blessed beyond words to have her in my life.

Hey Mom..Come Look!!!

2011-07-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

These are the words that nowadays make me instinctively grab the camera...

Sometimes it is sweet like Ravenna making a bed on the couch for her brother when he was feeling yucky...

or most of the time just plain kooky whst these three come up with...

Yep, a pancake beard!

and ears...

and of course the blueberry pancake phone is all the rage nowadays!

Look closely at her arms...there are the start of tiger stripes...

a few quiet minutes later?

a striped tiger and a spotted jaguar!

that later turned into a spotted princess...who still has spots everywhere...yes everywhere

and then there was the "makeover shop"

even I got a new look!

just sweetness

and the grand finale?????

"Hey Mom, come look! We're the 'Boxer children'!!!!!"

I love these goofyballs like crazy!

This is Why...

2011-07-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Erin sent me this today and it keeps making me break out into big fat thankful tears....so worth the time to listen not only to what Andrew has to say but to the song as well. Sit down, take a minute because we all need to be reminded of "why" pour into our kids and also others ...

We chose the spot, we dug the hole

We laid the maples in the ground to have and hold

As Autumn falls to Winters sleep

We pray that somehow in the Spring

The roots grow deep

And many years from now

Long after we are gone

These trees will spread their branches out

And bless the dawn

He took a plane to Africa

He gathered up into his arms

An orphan son

So many years from now

Long after we are gone

This tree will spread its branches out

And bless the dawn

So sit down and write that letter

Sign up and join the fight

Sink in to all that matters

Step out into the light

Let go of all that's passing

Lift up the least of these

Lean into something lasting

Planting trees

She rises up as morning breaks

She moves among these rooms alone

Before we wake

And her heart is so full; it overflows

She waters us with love and the children grow

So many years from now

Long after we are gone

These trees will spread their branches out

And bless the dawn

These trees will spread their branches out

And bless someone

Camping!

2011-07-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

We headed out camping weekend before last with Doug's parents and had a blast!

The trip started off with Parker 'decorating' himself as 'legend volcano boy' and writing his first love letter! He was so cute, he first found a flower he wanted to give to our neighbor who he adores, then wrote her a letter & picture. He then had me come to the door with him, knock on the door and run away...how is that for first love???

and yes, this is MY love!

Beyblades with Grandma...

sister, dirt & water, what an awesome combination!

That would be the "lightening U" on his forehead, no idea what it means but it is powerful in his world!

Playing 'house'

crossing the river with daddy...

So proud to be just like her big sister!

Yes, that would be gray hairs popping out on my head by the second as my husband takes our girls cross-country up a giant slope with Georgia riding piggyback...wish you could have seen their grins at the top...

Parker taught himself how to read on the trip!!!!

Just crazy cuteness

Cuddles with Grandma on the hammock

Grandpa checking out wolfie's nose

"you see to be really god at sudoku..."

The mama and her 'doggie'

painting birdhouses...

a new friend and hours of entertainment...

Cannot wait to get back out there again!!!

Wanna Make a Difference????

2011-07-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

When I was a backpacking guide we had some running jokes, they were from some awesome weeks when we got to work with kids that came from inner city neighborhoods into the wilderness for a week. Some of the jokes went something like this, "Hey, at what altitude do deer turn into elk?" Truthfully, some kids did ask these questions but when we shared those jokes it was with a warm heart full of love for the kids who said it. You know why? Because they were incredible. For many of them it was the first time they had ever been out of the city, had ever been surrounded by just trees, had ever slept in a tent....Many started out scared to death not sure what to do in this new environment but after a day or two...the walls came down. They leapt and played and climbed and began to share story after story about life back in the city...some beautiful things and some heartbreaking things. Watching these kids soak life in the outdoors for the first time was incredible, hearing them talk at the end of the week about how it had given them new perspective, a new desire to do something different with their life was so incredibly humbling.
So why am I writing about this? Because there is this incredible program called The Fresh Air Fund and this is what they do! They help kids who are living in poverty in the middle of giant cities get away, get some fresh air, get some perspective. Check it out:

The Summer of 2011 is here! The Fresh Air Fund is in need of 850 loving host families.
We are looking for families in the following areas to host THIS summer:

All Northeastern States and Canada

If you or someone you know is able to host, please sign up now. In 2010, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.

More than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

"It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child's face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted..."

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will
never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster
they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!

learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Fresh Air Children

"We made s'mores and hot dogs over the fire. I've never cooked outside before!"

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.

What do Fresh Air children enjoy?

Playing in the backyard
Laughing in the sunshine
Catching fireflies
Riding bicycles
Learning to swim
Running barefoot through the grass
Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
Building sandcastles
Making new friends
Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city .

I so wish we lived in an area where they did this! What an awesome way to serve as a family!

How about it? How cool would it be to help a child experience these things together as a family? My guess is that it would be the highlight of the whole summer for more than just that child :)

Want the whole scoop? Check out www.freshairfund.org

Grit and Glory...

2011-07-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

      I have had so many thoughts since Thursday when we went to Ravenna's Hematology appointment. Honestly, it has been tough and deep on many levels. I find myself watching her leap and play and just want to freeze time, to stop her from having to go through more pain and more treatments, more foraging into the unknown forest of tests and needles. I look at her innocence and vitality and find in hard to convince myself that we need to go through all of this...and yet the statistics and facts say that we do...so we continue forward.
    But beyond that, I have been thinking on other things. On how much, with both girls I desire God to step in. For Him to step in with broad streaking brushstrokes to apply His glory for all to see. I find myself asking Him where He is, begging for tangible reminders, setting my own parameters for what those are..."Lord, can you tell this person something to encourage me, can you make this answer come today..." and absolutely sometimes He does that. Many times in my life God has blazed the heavens with answers that sear my heart with His glory.
   This time has been different, I have found those desperate and specific prayers laying silent and Thursday night I found my ragged heart singing in worship again begging God to show me where He is. As I closed my eyes, tears dripping down my face I began to see...He showed me a picture first of Georgia and I, me kneeling, one hand on her heart, one hand on her cheek as she struggled, then a picture of me holding Ravenna in the doctors office part of the restraint team her sobbing and screaming into my arm just as she had that day. Then I saw the pictures again and in each the Lord's hands were there on each side so close holding us, tears dropping on His fingers.
   And it has me thinking alot about Elijah. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah is fleeing for his life. Jezebel has vowed to kill him and he flees into the wilderness and is in a cave. The Lord comes to "chat" with him and this is what happens:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13

So many times I seek God's glory in the big things, grand miracles, big "coincidences" bold healings. He is in ALL of these things maginficently...but sometimes in the desire for the sensational I miss the most amazing thing of all. Sometimes God wants to speak more intimately....sometimes I need to lean close and listen for His whipser. God came down to earth, he came here and gave everything to know my heart and walk with me through the joy and the pain, the grit of this life. He is right there my very present help in trouble. The very God who made every cloud, every mountain, every cell in my child's body...that very God was right there on Thursday helping to carry me through. He is right there for each of us when we take the time to pour our hearts out. He will never leave us or forsake us...never, we are never alone. And that is the most beautiful miracle of all.

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3

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

Redemption....

2011-07-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

   Oh the beauty of the Lord and His redemption right when I needed it...to fully understand this story read what I wrote here about Ravenna's struggles with wanting her birthmom.

      I have the most amazing husband who does fun, deep amazing devotions with the kids. Tonight he let me go to our women's fellowship and when I got back he said, "I have to tell you something about Ravenna!" Kids got tucked and kissed, pottied and re-tucked and when we finally got as moment to ourselves this is what he said:
    Tonight after devotions I asked the kids if they wanted to pray for anything. Ravenna said that she wanted to pray for all of the kids in the world who don't have families. He asked her if she had a family, she grinned, sat up tall and proudly said, "Yes I do!"
   Oh you have no idea how I needed this today. God is so good and somehow from the time she shared about her birthmom until after today's brutally hard Hematology appointment some healing has happened. I know there is much more to come but it means so much to this Mama's heart to hear her proudly part of our family too.

Tears and Treasures....

2011-07-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

   I am back from Ravenna's appointment, Grandma has the kids for a bit and I wanted to write. Thank you all SO much for praying, it was a way bigger day than I imagined and it felt so good to know that we were being prayed for.
   I am not sure how to put it all into words, my heart feels very raw and tears are right there. I hate that my little girl has to go through all of this. I hate the awful gutteral, heartwrenching process of having my child restrained, screaming like a wild animal while blood is being drawn...lots of blood. It breaks my heart to see her huddled so small and frail in her blankie aftewards, eyes bloodshot, shoulders still shaking. I hate that I cannot protect her and that I cannot promise that there will be no more.
    On the other hand, the clinic was beyond amazing. Seriously after my meeting with the Hematologist (before the blood draw) I just sat there in tears of thankfulness. They listened, really listened. They have a plan and some idea of what is going on. They LOVED my daughter so very well. Every single one of them. They took their time, they let her take her time. They did everything humanly possible to make the blood draw easy...there was just so much compassion.
    I love the Hematologist, she is so on everything and knowledgable. Seriously, she knows her stuff. Where we are at now is this. Ravenna has a blood disorder, some sort of very rare one. We go back in next week for the results of the tests they drew for today. There are three possible things that could be going on (this is lots of details, sorry it helps me function!).

* A blood factor disorder: They have ruled out all but a Factor 13 disorder. They tested for it today. It is a scary one with big risk factors. It also is the rarest blood disorder in the world. Seriously.

* Platelet disorder: Her platelet counts are normal but her actual platelets may not be functioning correctly. We are waiting to get the results back from the tests the drew for today before testing for platelet stuff....I guess it is a very specialized test that take hours and has to be done at an even more specialized lab.

* Fibrin Disorder: I really do not know much about what this is but I know they are testing for it.

* Then you get into what the Hematologist calls even more rare syndromes. She described one that she has seen one time. I intentionall did not write down specific names of syndromes and disorders because I knew I would drive myself crazy looking them up.

    Honestly, I'm scared. I feel pretty overwhelmed. I think in my mind I was hoping we would go in and she would tell us that it must be no big deal since the tests have been all coming back normal. But we are in the world of transfusions, tissue organ and brain bleeds...

       Thanks for your prayers. When all is said and done it all comes down to the fact that this is an honor. I get to love this brave, beautiful, compassionate daughter of mine. God chose for us to walk this road together. I am so incredibly lucky that I am the one who gets to hold her, to kiss her to hear as her giggles come back. I am so very proud of her and that I get to be her Mama.

Tomorrow's a Kind of Big Day...

2011-07-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Would you mind praying?

Tomorrow we finally have an appointment with the Hematologist to hopefully start to get answers to why her blood takes longer than normal to clot and what to do about it. We need to get to the bottom of this and figure out how to treat whatever is going on to help her out!

Would you pray for peace for the day? Ravenna is dreading the idea of another possible blood draw and really feels uncomfortable when she and her health are the topinc of conversation between adults :( We are going to make a fun day of it just she and I so hopefully that will win out over the medical stuff!

Also...we are still searching for answers for our littlest munchkin. She is still telling us that she is having pain and "funny boom-booms" as well as getting dizzy at higher altitudes and needing to lay down and rest (at normal altitudes) after not much active play. We have sent a list of questions via email to the Cardiologist but have not heard back yet. Would you pray for protection over her heart and for definite answers on what is going on and what to do about it????

Ok...I'm off to bed, Tomorrow is going to be a long day!

Searing Loss...

2011-07-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

It all started in the car. Georgia was chattering away as the trees whizzed past outside. "I spy with my yittle brown eye...a shoe!" Yes, she does not quite have the art of it down but loves to say that over and over :) Next Parker piped up, "Mama, if I was born in your tummy, why are my eyes a different color?"
Me: "You did grow in my tummy and your eyes are a mixture of Daddy and Mama and your eyes are blueish green, a little of both of us..."
Parker: "Georgia and Ravenna have brown eyes don't they Mama?"
Me: "Yes, just like their birth Mamas and Daddies, beautiful deep brown eyes."
Parker: "But you are their real Mama right?"
Me: "You bet I am forever and ever!"

there was a pause and then from the back of the car, eyes filled with tears,

Ravenna said, "My birthmom is my real Mama."
Me (deep breathe and praying for wisdom) "You are right both of us are very real."
Ravenna: "But my birthmom is my REAL mom...you are just my new mom."
Again with the deep breathing...Me: "Honey I love you so much and your birthmom and I are both a part of your story and you get to choose what you call us. I'm happy to be your new mom, you are such a gift in my life."

Then up pops Georgia, "I spy with my yittle brown eye...my shirt!" and soon all three were playing eye spy and giggling. But for the rest of the day she called me "Mother" instead of Mama. It took everything in me to not start up the conversation again, to defend myself, to explain why I should be her real mama...but truthfully I am her mama but so is her birthmom, both intertwined, both just as important and I don't get to choose. It is important that I do not choose, but that I walk alongside and allow her to go where she needs to go. I love her more than I need to be first in her life...but that doesn't mean that it is not hard.

Later that night, tucking her under all the pink softness of her blankies I saw deep pools of grief in her eyes...
Ravenna: "Mama...will I ever see her?"
Me (also in tears): "With all my heart I hope so."
For awhile she just rested her head on my chest and let the tears fall then...
" Mama, is she safe?"
Me: "I know that we can pray for her safety and God is with her just like he was with you while you waited for us to come."
Ravenna through deep sobs: "what did you pray for?"
Me: " I would go in your room and pray every day, holding your stuffed animals and praying that God would hold you in safe arms, that he would whisper in your ears that you were loved and that you were so precious and wanted, that he would make the time go quickly until we could be together..."
Then she rolled onto my chest, wrapped her legs around me and bawled and bawled, hot tears soaking my clothes.
"I just want to see her...I want my birthmama...I want my birthmama...I want my birthmama."
Until she just lay there cuddled as close as she could possibly get, laying curled on every inch of me, my lips pressed into her silken dark hair...silently praying and whispering how very much I love her, how beyond precious she is to me...how I will love her forever. All the while Georgia, on the other bed is saying "Nenna and Mama stick together like paper and glue, like paper and glue Nenna Mama always!"....and finally she let go and curled up to be tucked in and whispered, "I love you" as I gave her one final kiss.

....And then I curled up in Doug's arms and wept, sort of because it hurt to be the "new" mama but mainly for the hurt in my little girl, for the searing pain that I cannot take away, for the fact that she is 7 and should have no deeper care than what kind of ice cream to get or what playground to play at. Because I would give anything to meet her birthmom too. Because I cannot promise that we will ever find her, I cannot promise that the pain will ever go away...because I just love her so much. My tender, deep, searching little girl.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Summertime....

2011-07-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

and lots of fun photos!

Being big enough to help cut bread!!!

Just being darned cute!

Light saber wars with cousins!

Georgia loved "taking care of" her littlest cousins all week!

Parker loved living in the world of Star Wars with his older cousin

Cuddles with Grandma

Love those big joyful eyes!

Floored.

2011-07-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is the week that we were supposed to be at the orphanage, suppsoed to be loving and hugging these beyond amazing kids, watching God work in huge ways in that place that feels so much like Holy Ground to me. Instead we are home, helping figure out Georgia;s heart stuff and that feels like where we are supposed to be. Our eyes are fixed on December and getting down there again.

This weekend we headed out camping and right before we left I checked the mail and got an update from the orphanage. One of the stories that I read there has been churning in my heart all weekend and I wanted to share.

So there are around 100 kids living in the orphanage itself, all different ages, boys and girls. Every summer the teens go to a summer camp. In my mind's eye I imagine this as a highlight of the year. Getting away, being able to just play and be a kid for a whole week away from the pressures of helping with the littler ones...just being a teen at summer camp.

This year the teens made a choice, one that honestly never would have crossed my mature Christian mind. There had been some littler children who had lived at the orphanage for awhile when their parents were struggling and needed a safe place for their kids to stay. Their parents were doing better and the children had moved back with them but they did not have a home.

The teens heard about this and what did they decide to do. These teen orphans who have little to nothing themselves decided to give up their summer camp and spend the week building a home for this family. Do you get that? They traded their week away for a week of sweat in the Mexican sun for little ones in need. They created what they dream of (a family, a home) for someone else.

As they were building (donors supplied the materials), one boy noticed that the family did not have extra clothing. So they went back to the orphanage and gathered any extras that the children had and clothed the family.

Another teen noticed that they did not have very much food. Some they went back to the orphanage (which lives on prayers and donations and many times has cupboards that are far from full) and gathered food to fill this family's cupboards.

And yet another teen noticed that the children did not have toys...so they went back to the orphanage and told the children there (who only have one or two themselves). .. and the orphans gave from what they had to send toys to these children.

And yet another teen girl noticed that the little girl was wearing dirty clothes...so she bathed her, put her in a dress and did her hair for her.

and I just cannot picture a better example of this verse:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40

That is the Gospel right there shining so brightly that it makes me want to hide my selfish face. Oh Lord, please let me be more like these children that the world sees as the least.

and it makes everything in me want to jump into action. I do not want to sit idle, I do not want to be immersed in what matters only to me, what only serves me.

Oh Lord show me the way to be a part of that kind of love.

Some Answers and a Whole Lot of Questions...

2011-07-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well....I'm not exactly sure what to write here. We heard from the cardiac nurse that they pulled up Georgia's monitor readings and every single one of them showed normal heart rhythms. This is SUCH great news and we want to be so happy but Doug and I are both a bit overwhelmed. See we still have a 3 year old that is complaining of chest pain, heart palpitations and weakness....and we are not sure what to make of it.
   We have sent a list of questions to the Cardiologist and are waiting for his answers. She has all the symptoms of pulmonary valve failure but I am not sure if that would have showed up on the heart monitor. We know that her valve is slowly failing.
    She also was very old when her heart was repaired and there could be collateral damage somewhere....but really I am not a Cardiologist so I am just guessing.
   Also, it could be that the feeling of her heart racung while she is active feels similar to the beginning of a tet spell (the life threatening spells where she would turn purple before surgery). She cannot have tet spells now but it is possible that the feeling is really scaring her.
   This week she and I were cuddled up in bed, just her bright brown eyes peeking out of the covers and she said,
Georgia: "Mama, big room lots of babies?"
Me: "You want to tell me something about when you were in the orphanage in China?"
Georgia: "Mama, big room lots of babies...I need Mama. I cry and cry and I need you. You not there. I miss my Mama."

...and it breaks my heart. I try not to think of it too often, my little girl so alone and so very sick, so very scared needing her Mama and having to be brave. I wihs with all my heart that I could have been there, could have held her, could have gotten her the help she needed.
   So I will be there now, hold her now, keep trying to find answers now and remind her that she is loved and safe and precious beyond measure.

No answers yet....

2011-07-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

Just talked to the Cardiology nurse and Georgia's Cardiologist has not been able to look at her readings at all yet. Hopefully in the next few days we will know more. Praying for answers soon! In the mean time I thought I'd share one of my favorite songs right now....

Praise in the Midst of the Muck...

2011-07-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

        Today it feels a bit like I am knee deep in muck trying to lift my hands in praise. We still do not have any information about Georgia's heart monitorings and I foolishly had begun to believe that she had been somehow getting abit better....then, about an hour ago she told me that she had just stopped telling us when she had pain or 'funny boom-booms' because, "I no like my sheen anymore". She cries when we put it on and her little chest is getting red and raw where the elcetrodes need to go. She does seem to have a bit more energy and I am thinking it is because we have slowed down a bit the last few days. Also, I had backed off on watching her so closely thining she had become used to the monitor and would let me know. Kindof kicking myself now however :(
    But here's the thing the God keeps echoing in my mind. There is so much power when we choose to praise Him in the midst of the storm. It so so easy to praise Him at the end when the sun peaks out, when answers come, when problems fade but there is something raw and healing in saying, "God you are still good when all I can see is the muck, when all I can feel is the fear, when all I want is out of this spot." To then plant our feet and raise our eyes and hearts to Him and say, "I still choose to praise." is the one thing that can break down that fear.
   It does not crumble because I become strong, it does not crumble because I somehow have answers. It crumbles when I surrender my tender, bruised very frightened heart to the One who made it and put my trust back in Him that He will hold it still.

Let the weakling say,

“I am strong!”

Joel 3:10

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

and once again I am reminded that this world is not our home. There is somewhere so much better where hearts are whole and answers are to be had and we can see fully the 'whys' of this journey.

For now, I think it's time to put on a little praise music :)

Just a Little Bummed

2011-07-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today we were supposed to be heading out on our trip to the orphanage in Baja...but after a lot of prayer we have decided that we just did not feel like we could take Georgia into a 3rd world country without answers to what is going on with her. Our friends are still going, they cross the border on Sunday, please be praying for them!
So...since we still have not heard anything from the Cardiologist I thought I'd spend the hours that I am not sleeping going back over some pictures :)

My very calm son waiting to perform at the school show!

I love how she puts her whole heart into everything

and so does he!

So darned blessed!

How Georgia is Feeling About Cardiology...

2011-07-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

I think this about sums it all up!

Actually, her attitude about her "sheen" is still great but when she came out with her new 'tail' I just couldn't resist!

Still waiting to hear news about the recordings we have sent, thanks for the prayers!