Victims of Grace

For better or for worse.....

2011-05-18T20:58:00.003-04:00

I am a mother. I have never carried a baby in my body or given birth. I have two little Mayan girls who hold a piece of my heart. I was their mommy for 4 wks. I don't know where they are now, but I still think of them and pray for them. Then there's the two little girls we tried to get from India, but we were not old enough. Still, I think of them and pray that God brought them loving families. There were gallons of tears and thousands of prayers. I got to the point that I felt my heart would never be the same. So much so that we decided to accept a little girl from Guatemala when the country's doors we quickly slamming shut. We accepted her at two wks old. Our hearts were shattered, but we knew this was the road God had called us to walk. We were supposed to get Mia when she was 4 months old. Absolute latest 8 months old. At 9 months old-we were told that she may never come home, things were getting bad in Guatemala. Mom and I went to Guatemala to be with her, to meet her and she stayed with us for 5 days. It was blissful! This little one slept with me, showered with me, ate with me and was my all in all for 5 days. But, God does things that we can now see were for good. At 10 months old, Mia's birth mom was called back in to make sure that she had truly wanted Mia to have a family. Because of this, we have a picture of her with her Guatemala mommy. How cool is that?! At that time we were just so upset that she was not home. Now I am glad she had that time. I still wish we could have had her as a baby, but God knew best. So all this leads me to this....perhaps in this awful-prolonged time of continuous investigation-we may know more amazing things about the days that we did not have with our two Little's in Ethiopia. Maybe-just maybe-God has something super cool up His all-knowing sleeve:) But I will leave you with this-I am a mom. These are my children. I have poured out my heart to God for them and will until I am with my Lord in heaven. These children may not look like me or have the same color of skin as I do-but don't you ever forget that God has made me their mother. To love them and to care for them. Its my privilege to care for these children. Their birth moms made the most amazing sacrifice for these children and I consider it a honor to care for them-when God so obviously has a special plan for their lives!

Okay-that's all my ramblings for the evening:) May you be blessed-A

More Prayers!

2011-05-12T08:27:00.000-04:00

If you read this-please pray for me. Pray I would know what is Gods calling in my heart v.s. my desires. I have been wrecked by the Lord the last few weeks/months. Things I never thought of before that I feel the Lord is opening my eyes to. Things I never thought I would do but feel God is saying "GO". I am just really needing clarification for these things and could really use your prayers. Thank you!

It's another day!

2011-05-09T17:47:00.002-04:00

So this picture is how I feel a lot of the time, but to be a example to my daughter-I refrain myself! Life has been challenging. We have sweet Mia and she is growing like a weed. The clothes I bought in Feb. for her Florida trip will probably not make it through the summer. She is so much fun and its so neat to hear her comments about the children. The other morning-she had just woke up and I was carrying her down stairs. She says to me "mommy, I love my sister Livia and I really miss her". Or I hear her praying for them as she plays through the day. She is so excited to show them her world and we are too. Its has been a long journey and for some reason it has been very hard for me. I think its the knowledge gained through our time in the country. The knowledge that these little ones have had a hard start. That we will be the 4th family that they will have. And then I have a serious problem of wanting to be in Africa so bad it hurts. I have cried so many tears for this country and the hardships of so many. I know God has called me to serve in missions. I never knew it would be so hard for me to wait to go back. I know that I am in a season of being a mommy and being needed at home. So until that day I get to go back -I wait and pray and try to be the best mommy I can be:)

May you be blessed-A

Shredded.

2011-04-23T14:44:00.002-04:00

I have to tell you that the last few weeks have been so hard. There are just so many crazy twist and turnes going on right now with our adoption. Thursday brought more news we didnt want to hear. I cried all the way to town and back, and truly my heart just wont bounce up again. I am doing my best to hold on to the Word of God and to keep going. Trying to be happy for my family and put on a smile each day for Mia. But my heart is shredded. It hurts. I know God is in control and I know that He knew each twist and turn before it happened. I know He knew we would not get a single grant we applied for. He knew we would watch our babies turn into toddlers while they were still far away from home. He knew our visas would be twice as much as we had been told. He knows we have $1886. 52 to get to Africa and back. He also knows it cost a lot more than that and I know that He will continue to make a way and provide. He has done some amazing things on this journey and He is not done.
This week, when things were crashing down around me, I just kept thinking of Jesus. How He must have felt this week so many years ago. How He must have had such a heavy heart, knowing the suffering that was to come. But-then that 3rd day...When the world forever changed! I am so thankful that He Rose!! That He payed the price and ripped the curtain in two. That I can pour out my heart and soul to Him and know He hears every cry and even collects my tears. Praise God for the gift of a RISEN SAVIOR!!! In this I find my strength to go on and to continue through each day-knowing it will be worth it all. I pray that if you are reading this and you dont know Jesus Christ as your personal savior-that you will go to church on Sunday and hear the most awesome news ever told! He loves you so much He died for you!
May you be blesses-A

Where He leads......

2011-04-13T21:35:00.004-04:00

I just thought I would throw this out there.....I am already thinking about our next adoption and wondering where God is going to take us. Wondering if we will be lead to another child. There are so many little ones who need some one. I cant wait to see if this is something God is going to do. I always wanted 5 kids. Yes. 5. Some may call me crazy or insane, and after each adoption I do wonder if I am crazy. But its still sitting in my mind. Still I wonder if I will be one of those moms driving a huge white van!:) Where He leads, I will follow! May you be blessed-A

April 1st

2011-04-01T08:08:00.002-04:00

Today I was thinking of Easter. This picture is from last year:) Doesnt seem possible that its been a year since I have seen my parents-WoW! Any way, I was thinking about the ressurection of Christ and His second coming. This is something that is always on my mind right now. We are waiting for "the call" to go get our children in Ethiopia and we are also on watch for the return of Christ. Every day I think of it and I am glad for the daily reminder of all of this through our adoptions and the waiting. I hope you will take the next few weeks to prepare your hearts for Ressurection Sunday! This is the best day ever and I am so thankful that the debt I could not pay has been payed in full! May you be Blessed-A

Ethiopia-Part 2

2011-03-17T20:59:00.003-04:00

This picture is Ethiopia. The people are so very kind and we had so much fun getting to know many of them. Their hearts amaze me. Coming from a society that is so hurried and doesn't have time for inconvenience, much of the things we saw blessed me. I am struck by how people help the beggars and the poor. How they walk arm in arm, with out worry of obnoxious sexual comments. I love that they openly show kindness for one another. To me, when we go to Ethiopia-the bible comes alive! After witnessing this culture, I can picture how the disciples sat together and reclined in Christ's embrace. Walking through Korah, I picture how it would be if Jesus came there. The crowd of needy, broken people who would show up to be healed! And I see Summer-She is the hands and feet of Jesus to these people and how they love her! The first time I went to Ethiopia, all I saw was desperation and despair. This time, I saw hope and a future. God is raising up people who love Him to do a mighty work for His Kingdom!

I cant wait to go back again! I cant wait to scoop my little blessings up and hold them knowing I will never have to leave them again. God has a great plan for them. He has done amazing things to bring these little ones to America and I cant wait to see how His story for their lives unfolds! If you would like to be a blessing to the people of Africa-you can through donations! We are collecting diapers, wipes, diaper creams and powder, formula-lactose free and non-gassy, children's vitamins and medications. If you are local- you can drop them off at Bliss Salon and Day Spa in Lafayette. If your not local-you can send them to me or send a monetary donation and we will buy the items. You can email me at ashleyskiles29@msn.com for our address. Cant wait to bless these people:)

May you be blessed-A

Ethiopia trip-part 1

2011-03-05T06:15:00.002-05:00

Wow! The last 10 days have been crazy! We left for Ethiopia on Feb. 23rd at 6am from Indy and arrived in Ethiopia on Feb. 24th at 8:20 am. We saw two sunrises that day. We were met at the airport by sweet Bisrat and went to the Ethiopian Guest House. Same house, same room from my missions trip in July. Very nice to see familiar:) We rested up-had lunch-rested some more. Than we called the lawyer to see if we could go see the children. Thus began the crazy cycle! We were told to be at his office asap- so we were off. Crazy ride in parts of Addis that were super poor and a little creepy. Got to his office and found out that the children had never been in the orphanage that we had been told! Found out they were in a government orphanage two hours south. So after much talking and even more confusion, we were told they would bring them up and put them in a transition home. We were given a tour of this place and its nice and pretty. Very clean and calm. As far as we know that is where the kiddos will stay until we go back for them. The nannies are sweet and the lady who runs the place-she's the one in the pic- is very nice. They are working with Olivia to get her healthier and we could tell by the time we left that she was already better. Thank God. I never thought my little girl would be like one of the children I have seen in pics of malnurished African children. The skin on her arms and legs was wrinkly and hanging like a very old womans, yet her tummy was large. Londons wasnt as bad for which we are so thankful! The children are great! We are going to have so much fun and be so busy! They took a little while to warm up to us and Olivia will probably need the most work. She avoids any eye contact, cries when she see's us, and mostly tolerated us. But that is okay. We love her and we just kept telling her that and one day she will love us back:) We learned lots on this trip and met some very wonderful people. Praising God that our paths crossed with so many people who love the Lord and serve Him! I have so much more I could say, but I am getting tired again:) Jet lag is annoying! Bless each of you who lifted us in prayer. Words fail me for how much this means to us and how much we felt them! Thank you for standing by us when we needed you! We love each of you so much and I cant help but think of the reunion that heaven will be someday!

May you be blessed-A

Here we go!!

2011-02-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

Well the time has come! We have prayed for this moment in time and it is now upon us! Our time in Addis will be spent with the children and we hope to visit Korah and the Alert Hospital. I also hope to purchase things for the children to give to them in the years to come.

Prayer request:

*Safety in travel to and from.

*Pray for the Lord to prepare our hearts and the childrens as we spend time together.

*Pray for our court on the 28th!

*Pray for Mia while we are away from each other.

*Pray that we can get a visa appointment asap:)

*Pray that God will be glorified in all that we do and pray that we can be a light for HIM to everyone we meet.

We love you all and covet each prayer as we go one this journey!

May you be blessed-A

Clean Underwear!

2011-02-08T14:48:00.003-05:00

Do you like clean underwear? Have you ever had to wear the same underwear for a couple of days? Well lucky you-you have underwear to wear! Korah is home to thousands of people. Some of the most godly men I have ever had the priviledge of knowing call Korah home. Its a trash dump. There is destitution like I have never seen here. Its filthy, nasty, and stinks something awful! But its full of souls of boys and men who for the first time in generations are having the opportunity to hear the word of God and to see His mighty hand work in their lives. You can be part of that by simply sending me some boxers for the boys and men who call this place home. We need small, medium and large boxers and will take gently used. Leave me your email in the comments and I will send you my address.
Go beyond the call and do something-send me boxers!! Blessings-A

2.5 weeks!!

2011-02-05T21:35:00.002-05:00

I am having a hard time believing that in 2.5 wks I will be in Ethiopia! I am so excited to meet the two sweet babies that will soon become our legal children. I am excited to go and to see this country agian and to share it with my sweet hubby. I am so looking forward to getting to know my Ethiopian friends better and to enjoy some yummy, authentic food. I have a list of things I want to do and show Brett during nap time-which is when we are not to be at the orphanage. One thing that is hard to think about is saying goodbye. I have done this before and its hard. I have prayed about staying in Ethiopia, but feel its more important to come home to be with Mia and prepare her for how our lives are going to change. So I try hard not to all ready dread that day. On to fun things-got a new double stroller. Looked long and hard and read soo many reviews. I decided on the Safari Instep. So far its been quite the entertainment for Mia who has been practicing how to push it and get her dollies in and out of the straps:) Mia amazes me. She understands so much. Today she was asking if London and Olivia where getting enough to eat. She has been very concerned for the children in Africa who are hungry and I am so glad that she has a heart for these children. I pray that we can continue to live outloud in a way that our children understand that life is not about us, but about doing the will of God and being the hands and feet of Jesus! Praying you are blessed-A

COURT DATE!!!

2011-01-28T21:11:00.002-05:00

On March 9th 2009 we started the process of adopting one or two children from Ethiopia. We have pinched Penny's-prayed 100's if not 1000's of prayers-had fingerprints done a few times-had a few fundraisers and watched God perform so many miracles we just stand in awe of His awesomeness!!!! We got a referral on September 9th for a baby girl and a baby boy. After a short time of waiting that feels a million times longer than its actually been- we got the news! On Monday of this week I randomly decided to check my email. I had stopped checking it so often because I was driving myself cookoo. I opened my email and saw this title-court date!!! I opened it, read it. Than I read it again. That's when the shaking and sweating started. I turned around and told Brett that we could stop dieting because we were going to Africa and not Florida!!!! For the next several days I simply went crazy-didn't sleep and had a few Pepsi's:)

So Lord willing, we will be meeting our baby's on the 24th or 25th of February!!!! I simply cant believe it. God-thank you for working even when we felt like things were going no where. Thank you for answering our prayers even though it felt like they were bouncing off the ceiling. London and Olivia-I cant wait to hold you-to kiss your sweet brown skin!

You can keep the prayers rolling in. This road is not over and we still have lots to do and accomplish. God has done some amazing things and we have some really awesome things we get to take part in when we go to Ethiopia. Blessings to you all-A

God found us you!

2011-01-24T08:28:00.002-05:00

We got our new book in the mail on Saturday. Its a sweet story of adoption called "God found us you". Mia loves it and we have read it many times already. One thing I really like about it is the way it gives openings for conversation with your little one and their story. It also has me thinking of my little ones who are so far away. One part of this book that I so love goes like this- "Did you ever give up?" Little Fox asked. "Sometimes," Mama said, rubbing Little Fox's cheek with hers. "But I trusted God knew you, and knew me, and knew when we'd fit perfectly together." So today Lord, I am trusting you know when our little ones will fit perfectly together into our family and we wait for that day! I woke up today really missing my babies. So strange since I don't really know them. Haven't had a new picture or update in months, and yet I feel I know them in a way. I pray that in 2011 more people will step out and be a forever family for the fatherless! My heart just about explodes when I talk with people and they give me all the excuses for why they cannot adopt. I know its not for everyone, but you can sponsor a child. You can go on a missions trip and hug and kiss the children. You can do SOMETHING!!! Don't forget, as a child of God, you are adopted too. God didn't make excuses about whether or not to adopt you, He didn't whine about being too old or go on about how He would no longer have time for the things He liked to do! I know-He is God, but do you get what I am saying? So what can you do this year for the little ones across the world that just want to belong? Are you willing to give up a little, so that a child will know the love of Jesus through your obedience to His call? One little girl in Uganda was in tears because we had come all the way across the ocean to hug her. She was in awe that God would do that for her. We may have went all the way to Uganda just for that sweet little girl to understand that God heard her cry and loved her enough to send a bunch of white people to Africa to give her a hug! Praying you will stand in the gap for a orphan today-A

A precious gift!

2011-01-04T17:56:00.002-05:00

This summer I went to Africa for 14 days. While on the trip I got to know some great gals from PA. They were mom and I's roomies for the duration of the trip. Well last week mom calls me and is about to burst with with excitement, but she is all secretive and cant tell me anything. All she says is that this exciting something is coming in the mail. Everyday she asked if I got the mail. By Thursday I was kinda forgetting about it. Then it was all crazy with the new year and then the mail didnt go. So yesterday I forgot to get the mail. I got it this morning. I was saw a envelope and was excited about another christmas card. I opened it and it was not a christmas card. It was a sweet little booklet that talked about making 7000 cookies to sell over christmas to help orphans in Africa. And how on a cold-snowy day in PA they sold them all! Now these women have been busy. On facebook, Marge had talked about making tons of cookies since November! They spread the word on facebook about selling them and how they would benefit orphans in Africa. I am in Indiana just praying for these cookies to sell and for the children who would benefit from the sales. Marge and her hubby are going to Ethiopia in Febuary with Visisting Orphans and I assumed the money would go with them. Little did I know that these women were doing ALL this work for our babies!!! I opened the booklet-I read this fun little story, and then I cried! I cried because this is such a sweet thing that these women have done! Women who have only known us for not even a year yet! So many people have been used by God for this adoption, but this selfless act of giving so touched my heart! I pray that each person who participated in this cookie selling are richly blessed by the Lord! I know I have been so touched by this and I cant wait to tell London and Olivia the amazing ways God used people to help them come home to their forever family! May you be blessed-A

Christmas Time!

2010-12-24T15:15:00.003-05:00

What a fun and crazy time of year! Mia has been learning that its time for Jesus birthday and not hers. She hasn't quite got it, but she will. I know that in the morning she is going to be on cloud 9 with all her presents! Tonight is the Christmas eve service at church and she is supposed to sing with the 3 yr. old class. We will see what happens. We have just been so busy. I have been ind the process of getting London's room ready and redoing the office to be more of a productive work area. In between that, we have MOPS and Mia has preschool -which she loves so much! We have been so blessed this year. Its been kinda tight, but God has never failed us and He always takes care of us! Praise Him for all that He does for us.

Going to Africa has really changed the way I look at the holidays. I don't love the extravagance like I used too. I still translate things into shillings and birr. I think of my friends in Africa all the time. I pray that those moments we have to see a different way of life change me so that my life we be more of a reflection of Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas and may you be blessed-A

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T20:41:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you! Today was a delightful day. We got to be with our family and had more food than I have seen for a long time. Actually had trouble fitting it all on a very large table. I have to say it made me a little ill to look at it. So much food!! Did any of the people there realize how blessed we were? All I could think of was the beans, rice and a small egg that 400 children got one day in Uganda. I thought of each of those kids we met at the dump in Ethiopia and the hunger that gnaws at them each day. I prayed that London and Olivia had enough to eat today in their orphanage. I didnt take pictures because I knew I wouldnt post them because I didnt want to flaunt my over abundance before my hungry friends in other countries. I felt sad knowing so many in Haiti eat dirt to stay alive.

I thank God for my blessings-dont think I am not thankful. But this was the first thanksgiving in my life that I hurt because I knew how abundantly blessed we were and how much I take for granted in my american life. I pray that I will remember this day and continue to share my blessings from God with others in lesser situations. Praying each of you were blessed to be having family time on this wonderful holiday! May you be blessed-A

Two years!!

2010-11-15T20:53:00.002-05:00

Well this is the youngest pic I can find on the lap top! I cant believe its been two years since we flew into Guatemala and raced into our hotel to find Mia waiting. It seems so long ago and yet its only been two years. I remember how excited I was and so scared too. I didn't know this little girl. She did not remember me at all. I had all the "what if's" of motherhood running through my brain and I was so far away from my mom!

Mia is one of Gods amazing blessings in our lives. She fills our home with joy and laughter! She is most definitely Guatemalan. I thought she would loss that and yet she loves bright colors like her culture loves. She loves the Mexican food-yet not really the spicy stuff. She is just precious! We are so blessed to be called her parents and she amazes us every day! Thank you Jesus for our little Guatemalan blessing!

May you be blessed-A

Passage of Time!

2010-10-24T18:13:00.003-04:00

Well its no secret that I have not blogged for a while:) Life has been so crazy since I returned from Africa. We started harvest early this year. This was nice because we are now done about a month earlier than last year. But it also makes for crazy busy days. During this time we accepted two babies in Ethiopia and pulled off two fundraisers. Mia turned 3 during the craziness and we will have to have a really awesome birthday for her next year since this year was pretty boring. We are hoping to get a court date soon and praying that if its Gods will we can get those babies by Christmas!

Mia is getting so big! She is just such a blessing from the Lord! She is so sweet and I just really enjoy being a mom most days. She is in preschool one day a week and she loves it. She loves animals of all kinds and loves her kittys. We had to get a new home for Olive since she was needing a lot more attention than I had to give her. Mia has not missed her a bit, so that was better than I was expecting. We are so glad she was adopted into a really nice home where we know she will be loved. I was so sad to see her go though. I think I was the only one:)

Well I dont have a whole lot to say except we are so blessed and life is going good and oh so busy!

May you be blessed-A

Ethiopia-2nd leg of mission trip

2010-09-26T17:45:00.004-04:00

To me this picture says Ethiopia like no other pic I have! I also love it because one of the sweet men at our guest house did an oil just like it and I bought it from him. It will be going in baby boys room:) Ethiopia was the second leg of our trip and it was quite amazing. It was beautiful. There are eucalyptus trees there and they smell awesome. That smell will always be Ethiopia to me from now on. When we got to ET we were tired, hungry and dirty. We got to the guest home and it was like going from camping to the Hilton in my mind! We could shower with warm water and sleep on a 4 inch mattress rather than 2 inches. Now the only part of this that I didnt enjoy was the endless prayer calling. Between the Muslim and the protestant-we never lacked for mournful noise. The people of ET are just beautiful. I love these people and love that they are free to show love to each other and not pervert it like we do in America. They are generous and will do anything for you. Our itinerary didnt go as planned, but that is okay. We were in the places that God wanted us to be. We spent some time a AWAA doing a mural for the orphanage. The first time we were there, I held a little girl about the whole time. She was so tiny. I thought she was probably 3 wks old. She was 3 months old. She didnt like to be swaddled like a little baby normally would. She just wasnt used to the human contact and the comforting snuggles of a mommy. It broke my heart. She cried a lot and would stop when I sang to her. I think of her every day. I prayed over her before I left and pray that she has been blessed with a loving family by now. As I think of my own two children sitting over there it just makes my heart ache for them and what they may or may not be feeling.
We spent a lot of time driving in Ethiopia. We would start out-the drivers would say "yes, yes" and act like they knew where we were to go are what was going on and then we would get to do something different:) Lots of crazy miscommunication! But one day we got to go to the dump. I believe there is around 80,000 or more that live and make a living at the dump. This area started as a leper colony. Than generations got lost in the poverty and rejection of growing up a dump child. The people here are amazing!! I know I use that word a lot but its just what fits. The love that they have for each other is such a testimony. They are going to be the Hebrews 11 people of Ethiopia! We spent the day there and it was a hard day for me. The altitude is killer and I was really suffering from low blood sugar that day. I got to walk through the dump with part of my group. Words cannot describe what our eyes saw. My heart felt as though it would burst wide open with emotion I have yet to put into words. Mountains of trash-puddles of dark yellow and black water-and more trash. Broken glass every where-I was begging God to not let me fall down. You are looking at the mountains of trash and than you start to see bodies moving on it. Its the people who are digging through all of it to find something that they can turn around and sell to make a small amount to keep on living. More flies than the old testament plague. You had to breath through your nose or you would eat flies. Maybe I should have for the protein! The children are so dirty and the women or too! Yet they hugged us and smiled like it was another day. I felt like I was in a nightmare. How do these people live here? How come they have to do this. What will happen to the tiny baby on the mothers back? This day changed my life. It opened my eyes to something I didnt know existed! When we got the referral for two babies, I asked Brett "how can we say no?". I couldnt-not after what we saw. We got to bless the children at the dump ministry with lunch of lamb and than we got out the soccer balls! We walked to a beautiful eucalyptus grove down by the river to play some soccer. So awesome! A day I will never forget. You can sponsor these children to go to school and get a education. To someday break the chains of the generations of dump living and hopelessness. If you would like more info on this ministry please leave your email and I will get you the info. This ministry just sent 250 children to boarding school. 250 children who will for the first time in their lives have 3 meals a day, a bathroom, more than one change of clothes, their own blanket, a bed and I could go on and on. I cant wait to take Brett. For him to walk the dump and see the poverty with his own eyes and see what I saw!
At the end...I was so ready to go home! It had been a long time away from my family and I was ready for some food! When I got to D.C.-I was so happy to be in the USA!! So thankful that I live here. I was so hungry though and I stunk so bad:) I found a little pizza joint at my gate, bought a huge slice and a yummy Caesar salad. I sat down and Blessed the food like no other time in my life. Than I proceeded to eat faster than ever with tears rolling down my face. I am sure the people around probably thought I was a little mental! Africa was awesome! Lord willing-I will go back to serve the people again. In the future we will go back-there are two little souls there that are waiting for mommy and daddy to come and get them!!! Thanks for your prayers and support for the most life changing summer ever!!
May you be blessed-A

More of Africa

2010-08-22T17:35:00.003-04:00

I'll start by saying that jet lag is for real! The first week I was home I was sick and really jet lagged. So now that I have finally returned to Indiana time, I have a lot of catch-up. I wanted to tell you about each day but that is going to take way to long. I loved Uganda! The whole team did. The children in Uganda were so vivaceous and amazing at all they did. They would sing and dance for us each place they went. These little souls would praise God with all of their hearts and just put our little american faith to shame. I was so amazed at their spirit of faith in the midst of poverty and tragic circumstances of the lifestyle of an African. They have the real thing when it comes to true faith in God!! We had the priviledge of living at Canaan Childrens Home for 5 days. That was so fun. Momma Rebecca fixed the best food and Pastor Isaac was a man of God, so full of His joy. These people had needs and never once did I hear them ask for anything. All that came from the mouths of the people of Canaan was praise the thankfulness to God for all that He had done for them! What a testimony. We did not get to hear Pastor Isaac preach- but I imagine that its powerful and life changing. This man was shot and left for dead and God restored him and is using his life to change the hearts and souls of the fatherless! You can sponsor a child at Canaan. If you want to know more, just leave me your email and I will get you the info.

One thing I now think-if you are going to go on a mission trip-dont make it to short. It takes a while to get over your self and be thankful for the stuff you do have. I want to go back-Lord willing- and I would love to take Mia with me. She would have just loved all those kids and the singing and dancing!

In Uganda we went to 5 different ministries. We played with over 700 kids in 6 days. It was a little tiring. Each morning at the crack of dawn, the rooster would begin his mission of waking every thing. Than the muslim call to prayer would begin. And just when you thought that you would get to go back to sleep-the kids would be out and ready for the day to begin. Their school day began at 6 am. The kids are super smart. I was amazed at the artistic talent that so many of them had. At one ministry I spent hours coloring with the children. They liked the bright colors the best! They loved the silly bands, silly string, and the many balloon hats that were made and passed out. One thing that was hard for me- was that we were asked not to give things out to the children. The ministry leaders ask this of us so that the children will learn to respect authority and not beg. I think that is awesome that they do this. Its so fun to give and see little eyes light up with joy, but so neat that they are being taught such good principles. One of my favorite things about Uganda was the day we got to go out on the Nile River!! Such a cool experience to get to see this river and be on it. To know that the very waters that Moses floated in as a baby-I got to float in them too. It was beautiful and a little scary. The boats took on a little water and I am not hugely fond of swimming in large bodys of water. I am so glad that I got to experience all of this with my mom. I felt like we didnt spend just huge amounts of time just talking, but we got to do this together and that will always be a memory that I will never forget.

I also think its just amazing that for 20 some years I have wanted to go to Africa and now I have been! God did amazing miracles too. I never once became sick! I never once got homesick! He kept us safe and sound! My body never once fell apart! And the most amazing thing....it just clicked. You know how you go through life wondering " what is Gods purpose for me? Whats that one thing that God has called ME to do?" I think I know:) I just felt a peace in my soul. God called me to something that was huge and way out of my comfort zone. Sure I wanted to do it, but so many things have forever held me back. I then I said "yes"! I went forward in faith and God supplied the money, the good health, Mia did awesome while I was gone, and so much more. I can tell you that if time last, I will return to Africa!

The Pearl of Africa

2010-08-04T07:25:00.003-04:00

Thank you Jesus for being us safety to Uganda! Its a long way to get here. Well I will start with day #1. I enjoyed my last hot shower and we headed off to church for the early service. We got to the airport 2.5 hours ahead of departure and that was a good thing. First round of craziness began at the ticket counter when the lady helping me asked for my paper tickets. I told her that they were e-tickets and she said she couldnt find them. That began the frantic phone calls to the agency who works with VO. Things were changing by the minute and Mia was starting to be naughty because she was so hungry. So Brett and Mia went to get lunch and I waited to find out what was going on. Well long story short-Ethiopian airlines forgot to push the tickets through and that was the cause of a lot of hassels! So my image of having a nice lunch and spending a little more time with my family fell flat. By this time my plane was going to start boarding soon. I started to cry. The gal had been so nice and was doing such a good job of figuring out my mess, but I just wanted to spend a little more time with the family. So she saw my tears and gave Brett and Mia security passes to go with me to my gate. So sweet of her! So we got to the gate and hung out for a little. By this time it was past nap time for Mia and she was in full naughtiness mode. So we said our goodbyes and they were gone. Then we began boarding. The lady scans my ticket and it flashes "already seated". I am like "I dont think so". So thus began the next round of craziness. Well the man in my seat was so kind and gave it up since he had already missed his connection in Dulles. During this time it began to storm and they grounded all planes due to lightening! Then they said I may not make it so once agian I am calling Mike to find out what to due with my flights! Lots of confusion and craziness later-we were finally all boarded and ready to depart of Dulles. This flight was originally to take 1 hour 49 min. We made it in just under 1 hour:) Got to Dulles and hit the ground running! Ran right into Kari, Randi and Dee Dee. They had been praying for me to make it. So we got all the luggage forwarded onto Entebbe and went to find mom. She was going to have to collect luggage and rebook for Entebbe. So Ernie went with us and we got that all finished in time to board the plane for the next 16 hours! Now Ethiopian air is really good at feeding you like every 2 hours! And I really think they absolutely love waking you up! They shake you awake-plop some food down and smile! We had a fuel stop in Rome and then we were on to Addis. We got there and grabbed some water. Soon we were boarded and headed for Entebbe. We got to Entebbe I think about 2am. We soon realized that most of us were missing our luggage. So we spent more time trying to cross the language barrier and get some understanding about our luggage! Soon we were off to Sophies hotel for to rest for a few hours.

That was a little shocking! We walk into this place and soon realized that the reviews we had all read online were so true:) Lizards on the walls and 3 inch cockroaches in the halls! We are in Africa! They did serve a good breakfast though. Each morning was funny. The rooster would crow, then the dogs would bark and on it went, back and forth! We would soon learn that this is normal. Well that is all for now. Gotta run. I will continue to update each day as I have time:)

May you be blessed-A

Africa-Here we come!

2010-07-17T10:36:00.002-04:00

Well the time has come to fulfill my life long wish to go to Africa! I will get to ride a boat on the Nile, maybe learn a few new dance moves and I have heard that the Africans really know how to worship! Our dates of the trip are July 18th - August 1st. Please keep us in your prayers and I will hopefully beable to update the blog on the trip. We will see how all of this goes:)

We leave out of Dulles as a team at 8:30 pm Sunday night and we arrive in Entebbe, Uganda at 3:30 am on Monday morning. Our schedule is to go to Return Ministries Uganda, My Fathers House orphanage, Canaan's Children Home, Nile boat ride, Amazima Ministry and their feeding program for the Karamajong children. That is all in Uganda and I have a lot of fun stuff to give out thanks to so many who donated. Then we will be on to Ethiopia. Hope to update on our time there when we get to Ethiopia.

Well I cannot thank you enough for interceding before the Father on our behalf!

May you be blessed-A

Count down!

2010-07-10T08:55:00.002-04:00

These days have just been zooming by us! We have been having lots of summer time fun though. Mia and I have been doing some swimming. This little gal is a fish! You put her arm floaties on and she will swim for the next 3 hours! She loves to doggie paddle -mostly because its called a "doggie" paddle:) We have been talking lots about Africa and all the fun things she will get to do while I am gone. I got a grab bag that is filled with fun things for each day that I am gone. We had to go do some clothes shopping due to the fact I wrecked a load of laundry:) I love Old Navy. I found some great deals which is awesome. Most of the things we got should also carry over into fall and winter. Its sad to see all the back to school stuff out in stores already:/ I am a forever summer sort of person.
Well I will try to get my itinerary posted this next week and hopefully post at least once while I am gone. We shall see. My bags are packed and I am mostly ready to. Hope you are all having a great summer too. May you be blessed-A

lazy summer days!

2010-06-25T16:50:00.002-04:00

Summer is crusing by so fast! I have been trying to make the most of each moment and nice day that we have been blessed with. Mia is such fun these days. She just puts more and more together. She loves to roll in the grass with the kitties and they tolerate her affection. We have had a ton of rain lately and some major storms and she just sleeps through them! I am so glad that she can. She loves to eat watermelon and just discovered orange push-up's:) She loves them so! We are so excited to be going to Chicago next Tuesday. We are going to go up and spend the day with a sweet friend of mine and go to the Shedd aquarium. Mia is going to love it! I cant wait for her to experience it.

Well just 23 days till I head off to Africa. Very excited and a having a little bit of a hard time thinking of leaving my hubby and little gal for that long. I can get a few tears if I think very long on it:/ But so excited to see what God has in store for the team and all that we will get to do and all the people we will get to bless with our donations! That will be awesome!!!

Well the little gal has been sleeping now for 3.5 hours and I think I am going to go wake her up or it will be a long time till she wants to go to sleep:)

May you be blessed-A

Africa..in 4 weeks!!!

2010-06-15T07:20:00.002-04:00

Hey friends! I just wanted to put a shout out to anyone who would has a heart for the orphan and would like to donate towards my mission trip. I would like to fill a 50lb duffle with childrens medications! This is a big need and not as fun to buy as crayons and toys. If you would like to donate, please let me know and I will get our address to you or can pick up if you are local!
I would like all donations in by June 28th!
May you be blessed-A

Summer, Summer!

2010-06-04T07:28:00.003-04:00

Its that the time of year where we get to have two baths a day! Mia loves to get into the pool as soon as breakfast is over and play outside all day. She is loving her kitties! They are really sweet kittens and Olive loves to drive them crazy:) We have been blessed with lots of strawberries in the garden patch. I have picked 2.5 gallons so far and there is more to come.

On the adoption front: just lots of prayer for that referral!! We also recieved a call from Lifesong for Orphans that they would be letting us know in 2 weeks about our grant application. Please join us in prayer for that decision. We could really use this grant:)

Getting excited about going to Africa!!! I purchased a book about Dr. Catherine Hamlin who founded the Fistula hospital with her husband in 1959. She is still performing surgery at the age of 83. I hope to meet this amazing women, whose love for the Lord has lead her to give her life to the women of Ethiopia. The books name is "Catherine's Gift". I can hardly put it down. I cant wait to experience this in person.

Only 43 days till we leave. Makes my stomach jump around a little! Last week I had 4 shots and that was not fun. The actual shot was a breeze but the after effects were painful. Every one reacts differently to these things.

Hope your weekend is blessed and finds you in worship to our Mighty God!

May you be blessed-A

Introducing......

2010-05-24T21:25:00.002-04:00

We have some new little kitties at our house! There names are Finn and Piper. They are lots of good intertainment for Mia and Piper is nice enough to tolerate her love/squashing hugs:) These kitties are really fun and Olive tries her best to eat them. I think she is just mothering them, but they are so little it doesnt work so well!
On to our life....trying very hard to squeeze every extra penny out of whatever piece of my budget that I can. So I made my own laundry soap (totally forgetting about my allergic reactions to some soaps) and I am now beginning the rewashing of all my clothes, sheets and towels! I am covered with a very itching, sometimes sore rash!!! So much for being frugal:/
I have had some more generous donations to my mission trip and now only have $938.00 dollars left to raise!! God is amazing! If you would like to donate to the orphanages that we are going to, leave a comment and your email and I will let you know what I need. Well I think that is about all that is happening. Nothing major and that is wonderful. Loving the warm weather we are now finally having. Mia spent several hours in her pool this afternoon and then onto the sand box and finally to the tub! She loves water and her bathtime can last up to 2 hours:) She has also tried to introduce the kitties to swimming, but the declined in a rather abrupt manor!
May you be blessed-A

Almost there!

2010-05-17T08:24:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a adventure for me! I had the opportunity to go to a friends church and speak about my upcoming trip to Africa. Then they blessed me with a donation towards my trip. I was very humbled. I wish I could tell you what I said, but I dont remember:) I was a little nervous. It was fun to see who all went to the church. I work out at Curves and have met a lot of people, but I dont know a whole lot about them. I recognized a few people. So I only have $1221.00 to go to completely fund my trip. I cant believe how God has blessed me and it just trickles in slowly but its coming together.

Last night we met as a family at Grandpa B's to annoint him. His cancer has returned and he starts treatment today. Please pray for him and for healing if that is Gods will. Pray for Grandma also as she walks beside him in this. She has done this a few times since 2008 and I can only imagine what she is feeling.

No news on the adoption front:) Hopefully soon. I have to get all my shots for my trip so that may start this week. Yippee!

Praying your week is filled with a close walk with Jesus and that you make time for the things that matter-like Grandparents who may not be around forever.

May you be blessed-A

Much about Mia

2010-05-13T07:14:00.003-04:00

This is Bella the bunny. She is Mia's sleeping buddy and she is loved lots. Mia had Bella all tucked in just like mommy tucks her in:) Mia moved to a big bed last week. Last week we had night time melt down. Mia loves people and she doesnt like to be alone. But we havent had issues at night time really since the first few nights we put her in her crib when she came home. Well last week she made up for lost time! When she climbed out of her crib and crashed to the floor-giving me momentary heart failure-we decided it was time to switch. Poor little gal had bruises down one side of her and a rug burn on her face. It was awful! She is doing pretty good-has fell out a few times though:) She thinks she is pretty big. She has also decided to start waking up at 6:15 am no matter what time she goes to bed:/

So last week a ran 1 mile. I was emotionally and physically spent. Not only did we have the sleeping issues we have been experiencing strong willed toddler behavior! So with lots of prayer we meet each day and pray that Mia's heart with be changed and desire to obey and see how much we love her and that we want only the best for her. She is so precious and she has such a big heart. She loves to give you kisses all day. She is so gentle and kind with her dollies and she is currently into Leap Frog! We got a "Get ready for preschool" dvd. We hope to send her to a local preschool this fall. Its one day a week and it will be good for her to interact with others and keep her little mind busy.

On the Adoption Front-I have no news:)! We are hoping the papers are in Africa getting processed and that we will soon be referral ready! Cant wait.

On the Mission Trip Front-I have been blessed with enough money to pay for the plane ticket! This us great! You can pray for me on Sunday. I have the opportunity to speak at a local church and hopefully raise some more funding for the trip! If you want to give also, you can go to www.visitingorphans.org and click on the donation button.

Well I think thats about all for now. Its not very exciting here right now, just lots of rain. Pray for those in Tennesee and Oklahoma who have been hit hard. We are thankful for just rain after hearing these stories and seeing the pictures.

May you be blessed-A

Hooray its May!!

2010-05-03T08:39:00.002-04:00

Miss Mia loves to be outside! She loves to go to the park and go down the slide. So we have been going to the park some and taking a little oreo blizzard with us to enjoy. Its fun to enjoy these times of togetherness! She totally cracks me up. We were in the grocery store and suddenly she yells "BOB"! I looked around slightly embarresed, and realized we were standing by the tomatoes! She really likes vege tales:)
Well, time for some news....I made my first full week of running! The first week I started my legs hurt so bad I only did one day. The next week every time I got on the tread mill- my hips, ankles and knees hurt so bad. So I picked up some new shoes and that has made a huge difference. So last week I went 4 1/4 miles. So we are at week 2. Hopefully it will get easier to breath:)
Next on the list...our papers are on their journey to Africa!! We wont know anything until they are officially registered with the court in Ethiopia! But its just so exciting!!!
I have really allowed myself to let go of a lot of my personal disciplines since Mia came home. So I am on a mission to fix that. Last week was to begin at least 3 days of exercise. This week is too get up earlier and spend the time I need in the Word and talking to my Father. This is going to be hard since it requires me to go to bed earlier, which is hard and my hubby is a night owl:) I didnt do that this morn-I will tell you that:) I think that is all for now. Hope you week is wonderful and you enjoy each beautiful day that God gives you.
May you be blessed-A

Crazy Love-Crazy life!

2010-04-27T08:03:00.002-04:00

This is Olive and God sent her to us so I could learn just how badly I need more patience:) This dog is very naughty and trying. She is 7 months old and chews anything! Mia loves her though and so she will stay and we pray that she grows out of the naughty stage soon!

Well life has been a little busy. We have been planting our fields, sowing in faith. This means lots of single mom days, which make me so thankful for my sweet hubby:) I have gotten part of the garden planted. I have been doing all I can to fundraise for my mission trip! Iam doing a garages sale this weekend, speaking at a church next weekend and probably some more things. My ticket money is due May 31st. Please pray with me that God continues to provide and that I rest in knowing He will!

On the adoption front...More craziness....We will be making two trips to Ethiopia! I am not so excited to have to come up with more money, but so excited that I get to make 3 trips to Ethiopia in the near future. I did figure out how much time I will spend traveling and that didnt sound so fun! I believe we have gotten in all the papers and they are being processed. I am getting excited about a refferal! Mia is going to love having siblings! She is getting so big , so fast. I am just praying for at least one baby from Ethiopia. We will surely have more changes with this adoption. Its just part of adopting from a country that is not a Hague country.

Our missions team is reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Very cool book! I think its amazing that a lot of what I read yesterday (just started the book) is just what our Pastor taught on at church! We will see what God has to say.

Okay I think thats all for now! I pray that each of you is blessed and seeking the face of Jesus!

May you be blessed-A

It's a New Day!

2010-04-12T08:05:00.002-04:00

Well I have 96 days till I leave for Africa! So I have not been eating real well lately and not exercising at all.....so today starts my "Couch potatoe to 5K" program! Its a 9 week program that I can do and will do. I want to be as healthy as I can be when I leave for Africa, and I have been asking the Lord to bless the trip, but not taking care of the body He gave me. So I had been doing some thinking and realized that I needed to do what I could and He will do the rest:)
On the adoption front...still have not gotten the dossier to Ethiopia. We keep getting request for "one more paper":) This is just a little annoying and I am trying hard not to anxious about it, trusting God and His perfect timing.
Well I pray that your week is blessed beyond measure and that you choose to seek the Lords face and to make time for the one relationship that is the most important!
May you be blessed-A

God is working even when we dont see it!

2010-04-07T19:40:00.002-04:00

Hi all~ I just had to post real fast tonight to share a God thing that happened today. We are struggling financially just like most of you are too. On top of that add one adoption of two children, Gods call to go on a mission trip, and finding out that we will make not one ----but two trips to Ethiopia during our adoption. All of this adds up to a wee bit of stress if I barely take my eyes off God and His call for us. I sent out about 30 letters to fundraise for the mission trip. And I have gotten a few back. I was kinda ticked off and freaked out since I was planning on the help for the trip. I was just having a poor-me party and grumping at God. The mail comes and I go get it. In the mail was a very generous check to go towards my mission trip. I sat down and cried and cried. I was so upset that I had doubted the Great Big God that had called me to this. I just felt like He was saying to me "I've got your back"!
So I just wanted to gloat about my Heavenly Father and how He hears my crys and yours, even when it seems like its scary and hopeless-He's Got My Back!
May you be blessed-A

The Week we've been waiting for!

2010-03-30T07:33:00.002-04:00

Its finally here! We have been anticipating this week since the beginning of the year! Grandpa and Grandma came in from Washington last night and Aunt Nats wedding is on Saturday! We get to wear fun dresses and new shoes and our little Guatemalan loves the froofy stuff! We had a princess party early this month and that was super fun:) She decided that clip on earrings arent very comfy after all. But she loves to clomp around in heels and she is just so sweet!

On the adoption front....paper work still being processed and one new paper that is needed to complete the dossier.:/ I just want these papers to be in ET and be ready to accept our children who are waiting for us! So once again we will be going to Indy to have something state certified. Hopefully this is it and we will be on our way!

Enjoy Spring-May you be blessed-A

Its a good day!

2010-03-19T18:27:00.002-04:00

Hey all..Just a quick update to say that the Dossier has left the house!!!! I am so thankful to have the 3 pounds of paper work on its way. Now we wait fot the next step in this grand adventure that God has called us on!
May you be blessed-A

Thoughts from my heart

2010-03-10T14:44:00.002-05:00

I am so happy to have a new camera! I love that it can capture the blue of winter mornings!:)
Well I have been thinking about some things. I thought maybe it would be good to get them out of my head and down so they may be a little clearer for me. We will see:)
I have been thinking a lot of my trip to Africa this summer and what all it means to me. I got chronic fatigue when I was 14. It ruled my life till about 4 years ago. It made me afraid to be the person I felt I was to be. I was so scared to do anything for fear of the life draining exhaustion. There was also the silent depression that came with it that I would try to cover with sarcastic humor. You know, Christians are supposed to be happy-that kept me questioning my walk. Then there was the fear of stepping out due to the church we went to and all the said and unsaid rules. This was all very hard to combat. I had such a desire to go and do and be for Jesus! God has sent things into my life and has healed me of the fatigue. I still have to be careful, but I can for the most part lead a very normal life.
So, going to Africa on this mission trip is stretching my faith already! I am trusting God to keep me healthy while I am gone. I am so scared-to be honest-scared to death that I will fall apart or catch something that will send me back to fatigue land. But, I said YES to God and I am going. I feel like He has told me He will keep me well and most days I have total peace about this:)
The next step is this....Next year I will be 30! I don't want to go into my 30's wenching and moaning that I am getting old! I want to be sold out for the work that God has placed in my heart and fill my home with His kids that will call me "mommy"! One thing that I feel very strongly about..is being a living example. That's another reason for my going on this trip. That's another reason why we are adopting again. I tell people that Gods word says to go and do, but I truly feel that I need to go and do if I am going to say these things, plus Gods word says too. So that's a little of whats been on my heart lately. I am so thankful to be able to go! I am also so happy that my mom will be joining me on this trip! We are going to have a awesome time together. Mom and I have done so much together and I am so thankful to have a mom that is sold out for Jesus and who has instilled these values into my life! Its so amazing! Its also this relationship that propels me to be sold out for Jesus in front of my little gal! I want her to have a burden for the lost and to desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. I want to direct you to www.familylifetoday.com . There is a Cd that I gave to all my gal friends at Christmas that is just awesome. Its 3 Essentials for every married women. Its good for those of you who are not married also:) Barbara Rainey talks about being a world changer on this Cd and its my new motto! I want to encourage you to be a world changer in whatever way God has called you to. Don't let fear stop you! One thing that I like to say is this..."When my times up, I want to break the tape at full speed"! I want to RUN my race and finish well! While God continues to bless me with breath in my lungs-I am going to be sold out! I hope this inspires you to be doing what you can in your community! God is awesome-He will make a way for you to do what He has placed on your heart! May you be blessed-A

P.S. took Mia to the chiropractor and she sleeps soundly ALL night long!

Late Nights

2010-03-03T07:27:00.003-05:00

She looks so darling when she is sleeping! We have been having a lot of conversation in the middle of the night. Around 5 hrs after she has gone to bed, she will wake up screaming my name. I fly out of bed, zoom upstairs with my heart pounding, and when I get there she becomes totally quiet and just looks at me. I will ask what is wrong, comfort her and hold her tight-all the while trying to breath normally agian. Usually she just wants to see me:) Yay. So last night around 1:30 A.M. I told her that I had enough of this just wanting to look at mommy in the middle of the night! So at 4:00 A.M. she starts screaming "unka Benny, Unka Benny"! I totally cracked up! She knew not to say my name enough to come up with "Unka Benny" who is 2300 miles away. This game has come to a end. Welcome to mommy life, where children scream in the night, where husbands dont have a clue that you've been running up and down the stairs at 1 and 4 in the morning while they stay sound asleep in the nice warm bed:) I love her! She is such a sweet heart and she just loves us so much too! May you be blessed this day-A

Africa-Here we come!

2010-02-26T08:20:00.003-05:00

Okay...its totally official! I am going to Africa in July! I am beyond excited and Lord willing-my mom will be joining me. We will be going to love on a whole lot of children, help out some orphanages and do something that I had planned to do when we went to get the kids. We will be spending a day at the Fistula hospital just ministering to the women. Go to http://www.fistulafoundation.org/ for more info. Its just awful what some of these women live with. I think one reason this just grabs my heart is that I would be one of these women if I lived in Africa.

So in preparation for this...here are some ways you can pray.

#1. Pray that our hearts would be prepared to do Gods work.

#2. Pray for the hearts of the Africans we will be ministering to.

#3. Pray for Brett and Mia. Pray that they would be great while mom is gone:)

#4. Pray that God will provide the funds for the mission trip.

I will keep you updated on this time gets closer. We are going with Visiting Orphans. You can check out there site at http://www.visitingorphans.org/ . There are a few spots left if you want to join us also!

Well on the adoption front..GOD IS SO GOOD!!! We actually are going to get a tax credit for Mia's adoption and this will allow us to send off the dossier! I cant tell you how thankful I am for this tax credit and I pray that Obama will see how much it helps the adoptive community. But I also know that My God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and $30,000 is nothing to Him and He will continue to provide just like He always has. Thank you for all your prayers and support during this process. May you be blessed-A

waiting still

2010-02-17T07:45:00.002-05:00

I am getting a little tired of snow, but it makes some real pretty pictures! We are going to have to be waiting a little while longer before the papers get sent away. There is now money due before its sent in and we just dont have it at the moment. So please hold us up in prayer as we seek out our options. So much of adoption is waiting on the Lord and more waiting:)!

On the home front here...we just have been laughing alot! Mia is so funny and she says and does the funniest things. She currently loves Mickey Mouse and Princess Daisy. She said yesterday "Mom, you looka so pretty! You like Princess Daisy Mom!" Melts a mommys heart:) She also likes to pray right along with Brett at meals times and this can be a wee bit distracting, but I think she mostly likes to say a very hearty AMEN at the end!

Enjoy the rest of winter if you live where there is actually winter! I mostly wish it would be over. I cant wait to pick fresh strawberries out of my patch this spring!!! Until next time...May you be blessed-A

Adventure like no other!

2010-02-06T17:57:00.003-05:00

Someday....Iam going to share these with her future husband and its going to be so fun!

Okay now for the adventure...FIRST...if you like to drink coffee- please go to www.justlovecoffee.com/theskiles and help us raise the money to cover the travel exspeses for our adoption. This coffee is soooo good! We love it and so do all who have tried it.

SECOND..Lord willing, this next week our dossier will be sent off and on its journey to Africa!!! I cant wait to have it gone from my pile of stuff to do. Once this bundle of papers hits the road, we have about 8 wks till we are refferal waiting! I go from being totally excited to massively freaked out!

THIRD.....Lord willing....I will be heading out on a adventure that I have wanted to do since I was a little girl! I will hopefully be going to Uganda and Ethiopia the end of July! I will let you know more about this as soon as I know I have been accepted for the trip for sure! I hope, I hope!!

This week I got to go meet my friends little guy from Ethiopia. He is just precious!! Mia loved him and now she wants two boys from "Akkica". I told her to tell Jesus. So you hear her saying "Jesus, two babies from Akkica" as she is playing. Oh, children are so precious!

Well I believe that should catch me up for now. Thanks in advance for buying some yummy coffee to support us:)! We are so glad for friends and family who support us wether in prayer or other ways. I pray that you will make your way to church tomorrow and that you continue to seek the face of your Father. May you be blessed-A

Check these out!

2010-02-01T08:53:00.003-05:00

This is just a random pic of Mia with Olive:) The dog is so sweet yet so bothersome. Puppie stage is cute but they are so bad too!

Any way...since we are in the process of adopting two more children and on the way to being a family of 5 (whoa, thats scary to write)...I have been praying and trying to find ways to live a little more frugally than we have been. Through another very helpful blog, I was lead to these other blogs. I hope that they are helpful to you and your families.

www.thenourishinggourmet.com

www.hillbillyhousewife.com - www.thegreenparent.com . I hope that your week is blessed and I pray that you make time to spend time in the word of God. May you be blessed-A

Thanks for praying

2010-01-28T19:15:00.002-05:00

Great is His faithfulness! God has brought several options to light for us regarding our adoption! We have several options from our agency and that is wonderful. Markets are markets. They are doing a little better today:) We had a friend from our local African yahoo group give us a agecny name for grants. So all these little blessings are wonderful. So thank you for praying. I know that my God is able to do amazingly more than we think or even ask and that is awesome to rest in. Its just amazing how much He cares for us. I pray that you are blessed for taking time to pray for us. -A

Please pray

2010-01-27T18:51:00.003-05:00

Well this is not the post I thought I would write next...We could really use your prayers.
As farmers, our life revovles around markets and government reports. They are beyond bad.
#1. Pray for God to direct us in our next steps.
We dont know where to go or what to do at this moment. We are just hanging on for dear life and knowing that God will show us and we really need to be shown.
#2. Pray that we would know how to proceed financially in our adoption.
Exciting that we recieved our I 171-H form today. #3. Pray that Brett would just keep looking to the Lord, and that God would speak mightly into his life.
#4. Pray that I would be a good steward and know how to stretch what little we have for our family at this time.
#5. Pray that we would be at peace knowing that God never leaves us or forsakes us.
Thank you for praying! I dont know what else to say except we know that God called us to adopt two children from Ethiopia and we are walking by Faith in a new way.
May you be blessed-A

crazy life

2010-01-25T10:52:00.002-05:00

Hi! I am back! A little about me...in the winter, if I do not protect my throat and mouth from cold temps I will become sick! So I took Mia sledding and got comfortable in the fact that I had been so healthy this winter so far, and did not wear enough warm things. Two days later I wake up to sickness like never before:) So bed is were I have been. So thankful for my mother-in-law who helped take care of Mia so I could lay in bed sick-hacking up my lungs! Now life has returned to normal with a few twist....We thought last week that we were going to get a orphan from Haiti...had a full day of adoption workshop...and decided to pursue going on a mission trip this summer....and potty training started and so far has been pretty successful! Praise God for a
z-pac to help me get better! This week is sure to be crazy with all the catching up to do. I have several things to tell you about but that will have to be after the dishes, clothes and taxes are all done.
Blessings to each of you-A

The call of God

2010-01-06T13:48:00.002-05:00

This picture was taken not long after Mia had been home. She loves to worship and she praises Jesus with her whole heart. I try to get her to "break it down" when she is singing, but she will not. She sings with her hands folded or raised and her eyes closed in devotion. I know God smiles and recieves her praise with a glad heart!

I often wonder what she would be doing now if we had ignored the call that God had placed on our hearts. I wonder if she would even know Jesus. I wonder where her life would have taken her if she had been left in Guatemala. I know how a lot of girls there make a living and its not pretty. Would she have been one of them? But as scared as we were and as unsure of how it was going to work-we went forward and God blessed us abudantly with this precious little girl.

Once agian, we find ourselves called to adopt. This time we have even less than before. God had said possibly two children! I am even more scared! I know God is faithful though and He will bring us through. It would be so easy to just get one little baby and be done. The easy little family. We would still have money to do the big vacations and designer clothes. But God has said we need to help these children that are growing up without someone to call family. We are called out by God to DO something. Even if we are scared and have to give up a lot. I am not saying any of this for sympathy. I am saying this so that any one who reads this will stand up and help. Even if you cant adopt-help someone who is. The money end of it alone is huge. Do you know someone who does foster care? Help them or maybe thats a way you can help the orphan. Get involved with Compassion or World Vision. Just do SOMETHING! Be the light in a childs life. You may be the only one who can tell them that Jesus loves them and gave his life for them. You may be the one to tell that they can accept Jesus into their heart and be saved for all eternity. Because Eternity is what this is all about. We have a mandate to tell the world about Jesus Christ and salvation through Him. Just loving a child can do this. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Please. There are little people out there and they deserve to be loved!

Okay-I have stepped off my soapbox now:) May you be blessed-A

post Christmas

2010-01-02T10:57:00.003-05:00

Christmas was so much fun this year! Mia was so fun. Last year she had only been with us just over a month and she didnt know what to think of it all. This year she was all about the presents and going places! She loves to go places and be with people. We are so thankful for her presence in our life.

Well on the adoption front-we finally have our new homestudy done and we get to send it in and we should soon have our I171-H form. This is the last thing we need to get our dossier ready to send in!! Yay!! I am still feeling anxious about this adoption. I am scared that I wont know how to have 3 kids and wont beable to function:/ Than I get worried that I may not have what it takes to help them bond properly. Then I think..I have not been given a spirit of fear or worry but of power and love and sound mind! Praise God that He never forgets us. He gave me amazing peace of mind when Mia came home and he did so much to keep my body going when I thought for sure I was done. If you read this-please just say a prayer that I would have the faith to remember all that my Heavenly Father has done for me and that He will ALWAYS keep me and make a way. Well I hope the new year is going well for everyone. I have lots of resolutions this year. Most have to do with doing better to stay in Gods word and making time to spend time in prayer with Him. It such a important thing for life. Gotta get the munchkin out of the bath tub. Blessings to you all-A

Merry Christmas

2009-12-19T17:36:00.002-05:00

I really cant believe that Christmas is here already! It just is amazing how time zooms by. I am just sitting here thinking about all the amazing ways that God has blessed us in the past year. He gave us Mia and my heart just overflows at all that she has brought to our lives. She is such a joyous and funny little gal who keeps us on our toes:) God called us to stretch ourselves again to possibly bring home two children from Ethiopia..still working on that. He blessed with a wonderful harvest and kept us safe through it. We have a warm home and we have never went without food, warm showers, clean clothes, and we have so many that we can call family. We are so abudantly blessed! I believe God has called us to lay ourselves down and to be even more given up for His names sake. I believe that 2010 is going be a year of seeing the Mighty hand of God in our lives. I know He is going to do miracles in our life and I cant wait to see how this all goes down. I pray that each and every one of you will seek the Lord with all of your hearts and that the souls around you are your biggest priority. There have been a few things that have happend this year that have torn my heart open and I know I am a better person because of them. These things made me fall on my knees before the Lord and cry out to Him. They made me examine myself to see if I was truly being all that I am to be before the Lord. I dont wish the hard times on any of you but I do hope that Jesus is the one thing you make time for in your life. I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas and may the Lord richly bless you in 2010-A

The trial of our faith

2009-12-11T20:43:00.002-05:00

I decided since we are adopting again and we have no extra monetary means....I was going to read about the life of George Mueller. This is one the hardest parts of adoption for me. Iam a person who likes to be ready in advance at all times. Possibly a control freak..:) I am trying to let this go and God has really been working on me since we have started our family...like the other night. Mia was suppose to be getting her coat on so we could take supper to Brett in the field. She came around the corner with this funny look on her face. Then she said "poop mommy"! And she had poo all over her hands, her shirt, her sweater, and had smeared it all over the window seal and a few other areas!!!! She got her hands smacked and a stern lecture about where her hands did not belong!

But I love her to pieces! She has blessed our life beyond what we could have ever thought and we are learning to die to self so that we can raise her up to love Jesus with all her heart.

So back to George...I really have always liked these stories of the incredible faith of this simple man and feel like I can learn from him and his walk. Since we hope to add two little people and become a family of 5....just writing the words freaks me out......I am going to need all the direction to walking with his kind of faith as possible. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Christ Jesus-1peter 1:7 Our Pastor preached an amazing message last week and I felt like God was telling me that I had prayed in faith, and that He was going to bless us but that I had to quit being anxious and let Him do his thing. So with every bit of the faith that I have-Iam trying to do just that.

Now for some closing remarks...Our friends from Ohio leave tomorrow to go to Ethiopia. They are leaving there daughter who is 17 months old behind, and going to pick up their new son. Please Pray for them. Pray that their daughter will be fine and they will be at peace leaving her in the states. Pray that they will be safe and their health will be protected. Pray that their hearts will be bonded at meeting with their little baby. Pray that they are able to enjoy this trip to the fullest and that God binds this family together. And thank you for praying for them-they are dear to our hearts and we love them greatly. I hope that you are able to be enjoying this Christmas season to the fullest and that Christ is the center of it all! May you be blessed-A

December is here!

2009-12-03T19:43:00.002-05:00

Every year I am going to make the most of this wonderful month in which our Savior was born.....and each year it goes by so fast. We are still trying to get all the crops in and that means food to the field still! I did manage to get all my christmas decorations up and now we are ready. Next week we hope to make 30 dozen cookies for the prison ministry. Then we are going to make more fun cookies for others, and hopefully I am going to find time to try my hand at making hard tack candy.
Next on the adoption news....our 2nd homestudy is almost finished! That means soon we can get all the papers sent away so they can began the journey to Ethiopia. I cant wait. I get butterflys each time I think of it! Well I do believe its time for more little people in the house so that Miss Mia can learn that all is not hers:) She is sure that everything is hers and that is sure to make things fun for the future! Well I have been cleaning the basement to make a play room to use during the winter. A room were we can have a bird and a place that will not be ruined if the new puppy would choose to pee. So I must be off to work agian. May you be blessed-A

Prayer Needed

2009-11-23T07:44:00.002-05:00

This little girl is one of my most precious treasures that the Lord has blessed me with. I cant imagine if we had not been able to get her or when we went to get her we had been told it was no longer possible. This is happening to the people in Canada. The Canadian government is not allowing people to bring their children home from Uganda. There is another Canadian family in Nepal with their daughter and they have been told they cant bring her into Canada. I dont know a lot about the situation in Canada, but I do know my Heavenly Fathers heart. He loves these children and he is calling Christians all over the world to step up and open our hearts to the orphan. Will you join me in praying for these families and for the whole situation? Check out www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com . This gal is the one who I got the info from.
I have been reading a book on the 2nd world war and how Hitler was snuffing the Jews out. One thing I never realized was, if the Jews got to Switerzland and were caught, the Swiss would turn them over to the Germans. The Swiss were proud to call themselves a nuetral country and yet they participated in this horrendous act to stay nueutral. Are we as Christians staying nuetral by not speaking up a little louder? Are we participating by not opening our hearts and homes to the orphan in a bigger way? I have been feeling burdened by this. Am I just wanting the little perfect family so I can still be comfy and not stand out to badly? Or am I willing to be the person that God has called me to be and stand tall in the face of adversity and persecution? I have been so convicted in the last couple of weeks to really seek the Lord and He has shown me were I have been walking to closely to the worlds side of things. I read blogs of amazing families that have miracles happening and they are bringing children home and growing their families and God is blessing them in a mighty way. I want that! I know God has called us to grow our family through adoption and I also know He has layed some things on my heart lately that are going to be tough. As James Macdonald says " I dont want to walk into heaven, I want the break though the gates at full speed"! Thats what I want to and it comes through prayer and fasting before our Almighty God. So while we are eating our turkey and filling ourselves to the brim and thanking God for all of Our Blessings, remember the orphan. They may be going hungry for the 8th day in a row or worse. Be a world changer-seek the Lord-How will you intercede for the children of the world and for those who are being attacked by Satan for stepping up?! PRAY ....with all of your heart. Isaiah 65:24-I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! As the day of Christs return gets closer, Satan works harder to get us down. I believe with all my heart that God will do great things, if we as the christian will only get down on our knees and stand in the gap for those who cant speak up for themselves. May you be blessed this thanksgiving and remember the miracles that God has done in your life-A

Mouse mystery

2009-11-22T18:02:00.003-05:00

So this morning I went to the kitchen and was going to take my daily dose of pills and vitamins. Then I realized that the mouse who is stalking my kitchen....ate my daily birth control pill. So I am wondering if it works the same for the mouse as it does for a human? Either way, I guess I am controling the mouse population. Thats all from the profound section of my brain....A

Gratitude

2009-11-19T07:58:00.002-05:00

So its that time of year again. You know the one filled with yummy food and the abundance of gifts and such. Well yesterday I was doing some of my Christmas shopping and I was just amazed at how many people are already out doing the same thing. So I just have had a few thoughts swirling in my head and now you get to read them:) First is the whole concept of Gratitude, which is a state of being grateful. I was just watching people and wondering if we even know how to do this anymore. This is something we have tried to begin to teach to Mia, and will continue to be a big subject in our home. I think we have so much we dont even know how to truly be thankful for the things that we so take for granted. So I have been talking with Mia about those things each day. Clean water, we wake up and get to eat 3 meals a day with snacks, we have many changes of clothes, we have shoes, we get to brush our teeth, and the list is endless. I listen to Family Life Today, and Barbera Rainey has been speaking on gratitude. I want to challenge all of you to count your blessings each day and make it a habit rather than wishing for more or better.
Next on my list of things swirling...World Vision Gift Catalog. Check it out at www.worldvisiongifts.org and bless someone somewhere this year. We are doing the gift for women and child in Guatemala in honor of Mia.
Next...a friend of mine told me that she has overheard a lady explaining that at their home the kids only get 3 gifts each, since that is what Jesus recieved. I thought that was such a cool idea and have adopted it for our family.
Next...If you live in Indiana or wherever you may beable to go see the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I am totally pumped about this. The talent is just amazing and the light show is awesome! I cant wait!!!
Okay now that I have that all out-I hope each of you is blessed today and that Jesus is your reason for being-A

One year on Nov. 15th

2009-11-14T08:21:00.002-05:00

Guatemala City, Guatemala-one hour late already and the luggage is just meandering its way to us. Welcome to a new world were things just take time:) We were running and trying to get through customs, get luggage, find our way through the hundreds of Mayans who had come to the airport to just watch the people. We were already a hour late and I wanted to get the room all ready for Mia and to have the families presents all wrapped. We zoom through crazy traffic and pull up to the Westin. Utter poverty and filth on one side and a mecedez on the other. We were here. We run in and they are all there-the whole family...and our daughter. There were so many emotions! Brett meeting Mia for the first time and knowing that through all of this, at the end of the evening we would have to say goodbye. Mia was so cute! She had grown so much since mom and I had been there. Clara had dressed her in this cute purple dress and she looked like a little Mayan princess. All of her foster sisters were there too. And then there was this wonderful family who offered to interpret for us for the evening. Praise God for them! We went out for dinner at a most delicious Peruvian restaurant. During dinner I would have to wipe back my tears because each minute that past was closer to goodbye. Clara-the foster mom- would just cry and look at me with such sadness in her eyes that I just about couldnt take it. Brett was in a daze. New country,new language, new food, and a new daughter! Well that was the first day of our family of three. By the grace of God-we said our goodbyes. How do you portray all your gratitude to a family who has given all of their love and care to Your child for 15 months? Someday I hope to speak Spanish good and take Mia back to visit. Well from that day forward we have been most blessed by this little girl being in our lives. There have been some really rough days when I have wondered what in the world we were doing but God got us through. Mia has adjusted well and she doesnt know how much it blesses us when she wraps her arms around us and says "my mommy" and "my daddy". Thank you Father for this precious girl! We are a forever family!

Jesus Loves Me!

2009-11-09T20:43:00.004-05:00

I heard a quote the other day and I thought it was good. It was this "gossip the gospel"! I really like that! I have been thinking a lot about this Christmas season and how I might be a witness to the people around me that this is not just another holiday. So I pray that I will beable to not be so in a hurry that I cant talk to those around me about the Reason for this Season.
I love my little Mia so much! She loves to sing along with Klove and its makes my heart happy in a teary, good way to see her praising Jesus with her arms stretched up to Him! She is such a gift from the Lord and we love her so much! I pray that this week is blessed for each of you and that you draw near to the Father though the Word-prayer and fellowship.
Blessings to you-A

A New Day

2009-11-02T08:33:00.002-05:00

I may be crazy, but I love Mondays! They are a fresh start to the week and I am always reminded that the Lord says that His mercies are new every morning-GREAT is his faithfulness! So this week is a new week to exercise and eat right. To be a better mom than I was last week. Mia is becoming such a big girl. She says new words every day and puts more words together too. This morning she woke up early (the time changed) and she was crying and yelling for me. So when I walked into her room , she says "mommy, I crying and crying, saying Mommy, mommy!" . Totally silly is what this little girl is. She loves to go to church and see the kids and sing to Jesus! She loves to sing and we love to listen. We are quickly approaching our one year anniversary of Mia being in her forever family! Simply amazing how much our lives have changed in one year. We have become better people because of this little blessing that God has given to us. We are looking forward to see what the next year will bring into our family. Well I hope this is a week of experiencing the greatness of the Lord in each of your lives. May you be blessed-A

Opportunities to share

2009-10-26T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! We had our last homestudy visit this past Saturday. I am truly thankful its over. Its really not bad-but when its your second for the same adoption-the endless questions that you have answered so many times get old. One thing that has been hard is this gal is learning all about us and she isnt very personable. Oh well-its done.
We had a visitor at church Sunday to preach. He spoke on reaching out to the Muslim community. One thing that he really stressed was that this religion is not a peaceful religion and we can really reach these people by loving them. 1John 4:11-Beloved, if God so loved us , we ought to love one another. Pray for these people. They are blinded from the truth that can set them free for all of eternity. A lot of these Muslims dont like the mean part of the religion and are open to the gospel if we will just present the message to them. We are ambassadors for the King of Kings and the Lord or Lords. Get out there and do your job!:) I have been thinking of this since so many in Africa are Muslim. I pray that God will give me opportunities to share the truth to these people.
May you be blessed-A

praise in the storm

2009-10-19T08:52:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had a nice fall weekend for once. Its been so rainy and wet-but one of things that I love about a cooler fall is the beautiful leaves! They are awesome right now!
One thing that is amazing to me is how timely our pastors messages are to life. We have been going through the book of John and we were in chapter 6 yesterday. In this book the disciples are going across the sea and a storm hits. While they are freaking out and trying to make it through the storm-Christ is just out for a evening stroll on the waves of the sea! Well Christ comes walking by and they freak all the more. They think he is a ghost. Well Christ just comes over and gets in the boat and the bible says the waves were instantly calm and that they were immediately at their destination. Well our pastor was explaining to us that sometimes God puts us in a storm to keep us safe. Maybe we are getting to much like the world and forgetting that this place is not our home. Or maybe we loose sight of the big picture. Whatever the case-we may think we are going to be capsized by the waves but God is all the while keeping us safe from a more dangerous situation. So whatever you may be facing this week-remember that God is there right beside you and that the waves will not over take you. There are two kinds of christians in this world...the ones walking into a storm and the ones that are walking out of a storm:) The joy is that He always brings us through the storm! May you be blessed this week and remember to praise HIM in the storm-A

A Weekend to Remember

2009-10-09T09:24:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone! Today Brett and I leave for the weekend! I am super excited for this. We are going to the Weekend to Remember put on by Family Life Today. Its a christian based program and I am hoping to gain a lot of knowledge. I listen to their program almost every day on Moody. They have lots of wisdom for families and couples.

Please pray for us. This is the first time we will be going away, just the two of us, since Mia was placed in our arms! Please pray for her. I am trying to not worry about her:) She is going to be staying with Bretts parents-so you can pray for them too!

Hope your weekend is blessed-A

Its a grand life!

2009-10-05T12:18:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!
Life has been on fast forward! Two weeks ago was Mia's birthday party. We had 28 people and lots of fun presents. Pictures will follow another day:) It was a fun evening and she had a lot of fun with all the children. I cant believe that she is already two. Its kinda sad but I know there are many fun days ahead. She is such a blessing to us. We cant imagine life with out her. I was a little sad just wondering about her birth mother. I always think of her and wonder if she is sad or if she thinks of Mia on the special days, and then I pray that God will give her a special peace. I hope she knows how much we love her for the hard choice she made. We tried to do Guatemalan things-like the pinata! But I had gotten a pink horse and Mia loved it and was upset that we were wacking away at it with a bat! Maybe next year it will be more fun.
Well next on the list of crazy life items-we are adopting agian! We have been working on this since March and recently found out that the gal that did our homestudy was not really licensed and so we now have to redo. Just lovely! But I keep thinking that God knows our future-He called us to this and there is always a reason for the timing of things. We are adopting from Ethiopia and Lord willing, we hope to bring home two children. We have been called to this and we know that God is going before us to make a path. Its going to be a ride of watching miracles. We have no money for this adoption and the economy has not been good for farming-yet God called and we want more than anything else to do HIS will! So we jumped in with both feet! Its a little exciting and a lot of scary. We had our first homestudy this past Saturday. It was interesting. Glad its over. Its hard to explain that God called you to something and that you have the faith that He will work it all out according to His will. A worldly view does not understand. Plus I wish the people who did this kind of work had first hand experience in adoption. You cant know all until you have done it, and even then there is a lot of unknown!
Number 3 on crazy life items-Mia's getting 5 teeth!!!! I have had 4 days of crying and fever and I feel a wee bit cranky myself. I cant wait until this is done:)
Well that should update you for now in our life. I have lots more to say but since its nap time I had better work like a wild women!!:) May the good Lord Bless you-A

Home sweet Home

2009-09-12T22:40:00.000-04:00

Hi! This is going to be my 3rd attempt at this post! I have no clue what happened to the first two so who knows! We have been busy. First off-thanks for the prayers for little Charlie. He is doing better-released from the hospital and back to the orphanage. God is so good to care for the orphans.

We just got back on Thursday evening from Washington. We went to visit my family and we had so much fun! Mia loves her litte cousin Shay and is still asking for her each time she wakes up or we head for the car. They had so much fun together. Grandpa Aaron watched them most evenings while the rest of us played Dutch Blitz. It was great! We got to go to Ellensburg-which is where I grew up. Labor Day is Rodeo Weekend in this town and they have a great parade. We left Pasco at 6:30 am to be there and get good seats so Mia could run out and get candy:) It rained on us but it was the best to be there. It was fun to have Brett see the funkiness that I grew up in! We also got to visit my elderly friend Kitty Moe. She is 104 and has the neatest stories to tell. Her family was some of the founding fathers of this country. Mia sat in her lap a little and I think Kitty was thrilled.

Well its been back to craziness since we got home! I have a ton to do and Mia's first birthday home is this next week. Praise God for this little girl who makes our days so filled with joy and laughter, and sometimes complete frustration:)

May you be blessed-A

lots to take to Jesus

2009-08-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

First off-I will get some pictures on here soon:) I know some of you are waiting for them!
Its been a little crazy the last little while. God has blessed my garden with a bountiful harvest and I have been doing lots of tomatoe processing. I hope to make a lot of salsa tomorrow! I am also going to try making tamales for the first time. I hope they are good because I love tamales!! This past weekend we spent with the hubbys family and it was fun. We were up at the lake and it was really cool this year-about 65. Not good swimming weather but the little boys all got in and so did some of the girls. Mia and I had a nap on the deck all bundled in a down comforter.
Sunday we had a end of summer band and bbq at the park. It was nice and the hotdogs were yummy. I dont know how many people were there but I do know that they fixed about 150 hotdogs!
Now for the serious stuff. Our friends-Jeremy and Addi Camp lost there baby at 14 wks. Please lift them up to Jesus and Addi asked for healing for her body.
Next-Please pray for little Charlie. He is the little boy of our friends and they are waiting to bring him home from Ethiopia. He has phenomia and its a long ways away from mom and dad. Please pray for them that God gives them peace during this time.
Well I have a lot of stuff to do to get ready for the salsa making process tomorrow-so I must go.
May you be blessed-A

Good reading

2009-08-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I have been doing in my life is trying to get rid of baggage from the past and be REAL! This is scary because you have to feel and hurt and allow yourself to cry and admit things about yourself that are not pretty! I have also been reading alot lately. I have not yet figured out how to link stuff so I will just tell you that most books are available on Amazon.
First I read "Scared" by Tom Davis. Heart renching....Now I am reading "Red Letters" by him also. I will read a little bit and just have to sit and think and digest. I am hard core about reaching the orphans of the world. I just dont know yet how much I am to do. Still seeking the Lord on that one. I do know that expanding our family through adoption is one of them-Still seeking the Lord on that one also. Anyway, if you have time to read-reaching the Fatherless is a concern to you-these books are amazing.
I am also trying to plan Mia's 2nd birthday-First birthday home. If any of you know of Guatemalan birthday traditions beyond fireworks and pinatas, let me know!
May your day be blessed-A

Humid days

2009-08-08T14:33:00.000-04:00

Today is just another hot summer day, but thats okay since we have been waiting for summer-all summer:) I got tickets today to go visit my family in September so I am pretty excited about that! We get to see cousin Tomas and his girlfriend tonight which is a rare treat! We love it when family visits. Well this is all for now. Just wanted to get the blog going
May you be blessed-A