a few questions answered

Oh my goodness gracious, Anthony and I are still so amazed at what the Lord has done for sweet Yulia.  It truly blows our minds when we consider how desperately He loves her, and all orphans, for that matter.

After our recent fundrasier,  I have received a whole lot of emails.  Most of them asking me some of the same questions.  I thought I would answer a few of them here as so many of you are obviously praying for Yulia, and gathering from the number of people who have written to me, many are wondering the same things.

Why did I stop the Chip-In at $20,000.00?

Simply because of the way that the grant will be distributed to her family.  Once a family is committed to bringing Yulia home they will either have to have a home study already completed (which is what we're praying for), or they will have to commit to doing one asap.  The money for the home study, Promise Trust funds paid to Reeces Rainbow (who will facilitate the adoption), and USCIS approval cannot come out of the grant fund due to the fact that RR only pays out the grant money after the adoption process has already begun. The initial adoption costs therefore will have to be covered by the family.

I hope that makes sense.  It's just the way large grants are distributed.  Every ministry that I know of will ONLY release a grant once a home study has been completed.  To just hand out a huge sum of money before the initial paperwork has been done would be ludicrous.  Too many things can go wrong, and then the money would be lost.  These things have to be handled with utmost integrity.

I will absolutely let you know as soon as I hear that a family has committed to bringing Yulia home.  Please keep trusting with me that it will be soon.

Can I still donate to Yulia's fund?

Yes, you absolutely can, if you feel led.  Just go here and get the details.  You can either do it via PayPal or snail mail. 

Did we do something special to raise $20,000.00 in five days?

Ummm....no!  Nothing at all.  We heard from the Lord, went out and bought an iPad, prayed like crazy, trusted God for an outpouring of provision, and that was it.  Seriously friends, it was ALL God and NOTHING of me.  God mobilized His army to meet a need.  That is the only explanation I can give you.  I promise you that I do not have any special gift in raising funds or anything like that.  I don't know anything more than any of you about how to have a successful fundraiser.  This was just one of those times that God chose to display His glory!

There is such a need.  What can I do to help?

Yes, there is such a need.  There are so many amazing organizations that fundraise for children who are desperately looking for homes. Brittany's Hope is one of my favorite ministries. They helped us tremendously when we brought Haven home. There are many places where you can put your money and know that it is going to good use.  Personally, we love to help families who adopt children.  Having relied solely on fundraising to bring our four adopted children home, we know how hard the journey can sometimes be.  It gets so tiring asking for money after a while.  Sometimes it is so wonderful to be blessed with a few extra dollars even before you have asked.

Adoption is ridiculously expensive.  No doubt about it.  I hate that it costs what it does. It is wrong!  But there is nothing anyone can do to change it.  I will never understand why it is the way it is. 

One thing I do know though is that my God is MORE than able to provide the ransom for an adoption.  We have seen it, lived it, and experienced it.  Four times over.  We adopted all four of our children debt free.  Was it easy?  No, absolutely not.  It took hard work and effort.  Not once did we expect God just to rain down money from heaven and say, "Here you go, Salems, now just go and adopt your children."  No, we knew we would have to put in a whole lot of effort.  But God always rewards those who work hard.  He provided for our children in astounding ways.

I am absolutely confident that God can provide for an adoption. 

I get so many emails from people who have such a heart for orphans, they long to bring a child home yet are unable to adopt due to life circumstances, hubby not being on board, lack of finances, unemployment, etc. Many of us have been there, done that. I always tell them to sow seed into someone else's adoption.  Sow seed and watch it grow.  Bless someone else with the very thing that you are desiring, and watch it come back to you.  God's just so amazing like that.

There are so many families adopting. If you really want to do something to help out--please consider helping them out.  As with Yulia's adoption fund, it ALL adds up.  Do you know just how many people donated $5 and $10 to her fund?  I cannot even tell you.  It's loaves and fishes stuff, you know?  God does the multiplication.

Here are just a few friends I know of who are adopting.  I have known these ladies for a long time here in the blogosphere.

Suzanne is giving away an awesome cruise to the Bahamas that I am seriously twisting God's arm to give to me. The give-away ends tomorrow and they are in need of so much money to just begin their adoption of Eli.  Feel like a little cruise?  Go and sow seed. 

Holly and her family are getting ready to travel to China very soon for their adorable little princess who has many special needs. Holly has a HUGE heart for orphans. She is selling the most stunning Ugandan jewelry for next to nothing.  Need a piece of Africa?  Go here and please consider helping Holly to bring her sweetie pie home. 

Connie and her precious family are paper chasing for another little treasure waiting for them in China. These people have hearts of gold. They are giving away a seriouly fabulous camera as part of their fundraising efforts.  Please go to her blog and consider helping them out.  It ALL adds up.

Lori and her family are adopting another teenager about to age out of the Chinese program.  They too NEED the funds to get to China before time runs out.  Lori is selling Show Hope tees that are so cute.  Bringing home older kids is NOT an easy thing.  These people are called by the Lord.  All they need are the finances.

Linda and her family brought home Daniel in February 2010 after a year of waiting on God to have victory over this special baby's life.  God is asking this family to trust Him once again as He moves mountains to redeem two more children from Liberia.  God has made a way that the cost is much less and for that we are grateful.   You can read about how urgent this adoption is here.

Tammy and her family are adopting Mayah.  She has Treacher-Collins syndrome. It's a cranio-facial abnormality where, in her own country, she has been rejected. They are waiting here, with open arms for her. Their three sons talk about Mayah daily and pray for her.  They still need $8320 to fund Mayah's adoption.

Those are just a few families that I know of who have current fundraisers to bring their children home.  I know they would all be so thankful for any help that they can get from the body of Christ.

The need certainly is enormous...but so is our God.

How blessed we are in giving.

~~~~~~

And finally, I used random.org to generate a winner....

Jennifer Applin, you are the winner of the iPad.  Congratulations!  I'll be contacting you soon.

life is good

And busy.  And crazy.  And hectic. 

But also so very, very blessed.

In every way imaginable.



Even though I fall into bed at night wondering why in world God only gave us 24 hours in each day.



To do everything that needs to be done.



We have been squishing an unbelievable amount of stuff into each day.



And even though I have way too much on my plate right now, and I feel so weary....



I am so thankful for each and every opportunity the Father gives me, and every blessing under heaven and earth.



Like these treasures--oh my goodness, they bless my heart beyond description.



They are growing and blossoming like little flowers in the spring time fall time.



I look at them and am more and more convinced....



That every family deserves an angel with an extra chromosome.

Who can possibly resist?



Please forgive my delay in announcing the winner of the iPad.  I just have not got there yet.  Tomorrow is a new day, with a new to-do list. 

I also have a lot of questions to answer about Yulia and her grant fund from all the e-mails I have received. I'll give you an update tomorrow.

Oh, and an update on Hailee and Harper's progress coming up one of these days too. 

And a post on other things near and dear to my heart.

Whew...who needs sleep anyway?

all glory to God

Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!"
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in.

Psalm 138:1-3 (The message)

How can I ever thank you all enough for your help with what God laid on my heart?  The sacrificial outpouring of finances, the way you helped to spread the word, your prayers for sweet Yulia. All in only five days. I honestly just don't have the words.  I am moved, amazed and in awe of my God, and His people.

From the bottom of my heart..."Thank you".  Please know that I am so absolutely thankful for each one of you.  Thank you for opening your hearts to Yulia.  Thank you for sharing her story.  Thank you for giving and giving and giving.  And, of course, thank you for praying.  I wish I could e-mail you all individually and thank you personally.

Please continue to pray Yulia all the way home. Obviously time is so critical for her. Every day counts. We just don't know how much of it she has. The road ahead is not going to be easy for her, or her family. I will keep you posted on the family who God raises up.  As soon as I know who they are, I will let you know.  I can hardly wait to see them go and scoop her up and bring her home...where she belongs.

God of wonders, huh?  What a combined Body of Christ effort--all for His glory.

So much to share.  So much happening.  But for now, I seriously need some sleep. Talk about an emotional few days. If you're waiting for an e-mail from me, please just give me a few days, I'm trying hard to get on top of my overflowing inbox.  Oh yes, and the winner of the iPad--I'll announce that tomorrow too. 

I'll be back with a catch up post.

Love and huge hugs to all of you.  I appreciate you all so much.  You're amazing people of a Mighty God!

All glory to God in the highest.

somebody

One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.

Mother Teresa

I am completely overwhelmed.  

THANK YOU for helping Yulia to be somebody  to so many people.  

THANK YOU for giving her hope.

THANK YOU for opening your hearts to this little angel who is so dear to me.

THANK YOU for helping the Chip-In grow so unbelievably fast.  

I am absolutely astounded by the generosity of God's people.  Anthony and I are speechless.  Amazed.  Humbled.  Grateful.  Overflowing with thankfulness.  Tearful.  Praising God.  

How GREAT is our God?

why not us?

"Just out of curiosity why can't you adopt her? If this is causing you so much pain why hasn't she become a part of your family? Why haven't you brought her home?"

From the crazy number of e-mails I have received asking me this question, it seems that many are curious as to why my own family is not bringing Yulia home.  I probably should have answered it in my original post about Yulia. 

Why are we not briniging her home?  We are the ones who have the burden for her.  We are the ones who have met her and spent time with her.  So why is she not ours?

Well, it's simple really.  In order to adopt a child (either domestically or internationally) there are many requirements that a family needs to meet.  There are the requirements that the U.S. has in place that you have to meet in order to get approval here to adopt.  And then there are also additional stipulations that each country you adopt from has.  They all vary. 

The bottom line for us is that we do not qualify to adopt in this season of our lives.  And there is absolutely no way around it.  Trust me, if there were a way, we would find it.  But it is absolutely impossible at this stage.  I wish things could be different, but I also know all too well that God allows us all to go through different season in our lives. We're in one we don't particulary like at all.  But, it has given God such an incredible opportunity to show Himself faithful to take care of our every need.  And so we're trying to embrace the season, for we know that they do not last forever.

Would we bring her home if we could?  Oh my word...absolutely.  We would not hestitate to make Yulia a Salem.  If there was any way humanly possible, I would have run out of that orphanage with her in my arms when I left there for the last time.  She captured my heart, and yes, I do feel an enormous amount of pain in my heart for her.

I often get asked whether I think that every Christian should adopt a child.  I don't really know the answer to that question.  I know that we are ALL commanded to care for orphans--but I know too that "caring" can be done in many different ways.  I absolutely believe that every Christian should inquire of the Lord if they are to adopt, but it does not mean that the answer will be "yes" for every family.  We're all called by God differently.

What I am one hundred percent convicted of is that we can ALL do something to help the orphan crisis.  Every orphan needs someone who will be a voice for them. And really, there is so very much that can be done. I believe that every Church should have an orphan ministry.  And I am totally convinced that it is the Christian's responsibility to care for the fatherless (because His Word says so). 

So no, we cannot bring Yulia home.  But there are times in life when we just know that we know that we have to do something to help. I knew that Yulia would be overlooked on a waiting child site because people just would not realize the urgency of her situation. 

Yulia needed a voice....and a grant.

I knew that she could never be my own child (unless God changed our circumstances---which He has not).  But I also knew that I could not turn my back on her and walk away from her.  I would be accountable for that decision for the rest of my life.  I felt sure that I absolutely had to do something to raise the RANSOM for her. She needed money, which makes an adoption so much easier. I know that my God is faithful.  Faithful to raise up an army when there is a need.  Faithful to send His warriors into the battle when the trumpet call comes.

And that, dear friends, is exactly what He has done for sweet Yulia.  Many have heard the trumpet call. God has raised an army of mighty warriors and sent them into battle for this sweet child.  NOT because of anything I have done.  But simply because of WHO HE IS!  Faithful and True.  Lover of the orphan.  Protector of the weak. 

Honestly, I never imagined that together we would raise such a large amount of money for Yulia in a few short days.  My part has been so small in God's bigger picture. He truly has used so very many people to get that total to 80%.  I am blown away by His great love for this little girl.  And I am so incredibly blessed by the love that so many of you have shown by donating to the Chip-In so far.  I am moved to tears when I see how God is using her life already for His glory.  Even in sickness.  Every life has value and purpose.  To think that little Miss Yulia lies in a crib on the other side of the world and has no idea how loved and treasured she already is...by many. 

Amazing.

Thank you, glorious Body of Christ.  Thank you for enabling this precious little angel to come home. A treasure who WILL find her Mommy and Daddy--the ones who were destined to be her parents before the foundation of the universe. Thank you for playing a part in her unfolding story. She WILL be chosen.  Of this I am absolutely positive.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."   John 14:18

There are times when we are called to be their Mommy and Daddy.  And then there are times when we are called to just be their voice.

LOVE poured out

Oh. My. Goodness.

I have literally sat staring at my computer. Crying. Laughing. Chills all over. Thanking God. And thanking God some more.

Speechless!

I have been trying all afternoon to find the right words to express what is in my heart. I'm not very eloquent with words, and sometimes I struggle to find just the right words to express myself. Times like today, when everything just comes out all wrong.  Type.  Delete.  Type.  Delete.  Type.  Delete. 

I really don't even know how to begin to convey what is in my heart. Every time I write something down, it seems so inadequate to express what I'm feeling right now. I am truly at a complete loss for words.

I am so humbled and amazed. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness and absolute gratitude for you, God's army. His beloved people.  You have blown me away.

When I felt positive that I needed to advocate for Yulia, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that $12,000 would be donated in just two days. Never. I am an emotional mess. The fact that so many of you would open your hearts to a little girl who is languishing in a crib on the other side of the world brings me to my knees. Sobbing.

Such love. Such amazing and unconditional love.  Heaven coming down to earth.

There is so much bad news around. I cannot even watch the news on TV or read a newspaper anymore. Everything is so darn depressing. I can't tell you what it does to me (and many others) to SEE good! To SEE the love of God. To SEE the goodness of God being poured out so sacrificially through His people. To SEE a miracle unfolding before our very eyes. To SEE the Body of Christ rally for someone who they have never even met.

And to SEE how desperately and passionately God LOVES orphans. How His absolute desire is that they be rescued and brought into families...no matter what.

It all...well...leaves me a blubbering mess.

I have been so deeply moved by the e-mails I have received over the last few days from families who themselves have raised children who have (or had) Cockayne Syndrome. And from families who have adopted children who they knew would not live long and fruitful lives. Just like precious Chrissie. It truly is so humbling to meet such incredible families. "Whatever, God" people. Those who will serve the Lord with reckless abandon no matter where it takes them, or what He asks them to do.

I am forever changed by the hearts of all of you, God's beautiful people, who have sown seed into Yulia's grant fund.  I can tell you that from all the e-mails I have received over the last two days, that the faith of many is being restored...all because so many of you have said "yes" to helping a little girl who so desperately needs someone to come and get her. 

Thank you for allowing us all to SEE the goodness of a Father who is alive and well and more than able to show us His miracle working power in 2010.

Please don't stop praying.

Please don't stop spreading the word about Yulia.

Please don't stop trusting with me for her family to find her soon.

And please don't stop giving to Yulia's grant fund.  I am still standing and believing that together we can have her adoption FULLY FUNDED by October 8.

Possible?  Heavens, YES!

NOTHING is impossible for the Lord God Almighty.

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to Yulia.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...from the bottom of my heart.

the most important post I have ever written

Thank you for helping me to raise $20,000.00 for Yulia's adoption in just five days.  I am so thankful to each and every person who contributed to her fund.  You are amazing!

~~~~~~

Before you even begin reading this post, I must tell you that it is a long one. Please, please make sure that you read all the way to the end. This is by far one of the most important posts I have ever shared here on my blog. And there's a great giveaway right at the end.

Most of you who have read my blog for a while will know that Anthony and I recently adopted two little girls who have Down syndrome from the Ukraine. In April and May I spent six weeks in that country finalizing their adoption. It was a long and crazy time there. I was alone without my hubby. But, as He always does, God came through for me.

Looking back, I know that my extended time in the Ukraine was all for a good reason. While it was hard to see the trees through the forest at that time, now the view from here is so much clearer. God's bigger picture is always so much lovelier than my tunnel vision.

I spent five weeks visiting my daughters in their orphanage each and every day. Walking down the rickety path that led to their building became my daily routine. It was a good thing. Not only did I get time to bond with my new daughters, but God also gave me the gift of spending time with other children in that place. Some of you will remember my post here about Hailee's room and the children that I had to leave behind on that day when I left the orphanage for the final time. You will also know that two of the little boys I shared about in that post now have a family who are working hard to bring them home as soon as possible. That means that three of the six children in Hailee's awful room now have a home. Hallelujah.

There was a time a while back where I thought that I was done with that room. Since Yuri and Wade (now Bohdi) both have a family, I thought that chapter in my life was now closed. But, dear friends, I was wrong. It seems that the Lord is not done with me yet.

You see, for the last couple of months I have been burdened. My heart has ached for a situation, which, by all wordly standards seems hopelessly impossible. Some looking in from the outside may shake their heads in disbelief and say, “Forget it. This is futile. Just let it go.” It's one of those things that I have really struggled to get my head and my heart around. I have begged the Lord to take the burden from me. But He has not.

There are times in life when I know that the only thing we can possibly do in a situation is to pray. Times when things are out of our control and the Lord expects us only to get on our knees and bring the situation before Him. But then there are those times when we are called to do more--times when we are called to rally. This is one of those times for me. Some times I struggle with the whole ‘being’ versus ‘doing’ thing. It’s a hard balance to find when you’re naturally a doer, but God calls us all just to be in certain seasons. This time there is no doubt in my mind…the Lord has called to me to action—to DO. But I cannot do it alone.

Please read on as I share my heart, and my burden.

I am aching. My heart is broken for one sweet little love. A sweetheart I know personally.

For her.



Please allow me to introduce you to Yulia, who is almost three years old.

It is with tears streaming down my face that I come to you. I come to you, my bloggy friends, begging for help with the mission that God has set before me (and hopefully you too). I have never done anything like this on my blog and honestly, I don’t know how it is going to work out. But what a privilege and an absolute honor it is to do this for her, sweet Yulia!

I spent five weeks visiting with Yulia. I really have a very deep love for her. While I was never allowed to pick her up and cuddle her close to me, I was able to love on her in her crib. She is precious. She has the sweetest smile and a very, very tender spirit. She is tiny and very malnourished, as are all the kids in that room. She lives a life of hell on earth. There are no cuddles or loves. There are no warm embraces or playful hugs. Outdoor time is never permitted. Those four walls of the crib is the only life she knows. She is taken out only to be fed (as fast as humanly possible) and changed. But that is it. The children are treated harshly. She wears the same clothes for days on end and toys are few and far between. All dignity has been stripped away. She lies in her own urine for hours on end. Nobody cares.

Yulia, like all the kids in that room, is drugged day in and day out. All in the name of “best sleep,” I was told. Yeah, more like all in the name of keeping them still and quiet so that they are a far less burden to those assigned to their care. She cannot function properly due to the adult tranquilizing drug she is given daily. Yulia, like our Hailee, is considered what I believe the Bible refers to as "one of the least of these." She has no value whatsoever. She is merely a body in that place. A corpse with breath that has to be fed and changed. A burden to society.

It’s heartbreaking that any child should have to live that kind of life. But, my friends, that is only the beginning of Yulia’s story.

Yulia needs a miracle.

It was only after I got home from the Ukraine and posted her picture on my blog that Andrea Roberts (from Reeces Rainbow) was able to get more information about her. Truly, nothing could have prepared my heart for what I read. Any hope of finding a family for her seemed to fade quickly. I questioned God and have asked Him more times than I can count if this could ever possibly work. “Who will go for her, Lord?” “How much time does she have, Father?” “Is this even possible?”

Yulia has an extremely rare condition called Cockayne Syndrome. I read that there are only about 60 known cases in the world. The syndrome is characterized by premature aging, cataracts, sensitivity to sunlight, hearing loss, impaired development, and so on. Her life expectancy is severely shortened. She can live anywhere from four to about twenty years. Sadly, there is no cure for Cockayne Syndrome. Yulia may (or may not) also have some cerebral palsy.

Oh my goodness, my heart cannot comprehend it all. Knowing all that I do about where she is, I know for a fact that she will NOT get any kind of medical treatment. Physical therapy is essential for children who suffer from CS. But all the children in that room are NOT permitted to get any kind of therapy at all. They are not worthy of it, according to those who make decisions in that place. The result being that her little limbs will become stiffer and stiffer. She will not be given the drug for Parkinsons Disease which will alleviate her symptoms. Yulia is dying a very slow and painful death. Fact!

She does not deserve it. She does not deserve to be there. She does not deserve to not have access to drugs that can help her. She does not deserve to be transferred to a mental asylum when she is around 4 years old—a place where conditions are so inhumane that we would not even allow our dog to live there. Yulia does not deserve to die alone, with no arms to hold her tight and tell her about the glorious ONE who waits for her on the other side. She does not deserve to not even be told about Jesus. Oh God in heaven.

The fact is that without divine intervention Yulia will not live a long and productive life. Sadly, she will die early. That part we cannot change. Like all of us, her days are numbered in the Book of Life, and only He knows how long she has. I believe with all my heart that ALL children deserve the love of a family, no matter what is “wrong” with them. Nothing could ever convince me otherwise. I believe that even in sickness, her life has value and purpose. I know that God wants to use this little treasure for His glory. Yulia deserves a family! A very special family.

Yulia needs two miracles, friends.

The first one is to have a family. She needs someone to go and get her OUT of the Ukraine. Like yesterday. She is wasting away there. I know because I have seen with my own two eyes. Do I believe that someone will go? Absolutely. I believe in God’s people. I believe that there are those who are willing do whatever it takes to follow His voice. Radical Christians. We read about them in books, and there are many, many around today—including some who are reading this blog at this very moment. People who will follow the Lord, come what may. People who don’t look at the circumstances, but rather at the face of their God who calls them, no matter what. “Whatever, God” people is what we call them. I know that someone will go and rescue Yulia. We now need to pray that the radical someones will find her. Soon.

The second miracle: Yulia needs grant money. Her grant fund at Reeces Rainbow is sitting at around $400. That is not enough, friends. That is not going to help her much at this stage. Yulia needs a large amount of grant money for the family who adopts her. A Ukrainian adoption costs around $25,000. Is that too much to ask of the Lord? I think not. That’s nothing for Him to provide. He just has to mobilize His mighty army and it will be done. We all know that adoption is expensive. Finances should not be a consideration for the family who adopts Yulia. Their only concern should be getting the paperwork done and going to bring her home. The financial burden needs to be lifted. What an incredible incentive it would be for a family considering bringing her home to know that finances are something they do not have to worry about.

Whew. Tall order, huh?

Well, yes and no.

I’ll admit that there have been times in the last few months that I have almost given up on Yulia. In all my humanness, and with my puny faith, it has seemed impossible at times. But today I see her situation differently. I am choosing to see it through the eyes of faith. Dang it—is the God of the Bible not the same yesterday, today and forever? If He parted the sea for goodness sakes, can He not rescue a tiny, sick child from the Ukraine and place her in the loving, protective arms of a family? Can He not provide for her financially? We all know the answer.

So this is the point in my long post where I come to you, my bloggy friends, and beg for your help. Yulia’s mircale is going to have to be a Body of Christ effort. Not an Adéye effort. I am merely the one who has met her and knows the urgency.

I have added a Chip-In on my blog. Every single dollar raised will go directly into Yulia’s grant fund. Please consider making a donation. It ALL adds up. Having fundraised for our four adoptions, we know all too well that every dollar donated is seed which the Lord multiplies. She NEEDS grant money. It will give her a chance to be adopted.

What would an online fundraiser be without a little incentive?

We will be giving away an iPad to one person who contributes via the Chip-In. The giveaway will end on October 6. 




Sweet, huh? Yep, sure would be great to win it. But not nearly as sweet as knowing that each time you contribute you are helping to rescue a little girl in desperate need of coming home. That’s what really matters here.

Please do whatever you can to help us spread the word. Tell Yulia’s story to everyone you know. Post her on your Facebooks, Twitters, and your blog.

The only hope Yulia has is if she finds a family. And so I’ll end by asking the question we all know the answer to….is ANYTHING impossible for the Lord God Almighty?

No. Not even this.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:13-15

Thank you, dear friends. There truly are no words to express how much I appreciate your help with this mission. Thank you for helping sweet Yulia come home. Thank you for helping me ensure that she does NOT die alone in a cold, heinous orphanage…but surrounded by the arms of a family who adores her.

If anyone would like more information about Yulia, please contact me at [email protected] or Andrea Roberts at [email protected]

~~~~~~~

And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Exodus 33:17-19

Show us your glory, Lord!

but God!

^"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible,

but with God ALL THINGS things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

My dearest friends, later I will come to you with a situation which, to the world, is absolutely impossible. To the world it is hopeless and futile, something which should be written off and forgotten about.

BUT GOD!

Loving Father, Giver of Life, Creator of the Universe...is anything impossible for the Almighty God?

No!  Not even this.

I'll share my heart later.  God loves to show His glory in impossible situations, doesn't He?

(It has nothing to do with us adding another blessing to our crew...just in case you were wondering.)

things you just have to know

About me.

Well, not really. I mean, you really don't have to know. But I thought I'd tell you anyway.  Just because.

~~~ I absolutely hate snakes--they totally creep me out. They were cursed to the ground for a reason, you know.

~~~ I have been a vegetarian for almost 23 years. Will I ever go back to being an omnivore? Nope. I just could never do it.

~~~ I need to have a clean house. When my home is in disarray, everything in my life just feels completely disorganized and crazy. And then I'm really crabby. A crabby wife and mommy is not a good thing.  So I keep my house clean. Anthony is convinced that if he sits around just a little too long, he too will be packed away.

~~~ I'm still dreaming about my home in the country that God has not given me yet. Perhaps He never will.  I have no idea.

~~~ I love to add color to my homes.  Only problem is that it usually takes at least three bad (or awful) paint choices before I find it--the one I love best. And I'm not talking about painting a tiny area and then deciding I hate it.  Oh no, I paint the entire room with the trim only to decide a few hours later that it is so not going to work, thank you very much.  Poor husband has completely given up all hope that I'll make less work for myself in this area.

~~~  I miss my family, and my home country, more than ever before.  Having no family around is something I will never get used to. I miss family gatherings and special days with extended family.

~~~  Pink and orange are my favorite colors. But pink is my most favorite.

~~~  I love all things girly and pretty.  I'm making up for my days as a tomboy.

~~~  I struggle to find a healthy balance with everything I have to do in my days.  That Proverbs 31 woman seems so out of reach for me on some days.  I often wonder if I will ever get there.

~~~  I think that watching a lot of television is a complete waste of time.  The only kind of movie I ever watch are lame chick flicks that need very little brain function. Oh, and comedies are sometimes okay too, just as long as they're clean.  I can't stand bad language in movies.  What's the point of it?

~~~  I absolutely have to take a bath or a shower before I go to bed at night. 

~~~  My daughter is having Botox injected into her eyes next month--I'm thinking that I'd love the leftovers. I look in the mirror and see the 4-0 coming before I know it.  Oh my.

~~~  I am not the kind of mom who can let my children go without showers for days on end. They shower every night--unless we are out and get home too late. I guess I'm just a total clean freak.

~~~  I cook from scratch almost every night.  Some days, however, frozen pizza is about the only thing I can put together.

~~~  My husband calls me a granny driver.  I have only got one speeding ticket in my entire driving career.  When we lived in Australia.  It came in the mail and Anthony did not believe it.  So he drove to the place where the ticket was issued and asked to see photographic evidence that it was indeed his wife, and that it was not some crazy mistake.  Surely she was not capable of speeding?  Lo and behold--there I was--smiling happily in the picture as I drove along.  (In Australia you are caught speeding on camera.)  Today, Anthony STILL has the photo.  It remains one of his more prized possessions.

~~~  I hate being late for anything. I'm usually early for appointments.

~~~  I know that I really ought to teach my children out of the King James Bible.  That's what every good homeschooling family does. But what's a mama to do when she has no idea what they're saying in it?  It confuses the dickens out of me.  Just like Shakespeare.  Sorry, kids, you will forever be deprived in this one area of homeschool. Oh well.

~~~  I often think about the wonder of carrying a baby in the womb and all the feelings that go with it.  I miss that.  It feels like such a long time ago.

~~~  Every time I see a teenage boy walking down the street with his pants around his knees I giggle at how ridiculous it looks.  Don't their mothers tell them that it is one of the most awful fashions to ever exist?  I just know that some day those poor dudes are going to see pictures of themselves and totally cringe--like I do when I see my hip 80's fashions. 

~~~  I would love to go on a cruise some day.  Just me and my husband. No kids in sight.  What a novelty that would be. It has been nine years since we went away alone together. Sad.

~~~  Olives are totally gross.

~~~  I never used to be a very frugal person.  These days I'm so different.  I have had to learn how to make our dollars go further as our family has increased.

~~~  Zoos make me cry.  I feel so sorry for the animals, especially if they are cooped up in small spaces. So not right.

~~~  I really am an African American. It's true.

~~~  I have traveled to over thirty countries in the world.  I have many favorites.  Greece (for the beaches), England (for the beauty), Switzerland (for the mountains) and Italy (for the yummy food).

~~~  I totally don't get Twitter and those kinds of social thingys.  Who cares who's pumping gas or just bought new shoes?  I seriously don't get the hype. I wonder how in the world people even find time to update those things fifty thousand times a day.  Sheesh, I struggle to even respond to e-mail.

There.  Now you know me a whole lot better.

indescribable blessing

This week we celebrate two years with our precious Haven.



Haven is one of the greatest blessing the Lord has ever given us.

She will be ten years old in just a few weeks.

Haven needed a 'safe and sheltered place' after her first adoption fell through--which is why she bears her name.

She is absolutely beautiful--inside and out.

Haven has a smile that can light up a room.

Our sweet girl has many struggles, but has come so very far in two years.

She loves us with a passion.

Home is where she loves to be most of all. It is her safe place.

Our angel tries so hard to do things that are NOT easy for her. Even the simplest things are a challenge for her.

Haven is still non-verbal. She is really no further along in her speech than she was when she came home two years ago. And that's okay.

She does NOT need words to communicate with us.  We understand her needs perfectly well.

She will not use sign language.

Haven adores her little sister, who is kind of like her big sister as their growth and development are so far apart.

We still do not know why exactly she is unable to speak.  Over the last two years we have received many opinions as to why she is unable express herself with words, but who knows?

She NEEDS to feel safe.  Safety is everything to Haven.  If she feels at all threatened, she does not do well. 

We do know that she struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

She is finally mastering the art of brushing her own teeth, going potty, changing her own clothes (and putting them on the right way), finding her own shoes, bathing herself.  Each one an enormous victory! We rejoice.

She is tiny--way smaller than her eight year old Chinese sister.

She is developmentally around a three year old level.

Haven loves to eat--even if most meals take her way longer than the rest of the family to get through.

According to Haven, sugar is God's best creation.

She laughs at the silliest things. Her giggle makes me smile.

She is an absolute delight.

She does not need any toys--just a mirror to admire herself for hours and hours will do just fine.

She is one of the people who teaches me the most in this life.

We're counting two years of such amazing blessing.

We cannot imagine our lives without her.  This sweet little girl brings us such joy.  How blessed we feel to be her parents.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this most beautiful and treasured gift.  We are so thankful that You chose us to be her mommy and daddy.

I get it now. I finally understand what redemption truly means.

I wrote about Haven's gotcha day here last year, if you would like to read her story.

love never fails

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Love does not envy.

It does not boast. It is not proud.

Love is not rude.

It is not self seeking.

Love is not easily angered.

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13)

Of all my beautiful children, this little guy, my six year old, has surprised me the most.  His love for Hailee and Harper is such a beautiful thing. He loves them totally and completely unconditionally. He sees no differences in them, but accepts these two little girls just the way they are.

Recently [all on his own] he has decided that affirmation is definitely what the girls need.  From the time Cade wakes in the morning, until he falls asleep at night, he showers Hailee and Harper with words of praise and love.

"Hailee, you are such a beauty."

"Harper, I love you."

"Hailee, You are sooooo cute."

"Harper, look how sweet you are."

"I love you so much, Hailee."

"You are so beautiful, Harper."

This is the kind of thing that totally fills my love tank to overflowing.  I don't care about big houses and fancy cars, diamonds don't mean a thing and the gold can sit in someone elses closet--this right here is what takes my breath away.  This is what matters to me most of all in this life...that my children know in their hearts what it means to LOVE another human being sacrificially.

Isn't it amazing how much we can learn from our children? They teach me all the time what unconditional love truly is.  Even when I am at my worst, they adore me.  Even when my tongue is quick to say the wrong thing, and when I am impatient and unkind--they forgive me.  Too often my love fails. Yet, their sweet hugs are never withheld.  Their tender touch is always near. They wait with open arms always. They teach me more about having child-like faith than anything or anyone ever has or ever will.

Children truly are such a blessing from the Lord. The way God knits families together is such an amazing thing to me.

People will always fail us, they will always let us down, but His love never, ever fails.

I am so thankful for His unfailing love today.

Also so very thankful for your sweet encouragement in my last post.  It means the world to me.  Really.

it is NOT okay!!!

I have many days when I feel like my ability to extend grace and mercy has completely run dry.

So. Darn. Human.

I love blogging.  I really do.  For the most part it has been a fabulous experience for me.  I love sharing my heart, my family, my photos, my hopes, and my dreams on these pages.  But blogging absolutely does not come without its trials and challenges; most of those being an opportunity for me to learn and grow and become more like Christ, of course.  Still, there are times when I ask myself, "Is this all worth it?"

I often think about how wonderful it would be for bloggers to NOT have to put comment moderation on.  And perhaps some day I will get there--to that place where I feel like I can allow wicked, mean, blasphemous, and ungodly comments to be there for public viewing.  But I'm not there yet.  I am still of the firm belief that they have no place on this, a Christian blog. So I continue to hit the delete button faster than I even get to the end of reading revolting comments.

For the most part, I am very able to extend much grace and mercy to those who feel that they have to bring their wicked words to this or any other blog for that matter. I read about this stuff happening often in the world of blogging. I know that for those of us who blog publicly, it is just part of the deal.  You open up your life and your heart--and you attract the negativity from ones who have absolutely nothing better to do with their days than sit at a computer and spew hatred. It's life in a fallen world, I guess.  Now, I'm not talking about disagreeing with respect. I totally welcome comments that disagree on my take on things that I write about.  I never started blogging in the hope that everyone would agree with my opinion.  That would be ridiculous. We are all different and see things uniquely.  Disagreeing respectfully is totally different to spitting out hatred as some obviously love to do.

Grace and mercy.

Yes, most of the time, I can extend much grace and mercy.  I can see these people through the eyes of my Savior and truly say, "Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do."  I don't care what people say about me or my hubby.  We know who we are in Christ and stand before an audience of ONE. The words will never harm us personally.  We laugh about some of the asinine things people come up with.

But oh my goodness gracious, when the comments that get sent my way are a vicious personal attack on my children who have special needs...that's when my grace and mercy tends to run out.  That is completely unacceptable and pathetic!  Even in a sinful world--attacks on children who have any kind of special need are totally uncalled for. They are wicked, malicious, and completely evil. What kind of human being feels that it is perfectly acceptable to call a child with Down syndrome horrid names? I just do not understand.  I don't understand how someone can even think that it is okay to do that.  IT IS NOT OKAY! It is sick.

It is not okay to ridicule any child, let alone one who struggles in this life.

It is not okay to call children who have special needs the most awful names under heaven and earth.

It is not okay to sow hatred--especially when innocent children are their target.

It is not okay to say things about those who are unable to fight back. It is cowardly!

IT IS NOT OKAY!

I have thought about this post for a while. I tried to let it go.  But Anthony and I are the ONLY voices for our children who do not have a voice.  We're IT.  We're their advocates. We're the ones who will fight to the death on their behalf.  We are all they have in this life.  When it comes to this stuff, I will not and cannot be silent.  I AM their voice.  And this is not okay.

I do have to wonder about these people who come and sow their hatred here.  I mean, would they say the things they comment to my face?  Would they? Would they look my beautiful little five year old girl with Down syndrome [who has endured five years of hell on earth] in the eye and call her "frightening" to her face?  Would they?  Do they truly get such extreme pleasure out of the evil that comes from their hearts?  Or, are they just so broken themselves that they have to find someone else to hurt (always anonymously, of course)? I have come to the conclusion that stalking blogs sure has given people like this a way to intentionally hurt others and stay nameless.  No name, no face. How sad when they have to stoop so low to include children in their heinous endeavors.

How dare they mess with God's beloved children?  That's dangerous ground to walk on.

I cannot help but weep for my angelic little girls. To know that this is the kind of thing they will have to deal with their entire lives breaks my heart. I can only imagine what it does to the heart of their Father in heaven. Oh my goodness, how did the world ever stray so far from His ways? Sadly, this is life.  It is what the world has become. I fear that things are only getting worse and worse.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Though I know that I will never be able to protect my children one hundred percent of the time, I for sure will do everything I possibly can to ensure that words like the ones I have read being commented NEVER find their way to my daughter's ears (or their hearts).  Never!  I will go to the ends of the earth to ensure that they are safe and protected from people such as these.

Our children with special needs deserve respect--just like any other child.  They are fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of a God who does ALL things well. 

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.  Luke 6:45

what are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice.



And all that's nice.



That's what little girls are made of.



And this one happens to just be so absolutely stinkin' adorable in her big sister's hat.

What joy she brings us.  I cannot imagine my life without her in it.  Thank you, Father God, for this sweet and most amazing blessing.  How much richer our lives are because this little girl, who was once an orphan, embraced us as her family.

Many tell us that she is so "lucky" to have us.  But really, the truth is that we are the ones who are so blessed to have Harper in our lives.

one very delightful boy

Happy tenth birthday, precious boy. Our fearless one.  Lover of all things wild and adventurous. The wilder, the more fun it is. Son with a heart of gold. "Mighty warrior for the faith". You are a joy and an absolute delight in every way, sweet Kellan. No words can express our love for you.  I can hardly wait to see what your God has in store for your future.  Actually, no, I can wait.  I so don't want you to grow up too fast.  I love having you right here with me.

How totally blessed we are to be your parents.



Is it really Friday already? 

I've had a crazy week. Getting back into some sort of a new normal routine with homeschool and two extra kids in the mix. Also trying to find the best possible way to get our sweet Haven learning and growing.  I've spent hours on the phone with therapists, school districts, and anyone who has any experience with teaching kids who have profound needs.  To say that I am beyond frustrated is an understatement. Why oh why does it have to be so challenging finding the help these kids need if they are not enrolled in the public school system?  Sometimes it is tough being homeschoolers.

Anyway. I'll share my ups and downs with you one of these days.  I'm sure so many of you with children who have special needs can totally relate to my endless frustrations.  There are days when I feel like I run around in circles trying to find the answers--and the right people for Haven.  Definitely one of my many lessons in patience.

I have so many questions to answer that I keep from your comments--things you ask me.  Hopefully soon I can get to it.

Hailee and Harper had a very exciting thing happen to them this week.  They're not too sure about the whole deal at this stage.  But it is a huge step forward to helping them become more mobile.  We can't wait to see how it works out.  I'll share with pictures this weekend.  Sweet little treasures that they are.

Praise the Lord for the weekend.  Time to just be with my family.

Oh, there's still time to enter Anthony's offer to make one of you a new header for your blog. Just go here and leave a comment. Fun!

moments I cherish

The seasons change before I even know it. It feels like just the other day that the days got longer and the heat was all of a sudden upon us. Now here we are again, about to say goodbye to another glorious summer. Time flies.

While out and about in the car yesterday I noticed that some of the oak trees are just starting to change color. Vibrant greens are starting to fade ever so slightly as the trees prepare for Fall.  I looked at them towering high in the sky and marveled at the work of a Creator who does all things well.  How in the world do all the trees know that the time has come for them to start changing color...all at the same time?  Blows my mind.  Only God!

As much as I adore summer, I do love Fall too.  I particularly love Fall on the East coast. It's fun having four seasons. I missed it when we were away.  I love the vibrant colors of Fall.  I love cuddling up on the sofa with my lovies and reading books on chilly days.  Apple cider is so yummy and candy corn is one of my best candies ever. Orange is definitely one of my favorite colors. I do love Fall. 

As the days of warm weather are numbered, we have made the absolute most of some outdoors activities this past Labor day weekend. We'll squeeze in beach days and trips to the park right up to the point when it is just too cold to spend a lot of time outdoors. Being outside is one of the things we love best in our family.

Beautiful weather, blessed friends and children with endless energy were all in a hard weekends work for us.

We went to a lake we have not visited for four years.  It was wonderful.  No humidity, a gentle breeze that blew...and one unbelievably adorable surfer chick. Life does not get much sweeter than this.



We think that she has seriously got to be the coolest surfer girl on the planet. 

Who needs water anyway?



On Saturday my dear hubby gave me the day off.  He loved spending the day with his treasures while I got to hang out in a bookstore, shop with no little bodies wrapped around my legs, and window shop at a beautiful antiques mall.

While I do love some time out, I love coming home even more. I am not the kind of mommy who needs a whole lot of time to myself.  Every now and then is a blessing--but I am happy to keep it an every now and then thing.  Time alone is completely overrated, in my opinion.

Yesterday the weather was amazing.  We hung out with dear friends at a local park.

We found a shady spot under the trees and had the best time just being together.  Days like this are a gift. 



Days when we allow our kids to eat things that are not the norm around our home.



Days when lazy summer days are so relaxing and we savor the moments we have been given.

It has been such a joy to my heart to watch Hailee and Harper enjoy summer. I know for a fact that Hailee was never, ever taken out of the room she was in in the orphanage.  Can you imagine never seeing the sun or have it shine warmly on your skin?  Breaks my heart.  Harper was allowed limited visits into the great outdoors. Observing them blossom and grow in the sun this summer has been something I will cherish forever.  They have even got a little tan happening.



Hailee was so unsure of being outside for the first weeks.  Any extended time outdoors was too overwhelming for her.  She cried and fussed a lot.

These days she is so different. She is so happy and content to be outdoors.  She actually loves it. She is even happy to sit on the grass without screaming her head off.  Sweet victory!

Many people ask us if we are absolutely positive that Hailee has Down syndrome.  Even the opthalmologist we saw last week asked me if we had done to genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis.  Um, yes, we did, and yes, she is for sure blessed with the beautiful extra chromosome.  Unlike Harper, who has the very distinct characteristics of Down syndrome, with Hailee it is not quite as obvious sometimes.

Until she puts her little tongue out in true Down syndrome fashion.  Harper's tongue is hard to keep in--Hailee's is hard to catch out.

I love that her beautiful blond locks are finally growing.



Sweet Miss Haven loving being with her family...and lovin' that bag of chips.



Touch.

"I love you, Cade."



Observing God's creation. A true beauty in the middle of His beauty.



BFF's.



Dirty boys who would so prefer that shoes were never invented. According to this angel, they are a complete waste of time, and money.  When I took him to buy a new pair of tennis shoes a few days ago he was like, "Mom, why are you even buying me shoes, I don't wear them." True, dear son.

If he does get forced to wear shoes for church or something, he totally takes them off and leaves them there.  I think we have left a pair of $2 flip flops in thirty eight different places we visited this summer.  Every wise mother of a child who hates shoes knows all too well that you only buy the cheap ones. I learned that lesson the hard way.

When the weather gets cooler you will thank me for the shoes, sweetheart.



This is one of my dearest friends in the world, Rachel.  Thank you to all of you who have prayed for Lily. She is doing great!



Smile, Lily.



Wassup, sweet Mia?



Cherishing each an every moment the Father has blessed me with. The road may not always be as smooth sailing as I would choose for it to be, but there are such lessons and deep truths to be learned in the valley. I'm [slowly but surely] learning to embrace them.

Hoping that your Labor day weekend was just as sweet as mine.

~~~~~~

I have so many friends in the process of adopting children.  What an absolute JOY!  These families are all taking a giant leap of faith, saying "Here I am, Lord, send me." It really does take a huge amount of courage to say "Yes" when you don't have the ridiculous amount of money saved up in a bank account to pay the ransom to bring a child home. My friends are all fund raising, just as we did. 

Please, please, please consider visiting their websites and making a donation to help them bring their children home.  Trust me--all small amounts add up to a large amount.

My friend, Connie, and her family are having an awesome computer give away as part of their fund raising efforts.  It ends tomorrow.  Please help them save their precious Kasidi.  Just click on the button below.












Someone also brought this family to my attention recently.  Goodness, they are so very close to their financial goal.  Surely we can all help them get there?

Thanks, friends.  Have a stunning Tuesday...even though it feels like Monday around here.

Totally fun give away coming up tomorrow. 

more than enough

Life sure has taken many twists and turns for our family in the last few months.

It's been a wild ride.

We're facing many challenges and potential changes here in our home. Again.
(Nothing to do with raising children.  Just life.)

There are some things that I seriously struggle to trust the Lord in.
I mean to trust Him with ALL my heart. 

Past let-downs and hurts have reared their ugly head and got me so down recently.

I hate that I even allow that to happen.

I wish that my faith was so rock solid that it could never be shaken.
Sadly though, I'm not there yet.

I forget that my God is more than able to take care of my heart, and my needs, all the time.

On days like this I have to remind myself to trust my Savior.

Some days trust does not come easily to me.

I question Him.  I doubt Him. I tell Him how I think my life should look.

I put my focus on His hands, and forget to look for His face.

Then I remember that His plans for my life ARE so much better than my plans.

It's hard to trust a God we cannot see.  We cannot touch.  We cannot hear audibly.

Some days it's much tougher than others.

Oh, it is so easy to trust Him when we're on the mountain top. 

It's easy to sing His praises when we're soaring on the wings of eagles.

It's so easy to trust God when we're in a season of absolute blessing and great favor. A season where He has given us every desire of our hearts, blessed us in ways we never imagined, kept us in good health, kept our children on the narrow road.
That's the easy part of faith.

But when things get tough, when the road gets all bumpy and crazy...that's when the rubber hits the road.
That's when trust gets tough!

These days we're on a journey that is so uncomfortable for me. 

If I had my way, I probably would not choose to be here.
 If I had my way, I would probably put on my running shoes and run like the wind in the opposite direction, telling the Lord that this is so not going to work, thank you very much.

 I would ask Him to please just come up with another solution--one more to my liking, one that would be so much less stretching and challenging.

But we all know that that is not how the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords works.

Sometimes the easier road is not the one the Lord intended to be ours.
And besides, it really is not about me, but about His plans and purposes for our family unfolding.
I desperately long for more of Him, and so much less of me.

The wilderness is a challenging place to be, but we must all go through it. Jesus did.

It's in that place we learn to press in and trust Him more--come what may.

It's in the wilderness that we learn that sometimes His answer is "No", and that's okay.

It's there that we learn that He is more than enough.

It's there that we learn that Jesus is all we will ever need.

He is bigger than any situation we fill ever face.

He is faithful to see us through any wilderness experience we will ever have to endure.

He is the lover of our souls, the One called Faithful and True.

Jesus is all we will ever need.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
James 1:2  (The Message)

Choosing to trust the ONE who has never, not once, ever let me down.

pendant winner

Congrats Luba--you are the winner of Sarah's pendants.  Please contact me at [email protected] so that we can get them to you.

If you did not win, no worries--I have another sweet give away up my sleeve for next week.  This one is so fun.  I know one of you will love, love, love it.

Hope you're having a great weekend, friends.

a season of change

We're trying to get back into our normal routine here in our home. The new school year has begun. Oh my goodness, what a huge adjustment for all of us. We technically have not done homeschool since April. Yikes. It has been a crazy time for our family. Six weeks in the Ukraine adopting the baby angels, ten days in Colorado to pack up house and move across the country, arriving back in Virginia, unpacking house, helping new additions to the family adjust, saying goodbye to family who was with us for three months, painting and getting settled in a new home, doctors appointments....on and on and on.

It sure has been a busy time.

Am I ready for a new year in our home school?  No, not really.  But I don't know if I'll ever feel like I have all my ducks in a row.  Life seems to take an unexpected twist and turn on a daily basis.  There is always something new happening, something new to deal with.  It's just life, I guess.  I have learned that I need to keep things as flexible as possible and just roll with things as they arise. The hardest part this week has been forcing myself to drag my lazy behind out of bed at a more reasonable time in the morning. Dang!  Definitely a perk of laid back summer days.

Many of you have written to ask me how I manage to school my seven children, and include our kiddos with special needs in our day.  I'll save that for a post all of its own.  It really is not as difficult as it may seem. Or, maybe it's just that God gives each one of us the grace to do the things He calls us to accomplish in this life. I  know that's the truth. Where would we be without His grace?

Before we started school Anthony was so blessed to be able to sneak away for an overnight getaway with a few of our blessings.  They spent two glorious, fun-filled days at the beach with friends we adore. The kids had the best time. I was unable to go this time, but was so thrilled that at least some of the family could go and have a great time. And that they sure did.

We absolutely love the beach.



I'm wondering if my mansion in the sky could be one of those there in the distance...I think I could definitely live with that.



As we tried very hard to get back to the grindstone and actually get some school done, lovely little breaks here and there have been just what was needed to get through our first week of homeschool.

Like a tie-dye party with dear friends.



It was the first time our kids have ever done tie-dying.  It was so much fun.  They absolutely loved it--and could hardly wait to see the fruit of their labor. I'm thinking it may just become a regular craft around here.  Their t-shirts look awesome.



We're so thankful for the precious friends the Father has blessed us with.  People who never use the number of children we have as a reason to not have us over at their houses. They accept us just the way we are--craziness and all.  That is such a humongous blessing to Anthony and me.



While bigger kids tie-dyed, little hunnies made themselves quite welcome.

They just don't come much sweeter than this.



Or this.



Or even this.



Friends forever...no matter how differently or uniquely God created us.



The perfect end to a beautiful time spent with those we love.



Today I finally got Hailee and Harper in to see an opthalmologist.  We have been waiting for weeks for the appointment. I was so curious to hear what he would find. We had a feeling that something was not quite right with Hailee's vision.  Her eyes twitch and seem to move all over the place, very randomly, if that makes sense.  She cannot focus on anything.  We try to get her to look us in the eyes, but her eyes cannot stay in one place for long enough.  I knew from the day that I met my sweet Hailee that there was a problem with her eyes.

Hailee has a condition called exotropia. It is a form of strabismus in which both of the eyes deviate outward.  Surgery is necessary to correct her problem.  Our opthalmologist has pioneered a far less invasive procedure where he injects botox into the muscle of the eye. If it works, it will work for life (unlike the cosmetic uses for botox where you have to go and have it done every few months).  It will be done as an outpatient surgery. Right now her body is working really hard to have her eyes focus on things. The doctor says that it takes a lot out of her--especially considering her tiny size and profound delays.  Getting her eyes aligned will change Hailee's life dramatically. We hope to get it done as soon as possible.  Anything to make life easier for our sweetheart.

My day ended on a perfect note.  A mommy and daughter date with my beautiful Hannah-Claire. My birthday girl. What could be sweeter than seeing the look on her face as she experienced her very first pedicure?  Priceless.  I love making memories with my children.

We have so very much to be thankful for in our family.

Above all else we are so thankful that there truly is no one like our God. When all else fails, He is our rock.

~~~~~~~

I'll announce the winner of the stunning pendants tomorrow.  Sorry, there have just not been enough hours in my days this week.