Adoption Update & Answered Prayers

We got the news today.... and our first appeal was a big, fat NEGATIVE. :(

We were expecting this, so we have prepared ourselves for this news.

The next step is our last chance at bringing Selah home. And that is the Supreme Court in Kaz. It will take some time to get an appeal date with the Supreme Court. So, we won't have any court updates for awhile. (however, i update this blog frequently- so check back!)

Thank you for your prayers. You may not think your (or our) prayers are working, but they are working in ways you can't see. 

Here are some way your prayers are working:

• the unexplainable peace we have,
• the more intimate relationship we are having with Christ, 
• our marriage is stronger instead of struggling during this hard year, 
• we have a better perspective with Seth and Gage and just how much children are a blessing and not a burden
  
• We understand now what it means to "trust God" 
• We know what FAITH looks like now
• And scripture has become ALIVE to us now.

We are off to North Carolina to be with family and to "maybe" ski a little with the boys. We are looking forward to some relaxin' time.

We love you!

Merry Christmas 2008

The reason for the season....Happy Birthday JESUS!!!

One of our traditions is that boys can open their new pj's on Christmas Eve and wear them to bed.....they were so excited to get Star Wars pj's.... :)

Our Christmas Eve service was SO nice. We had it out on a large farm and it was beautiful under the canopy of stars....

Merry Christmas!!!! :)

** We still don't know how the appeal court date went...still waiting to hear word from my agency. - I will post on here once I know something. Thanks for the prayers. ***

nothing yet

Well, its 4:13 pm and I STILL haven't heard from agency today as to how the court appeal went. I wish I could know so that I can get the news behind me, before we go out of town. :(

I am not sure WHY I am not getting an update. Wait, wait, wait....story of our lives!

A Baby Changes Everything

This Christmas is the first Christmas (if I am being honest) that I think I have focused on the true meaning and the true reason for this time- the birth of my Savior! Not just the birth either, but the sacrifice that He gave, for me....for you. I am reading Max Lucado's book called "He Chose the Nails" and I picked it up at a yard sale for $0.50 and it really couldn't be anymore perfect timing. The way that Max Lucado describes and writes it is so beautiful.

 I am in awe of what my Savior did for me, because I know I don't deserve it. Sometimes, I cry to Him and ask Him why He would ever do this for me. Because He loves me and you, more than our little minds can fathom. He loves us SO much. 

Here is a new song by Faith Hill that is perfect. I LOVE the end....I could just jump up and down during the part, "I once was lost but now I am found....oh, how a BABY can change EVERYTHING!!!!!"

Please comment on what the song made you think of- I can't wait to read!!! :)

Teenage girl, much too young

Unprepared for what's to come

A baby changes everything

Not a ring

On her hand

All her dreams and all her plans

A baby changes everything (x2)

The man she loves she's never touched

How will she Keep his trust

A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away

Heaven knows she can't stay

A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon

There's no place, there's no room

A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries and she cries O she cries

Shepherds own they got their... 

Star shines down... 

Choir of Angels say

Glory to the newborn king

A baby changes everything (x2) everything, everything, every day

Hallelujah x4

My whole life is turned around

I was lost and now I'm found

A baby changes everything (x2)

My Big 5 year old!

Today is my oldest child's birthday!!! He is FIVE, I repeat- FIVE today! Can someone tell me where the time has gone?!?!  I feel as though I am a 70 year old woman saying in my mind over and over, "it goes by so fast". Its true! It really does go by fast.

Seth is an amazing blessing in my life. I thank God for one more year with him. And I pray for many, many more.

Last night, as I was tucking him into bed, we had a sweet conversation:

me: Seth, when you wake up in the morning you are going to be FIVE!

seth: (with a HUGE smile on his face) I know.

me: Now that you are five that means you have to stop sucking your thumb and you get to start earning money by doing chores around the house.

seth: what's chores?

me: Well, chores are things you do to earn money, like take out the trash and make your bed.

seth: i like that.

me: and then we will take the money you earn and we will take some and give it back to God, save some, and then you can buy something with some that is left.

seth: (with a brightened expression) Mommy, we need to give some to children who don't have anything and children who have no toys.

me: yes, Seth, we do. That is very kind of you to think of them.

seth: (with a look of serious determination) Mommy, you NEED to drive me to the children so that I can give them money and toys. You need to take me there Mommy. You have to.

me: (as my heart is melting) I will Seth. Sometimes, we can also put our money to God in the basket at church and they use that money to help people too. 

seth: yeah! I am going to do that.

Thank you lord for his tender heart. I pray that you will guide Shane and I in raising him to keep this heart of love and kindness. I pray that you will strengthen us as his parents to guide him to You! Thank you for another year with my Seth and Gage. Please bring Selah home soon. Amen.

“You Have Taught Me”

by Anne Maclellan

You have taught me patience

to rejoice in small gains which others take for granted.

You have taught me tolerance

to accept that your perspective is different and deserves respect.

You have taught me courage

to fight for you when no one else will.

You have taught me endurance

to go on when I feel I can’t anymore.

You have taught me humility

to accept when I can’t make things better but can only be here for you.

You have taught me to love at a deeper level

than I ever thought possible.

Appeal date already!

We just got news that we have an appeal date set for December 24th! The good news is that it came MUCH earlier than anyone anticipated, so that will bring us one step closer to eventually bringing our daughter home. But, the bad news, is we are all pretty certain it will be a denial, because all the other families in our situation have already been through this part and have been denied. However, it brings us closer to getting to the Supreme Court.  You have to go through all the "steps" in order to get to the Supreme Court, and this is one step closer....so in that we are thankful!!!!

I am trying to not even think that there could be hope in a positive on Dec 24th because the chances are extremely slim, but there is still that little part of me that wonders, "what if?"!!!

Oh and this isn't something we have to attend...it is all done without us. :)

Dog House- hilarious

I got this video (click HERE ) from a friend's blog. I laughed SO hard. Tell me what you think! 

Enjoy!!!!  Our poor men.... :)

*Make sure you scroll to the bottom of this blog and pause my music first so you can hear the video.*

over-indulgence?

What do you all think is considered "over-indulging" your children? 

I think we can too often overindulge our children by giving them or allowing them to do things that should be given or permitted when they are older.  The result of that can lead to spoiled children who demand no less. Imagine a little girl all grown up and married and she has a husband who lost his job or she married the man God wanted her to, but he is not wealthy and can't give her the lifestyle her parents did. What then? Should we be setting our children up for that? Or should we teach them humility by making wise decisions as their parents to take the pro-active step in NOT over-indulging them??? True success isn't defined by our bank accounts and what we have anyway. I want my children to appreciate a dollar earned. I want my children to experience new things at the right ages. I don't want my children to have done everything by the time they are 7! I see so many 5 year olds getting limo rides for their birthdays!!!!!  It meant the WORLD to me to be able to be in my first limo ride with my husband! It wouldn't have meant the same had I done it when i was FIVE! Plus, why does a 5 year old need to have a limo ride?!?! Good Grief!

I think it boils down to the fact that the parents think its fun and so they allow it. BUT, we have to be wise and hold off on things, on purpose, for the better good of our children. Yes, it would be FUN for us adults to go do that, but not wise to allow our 5 year olds to do things that should be preserved for later.

I worry that it teaches the never-ending cycle of immediate gratification or the never-ending cycle of working long hours to get more, more, more!

"But, store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and theives do not break in and steal. For where your heart is there your treasure is also."

What do you think?

Thankful

I am just feeling overwhelmingly thankful today. And had to post it. Even though life gets hard and yucky at times, there is still so much to be thankful for. God is good and so many times I miss Him doing things to show it to me. 

I love you Lord. I trust You. I know Your plans are good. I want to be in Your will and not mine. Guide me Lord in all areas. amen

Verdict is in

The verdict came in and the judge has given us a NEGATIVE verdict.

He had a LIST of reasons to deny us and the entire list was untrue. Our facilitators in Kaz have already drafted up a claim letter stating how each reason is false and they then stated the truth next to each reason.

This is so frustrating, to say the least. We don't understand the "whys". But, we CHOOSE to keep trusting God, even though its really hard sometimes.

The appeal process officially started today. And we are in for a LONG road AGAIN. I don't understand why we are being kept from our daughter. I just know that she is getting older without her family.