tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76454600885740684822024-03-13T10:05:52.883-04:00Feet 2 Our FaithPersonal family blog. Jesus follower. Exercise and fitness lover. Adoption. Orphan care. Challenge. Family values.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-54457242147311822712016-05-04T11:16:00.000-04:002016-05-04T11:16:10.794-04:00Hightime for an Update! Big News!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well my friends, it has been a long time since I dusted off the keyboard to type an update on our family and its happenings.</center>
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Raising 8 children and serving as the Adoption Coordinator at Children's Lantern really does keep one busy! We help out with our church youth as well. Between that and all the sports they are all involved in and then medical needs and therapies...well, there's little time left for me to sit and write about how life is actually going.</center>
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I apologize. There ARE mommas with more kids than me who keep up with blogging. I'll have to make a note to ask them HOW THEY DO THAT!?!? ;)</center>
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I've been working on some personal things to keep myself sane, namely art. I took a 10 week watercolor class at the local museum of art. I took another class in soft pastels (LOVED THAT!) I also began doing Bible journaling...but it's pretty hit or miss when I can actually sit down for an extended time to play with art supplies in my Bible. I will say that it is a VERY rewarding activity though!</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>And for our big news...</i></span></center>
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Our family has a new little treasure waiting for us on the other side of the planet!!!!!</center>
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We couldn't be more thrilled! Sweet <span style="font-size: large;">Windsor Grace</span>. We felt a strong call to her and turned in our yes just moments before another family did. We nearly lost her. But God was gracious and allowed us to know this other family, we have become sweet friends. It has been a great blessing in the midst of all of it!</center>
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Windsor Grace is 3 and waiting in central China. She has a diagnosis of right hemiplegia and schizencephaly. She is totally adorable!!! We know that she is non-verbal and that her right side is weaker than her left. Her diagnoses fall under the umbrella of cerebral palsy. She is fearfully and wonderfully made and we cannot WAIT to make her our daughter on paper as she is in our hearts!</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Our second big news is...</i></span></center>
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Windsor Grace has a little sister in another province! Sweet <span style="font-size: large;">Summerlin Praise</span> is waiting for us in the next province over. And no, they are not biologically related at all...but there's going to be more about that in a follow up post! Stay tuned! </center>
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This sweet little girl is just a year and a half old...waiting for a family in another orphanage. We have quite an AMAZING story about how she came to be ours, but most of it must stay private. KNOW that God places children in the perfect families for them...and we could not be more OVERJOYED that He has chosen us! She has the same diagnosis that our Toby does...Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. She is affected in both her upper and lower extremities making her a more complicated case than Toby. Currently she is not able to use her hands but does things with those adorable little ballerina toes! We even have pictures of her eating a lollipop with her toes! We swoon!</center>
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I have 2 children home today with strep throat and another about to come home from Preschool and a 4th is wiggling on my lap. Alas, my time is up for today. </center>
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If you want to jump in and help us bring these girls home from their orphanages you can hop on over to our page at <a href="http://childrenslantern.org/shaw-adoption" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Children's Lantern</span></a>. We have a mountain of a money we need: <span style="font-size: x-large;">$52,000</span>. Already it's shrunk to<span style="font-size: x-large;"> $34,500</span> because of amazing people like YOU! <span style="font-size: x-large;">BLESS YOU!!! We love to see God show off through your hands and feet!</span></center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-63691646443700215862016-02-10T21:24:00.000-05:002016-02-10T21:24:17.577-05:00The Mantra: Who You Are (repeat daily)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What? I'm posting again?</center>
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Yes. (Finally.)</center>
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I have so much to say...but for now, I want to share with you a tool to help you live in victory.</center>
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This is a sweet little handout my Bible study leader gave our group last night. I worked through it today and decided I simply <i><span style="font-size: large;">MUST</span></i> share it!</center>
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Credit for this is: "by Jon Byler. This material was adapted from written by Zig Ziglar and Neil Anderson."</center>
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Ok, ready? Your instructions are to print this off, post it by your mirror and read it aloud about yourself <b>EVERY DAY</b>. In fact, it comes with a little place to check off each day once you've completed it!</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I, _______________, am uniquely created by God as an incredible person. I am created to bring God glory and I know that God delights in me.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My sins are forgiven and I am a new creation in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come. I am completely forgiven of my past and made righteous. I am free from all condemnation of sin. I have a good self-image and I respect myself as a creation of God.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My life has eternal purpose. I am chosen by Jesus Himself and am a child of God. I have been created with enormous potential to do great things for His Kingdom and God has wonderful plans for my life. I am one of a kind person and no one else can take my place.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am daily developing to become all that God created me to be. Nothing is impossible with God and with Christ I can do all things. I do not have the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. I have been richly blessed with every spiritual blessing in God. My God has supplied all my needs.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I discipline my mind to take every ungodly thought captive. I have a good, positive attitude towards myself and others. I choose to see the best in life. I choose to only read, see or think about things that are positive and godly. I know and obey the voice of God. I love to read the Word of God and it is alive to me. The Spirit of God is in me, guiding me and teaching me at all times. </span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My body is a temple of Christ and His Spirit lives in me. I treat my body with respect, eating an exercising well to keep it fit for life. I am energetic and healthy.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I respect others around me and love every person with the love God has for them.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I recognize the power of my tongue to bring life or to destroy and I will not let unhelpful talk come out of my mouth. I speak the truth always and use my tongue to build others up. I find the good in others and compliment them genuinely. I choose to forgive those who wrong me and I extend God's grace to those who are weak.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am a focused person with clear goals for my life. I am willing to work hard to reach my goals and to overcome every obstacle in my way. I am a leader and will positively influence everyone I meet. </span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I use my time well and discipline myself to be prompt. I recognize that my days are numbered and that this day is a preparation for eternity. Therefore, I will use every moment to the fullest to fulfill my God given destiny.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Morning: These are the qualities of the man/woman God created me to be. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and it is wonderful!</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Evening: Tonight I'm going to sleep wonderfully well. I will dream peaceful, positive dreams. I will awaken energized and refreshed, and tomorrow is going to be magnificent!</span></center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-42473136544107249722015-06-29T13:32:00.000-04:002015-06-29T13:32:02.801-04:00All I Need is A Little Bit of Art and a Whole Lot of Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you don't already know, you might guess it: raising 8 children is hard. Compound things with special needs kids, adoptive issues and then summer sports and therapies and hospital visits...you are bound to go nutsy.</center>
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And I have.</center>
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And hey if you didn't know...I'm an extreme extrovert. Meaning, I get recharged by being with people. ENFJ. (Myers/Briggs) Hey, I'm in company with people like Mark Twain, Meg Ryan. Dr. Suess and Walt Disney. :) That gives you an idea of how I operate when I'm not overly stressed!</center>
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That being said, I want to run and HIDE FROM PEOPLE. It's so overwhelming to be needed so intensely ALL. THE. TIME.</center>
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Tears come easily. I doubt myself. I mess up and blow it all out of proportion. I wonder if God has left me. (I know deep down He has not, but His idea of <i>ME</i> doing <i>THIS</i> leaves me to think <i>HE</i> is out of His <i>MIND</i>.)</center>
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We recently had a bout with a stomach bug. It lasted for the longest ELEVEN days. Kids were up each and every night, screaming in pain from stomach cramps, I was cleaning up vomit on every surface imaginable and even got a bonus peed on by Gable who was diaperless. (Why again!?) Yeah. </center>
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Not fun.</center>
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I had two things help bring me back to "normal." </center>
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Yeah, whatever that is.</center>
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One: a fabulous night out with 14 other women where we all at sushi and laughed for 4 hours. I doubt they knew they were my therapy, and it really didn't matter. </center>
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My Bestie was taking the picture. It smacks that she's not in it!</center>
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Afterwards, I felt SOOOOO much more like me! Yay!</center>
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But oh how quickly the overwhelming feelings return. Mr. Amazing (aka my husband) took the kids to the zoo yesterday thereby giving me THE ENTIRE HOUSE so I could do some art.</center>
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Just before he left, he cut a board in two for me, then edged it with his router. (God bless the router.) He has clarified it to me: he used a Roman ogee. Ah, yah, okay. It looks awesome so whatever!</center>
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Then I glued tissue paper to give some texture. That's my friend, Mod Podge.</center>
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Then using my palette knife, I randomly placed a variety of colors. I had no idea what I was making at this point. That was the FUN PART!!<br />
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More color.</div>
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Then I had the idea to use a pattern over the entire background. Cue the large stencil.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlyeK-UI3QJrkSpwM8tgBlmbRXx4VYZrsv8btpbVLV2g6_u392CL4chXwlHEnJajW9X69vNgmCX-tly3jX8XoxQhjRUZuPFH5fTQgbjlBjStEgCOhEmpTAESMo-aDISOO1b-AKktzQODO/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlyeK-UI3QJrkSpwM8tgBlmbRXx4VYZrsv8btpbVLV2g6_u392CL4chXwlHEnJajW9X69vNgmCX-tly3jX8XoxQhjRUZuPFH5fTQgbjlBjStEgCOhEmpTAESMo-aDISOO1b-AKktzQODO/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's the results. I lifted the stencil up from the second panel and it was crooked! But that's what was so awesome about this: IT DIDN'T MATTER!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfOK-4oD8C6L-cSYs5SH969RY2WxnO9FbxI1zwDhVbvSjuzWNt9INy8jV5qx05SLPa45dEQzckLOmBckQHfPWSb7FjRKLnfMGayMnfcMjXZmyqyOj9yIOVMQ0yDahX3J0kxueRIkRi8sj/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfOK-4oD8C6L-cSYs5SH969RY2WxnO9FbxI1zwDhVbvSjuzWNt9INy8jV5qx05SLPa45dEQzckLOmBckQHfPWSb7FjRKLnfMGayMnfcMjXZmyqyOj9yIOVMQ0yDahX3J0kxueRIkRi8sj/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point, I decided I would do a pair of vases with flowers. I knew the colors I wanted to use and where I wanted to hang them. I cut out the general idea of a vases from old sheet music.</center>
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Then I used a fan brush and feathered in some brown paint over the music.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1x-Oy_Yw-PS132-x-I8gaUK7diprGd5s5qOEDN8mw27kR1S5g2AASpPOD6_uSK5GPomLk2z6H1vAcpMvvb_UGaME4PwjlietB3SvnsAQy2TQfLAv6xDsKV5x93BbqJS2_mn2B8rycExx2/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1x-Oy_Yw-PS132-x-I8gaUK7diprGd5s5qOEDN8mw27kR1S5g2AASpPOD6_uSK5GPomLk2z6H1vAcpMvvb_UGaME4PwjlietB3SvnsAQy2TQfLAv6xDsKV5x93BbqJS2_mn2B8rycExx2/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFa8L-7-rNVutvysjILsccNcUHWQWnWVFnlkYilUpDXw-GhybyLNU9QL8Eb6LbtusNUjwYJf3KwkHlqd9-P-SUkMuKUBboYfpKZwOd7hlyBVIzeGhlFPKvUssXByaLYFnNpbC-gN-Mm4d/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFa8L-7-rNVutvysjILsccNcUHWQWnWVFnlkYilUpDXw-GhybyLNU9QL8Eb6LbtusNUjwYJf3KwkHlqd9-P-SUkMuKUBboYfpKZwOd7hlyBVIzeGhlFPKvUssXByaLYFnNpbC-gN-Mm4d/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I cut random circle-ish shapes out of an old reader from the early 1900's. Also a few leaf shapes. I played with placement for a wee bit. At this point, an hour and a half had passed. I was speeding through with use of my handy-dandy hair dryer! ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHydpMu9DueNZFIN94j3ZVE8VfavRWeV1i7YJeRDHXpCcL5wc6RhXJmmP_E42aLeh8h96y2_J59x8znXtle9rEy318z2Oz2rBpt_623jle09fmFLbr4YR5mnFSi6AWVSr6_Pg2i6DE6yU/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHydpMu9DueNZFIN94j3ZVE8VfavRWeV1i7YJeRDHXpCcL5wc6RhXJmmP_E42aLeh8h96y2_J59x8znXtle9rEy318z2Oz2rBpt_623jle09fmFLbr4YR5mnFSi6AWVSr6_Pg2i6DE6yU/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then, I decided to glue some tissue paper on top of the flowers. I had no idea if this was a winner idea or not...but there were no rules and that's part of what was so wonderful!</center>
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Then I started adding colors over the text circles. I had some stamps out and decided to add "REJOICE" to the corner of each. It's subtle, but there. You can't see it too well here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9xJPu6EPocuR_z8fFP1tUMUT5uz4o3DSh0kKVUTFxmH028huHYQYO7nJQxetX42zx8CyzmhSkif_kmd9a6GP8LJWmQGelYloh_qIiXYk23_O-br_V9umCVM7kLkT6YT07tAs30sI0LeP/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9xJPu6EPocuR_z8fFP1tUMUT5uz4o3DSh0kKVUTFxmH028huHYQYO7nJQxetX42zx8CyzmhSkif_kmd9a6GP8LJWmQGelYloh_qIiXYk23_O-br_V9umCVM7kLkT6YT07tAs30sI0LeP/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I experimented with using the knife to add color...</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLHDFpzoyeWWRW07Ytxfcxc-oaP1ztIvz8cAdPKhnDdIbZXU6HrJjseFsVS2lbaUId2Fsz7Tcb7PfL5IbKPRtH8DF1FGOh_Unot_4nmkk527gU0WS0COqQ9rgq-lIpbWivsies3Mv6Yue/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLHDFpzoyeWWRW07Ytxfcxc-oaP1ztIvz8cAdPKhnDdIbZXU6HrJjseFsVS2lbaUId2Fsz7Tcb7PfL5IbKPRtH8DF1FGOh_Unot_4nmkk527gU0WS0COqQ9rgq-lIpbWivsies3Mv6Yue/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And I realized it was quicker, messier and way more fun to just use my fingers! :) And I just love a good swirl of color!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0XASNwLwQmGHgcMgGfQOsdN3ll073UVxM3pdMo7IsVeFOcRd7A1f8tQGuEic-aP7NXvRJ2d5TA6SHsBBk7JjaXCwWaEOcgN02HXNvN-GmrJzbHPev-wn9E9WvuZ_vDqAI9gyp1f4Bw5j/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0XASNwLwQmGHgcMgGfQOsdN3ll073UVxM3pdMo7IsVeFOcRd7A1f8tQGuEic-aP7NXvRJ2d5TA6SHsBBk7JjaXCwWaEOcgN02HXNvN-GmrJzbHPev-wn9E9WvuZ_vDqAI9gyp1f4Bw5j/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-14.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Then I layered some color on the leaves. I stenciled a bit on the vases too.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn-YOYSxyMOm0h-mifG5RIFLN5h-dcadaljaMxlRXnSThj2j4RybtIHJKW84dqCam7KCECQmuPLByvpUw4o1AFRHXEa48J3hyphenhyphenRLtdiCvJRnKAc2t1LAO_1jFsMwiTeMTOTE8SVb494LeC/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn-YOYSxyMOm0h-mifG5RIFLN5h-dcadaljaMxlRXnSThj2j4RybtIHJKW84dqCam7KCECQmuPLByvpUw4o1AFRHXEa48J3hyphenhyphenRLtdiCvJRnKAc2t1LAO_1jFsMwiTeMTOTE8SVb494LeC/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Composition needed work so a few more flowers went in...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nBXDfLnMvQ2PtUUU5XHCojTGMXNYkg_OBA56AjSAEvhmMvEs0utY76mBiLYEWpicDCv1cQcdaZKYpiMi6CGVypKeVcuEssl7y8pTXItXb6v6_eTW_p5tG2L3D8xu5aeeV_FCaLcNLMcP/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nBXDfLnMvQ2PtUUU5XHCojTGMXNYkg_OBA56AjSAEvhmMvEs0utY76mBiLYEWpicDCv1cQcdaZKYpiMi6CGVypKeVcuEssl7y8pTXItXb6v6_eTW_p5tG2L3D8xu5aeeV_FCaLcNLMcP/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I changed that bizarre flower. So cool to be able to paint over stuff and just have fun without worry of "ruining" anything! I cut out some more leaves.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi0NeyjZtRN_8I0oug0LZivCFawR-9BQTbvjWV47znKhvlngfWg-_lIpPIHHuIrAi5H-Xc3k8cDfqyFy0L-SQBwv6o9MdOUDDc2_2O34pffdlOLRRe5-fnj7-6uenw42vZkVDZnqGatqI/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers+2-2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi0NeyjZtRN_8I0oug0LZivCFawR-9BQTbvjWV47znKhvlngfWg-_lIpPIHHuIrAi5H-Xc3k8cDfqyFy0L-SQBwv6o9MdOUDDc2_2O34pffdlOLRRe5-fnj7-6uenw42vZkVDZnqGatqI/s640/Mixed+media+flowers+2-2-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Getting close to done! Added some depth to the flowers...and more leaves.</center>
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Final thing I did was to add some bling to the flower centers!</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D1pLnqGI7d_ua8fd_IEIKgF1jayzZN8RIaw9WEg1WseVShB_r1GjEM3wxHu9tX-vmO88AN8IOc_Svidbsfxrd9O5a2Bt5TwNq4P9CD-_Ha3NblQlyahwoHber7nb87DSGcy2NTvK_Z8f/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D1pLnqGI7d_ua8fd_IEIKgF1jayzZN8RIaw9WEg1WseVShB_r1GjEM3wxHu9tX-vmO88AN8IOc_Svidbsfxrd9O5a2Bt5TwNq4P9CD-_Ha3NblQlyahwoHber7nb87DSGcy2NTvK_Z8f/s640/Mixed+media+flowers+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A peek at the dimension they have:</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6aLaN6ti8RDsVSIZ0oKZnlMlA1Q9qSCzZ2cggD5gMg2U1WDV1NX8PiHLy8A-_g2VzYg4_BtmuXF0NJxy45rmSGM699YT_yrNEtzOV-wfQJxsYmVssPVpkizdwrJmv1wRAEJmcVZcxLty/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6aLaN6ti8RDsVSIZ0oKZnlMlA1Q9qSCzZ2cggD5gMg2U1WDV1NX8PiHLy8A-_g2VzYg4_BtmuXF0NJxy45rmSGM699YT_yrNEtzOV-wfQJxsYmVssPVpkizdwrJmv1wRAEJmcVZcxLty/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I then painted the sides white, sealed it and Mr. Amazing helped me hang them. They are that pop of color we need!</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMA7szr0xUMH04rG4pslJyKZRCXI1vlYJTTCkkc_-6NUJSpaX79kiUfDoNm974xyQmAXZ6-rCZNj8faWnmMWulIOePJfFThsc4pqUpDFzKP3ipXpSEgoDpe_eyEeCc55wTVbvKNCbv-fdv/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMA7szr0xUMH04rG4pslJyKZRCXI1vlYJTTCkkc_-6NUJSpaX79kiUfDoNm974xyQmAXZ6-rCZNj8faWnmMWulIOePJfFThsc4pqUpDFzKP3ipXpSEgoDpe_eyEeCc55wTVbvKNCbv-fdv/s640/Mixed+media+flowers-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now...I am restored to my former, sane self. For now.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer3wxuc3uDfCTix4zagx3HIBlJrzHhYFb5q31tvbl4F7hMhmdjK7WtsU5frCTWvE09_7Y_iETNeBU24AEaEpmObTdCjWL2F9i76p58B5PnNiOULaivVSddOJtYG7dUBd61yWQNfHCxFIA/s1600/Mixed+media+flowers+2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer3wxuc3uDfCTix4zagx3HIBlJrzHhYFb5q31tvbl4F7hMhmdjK7WtsU5frCTWvE09_7Y_iETNeBU24AEaEpmObTdCjWL2F9i76p58B5PnNiOULaivVSddOJtYG7dUBd61yWQNfHCxFIA/s320/Mixed+media+flowers+2-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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So, other crazy busy moms...what do YOU do to restore sanity?</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-13339248502746623382015-06-01T14:23:00.000-04:002015-06-04T11:56:21.855-04:00 Mothering 8: Learning as I Go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, I'm doing it. I'm being a mom to eight children.<br />
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And they've just come home for the summer.</div>
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I thought this image was perfect! (No, I don't really know why either.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5iQXoO0psowg-tRDq9jSR946279tap6xMADB9tB3B33y5PLSc6MZjiH2wJyhi8Pj61K4Y4QRxfOPbDYLv8E98yQMWqEjCEdiPKTplCBqogOmbIXyaj4LxvCGSz7SOzziJeA9Iem5ond2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-30+at+8.35.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5iQXoO0psowg-tRDq9jSR946279tap6xMADB9tB3B33y5PLSc6MZjiH2wJyhi8Pj61K4Y4QRxfOPbDYLv8E98yQMWqEjCEdiPKTplCBqogOmbIXyaj4LxvCGSz7SOzziJeA9Iem5ond2/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-05-30+at+8.35.30+AM.png" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Via </span><a href="http://positivemotivation.tumblr.com/post/31998892149/tea-cup-piglets-from-around-the-web-you-can-now" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; padding: 3px 0px 20px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">positivemotivation.tumblr.com</a></td></tr>
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Perhaps this is how I see myself. Shiny, happy pink piggy. :)</center>
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I'm learning a lot these days...</center>
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I'm learning to not be as annoyed with the extra weight I'm carrying around from the stress of 4 rapid fire adoptions. I'm working on it, but I now know it has no impact on my value. I'm working on eating healthy and getting exercise in. The weight can take care of itself and I don't have to internally punish myself for it. (Yes, this is huge for me!)</center>
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I'm learning that not everyone has to be smiling in a picture. That's just too hard. Actually, they don't even have to be facing the camera. Just proof that they were there.</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, if you count, this is more than 8...these are our virtual cousins we hang with almost daily!</td></tr>
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I'm learning that sit down meals are NOT over-rated and we will fight to keep a family dinner time. </center>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowDz-_V92Xw8ARmNoNC9xNikYOxnPZ0N60R3E0ka7X9G2NrKi3dIVloFUSFFRSuf0BR1Kebk6G3OxU4o1BjYgqrCMdgN5NCkw788b5xc_Df5CBlE_MAMbVbo65UbInTy2y1vEc3BnlRe/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-01+at+1.40.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowDz-_V92Xw8ARmNoNC9xNikYOxnPZ0N60R3E0ka7X9G2NrKi3dIVloFUSFFRSuf0BR1Kebk6G3OxU4o1BjYgqrCMdgN5NCkw788b5xc_Df5CBlE_MAMbVbo65UbInTy2y1vEc3BnlRe/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-01+at+1.40.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the extra large picnic table my AWESOME husband made in one Saturday. HE ROCKS!</td></tr>
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I'm learning that I don't really need to worry about injuries. It used to be, "are you bleeding?" now it's "are you bleeding profusely?" ;) Haha, kidding...sort of!</center>
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I'm learning that I absolutely MUST continue to do art. It restores my sense of self and joy. Currently, all I'm getting in is watering my porch flowers. That's a crazy lame definition of art, I know. But it actually really helps.</center>
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Routine things that need done can meet this art need too...like cutting hair and decorating cakes.</center>
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I'm learning that my hardwiring of dealing with things EXTERNALLY is actually a blessing. I am not one of those people who you don't know what I'm thinking. I process aloud. I have to journal to even get to the bottom of what I'm feeling. Honestly, it's annoying. I wish I could sit inside my head and work through stuff, but for some reason I need to speak it out loud to have any clue what's going on. I've been bothered that I'm dependent upon others to help me through this...until recently I learned (as I listened to myself talk!) that it's TRULY A BLESSING the way God has wired me. For if I could mentally hold all in my state of awareness that's is weighing on my heart I would go belly up. The burdens I'm carrying during the month of June are so many and so heavy that I cried my eyes out silly when I realized it all. </center>
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Wow, what a blessing I live in the moment and can't remember it all at once!!</center>
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I am learning that planning is the path to peace. With this many people home during the summer days, we cannot let things just go to chance. We had our first of many family team meetings this morning. (Today is day 1 of the summer!) We brainstormed a list of lunches and who will be responsible for making the meal, serving it and cleaning up. It helps with groceries and I actually got some of my volunteer work for <a href="http://www.childrenslantern.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Children's Lantern</span></a> done while the whole lunch thing was going down!! WHAT!?!?!? Yes! How awesome is THAT? BooYah! (Tomorrow we will assign these chores. Today I said, "pick something and surprise me when I get home with what you did! Yes, it worked! And why am I gone you ask? We had therapy appointments, grocery and library run and baseball practice. Thank God for babysitting teenagers!)</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special Order Friday: because nobody wants to be a short order cook every day!</td></tr>
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I am learning to relax. Not the kind of relax that you may think of...I don't mean sit on the couch and let the world go by...but more like the kind where I don't have to get all uptight that there are wet towels on the bathroom floor (well that's what washing machines are for) and toys are strewn everywhere (that's why we [will] have tidy hour each day). When I'm less tense as I'm going through the day, EVERYONE is more relaxed. Truly, my attitude spreads around like cold germs in November. No pressure, but really? Let's choose to be happy.</center>
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I'm KEENLY aware how fast childhood flies. My oldest is now a sophomore in high school. Fortunate for me, I also have a 2 year old. I am learning to just sit and snuggle more. What precious days these are.</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I celebrate his thumb sucking. </td></tr>
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I'm learning to laugh at what comes out of my mouth. Lately I've said things like, <i><span style="font-size: large;">"take the bacon out of my neck!"</span></i> (wearing Gable on my back while cooking and handing him samples) and <i><span style="font-size: large;">"Don't poop in the living room"</span></i> when he takes off his diaper and feels free to potty anywhere. My children love to savor the time I had to instruct them, <i><span style="font-size: large;">"Don't throw cheese in the van!"</span></i> because they were sharing a package of American cheese slices and were "delivering" them to everyone.</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now I have to straighten them to look sane.</td></tr>
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I'm learning that sometimes my impromptu things may turn around to bite me. This is my face the day after I reached for the hair cutting scissors 10 seconds after I decided to cut my bangs. (We were going out the door...and I noticed they were long! Who needs more planning than that?!?!) I didn't factor in the fact that I had straightened my hair that morning. So when I took a shower the next day and they dried naturally...and shrunk half way up my forehead to Canada...I realized maybe I should at least take a breath's worth of time to ask myself: "Am I SURE I want to do this right now?"</center>
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And I'm also remembering that "Hair does grow!" (famous words after my BFF highlighted my hair for the first time back in 1997. She got it a bit light!) And really, who cares!</center>
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I think that if I can major in the things that matter: teaching my kids to love one another, be kind</center>
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(<i>"absorb the unkindness and be an example of love,"</i> is my current mantra with all of them) and to pray about their problems and love Jesus... then we can show up places without our hair combed and even missing shoes. </center>
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'Cuz the <i>OTHER</i> thing I learned: those rules about "no shirt, no shoes, no service" only apply if you are alone. If you are in a big group, they don't even notice! Bahahahahaha! TRUE STORY!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-42455543254307546302015-05-26T10:45:00.001-04:002015-05-26T10:45:18.824-04:00Josie Update & Village Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I cannot thank you enough for interceding for the healing of baby Josie! <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>She is alive!</i></span> And continually getting BETTER.</center>
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This is a medical amazement, isn't it? Who could heal someone with non-stop seizures, who had a total body central nervous system infection, severe purulent bacterial meningitis, blood sepsis, severe pneumonia and liver infection????</center>
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And ONLY Him. Not Buddha. Not Ancestors. Not the medicine man.</center>
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Only Jesus Christ, son of the Most High God can!!!</center>
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And that's what I want you [to continue] to pray for: the hearts of those in the village to be OPEN to the Truth.</center>
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Just last Friday, they all felt STRONGLY that Josie was about to die. Every villager left what they were doing and came and stood with Josh and Penny (Josie's parents.) And they waited.</center>
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And waited.</center>
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But Josie did NOT die.</center>
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She began to eat a little again from the bottle. Not just mama's milk, but also congee!</center>
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Amazement rippled around the village!!</center>
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The next report I heard was that Josie was now nursing directly from her mama! (And the other miracle is that Penny still has milk after so long!!)</center>
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So today, (May 26, 2105) my friends are going into the village to deliver medicines. And they will check up on how new believers Josh and Penny are doing and call the others to faith in Christ!</center>
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This will be done in their heart language. How much better could it be? Evangelism done by their own people. </center>
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God knew.</center>
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Please join with us in holding this special time up in the village: that God will show off and that they will SEE clearly the emptiness of their sacrifices to stone and mere pictures and realize the vibrant truth of a faith in the Almighty Creator God who can HEAL!!!</center>
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All of these circumstances are truly incredible. There are precious people who have worked for decades trying to bring Truth to them...and couldn't do it. The time was not right. The barriers are thick. The villagers need to see God in action. That God is for them. And here, in this amazing display of God's glory...they are! </center>
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Keep praying for faith in this village!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-61814140149574956642015-05-16T15:10:00.000-04:002015-05-16T15:10:52.987-04:00Josie and the Answered Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My dear ones, I am conflicted with many emotions and have much to share.<br />
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Here is our Josie...now on a ventilator.</center>
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Her diagnosis has gotten worse. She now has a severe infection in her central nervous system that is caused by "severe purulent meningitis" and the infection is all throughout her blood. In spite of being on the most powerful antibiotics, the infection cannot be controlled. They are unable to stop her seizures. Doctors agree, she now has permanent brain damage.</center>
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Being in the PICU is incredibly expensive. Even with the fundraising we did, the ABUNDANT generosity of Love Without Boundaries the funds have run out. This is MORE than heartbreaking to her family and us. And probably to you as well.</center>
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The doctors feel she will not survive once she is removed from the the ventilator, however this is what is planned for tomorrow.</center>
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Only a miracle will save her now.</center>
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And I do not want to miss that...PERHAPS God will choose to miraculously heal her and she will survive out of the hospital. PERHAPS He will heal her brain damage and she will be a whole person, fully functioning. It would be an incredible thing...and <span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>HE CAN DO IT.</u></b></span></center>
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So please, ask for this miraculous healing. We are in a place where we all feel a sense of peace if this is <i>NOT</i> how God chooses to answer our prayers.</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How can that be?!???</span></center>
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Let me tell you...</center>
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I told you that I had MANY emotions, many of them conflicting. So if those are the sad and devastating feelings, then you know they are not all sad!! </center>
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Today, Josie's parents <span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOTH OF THEM</b></span> have become Christians! They have understood the massive love of God for them and put their faith in Jesus Christ!</center>
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This is SUCH an answer to years and years and years of prayers! Prayers of so many! And you, you joined us in this effort and our collective storming of heaven has produced the movement of the Spirit in their hearts! </center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Hallelujah...they have been born again!</i></span></center>
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They will be the first ever believers to actually live full time in this village. Pray for their growth. Pray for their strength as they are the only lights in this dark place. Pray as they are possibly going to be grieving the death of their daughter with the village watching how their new faith impacts this process. Pray for them to be like dominoes...more and more falling into the loving arms of our Jesus!</center>
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Baby Josie has ushered her parents into the Kingdom...the very same place she will most likely run to herself tomorrow.</center>
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What a life purpose!! Oh precious baby Josie, how we LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!</center>
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Prayers are needed for everyone involved as they remove her from the antibiotics, all the monitors and the ventilator and then bundle her up and head for home.</center>
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Oh, I simply cannot write this without waves of my emotion sweeping over me. These things are so difficult.</center>
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Please hold them tenderly in your prayers.</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-42539263241502913422015-05-14T21:07:00.004-04:002015-05-14T21:07:54.190-04:00Josie's Village<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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First things first:</span> I still have no news about Josie's status. I'm assuming <span style="font-size: large;">no news is GOOD NEWS</span> and that she's still hanging out in the PICU getting antibiotics and getting better. I am to get an update at 4 am our time. I promise to share as soon as I can!</center>
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PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR HER.</b></span></center>
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Her diagnosis came in: bacterial meningitis due to severe pneumonia, she is in a constant state of seizures and has blood sepsis.</center>
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Seriously? How intense is that?!?!?</center>
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ANYWAY...</center>
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I thought you might like to learn a little bit about the village where Josie is from...and why it is <i>SO DEAR to my heart.</i></center>
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Josie hails from an ethnic minority that lives high in the mountains. Long ago it was said that they were afraid of the demons that lived in the valleys, and so they took to building their log homes way up high.</center>
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I had the amazing privilege of becoming the <span style="font-size: large;">first ever</span> non-Chinese person to visit their village. This was more than 10 years ago now. I know my husband and his parents went on a subsequent trip...and I'm thinking more have gone. However, it's still not too high on the vacation spot lists of the world.</center>
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Her village is FAR AWAY. So far that when J took me there, we had to travel for 2 solid days. The first required two long bus trips. Then a taxi to the end of the road. Then, we hiked the rest of the way. It took us 9 hours. We climbed 4,000 feet in that time. </center>
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Yes, it was amazing. These pictures are from back then.</center>
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Everyone gave me the MOST AMAZING welcome. I was so strange to them with my pale skin and blonde hair. They had never seen anyone like me.</center>
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But once we laughed, all of that melted away.</center>
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There is much I cannot share with you about her village here, in this venue. But suffice it to say, they live in spiritual darkness. They need the Light.</center>
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Desperately.</center>
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What are they bowing down to? </center>
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This fire. Built to honor their ancestors.</center>
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This was when the gospel was first ever explained to them. We were sitting around shucking corn. This is in the house's courtyard. You can see the people house straight ahead with the door to the left. The animal stalls are straight ahead to the right. No cell phones, no electricity, no running water, no bathrooms. (Seriously, you just would go out and find and different tree each time!) Time stood still. Relationships, real.</center>
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Sadly, they wanted nothing to do with this Jesus. A Creator God? No, they were fine with what they've been doing: worshiping their ancestors and praying to the Buddhas in their homes. Sacrificing the first foods of each meal to this primitive shrine built above their cooking fires.</center>
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And yes, this is their "kitchen." I'm telling you for reals: Josie is from a VERY PRIMITIVE village! This would be a common breakfast: potatoes laid around the base of the fire. You squat around the fire and drink yak butter tea and gnaw on a whole potato. The little tray of walnuts, apples and sunflower seeds are typical snack foods.</div>
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This is actually Josie's daddy. 10 years ago...long before he was even married. I LOVE this dear man. What a smiley guy. He's nearest to J's age and is here emptying the bowls that are set out in worship. This red piece of furniture is a shrine. You can see the walls are all built of logs and the air is so very smoky from the fire.</center>
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Allow the urgency of this matter to penetrate your heart. Carry the ache of lostness of these beloved people in your souls and get it out often and talk to Jesus about them. Remember to pray for Josie's full recovery and for these precious people to see that God is our Healer and He loves them so very much!!!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-9919764741002604442015-05-12T17:23:00.000-04:002015-05-12T20:49:15.511-04:00AMAZING Provision and Josie Update!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My dear friends, you are AMAZING.</center>
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AMAZING!!!!</center>
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More than 2,200 views on the first post about baby Josie! I have had people asking me how they can help keep baby Josie at the new hospital...so I've set up a "Gofundme" account.<strike>You can give here: </strike> I had to take it down. <span style="font-size: large;">READ ON for WHY!!!<span style="color: #ea9999;"> </span></span>And friends, I'm so blessed to say that there is over $1,600 waiting for her already. This is a fabulous start!!! </center>
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What is more amazing is that Love Without Boundaries has a special program where they help impoverished families receive the medical care that is so desperately needed...and they have accounts at six hospitals in all of China. ONE OF THESE HOSPITALS IS IN THE CITY THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRAVELING TO!!!!</center>
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So...what we need to pray for now is that baby Josie will make it safely to the hospital from the train. I just heard that Josie is running a fever and vomiting. STAND IN THE GAP FOR HER!! Then, that all the contacts that need to be made in order for them to be taken into the hospital not under the normal "pay as you go" way but that they can go in under the LWB account.</center>
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So the great news is that I can close the gofundme account and you can give STRAIGHT to Love Without Boundaries in baby Josie's name. 100% of the funds will go straight to the family, no charges taken out!!! And it's a non-profit organization so your donations will be tax deductible!! PRAISE GOD!!!</center>
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You can give here:<span style="color: #ea9999;"> <a href="https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/medical/sponsor-a-child/m.children/1504/view/2652" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;">Love Without Boundaries</span></a> </span>as she was just made a child who needs sponsorship for a surgery. All your funds will be given straight to her medical needs!!! And the CEO just told me that if more is given than is needed for her current care they can receive funds to reimburse the family for the $10,000 already spent!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM COVERED IN GOOSEBUMPS!!!! ONLY OUR GOD!!!!</center>
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So keep praying church, amazing AMAZING things are happening!!!</center>
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We need to get Josie to them and get some basic tests run to know what the actual diagnosis is. Then we can proceed with the family, helping them to make the best medical decisions possible with the benefit of having the LWB team behind them!!!</center>
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HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?!?!?!??!?</center>
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Praise our amazing God!!!!</center>
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(...and keep praying! She is still so fragile!)</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-84936122299629839642015-05-11T22:03:00.000-04:002015-05-11T22:03:02.058-04:00Emergency Prayers for Josie!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's late and there is a fire in my bones. Burning on behalf of a precious little life. She needs our prayers, and this is something you don't want to miss out on.</center>
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This is sweet precious baby Josie. She is not even 6 months old yet. She is the precious child of some villagers that we love out in a very rural area of China.</center>
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Josie is the 2nd born child to my friends. They are permitted to have more than one child because they are an ethnic minority. However, soon after Josie was born, it was discovered she was sick. Desperately sick. </center>
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Her mother and father have nothing. Zero money. They are subsistence farmers. A sick child has no hope in their midst. Their plan was breaking their hearts in half: they had to just wait for her to die.</center>
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But my BFF in China, J and her husband R, said NO! They knew that God was calling them to use this desperate situation to shine the love of Jesus to the village. They personally took on the health costs of little Josie. They took her to two cities, two expensive hospitals and paid for all the expenses: travel, food, surgeries, doctors. It was more expense than they had ever seen in their own lives. They took out debt against their home, borrowed from people they work with and are STILL in the hole paying for baby Josie's healthcare. She told me through tears: "this is the hardest thing I have ever been through."</center>
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But this did not stop them. They loved ENDLESSLY. They saw opportunity for the light of Jesus to SHINE in that dark village through the life of this child. They had more than 10 people staying in their apartment while it was going on. It was a massive effort to feed and keep everyone emotionally going. The extended family has a faith, but it is not in the Almighty Living God. They bow down to wooden statues and feel deep anguish in their mindless routines.</center>
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Josie was mid treatment when I met her last month. (This was a few days before we went to Gable's orphanage and adopted him.) She had come "out of the woods" as we like to say and was looking amazingly good. Her surgery to put a shunt into her brain was successful. (You can see where they did that on the side of her head.)</center>
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You can see how Josie connected with me as I held her. She locked eyes with me. I KNEW she was a special gift of God. I prayed over her that the darkness of the village would be broken by the power of Christ's light because of this baby. </center>
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After we left, the family returned to the hospital for a check up. Josie was doing great! The deeply grateful family returned to their mountain village with her. Life went back to normal. Her parents strapped her to their back and headed back out to the fields to work. </center>
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But something went very wrong.</center>
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After only 8 days of hearing that she was all better, Josie became violently ill. Her fever soared. She could no longer eat/drink. (She is exclusively nursing still.) Everyone in the village was crestfallen. They knew there was no hope. </center>
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Surely not now.</center>
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Everything had already been given. The debt incurred on my beloved J and husband R is still enormous. How could her parents ask for help again?</center>
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They didn't.</center>
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They simply sent word that they were going to let her die.</center>
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<i>(I'm sorry...can YOU IMAGINE!?!??! We are soooooooooo blessed in our culture to have healthcare insurance! What if WE had to look at our critically ill daughter and merely resign to watch her die? This shakes me to my core.)</i></center>
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J and R said they would not stand by while their niece died. They insisted she be brought out of the village. They took her once again to the local hospital for treatment. In 3 days, they spent a massive amount of money. </center>
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And she's getting worse.</center>
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Liver infection. Pulmonary infection. Baby Josie is dying before their eyes.</center>
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Church, we need to RISE UP AND PRAY.</center>
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This is a picture of Josie taken a few days ago in the smaller hospital. You can see she is losing weight and the sparkle of life in her eyes is dimming.</center>
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Even now as I am posting, she is on her way to the larger city for the best possible treatment available to her. J is begging for prayers on Josie's behalf. Prayers that she will survive the long journey.</center>
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Pray for Josie that she would not only arrive safely to the larger hospital in the big city but that GOD WOULD HEAL HER COMPLETELY.</center>
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We need a miracle, friends.</center>
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We want this village to come to the joy of knowing Christ, and we believe with J and R that Josie is going to usher in this faith.</center>
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I wanted to ask for people to fast and pray for Josie, and even while writing this a friend messaged me and said she had already planned a 3 day fast and would focus her prayers on Josie. She doesn't even know ANYTHING about this situation yet! How I rejoice! </center>
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God is calling prayer warriors to join in this story. Join in and fight for Josie's life. Pray for total healing. Pray that no more debt is incurred. Pray that the family will receive their beloved daughter back, whole. Pray that the village will see once and for all that JESUS IS ABLE. </center>
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Shine the light by praying for Josie.</center>
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(It would be most encouraging to my friends J & R if you commented here or on my Facebook or Instagram that you are joining in the prayer battle! She cannot access any social media, so I will merely tell her numbers. I told her I would gather hundreds to pray. DO NOT LET ME DOWN!! If you choose to share this, let's use the hashtag #prayforjosie!)</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-59138351318794678862015-04-28T00:56:00.001-04:002015-04-28T01:59:55.119-04:00Our Beloved Gable!Oh what a joy it is to share with you about our wonderful son, Gable Philip YiJun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mtwk10qtWV3YVBfjQqdo4Mr8OWfNEntevUSFkkQ-n_9wOZsVFeHZt4WfGDvXNYEy6Ea27RiubOqhHUpDl9YMbszeuxXksIKgpJfqYQDvLrDtvC4EhsA3MJbN4QSJaCJ7iSYn7rvVaVbS/s640/blogger-image--806261802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mtwk10qtWV3YVBfjQqdo4Mr8OWfNEntevUSFkkQ-n_9wOZsVFeHZt4WfGDvXNYEy6Ea27RiubOqhHUpDl9YMbszeuxXksIKgpJfqYQDvLrDtvC4EhsA3MJbN4QSJaCJ7iSYn7rvVaVbS/s640/blogger-image--806261802.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>We met him on Monday, April 20, 2015. We traveled to Chengdu, Sichuan (where the yummiest food of all China is...and the spiciest!) and went with some special friends to his orphanage. We were signing some paperwork when we heard them say, "Here he is!" And in came JunJun, carried in the arms of a woman who has spent her past two years loving and caring for him.</div><div><br></div><div>We took our time. I had been prepared that he might pitch a big nasty fit because he was so attached to his caregiver, and she him. We spent time just talking with him as she stayed in her arms. We put our foreheads together. I handed him a teddy bear Toby and I had chosen for him at Chocolate World the week before. He pointed to my picture and then at me, "Mama," he told me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8FHccWI0W_Tdex_7gEmXRDFRCGuuFA_8sj0yHl1d_pzInuGOOA_e3hMeczT4s8MN-3415GJQV-ngv4zGT-ycWlmh2eNFwLr_U9CbqICjc6iLAZJHLNozY4rzfVtcjv3DLN4UTm2MhAG_/s640/blogger-image-1915429401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8FHccWI0W_Tdex_7gEmXRDFRCGuuFA_8sj0yHl1d_pzInuGOOA_e3hMeczT4s8MN-3415GJQV-ngv4zGT-ycWlmh2eNFwLr_U9CbqICjc6iLAZJHLNozY4rzfVtcjv3DLN4UTm2MhAG_/s640/blogger-image-1915429401.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>After about 6-7 minutes, we began the handoff. He came timidly, but without tears. He whispered "mama" after I would say it. I then pulled out a few goodies from the "bag of tricks" we adoptive families take to meet our kids. It was the bubbles that we played with out on the porch that coaxed the first teethy grins and began the bonding between the two of us.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMtVZxHqx46ON8VA5R4jY-BenbfTZpjKNmPmd08sn26Dl5qGdvHx82oPEOKfi7ld_DhcOO9D4t5KfzPqZslOOaO0Y4DK0s1DWxD-GjBqTTZ7tu4PjzuOrdDTLPozOOBMKXgyg0XYTzOAR/s640/blogger-image--468335747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMtVZxHqx46ON8VA5R4jY-BenbfTZpjKNmPmd08sn26Dl5qGdvHx82oPEOKfi7ld_DhcOO9D4t5KfzPqZslOOaO0Y4DK0s1DWxD-GjBqTTZ7tu4PjzuOrdDTLPozOOBMKXgyg0XYTzOAR/s640/blogger-image--468335747.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>One amazing blessing that I never saw coming was the presence of a gentle, kind woman named Christine Keegan. She is a photographer living in Chengdu and had been dreaming of capturing these first moments for an adoptive family...but had not yet had the opportunity. We were beyond belief blessed to be that first family! She has posted a stream of her work on her blog. You can see those pictures here: <a href="http://homemadeinchina.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-gotcha-day-story-beginnings.html">http://homemadeinchina.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-gotcha-day-story-beginnings.html</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>We were doubly blessed by being able to stay with some other friends, the Holloways, while we were in Chengdu. They work during the week at a school, so we had their apartment during the day and were absolutely delighted to share time together in the evenings. What a JOY JOY JOY they are! Brandi and I had originally met at Shriner's hospital in Philadelphia when both of our sons (adopted from China) with arthrogryposis were being treated. Each member of their family is a joy and her husband made us laugh so much with his stories of music in China! We would love to come back and see them again!</div><div><br></div><div>In the subsequent days, we have just deeply enjoyed getting to know Gable. He is an incredibly SMART little boy and after one time of me teaching him the sign language for "more" he began asking for food that way. His soft sweet little voice saying ,"mo'" looking at me for another bite melts me each and every time.</div><div><br></div><div>He took his time learning to eat...he batted most things away before trying them. He's got a serious sweet tooth that may be the reason for his adorable chubby cheeks! I asked the orphanage caregivers what his favorite food was and was a bit shocked when they told me, "candy!" I can see now that they were 100% on!</div><div><br></div><div>He is the perfect mix of compliant child and energetic giggles. He can be a challenge to change his clothes as he thinks its the perfect time for a game of "run-from-mommy" complete with giggles that will melt your heart. But in general he is an easy going, happy boy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8VsL3owoDU9_HbTR2UIJlrXXiN5x5Fe53u96FliG045zkSpC0IW9uyEcCgsRfoy9T1LREZ8gP7krNe5TJsHs8LTGVXqNgA7b4EMMVBZqoq-zNf4B18sQVITt2pVPaLS8Zw3IOyvyuZRU/s640/blogger-image-2102086896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8VsL3owoDU9_HbTR2UIJlrXXiN5x5Fe53u96FliG045zkSpC0IW9uyEcCgsRfoy9T1LREZ8gP7krNe5TJsHs8LTGVXqNgA7b4EMMVBZqoq-zNf4B18sQVITt2pVPaLS8Zw3IOyvyuZRU/s640/blogger-image-2102086896.jpg"></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He is also super snuggly, a great sleeper and has decided that he MUST have his mommy almost all the time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz19BJ5Irnch45IuZwSbJS1PT9Sgy0OhK7FabunXSDWvzvTK7RRrM5swKICpjaArN26AA34D2ZkmyMKxzgnxIgRvJtvqxIuhc_2GdwHrAdLy7sNy0Qn2Daek8a-W8bDi_4VOEooceU2AsS/s640/blogger-image--310221371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz19BJ5Irnch45IuZwSbJS1PT9Sgy0OhK7FabunXSDWvzvTK7RRrM5swKICpjaArN26AA34D2ZkmyMKxzgnxIgRvJtvqxIuhc_2GdwHrAdLy7sNy0Qn2Daek8a-W8bDi_4VOEooceU2AsS/s640/blogger-image--310221371.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaAPBc3zUg_q80HrTM_WC-UQn3zUL98crHcklywUExd_WjCQXRlKaB06pXSiPmVU57pxRogaUyqehvT59WlB_qAl5Fo6ySG0htfveD6hmTFJIokMm3EqIihj3Nxg5glWIURA9y4wR-vrc/s640/blogger-image-40056132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaAPBc3zUg_q80HrTM_WC-UQn3zUL98crHcklywUExd_WjCQXRlKaB06pXSiPmVU57pxRogaUyqehvT59WlB_qAl5Fo6ySG0htfveD6hmTFJIokMm3EqIihj3Nxg5glWIURA9y4wR-vrc/s640/blogger-image-40056132.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhGgqFZzdufQI0IdPdxwiNaNlKYIR-TQJkB2CB9ZwyUkuGCbueMviyjjech1KArPEHAvmn_Xn190Q4kH8-1JcPKG3cj7yuePxLtYZw1ANe-TIN7gAaf0AXgJOIHuUqJBInFlWjsAsrtUt/s640/blogger-image--1507935601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhGgqFZzdufQI0IdPdxwiNaNlKYIR-TQJkB2CB9ZwyUkuGCbueMviyjjech1KArPEHAvmn_Xn190Q4kH8-1JcPKG3cj7yuePxLtYZw1ANe-TIN7gAaf0AXgJOIHuUqJBInFlWjsAsrtUt/s640/blogger-image--1507935601.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(This was taken during the medical exam required for getting an American visa. He was more frightened by the doctors than anyone I've ever seen.)</div><br></div><div>Evidence of his cancer is found on his multiple scars around his body from the ports and 7" incision across his belly where they went in to remove the malignant tumor. We were given a picture of him with his surgeon that the orphanage wanted us to have. I think that our Gable was really special to them. They requested a special goodbye before we left that day.</div><div><br></div><div>Healthwise, he appears to be completely normal. We have an appointment scheduled for the end of this week back home with a pediatric oncology team. Typically in a case like his, they would do monthly follow ups after the surgery and chemotherapy. That has not happened. We will be so anxious to hear how he is doing from a medical standpoint.</div><div><br></div><div>His adoption process could not have gone smoother in country and we will receive his visa today. We fly home tomorrow and are so so anxious to be together again as an entire family! Here you can see him interacting with some of our other kids using FaceTime! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykPxY_ir-JLULa8nvS82POUYFkH54qgrXyPwm16E7lRXDql5r3sAQIQsg57yIsixMQZlhYBsH9SP6R6vICwhLRf2PB0cNURp_8f7AIMWsQBNA6k5SfXuGnOqS_MnObtnRSnIa5CN1MwdR/s640/blogger-image--1668345619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykPxY_ir-JLULa8nvS82POUYFkH54qgrXyPwm16E7lRXDql5r3sAQIQsg57yIsixMQZlhYBsH9SP6R6vICwhLRf2PB0cNURp_8f7AIMWsQBNA6k5SfXuGnOqS_MnObtnRSnIa5CN1MwdR/s640/blogger-image--1668345619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIJvlQ-oFFWcVM2cydJR97y5jyZiH3a8y0Shg5ZtTs1Dj1sFccJNn5aOy6DQyUymJzCMQwZScJwsKa4WwbhWWCF_tSbTSG_Q0xXUDDt_LrNcpFdSv2rjzD6YoVF-14E0ll3PIG1AS8-qh/s640/blogger-image--125882164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIJvlQ-oFFWcVM2cydJR97y5jyZiH3a8y0Shg5ZtTs1Dj1sFccJNn5aOy6DQyUymJzCMQwZScJwsKa4WwbhWWCF_tSbTSG_Q0xXUDDt_LrNcpFdSv2rjzD6YoVF-14E0ll3PIG1AS8-qh/s640/blogger-image--125882164.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>What a joyful journey it has been to return to China for this son of ours!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfuOCx7FqSVM5FGz8nSRo8OSQVerPYq6WSuy9hfQzizsMZL_8fYGdGCKSVXXVDdMOQ0paLWQC0sjYjlJF5st50bqdDHrN3_HMeGzo0uW1vsSLtU6nxkAyJPVfqoC3EMr0z_V95v8t52_G/s640/blogger-image-2013915233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfuOCx7FqSVM5FGz8nSRo8OSQVerPYq6WSuy9hfQzizsMZL_8fYGdGCKSVXXVDdMOQ0paLWQC0sjYjlJF5st50bqdDHrN3_HMeGzo0uW1vsSLtU6nxkAyJPVfqoC3EMr0z_V95v8t52_G/s640/blogger-image-2013915233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdFE_IOJvVYt_0kglEoGEiqVAdlFJFsvVtiQidf-jFK-fsueb6nG0DN4lokn_vMgvrgxljVrxGyqxmA4n_h1nBb7NT6DnHkKJ8UvMNbZkvNNDYJf5rHZbpIpGoxKHLVcxymV6TtrwD7yB/s640/blogger-image-1989164234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdFE_IOJvVYt_0kglEoGEiqVAdlFJFsvVtiQidf-jFK-fsueb6nG0DN4lokn_vMgvrgxljVrxGyqxmA4n_h1nBb7NT6DnHkKJ8UvMNbZkvNNDYJf5rHZbpIpGoxKHLVcxymV6TtrwD7yB/s640/blogger-image-1989164234.jpg"></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xpL008OxN6l9uidimKIZHIkR1zD92N-HBo_sXziLSqMkgsYFcBo7T9ey9DM40qp2BcQnpuDI3NpHW_PFI1KI5nINCaLuzwQBZz2AIGhw3TYxN3dm1IyAKA6zwKpQQH7vrgrTKc2pHlgs/s640/blogger-image-1775614864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xpL008OxN6l9uidimKIZHIkR1zD92N-HBo_sXziLSqMkgsYFcBo7T9ey9DM40qp2BcQnpuDI3NpHW_PFI1KI5nINCaLuzwQBZz2AIGhw3TYxN3dm1IyAKA6zwKpQQH7vrgrTKc2pHlgs/s640/blogger-image-1775614864.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-55673823096720961022015-04-13T13:27:00.000-04:002015-04-14T05:45:23.689-04:00It's GO Time!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My dear bloggy friends,</center>
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How awesome it is to be writing again! I deeply apologize for my long hiatus! It has been unbelievably busy around here. (I can barely keep up with it all myself!)</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>TODAY</i></span> we leave to bring home our little "caboose" Gable Philip YiJun!! </center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MXoJrqsueme8ZZUQBSDlQlrsOwIqd7Nl_lECT5l6lBtqPwvU0NLNJ-pV0nWGxNIwLBwKPULQFDff0zbNcJxd-Udg9_fqzqn7vjZut18-odc6LBRKTKbxrDeft9THbi9QSUWi7b2OCXAy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-13+at+1.15.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MXoJrqsueme8ZZUQBSDlQlrsOwIqd7Nl_lECT5l6lBtqPwvU0NLNJ-pV0nWGxNIwLBwKPULQFDff0zbNcJxd-Udg9_fqzqn7vjZut18-odc6LBRKTKbxrDeft9THbi9QSUWi7b2OCXAy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-13+at+1.15.06+PM.png" height="640" width="376" /></a></div>
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We will be calling him "Jun Jun" as he is currently known as we first meet and then transition over to using his American name. (Just so you know who we are talking about...and that we didn't get a different child!)</center>
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We have been able to successfully expedite his adoption case due to his medical condition. We will be able to get him home and immediately to the oncologist for beginning assessments of his condition. We will just roll with it from there.</center>
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Many people have asked if we have any Love endlessly notecards left...and although we were once sold out, we now have a LIMITED QUANTITY available once again!! YAY!!! We also have a few sets of "Gable's Oil" sets (a specially prepared dipping oil for breads using Sichuan peppercorns that are native to Gable's province and an "Upper Crust" dipping plate with a package of Love endlessly notecards!) There are a few Love endlessly necklaces waiting in the hands of Upper Crust too, if you are local and would like to pick up one. (And if I'm allowed to say it, these necklaces are MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!) Any of these would make fabulous Mother's Day gifts AND you will help us bring Gable home!!</center>
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To reserve any of these aforementioned items, please send an email to: uppercrust@centurylink.net .</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr23i9_hwqUEhVApSZIvJc80VmlrvnMeen5pfOlAsdhFVgIRdHKxZF6PQgGMssPac2-afqlmYXKwdfuViLU0l8muonl7SYIUcSNydRES7-7XN0OUfrDLdVocOaFMBlDWQdx1bhO8AqdyO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-13+at+1.03.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr23i9_hwqUEhVApSZIvJc80VmlrvnMeen5pfOlAsdhFVgIRdHKxZF6PQgGMssPac2-afqlmYXKwdfuViLU0l8muonl7SYIUcSNydRES7-7XN0OUfrDLdVocOaFMBlDWQdx1bhO8AqdyO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-13+at+1.03.42+PM.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please DO be praying for our safety, the children who are staying behind, their caregivers, and our little Gable. We have been told that he is especially connected with his "aiyi" (auntie/orphanage worker) there and that the day we meet him may be very difficult for all of us. There is simply no way to prepare a 2 year old for all that is about to sweep through his life. Pray that love is felt and that he feels safe with us. We will get him Monday April 20th at 2:30 pm local time. (That will be 2:30 am on Monday morning for Eastern coast people!)</center>
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We are so grateful for your encouragement, love and support as we follow God's lead in our lives!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-34355348216220144202015-02-04T19:48:00.000-05:002015-02-04T19:48:25.466-05:00Love Endlessly the Sterling Silver Necklace!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I couldn't be more excited!!!</span></center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6VQHpAO5tYxNL5zu2t445Wz3juKlBXSFrF1DFKxXLdzbGsBj1wmphGJs4s_iaJolWd1FVJQKI960N8qi8DRcJvxsrEWY48CnbvxKNfEU7H7J8sD3IQhV-BVe73MhDu8mK8PWO4IPB6jS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-04+at+4.47.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6VQHpAO5tYxNL5zu2t445Wz3juKlBXSFrF1DFKxXLdzbGsBj1wmphGJs4s_iaJolWd1FVJQKI960N8qi8DRcJvxsrEWY48CnbvxKNfEU7H7J8sD3IQhV-BVe73MhDu8mK8PWO4IPB6jS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-04+at+4.47.52+PM.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm absolutely <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>bursting with JOY</i></span> to show you what we've been working on for several months behind the scenes!</center>
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If you remember, we were frantically working on fundraising for Esty's adoption...and I got this crazy, nutso idea to PAINT CANVASES to auction off as a fundraiser.</center>
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I'd never done that before.</center>
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But I stepped forward in fear and trembling and painted. The auction? </center>
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It totally blew me away. We made more money than I could have ever imagined off 20 paintings.</center>
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If that didn't shock me, what happened next certainly did. </center>
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One particular painting, Love endlessly, went crazy. As people bid on it, they asked for t shirts of it. Those went into a 3rd printing for Valentine's day last year. Then, at the prompting of a sweet friend, we had blank notecards created to fundraise for Gable.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7r4FZhozHDPq9XEvA8zanu-TrRHzcnqdJ6Y8UNRwRNHWW55JzIu1Nb96QGh7Ysp5fLvHmTLjxPgyWtp0APtvPtH-UP2Bb4FgCzYNWBAyYiRo2IMWOyV1yIomQiL_bKSmfhMIBQqFKrQN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-04+at+4.41.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7r4FZhozHDPq9XEvA8zanu-TrRHzcnqdJ6Y8UNRwRNHWW55JzIu1Nb96QGh7Ysp5fLvHmTLjxPgyWtp0APtvPtH-UP2Bb4FgCzYNWBAyYiRo2IMWOyV1yIomQiL_bKSmfhMIBQqFKrQN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-04+at+4.41.05+PM.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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And THAT has gone amazingly well...being for sale in a local <a href="http://weepingwillowflorist.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">floral shop</span></a> as well as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Upper-Crust/408196849250360" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">bakery</span></a> taking it and creating AWESOME bundles with her baked creations...all to help bring our Gable home. (And a fabulous <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ohship" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">local shipping company</span></a> is donating their services to make shipping these bundles around the country possible too!) WOW!!! We are so stinking blessed. Thank You, sweet Lord.</center>
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And now, my dear friend who owns <a href="https://www.mountaingirlsilver.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;">Mountain Girl Silver</span></a> (we've never met in person, but when a woman has 10 baby name disks...you start to stand out as a customer! ;)) has done something else absolutely astonishing.</center>
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I asked her if she would be interested in using the wording "love endlessly" for a pendant that we could fundraise with. Her answer blew me completely away.</center>
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Listen to this: she requested vector art of the original painting and asked if she could take it to HER art department and to create a CUSTOM stamp from my design. She paid for this entirely. Otherwise, there would be no possible way to have that handwritten cursive "endlessly" stamped into silver. Then, she pitched an idea back to me...</center>
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Let's use these awesome necklaces not only to fundraise for Gable...but let's create a permanent part of Mountain Girl Silver where we use this design to help fundraise for OTHER adoptive families working to bring their children home. (More about this program to come!) *giggle*</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I. Was. Speechless.</span></center>
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And then, I cried.</center>
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(I think often how MUCH I would have missed out on if I had shied away from that first painting auction!)</center>
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So as it stands tonight (launch day!) you can purchase these AWESOME necklaces of love endlessly directly from my blog. <a href="http://feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com/p/buy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Click here!!</span></a> After the final page is ready over at <a href="http://www.mountaingirlsilver.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">MGS</span></a>, you can purchase directly from there. </center>
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Just a note about her products: they are <span style="font-size: x-large;">TOP NOTCH.</span> That's why I went to her. I have loved her work for years and years. All of her pieces are solid sterling silver. Her chains are incredibly strong and she is top quality. So these are individually hand stamped on her "La Vintage" pendant and <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>if you buy BEFORE FRIDAY February 6, 2015 you will receive yours in time for Valentine's Day! :)</i></span></center>
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So, sweet ones, if you want to help Gable home (and dudes...we are MEDICALLY EXPEDITING HIM HOME SOON) then order yourself or your loved ones a necklace!!! You will be part of something BIG!!!</center>
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Love endlessly,</center>
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Amy</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-17757000657889413892015-01-30T13:38:00.000-05:002015-01-30T13:53:49.205-05:00Downshifting.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A car that is driving at highway speeds has two options when it comes to slow down for a stop:</center>
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b) If the car is manual, the driver can take the transmission slowly from 5th gear, to 4th gear, to 3rd gear and so forth. The car will slow.</center>
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Now in the event of an emergency, there is only ONE option: the brake!</center>
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I must admit it, I've been living my life at BREAKNECK speeds. For years. And honestly, I thought nothing of it. However the toll of those years of self propelled velocity have taken their toll. My body crashes HARD when the stomach bug visits our home...because I have no reserve. </center>
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I've burned all reserves up in daily life.</center>
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I've burned the candle at both ends...getting up early for a quiet devotional time followed by a workout, shower and then getting the kids up and out the door for school. I've stayed up getting all the kids in bed, attempting to have time with my husband at the end of the day and practically pass out as my head hits the pillow. And the in-between time? I've been rushed, harried and driving myself to do more more more more.</center>
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I honestly I thought I was making Him pleased by all I was accomplishing each and every day. And they ARE good things. So I was pretty surprised when I heard God tell me to SLOW DOWN.</center>
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But it truly confounded me, He was telling me to cool my jets.</center>
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In the past year, I've experienced two deep melt downs. Deep. They frightened me. I shared with a friend about them and she was warm and embracing. She had actually walked this path before and she has been advising me. She shared that God told her, "slow down or you'll be dead in a year." </center>
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YIKES!!! That was a bit alarming!</center>
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She has proven to be a fabulous guide for me in this endeavor.</center>
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My friend wrote this amazing article called <a href="http://www.churchrez.org/news/sabbath-in-a-fallow-field" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Sabbath in a Fallow Field</span></a>, and I strongly encourage you to read it. She shares how God instructed her to peel back 75% of her activity and merely do the 25% left.</center>
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Honestly, it totally scared me. What might be left if I were to peel back THAT MUCH of my activity??? Is it even humanly possible with 7-almost 8- kids???</center>
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I came to realize that her percentages were not necessarily mine. God is telling me to downshift my life. To do less, to slow down. To listen more, to meditate, to bring back communing prayer.</center>
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I obediently deleted Instagram and Facebook from my phone. Guess what I found? I spent that same time I used to do posting pictures and scrolling...looking at decorating ideas on Houzz. </center>
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I began to sense a problem.</center>
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My issue isn't too much activity. It's a harried heart. My spirit is trying to chase things that will not satisfy.</center>
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And guess what? Those new hours I spent on Houzz while I waited for a doctor to arrive for one of the kid's appointments...began to grow something new in me. And it wasn't pretty: discontent.</center>
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I began to look at my stuff with greedy eyes. I wanted to change things. I wanted to update things. </center>
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Again, the Sweet Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, "that is NOT what you want...you want Me."</center>
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I remember back to a time when I had a most vibrant experience with Him. I had only 3 children then and woke up at a shocking hour to pray each day for upwards of 2 hours. It was not a burden or a "have to" it was a true DELIGHT. I missed that.</center>
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I am not sure what happened, and I won't waste time trying to understand. We know we have an enemy...and he does NOT want us close to God's heart. I can say that after our son Oskar died so suddenly, our lives were radically turned upside down and we moved to our current location and began serial adopting. (Hahahaha, but you KNOW I'm calling it straight!)</center>
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I have begun to recover an inner prayer dialogue with my Savior that has been so sweet. A closeness that truly was impacted by the Ice Pillars that He hung over our house. Do ask me about this experience in person, I doubt I'll be able to do it justice in written words!! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!</center>
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I asked him to guide me in what to study during this time and here is what He has put together for me so far:</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl3rPA7MVgCqcqlhyALEzodOOzVUdgPoQTxhnIeSY5eUb6pKu1_iNAwqV8fzMkuI8fJjzjjs7Br1Q3dneRUXZEGE5PG6N69s9RpJkp_sLztKmtJOX85jAkGlpw49PhNcxLOi9nT8v4yUF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.05.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl3rPA7MVgCqcqlhyALEzodOOzVUdgPoQTxhnIeSY5eUb6pKu1_iNAwqV8fzMkuI8fJjzjjs7Br1Q3dneRUXZEGE5PG6N69s9RpJkp_sLztKmtJOX85jAkGlpw49PhNcxLOi9nT8v4yUF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.05.18+PM.png" /></a></div>
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Hearing God by Dallas Willard;</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPvUCs52kf58u9nL2F_gcOIAnyTrJTLOE30dKtbDBPw9_WRh2r2JnXVf5IoseH2_dpjk49XEhG0wxjKy5MPE2KaIIXlRC7__pqfEL4vcS4i8VtVLg9mmhv-VRVzuu4-VJvL-UErGCz5l3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.04.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPvUCs52kf58u9nL2F_gcOIAnyTrJTLOE30dKtbDBPw9_WRh2r2JnXVf5IoseH2_dpjk49XEhG0wxjKy5MPE2KaIIXlRC7__pqfEL4vcS4i8VtVLg9mmhv-VRVzuu4-VJvL-UErGCz5l3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.04.59+PM.png" /></a></div>
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Found by Micha Boyett;</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMpPSvlM-TQgU02V0rRv8rxARayHEbqXG_8cWu7zU8qgiZ1wXaYYvooim5PyzUwSNpDk07d6Qj3UuQGxPBFj_hg4Kiq04RBcJqPAt-Ep7XdSxl2NYsMGHyzOBSp1Ywigd-FfmdHjujiVr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.06.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMpPSvlM-TQgU02V0rRv8rxARayHEbqXG_8cWu7zU8qgiZ1wXaYYvooim5PyzUwSNpDk07d6Qj3UuQGxPBFj_hg4Kiq04RBcJqPAt-Ep7XdSxl2NYsMGHyzOBSp1Ywigd-FfmdHjujiVr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.06.00+PM.png" /></a></div>
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A study with a group of women called Chase by Jennie Allen;</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvlAqVThHIJc5ZxLADz-6DctZtpur_pO2Boqh_9kpYMpAdNU8Xcl5IpDLK8t0PiF8WrT-LRs7kHiXdCbyeyRYUd91qb74P3s5sXljSpGRukPRHfWpiJKXSIrqoJRoFPeUctxbP-Dvambl/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.05.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvlAqVThHIJc5ZxLADz-6DctZtpur_pO2Boqh_9kpYMpAdNU8Xcl5IpDLK8t0PiF8WrT-LRs7kHiXdCbyeyRYUd91qb74P3s5sXljSpGRukPRHfWpiJKXSIrqoJRoFPeUctxbP-Dvambl/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-30+at+1.05.42+PM.png" /></a></div>
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and something I've just begun this week: Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick.</center>
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This has done wonders for me learning to downshift to a slower pace. I am still moving forward, yet not over scheduling, not saying yes to too many good things, not scrolling like a mad woman on my smart phone and even NOT setting goals for the New Year. I am continuing to tune my heart to my Lord and hear what it is HE wants me to do each day. </center>
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Often, I am shocked. He doesn't seem to care very much about the laundry, the dust bunnies or the clutter.</center>
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He cares about my heart.</center>
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Do you need to downshift? What will this look like for you?</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-33731085310845567382014-12-08T09:56:00.001-05:002014-12-08T09:56:31.946-05:00Love Endlessly Notecards...Bringing Gable Home!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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These are <span style="font-size: large;">busy days</span> as we all prepare for the holidays. It's a challenge to hold our to do lists at bay in order to quiet our hearts to prepare for the season, don't you think? I find my mind filled up (especially as I'm trying to sleep at night!) with ways to earn funds to bring Gable home.</center>
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I'm so thrilled to say that our Mercy shirts for Gable were very well received and we sold <span style="font-size: large;">80 shirts </span>with <span style="font-size: large;">101 former orphans</span> listed on the back of them! So happy! Can't wait to see all those names on the back! GOD IS SO GOOD!</center>
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I had a wonderful event at the Burr House...a local open house where I took art and other crafts and sold them for Gable's adoption. I was able to earn another<span style="font-size: large;"> $700+ </span>for sweet boy's adoption fund! WOO HOOOOOOO!!</center>
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I'm so excited to share with you yet <span style="font-size: large;">another product</span> for you to help earn funds for Gable's adoption.</center>
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Remember that Love endlessly painting I made for Esty's adoption auction? Well...<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>we now have it in notecards!</i></span></center>
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These are excellent quality, printed on heavy card stock and ready for you to write your own personal message to whomever you choose! </center>
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Remember the thrill of getting an actual LETTER in the mail?? You can give this joy to others now...on the Love endlessly cards! And you can feel like a rock star because your purchase helps bring sweet Gable home so we can love on him endlessly!</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUZUQbG73FQSmT44sPlCqDviUSbs1B3RsPa2I3NgOgsmPQ6UOaxX0i6ilSerbCS5UFJFSJxlhqMYSUARFN9Zw0el1luqU-fkfQDjy-PeCFfTvXUEDiXoEf8vgbTKOWpdfiM2KX2x5E-7q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-08+at+9.10.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUZUQbG73FQSmT44sPlCqDviUSbs1B3RsPa2I3NgOgsmPQ6UOaxX0i6ilSerbCS5UFJFSJxlhqMYSUARFN9Zw0el1luqU-fkfQDjy-PeCFfTvXUEDiXoEf8vgbTKOWpdfiM2KX2x5E-7q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-08+at+9.10.59+AM.png" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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Packs of notecards and white envelopes are NOW FOR SALE!! You can order these using the "SHOP" tab above or by clicking <a href="http://feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com/p/buy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">HERE</span></a>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Each 8-pack sells for $15.</span> You can also pick up cards at <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.weepingwillowflorist.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">The Weeping Willow</span></a> </span>florist in Pettisville, if you are local.</center>
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These are perfect gifts for teachers, post carriers, hair dressers or any one you need a small gift for!</center>
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Thank you so much for supporting sweet Gable!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-9188974435110961852014-11-22T14:08:00.000-05:002014-11-22T14:12:29.756-05:00First Fundraiser for Gable--Mercy Shirts!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey EVERYONE!!</span></div>
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I'm <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>bursting at the seams</i></span> with excitement to roll out our new fundraiser shirts!!</div>
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WHY in the world are we doing this AGAIN????</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>He</i></b> is why.</span></div>
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{Oh my heart.}</div>
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We need to get Gable home so we can properly care for his cancer. (Hepatoblastoma.)</div>
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And to love on him silly.</div>
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Oh those chubby cheeks!!</div>
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This design is something I created over the course of a few days (with some awesome feedback from a few of my peeps!) based on an image I saw in my mind from Hosea 14:3, <i style="font-size: x-large;">"In You, O Lord, the orphan finds mercy." </i>The silhouette is specifically God the Father holding our little Gable...safe and sound in His arms of love...but it is to represent the loving care He gives to EACH of our children.</div>
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And all of us who have adopted these precious treasures formerly known as "orphans" KNOW what a blessing it is that the Father has mercy on them (and us) and unites us together in heart.</div>
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What is going to make this Tshirt/hoodie <span style="font-size: large;">EXTRA SPECIAL</span> is that <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>it's going to have names of YOUR beloved children on the back! </i></span>What?? <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>That's right!</i> </span>ALL of our precious kiddos get listed on the back en masse as orphans who've been shown mercy from our gracious God.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Yay!!!</i></span></div>
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The back space is going to be limited, so this will be open for your submissions and T shirt and hoodie orders only for <b><span style="font-size: large;">TWO WEEKS.</span></b> We want to get right on printing and shipping these out to you so you'll have them in plenty of time for Christmas giving! Cut off date for orders will be <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>DECEMBER 7, 2014.</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Order using the tab at the top "Mercy Shirts for Gable" or click <a href="http://feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">HERE</span></a>.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-16515263285675379702014-11-14T13:03:00.000-05:002014-11-14T13:03:27.062-05:00Why Older Child Adoption is So Hard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Older child adoption is a beautiful thing...but at the same time it's a deeply hard thing.</center>
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And when the face of the child is SO beautiful, SO smiley, NO ONE CAN IMAGINE that it's not all sunny and rosy all the time.</center>
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But it's not.</center>
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Plain and simple.</center>
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When you've fended for yourself for ten long years, in an institutional environment, you learn to survive.</center>
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And those skills? They were reinforced again and again in her previous life. They are what made her STAY ALIVE.</center>
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You have your life whirl-winded off to another land, another culture, language...you wear different clothes, eat different foods, go by a different name, begin new things like walking, school and self care...</center>
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but the old habits are still lying underneath. Ready to rear their ugly heads.</center>
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Ready to be employed when deep emotions start to surface.</center>
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They worked before! They will work again!</center>
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But, well, not so much.</center>
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Not here. Not in a family.</center>
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My sweet friend sent me a message today. Her perspective on parenting and WHY this might be so hard:</center>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deeply praying for you all during what looks like a potentially long hard road with her. It's obviously a heart issue...and she's had less than one year of her 11 years of ANYONE teaching her what that even means. You're stuck/privileged (depends on the day how you see it, I'm sure) with having to make up for 10+ years of no one teaching her right and wrong and positive vs negative attention and lying and how to be in a family and the list of what we teach our kids is soooooo long!!! It's hard enough when we get to start from the beginning of their lives!
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And isn't that the truth? It's HARD when we start with our children at birth! Let alone massive trauma at the front end! And don't forget to factor in atrocities suffered in the years while waiting for a family. How could we think that we can teach her what she needs in a few months?</center>
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We don't. But, on a daily practical basis, we expect things from her to keep our family functioning...afterall she's CAPABLE, but then again...she's not because of so many, many factors.</center>
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Older child adoption is hard because we are starting past the middle! We've lost formative years, laying groundwork and building trust. Trying to go backward to fit it in doesn't work because there are paradigms pre-existing in those places in her brain...and they were critical to her survival. I can't in one word, one week, one month, one year say ANYTHING to debunk them. </center>
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It's a slow, plodding work.</center>
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Times like these I see the inside out yuck of my own black heart and sit in awed wonder at the grace God has on ME.</center>
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Please pray for Esty. Pray for us as her parents. Pray for her siblings. These things affect us all, wear on us all and we need to remember that we are called to this, no matter what. (This is why adoption is intense ministry!)</center>
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We must cling to the hope of Christ in it all.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-48691572726639262282014-11-07T12:13:00.000-05:002014-11-07T12:13:40.724-05:00Then and Now…the Difference a Year Makes!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Around this time last year, I was madly fundraising and sharing this picture of Esty turning TEN years old…alone, in an orphanage.</center>
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This morning, I had the thrill of surprising her at school with balloons, her favorite cookies, a party hat and a birthday sash! Tomorrow is her actual birthday, but we did a party in her class as a surprise!</div>
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And oh my...</div>
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WHAT. A. DIFFERENCE. </div>
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One year.</div>
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What can be accomplished in the course of a year by a MIGHTY GOD?</div>
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He raised 100% of the funds necessary for us to adopt Esty. (Another MASSIVE thank you to every one of you who helped!!!)</div>
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He allowed us to get to her in the NICK OF TIME as she was severely ill and went septic the same week we got her out of her orphanage.</div>
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He allowed us to find good healthcare in China and provided the antibiotics necessary to save her life.</div>
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He brought us home safely, in spite of nasty winter weather.</div>
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He has cemented our family together at the heart. This has not been without struggles as older children who are adopted do struggle. But we are a family who embraces one another fully, with great thankfulness to the God who has done it.</div>
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He has provided for the hundreds of hours we have spent at doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals in every way: financially, childcare, transportation, emotional and physical strength.</div>
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He has healed Esty of some massive things that have been going wrong with her body for a long time.</div>
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Esty has become a champion at all her personal care. (This is a HUGE ONE!) </div>
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She is no longer relinquished to the corner and sitting in a wheelchair. She is walking with AFO's (ankle-foot-orthotics) and quad canes! She is riding a bicycle! </div>
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She can put on and take off her massive TLSO (thoracic-lumbar-sacral-orthotic) (back brace!) by herself. And she never has ONCE complained about it. She wears it 20 hours daily.</div>
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God has opened her mind to receive a new language…Esty now speaks English nearly 98% of the time. (And I constantly pray that she maintains some of her Mandarin!)</div>
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God has taught her what unconditional love feels like. He has used us in this process. It has been hard, as we are so fallen, but He has done it in spite of us.</div>
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He has given her laughter. Hearing her laugh, knowing she is safe and that her future has begun is a most amazing and rewarding thing.</div>
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And so tomorrow, we celebrate our dear gift named Esty! We can't wait!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-8859464949608926932014-11-03T10:40:00.003-05:002014-11-03T10:54:23.893-05:00Gable's Story…from Another Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We all love a good story…and today I'm going to give you a unique opportunity to observe the adoption of Gable from another angle…my new friend Mimi's.</center>
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Who is Mimi? She's a rockstar, Jesus-loving, momma to 11 children. She has adopted some, given birth to others and is a beautiful testimony of walking with God through the <strike>hard</strike> very hard things.</center>
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She's also the momma I was connected with to learn about Gable's special need: hepatoblastoma.</center>
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Cuz I had NO CLUE what that meant. <i>(other than "scary cancer.")</i></center>
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Why is Mimi an "expert-in-residence" you may ask? Because her own sweet son has this very same cancer. (Above is a picture of Mimi holding sweet baby Asa.) I received Mimi's name and contact information within 48 hours of learning about Gable. </center>
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But read on to find out JUST HOW EXCEPTIONAL it is that we were connected!</center>
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Here's what Mimi blogged on<span style="color: #ea9999;"> <a href="http://www.graceinspades.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">her blog</span></a></span> just yesterday:</center>
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I haven’t mentioned it here, but a funny little blip came across my radar two months ago. At that point, we were truly just holding our nose above the drowning waters, knowing we were past the big waves. I got a random message from someone I know very loosely. She knew Asa had liver cancer and asked if I would be willing to offer counsel to a family who was considering adoption of a child with liver cancer. Easy answer. But, of course. And I sat back and began to watch God show off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Two years ago, not too long before Asa came along, a little boy was born to a Chinese couple, a little boy with a big liver tumor that made his belly stick out like Asa’s did. And the same couple, I’m sure distraught with the one child policy and the thought of their only heir being imperfect, sickly, left that babe at a hospital. Diagnosis: hepatoblastoma, the one in a million kid cancer that Asa had, the one that Texas Children’s, one of the few hospitals in the states that treats this cancer, only sees 10 cases a year from all over the southern US. But what happens next is entirely strange. Instead of getting pitiful orphan care, this Chinese boy got top-notch, cutting-edge medical treatment. He was stabilized, whisked in and treated with chemo-embolization – chemo straight to his liver and he went through exactly what Asa went through, the horrid secondary effects of sloughing off tumor, called tumor lysis, and he victory of all victories, survived. It was a long hard road, but it appears, as it does with Asa, no more cancer. He was put in an orphanage, group type home and he thrived, but no one adopted him, because that big C word, it’s scarier than a lot of more obvious physical disabilities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But along comes a family, a family who has experienced their own loss, a family who just so happens to speak Mandarin, but God has yanked them up and dumped them in the rural central US, filled their home with a few other physical disabilities, and left them, left them a few hours from the other major hospital in the US that deals with this one in a million chance cancer. Their house is full, very full, but along their radar comes a smiling face, a familiar face, because dark eyes and round faces are still on their hearts, and a boy named Jun Jun captures them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then I was called for counsel. What is hepatoblastoma? What does this mean? Do you understand these medical records? <i> I</i> was called, the parent of a child treated not only for this cancer, but with chemo-embolization, not a standard procedure in children in the US for this cancer. Tony and I may be the only parents in the US at this time that would have that experiential knowledge regarding a child. Explain that. You can’t. But God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story departs to a weird, seemingly diverted path at this point. After all the discussion, the couple who inquired suddenly decided that they weren’t so sure that God was calling them to this child and went to prayer and as back up, they held their arms out and handed Jun Jun to us, the only other couple without gross fear of his condition. And we were left for a week or so to wrestle in prayer for this boy, and wrestle with the fact that we are a bit older than this couple. During that week, God turned the world upside down on behalf of this boy. People began offering this other couple serious money for adoption expenses, expenses on an adoption they weren’t even decided upon, an adoption they hadn’t even announced. Someone offered to take their special needs kids while they went to back and forth to China – twice. After this and prayer, it became abundantly clear where Jun Jun was supposed to be. And after jumping a few more hurdles, last week Jun Jun was cleared by China to be adopted by this family.</div>
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And today I sat in church and listened to a man speak about God’s heart for the widow and the orphan and I was again reminded through another story that God truly moves mountains upon their behalf and again, I saw God weave deep redemption from suffering. Dark doesn’t win. Light does, no morbid second act where all goes wrong. Great joy! The end game is settled. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Did you catch that??? There was SO MUCH in what Mimi wrote…let me lay it out so you can marvel over what our MIGHTY GOD has DONE!</center>
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* Gable, an orphan, has received TOP NOTCH cancer treatments in China. Amazing. What he has had done is considered experimental in the United States. (Incidentally, he's also had a successful liver resection meaning he will not need a transplant and run the risk of his body rejecting it or being on anti-rejection drugs for his life.)</center>
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* We live just 5 hours from one of the two BEST hospitals for treating hepatoblastoma. And we already take Esty there.</center>
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* Mimi is a parent of a son who is STILL going through treatment for his hepatoblastoma. After the icky cancer treatments failed him, he was given the kind of chemotherapy that Gable had as a last resort. It is working, but it is UNBELIEVABLY RARE that I would be connected with a parent in the States who has had experience with this type of treatment. (And she loves Jesus!) <i>At one point along the way, she asked me if I had any clue how crazy it was that I was able to talk with her about all of this. I didn't…"was it rare?" I asked. She answered, <b>"<u>BEYOND RARE!!</u>"</b> Yep. That's God at work!</i></center>
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* Mimi was along for the ride while Brian and I wrestled in prayer about actually adopting again. (Oh we were SO DONE. We are so busy. So overwhelmed. So spent. BUT GOD.) She was able to cheer alongside, pray alongside and root for us as we sought to say YES to God. </center>
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* We were promised finances to bring Gable home before we ever said yes to his adoption. That has NEVER happened before!</center>
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* We have precious people who are asking us if they can stay with our children when we travel to bring him home. (As a momma, this is one of the big concerns when adopting internationally…and God has taken care of this EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.)</center>
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I thought you might enjoy hearing a little bit of the back story to how we arrived at our decision to adopt Gable…from that unique perspective that Mimi has shared.</center>
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Following God continues to prove to be a wild adventure and it is SO MUCH FUN to see how His hand weaves all the millions of details together for our good.</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-55135882418010576422014-11-02T15:02:00.000-05:002014-11-02T15:02:17.926-05:00Orphan Sunday…introducing Our Soon-to-be-Son!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D7SgvpBSUlJ9y7jtzdYSy0i3VjMo6tviKVwNyNhTnZbmX3x-Co0yNhUT319MgWY1FEVGzP0XlhlzgLKcyvDF9L3ALapkf3xgY7PPhZxj9jzhyJqL-HVE8C-53PLKWtlamspz-mvfZlcJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+2.56.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D7SgvpBSUlJ9y7jtzdYSy0i3VjMo6tviKVwNyNhTnZbmX3x-Co0yNhUT319MgWY1FEVGzP0XlhlzgLKcyvDF9L3ALapkf3xgY7PPhZxj9jzhyJqL-HVE8C-53PLKWtlamspz-mvfZlcJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+2.56.18+PM.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ac/fe/53/acfe53483a52d510101a721e07735fe9.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>: Hope for Orphans</td></tr>
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It's Orphan Sunday today and I am bursting at the seams to introduce you to our newest son!!!</center>
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I announced last week that we have been moved by God to adopt again, and we are branching out into a scary new special need: cancer. </center>
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And the questions began…so let me offer up some details!</center>
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As of last week, we have officially been approved by his home country to adopt him!</center>
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He currently lives in an orphanage that partners with Half the Sky in a provincial city in<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">China</span>.</center>
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He is almost <span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span> years old. (He will be our caboose!)</center>
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He is adorable. (and we know we are a bit partial!)</center>
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He will be given the English name <span style="font-size: x-large;">Gable</span>. (Daddy named him!) Gable is an awesome name we've never heard ever (yes!!) and it means <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"Strong man of God."</i></span></center>
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Perfect.</center>
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And now…for his pictures:</center>
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These were the first I ever saw…the ones that Toby exclaimed, "Oh Mommy! I LOVE him!" about.</center>
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It is this non-smiling picture that I realized he was ours. That face. That sweet, sweet, uber precious face!!!!</center>
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Gable was only 14 months old in these pictures. Since then, there was a visit to his orphanage where I was able to grab this picture from the end of a video where he smiled. This was taken just this past August at 19 months of age:</center>
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WHAT. A. CUTIE. PATOOTIE. (I know!!)</center>
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So, now you have a face for whom to pray. And we will begin fundraising ASAP!</center>
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The other question people want to know is WHEN. We pray that we could get all our clearances and funds to bring him home during the summer next year. Please join us in this prayer.</center>
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So happy to have yet another orphan on his way home to his FOREVER FAMILY!!! My arms are aching to hold and snuggle this precious one!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-13206757281242063272014-10-24T12:45:00.000-04:002014-10-24T12:55:14.903-04:00When Intentions Don't Match Up with Reality…Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Okay, so I guess I learned that I am LOUSY at doing part 1 and part 2 posts!! (Forgive me.)</center>
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But people, it's now time for PART TWO.</center>
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If you don't know what I'm talking about, you would be ahead of the game to read <a href="http://feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com/2014/09/when-our-intentions-dont-match-up-with.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999;">PART ONE here</span></a>.</center>
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And now…on to part two. (WAIT A SECOND...I know you skipped part 1!! GO READ IT, SILLY!!)</center>
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I concluded part 1 with a list of how we can act in the face of something that takes us by surprise…we can look at it from our limited human perspective, or take on God's perspective.</center>
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Because sometimes, life throws something at us that we NEVER saw coming.</center>
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And so it is with us. Now.</center>
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Up till now, we have dealt with a long list of medical diagnoses which include (but Lord knows are not limited to): collapsed lungs, thyroid disease, arthrogryposis, scoliosis, concussions, spina bifida, congenital hip disorders, neurogenic bladder and bowel and a multitude of broken bones.</center>
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Never did I foresee this one being added to the list.</center>
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GULP.</center>
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The "C" word.</center>
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But there it is, big and ugly. Seeking to kill, steal and destroy.</center>
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But God.</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you a story.</span></center>
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Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a baby was born.</center>
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He was a boy.</center>
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Soon after as he was born, it was discovered that he had an odd shaped abdomen. He was pale, listless and clearly something very scary was wrong. </center>
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A frightened set of parents did what was illegal, and unimaginable: they abandoned him. </center>
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Maybe they knew that they could not possibly pay to have the proper treatments. Maybe they knew an orphanage would. Or they could HOPE.</center>
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Once found by the police and taken to a local orphanage, an exam was performed. Blood work was taken and the worst news possible was delivered: the newborn child had a massive malignancy in his liver.</center>
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Hepatoblastoma.</center>
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Incredibly rare. Incredibly scary.</center>
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And he was alone.</center>
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Over the next months, the baby had 3 surgeries and lots of chemotherapy.</center>
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The baby was given special care in the orphanage through a program called Half the Sky. He began to gain weight, hit milestones and a very bubbly personality emerged.</center>
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And the boy's papers were prepared so that he could find a permanent home.</center>
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He waited. And waited. "Cancer" is a very scary word on a file, you see.</center>
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Far away, in another corner of the world lived a mother of seven children. She was busy each day making food, washing clothes and encouraging other people in their own adoptions. She had a VERY FULL life and was not looking for more work.</center>
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She was not. <span style="font-size: large;">She was not.</span></center>
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Her social worker alerted her to the upcoming expiration of her family's home study, to which she and her husband adamantly responded that they were letting it expire as they were DONE ADOPTING CHILDREN. Their family was full.</center>
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And expire it did.</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But God.</span></center>
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God used the adorable boy on the side bar of this blog "Jesse" to crack open that tightly shut door of their hearts. Perhaps they <i>COULD </i>find room in their home for one more? But after further prayer and consideration of ages and physical needs the answer was clear: he was not theirs.</center>
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Once this cracked door let in light…God showed the picture of the baby to this momma of seven children. Her youngest child happened to be sitting on her lap at the time the picture popped up on the computer screen.</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"Oh Mommy!!!"</i></span> he cried. <i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"I LOVE HIM!!"</span></i></center>
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The busy mother paused as her heart began to pound and tears began to well. In the next 48 hours God did some of the most amazing and supernatural acts to show this mother and her husband that He intended for this boy with cancer to come home to them and to become their son forever.</center>
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Gulp.</center>
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And they still were not sure. They wanted MORE proof.</center>
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So they prayed. </center>
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And prayed.</center>
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And asked for other people to pray that God would speak CLEARLY to their hearts.</center>
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One person in particular (oh what a blessed woman of God she is!!) responded to the request for prayer in a most unusual way.</center>
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She told this family she would personally give them $10,000 to bring him home.</center>
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And they were stunned. But still unsure. It wasn't until she gave them a detailed plan of how she would raise these funds for this boy to become theirs that they finally realized that MAYBE this was how God was answering their prayers for clarity!!</center>
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And all of a sudden, a flurry of activity began. </center>
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Applications, fingerprints, home inspections and personal interviews were underway. A home study had to be prepared!!</center>
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(This is funny to someone, I am sure!)</center>
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And then, yesterday, after a very long wait, this family got the news that this boy's home country had approved them to adopt this boy with cancer.</center>
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They were OVERJOYED!!!!!</center>
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They would boldly welcome this dear child into their family of 9 and grow once again. </center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>~</b></span></center>
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(I want to say, "the end" but you guys know that this is NOT the end of the story!!)</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so, with great JOY JOY JOY in our hearts we announce that yes,</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WE ARE ADOPTING AGAIN</b></span>…even though OUR plan was to be all done.</center>
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Even though our idea was SEVEN…God's idea was eight!!!</center>
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And as you may already know, <span style="font-size: large;">GOD WINS!!!! </span></center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-31054052152852629292014-10-16T12:41:00.000-04:002014-10-16T12:41:03.661-04:00Birth Parent Loss--My Ache for Them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes it doesn't take much to light a fire in my heart to make me want to write. Sometimes writing is the only vehicle for my intense emotions.</center>
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This morning, it was this picture that undid my heart:</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseychappell.com/" target="_blank">Used with permission from Casey Chappell</a></td></tr>
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This glorious image of a boy, head thrown back in laughter, in the arms of his birth mother also in the same pose.</center>
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Don't they look so happy? So ALIKE.</center>
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Yet she is not raising him. She has spent the past 5 years getting herself together. And she <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>bravely</i></span> placed her baby into the arms of a family she only knew by letter…trusting they would raise him well.</center>
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And they have.</center>
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And as in open adoptions, they know one another.</center>
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This was a brave post by this adoptive mom…she was celebrating the amazing choice that this birth mother made to give her baby life and not take it from him because it was not convenient for her to become a parent at that time in her life. </center>
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Let me have you read her sentiment in her own words: </center>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">5 years ago today this brave young lady gave birth to this super smart and adventurous boy. Words can't explain how much I admire her courage to place her baby with a family she only knew through a letter.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></i></center>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She's had a long 5 years and is getting ready for the rest of her life and knowing Jack is one of those precious things that both she and Dan and I value greatly. </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Birth moms are incredible and I'm so glad that I have the privilege to know 3 American women and wish I knew the 2 African women who have given life to the children who call me mom. ~Casey Chappell</span></i></blockquote>
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I love this. And it had me in a puddle of tears.</center>
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This tender young birth mother! She bravely made an adoption plan for her baby and followed through.</center>
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How difficult.</center>
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How ripping.</center>
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Do we, adoptive parents, pause long enough to fathom what these birth parents go through as they place their precious children for adoption?</center>
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Or are we all about OUR timelines, our fundraising, our dossiers, and obtaining our police clearances??</center>
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We turned to International adoption for many reasons, and one of which was that the adoption would not be open. We would NOT be faced with the unknowns of visitations from birth family. </center>
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I must say, after seeing this post and hearing stories from my domestic adoptive mom friends…I <i><span style="font-size: x-large;">wish</span></i> we had the opportunity to know our children's birth families.</center>
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I am struck how selfish our desire for closed adoptions has been.</center>
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Ugh.</center>
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Yet, our 3 "grafted in" children's stories would be the same no matter who adopted them. They all have deep, dark gaping holes of their past. Abandonments. Only one with a note, and it was not personal. </center>
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Their aches are so real. So painful.</center>
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I ache to hear our son lament that he wishes he could give food to his Africa mommy…because she might be hungry.</center>
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I cry at night when I hear him tell me how much he longs to have been born in my tummy. Really, I think he aches to know the woman who gave him life and to KNOW the answers to his past.</center>
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I think of these biological parents who gave away their children in China when they were born "different" than they expected.</center>
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And honestly, I had PLENTY of time to choose them as my children, to investigate their special needs and to evaluate if I could "handle them." They did not get this luxury.</center>
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As Toby giggles or Esty walks using canes and braces I WISH DESPERATELY I could have their birth mothers standing there with me. I'd place my arms around them and say, "LOOK! That's OUR baby!!! Doing sooooo well! Thank you for making this most difficult choice for them!"</center>
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And then I'd plant a big fat kiss on their cheeks.</center>
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Adoption is riddled with pain, ache, longing. It's impossible to be torn away from your roots and not have scars.</center>
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And it is just as impossible to scoop these treasured children into your family and not feel heavy hearted over the loss your children feel, but also the loss for these nebulous birth parents who are just "somewhere" out there. </center>
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Oh how I wish I knew their names, knew their phone numbers. How I'd love to text the video of Esty WALKING into school on her own this morning. </center>
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I'd love to text the funnies said by Toby. I'd love to show them how he can feed himself because of his surgery. I would love to ask them who is the eternal optimist that put such sunshine into my son's heart!</center>
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I'd love to let Zeb's mommy know that he is safe. He is well fed, he is attending school and making amazing progress. That their choices have worked out well for their precious child.</center>
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I planted rose bushes for each of these mothers. They are still blooming now, well into the fall, just as their babies are blooming here with us.</center>
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But I still cry for them. I still feel the pain of their losses. If YOU were one of my children's birth mothers then I say to you: be at peace. Your child is my treasure. Your baby is happy. Your son/daughter is valued, getting an education, knowing love. Your sweet one is being nurtured to discover their strengths and go after their future with gusto. Medical needs are being attended to. Opportunities abound. I carry your child in our family with utmost care and love. Your child <strike>will soar</strike> is soaring!!!</center>
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And then, I'd hug them...and then cry too.</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-63881369819998154102014-09-30T11:40:00.000-04:002014-09-30T11:40:09.093-04:00When Our Intentions Don't Match up with our Reality. (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes, our plans don't work out as we intended. </span></center>
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Like today, I'm sitting here icing my ankle instead playing tennis. We DID play, but then my ankle rolled and down I went. </center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(And um, no, I'm not Serena Williams, but this offered up a great image for when life doesn't go according to OUR intentions!)</td></tr>
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What do we do when faced with a situation when what happens doesn't line up with our intentions???</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We have a choice.</span></center>
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We could complain. We could whine. We could think of how much better it would have been.</center>
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But that doesn't change the current reality. And, it only makes our hearts more downtrodden.</center>
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OR, we could choose to praise Him…for the fact that we DID get a good 20 minutes of playing time before I fell. </center>
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That I got the grocery run in before we played. (It'd be much harder to do that limping around the store!)</center>
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That I can now sit and finally blog…</center>
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So a change in plans, can be a GOOD thing, <span style="font-size: x-large;">if</span> we open our minds to accept it.</center>
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And that's a little bit like what I've been wanting to blog about.</center>
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Back when I was 15 years old, I was an emotional puddle at the foot of the cross. I realized for the first time what it meant that "Jesus died on the cross for MY sins," and I was aching to respond.</center>
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But I had a choice.</center>
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Why didn't I go running into the arms of Jesus as I longed to?</center>
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Fear.</center>
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What was I afraid of?</center>
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Are you ready?</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Being BORED.</i></span></center>
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I knew a bunch of church-going kind of people that lived boring, flat lives. I saw them my whole life. And I <span style="font-size: x-large;">didn't</span> want to join them!</center>
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I knew the word <span style="font-size: x-large;">COMPLACENT</span> well. And I finally stepped forward in faith with the prayer that I never ever become complacent in my faith. Ever.</center>
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I think God must have thought, <i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Oh silly girl, I will not allow you to slow down long enough to grow complacent. Come on this journey with me!"</span></i></center>
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Thankfully, and only by His Spirit, did I say yes to Jesus and began my walk of faith.</center>
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That's been a LOT of years ago now.</center>
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And He has been faithful. I have not grown complacent. I am too busy walking with Him in these amazing adventures to be complacent.</center>
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In my husband's terminology, we gave God a blank check for our lives. We have offered ourselves up to Him time and time again. Always wanting to say YES to Jesus when He asks something of us.</center>
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And that's scary. Why? Because often Jesus asks us to do things that are waaaay out beyond ourselves. And then, He allows things that we thought we had all sewn up nice and tidy to fall apart.</center>
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I think the "WHY??" here (in case you are asking) is so that we will depend on HIM and not on ourselves.)</center>
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There are many things God has chosen to do in our lives were NOT our intentions…at least not many of them! </center>
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We did NOT intend to lose babies to miscarriage.</center>
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We certainly did NOT intend to have Oskar die at 39 weeks…so close to birth. Ugh. This still sends me reeling.</center>
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We did not choose our current location, nor did we even choose to adopt a large portion of our family. </center>
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God did these things. Or depending on how we look at evil in the world, God ALLOWED these things to happen.</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But our attitude in response to them makes all the difference.</span> After our first child died, at 5 months gestation, I spoke on the phone with a fellow mom of twins who had the same exact situation. </center>
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She was the MOST bitter person I'd ever encountered.</center>
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And she scared me silly. </center>
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As angry as I was that I lost one of my twin babies, a dream I'd had for my whole life, I did not want to become bitter like her.</center>
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And so, my response to this "change of plans" was to allow Him to grow me.</center>
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It was ugly. It was hard work. And it didn't come to full completion until I lost another baby. </center>
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(really? yes. gah!)</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes, the ways of God look so messed up to us! But He has a gentle, loving plan and if we allow Him, He works it out in our hearts beautifully.</span></center>
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I never foresaw becoming a mother to many nations. I never foresaw living in a small American town. I never foresaw having special needs children. </center>
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But now, <span style="font-size: large;">I cannot imagine who I would be if these things were not true of me.</span></center>
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Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end if leads to death."</center>
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I am so glad that God gets to decide what happens in my life, and not me. (She says with a throbbing ankle and drippy, melting ice soaking her sock.)</center>
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It comes down to a choice of acting in faith. </center>
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Will I look at this from <span style="font-size: x-large;">MY HUMAN perspective</span> or will I permit myself the joy to allow <span style="font-size: x-large;">God's HOLY perspective</span> to win?</center>
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If I choose my perspective I will:</center>
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*shrink back in fear</center>
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*grumble and complain</center>
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*give excuses</center>
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*live a sad version of my life</center>
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If I choose God's perspective I will:</center>
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*KNOW that He has a plan that it incomprehensible to my limited mind</center>
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*TRUST that He is good, in spite of what circumstances might "prove"</center>
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*ACT based on His promises</center>
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~that He is GOOD</center>
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~that He is LOVING</center>
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~that He is with me</center>
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~that He has gone before me and is already working</center>
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*live a life fully dependent upon God's strength, because there's no other way to survive once we obey the radical things He calls us to do (THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF LIVING A COMPLACENT LIFE!!)</center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is a "Part 1" blog post.</span> There <u><span style="font-size: large;">is</span></u> something NEW on the horizon for me, for us, and God has blown us away with it all. </center>
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It was not our intention. </center>
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It was not our design.</center>
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But it IS His, and soon, I'll tell you!</center>
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Stay tuned!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-47941085171882343882014-09-18T11:10:00.000-04:002014-09-18T11:10:02.868-04:00A New Chapter--Serving in Adoptions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2UZFbxstZfK6tD_fyApuOGaQ-_eaFQXvCRY1H9ziHdWK1fT0pa0o68rfosX83jigEsuJwb6nEOcGeOKDbbWvl7_m-DKCZXPINQhJ_Dova_rX6SmlYkKn3GG3oMrx5n_uHhv_6SoImajD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-18+at+10.34.59+AM.png" /></div>
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It is with GREAT JOY and EXCITEMENT that I have accepted the position as Adoption Coordinator for the non-profit, <a href="http://www.childrenslantern.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Children's Lantern</span></a> in Defiance, Ohio. I am thrilled to be able to serve adoptive families in their adoption process, as well as once they come home.</center>
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I did a little trip down memory lane, just wondering HOW did I get here? I love when God does surprise turns in our lives. He had these things planned out long before we ever had an inkling!</center>
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I have been "doing" adoption things since the fall of 2010, when God put it on our hearts to expand our little family of 6 by adding in another child.</center>
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We didn't know where to start. We had never had any interest in adoption. We were the blonde, all-American looking family. We had NO IDEA how God was about to rock our worlds!!</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWuXniVb5XZVYAL_mJuT50EFkYrXMURYwZguO3GPvBsWF9Ov-K_mAL-Wc3n7n_lzGIteYcak-4wo7pERbNBLnSVPs8wC5uh0l1V3CCUfDb1_QwPuSZApi1oULiDD5F8VvrQFYh_VUfRHZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-09-18+at+5.48.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWuXniVb5XZVYAL_mJuT50EFkYrXMURYwZguO3GPvBsWF9Ov-K_mAL-Wc3n7n_lzGIteYcak-4wo7pERbNBLnSVPs8wC5uh0l1V3CCUfDb1_QwPuSZApi1oULiDD5F8VvrQFYh_VUfRHZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-09-18+at+5.48.16+PM.png" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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We began the process of adoption and were drawn to the masses of children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. This led us to Uganda. Which eventually, after a lot of false starts, led us to Zeb.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wq5oJ7nuD41mH5I9v3Q1PyCMdBESuxvIJAQeOOXaC_ZiIkIBbxoSdJVK5uf-77zc3D2HwJxF9HAL34BnMI6Uu4jnRDwr2_ucjkkFq1AhmdDCiaPqn5AIBP1NokVvPulbwa2Sin8qoGOy/s1600/Jeremiah4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wq5oJ7nuD41mH5I9v3Q1PyCMdBESuxvIJAQeOOXaC_ZiIkIBbxoSdJVK5uf-77zc3D2HwJxF9HAL34BnMI6Uu4jnRDwr2_ucjkkFq1AhmdDCiaPqn5AIBP1NokVvPulbwa2Sin8qoGOy/s1600/Jeremiah4.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsQsph7CjPoeYKvF6uAfnjRckSK6dedEqKmoe20KVfQkip_Z07SMCxZEwT4Tc8vpUXIaPBkru6_feGXqR_RDj27i3nQoijdCdvZqgHqQhmzgm8fn5hpzl6TiN2zAsk7GiEqubjw5lHJXi/s1600/Shaws+on+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsQsph7CjPoeYKvF6uAfnjRckSK6dedEqKmoe20KVfQkip_Z07SMCxZEwT4Tc8vpUXIaPBkru6_feGXqR_RDj27i3nQoijdCdvZqgHqQhmzgm8fn5hpzl6TiN2zAsk7GiEqubjw5lHJXi/s1600/Shaws+on+beach.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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So then we had five children. We adopted, independently, from Uganda. And it was a whirlwind. We were home with him in a flashing ten months after we decided yes, we felt God was calling us into adoption.</center>
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So shockingly fast. So bizarre. We know. </center>
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Then, the ache began. You can read about it<span style="color: #ea9999;"> </span><a href="http://feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com/2012/04/ohmyheart.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">HERE</span>.</a> And then, I found him! I didn't know I was looking, but God did. And He directed my path straight to the blog where I laid eyes on my 6th child: Toby.</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxp2h3CSvuNFwe5f46Yjdt6rS-mAGGZoV37visRR1szkU2bqGj6RXkRZTj4XJ_fPTWTkWDE0oVKQJkGz43Y1NMxwCZeUfKCA2bBsWJkA2ZkeamFXPgeko7JzZ1RwLI5GrqgXZKA3b-9BhQ/s1600/Channing+referral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxp2h3CSvuNFwe5f46Yjdt6rS-mAGGZoV37visRR1szkU2bqGj6RXkRZTj4XJ_fPTWTkWDE0oVKQJkGz43Y1NMxwCZeUfKCA2bBsWJkA2ZkeamFXPgeko7JzZ1RwLI5GrqgXZKA3b-9BhQ/s1600/Channing+referral.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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And honestly, it was only another 10 months until we had to take this picture:</div>
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This shot was by the Chinese government the day after "Gotcha" had happened. He still looked pretty scared. The smiles distinctly began the next morning. And he's never stopped smiling since!! :)</div>
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And it was BEFORE we traveled to adopt Toby that we knew knew knew that Esty was our daughter too.</div>
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But that's crazy, right?</div>
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Yes.</div>
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Ten months after we were home with Toby, we were back in China to bring Esty home.</div>
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And now our "all-American" family has been largely improved upon by the delightful presence of some of the world's neediest orphans. We are ALL better for their arrival and part in our family!</center>
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So this crazy path that has exploded into our lives only began not even 4 years ago. It's astounding to me HOW MUCH my life has changed.</center>
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Changed for the better. I am less selfish, less concerned about what other people think and my "serving" muscle is way more toned. My heart is broken for the remaining orphans around the world.</center>
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A friend of mine once prayed for me that I would find a way to help orphans find their families. I thought her prayer was mighty big, but I echoed it into my own heart. I've been so amazed to watch God use this blog to unite orphans with their families (stories that need to be shared!!) and now with an official capacity serving with Children's Lantern. I am honored to become part of such a phenomenal group of people with similar passions!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-40375892518233916662014-09-09T14:35:00.000-04:002014-09-09T14:35:59.147-04:00Flashback to 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I can't believe it's been THREE YEARS since we brought home our Zareb from Uganda!!</center>
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I savor these precious images from when we travelled home.</center>
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He seems so little at just under 3 years old!<br />
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We had this ridiculous 6 hour layover in Amsterdam…but it gave me time to grab these sweet photos. Looking back, those 6 hours were indeed hard (especially when he took off with another family and I had to chase him down!) but I delight in these images where he looks SO LITTLE!!</center>
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And I have to also share this precious one…where my now Kindergartners (!) were taking one another in. Love their fingers touching!</center>
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It's been an amazing three years where we've added to our family TWO more times…and Zareb has just rolled with all of it! </center>
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Here's my favorite shot from this summer of our Zebby:</center>
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He was so delighting in playing in the ocean! :)</div>
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Oh how I am sooooo grateful for this precious boy whom we were given!!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7645460088574068482.post-3409943771208702992014-07-27T14:53:00.000-04:002014-07-27T15:07:29.062-04:00Esty and the TLSO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I witnessed bravery this week.</center>
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Cool, unadulterated bravery.</center>
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Courage, in another word.</center>
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It was not in myself, no…I am so far from that, my friends. But I would venture a guess that <i>you</i> can <u>guess</u> on whose face I saw the brave look of infinitesimal courage.</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Esty.</span> You are so right.</center>
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This week, she had to have her TSLO fitted. For those of you who are clueless as I was, that's slang for a Thorasic/Lumbar/Sacral Orthotic. In short, it's a suffocatingly tight piece of plastic that clamshells our girl in an effort to hold her present spinal curve so it doesn't increase.</center>
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We had the mold made a good 7 weeks ago. Don't get me started on why we're waiting so long. Sometimes, you pick your battles not only with your teenager, but your medical community!</center>
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When we went back this past week, I had attempted to prepare her for what was coming. HOW do you prepare a child who barely understands our culture that we are now subjecting her to painful, hot, plastic torture and she has to stay in this device for TWENTY HOURS a day for the next 3-5 years!?!!?</center>
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Well, you simply cannot.</center>
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So we mentioned it in some happier terms…like the butterfly pattern she chose for it. "Won't that be fun to see how it looks?" I cringe as I try to make SOMETHING fun in all of this.</center>
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Thank God for iPads. At least she can play on that while we wait.</center>
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The orthotist brings this MASSIVE thing in and has her put on a stocking that covers her from neck to knees. Then he has her lie back and does measurements on her and then makes markings on the brace. He disappears. We hear sawing.</center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jandj.org/photo%20gallery.html">This is not her brace, but an example to illustrate.</a></td></tr>
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The next time he appears, it's considerably shorter. (So thankful!) He pries it open and it swallows her whole.</center>
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She winces.</center>
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I cringe.</center>
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He does some looking and removes it and calls in his colleague. He shows him her curve. They exchange "mmmhmmms" and I hear, "yes, that is quite unusual."</center>
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I don't ask.</center>
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He turns to me and explains, "I need to cut this appointment short. I want to send you over for an immediate Xray in the brace to see if it's holding her in the appropriate places. We cannot afford to make any mistakes."</center>
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Baby girl needed to cath, but instead, we ran across the city to her hospital where we raced against the clock to be able to return in the orthotist's time window to have him complete the fitting.</center>
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This brace getting clamped onto her torso and running out the door and into the car and over to the hospital…it would all feel so…scary! It was supposed to be a 2 hour appointment and then we would go to the horse barn to get Jensi. (Esty takes comfort in knowing how the day will run.) Instead, after only 30-45 minutes, we were leaving and it was under a sense of duress.</center>
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She never complained. She never cried. No tears even welled up, well, except in MY eyes.</center>
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When I asked her in the van how she was doing, she replied, "I'm fine, but this thing…it's not too comfortable."</center>
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Wow.</center>
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That's courage, my friends.</center>
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We get all the paperwork done and learn she has to stand with her chest pressing hard against the glass of the X ray. She cannot stand there alone, this brace throws her completely off and walking with her walker was a tremendous difficulty. (I saw her eyes flicker a bit when she realized how this may be changing things, and the lump in my throat was the size of the Goodyear blimp.) </center>
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We ended up leaving the brace and after the orthotist had a look at the X-rays, he informed me he must trash this one and make a new one. I appreciate his attention to detail, but am so heavy hearted that our girl will now get her TLSO the day before we go on vacation. </center>
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Sigh.</center>
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I praise God that she can have FOUR hours out of it daily. You can bet that those hours we will use wisely! We will swim, play at the ocean and snuggle in fresh pajamas after a bath.</center>
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I don't know why this particular medical thing bothered me so much other than it's going to have SUCH an impact on her daily comfort level. And she cannot even understand why. (I have shown her a straight spine and the X-ray above, but how much that makes sense to her, I do not know.)</center>
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When I picked her up to get her in the van (regular things she has been doing suddenly became stiff and impossible) I couldn't get over the sense that we had gotten her out of the orphanage only to encase her in plastic body cage (feet and ankles in similar braces) in a foreign land…and force feed her cheese. (okay not really, but the girl hates her cheese and she's TRYING to live in America!!!) I got her into her seat and ran around to the driver's side trying to pull my emotions back into my lap.</center>
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I didn't feel this way about her AFO's. (Ankle/foot orthotics) They helped stabilize her feet so she can walk! This...this feels like nasty punishment.</center>
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And the kicker? Because she is tethered (meaning her spinal cord is caught in scar tissue) the brace may not even help hold the curve at the present degree. All this, and it very well could get WORSE and still require the surgery we are trying so hard to avoid or at least postpone. We won't know. </center>
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Here is my brave girl sitting in the Xray waiting room after failed attempts at cathing due to the monstrous TLSO and giggling because she had decorated this fairy and taken a picture of her walker and now "the fairy, she is walking!!" Giggle giggle giggle.</center>
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What?!?! I'm about to melt into piles of tears for my girl and she is enamored with the camera feature on the iPad. </center>
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Some may call it immaturity, but <span style="font-size: large;">I call her </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">brave</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046754241473668445noreply@blogger.com3