Toby's Surgical Outcome

Wow! Thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers on behalf of Toby as he had surgery!

HE IS DOING AMAZING!!!

I just took this, 2 days post op, for this post. Can you believe him?!?!?!

Surgery lasted 4 hours. First Dr. R began with the circumcision. This went smoothly. Then Dr. Z came in and started with the toe removal. Then he began on his arm.

This was a big deal.

First order of business was to rotate his arm. You see, his shoulders are internally rotated making his hand in a backward position (on top of his wrists being severely bent). Surgeries to alter the shoulder have been highly unsuccessful, but they have discovered that it is working to cut the humorous in half, rotate the lower part of the arm into the correct position and then put pins or plates in to hold it. (Toby has permanent plates.) They did this just above his elbow.

Then, they did an elbow release. This involved cutting tendons, moving nerves and then making slices in his tricep muscles to lengthen them. The way it was, the arm still would be unable to move due to the tight muscle that has never been used.

Are you grossed out yet? Yeah. I know.

Then they cast that arm in a 90 degree position.

He got his fingers in his mouth for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!

He can actually reach his left ear with his right arm!! (not without help)

This is in the recovery room. His face was very swollen and he didn't look like himself.













As is common with AMC kids, they were unable to get a good vein for an IV in either his hand or foot. (his poor foot is all bruised and I can see they tried 5x to get one in!) So it was in his neck. :(

While in the hospital...we did very little.

Lots of sitting and holding. And trying not to cry.

But Toby is a fighter. And although he wasn't happy, he didn't cry that first night.

He had me sleep in his bed to comfort him and he worked on a new position about every ten minutes, but the boy did not cry all night.

We were incredibly blessed to share a room with our good friends Gideon and his dear mommy! They made the entire experience amazing with their company and all their helpful AMC wisdom! We even got to meet up with  3rd Chinese AMC adoptive mommy however they were on their way out and it was much too short a visit! Next time!

Toby borrowed Gideon's iPad while Mommy grabbed a shower. With his dominant hand occupied, he resorted to his good foot for iPad playing:

This is how he looked by yesterday afternoon when it was time to go to the airport:

A study in pitiful.

But he immediately perked up when we saw our friends who graciously picked us up and drove us to the New Jersey airport.

And he so mercifully slept on the flight home to Ohio.

And then we were back at Grandpa and Grandma's house for the night. He started to smile once again. What a joy!!

The only snag was that his high powered pain killer exploded in our suitcase and he never got a drop. He's been only on regular children's Tylenol.

And now you say: WOW!!!!!!!!

He traveled home to our house well (a 3 hour trip) and began to eat once he was back safe at home. (I thought that was so interesting!)

This boy is SUCH an amazing child. I cannot fathom doing all he is just 2 days out of surgery. Isn't he AMAZING!??!?!

Now the outcome of his arm surgery is not yet determined. The GOAL is that his arm will return to a straight position and then be able to press against something to bend.

Reality could be different. He could become locked up in the new 90 degree position. He could get a small range of motion.

There is a very teeny, tiny chance that he could get an active bend in his arm. (Meaning he could draw his arm up on his own.) But the report from the doctor is that his muscles are not healthy and deep red but rather a salmon color, indicating that he will most likely not.

We return to Shriner's in Philadelphia in just two weeks for post op and therapy. This will be several days of twice daily work to use the arm in it's new way.

In the middle of our experience, another Chinese adoptive family...just a few miles away from us in Philadelphia...lost their precious daughter when she did not make it through her final heart surgery. We (Gideon's mommy and I) had knelt and prayed for them before we learned the outcome. This was a last ditch effort to keep her alive until another donor heart became available. It was so sad to learn that they handed her to her parents to hold her while she left this earth. There is no way to sum up the blessing these Chinese children are to our families.

There was someone who told us while we were fundraising to bring Toby home that he was better off in his orphanage and that we should leave him there. I cannot fathom where this person was coming from to say such a thing, but all I know is he was DEAD WRONG. There is no honor on this planet like being Toby's family and this AMC journey is such a blessing. The joy his smiles and laughter bring are worth every ounce of effort we pour into him. We are counted blessed by the Lord to be chosen to be his family.

Thank you for your prayers for our sweet boy as he went through this! I ask that you continue to pray for him as he adjusts and learns to use his arm, especially as we begin therapy in the next few weeks!

Next Stop...Philly for Surgery!

Heading out today to Philadelphia Shriner's for Toby's BIG SURGERY!

Please be praying for our boy as he has so much done tomorrow--July 1st! Surgery is first thing in the morning...and we will be flying home the very next day.

Please pray for him to travel well. He hasn't done very well in the past, and I can only imagine when he is in such pain.

I expect him to be quite frustrated as the arm he favors will be the one now cast and rendered useless for the next weeks.

Thankful for your intercession!!!

Three Months Since Gotcha!

I just had to celebrate this 3 month mark with a few pictures...

Three months ago today, we met our little man...

Immediately after being given Toby. March 18, 2013.

Back at the hotel, March 18, 2013.

Day 2. Still scared.

Compare that with these fun pictures from yesterday...

Toby, family looks GOOD on you!!!

One more time! Let's see him side to side:

If you ever had a doubt about adoption, whether or not children belong in families...I hope this makes it clear for you!

Toby's Diagnosis of Arthryogryposis Multiplex Congenita

We knew when first fell in love with Toby that he had AMC or Arthrogyposis Multiplex Congenita.

We did the research and decided that YES we would take this on.

What is AMC?

I'm glad you asked. Especially because this month (June) is AMC awareness month!

From the May 2013 AMC Picnic in Ohio. Pictured are all the individuals affected with AMC. (plus me b/c Toby wouldn't stand with strangers!)

Arthro means "joint"

Gryposis means "crooked"

Multiplex means it occurs in different joints anywhere in the body and is unique to each individual

Congenita means present at birth.

Whew! What does that look like in real life?

Well, it looks VERY different for different people.

Sometimes all joints are affected. This means that the child/adult is completely wheelchair bound and must control it by their chin.

Sometimes it only affects their lower extremities. Club feet are common and scoliosis can occur. If the lowers are affected, it usually means years of therapies, casting, and surgeries to get to a level of mobility.

This mobility is different for each person. Some are able to walk with a limp, an irregular gait or even a hunch. Some use walkers. Some are able to walk smoothly.

Some people are affected only in the uppers. This is how our Toby is affected. It was such a shock to us when we learned last summer from his orphanage that he could walk! (We actually didn't believe it at first!)

We had an amazing time meeting other families affected by AMC at the big "meet up" held in our very own beloved hometown of Westerville, Ohio.

A sweet friend, Jenny, adopted from South Korea as a child because of her AMC. She now can walk but also uses a wheelchair. She is SUCH a sweetheart! Working on her PhD!!

My dear friend Jackie with adopted son, Gideon. Jackie shared with me all about AMC and what it would mean for me as a parent if we said YES to Toby's adoption. Gideon is affected in both the uppers and lowers.

I snagged this photo op with the well known Tracey Schalk--a key spokeswoman for AMC. She is uber sweet!!!
Tracey lives alone and drives a car.  She is affected in nearly every joint. She can do ANYTHING!

Having this incredible network of AMC'ers has been awesome. I learned early on that we need to be going out to the Shriner's Hospital for Children to see Dr.s van Bosse and Zlotolow who are the nation's best in AMC treatment.

Toby and I did that just last week.

My traveling companion. He's pretty cute, huh?

 We traveled on two planes to reach Philadelphia. We used Miracle Flights for Kids that helps children with medical needs get to their necessary hospitals. They were great!!!

Once we reached Philly, we had an amazing picnic with fellow adoptive families in the Philly area. It was SUCH a blessing! I learned a lot about Russian adoption and met some fabulous new friends!

One incredible meeting was face to face with Kelly who advocated for Toby on her blog. It was a really emotionally beautiful thing to introduce this precious orphan to her...we both got teary!

You are right, we aren't looking very teary here. We had moved on to laughing! :)

The next day, it was time to go to Shriner's.

AMAZING place.

Those men with their caps...I never paid much attention to them all my life.

Now, I am SO THANKFUL for what they have been doing.

Did you know that after your insurance, Shriner's pays EVERYTHING?  They work hard so that there is no extra financial hardship on the families.

INCREDIBLE.

Waiting in our room to have different doctors come and visit Toby.  p.s. He does ALOT with his feet that he cannot do with his hands! ;)

 We were treated so lovingly and saw doctor after doctor and went for some pretty crazy and creatively shot X-rays! They sure know how to work with children!

Amazingly, we were done by noon!!

They sent in the clowns! Shriner's are known for their great clowns!

Playing at the train table with friends.

Look who showed up in Philly too! Our buddy Gideon from Kentucky! AWESOME!!

The diagnosis Toby received from Dr. van Bosse was that his type of AMC is Amyoplasia. This type is fairly common among AMCers and is non genetic. It is thought that it is due to a lack of oxygen in the spine during the first 11 weeks of pregnancy.

Shockingly, 90-95% of the amyoplasia type of AMCers are affected in the lowers. 

Toby is in the 5-10% who only are affected in the uppers.

Another moment where I was just amazed.

When Dr. Zlotolow (upper specialist) came in and saw Toby, he remarked in awe, "This is the 3rd patient I've seen now only affected in the uppers but missing toes on a foot. I HAVE to think there is a connection."

Wow. There is still much the medical community does not know about AMC.

We learned that Toby is missing some muscles and other muscles are very atrophied. Due to lack of fetal movement in the womb, these joints "freeze" or contract. He has internally rotated shoulders, locked elbows with about a 30 degree range in one arm and both wrists contracted and adducted thumbs and the tendons in 6 of his fingers are so tight that they cannot be straightened.

Dr. Z determined that to begin help Toby become independent, he needs to have surgery to enhance his favored arm. He will have what is called a rotational osteotomy on his upper arm as well as an elbow release. He wants to have it done before he turns 3.

That means now.

The goal will be to get his hand to his mouth so he will be able to feed himself.

We are scheduled for July 1st.

I ask that you be in prayer for Toby as he faces a multi-faceted surgery on that date. Pray for me to as he was not the easiest little guy with whom to travel!

Finding a Home for Yuri and Zhenya

I'd like to introduce you to these two special kids: Zhenya and Yuri. They are orphans who live in Ukraine. I am trying to help find them a forever family.

"They are truly amazing kids with really tender hearts! We've been to Ukraine, we've been to the orphanages, and these kids are really amazing!" ~Sheryl, host mom summer 2012.

Because they are biological siblings, the Ukraine requires that they be adopted together.

That's a VERY good thing for Zhenya who is already too old to be adopted--she is 16 going on 17. (trying not to break into song here...)

In the Ukraine, children are no longer eligible for adoption after they turn 16.

However, the loophole is that her brother, Yuri, is only 15. Because HE is eligible still...so is she!

Ukraine places a high value on keeping siblings together. Thank you, Ukraine.

So here's the scoop on this MOST precious orphan sibs:

They have only been at their orphanage 3 years. Before that, they were at home with their single mom...where they knew love...and extreme poverty. Tragically, she passed away. Before she did, she made sure these two were carefully placed in a Christian orphanage.

Why do I know so much about these two? My friend, Sheryl, had the blessing of being their host family last summer for 4 weeks. She is deeply desiring to find them a permanent family. In her words, "She has cried buckets over these two, but for some reason God has said no to us...so we are hoping desperately for another family will come for them."


Yuri is 15 years old but in early December he turns 16. He is described as being quiet, extremely polite and kind, embarrasses easily, socially shy, laid back, non-aggressive. He does well with with other teen boys, and does not take advances from girls. If a girl even spoke to him he would blush! He is not into sports, but rather is interested in working with his hands. Yuri would thrive in a family where the dad farms, is in construction, or electrical, etc. He is very handy. He has a goal of owning his own electrical business. He is a dreamer and very goal oriented! He wants to work for a living, as opposed to going to school. Would not do as well in suburban life...prefers the country.  After he went home Sheryl said he has really become focused on his academics. (I think she was an awesome host mom!!)






Zhenya, pronounced"Jania,"
is described as loving to bake, be in the kitchen, and do crafts. She is very good with little children. She loves anything artsy. She is more obstinate than her brother, but zero trouble at all. She has more of a controlling personality than her brother. She is desperate for a family! She wants to come to America permanently so badly! She could really use prayer for a very big life altering decision she must make on August 31st  regarding her future.

They come from a pentecostal orphanage, required to dress in a certain way--no jeans at all, only skirts. When they were here they showed great respect for this and continued to be modest, even when it was not required.

Both loved Christian music and only wanted that downloaded to their devices.

The family who comes for them must have paperwork done by first week of December due to Yuri's birthday. They would be perfect for family with home study already done.

Sheryl believes they would fit in well in a family with other teens so they can bond.

These two will be coming back to America through a hosting program June 25-July 29! They will be here in Ohio, so if you wanted to you could meet them and spend time with them!!

Please consider these precious brother/sister pair!

If you are interested, please message me or leave a comment with your contact information. (I will not publish it but get back to you privately.) 

About Our Esty...

So many have asked sweet questions about our newest child, dear

Esty Marilyn HanHan...

so I thought I would share a bit about WHO she is and WHY we are pursuing her.

Esty at age 8...you can see a video of her when this photo was taken. Look below!

As God has grown me in the past year, I have personally witnessed the incredible POWER that advocating for voiceless orphans has on lives.

Afterall, when Kelly advocated for our Toby here, exactly EIGHT lives radically changed...with more lives along the edges being impacted by Toby's story and his life as a Shaw.

My life by someone else advocating for orphans.

And so, it was only natural that I would begin doing the same.

Sharing faces.

Sharing stories.

Passing on links, making connections and praying my heart out for these children who need families.

Esty was one of those children I advocated for.

On November 20, 2012 I advocated for her on my Facebook page.

Here was a little girl who had been waiting in her birth country for someone to love her.

For someone to find value in her life.

I learned that she wanted to become a doctor when she grows up.

I know the reality: she is handicapped. Wheelchair bound.

In China, this means she is locked away from education.

Schools have no wheelchair access.

No special needs accommodations.

She has no hope of ever becoming a doctor if she remains in China.

Yet she has been waiting for a family for over 8 years.

EIGHT YEARS!!!

I cannot begin to comprehend that, honestly.

I think about where we were when she was born. (Incidentally, we were in China, living our lives as a family of 4 then...)

I think about where we were when she was abandoned (again, we were still in China...and I so wish I had been able to scoop up this little broken baby left on a train!!)

We came home then, had Oliver, gave birth to and then buried Oskar, moved and began a life in the NW corner of Ohio...all the while

she

waited.

It was in the quiet of the early morning when God spoke clearly and directly to my heart about this precious girl who was still waiting.

"You can handle her needs." God spoke.

CLEARLY there was no mistaking His words to my heart.

I was a bit dumbfounded. "Me, Lord?"

I immediately told Brian about this...and we began praying.

It was just 2 weeks before we would board a plane to China to bring Toby home.

Yes, the timing of it all was SHOCKING.

One day after that, as I fastened a clay necklace from Toby's fundraiser around my neck I had the distinct feeling, "This necklace is not mine. It is for HER."

When I took it off and looked at the verse on the back, I read the Scripture reference: Jeremiah 29:11.

God was saying this verse about her: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

I was trembling.

This child who I had merely advocated for needed this necklace.

It was hers.

It had a message that SHE needed to hear.

So, I took it with us to China. I printed out the first page of her file that held the information about where she lived.

On our final day in China, I asked our guide to help me mail it to her. She gladly did. She wrote out the verse in characters and added my message, "A friend in America loves you. She wants you to have this necklace and understand the message that it carries. You are treasured."

She asked me if I wanted to sign it. But what could I do? I certainly could not build up her hopes that I was her Momma...but neither could I sign my first name because I LONGED to become her momma!!

So it went to her without a signature.

In the meantime, God spoke to Brian that we are to bring Esty home. The phone call came to me just 4 days after coming home with Toby. "Amy, I'm ready to start the process bring her home."

Oh, sweet man!! I rejoice in my husband who always listens to God's voice!!

By now, sweet Esty has been given the news that she has a family.

I cannot help wonder if she touches that necklace and dreams about us, like we dream about her.

This video was taken a few years back when an agency was desperately trying to find her a family. I have watched this over and over and over again. I cannot wait to wrap my arms around Esty and let her know HOW MUCH I LOVE AND ADORE HER!!!

Note: at the time of this video, she was blessed to be out of the orphanage and living with a foster family; that is the "mom" and "little sister"to whom she is referring. Sadly, she was returned to her orphanage where she still waits today.

It is our joy and great honor that God has chosen US to be that permanent, loving family for Esty. We are over the moon joyful to begin the walk of understanding Spina Bifida and how we can help her gain the most independence possible.

We are so excited to shower her with love and affection and begin training her heart.

Please pray with us that God will bring her home quickly and in a way that ALL WILL SEE that God is mighty!!!

Wounded Children in Healing Homes

I went to a training last night, it was called:

Wounded Children, Healing Homes

The workshop was given by Jayne Schooler and she authored this book pictured here. (Yes, I'm totally going to get it on my Kindle!!)

I learned more about the impact that trauma has on children...

the 5 critical times when trauma can be inflicted

and how

trauma

inter

upts

develop

ment.

Children hurting. Children who were victims.

Innocence. Robbed.

Then the workshop shifted to how to become and maintain being a

HEALING HOME

for the children who suffer from trauma, neglect and abuse.

It was fascinating.

Some people would say, "there's no way I would mess up my family and take that risk,"

others might say, "I might do that after my real children have grown up and moved out,"

still others might say, "that's really heroic what you are doing for those kids, but I never could."

And then there are those of us that have said

YES
to the fatherless
to the hurting
to wounded
right now:

we know the work that it is.

the feeling of utter exhaustion.

the daily wondering if we can do it all over again.

But then we find strength in HIM.

He who called us.

His Word encourages. It lifts us up.

I hear His Word in my mind as I climb the stairs on an exhausted evening with toddlers hollering at various levels throughout the house, "Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." Isaiah 40:31a

I wonder, do those who say they could NEVER do this,

        do they wonder what they are missing?

We almost backed out of adoption back in 2010. We had been told a horror story that was enough to scare the eyebrows off of anybody.

But the Lord softly spoke to my husband's heart, "Let Me bless you," and we trusted and moved forward anyway.

I watched a video tonight posted by my blogging friend, Adeye.

She and her family have adopted many times. (I just did a re-count. They have 9 kids!) Recently they brought home a beautiful but very wounded daughter, a 14 year old who weighed just 14 pounds from the neglected corner of an orphanage in Bulgaria.

I cannot speak to what it must have been like to first meet her, and see her condition in the moment by moment.

But I see NOW the video she just posted a few hours ago of their daughter, deeply traumatized, horrifically delayed

but

now

full

of

joy.

She has for the first time experienced love.

For the first time felt safe.

For the first time known that her cries would be answered.

And that does something amazing for a wounded child.

For the first time, she can laugh! LAUGH! Can you imagine?! When your entire life is based in fear and wondering if your most basic needs will be met...she is LAUGHING NOW!!!

Please, I encourage you to take a look at the "laughter and everlasting joy" on the face of their beloved daughter, Hasya. Click here to read this post and watch her video of her daughter responding to the loving touch of a brother and her father.

And you'll want to stick around and read more. It's deeply inspirational.

And I take great courage, and I want you to as well: we CAN be a healing home for wounded children.

It's Time to Party!

This sweet girl has been waiting in China for a family...

At 4 years old

And waiting...

at 7 years old

and waiting...

at 9 years old (current)

But it's time to PARTY!!!!

WHY????

BECAUSE SHE HAS A FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This precious little girl who has lived so long waiting, wondering, hoping she would be chosen and loved has finally been chosen.

This kind of news bring me joy unlike any other!!!

But this little girl has a particular family that is close to my heart...

Look below and you will see why!

keep going...

Yes! She is OURS!!!

We joyfully announce our daughter waiting in China...

Esther Marilyn HanHan Shaw

"Esty"

See? 

It IS TIME TO PARTY!!!!!!!!!!

"The Lord has done it this very day, let us rejoice and be glad!"

                             

                                                                             Psalm 118:24

Help! Emily Needs a New Family!!

Sometimes things go differently than we plan them.

This is the case for Emily.

Oh, she is precious, friends!! I have seen her sweet face. I have read her story.

But her story is FAR from over...and I suspect it might include YOU!

Let me tell you a little bit about this situation and WHY she needs a new family.

Sweet Emily was found only days old in southern China and has been raised in an orphanage.

Sweet girl waited for TEN LONG YEARS to be chosen for adoption.

Finally, she was chosen!!

A precious family with other daughters previously adopted from China came forward for her. They were given Pre-approval from China to adopt Emily.

They even sent Emily a care package with clothing and pictures of them so she would know how she is cared for, loved, and wanted.

Sadly, something has happened that stops this adoption short.

Her almost-adoptive Mommy calls Emily, "The Child Who Saved My Life" and here is why...

In order to update their home study, the mother needed to have a physical. (Trust me, with many kids at home, our own regular healthy checks definitely get forgotten!) But because of the desired adoption, this Mama went in for a check up.

At that visit, the doctor discovered it had been a while since she had undergone a mammogram. So one was ordered.

Very soon afterwards, she received a frightening phone call.

She had a mass that was very dense. She needed an ultrasound.

The results came back that she the density was Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She had a biopsy to confirm and then soon after a lumpectomy.

The cancer is very aggressive and had grown even within that time.

This Mama begins chemotherapy this week.

Meanwhile, as is customary, she shared the news of her cancer with China. They gave her some devastating news:

She was no longer able to become Emily's mother.

This completely wrecked her.

Can you imagine? Such double bad news??

But we know that in ALL THINGS God works them for good to those who love Him!! (Romans 8:28)

And so, we search now for another family who can step into the vacancy created by cancer.

A family is needed for 10 year old Emily who is a healthy little girl. This precious orphan who must be very heartbroken to learn that after waiting for so long and finally being chosen...that it isn't going to work out.

Will you consider adopting precious Emily? Her file is listed with a particular agency, but they are willing to release her file to whichever agency will process her new adoption.

Pray for Emily...as well as for the cancer treatments and the devastated heart of her almost-mommy!!!

Please contact me if you want to learn more about how to become Emily's family.

A Letter of Love to 2 Unknown Birth Mothers

Dear Unknown Birth Mothers of my Two Sons,

I do not know your names. I have not seen your faces. I do not know your stories.

But I love you.

You carried the flesh and blood of my two sons. You nourished, carried and hosted the miracle of life given to you by our amazing God.

You did not terminate the lives of my two children.

You could have.

You didn't.

I cannot thank you enough.

What hardship you endured, I cannot fathom.

You each loved of them so intensely.

I know you did. There are clues all about their stories that indicate your love.

You cared.

How it must have broken you in two to make the choice to allow someone (me) to come along in their future to raise them.

I cannot walk a mile in your shoes, but I respect you.

And I cannot stop thanking you.

The laughter and joy that Zeb brings my heart---oh how I wish you could know it too! Perhaps you treasure memories in your own heart on a day like this? Perhaps you think daily of your son you have lost. Wondering. Hoping.

I promise you: I will raise him as if you were here with me. Holding him in my arms when he is frightened.

Wiping his tears (and that ever runny nose) when he is hurt or sad.

Guiding his heart to trust.

Leading him to Jesus--where all sorrows melt into joy.

And to Toby's birth mother, oh you precious woman! How can I thank you for so carefully placing him in a spot where he would be immediately found?

Your heart knows exactly how old he is.

I understand...

I lost a son too. He would have been 6 1/2 now.

You know very well that your son is 2 1/2.

Please carry no guilt. You don't need that on top of a broken heart.

Know that I treasure Toby as my very own flesh and blood.

I promise to you as well: I will raise him as if you were here with me, looking over my shoulder, listening to how I comfort, train and teach.

And those scary things about his body that didn't look "right?"

Worry not! We are working with those and will be seen by the best doctors in the West for his condition. His differences are not scary for us (who had plenty of months to research and prepare), as they must have been terrifying for you. We are surrounded by supportive people who also have children like this. We are in good hands.

Oh how different it is when we CHOOSE a special need versus you who had it sprung upon you without warning or explanation.

I planted a rose bush in my garden for each of you:

Red for Toby's China mommy

It is a memorial garden to honor your memory. To teach my sons that they have been loved from their very beginnings.

A place for them to be when they feel they want to just thank you.

Or cry for you.

Or even be angry.

Pink roses for Zeb's Uganda Mommy

There is so much loss in adoption, but much gain.

You ladies each gave to them.

You gave to me.

And so today, on this Mother's Day, I honor you.

Sincerely,

Adoptive Mommy to your birth sons

Pleading Prayers for Matthew

I have advocated for several orphans over the past year.

Usually I choose the ones that particularly grab my heart, and in some cases completely break me.

Matthew is one of those.

Ever good natured and kind, Matthew needs you!

I want nothing more than to find his family.

I have sought God's face intensely about him becoming a part of OUR family, but God's answer was no.

There MUST be someone else.

Where are you, sweet family?

If you are like me, my precious Toby was advocated for by many, many bloggers and I never saw it.

So you, future family of Matthew, may never see these words.

But friends, prayer is POWERFUL.

You are seeing this.

You can pray.

"Oh Lord of heaven and earth, please bend your ear and hear our prayer! We call on your defensive nature of the fatherless. Your child, Matthew, has grown up without the love of a mother and a father. He is a fine young man. You have blessed him with a great experience at a camp for orphans and then beautifully orchestrated Rob's following summer to reunite them. Lord God, please draw his family to him! We pray with all our hearts that you will bring them quickly. Allow the doors to blow open between them and Matthew. Allow the time to work out. September is coming so fast, Lord. Yet you know you have plans you have for him. Plans to give him a hope and a future. Please provide a loving family for this treasured young man. Please do not allow him to enter the world alone...at age 14.   We ask these things in Your Name, Jesus, Amen."

"The prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

"Defender of the fatherless, defender of widows--this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families and sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." Psalm 68:5-6

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...speak up for the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8 and 9

Please, I beg you to share the story of Matthew with your friends. Keep on talking to Jesus about him too! Here are a few places you can go to read about him: Reece's Rainbow (donate here towards his specific adoption even though his family has not been found, the money will be held for him in particular!); Rob's blog sharing about personal time with Matthew: here, here and here.

New Greenberry!! Yippie!!!

We used to have this wonderful Macbook Pro.

I say "used to" because I did something bad.

Very bad.

I spilled my Greenberry Shakeology on it.

Uh oh.

Guess what? Turns out that what is great for your body: lowers your cholesterol, increases your energy, fills you up, reduces your cravings for sweets, helps you lose weight and regulates digestion...

                              ...doesn't do that for a laptop.

If your bag looks like this, you've got the new formula!

Boo. :(


But the news is...

Greenberry Shakeology has just gotten a MAKEOVER!!!



And it's available now! :)  Yippie!!

Here's the 411 on the new formula straight from Beachbody HQ:

Q: What's different in the new Greenberry formula?
A:

• Reduced calories from 140 to 130 per serving
• Reduced Sugars from 11g to 6g per serving! (5 grams less than before!)
• Reduced Total Carbs from 19g to 13g per serving
• Increased Protein from 16g to 17g per serving
• Fiber increased from 3g to 4g due to the addition of pea protein and increase in super greens.
• Reduced fructose necessary in the formula due to the addition of Luo Han Guo
• We added Shakeology's newest superfoods: Luo Han Guo, Moringa and Himalayan Salt.
• We increased the amount of super-greens (it is Greenberry after all!) and included an even more delicious natural flavor which works more harmoniously with the formula to makes Greenberry sweeter and fruitier.
• Green tea used is no longer decaffeinated — therefore it is less "processed".
  • (Note: Green tea is naturally very low in caffeine).
• Plus we incorporated the improvements we made recently to Chocolate:
  • More concentrated grasses. We're using grass juice powders. The grasses are first pressed into juices—which allows us to concentrate the nutrients—then the juice is further concentrated into a powder. (Before we were just grinding the grasses themselves into powders)
  • Better strain of probiotics
  • No suma root or blue-green algae
  • Still Low Glycemic Index

Q: Can I still get the Original Greenberry Formula?
A: For those of you who loved the original Greenberry, you can still purchase it (24-count cartons only) for limited time, beginning Tuesday, May 7^th. 

Q: Does the New Greenberry Formula still have whey protein?
A: Yes, Greenberry Shakeology still has whey protein in it. We also added natural pea protein to round out the amino acid profile.

Q: Does the New Greenberry Formula still have fructose in it?
A: Yes, but nearly half of what it had before. In this latest formula evolution, new superfood ingredient Luo Han Guo (monkfruit) lends natural sweetness to the formulation without the carbs or calories.

Q: Why are the calories lower in this new Greenberry formula? (130 vs. 140 in the old formula)
A: This is mainly due to the reduction of fructose in the formula.

Q: What is Himalayan Salt? Why was it added into the new Greenberry Shakeology formula?
A: Salt and sodium are necessary in our diets. Unfortunately, common table salt has been stripped of its natural minerals. Himalayan salt is completely natural, relatively untouched, and as a result, still contains over 70 trace minerals. All these natural minerals found in Himalayan salt actually make this salt healthier for you than regular table salt. Additionally, as most people who bake know, adding a pinch of salt contributes to the sweetness of a product. Keep in mind that the RDA is 2400 mg. People who follow a low sodium diet generally restrict sodium to as low as 1500mg/day. So at 200mg, Greenberry Shakeology only represents 8% of the recommended daily intake.

Q: What are all ingredients now listed in blends on the 24-count cartons?
A: Ingredients on the Greenberry Shakeology packaging have been grouped in such a way to help customers more easily understand the categories of ingredients and their benefits.

Q: Why was Suma Root removed from Greenberry Shakeology?
A: Recently, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) and the National Football League (NFL) released a new list of nationally banned substances. Because current drug screening technologies are unable to differentiate between natural, healthy substances and synthetic banned substances, the list now encompasses a group of all-natural phyto-chemical compounds known as ecdysteroids, which are found in various plants around the globe. Since the ecdysterone found in Suma Root can be erroneously detected as a banned synthetic substance, we have chosen to exclude it from Greenberry Shakeology.

Q: Why was Blue-green algae removed from Greenberry Shakeology?
A: The numerous benefits derived from blue-green algae are found in the other ingredients found in Shakeology's Phytonutrient / Super-Greens blend.

Q: Why is only one strain of probiotics listed on the new Greenberry Shakeology label rather than the 6 listed on the old formula?
A: Bacillus Coagulans is a powerful strain of probiotics proven to survive the acids in the stomach and reach the intestine where it is intended to function. Probiotics are good bacteria that help create a healthy environment in the intestines, to maintain healthy and improved digestive function. These friendly organisms may also help fight bacteria that cause diarrhea and there's also evidence that probiotics help maintain a strong immune system. This is why the probiotics need to reach the intestines instead of being eaten up in the stomach and why we have upgraded our probiotic strain.

Q: Is Greenberry Shakeology gluten-free?
A: The Shakeology formula does not contain any gluten-based ingredients and we make every effort to prevent any ingredients with gluten from coming into direct or indirect contact with our products. However, because of our high standards we do not feel it is appropriate to make a gluten-free claim since Shakeology is produced in facilities that also handle gluten based ingredients. If you have a concern about gluten it is best to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Q: Original Greenberry Shakeology used to say it was Gluten–free. Why has it changed?
A: Because the safety of our customers is extremely important to us we felt it was prudent to include the statement that Shakeology is made in a factory that also handles gluten (wheat) based ingredients and we removed the Gluten Free statement. This does not mean that Shakeology contains gluten, in fact the Shakeology formula does not have any gluten based ingredients and we make every effort to prevent any ingredients with gluten from coming into direct or indirect contact with our product. This is taking a very conservative approach—however, the health and safety of consumers is our number one priority.

Q: When will Shakeology be certified gluten-free?
A: There are no gluten-based ingredients in the Shakeology formula. Although we can apply for a gluten-free certification, the safety of our customers is extremely important to us and until we are satisfied that our high standards can be met we will not put a gluten-free certified statement on the package. To meet our internal standards, we are reviewing our entire supply chain of nearly 100 ingredients to ensure that there is no potential exposure to gluten-based grains from the farm to the Shakeology product being sealed in the final package. At this point we cannot say when that assessment will be complete.

Q: Is Greenberry Shakeology free from allergens?
A: Shakeology is formulated to be free of the common 8 allergens, however, Shakeology is made in a manufacturing facility that also process allergens such as soy, wheat, milk and gluten. While our manufacturing procedures follows strict, required FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which include cleaning and breaking down of equipment between production runs and proper air filtration systems as precautionary measures, the possibility of cross-contamination can never be 100% eliminated, therefore we include the warning statement as a precaution to make our customers aware that Shakeology is manufactured in a facility that also processes soy, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, and wheat (gluten) ingredients." We feel this is a responsible approach to help those with extreme sensitivities to such ingredients make an informed decision about the use of Shakeology.

~

Ready to try some? As always, if you order on Home Direct, you will never pay shipping/handling (about $10 per bag). Beachbody always stands behind every product they offer and will refund your total purchase price if you decide it's not for you and return within 30 days. (so great!!) Click here to order yours and hey...just keep it off your laptop, k?

Is Matthew Yours?

Dear friends, nothing breaks my soul more than when a treasured orphan ages out.

In China, it's young.

Age 14.
(Can you fathom never having your heart trained for life and being pushed out on your own at age 14?!)

After that  14th birthday...a most dreaded birthday as an unwanted and unchosen orphan...he or she is forever deemed "unadoptable" by the government of China. They will never be able to become a son or daughter. There's way to much "UN" in that sentence.

Oh. My tears come again.

Dear Matthew is a boy in danger of this fate. He lives in China and is so dear. Watch his video. He is PRECIOUS!

Is he yours??

If so, please do not waste a MINUTE MORE!!! His 14th birthday is marching towards us quickly! Today is May 1st and his birthday is in SEPTEMBER!!!

Do not walk, RUN TO CHINA to scoop up this love!!!

Sing Little Birdie, Sing!

Moments to blog are short and crammed in between activities and kids who need me. Somehow...I have a moment. (I think!)

It's certainly not quiet...but everyone is otherwise engaged...oh, hang on...

...ok there, answered that kiddo.

In the middle of all that I am doing, there are thoughts whirling around in my mind.

I've been pondering the brevity of life.

Our neighbor passed away a few weeks ago.

He was on his roof doing chores, waved at my kids.

Days later, he was cremated and was in a 8"x 6" box.

It just really plays with my brain.

How can life be so brief?

So quickly snuffed out?

I've been reading Revelation lately. If I had to be honest, it's not a favorite place to be in Scripture because it's so much WORK. But there are promises of blessing for the one who reads it and obeys it's message...so I persevere.

This morning I read chapter 4. An incredible picture of the eternal worship of the Almighty that is continually being honored because HE IS SO WORTHY.

Wow. I was so struck by how ETERNAL God is.

And then I remembered my neighbor. In a box.

What a brief little snuff we are! All that concerns me, all that irritates, all that weighs me down...it's all so...

well, brief.

So UNlasting.

So, what will my legacy be? What will be left after my body is in a box?

Hopefully something.

Then I heard a bird tweet out my bedroom window.

Source

How even briefer their little lives are! Yet, that little tweet brought me joy.

That's IT!

That is our purpose!

To bring our Creator JOY while we live in this world.

When I back up and remove myself from:

the mounds of unfolded laundry,

          the toys strewn all over the floor,

                    the whiney tone of voices I hear in the other room,
                   
                                wondering if I'll ever make it through my to do lists,

I realize that it's not these things that give my life purpose...but it is HOW I do them.

Do I do sing to my Savior while I go about my chores?

Do I praise Him for the blessings around?

Do I delight His heart as I look to Him for direction, hope and light?

Is my heart reflecting the joy of the Savior?

When I dwell with Him continually throughout the day (pouring out my heart, praying with my children, praying for others, listening for direction) I cannot help but have JOY in His presence.

Psalm 16:11says that we will be granted the joy of His presence and the pleasures of living with Him forever.

What a gift that is!!!

Take that verse and write it down. Savor it. Memorize it. Ask Him to make good on it in your life.

Weaving our daily inner life with the Lord is what gives us the joy so we CAN sing. Singing to Him...while we go about the tasks that He has called us to.

The size of my tasks, whether or not anyone knows about what I do...all that is not up to me. I am merely to be faithful to obey...and sing to Him.

It's HOW we do things that matter.

So sing, little birdie, sing.



                               

A Mothering Prayer

Long silences from me in cyber space...

Yet I write a thousand blog posts as I sit beside Toby's crib...waiting for elusive sleep to descend.

I have so much to say. Going way back to his orphanage visit back in China.

How can I ever get the time?

I only now sneak a few minutes as the littles are sharing a snack and painting with watercolors. An activity that will expire in approximately 10 minutes.

I am doing the things you might imagine: cooking, laundry, kissing boo boos, rocking, reading, making ponytails, helping with homework, cleaning up, and lots and lots of praying.

These children are my calling.

There are six of them now.

They are such a blessing. I know that full well.

I never lose sight of the fact that two of them are former orphans. Their needs differ from my biological children.

They need special understanding. They stretch me in new ways. Often requiring me to have long distance patience, something I never began motherhood with.

I love these verses from Hebrews 13: 20-21...it has been my constant prayer as God stretches me to become the mother they need:


"Now may the God of peace-- who brought of from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with His blood--

May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. 
      May He produce in you through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him.

All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen!"

...and I hear it..."Mommy!!" Time to get off the computer again. :)