Family picture

Family picture

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for . . .
Grandmas that are still here and a part of our children's lives . . .
What a blessing they are.
That Kevin and Ted have employment in schools . . .


A magnificant smile on my five-year-old son's face . . .



And the messy breakfast face of my two-almost-three year old!





Monday, September 27, 2010

Our treasures from the East



Praying to hear God's voice above the rest.


We don't know if we have a daughter somewhere in this world, or
if God is simply calling us to continue to help the orphan.


Or maybe both.


But we will continue to seek His voice.


And we will follow Him wherever He asks us to go.


If we hadn't done that two times before, we would not have
our treasures from China.





We can't even imagine our lives without Philip and Elijah now.


Can never thank God enough for those two amazing little boys!





Wednesday, September 22, 2010

To our precious children




I just love this poem and have seen it on many adoption websites.
I don't know who the author is, but it is simply beautiful.



Some would gather money, along the path of life. Some would gather roses, and rest from worldly strife. But I would gather children from among the thorns of sin. I would seek a little child with a big and toothless grin. For money cannot enter in the land of endless day, and roses that are gathered soon wilt along the way. But oh, the laughing children, as I cross the sunset sea. And the gates swing wide to heaven. I can take them in with me.



Thanking God each day for the chance to parent our amazing children.


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Haircuts by Mom



We just got some hair clippers yesterday at Wally World,
and I tried my hand at cutting our "littles" hair.



Overall I am pleased. It will save about $25 every couple of months!
But now upon closer inspection at these photos, I can see some
stray hairs I missed. I guess I am not ready to go "pro" yet!!





Thursday, September 16, 2010

Here we grow again!




Tomorrow we begin again . . .



We've got the agency . . .



We've got a homestudy lined up and ready to begin . . .



We even have a picture of a darling little girl who has stolen our hearts and is not yet paper-ready . . .




Mostly we have heard how "impossible" it will be to adopt this particular little girl . . .



Her file isn't anywhere yet. As soon as she gets on the shared waiting children's list, I am told it will be "seconds" before she is taken. . .




But still . . .



I had a phone call out of the blue the other morning from a friend who knows about the impossible becoming the possible with God . . .



That phone call came at an interesting time . . .



Right after a night of fasting and praying about that very thing . . .




Of.all.the.people.in.the.
world.
who.could.have.called, this friend's call was significant . . .



He and and his wife began an organization with only a few dollars in their pocket with the divine provision of our God . . an organization that has brought hope to countless orphans . . . Impossible . . . yes it is by "men's" standards . . .



But not by God's!



"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37



Stay tuned and see.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

PHF update





Spoke to Tim Baker yesterday, and he said that they still needed to raise $20,000 of the $70,000.



It is due tomorrow. . .



Please continue to pray for Sheperd's Field Children's Village.



Thanks


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

This and That

Just a weekly update on the boys . . .


They are doing well. Philip will begin preschool this week with one day a week at his preschool class and three days a week with me homeschooling him - Fridays off for fun! He is so much fun to work with on homeschooling. The other day we talked about wind - gentle breeze, gale force, and tornado strength. When we went to the park a couple of days later, he excitedly exclaimed from high on top a slide, "Mommy, I can see the wind! It's a gentle breeze!" Too cute. . .



A walk in the park on a bright summer's day
with my sons




Ted is loving working at the preschool with our friend Christine. She is a hoot to work with, and he is learning so much. He also has accepted two tutoring assignments and does substitute teaching upon occasion. This will be his learning year getting him ready to jump into interviews for teaching positions next year with a year of experience under his belt.

We love having him at home for this brief time before he makes his own way in the world. What a special treat for us!






One of our favorite things to do in any weather but
especially on such a lovely day.





Being silly!





Elijah is growing and changing daily. He has come a very long way from that scared, overwhelmed little boy we brought home last February. He is such a love bug, always ready for a hug and a cuddle.




Aunt Jo getting in on the fun!



No word yet on how Shepherd's Field did on raising money. I will let you all know when I hear. For now, just keep praying!


But very exciting news to report on Shepherd's Field Children's Village otherwise . . .


We know of two children who live there who will soon meet their forever families! One little boy - Tonye - is getting his new family in just a few short days! The other child, a little girl named Emma, will meet her forever next month! What a praise!






Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thank you everyone



Two little cutie pies



Kevin was reblack-topping our driveway, and he
had two foreman monitoring his every movement.

(See our poor lawn after a long drought! Hope
it comes back in the fall!!)




Now for the real reason I wrote this post . . .



We are so touched by the outpouring of prayers for Shepherd's Field. Wow! What an awesome God we serve when people we don't even know promise to pray and fast for a mission we hold dear to our hearts.






Thank you to everyone who stood in the gap in prayer with us.






Sunday, September 5, 2010

What can be done to help the Philip Hayden Foundation?


(This post is also being added to Linny's blog - A Place Called Simplicity - in her Crazy Love Challenge with her permission because we desperately need to keep the orphanages who minister in Jesus's name in our prayers as well. And this is such a place.)



Our Philip lived in a beautful Christian orphanage (foster village) in the heart of Ch*na called Shepherd's Field. They have been under attack recently and need our help. This village lovingly cared for our son, providing him with a safe and comfortable home, loving nannies to care for him, preschool to help him learn, and lots of good food and love to help him grow.

It seems that 7 nannies out of the almost hundred who work there were fired recently. These nannies went to the labour union. According to Ch*na law, they must be paid 70K within 14 days! It might have even been worse as they were asking for double that amount. A praise to God for that. However this is a tremendous amount of money for Philip's foster village to pay out, and none of that goes to help one child!

Shepherd's Field needs your prayers. If this money is not raised within two weeks, it could mean financial trouble for the village. Please pray for a change of heart of those 7 nannies that they would stop seeking revenge and give back the money.
Wouldn't it be a miracle if after the money was raised for PHF, the nannies decided not to press the orphanage for it and gave it back? Think how many children could be helped that way - money for much needed surgeries, food, and care for the precious children who live there.

Also, think of all of the nannies who lovingly care for the children, the caring staff at the village, and of course those beautiful, beautful orphans who live there - if you feel called to give to help out in this crisis, you can go to their website at this link.


This is a dangerous time for Philip's foster village as well as for the orphans of this world and the families who want to adopt them. Governments are shutting down their adoption processes, costs are skyrocketing, and still children languish in far off countries without the love and care of a forever family.

Won't you stand in the gap with many adoptive parents as we pray and fast this Wednesday, September 8th? You can read more about this group effort by families who have a heart for the orphan if you go to Linny's blog called A Place Called Simplicity at this link. If you choose to do this with us this coming Wednesday, won't you please also pray for Shepherd's Field as well?

God loves the orphan. His word shows it. Praying is one of the best ways to help in this endeavor. He says in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." And he commands us to take care of them when he says in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Who will pray and fast with us in the adoption community on this coming Wednesday, September 8th? Is it you?










Wednesday, September 1, 2010

How to catch a light



The funniest thing happened tonight.



Philip picked up his small flashlight and began to shine it on the ceiling.



Maybe Eli has never seen a flashlight before because he began to laugh
louder and harder than we have ever seen him laugh.



Kevin and I just stopped in our tracks and took it all in. It was so cute!



Then Philip put the beam of the flashlight on the floor and moved it all around.



Elijah spent the next several minutes squealing, laughing, and trying to step on the light.
He could hardly contain himself!



Below are a couple of pictures of the fun.