God always provides

For those of you who I have not spoken with lately...you will find it funny to know that I am nesting. Yes if you have had a baby before or adopted you know what that means. My house looks like a tornado hit it but it is suppose to look worse before it looks better, right? I had decided about a month or so ago that I was going to go through my house and purge EVERYTHING that I did not use, want or need in order to complete the money needed for our adoption expenses and travel to China. I found it funny how last week at church my pastor preached on debt and how we purchase stuff we dont even need just to end up in our garage sales a year later. I chuckled at that because I was indeed in the middle of planning for our garage sale. I have to share with you how God has provided for me in this process though. First of all a friend of mine is moving in a few weeks and called me to see if I wanted a few things for my sale. I said yes of course. OH MY!!!! When Mark pulled up in the truck my eyes about bugged out of my head. I said a simple "Thank you Lord" and my eyes began to tear up. The truck was overflowing with items. Baby and childrens Clothes (really nice clothes I might add), toys, shoes, ...ect..I dont even know all of it because I am still working on tagging and hanging up all the clothes. She offered us her swing set and gave us an outside playhouse for Annabel. Thank you Lord!!! But God also provided in another way. I grew up in a home where my mom saved everything. She was very thrifty and always found a second use for things. I have inherited that trait and try very hard not to hoard items. It is hard though because I get sentimentally attached to everything that comes through my house. Figurines, pictures, purses....you name it. I can't seem to justify getting rid of nice things. Well I have been really praying about simplifying my life. Actually Mark and I have been praying for this for about a year now. As I started going through my house this last week I have prayed for God to give me the ability to LET GO!!!! It is amazing the transformation that has taken place in our cabinets and drawers. Mark is still in utter shock and is waiting for me to put things back. But you know what. I just don't need half the stuff in my home. All the silk flowers....pretty, yes, but they take too much of my time to dust. Figurines...pretty, yes, but with a house full of little ones they will just get broken. Purses, yes I love them. But with my bad back my Chiropractor told me no over the shoulder purses and keep it small...so away they go. Shoes...I usually only wear one of four pair anyway. I can't wear heals anymore with my back...so away they go. Wheh!!!!! It feels wonderful. Costume jewelry...fun yes, but you only need so much of it. I feel so free!!!! Thank you Lord for providing even in the smallest of ways. You provided me with the understanding that these children mean more to me then the stuff!!!!! I forgot to add that I also had a couple of people at church ask me last week if I would like some things for the sale because they were going to be getting rid of them as well. I said yes. Praise God. He will provide for us the funds needed to travel to get Jacob. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will not have to put one penny on a credit card. We have worked too hard over the years to get out and stay out of debt. I refuse to go back to that bondage. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Is Adoption a Christian Duty????

I took this link off of a website of an internet friend that I have met through our adoption process. She is getting ready to pick up her beautiful 7 year old daughter in just a few short weeks from the same orphanage in China that Annabel is from. I have watched God perform miracle after miracle in her adoption and it is clear that her family is doing exactly what God has called them to do. I watched the video and could not help but think..."What would happen if every single church in America played this video for their congregation??" Who might God use to help these children find homes with families who will love and appreciate them and share God's love and promise of eternal life. I shutter to think about what would happen in Annabel's life had she not been adopted. She would have spent 14 years in an orphange only to be put out on the streets to fend for herself at the age of 14. Can you imagine??? 14!!!So take a couple of minutes to watch it. I believe God is using this organization to speak to the Christian world about one of His most precious commands. He instructs us to take care of the widows and orphans. Is everyone meant to adopt? No, of course not. But I do believe that everyone can get involved in some way to help make a difference in the life of another. I was thinking about my day yesterday. I attended a memorial service for a sweet older woman from our church who passed away last week. She left behind children and grandchildren who told wonderful stories of what a wonderful woman she was. Her foster daughter stood up and said it didn't matter that she wasn't born from her body...she was her mom and loved her very much. We heard people in our congregation tell of the wonderful things she did to bless them as well. She made a difference in her life. She made her life count. It was evident by the packed parking lot and full church. She had many many friends who cared so much about her. It made me wonder, when I die what will my life have meant to those around me? I want it to count for something. If I died tomorrow and the most significant thing I did was be a great wife and mother to my kids and help bring a child out of poverty and loneliness into a home filled with love and a future with God...well then I lived a very rich life. But I am in no way done. I have a lot left to do on this earth before I leave. I pray God keeps me around here for a few more years. Obviously I am not the one in control of that matter. I trust God knows what He is doing. He always does. Mark and I have already made a promise to God. We will help to bring home as many children as He gives us the health and provisions to do so. Whether they be our children or we have the privledge of assisting other families walk through the process. I don't know what plan God has in store for us in the future. But we trust that He has a plan already mapped out for us. We just have to listen and be faithful. Except for the birth of Amber and Joey, there has been no greater joy then adopting Annabel. Our house is noisier and crazier then ever, but we wouldn't change it for anything in the world. The funny thing about adoption is you might go into thinking you are going to really bless another child. In reality we are the ones who have been blessed beyond measure. Isn't it just like our amazing God to go and do a thing like that? Enjoy!!
https://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/382078.aspx

Camping, Chinese Heritage camp and waterpark fun

July is only half way over and already we have had enough fun and excitement to last the entire summer. 4th of July weekend we did what we love to do the most...We loaded up the camper and headed out of town. We absolutely love to go camping. We spent much of our time in the sun swimming. On the last day spent the day at the waterslide park. It was Annabel's first time down the slides. She had a great time. Those swimming lessons really paid off. She has no fear of the water at all. We were home from camping for a few days and then headed out again. This time we went to a weekend Heritage Camp. We joined the organization called Families with Children from China. We had a blast. We got to meet some wonderful families and children and learned a lot about Chinese cultural dance. Mostly we just had fun. It was very well organized but also allowed for much needed down time. We were able to go swimming, play at the beach and fly kites. We stayed in what are now retired Army barracks. That was fun because we got to spend a lot of time with other families in the common areas of the barracks and the food was absolutely delicious. Mark especially enjoyed the Salmon BBQ!!!! Amber decided to go and stay in the open bay with all the teen girls. She was the only one not adopted from China in the group. She had a great time. I am so glad she made so many great friends. It will be fun to come back year after year and watch the kids grow up. There are many events throughout the year that this organization hosts as well. We plan on attending as many of them as we can. All in all we have had a fantastic summer so far. Annabel is making so much progress at adjusting and trusting us more and more each day. So much so that Annabel is now in her own room and doing beautifully. Praise God!!! We are all getting a lot more sleep these days. haha We are on day 52 of our wait for our Letter Of Acceptance for Jacob. The summer is flying by so quick. It will be no time at all before we are packing our bags to head back to China. We cannot wait to hug and kiss our little guy.