Out with the old...in with the new

Spring officially blew in yesterday with a few more beautiful inches of snow. It didn't last long and by today was almost all melted. It was pretty, but we are ready to say goodbye and welcome some nice spring weather.

Spring break was a great time to spend with the family, relax and get organized as we get ready to add our next member of the family. I really was a very organized person prior to four kids, a teaching job, a bible study group and Sunday school class, an old house that continues to need remodeling, a rent house, etc, etc, etc. You get the picture. Let's just say that organization is MUCH more difficult than it used to be, but so important for me to try to keep a little sanity! I completed decorating Lia's room except for the curtains that my talented mother is sewing. I will post pictures as soon as they are hung. Her room is beautiful and has been transformed from a military decorated room into a lime green and pink room!

The next half of spring break we spent in our cabin in New Mexico and enjoyed a few days to relax. David and Brandon skied while Tia and I shopped in town and then rested and read books at the house. I completed a great Karen Kingsbury book, Between Sundays that is about the life we as Christians live from Monday through Saturday. Is that the same life we live on Sundays? Hmm? Then I started reading, What Difference Do It Make. This is the next book by the same authors that wrote The Same Kind of Different as Me. If you haven't read this first one, I highly recommend it as a great book that will really make you think about the difference you are making in this world.

Speaking of making a difference....I got a few more pictures of some darling children in the orphanage where our sweet girl lives. Many of them are looking for forever families. If any of them are tugging at your heart how about spending some time in prayer. You never know where God may lead you. If not you, then maybe you could pray for someone else to be lead to them.

And now....

That is our little Lia in the front, once again holding up her two fingers and
giving us a big smile. In the next picture it looks like she is
practicing for a tea party.

A million thanks to the mom that sent these photos to me!!

Love them like Jesus

I just added two songs to my music list at the bottom of my page. One of them I was looking for because I love the message, "There are no Orphans of God", and the other I found accidentally, "Love them Like Jesus, by Casting Crowns." This last song, however, I know was no accident, as there are no accidents with God. The lyrics are beautiful and I hope you will take time to listen. It really spoke to my heart because it seems lately, that I have had a lot of questions and very few answers. This timing of our adoption has become a big concern and I have to continually pray that God KNOWS the perfect timing and He alone will work out all of the details. The longer we wait the closer we get to prom, graduation and all of the activites that go with a senior in high school. However, all we have been called to do is follow Him and that means I must "LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS" and allow Him to handle the details. I know that God knows the desires of our heart and He will work it all out. Your prayers for the perfect timing and for my anxiety are greatly appreciated.

How can you love a child so much and yet you have never met them? I was blessed beyond measure this week to visit a yahoo group that I am apart of and see pictures of our baby girl at her orphanage with her friends. Another mom that recently adopted an older child had some pictures posted. I scanned EVERY single picture carefully trying to see if our little one was in any of them. It didn't take long to pick her out in a crowd.

(She's in the top right hand corner, holding up her little hands)

The funny part though was the next picture. The other mom asked me if it was ours little girl and I said "no," because the one in the picture was too old. Come to find out, that was the other mom's child and our little one is sitting right beside her. This picture was taken a couple of years ago. Aren't they both precious?

(Thank you, Suzanne, for a glimpse into my baby girl's life. So glad she shared it with such a sweet girl!)

I can't believe I missed her, but I thought it was a current picture and it was really a few years old. As each of us in the family studied the picture, the first thing we each noticed was the tear in her eye. It brought tears to my heart wondering if anyone was there during those years to dry her tears. My heart breaks for the orphans of the world that will never know the love of a family. That certainly doesn't mean our family is perfect and we aren't always overflowing with a sugary coated love, but we are there for each other through thick and thin and there is always someone with whom we can share our laughter and tears.

What a joy to know that there are no orphans with God! Do you love them like Jesus? We are each called to do just that. I am amazed at how many scriptures in the Word command us to love the fatherless and orphans. How are you doing that? It isn't a suggestion in the Word, but a command. Does that mean everyone has to adopt? No, but if we follow His command, we all must LOVE them in some way or another. What does that look like for you?

I will leave you with a few of the moments we have shared recently.

Fun in the snow

Lest I forget to share, my beautiful son/daughter dressed for a student fundraiser
benefiting, SADD. We shared many laughs that night!Like father, like son! Happy birthday to some of my favorite guys!

This is the smile that has been capturing my heart for 23 years!

Nannie, Mimi and Claire, from the oldest girl in the family to the youngest.Tia with her beautiful dresses waiting to share with her little sister
Thanks to Mimi!

Happy Birthday to my middle child

Happy Birthday to my King of the Mountain!

I honestly can't believe it has been twenty years since I gave birth to my middle son. I don't know how we could have three boys that resemble each other so much, but are so night and day different. Nathan was the most perfect baby anyone could ever ask for. He slept, ate and hardly ever cried. Well, in the last twenty years he has had some "not so perfect" moments, but little has changed in regard to his favorite things. He still likes to sleep, eat and remain as quiet as possible. I am so proud of the young man he is quickly becoming. May God continue to lead you as you seek your direction in life this next year.

They may look alike, but they certainly have different personalities.
Happy Birthday, Nathan,
You are an Awesome middle son!

I've done it again...AND IT'S GETTING CLOSER!

Yes, I'm one of those that just can't stand to leave things as they are. We have painted and repainted the rooms in our home many times over the past 12 years. Just when I get a room all finished, it seems I'm ready for a new color. I remember one time my grandmother told me she knew the reason I was painting the outside of our house yellow. When I asked why, she said, "It's the only color you haven't used yet!" She was probably right.

So just like the rooms in my house, I just had to change my blog background again. I loved the black and red, but my eyes just couldn't hack the dark background. Now, onto the important part of my day.

When I awoke this morning, I realized that today is March 1st! That brings on a whole new meaning to our family this year. It means that NEXT MONTH(hopefully and God willing) we will be on our way to Ch*na to pick up our little girl.

I spoke with our agency today, AWAA, and asked if they thought we would still be traveling next month and Kristen seemed to think so, although maybe toward the end of the month rather than the beginning. She stated that we would likely travel about 5 weeks from the time we get our TA(travel Approval). So, we continue to WAIT....and PREPARE...AND PRAY...