Spring Break!

My kids will be out of school in 30 minutes, and I just submitted my term paper, so we are officially on spring break! Now if it would only look like this...

I'm sure it will involve sand, but it will be kicked up by the lawn mower or blown around the ball field. Ah, spring break.

Playing it Safe

In reading the parable of the talents in Matthew this week, I’ve asked myself many questions, but specifically, “Am I playing it safe?”

Remember the story: the master was going on a journey and left his money in the care of his servants, according to their abilities.

To one servant he gave five talents, to one he gave two talents and another he gave one talent. The servants who received the five and two talents went ‘at once’ and put the money to work, doubling the number of talents.

But the servant who received one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money.

Some time later when the master returned to settle his accounts, he was pleased with the first two servants for using what he had left in their charge and growing it. He said to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

The master, however, was not pleased with the servant who hid the money. By doing so, he had not put to use something that wasn’t his to begin with. Out of fear he put the talent away for safekeeping.

How does this relate to us (me)? God has blessed us with resources to be used for His glory. Some have abilities and some wealth, but none of it belongs to us. God is the owner, and we are the caretakers. When we prove faithful with little, He gives us much.

What are we playing it safe with to avoid obedience to Him?

All Systems Go!

Kennah-bug will have surgery tomorrow (Wednesday)!!!!


She is healthy and good to go, finally!
Thank you so much for your comments and emails with nutritional information to help boost our Thin Mint. I appreciate them so much!
I just love the adoption community - ya'll rock!
Our prayer is that tomorrow her 'moderate hearing loss' will be reversed by the tubes which will remove the fluid. And no.more.ear.infections!!!!

From the Fryin' Pan into the Fire!

I only have a couple mid-terms left (which I'm totally not worried about), and now my focus is on my term paper.

Oh.my.word! What-the-heck is APA format anyway? And who's the wise guy who started it? And what-in-the-world am I doing?
I just love kids and adoption and change.for.the.better.
I don't like research.
I do like writing.
Can I combine my love for writing with the necessity to research the facts and come up with my first APA formatted term paper that will pass?
I'll let you know.
Right now, I must walk away from this computer...

B90X ~ Week 11!

We only have 2.5 more weeks till we've read the Bible, cover to maps!!!!!

With that in mind, I would encourage you to start thinking about what you plan to do when you're finished with this reading plan.

Is there a new devo you've been dying to do?

An old devo you need to revisit?

We'll talk more about it next week.

Monday, March 12- Sunday, March 18

Mon ~ Mt 26:57 - Mk 9:13
Tues ~ Mk 9:14 - Lk 1:80
Wed ~ Lk 2:1 - Lk 9:62
Thur ~ L 10:1 - Lk 20:19
Fri ~ Lk 20:20 - Jn 5:47
Sat ~ Jn 6:1 - Jn 15:17
Sun ~ Jn 15:18 - Ac 6:7

Four Years Ago...

...we waited in this room...

...for this little man, Hai Zi Hao. We learned that his name, if mispronounced, means Monkey King. Oh, how fitting :)

This was our first of several journeys with Lifeline Children's Services, and our first special needs adoption journey. From start to finish, 7 months. Not.even.kidding.
Welcome to the family, Kaeleb Jon! Meeting his 'virtual twin' Kambry.

His true personality, fun-loving and always smiling, still to this day.

This year he started pre-K!
What a joy it is to watch him blossom.
Last night as he asked me a question in his usual way, saying "Mommy" 15 times until he gets the desired response, his daddy reminded me that if we hadn't said "YES" when the Lord prompted our hearts, Kaeleb wouldn't even know the word "Mommy."

I.can't.even.imagine!
Thank You, Jesus, for letting me be Kaeleb's forever mommy!

A Girl and Her Wheels

Oh my word! Kasidi was measured today for her very own AmTryke!

We get to borrow this one for a week or so.

This special trike will help strengthen her leg muscles. Thank you, Ambucs!

We will know the date of her MRI and spine x-ray next week.
Meanwhile, you'd better stay off the sidewalk cuz we're coming through!!!

97.5%!!!!!!

I just finished the mid-term I was most anxious about...and got a 97.5%. I'll take it!!!
This morning I asked the Lord to help me recall things I didn't even know I knew :)
Thank You, JESUS!!!
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement!
And now I have two more tests to prepare for...and a term paper to write...

To Sum it up

In a word, "frazzled" would describe my state of mind this week.

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength...I can do everything through Him who gives me strength...I can do everything through Him who gives me strength...

Mid Terms!?!

This week is mid term exams. Ack!
Not gonna lie...I'm anxious.
It's been 20 some A LOT OF years since I sat for mid terms.

I'm trying to look at the week in hour by hour day by day increments. It's a little easier to swallow.

I do feel good about a few things, like adding exercise back into my mornings, Weight Watchers and reading ahead in B90X.

And if I need a dose of super-human strength (and I will), I know exactly where to find it :)

B90X ~ Week 10!

Here we are already, week 10...and starting the New Testament this week!!!!

Monday, March 5- Sunday, March 11

Mon ~ Da 9:1 - Hos 13:6
Tues ~ Hos 13:7 - Am 9:10
Wed ~ Am 9:11 - Nah 3:19
Thur ~ Hab 1:1 - Zec 10:12
Fri ~ Zec 11:1 - Mt 4:25
Sat ~ Mt 5:1 - Mt 15:39
Sun ~ Mt 16:1 - Mt 26:56

Hang in there; we are so close!

Mamas, Can You Help?

This is my Kennah-bug, our little Thin Mint. Isn't she beautiful?!?

Some of you have stated in no uncertain terms you'd like to see more pictures of her ;-)

It's not that I don't want to post pictures. I have an entire array of excuses that would knock your socks off, I'm sure. But the truth is, I take a lot of pictures of all my kiddos, but Thin Mint has had 5 ear infections since she's been home and has grown 3 inches...and she looks so thin.

She's always going to be petite, but frankly I'm surprised she hasn't gained more weight in the 9 months she's been home.

We've seen all the doctors and done all the lab work to make sure there isn't a medical reason for her ultra-thin physique. She was scheduled to have tubes put in last Friday, but she had too much congestion to do the surgery. Once that's done she will undoubtedly feel better!

So here's where you can help me.

Do you have a child that's suffered from malnourishment?

A child who needs to gain weight?
Here are the things I do:

Prepare nutritious meals at home (the ramen noodle thing is a rare occurrence ;-)

1) Have her drink 1 C*rnation Instant Breakfast drink every day.

2) Keep plenty of fruit, popcorn and crackers and almonds around for snacks.

3) We drink water, not pop or juice.

4) She takes a multi-vitamin.

What else can I do? I welcome your comments of things that have worked for you, and even suggestions of things to try.

Mama and her Thin Mint would be so appreciative!

Speaking of Attachment

I remember the moment I met her, just 9 months ago. She was the tiniest 3-year-old I had ever seen. When I held her, I even thought she might break. I silently wondered, “What happened to the healthy toddler from the referral picture?”

Less than 5 minutes later, our facilitator shrieked, “Look, another one!” which meant, “Here’s your second daughter!” And as I reached for my new 1-year-old, I was completely unaware that my emotional ‘detachment’ with my tiny toddler was set into motion.

My sister-in-law and my teenage daughter accompanied me on this trip, and I had made it abundantly clear to them that I had to be the one meeting the needs of my new Treasures, all in the name of attachment. I had to figure out how to feed them both, bathe them both, change one’s diaper and take the other to the toilet. While I was wearing my game face and keeping up with the girls, Kenzie and Sheri did a fantastic job of taking care of me J

Our first night together I decided to bathe the girls separately to give them some one-on-one mommy time. I was stunned when I gently placed my tiny 3-year-old into the bath and she began bathing herself like someone who had been independent for years! I immediately took the wash cloth from her, and explained that Mommy would help her from now on. But my heart was broken.

She fell into her crib, exhausted from the events of the traumatic day, but 30 minutes later she was frantically trying to get out. She’d had an accident in her sleep, likely from an unfamiliar food she’d eaten that day which upset her fragile digestive system. Once I got her next to the tub, she shocked me again by trying to clean her soiled clothes under the running water. I again explained that this was Mommy’s job from now on. Again, my heart was broken.

My 3-year-old daughter had been caring for herself in ways she shouldn’t have to. And because she hadn’t needed anybody, she was reluctant to bond with me. And unfortunately, I rolled with that. Oh, I still mechanically cared for her, but my heart wasn’t in it. We sort of had this mutual detachment going on. Except I’m the mommy, and I know better. I pleaded with the Lord to soften my heart and prove to my child that her future is much different from her past, that she will be treasured, nurtured and surrounded by a family who loves her.

And there was something else. Because of her cleft palate, my daughter couldn’t communicate easily. I didn’t realize how frustrating it is trying to bond with someone who can’t talk. Or maybe I was just excusing myself.

Once we were home I began to worry that my daughter would be confused about who her mama was if I didn’t step up to the plate. I was ashamed. And then, the Lord knew exactly what we both needed! We’d been home a few days and she reached for me. It seems like a small thing, but it was huge!

And then she found ways to get my attention. And I began to give it. And as we began to seek the medical care she needed, I had opportunities to comfort her. We began to make eye contact. She wanted to snuggle with me rather than pull away. Instead of happily letting her go to other people in church, I began to cuddle her myself.

And now, 9 months later, there is trust. And there is love. Mutual love, between a mama and her precious daughter. Thank You, Jesus!

Today she trusts and loves...and is very loved!

New Doctor

Kasidi saw her new doctor today. She wasn't terribly impressed, but her mama and daddy were!

There is so much more we need to know...so he scheduled an MRI and spine x-ray ...and he ordered new AFOs that will give her more flexibility.
What does all this mean? We'll know soon!

And to the princes behind the counter at Burger King who asked if I was Kasidi's grandma...really, girlie? You are the first person to ask - so either I'm lookin' older these days or you're lost in never-never land :)

What Does Saying "Yes" Mean to Them?

If the Lord has been prompting you to say "Yes," watch this video.
If you've been telling the Lord "No," watch this video.
These are real children who have experienced the radical difference in their lives because a family said "Yes."

Sometimes!

Sometimes all the time God just blows us away!

When CJ and the Krew got out of church yesterday, this white envelope was under the windshield wipers of the Beast.

We don't know where it came from, but its contents completely cover a very specific need we have this month...which nobody probably even knew about, except GOD!

We don't know who you are, but we thank you for responding to the Spirit, because He's the only One who could have revealed this to you! Our heartfelt thanks to you, and our praises to the Father!

Happy Birthday, Kenzie LeAnne!

Kenzie....

...you have a gentle spirit, the ability to make everyone laugh and a boat load of talent!
And Dad and I are so blessed to be your parents!

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY, GIRLFRIEND!

B90X ~ Week 9, Ya'll!

We only have 5 more weeks! We can do this...especially since in a couple weeks we'll be in the New Testament!

Monday, February 27 - Sunday, March 4
Mon ~ Jer 33:23 - Jer 47:7
Tues ~ Jer 48:1 - La 1:22
Wed ~ La 2:1 - Eze 12:20
Thur ~ Eze 12:21 - Eze 23:39
Fri ~ Eze 23:40 - Eze 35:15
Sat ~ Eze 36:1 - Eze 47:12
Sun ~ Eze 47:13 - Da8:27

Rally the Troops!

I was thinking of blogging about random things today...and then I read my friend Jean's blog.

Funny how things can turn our plans upside down. Oh, but to remember that nothing takes the Lord by surprise!

Not.even.cancer.

This is Abby. She and her brother came home in December. Abby's mommy and daddy knew she had a potentially serious medical diagnosis before she came home. She has had lots of visits to the doctor in the short time she's been home.

Yesterday it was confirmed that Abby has a form of leukemia. You can read Jean's post here.

Friends, will you please pray for Abby and her family! And let's praise the Father for Who He is! He has brought this precious Treasure home where she will receive the medical care and love that she needs. He is mighty to save!
Lord, I thank You that nothing catches You off guard and nothing is too big for You!

The Power of One

"You can't save them all."
Have you heard that before?

The fact that we may not be able to make a difference for 'all of them' is no excuse for doing nothing at all!

My friend Adeye has posted about the miraculous transformation of just a few Treasures whose lives were made radically different because ONE family stepped forward.

And if you follow my friend Linny, you've seen the miraculous transformation God has made in their newest Treasure.

It just takes one family...