Thankful for Tees!

Y'all have purchased 60 Wild Olive Tees on our behalf!

60!!!

These tees make beautiful Christmas gifts *hint* :)

$10 per tee sold goes to our adoption agency toward our travel fees...

...and there's still time!

There are over 30 adoption fundraiser tees to choose from.

Just go here...

Make your selection, and please use our family code when you check out: JOHNSON704

To Him be the glory!!!!

Audio Adrenaline - Kings & Queens

I love this song!

The Face of HIE

What a frightening diagnosis.

What a beautiful face!

Khloie's medical diagnoses include HIE ~ hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy ~  (reduced cerebral blood flow or perinatal asphyxia), so we’ll be on the fast track once Khloie comes home.  She will need to see a team of specialists regarding her brain, heart and vision.

From my limited understanding, basically her brain was starved of oxygen and blood in utero.
  
The morbidity and mortality rate is high for infants with HIE, but 10% are healthy with very little central nervous system deficit.  

One possible complication is pupil/eye involvement, and it appears Khloie has strabismus.

Another possible complication is heart involvement.  Khloie is diagnosed with CHD (presumably congenital heart defect)  and ASD ~ atrial septal defect.

ASD  is a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers of the heart (atria).  There may be reduced myocardial contractility, severe hypotension, passive cardiac dilatation, and tricuspid regurgitation.

It appears Khloie has a shunt and her heart is functioning normally.

So much uncertainty.

Yet so very sure!

We fell in love with Baby Girl the moment we saw her picture.

We ordered further tests.

We received documentation.

But we had already decided…

It didn’t matter what the tests showed.

She is our daughter.

We are not educated on medical needs of the heart or brain.
But we know the experts, and our daughter will receive the very best care.

We don’t have the funds required to bring her home.
But we know the Provider, and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills!

Will you please join us in prayer?

We are praying that China will grant our LOA quickly so Khloie can get the medical care she needs.

And we are thanking the Lord in advance that He will supply ALL the funds necessary to get her home quickly!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  

John 14:18

Adoption Journey Project - 8 Adoption Facts That Will Surprise You

This video is slightly more than a minute long, but I pray it lasts a lifetime in our hearts and causes us to act!

$500 Wal-Mart Gift Card!

From today till December 1 we will have a giveaway opportunity for a $500 Wal-Mart gift card!

You could use it for your own shopping, or maybe you'd give it to a family in need, as two of our winners have done!

It's a win/win!

For just $10 you can enter to win, and you can help us bring Khloie home.  Win/win!!!

Our next set of agency fees will be due when we receive LOA, so that is what we are raising funds for.
God is faithful!!!

Here's how it goes:
You may use the Chip-In on the sidebar titled Khloie Coming Home, or email me for other options!
Runs from November 8 to December 1
A $10 donation gets you 1 shot
A $20 donation gets you 3 shots, etc.
A share on FB or your blog gets you an additional shot.
And I almost forgot, to sweeten the deal, anyone who donates $50 or more gets an adorable pair of squeaky shoes from our new selection!
If you share, please leave a comment or email me.

Thank you for helping us bring our girl home.
To God be the glory!!!

The Prodigal?

Today I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.  I'm sure some will think this is a simplistic view.  But have we forgotten Who is in charge?

Today we are proclaiming that we need to pray for our nation.

Yes, prayer changes something ~ it changes us!

Were we praying yesterday?  Last week?  Last month?

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

It seems that somewhere along the way we stopped fearing God and started chasing the American Dream.  We started serving ourselves and turning our backs on unity and the principles that our nation was founded upon.

Now things aren’t going so well.  The American Dream is allusive, ever-changing, always outside our grasp.  And even when it is seized, many recipients still admit they are ‘missing something.’

Our Heavenly Father never changes.

The state of our nation is no surprise to Him.  

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  Colossians 1:16

And if we believe His Holy Word, then we must know that nothing catches Him off guard, and there is a reason for everything.

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God… Romans 8:28

After all, He put the human race in charge, right?  And since we aren't perfect, well...

We certainly have choices and freedoms that others do not.  We can choose to complain... or to act.

I believe He will use whatever He has to in order to get our attention.

We know from Scripture that God will never leave nor forsake us!  If we have never really relied on Him, maybe it's time we start.  And if we have been running away from Him, maybe it’s time we turn back to Him?

Luke 15:11-32 ~ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’  So he divided his property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ..
So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’…
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.   For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’  So they began to celebrate…

The older brother became angry and refused to go in.  So his father went out and pleaded with him…
‘My son, the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Maybe it’s time we become alive again.  What if we were to humble ourselves and run into the open arms of our Father?

Lord, if I desire change, let change begin in me.

We Interrupt this Regularly Scheduled Election Day...

to announce we are:

Yes, our three month's worth of documents, affectionately known as the Dossier, is on its way To China at this moment!

Hang on, Sweet Baby Girl, Mommy and Daddy are working our way to you!

What Makes Us Cry?

Have you ever experienced something that forever changed you?

Attended the funeral of someone who didn’t know Jesus?

Known someone killed by a drunk driver?

Known of a child who was abused or neglected?

Heard the silent cries of infants and children bound and institutionalized?

Walked among people so impoverished they ate from the dump site?

Sat with a widow so lonely she can’t bear another day?

Spoken to the prisoner who cried out to Jesus?

Ministered to the missionary who surrendered it all?

No doubt, these circumstances make us cry.  Or look away.

But what else will we do?

While looking away eases our discomfort and crying cleanses our spirit, neither of these responses does anything for those mentioned above.  What will we do FOR THEM?

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23)

What is my desire?  My ‘self’ or my God?

I desire what I love, and I love what I desire, right?

I can speak of love and desiring Jesus all day long, but my actions are the proof.

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.  (Proverbs 21:13)

If I am truly a follower of Christ, a believer, one who has been redeemed…is crying over hard things enough?

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who guards your life know it?  (Proverbs 24:12)

How long will we turn away and pretend we don’t see the hurting?  I will be held accountable for the things I should have done.

If we are willing to step into the dark places, we can’t help but come away changed.

But change can be so uncomfortable.  And lonely.  And heartbreaking.  And different.

And breathtaking. And refreshing.  And passionate.  And rewarding.  And joyful. 

Will I cry or will I act?

How Did Your Church Recognize Orphan Sunday?

November is Adoption Awareness Month, and yesterday was Orphan Sunday!
Sadly, we did not corporately recognize the day.
See, to speak of the orphan is invasive.  It's disturbing.  

Some are tired of hearing about it and even think that to adopt 'may be for you, but it's not for me.'   I'm certainly glad my Heavenly Father didn't decide to give up on adoption before He saved me.

People don't much like to acknowledge there is a crisis that is OUR problem.  Yes, if we are a follower of Christ, it is our problem.

Oh, but we are so busy.  We don't have time to think about the millions of children around the world who deserve love and hope.  So, let's not be bothered by the truth.

After all, we have our own problems, right?
Which place will we celebrate Thanksgiving?
Which car will we drive to work?
Which new outfit will we wear today?
Which restaurant will we eat at tonight?

My friend Adeye has posted about the need for awareness, and you can read it here.
I contend that if we claim to follow Christ and believe God's Word, this is indeed our problem.

Please tell me how your church either recognized Orphan Sunday or is planning to do so.

Whirlwind Week Recap

So many of you were praying for Kennah's surgery on Wednesday, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  On Tuesday afternoon Dr. Smith's office asked us to arrived at 7 am in the event the big case ahead of us would cancel.  If it didn't cancel, we would sit and wait till 1 pm.  Our prayers were answered, and Kennah went into surgery at 8 am!

Dr. Smith and his team successfully performed the pharyngeal flap and z-plasty to her lip and nose.

The girl is a rock star!

We are staying ahead of her pain, but she rarely acts like it bothers her, and she doesn't complain about her liquid/soft diet.

We were discharged from ICU at 9:30 am Thursday, and she's recovering in the chaos that we call home.

I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is around the corner!
We have so very much to be thankful for!

Tomorrow is the the Day for Kennah-Bug

Tomorrow morning Mama and Thin-Mint head south for her pharyngeal flap surgery.

This will be Kennah's third procedure under anesthesia in her year home, and she handles it like a champion!

This procedure should allow Kennah to form 'pressure' sounds that she currently cannot.
It will likely lower the tone of her voice as well.
And it will cause her to snore :)
Ah well, it's all good.
Thank you for praying for Kennah-bug!

It's Monday

And I choose joy!

I will praise my Father in Heaven!

I have no idea what this week holds, other than a scheduled surgery, a play-off determining football game and a whole lot of mundane stuff.

No matter what, I choose joy!

Pictures!!!!!!

Three weeks ago we sent a care package to Khloie ~ a photo album of her krazy family members and nuts and candy for the staff.  This morning we received pictures of her checking us out!

I am in love with this little peanut!

She's a little chunky monkey.  She'll fit right in :)

Look at that smile!  One of her medical special needs is strabismus (crossed eyes).

It's correctable, Mom.

We have a leading pediatric eye surgeon right here in our state!!

Hang on, baby girl, we're coming to bring you home!

Thank you, Ladybugs n Love, for all you do for waiting families and our precious Treasures!

Random Update

I feel the need to blog, but the reality is that what I've been up to this week hardly seems blog worthy.  

By week's end, I will have traveled half a million miles, between doctor's appointments, work and Mom's Shuttle Service.

I will have disassembled and reassembled 450 car seats.  That revealed a whole new level of gross!

I will have stripped 125 beds.

I will have done a thousand loads of laundry.

That might be a slight exaggeration, but to say that my washer and dryer ran for 21 hours straight is no lie, since we had an outbreak of the nasty kind.

Saturday we took the youth group to the corn maze and had a blast! I love serving with this gal! 

And thank you, BG, for tending the zoo so we could enjoy the company of teens without tag-alongs - you rock!

Mr. Greenthumb finds himself right at home in a corn field :)

Somebody said jump, so I did.  Ouch!

Kasidi's therapist has wanted her to balance well enough to stand still, and she did it this week!  After a nano-second she said, "How about I walk?" :)

On Monday we had Kennah's pre-op appointment with her oral & facial surgeon.  Next Wednesday (halloween), he will do the pharyngeal flap as well as a lip revision.  She will have one overnight in ICU, but we should be released Thursday morning!

In other interesting happenings, our eldest landed a sweet post-college job!  The commute, however, required him to get a new-to-him car, and it's so stinkin' cool!  I begged him for 3 days to send pictures, and last night he did even better - made a walk-around video of his new ride.  Thank you, oh-awesome-son-of-mine!

And finally, we have yet another Thursday night football game, which totally throws me off kilter!  But if I'm not mistaken, this week's game will determine whether our guys make playoffs.  Now that will be something to blog about!

I hope your week is equally as exciting!!!

A Thousand Pictures are Worth a Word ~

~ Finally!
~ Done!
~ Cut!
Trying to navigate this Krew into the same general direction proves to be quite frustrating comical!

We are a cluster...and an island.  And see Kennah levitate.  Wait, where is Kuyler?

What we need is some direction.

Let's just close our eyes and pray.  Kambry, look up...and forward.

 Gonna have to roll our sleeves up and do this thing.

 Get back over there, Kaeleb.

We are getting closer.

Nope, it's Kennah's turn.

It's official ~ she's melted!

 Now she's better...but Kaeleb is done!

Kolton thinks we need to fill the gap.

 Wow, there's Kambry's face!  But Kaeleb is still done.  Call it a wrap; this works!

 Then there's the jump.  Ready, set...set...set

Jump!  Or not!

Lest you think this only happens in groups.  Nay, nay.

At the mere mention of a boy's name, she crumbles.

 She giggles.

 She throws her head back.

 I think we are done here!

Thank you, Mr. Brad, for your patience with this ginormous Krew!

We've finally printed the pictures to update our wall of fame!!!

This is only a few of the many shots, but it's true ~

a thousand pictures are worth a word:

FAMILY!

Trauma, Part IV ~ an analogy

Someone close to me, who shall remain un-named, shared this with me, and has given permission to pass it on.

If I can articulate it the way it was shared, maybe it will help us understand more clearly from our children's perspective.

Living as an orphan is kind of like being a quarter.

You are one of many.

And you get passed around from one hand to another.

You never know where you belong.

Sometimes you get bruised like a quarter gets worn.

It can leave your head and your heart spinning.

But there is hope.

Just like old worn quarters can be remade, so can we be made new...

...in JESUS!

And thanks to my forever family, I will no longer be passed around.

I have a new name in family and in Christ!

And all this mama can say is AMEN!

Crock Pot Scalloped Taters ~ A Recipe

Okay, it was a hit so I will share, with the disclaimer that in my opinion you just can't beat scalloped potatoes from the oven, but in my quest to find more 'toss n' leave it' meals, this side dish is pretty spankin' good!

Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
10 pounds potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 large onion, diced
16 slices thick cut bacon, uncooked and diced
4 cups shredded taco blend cheese
1 28 oz can cream of chicken soup
~Place half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of crock.
~Top with half  of onion, cheese and bacon.
~Repeat layers.
~Top with cream of chicken soup.
~Cook on low of 8 to 10 hours.
Easy peezy!!!!
Be a hero!!!

Christmas Frenzy ~ Shopping With Purpose

My sweet friend Stacy is hosting Christmas Frenzy for the third year!
It's a one-stop shop for your Christmas shopping and a way to help families like ours who are fundraising to bring their Treasures home!  As Stacy says, it's a win-win.  You get to give a gift with a story.
By clicking on this link you will have access to many unique items perfect for gift giving.

As for our journey to Khloie, we are featuring four items at this time ~ 

By purchasing a Wild Olive Tee listed in the Adoption Fundraising Section and using our family code: JOHNSON704 upon checkout, you get a cool tee, and our family gets $10 toward our adoption!

Stacy's Jubilee's Jewel's has crafted this faith & hope pendant for us!  Your purchase of each pendant here, gives us $15 toward our adoption!

Our squeaky shoes can be found here!  They are adorable and ready for immediate shipping!

And finally, our very own adoption decals are available immediately as well!  Look on the side bar of our blog for the "Add to Cart" button!

Thank you for your prayerful support as we race to bring Khloie home!  May you be blessed and may the Lord be glorified!

Kennah-Bug Update

Kennah had her ENT visit yesterday, and her tubes are open and her hearing is excellent!

This is amazing news, considering she could barely hear before surgery!

We have a pre-op visit in two weeks for her pharyngeal flap surgery. This will change her tone and allow her to form certain sounds she needs for language.

She is so brave!!!

Wax n' Wain

I keep going back and forth as to whether I should make a sweet batch of holiday Kandles.

I'm thinking if I did, it would be only the two most popular scents: Buttercream Crunch and Pumpkin Pie Spice.
I love making them, and I know some of y'all love to have them.

The only down side is they are so costly to ship.
They would cost $12 + shipping (roughly $6)

I need some inspiration, so what do you think?

Approval Notice

Thank you, Jesus!!!