Addie Grace in 2009!!!

Our prediction for LID 2006-03-07

China has 7 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 6.1 days of dossiers each month.

Our best guess: 2009-02-03

Since China generally sends out referrals in a batch about once per month, your referral date could easily vary +/- one month depending on whether you just get included or just get missed in a particular batch.

It Looks like a March Referral for us!!!

For the first time in 3 years, I can say without a doubt that our baby girl has been born!!!

I can't begin to process the thought of where she is at the moment (in an orphanage), but with only 7 more Log-In-Days from a referral, and the fact that we've asked for a 6-12 month-old...she's alive!!! Many thoughts flood my mind, as well as scriptures on not "worrying".

I am so thankful for my friend, Kelly who posted a story on her blog about their son they just adopted from Ethiopia. He is 4, so once he learned English, he was able to share stories from when he was in the orphanage. Here is an amazing story that Nathan shared "out of the blue" that has given me such amazing peace knowing that our Addie Grace is being taken care of by our Father:

"In my last post I mentioned that he (Nathan) walked in holding the cross and said "Jesus" and then blessed himself with the cross. Well the other night we got the full story. He even acted it out for us. His little mind took him right back to that place. It was as if he was really there as he explained. He laid down on the bed and said he was at Nebiyu's house when he heard someone say "wake up, wake up". He said when he woke up it was Jesus standing in his room and Jesus said, " I'm here". He said that Jesus was the one that picked up the cross and then he showed us how Jesus tapped him on the head and then the right cheek and the left and then he took it under his chin as well. He said after that, Jesus flew up in the sky. He then said that Jesus came "two 5 minutes". That means two times. He acted out Jesus telling him to wake up again and then he he made a "whoosh" sound and showed us how water went all on top of his head. He said after that, Jesus flew back up in the sky. I asked him if he was the only one who saw Jesus and he said no. He said that Jesus came in and woke up him and Nebiyu and Asigood(sp) and put the water on all three of them. He also said that Jesus flew in the sky and showed him his home in America."

This is Nathan explaining his meeting with Jesus. Can't be disputed. We serve a Father who physically walks into rooms and lets them know they are His. When there is no one around to share who Jesus is, He does it himself! I don't remember the last time Buddha did that for anyone. (sorry...I'll save that one for a later blog!!!) We serve a personal God who loves each person on this planet, that He pays them a personal visit to let them know He is there.

We can't be there for Addie Grace when she is crying herself to sleep, or discovering her hands for the first time...but I know Jesus is! I don't doubt that He picks her up and comforts her until we can do the same.

Thank you Kelly for posting that. His experience has given me peace unimaginable!

May 2009 bring you the gifts that you've been praying for, and may you be encouraged and hopeful, and most importantly know that there is God; a Friend, a Comforter, that wants you to know "I'm Here", and that He shows you your "America", promises, hope, love, a future.

Happy New Year 2009!!!

Chinese Orphans

It's been almost 4 years since we started the Adoption Journey to adopt a baby orphan from China, and 12 years since we began trying for more children. The "wait" has been painfully unbearable at times, waking up morning after morning to silence, and longing for the days when a hungry cry in the other room will jolt me awake. Some days it is all I can do to keep this wait from challenging me to analyze the "whys?" to a despairing fault.

I could not go through another set of Holidays (this will make the 4th Christmas without our baby) without the Peace from Jesus, who grants to me so freely and strongly. And the confidence that we truly know that He is in charge of everything...especially the things that are impossible for us to control!

I don't know who is responsible for taking this orphanage picture above, but when I pulled it up on a blog of someone else waiting for their baby...it gave me hope.

Not only is my family waiting for our sweet, precious baby....but all of these babies are ALSO waiting for their families. Looking at their adorable, expressionless faces, I see that they are in the same desperate need that I am in - waiting to love and be loved. To hold and be held. To laugh, to cry, to be played with, to be nurtured, cared for, to know that they were made lovingly by a Father who loves them and has a purpose for each of their lives, and they are not forgotten.

Thank you to whoever posted this picture. We will wait forever if we have to.

“If you are not too long, I will wait for you here my whole life”Winnie-the-Pooh

What to Give...What to Give...

"Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants…to give it lovingly and well."

— Pamela Glenconner

Scarf Wrapping

With the popularity of the many styles of scarves, and the warmth they bring during this chilly season, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out how to wrap these darn things!
Here are some pictures from "Anthropologie" on different wrapping styles..in case you find yourself standing in front of the mirror, until you are late for work, trying to figure out which way looks best!
(Click on any of the pictures to go to Anthropolgie to order...)

Friday Favorites!!!

Other than Home, Work, the Grocery Store, and Church, one of the places I frequent most is TARGET! With the approaching holidays, I will grace their doors more than usual! Where else can you go for a stylish bag, coffee creamer, a Christmas tree, the newest cd, book or the finest in animal-wear at one place?

Here is a poem written by a friend of mine as she was preparing to wed her soul-mate. She was kind enough to let me use it for this week's favorite! Gretchen and Colin Fagan have been married since July and they are brilliant, beautiful people! Thank you Gretchen for this perfect poem!

TARGET!
by Gretchen Fagan

To Target we go
For our registry
With a gun in our hands
We scan gleefully

For Kitchen and Bath
Master Bedroom and Guest
We pick out the needs
For our future nest

From trivets to glasses
Cookware and dishes
We’ll have our house full
When we’re Mr. and Mrs.

The wish list is growing
We’ll go back for more
For there’s no place like Target
Our number 1 store!

Timeline to Addie

November Referrals came in:
Referrals came in Yesterday for waiting families up to February 17, 2006. We are March 7, 2006. 18 Log-In-Days Away!!! We could see a referral in March, and a travel date of May!!!

from Chinaadoption forecast.com:

Our prediction for LID 2006-03-07

China has 18 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 5.9 days of dossiers each month.

Our best guess: 2009-02-12

Since China generally sends out referrals in a batch about once per month, your referral date could easily vary +/- one month depending on whether you just get included or just get missed in a particular batch.

Gooooooo Raptors!!!!!

RAVENWOOD RAPTORS MADE IT TO PLAYOFFS!!!

Friday Favorite: Ravenwood Raptor Football...Oh Yeah!!!

With 12 "Season Ending" Injuries on our Football Team this season alone, including several starters on Varsity, our boys have overcome many challenges and adversities and played some tough games to make to the first round of playoffs for State - including being the only team to have beaten Brentwood, making their season 9-1! We have watched our team of young men rise to the challenge, push through, time and time again. While Ravenwood is never a favorite among sports writers, we have the advantage of being the underdog...it only pushes our boys to push harder, prove them wrong, but more importantly get on the field and get the job done.

It never fails that no matter where we travel, our Raptor fans take up ALL the space in the stands, including our Student Section that was rated #1 in the State! (Hendersonville was rated #2 - so this should be a loud game!) We will be heading to H'ville this afternoon, wearing our red and black ("code red"), armed with pompoms, shakers, loud voices, and all the spirit we can muster up...take our place in the stands and get ready to scream "move those chains move those chains, move those chains, huh", after every first down. We hope to be chanting that a lot tonight!

With the team slogan of "ONE", our Raptors have proven to themselves and others that through all the changes on our team this year, they have indeed...remained ONE.

We are chanting with our boys today as they break it down in the huddle:

1, 2, 3 "CCC". 1, 2, 3, "BROTHERHOOD"

"Goooooo Raptors!!!"

We Live in a GREAT Country!!!

Last night marked an historical election, where an African-American won the race for
President of the United States!!!!

While I do not share in his political views, but also will not fear them, I am amazed and grateful that the racial barrier has been broken in this area. In this regard, the outcome of this election is HUGE for our country. Knowing that only just around 40 years ago, black people were drinking from different water fountains, made to sit in "the back of the bus", could not vote, not allowed in many areas...on and on.

I am proud of our Country. I am blessed to live in a free society where we have many rights. Where I can sit in my pajamas and voice my opinions on Government and God, and not worry about being imprisoned.

I will pray for Barack and Michelle Obama as they lead our country and make decisions that will affect our lives and our children's lives forever.

Regardless of who you voted to get in The White House:
Psalm 118:8-9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD, Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD, Than to trust in princes.

God Bless this Amazing America!

Falling Short...

Last night at the Varsity Game, Alec had the opportunity to run the ball several plays for several yards, and several 1st downs, driving, and driving the ball to the goal line...only to find out that on 3rd Down and 33 seconds left in the game, he was tackled at the goal line - 1 yard to go until a Touchdown. Because we were over 20 points ahead, the coaches decided to let the clock run down before calling another play and receiving another TD. It would've been Alec's first Varsity TD. The last Game of the Season before playoffs.

We were excited to see #6 on the field behind the ball! To see him in the game and playing so well! Cheering and praying and hoping...for his sake, that the runs would finally have their payoff!That there would be purpose in his pain (being on the bottom of a pile of lineman). Purpose in his struggle (carrying several guys on his back while they've grabbed hold of his jersey, his shoulders, his legs). Even purpose in his mistake -the fumble (redemption). Purpose in his fight (the attitude of pushing ahead against the pain, running around, through and sometimes into the obstacles, driving towards the goal)...only to find out in the end he fell short of the goal line. End of game.

After picking him up, the car was silent. He was disappointed, disheartened, and angry. But we couldn't help but tell him how excited and proud of him we were for how he ran, and played the game!!!

We serve a loving Father who wants to see us win. Winning doesn't always mean "meeting your goals." It's how you play the game - how you deal with the obstacles of life, the mistakes, the disappointments, the unmet goals. God is interested in the state of our heart and how we carry that out, not always in how we see winning to be. Sometimes he tests us to make sure we are qualified and can be trusted with his message (1 Thessalonians 2:3). Alec was tested last night, and he passed the test with flying colors. Sometimes we fall short of the goal, but that is ok. There are times where we feel we have fallen short, or failed...but have we??? God tells us in 1 Cor. 9:24 that we are to run in such a way that you may win (be victorious). The emphasis being on "in such a way".

How do you handle mistakes? Do you pick yourself up and keep going? Learn from a mistake? Do you give yourself the grace that is given to you? How do you handle the pressures of life, when you feel the burden of the enemy on your back? How do you handle running through life on a "planned course" only to be knocked down by a huge wall? How do you handle working and striving and pushing through, time after time, only to be stopped before the goal line...end of game? How do you handle disappointments?

#1. Know that you have a loving God coaching you and wanting the best for you, so that you may win in this life.
#2. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and challenge you.

James 1:2-4 "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. 5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought"

Friday Favorites!!!

HALLOWEEN CANDY!!!

I Love the Chocolate...Anything chocolate, if it's a brand I recognize. I will eat it. That's what I dig out of Alec's bag and keep for myself.

My mother always ate the caramels out of my bag. Not a fan of the Caramels!
Then there are these...Jelly Belly Bertie Bott's in flavors like: Vomit, Booger, Rotten Egg, Bacon, Black Pepper, Dirt, Earthworm, Grass, Sardine, Soap, and more scrumptious flavors!!! These are always fun to give to the nephews or Alec when he was 12. Oh...and they ate them, and screamed in disgust. The scariest is when he would say, "That tastes EXACTLY like the real things!!!"

So far, since Publix had buy 1 get 1 free Candy Bags...I have eaten my weight in Mini Baby Ruth's, Peanut M & M's and Snickers. What are your favorites?

You CAN be heard!!!

Monday I received an email from AFA (American Family Association) letting me know to check out Home Depot's website. The alert from AFA said: "Home Depot: Hanukkah, yes! Holidays, yes, Christmas, no!" No where on their website did it mention "Christmas". They banned "Christmas" from their website.

American Family Association urged us to go online and see for ourselves, then send them an email letting them know of our disapproval. I personally sent them 2 emails.

After a phone conference from Home Depot to AFA, Home Depot stated "...we are adjusting our Web site to make “Christmas” more prominent and to make our site more aligned with our advertising and point-of-sale in-store signage. Customers will start seeing the adjustments later this week."

Ken and I went on the Home Depot site tonight, and they already changed the site to reflect Christmas!!!

Don't ever think to yourself that your voice can't be heard, or that ONE vote won't matter. Let this be proof that if there are enough people out there to stand for something reasonable...it can be done!

Spider Eats Bird...

Giant spider snapped eating bird in backyard near Cairns, Australia
Go HERE for story

That's it. Australia is soooooooooooooooo off my list of places to visit.

Nick is Home from the Hospital...

I will refrain from posting any pictures of Nick in his hospital bed...for his sake!!! Kenny, Alec and I were at their house in B'ham when he came home from the hospital yesterday morning. While Nick looks better, he is still in a lot of pain, and they are still waiting for some test results. One result came back positive for Salmonella, but they are waiting for other results to determine what exactly that means.

When Nick isn't in pain or doped up, he is in pretty good spirits. I tried to get him to milk this time for all it's worth...to make his list of things to fill-in-the blank for people who've asked, "whatever you want or need...just let me know..."! I told him that he may get that guitar he's been asking for! hahahaha So, be careful if you ask him what you can do for them!

Really though, please continue to pray for Nick and his family. That they get resolve quickly and Nick is back to normal and better soon.

Thank you!

Please Pray for Nick

Nick being funny...

Kevin, Nick, Kenny

Scout, Nick, Alec

My sweet nephew, Nick, 16 years old was admitted to the hospital yesterday, and they will keep him again tonight. He has been sick since last weekend, and when his fever spiked over 105 and was still in pain, Shannon took him to the ER. They took tests, and found that he has an enlarged bowel - colitis, and that could mean several things...they are still running tests to determine the cause.

They covet your prayers right now. I just got off the phone with Nick. He is frustrated, and in pain. Just a few weeks ago, he passed a kidney stone, and is tired of feeling like the enemy's punching bag, when he is taking such good care of his body.

Kevin and Shannon's prayer requests are that the doctors find out the cause and a treatment, and for a Divine Healing for Nick, quickly. We also want to pray for Nick as he is personally dealing with this pain, that he is able to rest and be comfortable, and regain his fluid levels and return to being 100% pain free and healthy.

Do our kids know???

On my way to work yesterday, I caught a clip from trashy talk show host Howard Stern. While I am in no way whatsoever advocating Howard Stern, I found this interview hysterical and disturbing...He plays a clip of an interviewer asking people on the street who they are supporting this election.

"The interesting twist is that he asks if they support certain positions, but gives John McCain's positions. In some cases, they are asked if they support Obama's selection of Sarah Palin for the VP slot. They all said: 'Yes' ". Listen mp3 here

Ok...now I don't want this site to become political, but I can't ignore what is going on either. As I was listening to these people answer these questions, after laughing a bit, I was challenged by this.

What if someone stopped me on the streets and asked me those questions? I'm confident I would know the answer, and probably take the mic and have my 15 minutes of fame...but the real question is what if they asked Alec these questions?

Just like we want our kids to accept Christ for themselves, and understand why, not just because it's what their parents do...is the same reason he needs to understand why we are voting the way we are. He needs to see the issues, the moral stances...not just the man!!!

He listens to what we say. Our kids are listening. But what are they hearing? We need to discuss issues with our kids, so that they can determine for themselves why they believe what they believe.

He will vote for our next President after this one. They need to know - for our country's sake. They need to know.

How Funny is This....

Redneck Fire Alarm!!!

Did You Catch the Debate from Nashville???

Learning that Tom Brokaw would be the moderator for today's Presidential Debate at Belmont University ~ a stone's throw from the Gallery where I work (literally on the same street-Belmont Blvd.), Ken immediately took the defense and kept track of my whereabouts throughout the day.

Why? Well...Ever since I can remember, I have had a massive crush on Tom, and Ken knew this going into our marriage. (Even though I don't think it was discussed with our pre-marriage counselor. hmmmmm)

Just like Kramer on the Seinfeld Episode where he would start convulsing when Mary Hart would start speaking over the TV...I can relate, when good ole Tom starts rolling his l's and dropping his r's!!! What exactly is he saying? I don't care! All I know is that he sounds good saying it!!!

Ken sent me an email threatening that if Tommy were any where near me today, he'd have to take him on. To which I responded: "you WOULDN"T"!

Then he sent me this. (Looks like he had a little help from his brother!)
All in all, I think the winner of the Debate tonight, hands down was
Tom Brokaw