Look how she is growing!!!

      Busy week as usual.  I leave for India on Friday, wow did this sneak up.  We are working on completing the Adoption Alliance packet for Ghana, lots and lots of paper work.  Last week we did our Colorado fingerprints and this week are doing  the US and Ghana medicals.  Six people to the doctor all in one week and I am thankful they are understanding about all the forms to be filled out.  Of course my sinuses are in terrible shape before the trip so it is a good thing I have a doctors appointment this afternoon.  Brent is still waiting for insurance and employment papers from his job.  This all will help us get a jump start on things and we will be able to start the home study process again when I return.   I can't wait until every thing is turned in and we can just wait to travel to Ghana.  It sounds like an amazing place to visit and what could be better than meeting our little girl.  She has waited a long time for a family and we have waited 4 years for our Ghana adoption to become a reality.

      Did I mention that I am so excited for the chance to be a part and witness lives changing!  I love India and I can't wait to go back.  So different than my trips before no child to bring back and no adoption paperwork.  I am excited to finally go to the beach, it has been a  long time.  I will miss my family, but what a great opportunity~

The word is YES for the state of Colorado and Ghana!!!!

We had the long awaited phone call to answer if we had to work with 1 or 2 agencies to bring home Joy from Ghana.  The answer is 1 agency will be enough and that translates into a lot of money saved!!!  We started to inquire about Beacon House and Ghana in December and we will finally be getting started officially.  The package from Adoption Alliance is in the mail and we should receive it any day.  This package will contain the formal application,fees schedule, application for state of Colorado clearance, application to be get an inviation for Federal digital fingerprints, child abuse clearance forms, and many other important other papers.  Then we will start on the homestudy, the visits, and all the questions.  It should be a breeze, but it is hard to tell a stranger everything past and present.  The kids very stressed to answer questions and talk to a stranger.  All these steps to bring a child home that her parents abandoned into the hands of strangers.  What a crazy world that we live in.  Luckily with everything here at home 4 children, fulltime work outside the home,and all details of every day life I don't have much time to obsess on how long each adoption step takes.  I had plenty of time with this before Elijah and Sneha came home, but not now.  WE ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE IN THIS LIFE SO WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!!

Here are some photos that I thought were lost from our 2009 India trip and I found CD's and copied them to the computer.  I am so thankful that they weren't lost.

God is moving mountains!!!!!!

Luke 17:5-65

 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Where do I even start??  Our Sneha turned 10 years old on March 1 and we had her party in Fort Collins on Saturday.  Her first real party.  Last year she had just begun having seizures and had the broken arm and we were adjusting to life with Sneha.  A hard time in life, but things are definitely smoothing out.  The transition period of some one that never had responsibility, severe malnutrition, illness,  couldn't remember family life, and had lived on one floor of a building for 5 1/2 years, and has multiple learning challenges is a little longer than the average after adoption period of adjustment.  Her 10th birthday party was so much fun.  She loved all the attention and presents.  She squeals with excitement and happiness at the sight of new beautiful clothes for her.  To go from wearing and sharing ugly clothes to a closet full of her own is so exciting for her.  In India no matter where a woman lives they dress beautifully and take pride in looking amazing.  Kids walk out of slums with beautifully braided hair and very nice and neat uniforms ready for school.  I am so glad that God laid this girl on our hearts.  She has gone from the least of these that has no worth in society to a person of impact with out even knowing it.  God knew the great plans for her life.  She has said so much without words.

Yesterday was Shriner's Hospital and Salt Lake City for Elijah and I.  Wow what a long day 3:30am wake up and back home at 10pm.  We have good news about his hand.  I looks good and we don't need to see surgeon  Wang for 3 months.  In 3 months he was also due for spinal x-rays so we can do every thing at once with-out another additional trip.  The tendon transfer and tightening of his thumb on his left hand should improve the ability to grasp objects. Now his thumb doesn't pop out of joint all the time and his thumb doesn't fold into his hand to prevent grasping objects.  His spine is being monitored for a curve.  They are the best hospital to get x-rays done in record time and knowing exact positioning for guaranteed results.  They have been such a huge help to our family and Elijah's medical needs.  He has been through so much in 3 years, but is on the road to health and recovery.  It is hard to imagine that he had a 4cmx6cm area on his head with-out skull bone, he couldn't touch his left heal down and walked on his tip toes, had mini fractures in his shin bone, a mouth full of cavities, and believed in a golden statue as creator.  God has transformed his body and soul from the inside out.

More good news is coming........God is moving mountains for our Joy waiting in Ghana.  We knew that God wanted her to be part of our family and our biggest fear was the expense of it all.  We stepped out to begin without a penny in place to bring her home.  My verse and prayer for the year is Luke 17:6.  Having the faith of a mustard seed is very difficult.  It seems  like it should be so easy and why do we doubt our Father's will when it is written in the Bible and right before our eyes. As plain as day right there  are the answers to all of our questions.  The money is the easy part for God and it is.  Praise be to God we should be able to stay out of debt with Joy's adoption!!!!!!!!  The means are on there way  now we just need to keep being patient and obedient.

My India trip is coming.  I am so excited for the adventure across the world.  Everything is unknown and up to God.  It is hard to believe that 3 years ago I said that I could never go back, but would only go to get Sneha and NEVER AGAIN.  Now I am excited to go back.  Let me say that I am the person that fears Walmart with children in tow and God has removed the fear to go across the world.  I am the person that would never be able to speak to a crowd and now I am about to embark on the adventure of a life time.  I am just so glad that they don't eat much meat or unknow sources of protein.  Vegetables are good across the world.  I have to say that I hate hot weather, give me a blizzard any day over sweltering heat.  Guess what where we are going?It  will be 90 to 120 degress and we have to dress in  long clothing.   Only God could convince me to enter into that kind of heat.  Join me in praying for this crazy adventure.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4




Praise to the God of All Comfort

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Parenting the broken

So thankful that The Father holds us in his hands never to let go........

  I fold laundry and the tape of a broken past plays in my head.  I go to sleep at night and the dreams are there.  Why not dreams of beaches and fun times.  Only with God's healing of our minds can we move past the broken beginnings.  It is hard, pray for the forgivenss to take place.  I guess it is little piece by little pieces at time.  A life time process, possiblely not even completed in old age, maybe not in this life time, but healing in eternity.

   I guess this is why I am drawn to parenting the broken.  We chip away little pieces to get to know her.  It is a process of two steps forward and one back.   Sneha's thoughts are locked away in her mind and a voice that will not respond to let them out.  We will probably not ever know what happened and why she shuts us out.  I do know that she is safe now and will never endure what happened in the past.  Give us patience to give her time to unlock herself.  Give us understanding that all things happen in God's timing and that is not our time......She is starting to learn that we will not leave her alone and we will always be there to help.  How could someone ever forget their mother walking about in train station that is loud, dirty, so crowded, and then she didn't ever come back.  Not ever to return, turned her back and walked a way.  It is easy to speculate maybe she was sick and strarving and knew that the police would find a place for Sneha.  Probably a better place than she could provide, maybe her mother was homeless?  At least the train station was safe from the dogs and critters out in the open.   Sneha has scars on her cheeks like she layed on lots of gravel or dirt when she was little. 

    Elijah is beginning to unlock his heart to us.  I can't imagine the feeling of being left on a street in the "Wuhan" district of a city of 6. 1 million  people.  Then he was in the hospital for the first month of his life after and interrcranial bleed which caused a stroke.  Then he went to the orphange for a short while and in the mean time they matched him with a loving foster family in the village of Anning in the mountains by Kunming.  He lived with this family until 2 weeks before we came to adopt him.  He then transition for 2 weeks in the orphange.  Then we came to adopt him and he had never even seen blue eyed people.  His world has been rocked many times in his short life.  I am very thankful that with love and prayer his life is being redeemed.  His attitude is surprisingly positive and he is such a hard workers.  I think he is realizing that we are forever never to leave him.





Psalms 107 1-3


1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

 

Tuesday February 22, 2011

Proverbs 23:10-12


Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,  for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.  Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

So thankful for my four blessings from Heaven

Thankful for two boys

Thankful for two girls

Thankful that God moved mountains to save these two from across the world.

I am feeling so full of doubt and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of everyday life.  I know that all I have to be concerned with is one day at a time.  God brought Elijah and Sneha home to us in the midst of two job layoffs, surgeries, selling a home, buying a home, and moving towns.  I am so full of fear that we have another lay off or have to move again.  I can  handle the loss of moving, but it is so hard for children to start over in school and with friends.   Stepping out in faith has separated us from many and it can be a very lonely place.  As we read the Bible we learn and see that this is what happens, but it doesn't make it any less difficult.  Some times I wake up and wonder why I am here and how  did we end up this way. Most days I have confidence, but that doubt creeps up.  When I look at the big picture I wouldn't change the recent choices that we have made.I feel guilty for not taking a trip to see my brother and his family and I miss them so much.  I know that lives do not depend on that vacation and lives could change with our trip to India.  Funds are tight and we do not have money for both.  I know this life is not about our comfort, but sometimes I feel a pity party creeping up.  I love Oregon and the coast and I just need to know that it is right to go India and use all of our vacation money.  I pray the children will understand the eternal importance, not just the day to day.




Luke 12:6-8 (NIV)



 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.




I just need to remember the promises from the Bible. I need to live each day as if it is my last  and pray for faith the size of a mustard seed.  If our Father in Heaven wants Joy to come home it will happen.  If I am to go to India it will happen.  End of story it is all in God's hands!!!

Third year with Elijah in our family!!!!!

John 14:18


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

It is so hard to believe that three years ago today we met our son Elijah Chongli aka Wu, Chong Li.  Our times in China were exciting as well as very trying.  He had never seen blue eyed people and our eyes scared him.  He had lived with a wonderful foster family since he was an infant so two weeks before our arrival he went back to the orphanage to prepare for his new family.  His world had been turned upside down and he was grieving the life and family that he lost.  He tried to run away from us constantly.  At six years of age his heart was broken, but I can saying that he is finally mending and he is becoming happier and more secure in his new life.  A different boy today than three years ago. 

Elijah has accomplished so much in three years. 
1.He has learned English and now is at a 3rd grade reading level-no more ESL
2.He is learning about the Bible and how it impact on  every aspect of life
3.Learning to embrace a life of opportunity in America
4. He has recovered from major skull reconstruction surgery,been without seizure meds for 6 months, and is in the process of recovery from hand surgery.
5.Learning that he is not alone in his special needs-CP and  massive stroke as an infant and that there  are others in the world with similar needs and they are successful people.  He has been able to meet children with similar needs at Shriner's Hospital
6.He is learning to trust that we are his forever family and we will stick by and love him in the good and bad.

We love you Elijah and are so thankful that God brought you into our lives!!!!



Psalm 68:6



God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.